Shamokin's residents speak their mind. The views in this video belong to the speakers and the speakers alone. All music and archive footage is public domain.
I was getting a cup of cold coffee and meeting with my attorneys one morning and the bathroom in the coffee shop caught on fire. Now I have to go to Turkey Hill and I don't really like Turkey Hill.
What the hell do hominy grits, basket weaving, and barn dances have to do with Shamokin???? I was from the area, as were my parents and grandparents, and Shamokin was built on coal and the silk mills. When those industries died so did Shamokin. It breaks my heart whenever I pass through the town to see it so forlorn and run-down. I remember it from my childhood (1960s) when it was still a busy and well maintained area. Oh well, I think America itself is going downhill pretty fast too.
Might need to make a documentary. 4 generations of my grandpas family lived in Shamokin, (only a few still live there) and Sunbury on my grandmas side. Most of them worked in the mines or for the Railroad company at some point in their life. My great grandma worked at the shirt factory, and my great grandfather was Shamokin Fire Chief in the mid 1940s. Was kind of hoping to see more about how the city grew, and how it was built. I've been learning so much about my family, and the mine workers I need to go to Shamokin, would be great to make a doc.
My family comes from Shamokin. They settled there after fleeing the Russian army before ww1. They ran a general store in Shamokin. The Revlock family. My Grandmother Dorothy Revlock would tell us stories of growing up in a coal town, how her Dad stripped Slag when he was 10 years old. My wife and I visited years ago and the family home is still there. I want to go back up and check records at the Russian orthodox church.
Beautiful, reverent and respectful to the town of Shamokin. I was up there last weekend from Baltimore and was distressed to see how run-down the city appeared. Didn't see many people out during my short time there. So it's good to see some of the good people of Shamokin portrayed in this well-made film.
You video is not only great, but timely in this election year. The people interviewed spoke honestly about their needs and hopelessness. It accurately depicts the decline of rural and small town America, and people in other parts of the country should see it. More than any politician who will say anything to get elected, the people of Shamokin tell it like it is. Bravo and continue the good work!
I'm really happy to hear that! Just pointing out that the past of Shamokin was far brighter than the future. Degeneration of the coal industry and Yankee morals have lead to bleak lil' town.
Cool. May I ask what you like and don't like about the area? I may be getting priced out of New York soon and looking into smaller towns right now. Thanks.
I was born in Shamokin. Left in Feb. 1991. Lot's of changes since then, many not for the better. I don't visit much anymore. Most of my kin have passed a good many years ago now. I still love the old architecture, but many of the once fine buildings have fallen into ruin. I guess one can say thank God for the internet, because there wasn't anything there for the young people when I was a teenager in the eighties/nineties. Shamokin people have all the heart in the world, got real flavor. What they don't have are opportunities. After the coal mining stopped and the mills closed, all they had was Paper Magic and after that closed, they built a prison. Now there is a lot more drugs and crime. The City has always been mismanaged and that also puts the people at a disadvantage. Sad really.
I got here cause i was looking for maybe a clip or meme of jim carrey in the mask saying smokin! but i thought i should spell it in a more colloquial fashion. Hence shamokin, a place i've never heard of. ok here we go, I'm starting the documentary.
Interesting,great documentary! I grew up in Centre County,PA in the 70s & until 1986 when I moved to England,where my Mum & I were originally from,i moved back here alone when i was 19,& my Mother & younger brothers stayed in PA. I had never actually explored any of the coal region,until I was back visiting my family & friends in Central PA in the Summer of 2007,& my one brother & I took a road trip to Centralia,as we had both always wanted to check it out. We had a great day there & also went to the coal mining museum in Ashland & went down in the mine,which was also cool. It was a beautiful evening when we were finished at the coal mine museum,and we were hungry and not ready to drive back home yet,so we went to get a pizza in Shamokin,and walk around & got ice cream at a little walk up window in the town centre. It's a nice little town in a beautiful area,sure you can tell there is a lot of poverty there,but the people we spoke to were friendly,and we enjoyed a few hours there that balmy summer evening. We were really glad we went there just on a whim to check it out! I love just picking a random place to visit,just to check it out,I have had some of the best times doing this over the decades,nice to go places that are not tourist places,sometimes! 😍😍
It doesn’t seems that bad! It’s better than living in a tiny desert towns in New Mexico where, you will see some abandoned businesses and residences while desert sand and tumbleweeds are blowing around. Until 9 PM..... Mom and Pop restaurant closed. Including gas station and convenience store too.
