An Abandoned Coal Mining Town, Wehrum Is A Pennsylvania Ghost Town That Offers Visitors A Glimpse Into The Past
By Beth Price-Williams|Published December 23, 2021
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Pennsylvania’s rich past brings with it some tales of places that no longer exist. In fact, we can find quite a few ghost towns across the state that offer us a unique glimpse into the past. Wehrum, a Pennsylvania ghost town in the western part of the state, was once a thriving coal town. All that remains today of that rich history, however, are the remnants of a few buildings and a cemetery, tucked safely in the woods.
The remains of the former coal town of Wehrum sit in the woods along The Ghost Town Trail, a 46-mile trail that winds through Indiana and Cambria Counties and along a former railroad corridor.
Wehrum isn’t the only ghost town along the trail. However, it was the largest coal town in the area at the beginning of the 20th century. Warren Delano, President Franklin Roosevelt’s uncle, founded and developed the town.
During its heyday, Wehrum thrived with more than 230 buildings that included homes, a bank, a jail, and a hotel. Coal miners lived in the town with their families and commuted to nearby coal mines for work each day.
Working in the coal mines was not without its risks, which sometimes proved fatal. The worst tragedy occurred when a mine explosion killed 21 miners in 1909.
Coal mines in the area were owned by Bethlehem Mines Corporation, which purchased them in 1922. Within seven years, the corporation shut down all of the mines, signaling the beginning of the end of Wehrum.
Only a few buildings remained in 1934. The homes, made from wood, had been dismantled and the lumber sold. Residents moved elsewhere, and the town simply died off. Today, you can catch a glimpse of the remnants that remain, including the town cemetery, if you wander off of The Ghost Town Trail.
Have you heard of this Pennsylvania ghost town? Or have you visited? Share your experience in the comments! Wehrum is just one of Pennsylvania’s many ghost towns. Up for more exploration? Here are seven ghost towns in Pennsylvania you’ll want to visit at your own risk.
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