My Mechanicsburg

"...Wasting time
Let the hours roll by
Doing nothing for the fun
Little taste of the good life
Whether right or wrong
Makes us want to stay stay stay stay for awhile..."

I woke up today, and the sky was clear blue, and despite the cool of fall, the sun shone with a warm brilliance. You can't pass up a day like this to go outside for one reason or another. In need of some exercise I decided a walk was in order. 

I live in Mechanicsburg, I have lived here off an on for thirty-four years, born-n-raised one could say. I have lived elsewhere briefly, but Mechanicsburg is like a warm blanket and when LC and I decided to move back here after a few years in nearby Etters that is exactly how it felt. And while it's no New England or Adirondacks, I still love Mechanicsburg in the Fall. You get the leaves changing color, and familiar smells of fall- somewhere someone is burning a wood fire, coupled with the leaves falling from the trees creates a scent that is as comforting as going to sleep listening to the races in nearby Williams Grove in the summer!

Let me throw a little bit of Mechanicsburg History your way. On April 12, 1828 the borough was given the name Mechanicsburg after the increased settlement of Conestago Wagon mechanics to the area. Designated as a water station for the restocking of locomotives in the 1800's, railroads played a vital role in Mechanicsburg's development linking the town to the business and industry world. Grain and feed companies, lumber yards, and numerous factories were intentionally placed along these tracks to attract more business. During the 19th century an average of 25 trains chugged through the town daily carrying travelers, mail, newspapers, coal, and food. However, today only six trains travel through each day. This number did not used to be this high until Norfolk Southern gained more work on the local sub-line running through Mechanicsburg. [http://wikitravel.org/en/Mechanicsburg]

Today Mechanicsburg is a thriving little town. Situated in something of an interstate hub, we have easy access to I-81, I-83, I-76, PA 11/15, and 322.  This translates to easy road trips to New York, Maryland, Pittsburgh, State College, Washington D.C. and many more destinations. This ease of major road ways is one of the things I value most because love a good road trip and living here allows me access to just about any direction. 

Its a nice place to live because you have thriving housing communities that appeal to all budgets, it's a safe place to live with low crime, and even lower violent crime, and it's a community that celebrates! There's the annual Wrench Drop for New Year's! In the summer we host Jubilee Day, which is the largest one day street fair in Eastern PA! And in the Fall we have the annual Halloween Parade in downtown Mechanicsburg. 

Two great school districts make up the majority of Mechanicsburg. First you have Mechanicsburg School District, and then you have Cumberland Valley School District. Two very good school systems all the way Kindergarten thru 12th Grade. 

OK so that is enough boring data meant to entice those of you NOT living here to come here! It's funny but I never thought of myself is having much community pride until the past couple years. The truth is LC and I used to discuss moving to Williamsburg, VA often. We even bought into a time-share down there before we were even home-owners here! It always seemed like a place we wanted to be, and indeed still very much is. The truth is I can navigate myself around Williamsburg almost as easily as I can here at home. And the draw to history was what initially brought us down there.  

It's the feeling I get when I come home, that's the feeling that ends up keeping us here! (And if you don't live in Mechanicsburg, why you should! 

Thanks for reading!