You’ll find Ricketts nestled in Sullivan and Wyoming Counties, where it thrived as a bustling lumber town of 800 residents in the 1890s. Founded by the Trexler and Turrell Lumber Company along Mehoopany Creek, the town featured a company store, hotel, church, and schoolhouse. After timber resources depleted in 1913, Ricketts gradually transformed into a ghost town. Today, hidden building foundations and remnants of the Lake Leigh Dam await discovery within Ricketts Glen State Park’s dense forest.
Key Takeaways
- Ricketts was a thriving lumber town established in 1890 with 800 residents before becoming abandoned due to timber resource depletion.
- The town, named after Colonel Robert Bruce Ricketts, operated two major sawmills along Mehoopany Creek during its peak operations.
- Community infrastructure included a company store, town hall, hotel, church, and schoolhouse before its decline began in 1913.
- The Lehigh Valley Railroad’s Bowman Creek branch served the town until lumber operations ceased, leading to transportation network abandonment.
- Today, only building foundations and ruins remain hidden under forest growth near present-day Ricketts Glen State Park.
The Birth of a Lumber Mill Town
In 1890, the bustling lumber town of Ricketts emerged along Mehoopany Creek, straddling both Colley Township in Sullivan County and Forkston Township in Wyoming County.
You’ll find its origins tied to the Trexler and Turrell Lumber Company‘s ambitious sawmill operations, which quickly transformed the wilderness into a thriving industrial hub.
Named after Robert Bruce Ricketts, who controlled up to 80,000 acres of the surrounding land, the town’s lumber production methods centered on massive hemlock bark stripping and timber harvesting. The town’s success was bolstered by Albert Lewis’ railroad, which he constructed from 1885 to 1887 to facilitate timber transport. To avoid confusion with other locations named Ricketts, historical records often include disambiguation notes.
Under Ricketts’ vast domain of 80,000 acres, the town’s prosperity flowed from stripping hemlock and harvesting timber.
The community dynamics revolved around essential infrastructure that supported its 800 residents – including a company store, railroad station, town hall, hotel, church, and schoolhouse.
Six locomotives traversed temporary railroad lines, while the Bowman Creek branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad served the mills’ transportation needs.
Daily Life in Ricketts
While the lumber mills drove Ricketts’ economy, daily life for its 800 residents centered around a close-knit community filled with both work and leisure.
You’d find families gathering at the Lutheran church for worship, while children attended one of two schools in town. Community gatherings often took place at the clubhouse and dance hall, where locals celebrated together after long days at the mills. The elevation of 2500 feet brought significant snowfall that affected daily activities during winter months.
For recreational activities, you could catch the town baseball team playing, fostering community spirit among workers and their families. The company store was a central hub where residents purchased their daily necessities.
Though Ricketts was a “dry” town, workers would travel to nearby Lopez for liquor. Daily routines revolved around the lumber operations, with residents working various roles from bark stripping to barrel making.
The seasonal North Mountain House brought visitors who added variety to the town’s social fabric.
Railroad and Transportation Networks
Built in 1893, the Bowman Creek branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad transformed Ricketts into a vital transportation hub by connecting the town’s lumber operations to major markets. The railroad expansion stretched four miles from Ricketts to Ganoga Lake, serving both Sullivan and Wyoming counties. Like railroad employees of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in 1943, workers often faced workplace injuries while maintaining the tracks and equipment.
- Daily passenger trains ran between Ricketts, Wilkes-Barre, and Towanda
- Two mill sites (“downtown” and “uptown”) utilized rail connections for lumber transport
- A large trestle facilitated train passage through challenging terrain
- Rail lines supported hotels and company stores near stations
- The railroad served a peak population of 800 residents
The transportation decline began around 1913 when timber resources were depleted. As mills closed and workers departed, rail service ceased. The Berwick and Towanda Turnpike provided an early transportation route through the region, with construction beginning in 1822.
The Trexler and Turrell Lumber Empire
The Trexler and Turrell Lumber Empire shaped Ricketts’ destiny as powerfully as the railroad that served it. In 1890, they leased vast tracts of Col. R. Bruce Ricketts’ Mehoopany Lands, establishing a major lumber production hub that would transform the wilderness into an industrial powerhouse.
By May 1893, they’d cut five million feet of logs, demonstrating their operational might. The lumber operation’s success grew even stronger after the completion of the Bowmans Creek Branch railroad.
You’ll find their impact stretched far beyond mere timber harvesting. Their mill operations created jobs, stimulated economic sustainability, and turned Ricketts into a thriving town.
The company’s strategic land acquisitions and efficient processing methods made them a dominant force in northeastern Pennsylvania’s lumber industry.
However, like many resource-based ventures, their success was finite – by 1913, Ricketts began its decline into the ghost town you can explore today.
