They then bulldozed the town and built an explosives factory with many igloo shaped storage bunkers throughout the area. The old munition bunkers are a must see. Itâs about 20 minutes south of Williamsport, home of the Little League World Series. You could almost feel the workers making the bunkers. I think its great you and your family take time to travel around often near you. The lost village of Alvira and a portion of the ordnance are located on 3,000 state-owned acres that are controlled by the Game Commission. Sign in or sign up to post comments. It was interesting enough to draw the attention of even my 13 year old. Wonderful read. If a bunker exploded, it needed to be placed far enough away from the other bunkers that it did not cause another bunker to explode, preventing a domino effect. Such a shame but still awesome bucket list adventure there! Bunkers of Alvira | Credit: atlasobscura. Change ). Only after 11 months of operation, the need for TNT was greatly over estimated and the Ordnance was closed.In the 1950âs the land was distributed and the factory torn down, but the TNT bunkers ⦠Located on state game lands a short distance south of Williamsport are the Alvira Bunkers. It has tons of fascinating stories, though, beyond the legacy of the Founding Fathers, Liberty Bell, and the Battle of Gettysburg. I'm a single mom of 5 amazing children, travel blogger and rock star virtual assistant. Apr 9, 2017 - Discover Bunkers of Alvira in Allenwood, Pennsylvania: Over 100 concrete munitions bunkers are all that remain of a Pennsylvanian village seized by the US government. "In May 2011, the state Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Radiation performed gamma radiation scans on roadways on state game land. Another valuable article of yours. The Alvira Bunkers - Abandoned Places - Ghost Town - STIFFCHIN - STILLFIN STILLFIN & STIFFCHIN Explore the Alvira Bunkers. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. 01:28. Apr 9, 2017 - The Bunkers of Alvira is an Other Historical spot in Allenwood. Alvira (historical) car rental Compare Alvira (historical) car rental offers of 500+ suppliers. Within a week , workers had begun constructing The Pennsylvania Ordinance Works. Many of the bunkers are hidden by brush or almost entirely covered by foliage during the warmer months. Cracow (Poland) has a few bunkers from the WW2. The petition was granted almost immediately. 150 storage bunkers, 17 miles of railroad track, 55 miles of roads, and 300 buildings replaced what was once the town of Alvira. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The Bunkers of Alvira in Allenwood, Pennsylvania⦠Ending up with a flat tire on the interstate, this was certainly a trip and a half. There are several munition bunkers (or igloos) back there though and people like to hike and check them out. The tract was large enough for the 150 bunkers planned to store the TNT, with an appropriate safety radius around each one. One of the 149 abandoned Alvira bunkers in Union County. Tumblr is a place to express yourself, discover yourself, and bond over the stuff you love. Btw. Although tour-guides usually don’t mention them, it’s worthy visiting them. Our goal to travel to an unique new place within our state or close by every weekend took us to a small town called Allenwood, PA this weekend. So cool. Established in 1825 as Wisetown, the town once located near present day Elimsport & Montgomery, now known as "The Ordnance" , was renamed Alvira in the 1860's. A river pump house and dam were constructed on the east side of the highway, near the river. Apr 10, 2016 - The Munitions Bunkers of Alvira, Pennsylvania - Located in state game lands, you will find 149 concrete domed bunkers created by the federal government, as well as overgrown remains of the village of Alvira, Pennsylvania. A petition was filed in March of 1942 in the federal courthouse in Scranton, seeking the right of immediate condemnation of 7,604 acres of the White Deer Valley, and possession of all properties within the Ordinance Works as well as other properties outside of the Ordinance fences. All that remains are a few cemeteries, and the stone church where residents learned they were losing their land. Photographer. Villagers from the tiny town of Alvira in northcentral Pennsylvania are some of World War IIâs unsung heroes. Another consideration may have been the proximity to the Susquehanna River - which could provide the water needed for the TNT plant. It will be held immediately following the showing of the film, at approximately 2pm. Today the site is known by the memorable name "State Game Lands 252". I love finding abandoned places. Shortly after the outbreak of WWII (spring 1942) the town of Alvira was seized by the US Government, raized, and turned into the Susquehanna Ordnance Depot. Allenwood. It's where your interests