Is there still a good life left in Warren County? Yes! But the changes that have occurred in the last 40 years are startling, significant, and serious.

Sadly, Warren County has lost 250 residents each year for 4 decades. So, the population of 53,000 in 1969 has dropped to 43,000. Warren Borough (City) which once boasted 15,000 Friendly People is now home to just 10,000.

As our population has declined, so has our industrial base. Gone are such venerable giants as Pennsylvania Furnace & Iron, Struthers Wells, Rexnord, Lorangers, Pittsburgh Des Moines Steel, Walker Creamery, and others.

Our stately State Hospital, which cared for 2,200 patients 40 years ago with 1,100 employees has only 200 patients left with 475 employees remaining. But the soccer fields are wonderful.

There has been a major change in our farm industry too. There were 720 farms In the county in 1969. Now there are only 220 farms, mostly in the northern-tier townships.

Forty years ago we had a Junior College - Edinboro branch. In spite of the fact that we had 375 students, 18 full-time instructors, a 200-acre campus, and an offer to build the first dormitory, the president of Edinboro said "no thanks" and closed our college in 1970.

The Allegheny National Forest, once a major tourist attraction claiming a million visitor days each year is closing its campgrounds, and the Feds can't find enough money for a lonely lifeguard at Kinzua Beach.

Like many small towns, Warren no longer has a downtown shopping center. In 1969, downtown had a five-floor old fashioned department store and five blocks of quality retail stores. But today we must be content with 25-30 store fronts.

We do congratulate the few survivors-Gaughns Drug Store, Valone Shoes, Virg-Ann Flower Shop, the Busy Bee Lounge, and the Plaza Restaurant.

What can the Chamber of Commerce brag about today? Not so much except for one thing that has remained constant. That constant is our natural environment and, consequently, our lifestyle.

Warren County still is a year-round playground with hunting, fishing, and camping for the sportsmen and offers, also, an excellent array of cultural opportunities for those who wish this amenity.

We still have our rolling hills and cold streams and the magnificent mountains and river. The seasons change beautifully and the air is clear and sweet.

Rush hour is still a leisurely 5 minute drive from home or work and many of us continue to live the good life, on the edge of nature, in a lovely community-far from the madding crowd.

Sincerely,

Charles R. Tranter, Warren