Small town libraries are like the loving literary auntie that every family depends on to make learning a great adventure for kids of all ages. Kids can find themselves in another world within the pages of books found at the library.
From the outside, Eva K. Bowlby Public Library fits right in with all the other the stately homes on North Richhill Street, built during Greene County’s first gas and oil boom days. Wildcatters and lucky leaseholders of the early 20th century brought their sudden wealth to Waynesburg’s north side and converted pastureland into dream homes. The hillside behind the library was once a turkey farm.
Now Paul and Amy’s son and daughter-in-law, Adam and Diane Stokes, carry on Harry’s neighborliness with a little bit of everything for sale, at Stokes General Store. It’s this kind of gathering place that every small town needs to stay alive, including gas pumps and a family-run deli.
The Valentine’s Day weekend of February 12 through the 15, gives everyone a chance to count birds for science. The Great Backyard Bird Count asks watchers to spend at least 15 minutes counting the birds around the neighborhood. That includes kids itching for a chance to go outside, then coming back in and using their computer to tell Cornell University what they saw.
“Shop Scenic” could well become the catch phrase for Greene County when the holiday season consists of driving country roads to find that perfect gift. Unique shops stuffed with handcrafted items, delicious eats and bottles of wine are waiting for the day-tripper who is willing to imagine that Greene County is a super mall with miles of rural scenery to be enjoyed between shops.
In downtown Waynesburg, the genteel storefronts of High Street never stay empty for long. New shops can be an exciting find as entrepreneurs try their hand at serving up that new something that the public is eager to sample. But it’s the anchor stores of downtown Waynesburg that have been around for decades that have the power to draw back fans every season to shop for the quality goods they are known for.
What better place to find that perfect antique or collectible gift to give than in an old town that still remembers its past. Every building in Waynesburg bears the stamp of the era that gave it life, from the late 1800s through the roaring 20s to the post War years and those more modern contours. All are stitched together with lamp posts bearing the decorations of the seasons as they come and go.
A day trip to Waynesburg offers a chance to shop the season for unique gifts while enjoying the historical details that makes this old town a picturesque drive. If there are children on your list who want toys that capture the real world of animals and machinery, or friends with a hankering for the hand made, shop on the South Side of Waynesburg. Add lunch at an artisan eatery and your trip is complete!
With the efforts of a group of intrepid volunteers, Greene County’s only canoe/kayak launch on the Mon has been restored and strengthened in Greensboro. Its name – Potters Landing – is a nod to the pottery that once made this old river town famous.