In-Depth : Concrete City

The Concrete City was company housing built by the DL&W railroad to house miners and their families. The Bliss and Truesdale and Loomis breakers were nearby. Both top and bottom floors were made from the same form so the top floor has a stairway that goes to nowhere.

The concrete held in the cold and dampness and was a factor in the closing of the housing, as this promoted the spread of TB. Also lack of sewers and subsidence from mines added to the reasons to close down the company housing. While good for that time period, it seemed very primitive, like living in a cave. The units had windows and doors and paint at time of use, but still it was spartan accommodations.

The courtyard had a wading pool and playground in it for the children and the flowers and shrubs were planted along the housing units. The Concrete City is located in the Hanover section of Nanticoke and the nearby breakers were served by the DL&W Hanover/Newport Branch. The Concrete City is famous as a major party spot. Many barrels were tapped there and many quarts were drunk there.

I really do not know what the attraction was to the Concrete City for drinking parties, maybe it was so in the woods the Police would not go down there or care to go down there. Back in the day in the 1980's I knew girls from both Nanticoke and Hanover that used to brag about drinking there. Then I knew some guys from Coughlin HS that always used to want to drive down there to drink beer (underage of course).

Anyway, the DL&W sold it to Glen Alden Coal Company. It was closed because there were no sewers. Glen Alden did not want to install them. Also, when the mines subsided and the ground shifted the concrete tended to crack.

 

Of course we have the Historical Marker on the "Main Drag", from back in 1999. The rest of the shots are 35mm scans, taken circa 1997. Currently the site is owned by the PA State Museum Commission.

What is the future of the site ??? Maybe they clean it up and make a park there. Who knows what will happen with it.

A few articles ran in local papers around 2007 it was said the property was to be sold to Hanover Twp and it was going to become a housing development. In 2010 nothing has happened. Perhaps the econmy has but a damper on the plans.

 

 

The flagpole is still standing is this view.

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Now this strange feature of the "Stairway to Nowhere" had confounded many people. It was not made by devil worshippers, drunks. druids or witches. They just used the same form to cast the first and second floors.

 

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It was very strange walking through those two houses. The whole complex feels like they are bunkers, not a residential area. It was very stark and primitive.

 

See the Tom Taber Book, History of the DL&W for period pictures and a detailed background of the Concrete City,

 

 

See also :

Hanover Section of Nanticoke, Rhone

Telephoto Views, Churches, Hanover Section of Nanticoke

First Trip to Concrete City