4/23/2016 2:28 PM SHAMOKIN - The Fun Shop, a mainstay business in the downtown for almost 80 years, closed its doors at 8 p.m. Friday and will hold a liquidation sale beginning Thursday.Employees and community residents were devastated to hear the news about the closing of the unique souvenir, gift, card and newspaper shop at the corner of Independence and Eighth streets in the Masonic building. The reaction wasn’t lost on David Bumpus, a contracted consultant for Denver-based G.A. Wright marketing, which is handling the liquidation. “This is one of those times where I walked into a situation where the community is almost in mourning,” he said. He spent Friday at the store and said, “We had tears all day long.”
I'm from Shamokin. There was never really anything for kids to do. I personally didn't like living in Shamokin. From what I'm told now after living in Pottsville for 7 years is that the place is worse than ever now.
+Daphne Zaleskie I can see why people don't like Shamokin but I loved the people of Shamokin and dream of returning there one day! However it depends on what you like, I am sure you will find your dream place one day!
There seems to be plenty of money for drugs and cigarettes. Everywhere I've lived, the teen agers complained about having nothing to do. When suggestions are made, and money spent, they spurn the ideas. If they think there is nothing to do, let them create something themselves, instead of waiting for something to be given to them. If there are no jobs, create one for yourself. You may end up creating more than one. Look around Shamokin! Do you think all the mines, railroads, breweries and dairies were just handed to people? No, they created those businesses, and wealth and jobs. Existing on cigarettes, drugs and welfare will never get you ahead.
+Master Sergeant You are right, but this is not just Shamokin's problem but all of Western Civilization's. The only places I can think of that don't have the problems you listed are in the east.
+Goat Men You are so right. I don't know exactly what you meant by east, but I've spent a good deal of time in Korea, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam, and they have the same drug problems. My family has lived in Locust Gap and Mount Carmel since about 1865. It is terrible the way things have become. No one wants to pick up a piece of litter, let alone do anything substantive for the communities. Shamokin Police Dept. should ask retirees to volunteer to be trained as Police, with the city providing only a uniform and gun, and the retirees providing their own vehicles, if needed. They would patrol the city during darkness, and the regular police would be on call. Put youthful offenders to work picking up litter, and cutting weeds. Drug test for public housing and welfare. I had to take a drug test to get a job, why not everyone? Raise the standards for rental properties, and eliminate the low rent, high welfare attraction. If the kids have nothing to do, they can go to church, join the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
+Master Sergeant My family is from Locust Gap... Grandfather was named McGraph changed to McGraw. He had 4 kids - My mother Mary and two sisters and a brother went to school there. My Mom is 97 now...
Could you please help me out? Tell me about Shamokin. I left there 64 years ago (1952) but still miss it. Is there still a Martzies Ice Cream Shop? With Teaberry Ice Cream? Is Coney Island still there and the Fun Shop on Independence Ave.? I went to St. Eds Elementary School - across from the Church? Are they still there? What about the Nun's Convent at the top of the hill - I believe Tioga Street? How about the Glenn Burn Colliery out on Highway 61 nor far from Berwick and its coal banks? I lived across from there in a hamlet called Ranshaw or Boydtown? It was not far from Brady. Appreciate any of your comments about the area... Been overseas for many many years. Thank You.
the convent is still there my mom sometimes works there :) coney island sadly isn't but there is a restaurant named after it that is know for its marshmallow soda and burgers the fun shop sadly just closed but there is a shop called piece a cake right around the corner with great coffee and ice cream. sadly also your school isn't there anymore. the schools left are shamokin and lordes I got to shanokin and don't mind it. honestly it's so fun because everybody knows eachother and it's fun to meet up at blockpartys
Thanks for the info. Recently i checked out my mom's hometown Locust Gap, surprised the the town and its people.are doing well with nrw paved roads and LED lights. iI wonder what kind of jobs the people were doing to retire with to such nice homes and cars?
