Thank you!
It's the history of it that fascinates me. Linking it to my family makes the past real. I always felt that way when I was young. There was a strong sense of history in that community, in that place. Even the graveyard I walked past on the way to the bus stop became a Registered National Historic Landmark. This was a family cemetery--the family that lived down the road from us.
I've visited some cities in the east, and I'm always amazed by the tangible sense of history. It's great to read more personal stories. Where I live, it feels a bit like a rugged frontier in comparison. It doesn't take long before you hit the bushes when you're out for a walk in the city. :D