connect you with your people. One of the 149 abandoned Alvira bunkers in Union County. Local News, Events, & Local History ========= December EVENTS: ==…, The Last Easter Service At The Old Stone Church, 1942, ============================================. It was an amazing trip to another place the I had no idea that existed in Pennsylvania. As you walk along the trails, there are bunkers spread out. Mar 18, 2017 - Discover Bunkers of Alvira in Allenwood, Pennsylvania: Over 100 concrete munitions bunkers are all that remain of a Pennsylvanian village seized by the US government. Bunkers of Alvira. Wow, such a great deal of historical information. The name Alvira is in the following categories: English Names, Old English Names. Each one, 47 feet in diameter, 24 feet high, constructed entirely of concrete. When you walk down the path, keep an eye out on either side of the trails. This a trip into history… Love the idea you are able to combine your trips with motherhood:) In 1942, the US Government took over the small town of Alvira and razed all the buildings in order to build 149 ammunition bunkers to prepare for World War 2 to come to our shores. They abandoned their homes when the U.S. government needed the land to build 149 concrete, igloo-style bunkers to house its rapidly expanding stockpile of explosives. Villagers from the tiny town of Alvira in northcentral Pennsylvania are some of World War IIâs unsung heroes. One of the most interesting features of the depot were the 149 concrete, "igloo-style" bunkers used for stable storage of explosive materials. Apr 9, 2017 - The Bunkers of Alvira is an Other Historical spot in Allenwood. 5 of them were unlocked. My Pictures Of The Stone Church, Christmas 2018, More Pictures of the Bunkers & ruins in the Game Lands, https://www.dailyitem.com/news/remembering-alvira-a-pennsylvania-village-lost/article_32f809e4-8d7f-11e7-a3fb-d3f839c2ac8d.html, See photos of the Stone Church Christmas Service in 2018 here, https://www.pennlive.com/midstate/2015/03/historian_confirms_radioactive.html, https://www.facebook.com/116216865062937/photos/a.814627305221886/2785036518180945/?type=3&theater, https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2019/05/places-to-hike.html, https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html, https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2016/11/privacy-policy.html, McEwensville [Formerly Pine Grove], Pennsylvania, When Three Unmasked Bandits Robbed The Exchange & Allenwood Banks, To Pay A Traffic Fine. To learn more, see the full Privacy Policy for this blog here: How To Get There - From US 15, take PA 44 West for 4.3 miles and turn right on Mill Road. A visit today to the bunkers in the former town of Alvira, Pennsylvania. In order to meet an increased demand for munitions, the federal government leveled the town to ⦠During the interview, Huddy said Alvira was among 76 ⦠", "My grandmother's mother was actually carried off her front porch and her house was torn down by bulldozers," says historian Paul C. Bunkers of Alvira. The parking area will be on your left and youâll see this sign: It might not look like much at first, just a wooded and field area. One place, in particular, with interesting history is the abandoned town of Alvira, which was at one point seized by the United States government and transformed from a village into a compound of munitions bunkers. 2 days ago . Bunkers of Alvira | Credit: atlasobscura. Discover Bunkers of Alvira in Allenwood, Pennsylvania: Over 100 concrete munitions bunkers are all that remain of a Pennsylvanian village seized by the US government. The Alvira Bunkers are hidden away in state game lands near Williamsport. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Thanks for sharing! The scans found no indication of uranium or other gamma-emitting radioactive elements above the natural background levels, the report states. The bunkers are located on the state game lands so ⦠These bunkers were used to store munitions supplies for the Mil Old town-tomb stones date back to the early 1800's. There are only few remaining bunkers of WW2 to see and some are not accessible. Bunkers of Alvira. Each bunker held 250,000 ⦠Alvira bunkers. Google analytics collects cookies. Now this sounds like a perfect epic adventure to have outside of Allentown, PA! The Amazing History of Alvira and the White Deer Valley Alvira once had been a lovely, yet isolated, community. Both were wonderful and unique in their own way. So much history here and around the world, Thanks for sharing with us. All in all a wonderful way to dive back in time and look at history! This event is over, but the movie is still available for purchase - or you can borrow it from the Union County Public Library. My 10 year old scrambled up the dirt mound to try to look down the air pipe but was too dark so he