Specifically this is the Anthracite (or "hard") coal region of northeastern PA. There is another coal region in PA - Bituminous coal - that is mined in the southwestern part of the state below Pittsburgh. To be fair a few of the towns have reinvented themselves such as Jim Thorpe, Tamaqua and Pittston as weekend tourist destinations, they have pretty downtown areas with walkable streets, trendy shops, upscale cafes and restaurants, charming B&Bs. These are the exceptions. Most of the towns seem to be decaying with older residents living in low income public housing, and no jobs for younger people. This is my state! It is heartbreaking.

I loved the Schuylkill mall in Frackville. I'm sad to know that it's gone. It was sentimental to me because back in the early 2000's I came home from my Army training, and I had money saved up in the bank from my pay. So I spent alot of time at that mall. I was buying new clothes, video games, and also eating at different restaurants. It was great at the time because I didn't have that kind of freedom when I was growing up as a poor kid.

I've been to Centralia, visited it when driving down to Hershey from Knoebels. Quite a scary place with just the empty lots and the odd house.

So sad. When I was a kid we'd used to go to the Frackville mall. I didn't like shopping but the dip by where Victoria's Secret was I'd run around and play with my cousin. Sad to see that place go.

Really enjoying it with the selected music. Thanks for posting!

This is touching, I'm on the edge of crying right now! The towns you drove through are so similar to the ones in Kentucky where I live, all empty and abandoned. The music, the locations, the weather, its beautiful.

It’s sad how the area has gone downhill. Nothing but hardworking people who go through so much just to make ends meet. It’s not uncommon to see a guy walking down the street with soot on his face from a long day at work. Extremely friendly people too. Slumlords and the fall of coal popularity has taken a huge punch towards a beautiful region such as this one. Thank you for documenting and showing a sense of empathy.

Most of the people that live in these towns are 5th and 6th generation of families who immigrated from western Europe during what was calles the great deluge. People came to work and harvest the areas rich seams of Anthracite coal. These people built these towns, settled the area and aren't too keen on moving from towns that have been their homes for generations. I admire these people. They love their towns and are willing to commute several hours for work instead of moving. You gotta admire that kind of fortitude.

I remember my first motorcycle ride through Ashland in 2004. Instead of going downhill though town I rode uphill into a sun setting at the end of the street, where you turned left at the restaurant and baseball park. The row homes seemed to go on forever. I felt like I was in the 1950’s. Went through yesterday and it’s starting to look a little run down. The northern route through and to Mahanoy City was as depressing as it was last time I went through there.

Man i can't believe how bad this house is now. It looks nothing like my first visit. unbelievable. good job & congratulations on hitting 1k you deserve it 👍

My family and heritage is from Shenandoah, PA. So close to Centralia. Its beautiful country. What is america doing for these dying towns? The miners who built them have given us so much.

The Schuylkill Mall is now demolished. My family is from Mount Carmel (4 miles from Centralia)

This is the ultimate music for abandoned malls⏳

I miss the schuylkill mall days of the 90s 😟 have a lot of childhood memories there. Specially in the game room 🙂

The abandoned mall is where we would go to see Santa claus and they had like two stores. It's just where the old people would go to walk at 6am. Many malls just like this across Pennsylvania... most have been torn down though

I lived from 2001 - 2006 in Clearfield County, PA and was AMAZED to learn of prior mining and to see no obvious scars of mining and vast areas of reclaimed land. Same in Blair (lived 2006 - 12/01/2012) and Cambria Counties. From E. Central PA North are many areas PA DEP forgot. Schuylkill Mall was leveled several years ago. We have 0 movie theaters pre-pandemic.

I wish there was a way to preserve our fading town's and historical communities. If I had the money!

Ever been to pottsville to going down to

Honestly, your no amateur. Your footage could be better but the music and feeling of the overall blogs is incredible..the music...deep. I love this part of PA..nothing like it...you captured something...try shenandoah and langford next time

Grew up in Frackville...remember when MALL first opened. It was sooo crowded, elbow to elbow. ALOT of stores. Hangout for teens, and even some grownups. Why do things change so drastically??? I know progress. Better with simpler times.

i miss living in schuylkill county.

The entire county has small old coal towns that are falling into severe disrepair. Many are bought by slumlords who rent them until they're condemned then leave the property for the city to year down at their own cost. Most of these slumlord are from other states. I suggest not allowing the same of a home to an out if state prospective Landlord. There are many slumlords in the localities as well though.

Just reaching into heart and soul of our nation..my brother such devastating..disaster..witness. these areas and counties...I am from Philadelphia. I remember how it was.. city and country..relations..we were a city that use coal and other resources industries .Just realizing..how people are stranded, left hurting.across all the regions,.did some traveling up and down.. Pennsylvania... .I will remember this film .hope we do something in near future.. help our young and old.. abandon coal mill towns squalor of malls left behind.. rebuilding..my friend.." explorer "

Looking for lost town of Pauls Valley Pa, from a marriage recorded in 1885, Rev Zimmerman officiating . Coal regions, canal Railroad type of place? Can you help?

My parents grew up in Minersville and St. Clair. Spent a lot of time there as a kid n the70's.

For an European it’s interesting to see this part of the American way of life.

This area is like a time capsule.

There’s literally 1 ghost town, because of a fire not economy. And Malls are dying everywhere because of the internet. Schuylkill County is MUCH more than some run down houses. Should film the national parks, or the valley, or the dozens of historical sights. All beautiful places.

That mall was my childhood I miss it

Check out the film, "Made in U.S.A." (1987). Shots of Centralia are in the movie and are very interesting. Also, nice video. It's such a depressing look at PA.

Next time you go.. let me know.... I know of alot of gems

Watched,so sad🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽😰😰😰😰

Beautiful country out there. Sad it isn't still economically vibrant.

I was just there and it is even worse

Watched😰😰😰🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

😰😰😰🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Loved that but what will it be like in10 years time after the taggers ..vandals ...and scrappers move in .?Yeah I liked the music anyway.

Lofi girl is somewhere here

Ok

All the midrolls kill the feeling of the video. Idk if it's worth

I wonder what the effect of so many people working from home will be on even the large cities...as companies don't require workers to be in a large office...and pay people less...and you can have stuff delivered quickly (by drone?) ... it might be smarter to live away from big cities and overpriced suburbs...so more can be saved for retirement...especially as SS and Medicare keep shrinking...so will cheaper places like this see more growth, out of necessity? 🤷‍♂️ it will be interesting to see what things will look like 20 or 30 years from now if this trend continues...

Schuylkill county is a poor county with high abuse of alcohol n drugs today n roads are pothole ridden.

I wish there was a way to preserve our fading town's and historical communities. If I had the money!