Ghost Town: Wehrum
This week’s Ghost Town is Wehrum. The crumbling remains of the town can still be found sitting just off the Ghost Town Trail. The remains of Wehrum are located in Buffington Township, Indiana County.
The Beginning
Wehrum was established in 1901 by the Lackawanna Coal and Coke Company. It was named after Henry Wehrum. He was a general manager of the Lackawanna Company.
The layout of the town had six streets that ran north to south. There were five cross streets and several alleys. The town had upwards of 250 houses, a bank, jail, hotel, company store, post office, school and two churches.
Lackawanna opened the Lackawanna #4 mine near Wehrum later that year. The Ebensburg & Blacklick Branch of the Pennsylvania Rail Road extended its passenger service from Vintondale past Wehrum.
Troubled Times
The coal being mined was intended for coking in the Lackawanna Steel’s plant located in Buffalo, NY. This coal was too dirty in its untreated state. The company invested more than $1 million to build a washer plant and get the town booming. Everything was going well.
Then the disasters started. In 1904 a gas explosion killed four men in the mines. In 1906, the coal washer burnt. As a result, activity was decreased until a new one could be built. In 1908, productivity decreased.
In 1909 another mine explosion occurred. This explosion killed 21 miners. Many of the injured were taken by train to the new Miner’s Hospital in Spangler.
The coal began to run out. Another washer plant fire occurred in 1914. Then in 1922 the mines were sold to Bethlehem Steel.
Ghost Town
The mines were boarded up and closed in 1929. Slowly, the town began to disappear. It is hard to imagine a town with 250 houses, two churches, a bank, hotel, jail post office and school could just disappear. However, that is exactly what happened.
Bethlehem dismantled the plant and sold parts for scrap. Houses were then sold for $40-$50 apiece and their lumber was stripped and reused elswhere. One house was left for a watchman. By 1934 the only standing remains were one house, the school, a dam and the jail.
After a couple days of heavy rain in July in 1977, the dam burst. It was one of the six that broke that day to contribute to the Johnstown Flood of 1977.
Remains
Today there are a few remains scattered through the country side. The remains of the dam can still be found. Some of the coal mining buildings can still be seen in the trees. There are several foundations that reveal where buildings once sat.
The one and only house left standing is still there, but has been remodeled. The cells of the jail are still standing. The bank’s concrete safe is still visible.
A Resting Place Abandoned
One interesting find is the cemetery. Located a couple minutes drive from the trail is the cemetery of the Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church.
The church was first built in Wehrum between 1902 and 1904. However, after the mines were sold, the church acquired land in nearby Vintondale. They built a new church. The last burials took place in 1927.
Nature has started to reclaim the hallowed ground. Broken tombstones litter the ground. Weeds and dead leaves are scattered all over and obscure these final resting places. Trees have begun to grow in and around the graves. Some graves lack markers.
Tombstone in Russian. 
Looking up the hill one can see raised graves. 
An unmarked grave. 
Grave with marker. 
Tree growing over tombstone. 
Upon closer inspection, you can see the cross inside the tree.
Conclusion
To visit you can park at the Wehrum Trail Access at 2415 Wehrum Rd, Vintondale, PA 15961. The cemetery is worth a stop and is found at 701-1319 Mack Dr., Vintondale PA 15961.
If you are interested in learning more about the ghost towns along the trail you can read my blog about the ghost town of Claghorn.