Many small villages were built in rural Pennsylvania during the 19th and early 20th century by mining companies. Their workers needed a place to live, and having a proper community and family space provided by the company improved morale among miners. Once the great depression hit and the mining industry declined, many of these villages were abandoned. One such place is Yellow Dog Village, located near Worthington, PA.
Tiffany / Flickr Pittsburgh Limestone built Yellow Dog Village in 1890, to house workers who mined limestone from nearby quarries. The workers lived here under the agreement that they would not unionize — leading to the town’s namesake, “Yellow Dog,” which is a term for a cowardly person.
Tiffany Harkleroad/ Flickr Even though the town was only inhabited by miners for a small stretch of its lifespan — the mining company sold the village to a church in 1959 — it was inhabited until 2011. The population steadily declined from the 1970s onward due to plumbing and sewage issues, a problem not uncommon in Pennsylvania’s tiny mining villages.
Tiffany Harkleroad/ Flickr In 1987, Yellow Dog Village made national news through the Associated Press due to the difficulty its owner at the time, Jesse Buzzard, was having with selling the land. He was growing older and busy running a trucking business— maintaining an entire village was a task he no longer had time for.
Tiffany Harkleroad/ Flickr Yellow Dog Village passed through the hands of several owners before a retired history teacher from Lebanon County and his business partner purchased it in December 2014. Joseph Meyer and Amber Glaslow are now the proud owners of the abandoned village, and they have high hopes for the property. They aim to turn it into an historical camp, where visitors can learn about the area’s history and also spend the night. They also hope to teach visitors about skills for a sustainable lifestyle, such as housing construction, farming, gardening, glass blowing, and more.
Wow — I really hope that this idea becomes a reality, and soon. An historic village and campsite would be such a fun addition to our state, and also a great way to learn practical skills.
Tiffany / Flickr
Pittsburgh Limestone built Yellow Dog Village in 1890, to house workers who mined limestone from nearby quarries. The workers lived here under the agreement that they would not unionize — leading to the town’s namesake, “Yellow Dog,” which is a term for a cowardly person.
Tiffany Harkleroad/ Flickr
Even though the town was only inhabited by miners for a small stretch of its lifespan — the mining company sold the village to a church in 1959 — it was inhabited until 2011. The population steadily declined from the 1970s onward due to plumbing and sewage issues, a problem not uncommon in Pennsylvania’s tiny mining villages.
In 1987, Yellow Dog Village made national news through the Associated Press due to the difficulty its owner at the time, Jesse Buzzard, was having with selling the land. He was growing older and busy running a trucking business— maintaining an entire village was a task he no longer had time for.
Yellow Dog Village passed through the hands of several owners before a retired history teacher from Lebanon County and his business partner purchased it in December 2014. Joseph Meyer and Amber Glaslow are now the proud owners of the abandoned village, and they have high hopes for the property. They aim to turn it into an historical camp, where visitors can learn about the area’s history and also spend the night. They also hope to teach visitors about skills for a sustainable lifestyle, such as housing construction, farming, gardening, glass blowing, and more.
Check out the video below to learn more about Yellow Dog Village.
Have you ever been here? Would you visit? Share your stories in the comment section!
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