Customer Reviews

Pennsylvania Ghost Towns: Uncovering the Hidden Past

5 star:		(7)
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This book can only bring delight to local history buffs, especially those in the Pennsylvania area. Susan Tassin has compiled a listing of 46 ghost towns (or near ghosts) from around the state, has given a little history of each site, and, best of all, has indicated what the present-day visitor will find at each place (there is something at all of them, from restored villages to foundation holes) and how to get to them. Towns are located by section of the state, and some are close enough to each other to make visiting more than one an easy single day adventure. I only have two small quibbles, and they involve directions: the directions to Dillow's Fort near Pittsburgh are missing just enough information (probably a typo) to make it nearly impossible to locate, and in the directions for Laquin, after turning right on SR 3005 one needs to turn LEFT (not right) onto Southside Rd. Modern day explorers in the Keystone State should find plenty of inspiration in this book. Hopefully Ms. Tassin is at work on a follow-up volume amassing another inventory of ghost towns to go along with this one.

I have read that Pennsylvania is home to more ghost towns then Colorado, but most have been completely destroyed and are hard to find. This is a very well researched book containing numerous facts and anecdotes about many of the better known, but long defunct, towns from PA's past.

The book is divided by region so that the reader can focus on a particular part of the state. The author also includes information on the current state of each town, the accessibility of each location, and driving directions for finding them. Further, there is a solid bibliography and list of useful websites for further research.

The one thing that would have made this book better for me is if it included photographs from some of the locations. That, however, is merely a personal desire and in no way detracts from the overall work.

A must have for history buffs, ghost hunters, and abandonment explorers.

I just got this book as a gift and really enjoyed it. I used to live in rural Pennsylvania and still learned a lot of history from this book.

It is extremely well researched and full of easy to read history about the various communities that went boom and bust in Pennsylvania over 100 years ago. It's well organized by geographic area and stuffed with hard data as well as personal history that really brings out a sense of place and time and people. I was expecting something a little dry and got the opposite.

This book will hopefully shortly be found in every museum and historic gift shop in Pennsylvania. Very well done!

I was excited to get this book since the author was on T.V. and was talking about her book. I read the book from cover to cover and was very informed about the state that I live in. Can't wait until the weather breaks to see some of these places. Touring my own state, what a deal and alot of the places she mentioned aren't far from me....I never knew there was places like this around me. I just love her book and the information is priceless. My husband is from Pa. and never knew there was so much to read and to see in Pa. We are planning our vacation to see alot of these places and learn and get more knowledge about Pa. Way to go Susan Hutchison Tassin.

Enjoying anything pertaining to 'what was once in PA' ...this is the book. For those who may not be familiar with these towns of the past, the author will stir your curiosity and you'll be ready to investigate. She paints the pictures with wonderful description and detail. History forgotten comes alive in this rendering of PA's Ghost Towns. This author needs to continue her searches to take us on more interesting trips to other Ghost Towns in PA. Highly recommend.

I thought this book was interesting. I can't wait to try and find a few of them.

book offered some great tips on towns and places to visit. cant wait to take a road trip to some local hot spots!