Laquin, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Laquin was once a busy town in Franklin Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. It started in 1902 as a place where people worked with wood. But when all the trees were cut down, the wood factories closed. The people soon left, and Laquin became a ghost town. At its busiest, nearly 2,000 people lived there. Another nearby ghost town, Barclay, was a coal mining town.
The Story of Laquin
Laquin was built around the business of cutting down trees and processing wood. Five different companies worked there, all focused on wood. The main one was the Laquin Lumber Company. It later became part of the Central Pennsylvania Lumber Company.
This company had a special job: cutting wood for the Union Tanning Company. This company was huge and used tree bark to make leather. So, Laquin helped provide both wood and bark! Other companies in Laquin made things like wood hubs, veneer (thin wood sheets), and wood staves (for barrels).
What Happened to Laquin?
By 1933, most of the trees on Barclay Mountain were gone. The lumber companies packed up and left. But then, something new happened! A special group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) came to Laquin.
The CCC was a program started by President Roosevelt during a tough time for the country. Young men in the CCC helped replant trees on the mountain. They also built roads, helped feed wild animals, and worked to make the natural environment healthy again.
By 1941, the CCC left Laquin. With no more jobs, the town became a true ghost town.
What's Left Today?
Today, you won't find many buildings in Laquin. The last one disappeared around the 1960s. But the main street, where a hotel, two churches, a school, and homes once stood, is still there. It's now a major road.
Laquin and the nearby ghost town of Barclay are close to each other. Laquin was built after Barclay. Both towns used to be connected by a railroad called the Susquehanna and New York Railroad. This train line ran between Towanda, Pennsylvania and Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Most of the old train tracks and bridges can still be seen along the valley of the Schrader Creek.
If you want to learn more about Laquin's history, you can visit the LeRoy Heritage Museum in LeRoy, Pennsylvania. You can also find information on their website.
