Strange Chimmney which sits along I 79 in Collier Twp, all by itself

 If you ever drove down interstate I-79 on South in Collier Twp. Pa 

You will find a large brick chimney just sitting there by  itself which sits in the middle of a swamp  and it has an an interesting tale to tell.

 

Back in late 70s  this was the site of Woodville State Mental Hospital  which was one of several State Mental Hospitals  in South Western Pa which included Mayview ,Torrence and Dixmont .

Many of the homeless people you see on the streets would have been treated and resided in these places where they got treatment and had a job if they wanted one on these almost totally self sufficient sites including power they made on site from coal which was mined and food from their  farms they raised .

Over the years  they became modernized and many of the jobs no longer existed because the state would have had to pay minimum wage so the farms disapared as well.

With modern medicines patients could move to safer halfway homes and or live on their own .

but this is why we have a homeless problem many will not take their medications and f=refer to live on the streets and not conform to society

 

https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/thedigs/2014/07/09/woodville-state-hospitals-rise-and-fall/

 

But by 1991 the facility became obsolete  overcrowded and expensive to run and it was shut down 

Part of it burned down by arson and by 1995 it was all gone except 2 Things the Cemetery of unmarked Graves  of former residents .and a lone chimney stack which was for the power house which provide heat and hot water .

You can still see part of the footings of the foundation but nature and Pendot creating a bigger wetlands  have taken over  where the chimney is located. 

But why was it left behind ?  there is no history marker and 90% of people who ride by have no idea Woodville ever existed .

Well there where a couple issues which made it almost impossible to level it with out great expense.

First you have the High Tension DLC company Power lines which are close by and could be hit when chimney was leveled the other problem asbestos.that's lining many of these old chimneys that's why you will often find them sitting by them selves and the same questions what purpose did it serve .

So now you know the story that's rather sad.  A State Institution which could have been properly managed and updated and modernized  and still be in use today helping the mentally ill. 

But instead we see desperate homeless on street mass shootings and violent crime because some commie liberals thought it was batter to let the mentally ill treat themselves.

It returns for 2024

 

Railroad Hoppers dug high up into a steep hillside in Rochester Pa But why.

 As you ride along Pa 65 as you drive along the river by the YMCA and Hanks  and look high up into the hillside you will see a strange assortment of Railroad Hoppers dug into the hillside and filled with dirt. ,a rather strange looking situation but then look again closely and you will also see old wooden trestles way high up there at an angle as well.

 

So whats the story?

Well at the top of the hill was the one time  H.C.Fry Glass and other factory's which needed Railroad Siding Service  .

But as high up as they where on top of the hills side approx 800-1200 feet  The railroads felt it was not worth the effort to get their engines up their do to the costs and dangers of such an elevated track. 

Still despite the dangers and such local business people built the switch complete with a special dead mans switch at bottom to catch and stop runaway railroad cars which unfortunately did happen from time to time

 Often only one car at a time could be taken up and down the tracks due to being made slick from natural springs and water from abandoned coal mines . But despite it all the railroads and businesses made millions of dollars with the completion of this switch . Which had its own special maintenance crew to keep it operating due to constant landslides , trees down and water flooding 

The switch Operated from the early 20s into the 80's when the whole beaver valley was badly hit by closing down of steel industry and demand for products no longer existed. Much of the old right of way can still be explored including whats left of Morry's Speakeasy an old  rock n roll club  at top of the switch.

Which started out as Graystone Gardens  

https://beavercountyradio.com/news/abandoned-former-morrys-speakeasy-goes-up-in-flames-thursday-morning/

 

https://www.timesonline.com/story/news/local/2020/07/26/sign-of-times-for-morryrsquos-memories-20th-century-beaver-county-nightspot-could-face-demolition/112701508/

 

 

For more pictures and information check out the face book group Beaver County Past, Present and Future