Apalachin has always been a small and friendly place which welcomes visitors and newcomers. But, what sort of "welcome" are they receiving?

Join us on a short tour of some of the welcoming sights which greet people as they enter Apalachin from Route 17 (future Interstate 86).

1) Traveling east on Route 17, the first thing we see as we approach Exit 66 is the unique collection of paraphenalia left behind by Dekar Farms.

2) Exiting Route 17 and turning west onto Route 434, we are welcomed by a familiar odor wafting from the Town of Owego sewage treatment plant. (Ah, it reminds one of Vestal!) (On recent travels along Route 17 to Village of Owego and Waverly it has been noticed that their's don't stink, but the one in Apalachin...)

3) Continuing along Route 434, we see the bright yellow vacant "Surmik Building" on the corner of Williams Street and Route 434. (Such a sad fate for the former home of the Vette Set and BEAM Electronics!)

4) As we wait to turn left on to Pennsylvania Avenue, we get a great view of the ruins of the former Ken's Texaco at the corner of Penn Ave. Note the boarded up windows and the determined weeds growing through the pavement. (It's possible that the Dept. of Environmental Conservation will give the property a clean bill of health this year and something positive can be done with the property.)

5) Turning on to Pennsylvania Ave, we see Woodhenge, piles of lumber stacked on the lots where two vacant houses were torn down. (An improvement? You decide!) It's rumored that on the winter solstice, the sun rises directly over the first pile.

6) Turning down Main St we see the ancient ruins of the "Grange Hall." (Vacant for years, it was recently purchased for back taxes. The new owner says he would like to restore the building as a public gathering place.)

7) Just across the street we find the former "Dutch's Bar," another unused property recently sold for back taxes.

8) Returning to Route 434, we pass Lolita Avenue (formerly Waterman Avenue), for a view of the "Great Wall of Apalachin," recently erected by the Dug Out in an effort to keep their patrons from parking at "Don Davis Meats & Char Pit." (Yes, Don Davis is still there, hiding behind the wall, or fence as some folks call it.)

We hope you enjoyed our tour. Y'all come back now, y'hear?