Gribblenation

Our tagline is "Every road tells a story", and our recent feature on Breezewood attempts to tell its story.  But there is more - at least on a personal level. While doing my research - I decided to look into the history of the Gateway Travel Plaza - which was the first travel/road related business to open in Breezewood back in 1941.  When I read that the Gateway Inn (predecessor to the Travel Plaza) was owned and opened by a Merle and Marion Snyder, I took interest.  My maternal grandmother's side of the family trace to the Snyder family out of Saxton.  A small town of 700 or so people 20 miles or so to the north of Breezewood.   Could I have distant relatives that pretty much started Breezewood? So thanks to facebook - I was able to ask my mom's cousin and also my great aunt if we were related to the Snyder's that started the Gateway Inn.  Alas, I am not.  However, where one lead comes to a dead end - another one appears. In talking to my cousin...

It's the Pennsylvania Turnpike Interchange most people hate - and with a passion.  The Breezewood Interchange - a junction of two Interstates (70 & 76) that became complicated due to archaic rules, rural politics and power, and an unwillingness to change.  At its romanticized best, this small unincorporated community of under 100 residents is a reminder of travel days of the 1950s-1970s; at its worst, it is a gradually dying relic of old motels and services that drivers are forced to slow down and drive through on their way to bigger and more modern destinations. The Breezewood Strip - where Interstate 70 runs along a surface street (US 30) (Doug Kerr) The Breezewood Interchange is an exception to the rule in the Interstate Highway System.  Depending on your direction, Interstate 70 joins or leaves the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76) here.  However, unlike nearly every Interstate junction in the United States - Interstate 70 must traverse on a roughly 1/4 m...

Live in Bedford or Fulton County, PA? - the Old Pennsylvania Pike Authority is looking for board members. It appears that the Old Pennsylvania Pike is the new name for the Pike2Bike Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike Project. http://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2018/01/applicants-sought-for-abandoned-turnpike-authority/

There's new energy in the campaign to convert the 8.5 mile stretch of the abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike into a multi-use bike trail.  These recent developments has spurned renewed interest in the project with local governments, businesses and the Governor's office in Harrisburg. In a reply to my recent blog entry on the seemingly stagnant efforts to convert the 8.5 miles of abandoned turnpike to a bike trail, Bedford County Planning Director, Donald Schwartz, shared with me some new and updated information on the status of the plan.  Earlier this year, the engineering firm, Navarro & Wright , was awarded the bid to update the master plan.  Once the work is completed and the plan is revised; the still unresolved issue of ownership of the trail remains.  Schwartz sees that it is still likely that a joint operation between Fulton and Bedford Counties will be overseeing the trail. The ownership of the trail is key as that will allow the Pike2Bike Trail to go fo...

One of the features I never got around to on the old gribblenation website was the collection of postcards that Bill Symons sent along.  He had sent over nearly 80 vintage postcards of the grandfather highway.  I am finally getting to them now and will add them over in a series of four posts.  This is the fourth and final set of postcards.  I will caption where I can. Same spot as above, but a few years later as the grass median has been paved over. Susquehanna River Bridge Allegheny River Bridge (now replaced) Susquehanna River Bridge This style of guide sign was introduced in the late 50s. Site Navigation: Go Back to Part 3 of the Bill Symons PA Turnpike Postcard Collection Return to the PA Turnpike Collection Index

One of the features I never got around to on the old gribblenation website was the collection of postcards that Bill Symons sent along.  He had sent over nearly 80 vintage postcards of the grandfather highway.  I am finally getting to them now and will add them over in a series of four posts.  This is the third set of postcards.  I will caption where I can. Judging from the median, this image should be of the Sideling Hill Bypass The Delaware River Bridge well before its troubles started. Example of a button copy Big Green Sign style speed limit sign here. The 13 mile straight away Only postcard I've ever seen of Breezewood that isn't of or about Breezewood. The famous 'Caution Curves' signs that were found throughout the turnpike. Site Navigation: Bill Symons PA Turnpike Postcard Collection - Part 2 Bill Symons PA Turnpike Postcard Collection - Part 4 Return to the PA Turnpike Collection Index ...

One of the features I never got around to on the old gribblenation website was the collection of postcards that Bill Symons sent along.  He had sent over nearly 80 vintage postcards of the grandfather highway.  I am finally getting to them now and will add them over in a series of four  posts.  This is the second set of postcards.  I will caption where I can.   Any guess on which interchange this is? A smaller version of the Lehigh Valley Interchange - the access ramp to the turnpike from Tilghman Street seems to be an original part of this interchange The South Midway Travel Plaza Would that be an early merge right lane painting in this shot? I don't recall the yellow speed limit signs entering any tunnel - This is the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel. Allegheny Mountain Tunnel at Night. Site Navigation: Bill Symons PA Turnpike Postcard Collection - Part 1 Bill Symons PA Turnpike Postcard Colle...