Can a family "live" in Galena? (O'Fallon: house, employment)

[kbug3]

we most likely will rent to some friends of ours, and my family is here to keep an eye on things. This is our hometown..so..we know lots of ppl. Yes the ocean is nice, but we are not big beach ppl. and Balt. is a death trap! It has the highest homicide rate in the country I believe! You can not go into that area to work with a work truck, tools etc. and be safe. Not all of Balt, but most! Also DC is pretty far from us..and the traffic on that side of the Bay bridge is a nightmare. Also, MD is raising the toll on the bay bridge which is really the only route to Annapolis etc. to $5.00 next year...so..My family would probably be happy with the wimpy skiing conditions as they have never even sled down a hill! Maryland at least this side is FLAT as a pancake..lots of farms, corn fields etc. We are also looking at parts of Missouri right over the line and outside of St.Louis, these areas are super attractive to my husband as he is an avid waterfowler. Most of the rivers here are dirty, and fill with jelly fish by july..I am not saying it is not pretty here...it is one of the 10 richest counties in the US,if you can believe that! But most of it is old money..trustfund money...that sort of thing...many of our friends our age (40's) are really struggling here..and many commute over that bridge looking for work, or to Delaware to find work...some have just given up looking...we are getting close to that ourselves. We are keeping a positive attitude..and unless some great job shakes loose we are staying put till the end of the school year. Then something will have to give..

[CFoulke]

I'm not trying to be mean, but it would make more sense to me to wait until a job is secured in a specific area and THEN make an informed decision as to where to live.....given the current job market practically anywhere - unless you are in a field where unlimited opportunity abounds - the job market is a major factor in relocation. My husband has a Masters degree in electrical engineering and was unemployed for over a year and a half before landing his current job - in an area where we would not have even considered previously. We had our hopes set on moving out west....we ended up in Illinois...which IS actually west of Ohio . We took a drive up to Galena last Sunday because I had heard about it being where General Grant had lived and I'm a huge Civil War buff. I was not expecting to see a "Gatlinburg" atmosphere with street after street of novelty shops and such a tourist draw. The area surrounding it was beautiful rolling hills and the views are spectacular if you enjoy the country (we do) but it is several hour drive from Rockford IL where my husband works. I don't think it would be a serious consideration for a commute. Anyway, not trying to upset anyone - just my opinion and trying to be realistic...
Good luck to you and the family.....

[kbug3]

a major problem with finding the job first..is being out of state on the resume...I don't think they give it a real consideration,even thou most ppl. today are willing to relocate for a job...most HAVE to!

[Seven Costanza]

My parents have lived in Galena, on Park Avenue (directly across from Grant Park) for about 35 years now. They both grew up in Chicago, and moved here after they took a sunday drive to the area. I'm only 22, and although I'm supposed to hate growing up in a small town, I've always told people that small towns don't get any better than Galena.

If you have any concern about schools, I can tell you that they'll allow your children to become anything they'd like to be. I just graduated with a degree in engineering, and I have 4 sisters - one of which is a doctor, another is a nurse, another a teacher, and the other a project manager - all of which were the careers we wanted.

I haven't witnessed anything that would indicate we don't accept outsiders. While I was growing up we accumulated several new students from out-of-town, and they were all accepted. This is definately a town full of generations, but out-of-towners quickly assimilate themselves. Galena is the type of place where everyone knows each other, and I can't remember the last time our door was locked...Shhh.

If you have any specific questions, I'll try my best to answer.

[debbie at bouontiful]

Originally Posted by Seven Costanza

My parents have lived in Galena, on Park Avenue (directly across from Grant Park) for about 35 years now. They both grew up in Chicago, and moved here after they took a sunday drive to the area. I'm only 22, and although I'm supposed to hate growing up in a small town, I've always told people that small towns don't get any better than Galena.

If you have any concern about schools, I can tell you that they'll allow your children to become anything they'd like to be. I just graduated with a degree in engineering, and I have 4 sisters - one of which is a doctor, another is a nurse, another a teacher, and the other a project manager - all of which were the careers we wanted.

