HGTV - Hometown Takeover - Montrose, PA

Yes, it is a very old and quaint town. We have lots of history here. The majority of the young folk don't stay, however. "It's not about living, it's about life and the quality of life." But - there are big problems of drugs and many active warrants exist for multiple reasons, including child support. There is crime, despair, anger.

We moved here in 1972 after visiting for 12 years when my parents built their summer log cabin on a lake. Our family was immediately accepted and welcomed by the locals. We had a home built to accommodate all of us. The school system was and still is very good. YAY!  When our children flew the nest, and my parents died, we moved into the cabin. We have always had good neighbors. The town has been growing through all those years. We now have Pump and Pantry, Dunkin' Donuts, MacDonald's, Tractor Supply, a Price Chopper, Rite-Aid and other much larger business changes and improvements throughout the years, some very good to the community in general. That doesn't stop crime and terrible potholes in the roads. We are thankful for having a very competent volunteer fire company and ambulance service, up-to-date hospital, wonderful new library, historical society, laundromat, spirits store, beer store and a medium sized hometown market so close to where we live. Many small restaurants do well. The restored movie theater! I MUST include that. There are some small shops but they are disappearing quite quickly now. The rents are high. Local churches are Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopalian, Catholic, Baptist, Jehovah's Witnesses, Evangelical Free, Seventh Day Adventist, and other non-denominal and community ones. There are excellent veterinarians and a well-run large animal shelter. Bed & breakfasts are handy and beautiful. There are many professionals such as attorneys, dentists, accountants, educators, engineers, architects, artists, authors, photographers and others in town. A golf course that has been here since 1898 is still in full operation. There numerous fabulous festivals, parades, activities and community celebrations too. It would be too much to list or describe them all but I think by now you might be getting the idea that this small town, the county seat, has it all, even two funeral homes. It still needs "something" and I wonder what that something could be. Personally, I liked it here better in the 60' and 70's. I just want to go back to the town that had all we needed. Life was slower. Traffic was less. More peace prevailed. Everyone knew each other. Everyone cared.

We like it here. We'll stay.

This bit is not about the surrounding area, with farms, orchards, and parks and beautiful natural lands. That is for another day.