decided to start using his metal detector. I definitely for the creepy sense when stepping inside the bunkers especially since I went during warm weather and the bunkers were a lot cooler than outside. The need for TNT production had been overestimated, and the entire operation ceased 11 months after it began. I cannot wait until our next trip to cross another unique place off our list. 3 people watched. Back in 1942, the United States government expropriated through Eminent Domain all property within the Town of Alvira, established in 1825 as Wisetown and re-named in the 1860s, for use as a munitions depot. There is so much history to be found right outside our back doors. Apr 10, 2016 - The Munitions Bunkers of Alvira, Pennsylvania - Located in state game lands, you will find 149 concrete domed bunkers created by the federal government, as well as overgrown remains of the village of Alvira, Pennsylvania. 150 storage bunkers, 17 miles of railroad track, 55 miles of roads, and 300 buildings replaced what was once the town of Alvira. Loaded with history. When the government found that the need for explosives wasn't as great as what was initially thought the explosives factory was closed down. In the time when vegetation came back to life in 1942, the federal government seized a small village in north eastern Pennsylvania called Alvira. Nothing was found but shotgun shells. Plan your road trip to The Bunkers of Alvira in PA with Roadtrippers. This town has so much history and is interesting to visit. One of the bunkers built where the village of Alvira once stood. Alvira Bunker Evidence; After the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, the United States was determined to ramp up production of necessary war materials, at all costs. For urban explorers, there is a different reason to go to this deserted town: the Bunkers of Alvira. That turned into a game the whole time we were up there for who could find the most shells. Be sure to follow along with us on our crazy adventures on Instragram as well: https://www.instagram.com/singlemomstrongtraveler/. They abandoned their homes when the U.S. government needed the land to build 149 concrete, igloo-style bunkers to house its rapidly expanding stockpile of explosives. What a cool, history filled outing. Hidden in the Pennsylvania state game lands #252 are the Bunkers of Alvira. Author email; Follow Justin Engle Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! How crazy that you could go into one of the Alvira WW2 Bunkers though it doesnt shock me that it is already desecrated with bad graffiti. This is so cool! Residing on what is now State Game Lands 252, the abandoned Alvira bunkers can legally be visited 365 days a year! We bundled up, plugged the address in the GPS and headed out Saturday morning. The walls are decorated with writings about size and numbers from the builders we were guessing and also with graffiti from past visitors. My 10 year old brought his birthday present from his grandparents, a new metal detector. While we were walking, I answered what questions I could for the kids about World War 2. By 1942, the town included schools, a gas station, a blacksmith shop, and a church, along with other businesses, and had a population of over 100. Tumblr is a place to express yourself, discover yourself, and bond over the stuff you love. The drive up was perfect, the kids spent their time looking out at the scenery and asking questions about things that we passed such as the white Statue of Liberty in the Susquehanna River (which is a really neat story so be sure to google it). Thank you for sharing such an important (but not so well-known abroad) piece of history. Once you reach the address for the state game lands, you have to drive about a half mile down the road. The church is on the federal prison property, and is only open to the public for special events such as the Christmas service. The Bureau of Prisons did not permit scans of two igloos on its land, DEP said.". Alvira bunkers. The Alvira Bunkers - Abandoned Places - Ghost Town - STIFFCHIN - STILLFIN STILLFIN & STIFFCHIN Explore the Alvira Bunkers. https://carlaanapurus.com/, Lookes like it was so much fun for the boys. Alvira WW2 Bunkers Our goal to travel to an unique new place within our state or close by every weekend took us to a small town called Allenwood, PA this weekend. This trip was lots of fun with walking along the trails, looking at the bunkers and looking for deer trails. If you purchase something through one of those links, I may earn a small commission. See the Documentary this week-end at the Campus Theatre in Lewisburg, Followed by a talk at the Barnes & Noble Book Store Across The Street, "To add to the excitement of the Alvira documentary showing day, March 31, Steve and Martha Huddy, the “SURRENDER!” filmmakers, and Paul Metzger, author of “Deeds