The Ashley (Huber) Coal Breaker |
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| Posted- Nope | Patrolled- Nope, No Security Guards | Location- Ashley, Pa. Near Wilkes-Barre | ||
| Danger
Level- Medium |
Dangers-
Broken stair steps, railings are gone around many holes in the many holes
in the floor, some platforms are missing causing large gaps in the floor, sharp metal pieces and glass everywhere. |
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| Cool Factor- 5 | Haunted- Nope | Visits- 5, 2 Paranormal Investigations | ||
| Some history about the Ashley Coal Breaker- This structure
was actually built in 1938 and completed in 1939. It was named the Huber
Coal Breaker, in honor of the Glen Alden chairman...Charles F. Huber. Mr.
Huber actually started his career at the age of 15, working as a mine laborer.
He attained his position as chairman at age 30. Originally, the "great" Maxwell #20 coal breaker was here, constructed by the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company. Sometime in 1920, the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company merged with the Glen Alden Company, and it looks like it was under the name Glen Adlen. This new company, after completing the new Breaker, experimented with dying thier coal blue. It did nothing to improve the quality, it was more of gimmick. The advertisement read "Countless railroad men use "blue coal" in thier homes. They like its clean, even, healthful heat- and the way it saves money". The Huber Coal Breaker closed down in 1976. Since then, most of the machinery has been either vandalized or stolen. For its time, the Huber Breaker was a "technological advancement", incorperating many features that allowed it to continue operating long after the coal mining business had slowed. According to the people involved with its preservation, this is the last remaining coal breaker, as well as the largest ever built of its kind. The guys that built this structure made it to last. They used tar coated sheet metal which made the breaker able to withstand the elements. A recent architectural test proved that this site is structurally sound and in good condition for a restoration project. In 1990, the Ashley (Huber) Breaker Preservation Society (ABPS) was founded. They were incorerated the next year and had the Historical Architectural and Engineering Record Study was done by the Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Corridor and the National Park Service. In 2000, the ABPS was able to obtain the property for preservation and to establish a museum and park. For more information, visit www.huberbreaker.org. My Visits- The place is big. The main building is 11 stories high. There's another that is just as high (though not as wide), and two others that are about 6 stories high. As of this writing, I've been there 5 times...exploring a little more each time. Just about every section is accessible, some just take a little thinking and climbing to get to. I only found one office, which is located in the main building. There is a desk, shelves and a file cabinet in there, but they've been long destroyed by rowdy teenagers. Among the trash on the floor, I found many time slips from the 70's that had employee names, the times they worked and a description of the work they did. It's a shame that the preservation society hasn't collected these to archive and even display. Most of the heavy machinery that couldn't be moved is still in place, as far as I can tell. Large gears almost as tall as I am, conveyer belts, even many of the controls for operaterating everything (they haven't worked in decades). There is a large GE electricity board in the "Generator" Building. There are broken steps, many holes in the floor and various other dangers to look out for in this place. But, for the most part, the floors and walls are strong and will probably last many more years. My first visit here was due to my buddy, "One-eye" Joe. Since then, I come up here every chance I get. I've conducted two informal investigations of this place, looking for any haunting activity. I didn't get any readings or positive results either visit, so for now I'm forced to say that there ain't no ghosts here! That doesn't mean I won't stop looking! The whole place is an ideal glimpse back in time, from the machines and guages to what's left of the time cards and old manuals. I strongly encourage that if you visit the place, be respectful...do not trash anything! This place has some kind of MoJo, because I simply love going back and seeing the same places over and over again. I have no idea why...that's the MoJo! |
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Built 1938-39 Closed 1976 |
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