Grandad's Home Movies

My Grandfather was a tech geek.I suppose thats where I get it from.CB's,cameras,electronics,airplanes,boats...he loved any and all gadgets.He even has an original Pong game...the first home video game!If he were still with us...he'd be online,no doubt.Fortunatley, he was quite the amatuer cameraman.I recently decided to started to go through his home movies.The older ones are 16mm and there are some more recent 8mm films.I want to preserve these films for the obvious sentimental reasons...but theres alot of folks who are gonna be stoked to see what he has.For example...how about footage of riverboats going through Lock 6 in Rices Landing!? I'm talkin the big paddlewheel suckers!!The Mon River buffs are gonna shit when these on Youtube!!My Dad estimates its from the 50s!I can only imagine what else is on these reels.
I will be posting bits and pieces as soon as I can,so stay tuned!!

How'd I miss these? Rices Landing , PA coal mines

  

I grew up in Rices Landing and thought I knew all of the cool stuff...but I guess not.In my younger days I remember some of the older kids talking about caves in Pumpkin Run and it wasn't until recently that I've heard then described as mines.
This makes much more sense,knowing how small mines were common in the old days for coal supplies for homes and such.The Underwood mine on my Dad's property is one such mine.Also,learning the homes and mills that were once located in what is now the park,it only stands to reason there would be a mine there,too.
I mentioned my quest for the mines on my Facebook page and the former River Rats rose to the occasion and directed me right to them.I went down today and found them.(actually,I think its two entrances to the same mine).The one opening was all but covered (much like the Underwood mine).The other,however,not so much.It was covered,partially,but was far more accesable than the others I've seen.Judging from the beer cans,people much braver/dumber/drunker than I, have been in there...recently.
I was flying solo today,as usual,so there was NO CHANCE of me crawling down in there.But....I want to...kind of..anyone with common sense knows how uber-dangerous entering an abandoned mine is.But,from what I hear...many people have.In my younger,far more adventerous (stupid)days...I'd have been the first one in.I just can't figure out how I never did...There will be more on this as I get more info.
I cannot post this in good conscious without saying...If you know where the mine is and are thinking about checking it out...don't.I'd feel pretty bad if someone got hurt.I've been in email contact with guys who do this kind of stuff (with tons of training and experience) who I might get on the case...as for now,lets settle for the pix I took.(I was having camera issues,pardon the crappy quality)

Mystery Gas Station, Carmichaels, PA, Greene county.

Whats cool about winter is that you see things you don't normally notice.I noticed something recently I've driven right past thousands of times and never saw.Now that snow is on the ground and the leaves are down...I noticed an old gas pump in the weeds,in Carmicheals,right off Rt.88,below Visnesky's garage.So,I called Ang.She says she remembers the pump and that there was an old station there years ago...closed long before we were around.So,if you know anthing about the old gas station (or have pictures) lemme know.I think its wild that a solitary pump still stands and I actually caught it in the corner of my eye.Wonder how much a fill-up ws back then!?

More PID!

A few more pix from the Pittsburgh International Dragway.These are circa 1964-65. More here!

Pittsburgh International Dragway

These shots are from Pittsburgh International Dragway.The drag strip was a former airfeild located near Bridgevile,Pa.My father (pictured here in the red car)and my uncle raced there in 1964-65.I have more and will post them as soon as I get more info to go along with them.The strip still exists in poor shape.Ths spring,I'm gonna track it down.Word is Waynesburg will have drag races again at the Greene Couny airport this summer.COOL!! I'll be there! (Do they have a van class?) More here!

The Crucible Ferry

(Post edited 1/1/11 due to clarification)
These photos show the Nekoda,the former cable ferry that ran between Greene and Fayette counties near the Crucible Mine.The photo taken from the water was from 1982,showing the ferry where it sat for many years after service stopped.Many people believe the ferry was moved downstream toward the mine pier during the 85 flood.However,the other photos were taken from shore while the pool of the river was dropped due to bardges clogging the Maxwell Lock gates open.The pool was dropped after the flood,so these photos show it was still there post flooding.As a member of the RLVFD,our dive team would dive at the old launch as practice.I remember tagging along and swimming out to stand on the ferry.This would have been early 90's.So...when did it move?Was it scrapped or taken to a museum..or is it still laying in the Mon?

Cheat Lake Bridge

These pix are from the Cheat Lake bridge near Morgantown WV.I thought you may be a little tired of looking at pictures of crumbling concrete and rusting iron.The lovley young lady is Christy Cesarino,a co-worker of mine at WVUH. The pictures are by Yan Liux,another fellow Ruby-ite (we nurses are a talented bunch!)...his profile is here....awesome work!

More Misc Rices Landing

Here we have a couple more misc shots of Rices Landing Spots...just throwin some stuff up to kill time while the snow melts!See if you recognize anything!