of the Valley: The Land that Became the Ordnance” will be holding a discussion regarding Alvira in the 3rd floor community room in the Barnes and Noble across the street from the Campus Theatre in Lewisburg. After the land of Alvira was seized, the Susquehana Ordnance Depot was built to manufacture and store explosives. Go 1.4 miles and turn right onto Alvira Road. 1 people watched. Find More Posts About Our Local History Here: with a love of Genealogy & Local History. Some of the bunkers can still be seen. Each one, 47 feet in diameter, 24 feet high, constructed entirely of concrete. The abandoned Alvira munitions bunkers in Union County are a series of 149 concrete, dome-shaped structures used to store TNT manufactured for the war effort during WWII. View all posts by Cassandra. It was interesting enough to draw the attention of even my 13 year old. 150 storage bunkers, 17 miles of railroad track, 55 miles of roads, and 300 buildings replaced what was once the town of Alvira. View All. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. He would be so amazing, but also a little sad, to visit such a historical place. This isn’t to far from us so we might need to do this over the summer. We have plenty of amazing sites right here in the Keystone State! It was also remote enough to keep the activities somewhat private and out of view. Mar 18, 2017 - Discover Bunkers of Alvira in Allenwood, Pennsylvania: Over 100 concrete munitions bunkers are all that remain of a Pennsylvanian village seized by the US government. The Sudden Death Of Alvira (. In order to meet an increased demand for munitions, the federal government leveled the town to ⦠The government tore down the buildings and built 149 "igloo" styled bunkers for storing explosive material for the war. A TNT factory and 100 some bunkers where built to hold the explosives. In 1942, the US Government took over the small town of Alvira and razed all the buildings in order to build 149 ammunition bunkers to prepare for World War 2 to come to our shores. The rest of the ordnance and farms were located on properties now owned or controlled by the Allenwood Federal Correctional Complex, Pennsylvania College of Technology, White Deer Golf Course and other individuals. 4,200 acres deeded to the US Bureau Of Prisons (This is where the prison complex, and the landfill are now located), 3,018 acres were given to the Game Commission, 220 acres were given to Lycoming County (a golf course is now on this land), 400 acres were given to Williamsport Area Community College (Now PennTech), (I learned recently that the land was never returned because it could not be - it is too contaminated. Making TNT is a "sloppy process", and that land is too contaminated to ever be farmed again.). Be the first to comment. When I first heard about it I was sad. Thanks for sharing! In the spring of 1942 the federal government seized the town and evicted the residents. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Located in state game lands, you will find 149 concrete domed bunkers created by the federal government, as well as overgrown remains of the village of Alvira, Pennsylvania. A TNT factory and 100 some bunkers where built to hold the explosives. ⦠The abandoned Alvira munitions bunkers in Union County are a series of 149 concrete, dome-shaped structures used to store TNT manufactured for the war effort during WWII. It’s always a great way to rendre hommage to those people who fought for their country during WW2. Apr 25, 2020 - The Alvira Bunkers in Union County, PA, are abandoned ordnance bunkers that date back to World War 2. Apr 10, 2016 - Exploring inside a huge Abandoned Titan I ICBM Nuclear Missile Silo Launch Complex in Deer Trail, Colorado. NAME: Alvira COUNTY: Union ROADS: 2WD GRID: 2 CLIMATE: Hot Summer and Snow in the Winter BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring and early fall. Alvira Bunker Evidence; After the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, the United States was determined to ramp up production of necessary war materials, at all costs. A small town which housed approximately 100 people; Eminent Domain was exercised on Alvira during the spring of 1942. For urban explorers, there is a different reason to go to this deserted town: the Bunkers of Alvira. We have plenty of amazing sites right here in the Keystone State! 