My Mom would often go to the Fun Shop (esb. 1937) in the 40s. In a city where getting a job is difficult, I pray for the 8 employees and wish them well: "Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding!" -The Báb, Baha'i Faith
The while coal region (coal township, kulpmont, mount Carmel) are run down...its extremely sad coming from someone who love here( mount Carmel, a town nearby) sadly, if I want to make a life for myself...I'm probably moving to a big city like boston... really sad
I used to live in shamokin and it’s trash. The people, the school, the crackhead Dunkin, the poor grammar, it’s just bad bahaha. I’m so glad I got out. Most people don’t.
no, she moved away from shamokin years ago... always held it fondly in her heart, but she knew it had turned into a shell of its former self. I found her old yearbooks after she passed and boy, what a town it was back in the day!
Some of the ppl interviewed never even grew up here I don't care what ppl that aren't from here think I care what the ppl from here think I've here my whole life and this place do to drugs and lazy ppl this once great city has become a place that is hard to call home
I live in Philly but grew up in North Carolina. I went to Shamokin once with my input from job corp, I didn't like it. it was extremely quiet ( like most parts of NC) and the roads are extremely hilly everywhere in the town. the hills make the town stand out
I own and live in a coal region town currently. I've lived a few places in Pennsylvania! The people are worth it.Their exceptional it's a different higher level of community. I'm 47 my father was born & and raised in Shamokin .When I was younger it was a nice city!
Приколы
I was getting a cup of cold coffee and meeting with my attorneys one morning and the bathroom in the coffee shop caught on fire. Now I have to go to Turkey Hill and I don't really like Turkey Hill.
I gotta go to like a Turkey hill for my donits, but I'm dealing with it.
What the hell do hominy grits, basket weaving, and barn dances have to do with Shamokin???? I was from the area, as were my parents and grandparents, and Shamokin was built on coal and the silk mills. When those industries died so did Shamokin. It breaks my heart whenever I pass through the town to see it so forlorn and run-down. I remember it from my childhood (1960s) when it was still a busy and well maintained area. Oh well, I think America itself is going downhill pretty fast too.
Might need to make a documentary. 4 generations of my grandpas family lived in Shamokin, (only a few still live there) and Sunbury on my grandmas side. Most of them worked in the mines or for the Railroad company at some point in their life. My great grandma worked at the shirt factory, and my great grandfather was Shamokin Fire Chief in the mid 1940s. Was kind of hoping to see more about how the city grew, and how it was built. I've been learning so much about my family, and the mine workers I need to go to Shamokin, would be great to make a doc.
I agree.
If you don’t like it, make your own video then!!!! Jerk!
@@meowzah2495 And you are a clueless idiot who knows absolutely zilch about that area. Where are you from? You must be a resident of Braindeadville.
I hear there's a legendary Dunkin' Donuts there, but it's the only thing the town has.
From the town nearby(mt carmel) and it is the only thing it has
@reality check I think he knows that sir......
@@MrBloxy-wz1zb im from mc to!!!
It’s also has the biggest coal mountain in the world! We’re just that cool 😎
@@simply._.angelz994 yuhhhhh 😩
My Great Great Grand Parents lived there in the late 1800's to early 1900's. He worked in a Coal Mine and lived on Fern Street.
10:12 "There's a lot of ugly chicks too." =D
I disagree. That wasn't true when I lived there.