Colonel Robert Bruce Ricketts’ Legacy
You’ll find Colonel Robert Bruce Ricketts‘ journey from Union Army artillery officer to timber industry magnate exemplifies the post-Civil War transformation of northeastern Pennsylvania’s economy.
After distinguishing himself at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, Ricketts went on to acquire over 66,000 acres of land and establish himself as a pivotal figure in the region’s logging operations. Fishermen’s discovery of stunning waterfalls along Kitchen Creek led to the area’s recognition as a natural treasure.
His military heroism and subsequent business acumen left an enduring legacy, as his vast landholdings would later form the foundation of Ricketts Glen State Park, preserving the area’s natural beauty for future generations. He opened North Mountain House in the scenic Ganoga Lake area, welcoming visitors until its closure in 1903.
Civil War Hero’s Impact
Among the most distinguished figures in Pennsylvania’s Civil War history, Colonel Robert Bruce Ricketts left an indelible mark through his exceptional artillery command and subsequent influence on regional development. His battery earned the nickname “Battery Hell” due to its fierce combat reputation.
His military prowess demonstrated through:
- Commanding Battery F, 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery during critical battles
- Leading the successful defense of East Cemetery Hill at Gettysburg
- Earning respect from both Union and Confederate forces for his tactical expertise
- Serving as IX Corps’ assistant chief of artillery
- Maintaining unwavering discipline under intense combat conditions
His reputation for steadfast leadership during the Civil War translated into significant post-war achievements, as he transformed from a military commander into a prominent businessman.
You’ll see his influence in the timber industry, where he developed extensive holdings and established the town of Ricketts, a thriving lumber community that once housed 800 residents.
Timber Industry Pioneer
Following his distinguished military service, Colonel Robert Bruce Ricketts channeled his leadership abilities into pioneering Pennsylvania’s timber industry, beginning with strategic land acquisitions in 1868.
You’ll find his empire grew to encompass 80,000 acres of prime hardwood forests across three counties, demonstrating remarkable foresight in timber sustainability through calculated land management.
In 1872, he established a vital sawmill partnership that revolutionized logging techniques in the region.
His crowning achievement came in 1890 with the founding of Ricketts, a bustling company town of 800 residents that efficiently connected forest to market.
While financial challenges in the 1880s forced partial land sales, Ricketts’ legacy lived on through his vast holdings, which eventually became part of Pennsylvania’s public lands and state parks.
The Lake Leigh Dam Project
Built between 1905 and 1907, the Lake Leigh Dam represented Colonel Robert Bruce Ricketts’ ambitious vision to harness hydroelectric power atop North Mountain. The dam construction replaced an older log structure on Sickler Branch of Kitchen’s Creek, aiming to create a reservoir for both power generation and Wilkes-Barre’s water supply.
Despite Ricketts’ hydroelectric ambitions, the project faced significant challenges:
- Poor construction quality raised safety concerns
- Financial crisis hampered development
- Structural vulnerabilities emerged over time
- State intervention followed the 1911 Austin Flood
- Operational difficulties prevented effective power generation
The dam’s ultimate failure came in April 1958 during a severe storm, forcing the evacuation of 2,000 park visitors.
Today, you’ll find the abandoned concrete ruins slowly returning to nature, serving as a reminder of early 20th-century industrial aspirations in Pennsylvania’s wilderness.
Peak Years and Economic Activity
While many Pennsylvania lumber towns came and went during the late 1800s, Ricketts distinguished itself as a bustling hub of activity from 1890 to 1913.
You’d have found a thriving community of 800 residents, supported entirely by lumber production at the Trexler and Turrell mills along Mehoopany Creek.
The town’s economic sustainability relied on the Lehigh Valley Railroad’s Bowman Creek branch, which transported finished lumber products to market.
You would’ve seen workers bustling between the sawmills, blacksmith shop, and company housing that dotted both Sullivan and Wyoming counties.
Despite the town’s strict “dry” policy prohibiting liquor sales, Ricketts maintained a robust economy until 1913, when the depletion of local timber resources brought the boom years to an abrupt end.
The Town’s Gradual Disappearance
Once the lumber mills closed in 1913, Ricketts’ fate was sealed by the complete exhaustion of local timber resources.
You’ll find the transformation into a ghost town was swift and irreversible, as the remote mountain community lost its economic foundation. The environmental impact became evident as nature reclaimed the abandoned settlement.
- Last house torn down by the 1930s, erasing physical traces
- Railroad lines fell into disuse, severing crucial transportation links
- Harsh winters and 2,500-foot elevation deterred resettlement
- Former residents dispersed to more fertile valleys below
- Forest regrowth and sediment gradually covered town remnants
Without alternatives to logging, you wouldn’t have found much reason to stay.
