Ricketts, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ricketts
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Postcard of Ricketts, showing the Lehigh Valley Railroad train
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 Ricketts
Location in Pennsylvania
Ricketts
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States of America |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Sullivan and Wyoming |
| Township | Colley (Sullivan) and Forkston (Wyoming) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 0 |
Ricketts is a fascinating ghost town located in Pennsylvania. It was once a busy place built around a lumber mill. This unique town stretched across two counties: Sullivan and Wyoming.
Ricketts was a special kind of town called a "company town." This means a company built and owned most of the homes and businesses there. The town was named after Robert Bruce Ricketts, who owned much of the land and trees in the area.
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What Was Ricketts?
Ricketts was established in 1890. It was built along Mehoopany Creek. The main reason for its existence was the sawmills of the Trexler and Turrell Lumber Company.
A Town Built for Trees
The company needed a place for its workers to live. So, they created Ricketts. Robert Bruce Ricketts was a partner in the lumber company. Other partners included Harry Clay Trexler and J. H. Turrell.
At its busiest time, Ricketts had about 800 people living there. The town even reached into what is now Ricketts Glen State Park. People worked hard cutting down trees and processing them into lumber.
Life in a Lumber Town
Life in Ricketts revolved around the lumber industry. The sawmills were the heart of the town. Workers and their families lived in houses built by the company.
To move the cut lumber, special rail lines were built. The Bowman Creek branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad opened in 1893. This railroad was very important. It helped transport the lumber to other places.
Why Ricketts Disappeared
Like many towns built around a single industry, Ricketts faced a big challenge. The lumber supply eventually ran out.
The End of the Trees
The mills in Ricketts closed in 1913. This happened because there were no more trees left to cut down. Without the lumber, there was no work. People began to leave the town.
Becoming a Ghost Town
Over time, the buildings in Ricketts became empty. The last house in the town was torn down in the 1930s. This is how Ricketts became a true ghost town. Today, nothing remains of the original town.