My family comes from Shamokin. They settled there after fleeing the Russian army before ww1. They ran a general store in Shamokin. The Revlock family. My Grandmother Dorothy Revlock would tell us stories of growing up in a coal town, how her Dad stripped Slag when he was 10 years old. My wife and I visited years ago and the family home is still there. I want to go back up and check records at the Russian orthodox church.
Beautiful, reverent and respectful to the town of Shamokin. I was up there last weekend from Baltimore and was distressed to see how run-down the city appeared. Didn't see many people out during my short time there. So it's good to see some of the good people of Shamokin portrayed in this well-made film.
You video is not only great, but timely in this election year. The people interviewed spoke honestly about their needs and hopelessness. It accurately depicts the decline of rural and small town America, and people in other parts of the country should see it. More than any politician who will say anything to get elected, the people of Shamokin tell it like it is. Bravo and continue the good work!
Your comment is heartwarming and puts hope back into the eyes of those who have seen what has happened to these few and united states.
yo i live in shamokin and i love it, it’s a small town but it’s fun
I'm really happy to hear that!
Just pointing out that the past of Shamokin was far brighter than the future. Degeneration of the coal industry and Yankee morals have lead to bleak lil' town.
Cool. May I ask what you like and don't like about the area? I may be getting priced out of New York soon and looking into smaller towns right now. Thanks.
Has an old Philadelphia feel. Same type of soul.
I was born in Shamokin. Left in Feb. 1991. Lot's of changes since then, many not for the better. I don't visit much anymore. Most of my kin have passed a good many years ago now. I still love the old architecture, but many of the once fine buildings have fallen into ruin. I guess one can say thank God for the internet, because there wasn't anything there for the young people when I was a teenager in the eighties/nineties. Shamokin people have all the heart in the world, got real flavor. What they don't have are opportunities. After the coal mining stopped and the mills closed, all they had was Paper Magic and after that closed, they built a prison. Now there is a lot more drugs and crime. The City has always been mismanaged and that also puts the people at a disadvantage. Sad really.
I got here cause i was looking for maybe a clip or meme of jim carrey in the mask saying smokin! but i thought i should spell it in a more colloquial fashion. Hence shamokin, a place i've never heard of. ok here we go, I'm starting the documentary.
Aint gonna lie. I love Shamokin. Went there for my senior year school, 1992. Met some really good people there. Good memories.
Interesting,great documentary! I grew up in Centre County,PA in the 70s & until 1986 when I moved to England,where my Mum & I were originally from,i moved back here alone when i was 19,& my Mother & younger brothers stayed in PA. I had never actually explored any of the coal region,until I was back visiting my family & friends in Central PA in the Summer of 2007,& my one brother & I took a road trip to Centralia,as we had both always wanted to check it out. We had a great day there & also went to the coal mining museum in Ashland & went down in the mine,which was also cool. It was a beautiful evening when we were finished at the coal mine museum,and we were hungry and not ready to drive back home yet,so we went to get a pizza in Shamokin,and walk around & got ice cream at a little walk up window in the town centre. It's a nice little town in a beautiful area,sure you can tell there is a lot of poverty there,but the people we spoke to were friendly,and we enjoyed a few hours there that balmy summer evening. We were really glad we went there just on a whim to check it out! I love just picking a random place to visit,just to check it out,I have had some of the best times doing this over the decades,nice to go places that are not tourist places,sometimes! 😍😍
It doesn’t seems that bad! It’s better than living in a tiny desert towns in New Mexico where, you will see some abandoned businesses and residences while desert sand and tumbleweeds are blowing around.
Until 9 PM..... Mom and Pop restaurant closed. Including gas station and convenience store too.
Want some meat with that salt? 🧂
4/23/2016 2:28 PM SHAMOKIN - The Fun Shop, a mainstay business in the downtown for almost 80 years, closed its doors at 8 p.m. Friday and will hold a liquidation sale beginning Thursday.Employees and community residents were devastated to hear the news about the closing of the unique souvenir, gift, card and newspaper shop at the corner of Independence and Eighth streets in the Masonic building. The reaction wasn’t lost on David Bumpus, a contracted consultant for Denver-based G.A. Wright marketing, which is handling the liquidation. “This is one of those times where I walked into a situation where
the community is almost in mourning,” he said. He spent Friday at the
store and said, “We had tears all day long.”