I haven't witnessed anything that would indicate we don't accept outsiders. While I was growing up we accumulated several new students from out-of-town, and they were all accepted. This is definately a town full of generations, but out-of-towners quickly assimilate themselves. Galena is the type of place where everyone knows each other, and I can't remember the last time our door was locked...Shhh.

If you have any specific questions, I'll try my best to answer.

It looks like you are still living in that beautiful town. Your quite lucky to grow up with such history and scenery. Across the street from Grant park, that is exactly where I would live. We have been looking at homes only on Park Ave., as retirement. In the early 90s we lost a bid on a blue Victorian across the street. While, I was getting an estimate on redoing the kitchen and even seeing if the historic group would let me in large the kitchen, someone bought it out from us. I've always felt cheated but that was our fault I guess. It is the Victorian with the garage down the street. Of course, the base closed with BRAC and we were forced to move to OK. Now that husband has way over 30 years in government we can move at any time. ANYONE want to buy a cattle ranch?

[kbug3]

Seven- you paint a beautiful picture..we have three little children..and that is all I would want for them, to be whatever they want. Thanks for your response, anyone know any good ways to find rentals (houses?) by the way..do you still live in the area? My husband is also in construction..a superintendent..but as mentioned before..no work here to be found...so...I can not wait to come and look around. We love the country, we are living out in the country now...on some acreage..
Thanks again!!

[QuickStudy178]

Galena is really nice, and on par with Eureka Springs (Arkansas) as far as historical architecture and charm goes. Fortunately, Galena is still tolerable for more conservative-minded folks, as opposed to Eureka Springs which has become a circus for those wanting to live in motorcycle gangs and/or live visibly alternative lifestyles. If you are independent or conservative minded, I would say Galena could use a bit more of that for a more balanced town.

If you and your husband gear your "remodeling" or "home improvement" business more towards the direction of historical restoration and preservation, I am quite sure there would be some interest in that in Galena. On the other hand, run-of-the-mill "upgrade"-based remodeling (aka "remuddling") or "home improvement" that involves ripping out the old and replacing with new, is not really appropriate, or even beneficial, for many of the historic buildings and homes in Galena, IMHO.

[kbug3]

thanks Quickstudy, he does do historic restoration...so that might just be the "ticket" I need to look into how many builders etc. are in the area...see how much competition we woud have..around here (Md) anyone with a hammer is calling themselves a carpenter! It is awful..

[QuickStudy178]

Originally Posted by kbug3

thanks Quickstudy, he does do historic restoration...so that might just be the "ticket" I need to look into how many builders etc. are in the area...see how much competition we woud have..around here (Md) anyone with a hammer is calling themselves a carpenter! It is awful..

The entry cost into "home improvement" is very low, consequently lots of competition. On the other hand, if you set up a business wherein you would dip strip old house parts like windows, doors, trim, mantel pieces, etc. and then re-install them fully functional, you would be doing something that not everybody is going to want to deal with. A lot of people replace historic divided-light windows with new (lousy) vinyl or aluminum windows, because the old wooden windows have become difficult to open and have many layers of ugly alligatored paint, or the storm windows are broken or missing.

One of the services I offer with my own company is a de-siding (removal) of vinyl or aluminum siding from historic homes, so the relationship between the trim (around doors and windows) and the house's siding is correct once again. It is very satisfying to see old homes come alive through the process, and frequently we uncover beautiful architectural details that the home owner was not even aware of, detail that was hidden under the newer siding.

Just some thoughts.......

[kbug3]

we are thinking it would be nice to live right in town..that way you could walk to all the festivities Etc.? I am not worried about it being too liberal..I have my own way of raising my children and don't worry to much about that. My biggest concern is houseing and employment. My husband has recently been offered a job in Dubuque?? So you that commute would be bad? Should we be looking in Dubuque instead? I really love all the old homes in Galena