Hometown pride shines through Ashland’s coal heritage and culture
Ashland is a small borough in Northeastern Pennsylvania’s Anthracite Coal Region. It was a bustling coal mining town throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and like many other communities in the region, it’s now working to reinvent itself after the decline of the coal industry. Despite these struggles, Ashland’s historic homes and sites remain an important part of its identity. “They still have a coal tour running, and there’s a lot of hometown pride there,” says Nada Laguna, a Realtor with EveryHome Realtors and a Schuylkill County native. Hometown pride is on display at the Mothers’ Memorial, a bronze sculpture honoring the mothers, families and miners who gave Ashland the strong sense of community that its residents feel today. Home to fewer than 2,500 people, it maintains a small-town feel within reach of bigger cities like Pottsville.
Homes range from Victorian-era houses to twin homes and fixer-uppers
Ashland has a mix of detached single-family homes, rowhouses and twin homes. Most properties were built around the late 19th and early 20th centuries to accommodate the borough’s growing workforce. While several properties have been renovated in recent years, many still have their original ornate turrets, stained glass windows and other elements of Victorian-era architecture that preserve some of the borough’s rich history. “There are some beautiful homes there, and I have some investors coming in and fixing them up,” Laguna says.
Towards the borough’s outskirts, the typical styles shift to Cape Cods, raised ranches and ranch-style homes that sit near pockets of twin homes and rowhouses. Properties in need of renovations typically sell for $25,000 to $50,000, while prices for renovated homes range from $70,000 to $180,000. Detached single-family homes tend to be the most expensive, and houses sell after an average of around two months on the market.
Explore the Anthracite Coal Region of Northeastern Pennsylvania
The borough’s industrial history is on display at the Museum of Anthracite Mining and the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine & Steam Train. The museum’s exhibits document the long history of coal mining in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and the Pioneer Tunnel is a former anthracite coal mine that allows locals to immerse themselves in that very same history. The museum offers educational tours of the tunnel and steam train rides around Mahanoy Mountain, a major center of the anthracite coal mining industry. Hundreds of people visit the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine & Steam Train for the annual Pioneer Day, which is typically held in July and celebrates the borough’s rich history with themed activities for all ages.
Ashland is about 3 miles south of Centralia, a former coal mining town that has since been abandoned after an underground coal mine fire began in 1962. The fire continues to burn today, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection believes natural and man-made barriers will prevent it from burning beneath any nearby towns.
In the North Schuylkill School District, with dual enrollment programs
Ashland is part of the North Schuylkill School District. North Schuylkill Elementary School covers kindergarten through sixth grade and earns a C from Niche. Older kids attend North Schuylkill Junior/Senior High School, which receives a C-plus. High schoolers can earn college credit through Advanced Placement courses and specialized dual-enrollment programs, including an Emerging Health Professionals Program taught in partnership with Penn State Schuylkill and the Lehigh Valley Health Network.
Small borough with parks, annual events and off-roading trails
Ashland has four community parks. Local favorites include Eureka Park, which features a playground, basketball court and two lighted ball fields home to the borough’s Little League team. It’s also a destination for annual events like Ashland Applefest. The festival takes place each October and celebrates the beginning of fall with an outdoor market, live entertainment and plenty of seasonal treats.
In the borough’s northeastern corner, Famous Reading Outdoors is an off-roading group that maintains hundreds of miles of trails suited for ATVs and motorbikes. Residents must purchase an annual membership to access these off-roading trails.
Residents shop and dine locally or go to St. Clair for big-box stores
As its name implies, Centre Street runs through the heart of the borough and anchors its small business district. Stores like Boyer’s Food Market, Dollar General and Rite Aid sell the essentials. Residents typically head to St. Clair, about 13 miles away, to run errands at bigger stores such as Home Depot and Walmart.
Local restaurants serve the community, including casual spots that include Ashland Pizza and laid-back watering holes like Ashland Grille. Northeastern Pennsylvania is known for its sweet sauce pizza, which borough residents can find on pizzas, wings and burgers at Fabrizio’s Italian Restaurant & Pizza. At May’s Drive-In Restaurant, classic diner foods and soft-serve ice cream are served from its drive-thru window or its old-fashioned dining room. Centre Street is also home to the Ashland Public Library.
Highways and local buses connect Ashland to Pottsville and beyond
The borough’s main thoroughfares are Pennsylvania Routes 54 and 61. PA 61 offers a direct route to Pottsville, about 15 miles southeast of Ashland. It also provides access to Interstate 81, which leads 70 miles northeast to Scranton and 60 miles southwest to the state capital of Harrisburg. Residents can access Schuylkill Transportation System bus stops on Centre Street and Walnut Street, with the bus connecting riders to various destinations in Girardville, Shenandoah and Frackville. For flights, Harrisburg International Airport and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport are both within 65 miles of Ashland. Nearby hospitals include Lehigh Valley Hospital–Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street, which is 15 miles away and is an accredited Level IV Trauma Center.
Written By
Sally Stimpson
