You’ll find Old Patton nestled in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains, where it flourished as an industrial powerhouse from 1844 until 1924. Once home to 4,000 residents and two dozen coal mines, the town produced world-famous Patton Pavers used in landmarks like the Panama Canal. Today, silent concrete ruins and crumbling foundations tell the story of its mining heritage, while underground fires still smolder beneath abandoned streets. The town’s haunting remnants hold countless untold stories of American industrial might.
Key Takeaways
- Patton, Pennsylvania transformed from a thriving industrial town of 4,000 residents in 1923 to a near ghost town after mining decline.
- Penn Mary Coal Company’s dissolution in 1924 marked the beginning of Patton’s transformation into a semi-abandoned settlement.
- Underground mine fires continue burning beneath Patton, releasing toxic gases and creating hazardous conditions for remaining residents.
- The town’s industrial ruins, including remnants of the famous Patton Clay Manufacturing Company, stand as historical markers of past prosperity.
- Despite widespread abandonment, some resilient residents maintain homes and a functioning borough council in modern-day Patton.
A Mining Town’s Rise and Fall
While trappers and farmers first settled the area in 1844, Patton’s true destiny emerged from the coal-rich hills of Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
As coal mining operations expanded in the 1840s, you’d have witnessed the transformation of this frontier outpost into a bustling industrial hub. The area’s coal production skyrocketed, with nearly two dozen mines operating by 1885.
Named after John Patton and his son A.E., the town’s development accelerated when major companies like Pennsylvania Coal & Coke Co. and Penn Mary Coal Company established operations. The early community known as Polish Corners marked the beginning of organized settlement in the region.
The Patton legacy began when coal giants Pennsylvania Coal & Coke and Penn Mary established their pivotal mining operations in town.
By the early 1900s, you’d have found a thriving community built around multiple mines, with the Cambria & Indiana Railroad connecting Patton to larger markets.
The Patton Clay Manufacturing Company‘s success, becoming one of the world’s largest clay product makers, further cemented the town’s industrial importance.
Yet by 1924, when Penn Mary Coal dissolved, you’d have seen the first signs of the mining era’s inevitable decline.
Industrial Heritage Through Concrete Ruins
Today’s silent concrete ruins tell powerful stories of Patton’s industrial might. As you walk through the sprawling 40-acre site of the former Patton Clay Manufacturing Company, you’ll discover remnants of massive kilns, processing buildings, and storage facilities that once formed the backbone of this industrial powerhouse.
The rail linkages system provided crucial transportation infrastructure that helped the company thrive in its early years. The industrial architecture speaks volumes about early 20th-century innovation, where fired clay products and concrete technology merged in remarkable ways.
You can still trace the town’s legacy in the historical preservation of worker housing and institutional buildings, their concrete foundations and brick walls showcasing locally manufactured materials. The town reached its peak of 4,000 residents in 1923, marking the height of its industrial prosperity.
The company’s famous “Patton Pavers” even made their way to international landmarks like the Panama Canal and Eiffel Tower, proving that this small Pennsylvania town’s industrial heritage reached far beyond its borders.
Exploring What Remains Today
The ghostly remnants of old Patton paint a complex portrait of persistence and decay. Unlike true ghost towns, you’ll find a handful of resilient residents still calling this place home, with a functioning borough council managing basic services for the remaining structures.
As you explore the old street grid, you’ll notice the stark contrast between inhabited homes and nature’s reclamation of abandoned areas. The toxic gas emissions from the burning coal veins continue to pose health risks to visitors and remaining residents. Most structures have been demolished or razed, leaving behind an eerie patchwork of empty lots and crumbling foundations.
Underground fires continue to shape the landscape, with steam rising from ground cracks and metal venting tubes dotting the terrain. While the infamous “graffiti highway” is now buried, you can still witness the dramatic impact of these subterranean blazes on the town’s infrastructure.
The few standing buildings, including occupied homes and the active fire station, serve as proof of the community’s enduring spirit despite overwhelming odds.
