My attempt at a "short cut" in my hometown led me to a string factory that has apparently been converted to apartments...
By Kevin Williams
My aging, midwestern Rust Belt hometown is honeycombed with alleyways in the downtown section. The tiny lanes snake between buildings and are tucked between rows of houses. A city official told me years ago that the alleyways were created so that heating supplies like coal and oil could be more easily delivered to homes during winter and for garbage collection. I think even today you'll see lumbering garbage trucks rumbling through the alleyways although the coal deliveries have mostly long stopped.
I should have gotten a better photo of the sign, but if you look closely, the sign on the building says "Historic Inglehart Street String Factory Apartments"
I rarely go down these alleys. Occasionally I'll use one as a short-cut or to correct an errant turn. I did one such short cut recently and found, to my surprise, a sign that said "Historic Inglehart Street String Factory Apartments." I've lived here my whole life and never heard of a "string factory" that was once in my town. Strings for what? Violins? Kites? And I didn't know the alley had a name. Most in my town don't. Yet here was this one with an almost regal sounding name like Inglehart.
A cursory Google search yielded nothing. But now this discovery has me eager to cruise the other alleyways in my city, eager for what I might find....
Carol
Hey Kevin, Never really know what you're going to find, even in an area where one has lived all their life! Isn't that cool?! Blessings, Carol
Joanne Hobbs
I just love your web site and have wanted to forward your site to friends and family and for some reason I had trouble doing it. I love everything you do and write about. AND never thought about a factory that made string. I guess it had to be made somewhere!
Thanks again for your site, Joanne
Kevin
Thank you so much, Joanne!
Kathy Barnes
I'm so proud of you running and pushing Aster, that's awesome. Congratulations on the weight loss. Keep up the good work!
Kathy
Kevin
Thanks, Kathy
Carol Morris
If it's only 6 oz it's down!! Aster looks so much like you. I'm anxious to see what her sister looks like. I have 6 and they are all different, even the twins. Enjoy your emails. thanx