There was a time when Anthracite coal was king in this part of Pennsylvania. Now outcroppings and tailing piles are glum testimony to a glorious past. Mining created towns & communities but it also took from them — sulfuric acid from coal dumps leached into the river. Heavy rains turned iron, steel and coal into rust, slag and clinkers. The once bustling steel mills became non-competitive. Like Cripple Creek, the Yukon and the old gold mining town of Bodie, Nevada the area became a historic member of the past.

Enter new millennium, the world wide web (www), and a new mayor with vision. Dust and rust no longer... Mayor Mike Lombardo is revitalizing this coal capital with gusto. Restoring the library and stone storefronts along main street was just the beginning. Now the public can enjoy new parks with expansive views of the historic Susquehanna River. New green areas replace old warehouses. What used to be docks for loading coal barges are becoming home for the racing shells of three nearby colleges. Move over Schuylkill!