Pennsylvania

Coxton Yard

Coxton Yard was built in 1870 by the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company to facilitate the vast train activity required to support Pennsylvania's coal mining industry. By the end of World War II, however, technology began catching up with the railroads. Trucks on the expanding highway systems, and the move from coal to diesel-electric trains were bringing about the beginning of the end for operations at Coxton Yard. It was finally abandoned in 1996, though the Reading and Northern Railroad Company still uses the southern-most portion of the yard to support natural gas extraction.

Alford Station and Switch House

There is little that I'm able to gather about this location except that the station appears to have been built sometime around 1913, while the switch house was constructed two years later. Major improvements were done to the track around the same time, including construction of the tunnel through which the road passes under the track. A cut-off line was constructed at approximately the same time that I believe followed what is now the "Endless Riding Trail" to Montrose, PA. Construction of the cut-off caused great upheaval for the little town, including having the windows constantly shattered by dynamite blasts.

Forest Castle Brewery

At first I had no idea what this place was, and had in fact listed it here simply as an Unknown Building in Pennsylvania. Thanks to some great help from Bernard Stiroh at duryeapa.com, I found out that this was the Forest Castle Brewery.

Concrete City

These buildings were opened in 1913 to provide model housing for key, "high value" employees and supervisors of the DL & W Railroad's Coal Division, who paid a rent of $8.00 per month. In 2008 dollars, using the Consumer Price Index, that would be $179.42. One additional requirement of these employees was that they had to speak English as their first language.

Eastern State Penitientiary

The history of Eastern State Penitentiary is a fascinating story spanning many years. As a model for prisons yet to be built, it would stand as first a shining beacon, and then as a potential embarrassment both admired and reviled.

Pennsylvania Turnpike

It was early in the day, and already becoming quite warm. We had each brought a large bottle of Gatorade with us and felt quite prepared and excited for what lay ahead. Two tunnels carved into the hills beyond. Tunnels which, for a brief period of time, allowed traffic a faster, easier route through the beautiful state of Pennsylvania. Its inherent flaws, however, started the clock ticking to its eventual closure.

Shannopin Mine

Opened in 1926, this mine covered an area of approximately 8,200 acres. The mine closed in 1993 owing over $87,000 in taxes for the property itself, and with the parent company owing over $700,000 overall.

Bayless Pulp and Paper

The Bayless Pulp and Paper mill was first constructed in 1900 as industry in this area turned from sawmills to pulp and paper. It was the largest plant, and single largest employer in the area.

Pennsylvania