I just came back from a meeting of the Catholic Medical Association in “Balmer” (sic). I had spent several months there in 1983 for some additional training in forensic medicine with a national expert. I must say I don’t care much for the city any longer. But I did like the western part of the state. I can’t say I’ve ever been out as far west as Cumberland though. Is that your area?
Cumberland is not far from me but they are the lone “Dem blight” on W.MD.
Nearby Frostburg college is full of liberals and Cumberland, slowly decaying railroad town that it is, has a lot of “non-workers” on the public dole.
They have attempted to “revive” Cumberland by touting it as a C&O Canal tourist attraction.
[with not very stellar success...much of the downtown area looks like “Bawlmer, West”, which is what we call it]
Our fiberglass man is up there and we go quite often to pick up trike bodies and I’ve noticed a surprising lack of Zero signs.
In 2004, the place looked like Kerry campaign sign factory had blown up.
Having said that, few places are as utterly beautiful as the mountains of Cumberland and westward.
It’s one of my favorite places to go for getting in touch with my ancestral roots.
I’d rather have a rash than visit Bawlmer *but* the Inner Harbor Aquarium is a definite must-see.
Go in the -daytime- and have a look.
It’s amazing....:)