The Heart of Pennsylvania

[Graybeard]

Outstanding! Welcome back!

[Rick F.]

Outstanding! Welcome back!

Larry,

Muchas dankas--it's good to be back. Stay tuned for more...

Rick F.

[guitardad]

Great story, as always, Rick! Glad you've found a good way to get back onto those back roads. Somehow, I knew those big old buildings were a sanitorium - they reminded me of the old abandoned buildings at Springfield Hospital in Sykesville. Luckily, the county is gradually rehabbing them. I hope the same thing is done at South Mountain.

[Flash!]

What a joy to have you back, Rick!! I was lamenting your absence just the other day.

I'm sorry to hear of the osteoporosis, but really glad you're enjoying the back roads and sending us pictures once again.

Jody

[Rick F.]

Great story, as always, Rick! Glad you've found a good way to get back onto those back roads. Somehow, I knew those big old buildings were a sanitorium - they reminded me of the old abandoned buildings at Springfield Hospital in Sykesville. Luckily, the county is gradually rehabbing them. I hope the same thing is done at South Mountain.

Chaz,

Thanks--I'm glad you enjoyed the write-up. I didn't realize that the Sykesville hospital was abandoned. I'll have to go snooping around there now!

You'd think the South Mountain building would be rehabable (is that a word?)--its sister building is still being used. Unit 2 originally had two indoor swimming pools, a movie theatre, and a number of other amenities in addition to the patient rooms. On the other hand, when I peeked through a window it looked like quite a mess inside and showed signs of possible asbestos:


Of course, fixing up a place like this might be a snap for anyone who can restore vintage BMW airheads!

=D> What a joy to have you back, Rick!! I was lamenting your absence just the other day.

I'm sorry to hear of the osteoporosis, but really glad you're enjoying the back roads and sending us pictures once again.

Jody

Jody,

Thanks--it's great to be back, roaming the back roads and looking for interesting flowers to quiz you with! I'll have another installment soon, this time based on Virginia. Ever been to the Barboursville mansion ruins? (I suspect the answer is "yes," but it was a first for me yesterday.)

Rick F.

[Flash!]

In fact I've NOT been there, but look forward to a VA installment of the road tour.

By the way, did you know that two female designers are chiefly responsible for the "masculine swagger" of the interior and exterior of the Z4, per "The Week" magazine? What a great looking car!

Jody

[Rick F.]

In fact I've NOT been there, but look forward to a VA installment of the road tour.

By the way, did you know that two female designers are chiefly responsible for the "masculine swagger" of the interior and exterior of the Z4, per "The Week" magazine? What a great looking car!

Jody

Jody,

I'll confess that I did not know that. I like the overall shape of the Z4, although the details seem overdone--a result typically attributed to Chris Bangle, the much-maligned chief designer for BMW cars. It is an exciting look, however. And the interior is great. I wonder which aspects qualify as "masculine element"??

Rick F.

[taraisms]

The abandoned large building you came across in Loysville, PA was an orphanage owned by Tressler. They built a new retirement facility in New Bloomfield, PA in the 1970's. It is now The Manor at Perry Village and is a retirement home, but no longer owned by Tressler (now Diakon as it became in a merger). I have worked there for 11 years. The old building has since been (sadly) destroyed. The site is currently used as a garage/repair center which is why you saw the trucks in front during your visit.

Here are some links that may interest you.

http://histclo.com/insti/Orp/us/ind/oui-trss.html
http://www.diakon.org/about-us/historical-overview.aspx

[Rick F.]

The abandoned large building you came across in Loysville, PA was an orphanage owned by Tressler. They built a new retirement facility in New Bloomfield, PA in the 1970's. It is now The Manor at Perry Village and is a retirement home, but no longer owned by Tressler (now Diakon as it became in a merger). I have worked there for 11 years. The old building has since been (sadly) destroyed. The site is currently used as a garage/repair center which is why you saw the trucks in front during your visit.

Here are some links that may interest you.

http://histclo.com/insti/Orp/us/ind/oui-trss.html
http://www.diakon.org/about-us/historical-overview.aspx

taraisms,

Fantastic! Thank you so much for providing information on the Tressler orphanage. I've often wondered what the building had been used for, and now I know.


I'm sorry that it's since been torn down. I suspected that the trucks and workers might have been there for that purpose, but I was hoping that it was for renovation, not demolition. Well, time marches on.

Your links about the history of the orphanage were quite interesting. It operated for nearly 100 years, and had served as a college prior to the Civil War. At its peak (1944), the facility housed and cared for 350 destitute children.

Thanks again. I love it when a mystery is solved!

Rick F.