Good ole Danville
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5/6/2007
Danville remains a unique place in America, not only for having the first railroad cars but most recently since the early 1900's for Geisinger medical center. In a static population of 5k there are about 300 or so physicians, most of which are physicians. The town is what one would expect of a small country affair. Only two blocks long is the main street. The overall character of downtown is best described as grey and dreary. This is in sharp contrast to the surrouding areas that abound with different trees, rolling hills and nice homes with the occassional really nice home. The golf course and club is considered the unwritten dividing line between the haves and have nots.
If you like eating out, I hope its at the barbie, bercause the nearest restaurant is in Bloomsburg (about 11 miles away), and by the way, is quite good.Otherwise welcome to mediocrity in this category.There is a local bar.
There is a great swimming pool, but one has to get around by car for the most part. Things, including housing, are affordable. The school system is pretty good and there is a Quaker school in a nearby town that can pick your youngster up and retutrn him to your doorstep.Things are pretty much famioly oriented overall, and for good reason beause there is absolutely nothing else to do here (unless you are a doctor on call. There is a town tradition that the first huntingday of the season is an official school holiday. This must have roots in the cave-man days, and if one strikes up hunting conversations with the locals, one may actually feel that they have somehow been transported back in time. That reminds me, the gun laws do not prevent machine gun fire, as long as the firing of such weapon is at least 200 yards from your residence. Not that you constantly hear this, but every so often you can. The are plentiful black bears, wild turkey and deer around with beautiful fall foliage. The people are very friendly.Obviously its a great place yo be sick as Geisinger is generally a top quality hospital with excellent doctors. This goes true for the surrounding areas such as Bloomsburg hospital.
There is limited shopping around, but the annual Pennsylvania House clearance sale nearby is of excellent value. The nearby towns are interesting, in fact, more so than Danville. Try out Shamokin. There is a problem in that the Merc plant sits on the river. There is also a big problem near the Bloomburg line where the HS sits directly next to the sewage plant. Another issue is leu
greg | Upper East Side, NY