So sad! I loved the evening i spent walking around Shamokin in the Summer of '07. Beautiful area & nice people😍😍
this was sad and depressing..
I'm from Shamokin. There was never really anything for kids to do. I personally didn't like living in Shamokin. From what I'm told now after living in Pottsville for 7 years is that the place is worse than ever now.
+Daphne Zaleskie I can see why people don't like Shamokin but I loved the people of Shamokin and dream of returning there one day! However it depends on what you like, I am sure you will find your dream place one day!
+Daphne - What have you heard - worse in what way?
+Goat Men What else did you like about it?
There seems to be plenty of money for drugs and cigarettes. Everywhere I've lived, the teen agers complained about having nothing to do. When suggestions are made, and money spent, they spurn the ideas. If they think there is nothing to do, let them create something themselves, instead of waiting for something to be given to them.
If there are no jobs, create one for yourself. You may end up creating more than one. Look around Shamokin! Do you think all the mines, railroads, breweries and dairies were just handed to people? No, they created those businesses, and wealth and jobs.
Existing on cigarettes, drugs and welfare will never get you ahead.
+Master Sergeant You are right, but this is not just Shamokin's problem but all of Western Civilization's. The only places I can think of that don't have the problems you listed are in the east.
+Goat Men You are so right. I don't know exactly what you meant by east, but I've spent a good deal of time in Korea, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam, and they have the same drug problems.
My family has lived in Locust Gap and Mount Carmel since about 1865. It is terrible the way things have become. No one wants to pick up a piece of litter, let alone do anything substantive for the communities.
Shamokin Police Dept. should ask retirees to volunteer to be trained as Police, with the city providing only a uniform and gun, and the retirees providing their own vehicles, if needed. They would patrol the city during darkness, and the regular police would be on call.
Put youthful offenders to work picking up litter, and cutting weeds.
Drug test for public housing and welfare. I had to take a drug test to get a job, why not everyone?
Raise the standards for rental properties, and eliminate the low rent, high welfare attraction.
If the kids have nothing to do, they can go to church, join the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
+Master Sergeant I hope it isn't all like that.. I left in 52 but remember kind hearted miners that struggled along......
+Master Sergeant My family is from Locust Gap... Grandfather was named McGraph changed to McGraw. He had 4 kids - My mother Mary and two sisters and a brother went to school there. My Mom is 97 now...
Could you please help me out? Tell me about Shamokin. I left there 64 years ago (1952) but still miss it. Is there still a Martzies Ice Cream Shop? With Teaberry Ice Cream? Is Coney Island still there and the Fun Shop on Independence Ave.? I went to St. Eds Elementary School - across from the Church? Are they still there? What about the Nun's Convent at the top of the hill - I believe Tioga Street? How about the Glenn Burn Colliery out on Highway 61 nor far from Berwick and its coal banks? I lived across from there in a hamlet called Ranshaw or Boydtown? It was not far from Brady. Appreciate any of your comments about the area... Been overseas for many many years. Thank You.
the convent is still there my mom sometimes works there :) coney island sadly isn't but there is a restaurant named after it that is know for its marshmallow soda and burgers the fun shop sadly just closed but there is a shop called piece a cake right around the corner with great coffee and ice cream. sadly also your school isn't there anymore. the schools left are shamokin and lordes I got to shanokin and don't mind it. honestly it's so fun because everybody knows eachother and it's fun to meet up at blockpartys
Thanks for the info. Recently i checked out my mom's hometown Locust Gap, surprised the the town and its people.are doing well with nrw paved roads and LED lights. iI wonder what kind of jobs the people were doing to retire with to such nice homes and cars?
How old were you when you left? If you don't mind me asking.
tkotan I was about 7 or 8. I'll be 72 in Apr / '17. Gee, I remember some of the cars from there in the 40s. Be nice to visit again.