The challenging terrain and isolation made agriculture impractical, while the area’s designation as game lands prevented new development.
The community’s social fabric unraveled as quickly as its economic base.
Modern-Day Remnants and Exploration
When you explore Ricketts today, you’ll find the abandoned Lake Leigh Dam and scattered building foundations hidden beneath dense forest growth, with natural elements steadily reclaiming these century-old remnants.
You can access the ghost town through unmarked trails near Ricketts Glen State Park, though the 2,500-foot elevation and rugged terrain demand careful preparation and navigation skills.
While no formal preservation efforts protect the site, historical markers and informational plaques guide visitors through the town’s industrial past, allowing you to piece together its story among the deteriorating ruins.
Visible Ruins Today
Modern visitors to Ricketts encounter a landscape where nature has steadily reclaimed the once-bustling lumber town.
Today’s archaeological findings reveal scattered ruins amid thick forest growth, offering glimpses into the site’s architectural significance.
You’ll discover several key remnants throughout the area:
- The Lake Leigh Dam’s concrete and stone structures stand as the most prominent surviving feature
- Sawmill foundations and machinery bases from the Trexler and Turrell operation
- Traced pathways of the former Lehigh Valley Railroad’s Bowman Creek branch
- Numerous house foundations and cellar holes marking residential areas
- Scattered industrial artifacts, including blacksmith shop remains
While no intact buildings remain, these ruins tell the story of a town that once housed 800 residents.
The site’s weathered stonework and overgrown foundations continue yielding historical insights to careful explorers.
Hidden Trails and Access
Today’s adventurous hikers can access the remnants of Ricketts through a network of trails that weave through Ricketts Glen State Park‘s southern and eastern boundaries.
You’ll find the main trailheads near the parking areas off PA Route 487 and Lake Jean, where hidden pathways follow old railroad grades and logging roads that once served the company town.
While some unofficial shortcuts exist, they’ll test your navigational skills as you traverse the rugged 2,500-foot elevation terrain.
The Bowman Creek branch of the former Lehigh Valley Railroad provides linear clearings through the dense forest, offering glimpses into the past.
You’ll need sturdy boots and GPS equipment, as trail markers are sparse.
Remember to explore during daylight hours and respect property boundaries while discovering these historic pathways.
Preservation Efforts Underway
Despite the complete dismantling of Ricketts’ original structures in the 1930s, preservation efforts have evolved to focus on documenting the ghost town’s historical legacy through various channels.
Local historians and community engagement initiatives have spearheaded historical documentation efforts to keep Ricketts’ memory alive.
- Sullivan County Genealogy Project maintains extensive records and family histories
- Urban explorers map and document remaining foundations and mill sites
- Video channels provide visual preservation through exploration footage
- Local historical societies compile archival records and oral histories
- Digital media platforms share GPS guides and historical context
While no original buildings remain, you’ll find subtle traces of the past through foundation ruins and occasional artifacts.
The natural environment, protected by Ricketts Glen State Park, now embraces these remnants while preserving the area’s rich lumber heritage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were There Any Major Accidents or Disasters in Ricketts During Its Operation?
Like specters in the shadows, you’ll find no major railroad accidents or mining disasters recorded specifically in Ricketts, though smaller-scale mining injuries occurred as they did throughout Pennsylvania’s coal country.
What Happened to the Residents’ Possessions When They Abandoned Their Homes?
You’d find that most residents took what they could carry, while many abandoned belongings were left behind, later dismantled, or scavenged. Today, historical artifacts like bottles still surface around former home sites.
Did Any Native American Settlements Exist in the Area Before Ricketts?
While 10,000+ years of Native American cultural heritage exists in Pennsylvania, there’s no direct evidence of permanent settlements in Ricketts Glen – though tribes likely used the area for hunting and travel.
What Kinds of Wildlife Were Common Around Ricketts During Its Peak Years?
You’d find remarkable wildlife diversity, including white-tailed deer, black bears, beavers, and abundant local fauna like raccoons, songbirds, woodpeckers, and trout thriving in the region’s forests and streams.
Were There Any Documented Paranormal Experiences in the Abandoned Town Site?
You won’t find official records of ghost sightings or paranormal investigations at the town site itself. While local legends focus on the surrounding park area, the abandoned town ruins lack documented supernatural encounters.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricketts
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pQYLUyNzUI
- https://sites.rootsweb.com/~pasulliv/sullivancountyfolk/scf3/Ricketts.htm
- https://pabucketlist.com/exploring-the-abandoned-lake-leigh-dam-at-ricketts-glen/
- https://harveyslake.org/stories/ghost-towns.htm
- https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/ricketts-glen-state-park/history.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysUYGyrteJ0
- https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/153/757/1478802/
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=202963
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Trexler_Lumber_Company
