Rausch Gap, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Rausch Gap is a ghost town in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. A ghost town is a place where everyone used to live, but then they all moved away, leaving empty buildings or just ruins. Rausch Gap was once a busy coal mining town.
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What Was Rausch Gap?
Rausch Gap was the biggest of several towns in a wild area called St. Anthony's Wilderness. It grew and thrived between 1830 and 1910. The town's ruins are found in Cold Spring Township. This is on the southern side of Sharp Mountain. Here, Rausch Creek cuts through the mountain. It then flows into Stony Creek. The location is at 40°29′58″N 76°35′52″W / 40.49944°N 76.59778°W.
How Rausch Gap Started
Rausch Gap might have begun as early as 1828. But it really started to grow quickly around 1850. This happened when the Dauphin and Susquehanna Coal Company built a railroad. The train tracks went up the valley from the Susquehanna River right to Rausch Gap.
Life in Rausch Gap
The town became a very important place for trains. The coal company had its main offices and train repair shops there. In 1854, the railroad tracks were made longer. They stretched east to Pine Grove and Auburn. This was part of a plan to build a railroad all the way to Allentown. By 1860, about 1,000 people lived in Rausch Gap. Most people worked in the coal mines or at the railroad shops. Many train workers also lived in the town.
Why Rausch Gap Disappeared
Several things caused the town to shrink and eventually disappear. First, the main coal mine closed down. Some mining did continue into the 1930s, but it was not enough. The railroad line to Allentown was never finished. Also, the railroad company came under the control of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad.
The Railroad's Role
In 1870, a new train line called the Lebanon and Tremont Branch was completed. This made Pine Grove a more important spot on the railroad. The biggest reason Rausch Gap disappeared was in 1872. That year, the train repair shops and company offices moved from Rausch Gap to Pine Grove.
When the railroad left, Rausch Gap lost its main reason for existing. By 1875, fewer than one hundred people were left. Around 1883, the railroad company tore down most of the buildings. By 1910, everyone had left, and Rausch Gap became a true ghost town.
Rausch Gap Today
Today, all that is left of Rausch Gap are the stone foundations of old buildings. There is also a small cemetery. Nature has grown back over the land where the town once stood.
Rausch Gap is now a stop along the famous Appalachian Trail. Hikers can find a shelter there to stay overnight. There is also cold water from a spring and a simple outhouse for visitors.
