Concrete City dedication brings surge of memory
Mike Rushton
Concrete City dedication brings surge of memory.
Florence Paige lived in the complex with her parents. She remembers
winning a company sponsored garden contest. The company was the DL&W Coal
Division.
The complex of 20 concrete homes were preserved through efforts of the
Nanticoke Historical Society and Robert Janasov, Professor of History at
LCCC, historian and author.
Dubbed the Garden City, the housing complex was built in 1911 for the
workers at the Trusedale Colliery. Rent was $8 a month. There was a wading
pool in the center courtyard, according to Janasov.
Paige's father was a fire boss at the Truesdale Colliery, next to the
Concrete City. They lived there from 1914 -1918. They moved to other
housing when Paige's mother got sick. "It was gorgeous, there was so much
going on. lady had yarn and taught me how to knit. We made caps, scarves
and sweaters for the soldiers in WWI, but they closed the pool down after a
boy drown in it", she said.
There was no indoor plumbing, each house had an outhouse and a coal bin
behind it. There was a large double sink in the kitchen. One half was to
bathe in the other for dishes.
Edward Kuprionas also lived in the 1910 era housing project. On the
walking tour after the dedication, Ed pointed out his old house. He liked
there from 1921- 1924 when his father worked at the mine.
At one time the Concrete City was a model of superior industrial housing.
Three years after the Glen Alden Coal Company bought the houses in 1921,
they abandoned them.
According to Janosov, Glen Alden got out of the housing business at the
same time Hanover Twp wanted to install sewers at the Concrete City. I
would have cost $200,000 an this was Glen Alden's excuse to close it.
The Concrete City was slated for demolition in 1924. A Glen Alden official
said 100 sticks of dynamite did little damage to one home. Rather than
using more explosives and risk a subsidence, they abandoned it.
The main disadvantage to the homes was the heating. A coal stove in the
kitchen and a potbelly in the living room were the only heat.
Until about 10 years ago, local fire companies and Civil Defense used the
Concrete City for fire/rescue training.
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Mike Rushton mrus...@epix.net
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D&H LV CNJ DL&W PNER The Laurel Line
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