Tourism Gives Philipsburg New Life - Brought Few Families

PHILIPSBURG - As the holiday season gets its start on a clear morning in late November, Main Street here looks like something out of a Hallmark movie.

A window washer cleans down storefronts along blocks of historic brick buildings - a candy store, a microbrewery, coffee shops, restaurants, antique stores. Wreaths hang off ornate light posts. The surrounding hills are scattered with snow.

Banners hung from windows and balconies celebrate the high school football team the Titans which has won a state eight-man class championship the previous weekend.

This was a much different scene a quarter ce...