northeastern Pennsylvania. It was "dethroned" many
years ago. But the "King" hasn't left the building!
He's left black dust all over the place!
Our Sunday drive after church, after dinner, took us
into Carbon County yesterday.
Small towns like Coaldale and Lansford along our
way are still literally surrounded by coal mining
operations. They're "Strip" or "Open Pit Mines"
these days.
My grand kids are way too young to remember the
days when miners were working right under our
feet in tunnels hundreds of feet underground. But
there are a few underground mines around. These
days.....they're Tourist Attractions!
I've been in the Lackawanna County Coal Mine
and another in Ashland. Yesterday we found another
one in Lansford! There's a Museum there that's open
now. Tours inside the mine begin in May.
It's really neat to go into these mines without
having to work there! You can get a little idea what
life was like back then.
It's also neat that these dark tunnels are still
contributing to the economy of our area. Now it's
through admissions, concessions, and the sale of
souvenirs. You don't even have to load 16 ton of
Number 9 Coal to get a Miner's Hat with a built on
flashlight. But you do have o buy them!
I've always wondered why the State, or
individual Counties or communities haven't done
more to capitalize on "Old King Coal."
The ghost town of Centralia may have a mine
fire underneath. But why not bring in tourists to
see the place and tell the story?
The old Blue Coal Breaker in Ashley still
sits, run down and idle, waiting for development
money that, some believe, could make in Wyoming
Valley's Empire State Building!
And who know how many other mines might
possible be used to scare the whits out of visitors
when you bring them inside and turn out all the
lights? It's DARK down there!
I know we'll be heading back to Lansford in
a month or two to have a look at the mine tour
there. Maybe Ill even invest in a Miner's hat with a
built in flashlight. I could use it Wednesday nights
when I take out the garbage!
Hope you're not deeper in debt and that all
your NEWS is good!
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