Middletown -
by Irwin Richman
(Reprinted from April 14, 1970
Capitolist)
Middletown ain't New York or even
Philadelphia. Neither is Middletown
the idyllic Nixonian vision of a beau
tiful small town whose tree-shaded
streets are lined with big white
houses. It is a polygot community
upon which it is easy to dump; es
pecially if you only allow yourself
to know it fleetingly or if you let
the first amazed stares 'at your cloth
ers, beard, hair, and/or beads solidify
your judgement.-
Middletown is an old community,
as a matter of fact it is one of the
oldest towns in Pennsylvania. An
important stopping off point in the
eighteenth century, it is located mid
way (hence Middletown) between
Carlisle and Lancaster. The com
munity was known for its inns and
taverns. In the nineteenth century
the canal era brought new prosperity
to the town and its neighbors, Roy
alton and Falmouth, and the remains
of the old canal can still be seen a
long the Susquehanna outside of
town. With the coming of the rail
road, heavy industry developed in
town: a car shop, a stove foundry,
and Middletown was at its economic
peak.
The twentieth century until re
cently has qualified the borough for
a “Fickle Finger of Fate” award.
The development of Olmsted Air
Force base flooded, overwhelmed the
town with a huge, transitory popu
lation. Thousands of people were
poured into the area, but most of
them didn’t give a damn about it.
The Pennsylvania Department of
Highways also did its share in the
“rape Middletown Campaign”. To
widen Route 230 (Main Street) as
“progress” demanded, it had to des
troy the flower bedecked square and
to cut down the shade trees. A Main
Street exposed, a Main Street trav-
Staff of the CAPITOLIST
Editor:
RO SCANLON
Contributors:
ANN OSTROSKI
KATHI DOOLEY
LU ANN BEROLIS
TONY MrGOVERN'
BARBARA HANCOCK
ROGER HAWKINS
MICHAEL RIX
THE CAPITOLIST <
Then and Now
eled by heavy trucks, is a Main Street
which begins-to grow seedy. Pride
is lost, paint begins to peel and an
emetic Seven Eleven Market replaces
a landmark.
The Messiah has not arrived yet,
but there are new trends emergent,
many of them accellerated by the
closing of the Air Force Base. Pro
phets of doom considered it to be the
death.knell of the town, but the area
surprised itself. Commercial opera
tions moving into the old Olmsted
facilities are providing for a more
stabile population. The establish
ment of Capitol Campus added a
new dimension to the community
a force whose full impact has not
yet been appreciated.
The town has been taking a re
newed pride in its past and its pre
sent. Planning for civic improve
ment has been done. Middletown
even has become one of the first com
munities of its size to establish an
Historical Commission as an official
governmental agency. The changes
haven’t been dramatic, although
some events have been surprising.
Before last October twelfth, who
would have believed that over 700
people would have paid money to see
the inside of twelve Middletown
homes ? Before last year, who would
have believed that Middletown would
soon have a gourmet restaurant lo
cated in a restored Edwardian man
sion? But it is happening on North
Union Street.
A few houses are being painted
and fixed up, a few more young peo
ple are staying in town, and the
whole community is supporting a
fund-raising effort for a burnt out
Black Church. Middletown is chang
ing.
Next time you’re down town look
at the community and stare back at
the natives, they are not really un
friendly.
Business Manager:
RICHARD MARX
Sports:
MICHAEL KELLER
Photographers:
ERIC MURRAY
RICHARD MARX
September 24, 1970
Letters to the Editor
OPEN LETTER to the STUDENTS
of MEADE HEIGHTS
Welcome to a community of people.
The Board of Governors is a group
of students elected to serve the needs
of the community; so if you need any
help, contact us at the following ad
dresses :
Jim—B4sß Kirtland
Jim—B4sß Kirtland
Barry—B49A Kirtland
Donald—B49A Kirtland
Stop in for a drink sometime!
Four more members to the Board
will be elected from the Junior Class
during the third Week. Watch for
the announcements!
There is a coffee house in Meade
Heights. It’s next to peoples’ park
on Kirtland Street. Some of the
planned activities are:
Discussion groups-
Students and Profs
Rock Groups
Jam Sessions
Come on over and get into it! !
We’re going to come around to visit
your residence in Meade Heights in
the near future to answer any ques
tions you might have and to help you
get involved in the community.
Jim McLean
P.S. Get involved in some committees
too!
Vietnam
October 31, 1970
(and always)