Sherlockian in Erie, PA
By Don Hobbs

I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving Holiday as much as I did. My wife’s family came to our house this year and then stayed over through Saturday to celebrate her patent’s 50th wedding anniversary. Their party included about 150 of their closet friends and relatives. I had to miss out on one more day of festivities in order to hop on a plane and fly to Cleveland, Ohio Sunday morning.

I got into Cleveland at noon and after picking up my rental car, drove 110 miles to Erie, PA where I am working this week. Immediately upon arrival, I scoured the Yellow pages and discovered Sherlock’s at 508 State Street, in depressing downtown Erie. Now this is already an emotional time of the year. The Holiday Season sets off the entire range of feeling from high elation to the lowest depression. This is as true with the general public as it is with the Sherlockian world. Driving to downtown Erie, PA was far worst than I had expected. This is very depressing especially when one can see the wealth that once was here.

Sherlock’s is a bar as far as I could tell, I did not take the chance to enter. The few minutes it took me to get my photographs was enough for me. I was bumped into by a homeless man and my only reaction was to do a mental checklist of my belongings to make sure I was not pick pocketed. I was in possession of everything I had brought with me. I found my reaction regretful but somehow appropriate. There were 2 bay-windows on either side on an entrance portal that announced Sherlock’s even though the door have no markings on it what-so-ever. The windows were plastered with empty, folded beer cartons. There was a lit light above the portal so I assumed the place was open.

I took my picture of the Sherlock sign in the middle of a pouring, 34 degrees rain storm, avoided getting mugged or propositioned or pick pocketed and was back at my hotel before the 7 pm curfew. And all because I had forgotten to memorize the correct Erie, PA Gang signs before I left Texas. Actually, I felt perfectly save taking the picture  and I do not want to dis Pennsylvania. I have another week to be here and need to continue to feel safe.  I am saddened by the emptiness in the faded grandeur. I wish Erie, PA well.

Happy collecting!!