Ghost Towns of the Pennsylvania Mountains
Deep within Pennsylvania’s rugged Appalachian and Allegheny mountains lie scattered remnants of once-thriving communities, each telling a unique story of boom and bust.
You’ll find these ghost towns nestled in narrow valleys and along steep hillsides, where coal mining and logging once promised prosperity. Towns like Wehrum, Centralia, and Poe Mills stand as evidence to Appalachian history, their abandoned foundations and overgrown streets marking where vibrant communities once flourished. In Wehrum alone, 250 houses and various infrastructures supported a bustling mining community until its abandonment in 1934.
Resource depletion, industrial accidents, and economic shifts forced residents to abandon their mountain homes throughout the mid-20th century. Some towns now rest permanently beneath reservoir waters, with places like Kinzua Creek submerged since 1963.
As coal seams emptied and timber dwindled, these mountain communities faded into history, their residents seeking new beginnings elsewhere.
While many of these sites are now accessible only by hiking trails, ghost town preservation efforts have transformed them into valuable historical landmarks.
These forgotten places continue drawing explorers and history enthusiasts, keeping alive the memory of Pennsylvania’s industrial heritage.
The Legacy of Old Patton’s Mining Era
Mining transformed Old Patton into a bustling hub of industrial activity during the early 1900s, when Penn Mary Coal Company‘s $1.8 million acquisition of John H. Weaver’s holdings sparked decades of prosperity.
Like many towns in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Old Patton attracted waves of European immigrants seeking mining work.
You’ll find evidence of community resilience in the diverse workforce that powered multiple mines, including Mine #9, which employed dozens of certified miners until 1946.
With a workforce that grew rapidly, Penn Mary Coal Company expanded from 365 initial workers in 1906 to employ 900 miners by 1911.
The region’s labor movements shaped working conditions as miners organized for better safety and wages, with superintendents earning $6,000 annually by 1906.
Through the Cambria & Indiana Railroad, Old Patton’s mines contributed greatly to Indiana County’s coal production, ranking fourth county-wide in 1918.
While the shift from underground to strip mining marked changing times, the ghost town’s empty rail lines and abandoned mine shafts still whisper stories of its industrial prime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Any Paranormal Activities Reported at Old Patton’s Ruins?
Like a whisper lost in time, you won’t find documented ghost sightings at these ruins. Despite the eerie atmosphere of abandoned coke ovens, it’s not among Pennsylvania’s officially haunted locations.
What Happened to the Families Who Lived in Old Patton?
When your local mines closed by 1911, family relocation scattered your community to nearby towns like State College and Woodycrest. You’d find work elsewhere as community decline forced widespread dispersal.
Can Visitors Legally Explore the Old Patton Site Today?
Hold your horses – you can’t freely explore the site today. No official visitor guidelines exist, and site access is likely restricted since the land is presumably private property.
Were There Any Major Mining Accidents During Old Patton’s Operational Years?
While mining safety was poor across Pennsylvania, you won’t find major disaster reports specific to Old Patton’s mines, though smaller accidents and individual fatalities were common during its operations.
What Valuable Artifacts Have Been Discovered at the Old Patton Site?
Like treasures left by time’s passing hand, you’ll find historical artifacts including miners’ numbered tags, metal suspender clips with leather remnants, and basic mining tools scattered across the site.
References
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj5LjacccJ0
- https://pabucketlist.com/exploring-the-ghost-town-of-scotia-near-state-college-pa/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ghost_towns_in_Pennsylvania
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centralia
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm3wxSOqlYM
- https://www.heritagejohnstown.org/attractions/heritage-discovery-center/johnstown-history/history-coal-cambria-county/
- https://pattonboro.com/about-us/
- https://www.heilwood.com/coal-mines/penn-mary-coal-co/
- https://pubs.usgs.gov/gf/189/text.pdf
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patton_Clay_Manufacturing_Company
