Wilkes-Barre (preliminary notes)

Wilkes-Barre, named after two prominent members of the British Parliament, was founded in 1769. It was once a center of economic activity during the industrial production period of the United States but has fallen on economic hard times since. The decline has taken a toll on the city’s population and architectural legacy. In 1930, the population of the city was in excess of 86,000 residents; today, the number of people is less than half of that, hovering just about 40,000 people. As you walk around the city, replete with potholes and empty lots, you can observe the effects of deindustrialization.

Central Railroad of New Jersey Station built in 1868 

A gray, bleak Saturday morning in February is probably not the optimal time to explore the center of Wilkes-Barre. Several older men were shuffling through the predominantly empty downtown streets; the damaged ornate buildings make economic recovery feel far away. The urban landscape of deindustrialized Pennsylvania does not inspire hope. Of course, winter is probably not the best time of the year to visit Wilkes-Barre; it does not show well. Pennsylvania in the winter is often overcast and gloomy and the bitter, and the damp cold makes me walk a little faster and with purpose.

Located on South Main Street, the Engel Building was constructed in 1890. The building was evacuated in 2013 when surrounding buildings had to be immediately demolished because due to instability. The businesses that were tenants never reopened. In 2016, the buildings were sold to a developer in preparation for a new 10-story hotel, according to the local newspaper. 

The Sterling Annex building, on River Street, dates from 1912 when it opened as an Elks Lodge. In 1939 the building became an annex for the Hotel Sterling. Today, it sits empty, awaiting revitalization. The exterior of the building gives a hint to its architectural grandeur that graced the riverfront area.  

Built in 1907, the former Shriner's Irem Temple is undergoing renovation. Its distinctive features, evoking an Islamic theme, looks incongruous with the surrounding neighborhood, but also attests to a more prosperous era for Wilkes-Barre. The building is currently surrounded by a chain link fence suggesting renovations; however, the broken windows and the haphazardly nailed boards across the front doors suggest otherwise.  

Abandoned tracks leading out of town