The importance of historic small towns

Shenandoah, Pa., and other once-booming areas long in decline need our support

Having lived mostly in crowded metropolises like Washington, D.C., and Dallas-Fort Worth, the main place I received a taste of small-town life was the regular family road trips to where Mom, her parents, and other relatives grew up. Despite the long miles, I looked forward to slowing down, reuniting with relatives, and catching a glimpse of what The New York Times and some locals called the only Western town in the East.