Pennsylvania

History: 

History: 

History: 

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.

History: 

Built in 1903, this hospital primarily treated tuberculosis patients until its 1971 closure.

In a history written in 1952, the following was said about the institution:

History: 

This coal breaker entered service in 1932 after the town, in which it was constructed, was largely relocated to make room for it. Some of the impressive statistics of this facility include 20 miles of railroad track, 3, 800 tons of steel, and 10,000 cubic yards of concrete combining to make this plant happen. When in operation, it took coal only 12 minutes to pass through the entire process, ready to be shipped.

History: 

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.

History: 

Settlement here began as early as 1841, but it wasn’t until 1854 that the town, then known as Centerville, would be formally laid out. In 1865, the Post Office would open, changing the name to Centralia as it would be officially incorporated the following year.

Coal mining was the principal employer in the region until the 1960’s when many of the companies would begin going out of business.

History: 

Frick’s Lock is an abandoned village that appears to date back as far as the 1700’s. Several houses along a single, closed road would be emptied in 1986 when the nuclear power plant across the river went online.

History: 

Opened in 1908, Pennhurst was a school for disabled students. Covering 1400 acres, this enormous institution would be accused of dehumanization, and eventually abuse of its students before finally closing in 1986 in the grip of yet more scandal.

Personal Commentary: 

I wasn't here very long before the authorities kindly requested I not be.

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.