Birthdaze 2021 🥳:
Concrete City, Nanticoke, PA

Within the woods of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania is a ghost town–20 concrete duplex homes that have been chipping away by nature and man since abandonment in 1924. They were constructed in 1911 by by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad to house employees of the Truesdale Colliery, a thriving coal mine and once largest producer and shipper of anthracite (as reported in this Colliery Engineer in 1914.)

The houses were coveted by the employees of the coal mine at first. They were four-bedroom two-story homes complete with a basement. The use of concrete to build the structures was considered state of the art at the time. The open courtyard of the homes, which were configured in a rectangle, featured desirable amenities such as a swimming pool and baseball field. Only 40 lucky coalminers were chosen to move in. With a company requirement of English being their native language, many immigrants were ruled out of moving into the “Garden City of the Anthracite Region.”

Unfortunately it was soon realized that the concrete made it impossible to run a sewer system from the homes’ outhouses… and that the concrete was wet and drafty through the seasons. The once coveted homes were abandoned by employees after only 13 years. Further, attempts at demolition were deemed too challenging by new owner the Glen Alden Coal Company. They gave up after 100 sticks of dynamite did not do much damage on a home.

Flash forward about 100 years and you will find me walking down the muddy path to check out the structures. Despite my waterproof boots sitting toasty in my car, I hastily ventured in with my Jack Purcells foolishly. Boots are a must as the paths, likely traversed by area ATV-ers, have deep holes and slippery mud all about. Also–bug spray. The mosquitoes that live about the many puddles get very excited by visitors and several stung me right through my pants! Though the ruins are not that dynamic as they are all identical structures, the condition each is in is unique. I definitely recommend the place for easy and fascinating exploration. Check out this page, the source of all the history above, for very specific details on how to access.

And check out my photos–stop 1 on my Birthday weekend adventure.