Changing small town/city landscapes is a harsh reality, isn't it, Jan? In the Midwest the 1980's farm crisis hit hard and small towns are slowly decaying. There are many old wonderfully built houses that urbanites pay big $$ in their cities but go for really cheap in comparison here. My DS and BIL are moving back to MW from AZ to find such a house when they are ready for retirement. Hope they haven't forgotten our four letter word--SNOW!
Maybe that's the solution, Termi--"Go west Young (wo)man, go west!"