Middle of July, 2007. After several small fires the main building of the former Wilkes-Barre Lace Company caught fire.

Neighbors have complained for years - nothing was done, now it is overrun by homeless and other scumbags.

Much of the complex is empty space - old brick buildings - all the equipment from its textile mill day long since stripped out.

Once the complex housed State Offices, Social Security Offices, but they moved out a long time ago. Up unit 2002 some tenants included a motor scooter maker, a furniture distributor, and storage, but they had moved out some time ago, leaving the building vacant.

Supposedly the owner's estate is in bankruptcy and there are many liens on the property that do not make it a good place to try to fix up.

Graffiti on the roof of the building.

"Ego" was arrested a few years ago and turned out to be a 25 year old male - he had "Ego" painted all over the inside of his car. Cops found him with the goods - cans of spray paint. At 25 you would think you would not do something like that.

I think that "Troph" is a copy cat of the original "Troph". They won't be happy until the fall off the roof.

Older section with many holes in roof, and old fixture.

Fallen beam, open door, bedding material from former business in building

Broken windows from fire.

Some sort of electronic equipment, maybe an oscilloscope or monitor lays amid the rubble.

Broken window in formerly rented out space.

Back of complex showing windows covered with metal.

See Also :

WNEP'S Story

PA Homepage's Story

Citizen's Voice Story

Times-Leader's Story