I have been itching to see a steel mill. They used to be all over Pittsburgh, but now, many are gone and this long forgotten reason why Pittsburgh is even on the map has disappeared. I knew we would never be able to get into one, although they do have tours of the Carrie Blast Furnace. So, my husband looked all over the area for a mill we could get remotely close to. Our next destination, Weirton, WV.
So, we piled into the 1995 Pathfinder and with a little air in the right back tire, we were off. The ride was cloudy and not direct due to lots of construction. But, alas we entered Weirton. The mill we were going to explore was so easy to find. Any mill in any small town is easy to find. Just look up, look for the stacks that do not have anything billowing from them. Short drive and on some very worn and overgrown roads, and we were there. One look in the backseat, though, wielded a sleeping five year old. First couple weeks of Kindergarten have been a tough transition for one little adventurer. not a 100% happy camper on our hands. Less sleep, long days, and add in some anxiety and we have a napper. So instead of scaling fences, which we were completely ready and prepared to do, we let a sleeping pup lie and we just took turns checking it out. Oh how I wish we could have gone in, but even the outside was incredibly beautiful. Rusted steel, all shapes and sizes, lots of walkways, lights, doors, railings...so much to see. All connected in a single long line. It reminded of those drawings that are made without lifting the pencil.
After taking a good hard look at the actual mill, we noticed a series of roads that were all connected and very overgrown. Good thing we had the Pathy, because up and down, around and through we did go. We found lots of foundations that once must have housed homes of mill workers. We found a couple still standing structures which turned out to be garages. The colored paint of the doors brought an air of lightness on this dreary day and I wondered if they were painted that way to brighten each day in a town whose sky must have been black as night on some days. We foraged through lots of brush and up and down broken steps to check out the area. It was wonderous. I have to research the area to see what it looked like in its heyday.
As we headed out of town, we decided to go back roads. We enjoy that scene much better than highway driving. We ended up taking the Lincoln Highway pretty much the whole way home. That was fun to see motels, gas stations and barns that once stood in this first highway's prime. A highlight, though not photographed was a single standing motor court cottage, windows broken, screens hanging out, siding falling to one side. Another bygone era that has very little documentation.
About 25 minutes before reaching home, our backseat buddy woke. A little disappointed to find out she missed all the fun, she was happy she didn't have to brave a hike in the rain. Next time, little mite, next time. Until then, her catnap gave her the extra zip to take on our next adventure...cleaning the basement!!!
So, we piled into the 1995 Pathfinder and with a little air in the right back tire, we were off. The ride was cloudy and not direct due to lots of construction. But, alas we entered Weirton. The mill we were going to explore was so easy to find. Any mill in any small town is easy to find. Just look up, look for the stacks that do not have anything billowing from them. Short drive and on some very worn and overgrown roads, and we were there. One look in the backseat, though, wielded a sleeping five year old. First couple weeks of Kindergarten have been a tough transition for one little adventurer. not a 100% happy camper on our hands. Less sleep, long days, and add in some anxiety and we have a napper. So instead of scaling fences, which we were completely ready and prepared to do, we let a sleeping pup lie and we just took turns checking it out. Oh how I wish we could have gone in, but even the outside was incredibly beautiful. Rusted steel, all shapes and sizes, lots of walkways, lights, doors, railings...so much to see. All connected in a single long line. It reminded of those drawings that are made without lifting the pencil.
After taking a good hard look at the actual mill, we noticed a series of roads that were all connected and very overgrown. Good thing we had the Pathy, because up and down, around and through we did go. We found lots of foundations that once must have housed homes of mill workers. We found a couple still standing structures which turned out to be garages. The colored paint of the doors brought an air of lightness on this dreary day and I wondered if they were painted that way to brighten each day in a town whose sky must have been black as night on some days. We foraged through lots of brush and up and down broken steps to check out the area. It was wonderous. I have to research the area to see what it looked like in its heyday.
As we headed out of town, we decided to go back roads. We enjoy that scene much better than highway driving. We ended up taking the Lincoln Highway pretty much the whole way home. That was fun to see motels, gas stations and barns that once stood in this first highway's prime. A highlight, though not photographed was a single standing motor court cottage, windows broken, screens hanging out, siding falling to one side. Another bygone era that has very little documentation.
About 25 minutes before reaching home, our backseat buddy woke. A little disappointed to find out she missed all the fun, she was happy she didn't have to brave a hike in the rain. Next time, little mite, next time. Until then, her catnap gave her the extra zip to take on our next adventure...cleaning the basement!!!