What happened to the town I used to know?

blogger's note: HEY! This post doesn't really have to do with old cars....but I was in my car when it happened, and I was in a nostalgic state of mind. Union City was once home to one of the many vehicle manufacturers in Indiana. Union City also was at one time home the the Union City Body Company, manufactures of school bus chassis, Step Vans, UPS trucks, etc.


It's unfortunate that many things we find endearing from our childhood have to change. I was thinking about the cool cruise-ins and go kart races they used to have on the streets of my hometown. I also remember going by the old Coca-Cola bottling plant and watching the green bottles travel around the machinery through the large plate glass windows. Now the building sits empty.


I had the chance to spend some time driving around my hometown a few weeks ago. I was amazed at the number of vacant buildings, empty store fronts, and run down homes. This is not the hometown I remember from my childhood.




Union City is a unique small town. It is located directly on the Ohio-Indiana State border. A street named "Stateline" runs through town. As I drove around, I was reminded of the following songs from my youth, I thought it would be interesting to take a few pictures and/or video someday and put the following songs in the background. I think it would give others a feel of what was going through my head the day I drove around my "hometown".






My City Was Gone - The Pretenders


I WENT BACK TO OHIO
BUT MY CITY WAS GONE
THERE WAS NO TRAIN STATION
THERE WAS NO DOWNTOWN
SOUTH HOWARD HAD DISAPPEARED
ALL MY FAVORITE PLACES
MY CITY HAD BEEN PULLED DOWN
REDUCED TO PARKING SPACES
A, O, WAY TO GO OHIO

WELL I WENT BACK TO OHIO
BUT MY FAMILY WAS GONE
I STOOD ON THE BACK PORCH
THERE WAS NOBODY HOME
I WAS STUNNED AND AMAZED
MY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
SLOWLY SWIRLED PASTLIKE THE WIND THROUGH THE TREES
A, O, OH WAY TO GO OHIO

I WENT BACK TO OHIO
BUT MY PRETTY COUNTRYSIDE
HAD BEEN PAVED DOWN THE MIDDLE
BY A GOVERNMENT THAT HAD NO PRIDE
THE FARMS OF OHIO
HAD BEEN REPLACED BY SHOPPING MALLS
AND MUZAK FILLED THE AIR
FROM SENECA TO CUYAHOGA FALLS
SAID, A, O, OH WAY TO GO OHIO

Union City Blue - Blondie


Oh, oh, what are we gonna do?
Union, Union, Union City blue
Tunnel to the other side
It becomes daylight
I say he's mine
Oh power, passion plays a double hand
Union, Union Union City man

Arrive, climb up four flights
To the orange side
Rearrange my mind
In turquoise Union, Union, Union City blue
Skyline, passion, Union City blue
Power, passion plays a double hand
Union, Union, Union City man

I say he's mine
I have a plan
I say he's my Union City man
Oh, oh, what are we gonna do?
Union, Union, Union City blue



You can check out the following websites to learn more about my hometown.


http://www.unioncityindiana.gov/in/
http://www.unioncityvillage.homestead.com/
http://www.unioncitycommunities.homestead.com/uclinks.html


My Hometown - Bruce Springsteen


I was eight years old and running with a dime in my hand
Into the bus stop to pick up a paper for my old man
I'd sit on his lap in that big old Buick and steer as we drove through town
He'd tousle my hair and say son take a good look around this is your hometown
This is your hometown
This is your hometown
This is your hometown

Now Main Street's whitewashed windows and vacant stores
Seems like there ain't nobody wants to come down here no more
They're closing down the textile mill across the railroad tracks
Foreman says these jobs are going boys and they ain't coming back to your hometown
Your hometown
Your hometown
Your hometown

Last night me and Kate we laid in bed
talking about getting out
Packing up our bags
maybe heading south
I'm thirty-five we got a boy of our own now
Last night I sat him up behind the wheel and said son take a good look around
This is your hometown