The PA Coal Region in great decline any thoughts? (Philadelphia: house, purchase)

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by steeps

But the Coal Company still owns below.

The chances of any coal mining activity is about none.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I know it's not a true portion of the coal region,

I guess it depends on how you want to define it but it's most certainly a part of the coal boom. There is four major anthracite fields, the coal even has different characteristics. Pottsville sits directly over the center of the southern field. WB/Scranton sits over the Northern field.

[PreservationPioneer]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I know it's not a true portion of the coal region, but I've seen grand houses in Pottsville. This is a good example. Something like this would sell for four times as much in Pittsburgh easily.

This one in Frackville is a bit remuddled, but it still has lots of charm.

That's beautiful, but personally way too big for me. I love the modest little row houses like this.

Personally, I find the small coal towns charming and picturesque, and wonderfully urban in character. I like small cities, but the young people who are attracted to those kinds of neighborhoods tend to prefer large cities where there is more going on. Small towns are a tough sell for people my age. The cool old row houses are probably not the issue.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by PreservationPioneer

That's beautiful, but personally way too big for me. I love the modest little row houses like this.

This house and this house are nice midpoints in terms of price and character. Kitchens and bathrooms have been remuddled, but otherwise they look pretty intact, and are quite affordable.

On the other hand, there are several mansions which were converted into apartments for sale at a steal in Pottsville. Check out this and this. I can only imagine what they'd go for in Allegheny West.

I'd also buy this in a hot minute.

I do love modest housing, although now that I'm a family man, we don't really fit in one of those 12-foot wide rowhouses any longer. The issue for me though is it's rare that you see one of those size rowhouses with reasonably intact interiors.

Originally Posted by PreservationPioneer

Personally, I find the small coal towns charming and picturesque, and wonderfully urban in character. I like small cities, but the young people who are attracted to those kinds of neighborhoods tend to prefer large cities where there is more going on. Small towns are a tough sell for people my age. The cool old row houses are probably not the issue.

Small towns are not a hard sell in and of themselves I think. Plenty of spend their college years in what are essentially small towns, and if the university is large enough, it generates enough commercial traffic that the downtown has everything you need in terms of walkable life. I think more young people would consider walkable small towns if there were jobs available and was at least a modicum of social activity (e.g., a handful of decent bars and restaurants).

That said, I agree that in general the walkable small town thing is more appealing to people with urban proclivities as they get older. It seems these towns, where they exist and have been "gentrified" mostly attract transplants in their 30s and up. Still, the "gentrified" versions of these towns tend to be expensive considering the job market, because they attract so many retirees and older people who can "work from anywhere."

[Clark Park]

Originally Posted by thecoalman

I'm, not aware of row houses that look like that in our area, 2 stories 1000/1400 +/- sq ft. is typical row or coal home. Many of the the homes that were owned by coal companies are actually individual but it's the same house on the entire block. They are very basic and sell for 25K to 50K.

Interestingly, the vast majority of coal company owners lived in Philadelphia.

The one problem I have with Eckley Miner's Village is there is an "company owner's house" at the far end of the village a mile away from the entrance gate. This is a bit deceiving, it was actually only a "summer cottage" for the mine owner's family (it was still about 2 1/2 stories with about 14 rooms, a grand staircase and quarters for live in servants) to use in the warmest months to get away from the city.

Coal companies sent "recruiters" to the docks in Philly to sign up laborers in the latter quarter of the 19th Century when Eastern and Southern European countries (Slavic, Polish, Ukrainian, Italian, etc.) to replace the "troublesome" and "insubordinate" original English, Irish, and Welsh miners.

[Clark Park]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I know it's not a true portion of the coal region, but I've seen grand houses in Pottsville. This is a good example. Something like this would sell for four times as much in Pittsburgh easily.

Oh, I like that one! I could live in such a house ... it's slightly smaller than my semi-detached 120 year old Victorian "Twin" townhouse - mine has 6 bedrooms and 2990 sf. but it has a lot of character and charm.

When I took one of my many "Anthracite Heritage Motor Trips" just a couple of weeks ago I spent some time in Pottsville. This is not a little town but a proper small city with many amenities such as a good selection of restaurants and drinking establishments. Pottsville struck me as a clean and tidy town - saw no litter or graffiti and it seemed well maintained. It doesn't hurt that it's the home of Yeungling!

[PreservationPioneer]

I just adore small houses. My current house is 1500 sq ft., and it feels huge to me. My old house was an 800 sq ft rowhouse and it was just right. I don't know what to do with all of the rooms, as a single person living alone. Right now, I have the sitting room set up as a TV room, the living room for social occasions, the dining room for formal eating occasions, one bedroom as an office, and one bedroom for guests. And all of that is just crazy because who needs separate rooms for all of those things? lol

[PreservationPioneer]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

Oh, I like that one! I could live in such a house ... it's slightly smaller than my semi-detached 120 year old Victorian "Twin" townhouse - mine has 6 bedrooms and 2990 sf. but it has a lot of character and charm.

When I took one of my many "Anthracite Heritage Motor Trips" just a couple of weeks ago I spent some time in Pottsville. This is not a little town but a proper small city with many amenities such as a good selection of restaurants and drinking establishments. Pottsville struck me as a clean and tidy town - saw no litter or graffiti and it seemed well maintained. It doesn't hurt that it's the home of Yeungling!

I just love Pottsville. I can't wait to visit the other towns in the coal region. I'm sure they are all quite beautiful in their own way. I am always struck by the better conditions of eastern PA small cities and towns compared to the dilapidated conditions of many western PA towns... (Chester excluded). Places like Reading, Lebanon, York, etc. are really not blighted compared to the level of blight and abandonment you see in Western PA towns like McKeesport, New Castle, New Kensington, Aliquippa, etc.

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by PreservationPioneer

I just love Pottsville. I can't wait to visit the other towns in the coal region. I'm sure they are all quite beautiful in their own way. I am always struck by the better conditions of eastern PA small cities and towns compared to the dilapidated conditions of many western PA towns... (Chester excluded). Places like Reading, Lebanon, York, etc. are really not blighted compared to the level of blight and abandonment you see in Western PA towns like McKeesport, New Castle, New Kensington, Aliquippa, etc.

If you're ever near Ashland, go and see the Mother statue. Whistler's Mother statue, Ashland, Pennsylvania There's always something interesting around the corner.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

Interestingly, the vast majority of coal company owners lived in Philadelphia.

The one problem I have with Eckley Miner's Village is there is an "company owner's house" at the far end of the village a mile away from the entrance gate. This is a bit deceiving, it was actually only a "summer cottage" for the mine owner's family (it was still about 2 1/2 stories with about 14 rooms, a grand staircase and quarters for live in servants) to use in the warmest months to get away from the city.

One thing to keep in mind is the WB/Scranton area isn't exactly what most people would have in their mind when they think of a coal area, there isn't any dueling banjos here. Scranton was one of the fist cities in the country with electric and the first electric trolleys. Towns like West Pittston where I grew up weren't exaclty a bunch of a coal shacks. During a renovation we found gas pipes in the walls and that particular house was built in the very early part of the last century. You can take virtual walk up Susquehanna ave or some of the other streets. This is where the very well to do people many of whom were involved in mining lived.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3301...8i6656!6m1!1e1