Concrete City
A Quick Dive into History
Concrete City is located in Luzerne County, PA. This experimental housing was designed for the coal mining employees of Truesdale Colliery, in the town of Nanticoke, PA.
The development featured 40 identical homes designed to be low-maintenance and resilient. However, the experiment faced several challenges, including issues with water-seepage, making the home interior prone to dampness.
These structures were built in 1911 and only 13 years later, abandoned. What started off as an extremely popular circumstance for employees and their families, turned into a less desirable outcome.
Today the structures still stand, echoing the fascinating remnants of coal mining history.
It is welcome to urban explorers and history enthusiasts who are eager to explore.
The following is a run down of our visiting experience.
The parking was easy to spot and safe. It is located on the side of the road, just across from the entrance of Concrete City.
The hike itself was an easy 1/4 mile distance until the first row of structures stand before you.
The left picture is a general map of the ruins, while the right picture shows the specific route we took.
I started my journey just taking in the property and exterior. But the accessibility of some of these buildings made it super effortless to travel within and see how these buildings were put together. It was really fun figuring out what each little room was meant for, from the living room, kitchen, bedroom, to closets. One thing that stumped us was seeing a couple of stairs on the top floor leading to nothing. My first thought was that it may be for roof access. We later found out that they were "elevated closets," to keep clothes dry with the concrete moisture problem.
While they attempted to knock down these structures using dynamite, the concrete flooring finally giving way in Concrete City shows that deterioration happens naturally, not forcibly. I am thankful for the outstanding strength of the concrete, which allows us to view this historical site in current times.
The natural lighting in this upstairs room symbolize how harmless this site is in comparison to other abandoned places. The people we came across during our travels were friendly, but it is important to always be wary and cautious when entering neglected and uninhabited structures.
Joey got this great shot of this abandoned car amongst the brush in the forgotten property. Not entirely sure what the car was doing in this area, but it was very interesting to see!
Amongst some of the rather derogatory and negative graffiti that is present in any abandoned place, this artwork was rather inviting upon entering one of the building.
That concludes the information regarding our travels to Concrete City in Nanticoke, PA! In conclusion the hike was mild, but the trails were a bit muddy on our excursion day so wearing hiking boots is a good idea. My personal favorite hikes are ones embedded with historical and old structures, this is definitely a must-see if you live in the area! I love stepping back in time, it truly builds awareness and pays tribute to other ways of life that is different from mine. .
Thanks for tuning in!
Happy Travels :)
Citations
“Underground Miners.” Facebook, 27 Oct. 2021, www.facebook.com/undergroundminers/posts/truesdale-colliery-company-housing-commonly-known-today-as-concrete-city-built-i/170401665293801/.