Day 349
1 hr, 3 kms

The Traveler decides to wander around the valleys and hills around Johnstown some more, to fully soak in the place . Following the Conamaugh River (the source of the flood) he passes vast, mainly abandoned industrial structures. No, it was not the flood that put them out of business. Actually, after the flood industry was back up and running in a month. Instead it just plain old lack of interest that killed Johnstown. Big industries simply didn't feel like making the effort and investment to keep their factories running here, finding it more economically feasible to move elsewhere--or just shut down altogether.

Beyond an industrial wasteland is the tiny borough of Franklin, once the home of some 2,600 people, now just 300 or so claim this hillside town their home. Franklin's does have a claim to fame: one of the guys on that iconic Iwo Jima photo of four marines planting a US flag was from here...