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App developed in central Pa. aims to connect people with communities

  • Rachel McDevitt/StateImpact Pennsylvania
The coal plant in Shamokin Dam, Pa., is a local landmark that delivered electricity to this region for more than six decades. It closed in 2014. Next to it, a brand new natural gas power plant is under construction. The Sunbury Pipeline will feed Marcellus Shale gas into that plant.

 Jeff Brady / NPR

The coal plant in Shamokin Dam, Pa., is a local landmark that delivered electricity to this region for more than six decades. It closed in 2014. Next to it, a brand new natural gas power plant is under construction. The Sunbury Pipeline will feed Marcellus Shale gas into that plant.

(Harrisburg) — Two midstate app developers hope their product will help people explore and feel more connected to their communities.

The Retro-Spective app gives users a map of historical places or points of interest.

When they arrive at the site, they can use their phone to see a picture of what the area looked like decades ago.

Developers David Taylor and Derek Wolfgang worked with the Northumberland County Historical Society to create a self-guided tour around Sunbury.

Wolfgang said they are working to update the app so users can upload photos from anywhere.

“I think this will allow us to discover new places around the country and around the world,” he said.

They said one goal is to reach younger people to get them more involved with their community’s history.

“Being able to go and see what actually existed in these locations and see what was there, maybe learn a little bit about the history and what maybe their grandparents saw and lived through,” Taylor said.

To them, it’s important to preserve the past as revitalization efforts get underway in many small midstate cities.

If a person wants to have their town or city built into the app, they can contact the developers through their website.

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