03-31-2012, 12:42 PM
But remember that in many areas, the old-style main street with brick storefronts has given way to big boxes and strip malls on the edge of town. In places like California, the old-style downtown main street stopped growing by the 1920s. Pasadena is a good example: the Santa Fe Second District main line -- the route of the El Capitan, Super Chief, and Chief -- passed through downtown back alleys through the 1960s. That area, now called Old Pasadena (for good reason) deteriorated after that; the Santa Fe line was rerouted in the late 1960s and abandoned for good in the 1990s. In California especially, earthquake codes have simply resulted in the demolition of many brick downtowns, but WalMart takes care of others all over the country. A gentrified brick downtown is the result of urban renewal, like Old Pasadena, where the yuppies now go for latte, but there would be several bad decades in between.
And remember that passenger stations started to be relocated out of downtowns in the 1950s. I don't think it's coincidence that you often now find tourist lines -- Napa Valley Wine Train, Arcade & Attica, Durango & Silverton -- going through the brick main street downtowns.
And remember that passenger stations started to be relocated out of downtowns in the 1950s. I don't think it's coincidence that you often now find tourist lines -- Napa Valley Wine Train, Arcade & Attica, Durango & Silverton -- going through the brick main street downtowns.