Hi Joe,
I just read you're webpage on the Penna.Turnpike and it sure brougth back a lot of
memories.I was amazed about the history of the roadway which I knew nothing
about.I was born in Brownsville and my family moved to New Jersey when I was
very young.I remember the numerous trips we made back to western Penna. over
the turnpike.Best of all i remember the Howard Johnson restaurants and the ice
cream they served on the hot summer days.To keep myself busy traveling the
turnpike in those days,I would always count the number of Greyhound buses on the
road.On one trip I counted 38 buses.Traveling the turnpike today, you're lucky to see
5 buses! The picnic areas on the side of the road were such a delight with the fresh
mountain air and shade trees.It was a rewarding experience to travel the turnpike.
We must hold on to that road and the memories we cherish from those days.
Thanks for the ride Joe.I enjoyed it. John from N.J.
Greetings- I just discovered this web page
for "THE" Turnpike! I'm 40 years old, and have travelled the highway
billions of times to visit my grandparents in Yukon,(off the New Stanton
interchange).I don't know why....but I've ALWAYS been fascinated with
the whole turnpike (tunnels & tollbooths) , Breezewood interchange, and
Route 30 (Lincoln highway). And coal mines (my grandfather Fulmer was a
miner, and incidentally,helped pour concrete and do surfacing work on
the turnpike from New Stanton to Irwin ). Anyway.... My friend Ron Lunn
and I visited the abandoned Sideling,Ray's and Laural Hill tunnels this
past April. We took loads of video and still photos. Then we visited the
S.S. Grand View ship hotel and other important attractions. I collect
anything that's turnpike related, especially postcards, and roadside
related junk. I want to visit my next trip, the railroad tunnel and the
original Alleghenny entrance. I don't have a computer (I'm writing you
on my girlfriends in Austin,TX),but I'd like to set up the ultimate
website that includes EVERYTHING. It should be exhaustive in vintage
photos,blueprints,geological surveys,etc.,etc.. Well look.... Just write
me back at Jeffrey Alan Lee
P.O.Box 123
Quantico,VA 22134-0123
(540)659-8592
Anyway...Good Show. -Jeffrey Lee
Visiting the Chambersburg visitors center Of course we visited all the old sections of rt 30 and the pike one of the highlights of the trip was stopping at the visitors center at Chambersburg,a gentleman named Louis who is 79 yrs old worked for the contractor who built the portals of blue and tusk tunnels ! he was fresh out of school and took care of accounting for payroll.He was not well liked by the workers because he logged their hours,there was no timeclock to punch back then. When he got the job they told him to smoke a cigar and when he got into a tough stuation to blow smoke in the persons face to deter them, and he did, and it worked ! He drove his 1936 packard convertable daily from Chambersburg to the tunnels and said it was quite hard on the cars as his was trashed by the end of the job. He was there the day ,he called them,"top officials the big shots" landed a plane just east of blue mountain tunnel to see the completion of the project. Then after eating at the new Howard Johnsons took a little road tour of the area.
