A Coal Mining Ghost Town
I recently visited a coal mining ghost town in Weatherly, Pennsylvania where the deep coal mining stopped in the 1940s. It is now run as a museum. The village was built in 1854 as a planned coal mining town, and most of the original buildings are preserved to their original state. It was an interesting glimpse into the past. Here is a visual tour of the village through my photos. It was a cloudy day with misty rain when I was there. But it was fun to walk around and experience this ghost town.
The entire village was essentially developed by the mining company along one street. Here are the homes occupied by the miners - on both sides of the street.
Image 1: Residences in the miners' village
Image 2: Residences in the miners' village
Here are examples of what we would call duplexes these days. The difference is that it was not uncommon for up to 30 people to live in these duplexes!
Here are some single family residences in the village.
The company hired its own medical doctor who also stayed in the village. They occupied a nicer residence.
The village had a church - almost centered along the length of the main street. The St. James Episcopal Church was built in 1859. The ornate organ inside is quite impressive.
Image 11: St. James Episcopal Church exterior
The owner of the mine also lived in the village though in a much more luxurious mansion.
They also had big barns for various purposes, including as a shelter for their mules that they used to draw the carriages containing coal from inside the mine.
Image 15:The barns
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