Coney Island is still selling burgers hotdogs and chocolate milk.
My Mom would often go to the Fun Shop (esb. 1937) in the 40s. In a city where getting a job is difficult, I pray for the 8 employees and wish them well: "Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding!" -The Báb, Baha'i Faith
I learned nothing from watching this, but found it strangely enjoyable
I was very young when I made this. If I could afford to I would go and redo it. Thank you though!
It kept coming back to the crick.
The while coal region (coal township, kulpmont, mount Carmel) are run down...its extremely sad coming from someone who love here( mount Carmel, a town nearby) sadly, if I want to make a life for myself...I'm probably moving to a big city like boston... really sad
It's official, there will be a second documentary. Jason says it be better than the last
I used to live in shamokin and it’s trash. The people, the school, the crackhead Dunkin, the poor grammar, it’s just bad bahaha. I’m so glad I got out. Most people don’t.
Where are you getting your cold caw-fee now?
Sad, decline of what was a vibrant town
I wish I had shown my Grandma this when she was still here... : (
it probably would have made her kind of sad though...
Was that her @ 11:16 ?
no, she moved away from shamokin years ago... always held it fondly in her heart, but she knew it had turned into a shell of its former self. I found her old yearbooks after she passed and boy, what a town it was back in the day!
build a skate park next to the police station..
Nice place if there's hardly people living there, I'm tired of ppl and their s..t ...
Did they ever rebuild the dunkey's?
I know the Dunkin Donuts is the jewel of Shamokin now.
true facts
Wendy's
Does anybody know anything about the "Fun Shop" In downtown?
yes the fun shop closed about a month ago it was and it was the coles sho
in the town
Yeah, I used to go. The sign was more fun than the inside. Legos and stuff if I remember
The memories...
I remember it as a busy store in the heart of downtown.
Some of the ppl interviewed never even grew up here I don't care what ppl that aren't from here think I care what the ppl from here think I've here my whole life and this place do to drugs and lazy ppl this once great city has become a place that is hard to call home
WHAT?!?!
Exactly! Hit the nail on the head!
It’s a drug town nothing else to do a lot of drug addicts... hardly no work not sure how people survive
i made a metal album about the gorgeous city of Shamokin, give it a listen if you love the city. Shamokin for life. Trump digs coal.
The place is a DUMP!!!
Coney Island burgers and dogs yummy
Plenty of footage that has nothing to do with Shamokin.
Dude walked on foot and interviewed random people. All footage is authentic. As they say in Shamokin, PRESSUREWORKS, fkoff hahaa
@@benjaminhoover6427 yo bendover, no, they all say: you got a cigarette ?
The America no one talks about
I live in Philly but grew up in North Carolina. I went to Shamokin once with my input from job corp, I didn't like it. it was extremely quiet ( like most parts of NC) and the roads are extremely hilly everywhere in the town. the hills make the town stand out
Isaac O'Neal
I worked for John f miles and split vain coal
I own and live in a coal region town currently. I've lived a few places in Pennsylvania! The people are worth it.Their exceptional it's a different higher level of community. I'm 47 my father was born & and raised in Shamokin .When I was younger it was a nice city!
My grandparents, aunts and uncles live in shamokin, the only thing fun there is kanobles
Shamokin is so trashy, yet so intriguing. Same with Mt. Carmel.
It would be great to go back 50 years and see it, when it had jobs. It was very poor back then, however it's poor morally now.
I'm from mount Carmel and agree with you
Where's the documentary on Mt. Carmel..hahaaahaaaa
Shamokin was like the town of Mayberry years ago
It's pretty much Detroit but reduced to the size of a monopoly board.
it’s quite sad
It's def a special town
I wonder where that kid is
this town sucks let me leave please
This video should've mentioned all the gangs and crime.
I am in a really cool gang called the wet wives in shamokin. Keep your head on a swivel pal
Rambling and pointless. An accurate representation of nothing.