2 days ago . This was a great way to enjoy family time together. As we kept walking, we came upon a second bunker which was open. There are so many unknown places to know, informative post. The kids also searched for different birds and animals. Back in 1942, the United States government expropriated through Eminent Domain all property within the Town of Alvira, established in 1825 as Wisetown and re-named in the 1860s, for use as a munitions depot. Thanks for stopping by! bunkers of alvira is abandoned ammunition bunkers from wwii. Less then 100 years after it was named Alvira, in 1942, the War Department acquired, mostly by eminent domain, all 8,400 acres. They continued through Watsontown with the cattle, walking behind them to their destination. On March 7 1942, residents gathered at the Christ Lutheran Church, where they were told that the government needed their land for the war effort, but that they would be able to repurchase it after the war ended. Photographs of bunker are telling lot about this less known place. We stayed there for about 2 hours and came across 11 of them. In a few places you can see foundations of homes or old steps that now lead to nowhere. After the land of Alvira was seized, the Susquehana Ordnance Depot was built to manufacture and store explosives. A river pump house and dam were constructed on the east side of the highway, near the river. The plank bottom made a noise. The room is about 15 feet high and about 25 feet diameter in a circle. From there, the Susquehanna Ordnance Depot took over the land, until 1950, when half of the land was given to the Allenwood Federal Prison Complex. Plan your road trip to The Bunkers of Alvira in PA with Roadtrippers. Justin Engle. Lovely description. Each bunker held 250,000 pounds of TNT, which had been shipped in in wooden crates. This sounds like an interesting place to visit. I can just see the kids surrying around with their metal detector searching for treasures of our WW2 training past. The site was likely chosen for it's proximity to the Reading Railroad, which made it easy to transport materials to the facility. Located in state game lands, you will find 149 concrete domed bunkers created by the federal government, as well as overgrown remains of the village of Alvira, Pennsylvania. Apr 9, 2017 - Discover Bunkers of Alvira in Allenwood, Pennsylvania: Over 100 concrete munitions bunkers are all that remain of a Pennsylvanian village seized by the US government. 5. ⦠Metzeger. We saw a couple deer in the distance along with a couple wild cats and squirrels. Bunkers of Alvira In the time when vegetation came back to life in 1942, the federal government seized a small village in north eastern Pennsylvania called Alvira. Bunkers Of Alvira â Allenwood, Pennsylvania - Atlas Obscura. Only about 500 acres were ever sold back to their former owners. Located on State Game Lands, this hidden gem is home to 150 Military Bunkers Spanned across Acres of Wilderness. 150 storage bunkers, 17 miles of railroad track, 55 miles of roads, and 300 buildings replaced what was once the town of Alvira. This place is situated in Union County, Pennsylvania, United States, its geographical coordinates are 41° 8' 3" North, 76° 57' 20" West and its original name (with diacritics) is Alvira (historical). So much history in one place. Operations ceased on January 14th 1944. This discussion is FREE and open to the public!". This site may occasionally use affiliate links. This site uses Google Analytics. The majority of the easily accessible bunkers are welded or locked shut, but some were left open. Locations & Events in the Susquehanna Valley, through the lens of a local farm wife's camera. REMAINS: 3 cementarys, 2 old church foundations, several house foundations. Children have surely taken even greater lesson than from school. Itâs truly historical and saddening to think of all the people that lost their homes both here in the US from this and all the people in other countries from that war. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 100 BUNKERS THAT CAN BE FOUND BY GPS. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. The kids spilled out of the car in excitement, arguing about which way they wanted to walk. ( Log Out / I visited this and Centralia in the same day. About 4 miles to the north west of Allenwood PA. In a matter of eleven months, Alvira was gone, replaced with 150 concrete bunkers. My son would love to do something like this. Two of her brothers, Dale and Robert, and a sister, Marion, were born in Alvira⦠I used to dream about that bridge. There is also debris stored in them from the park service. It made a racket,” she said. Bunkers from WW2 sounds intriguing. The government tore down the buildings and built 149 "igloo" styled bunkers for storing explosive material for the war. You can still see some of the foundations of the houses and buildings that were torn down. ALLENWOOD, Pa. (WTAJ) â If youâre looking for a day trip this summer, nature lovers and history fans would enjoy an easy road trip out to Union County, where a historical landmark called the âBunkers of Alviraâ are located. I’d love the woods but not the bunkers so much. Apr 11, 2020 - Thereâs no need to travel far to see abandoned settlements and industrial ruins. Each bunker held 250,000 pounds of TNT, which had been shipped in in wooden crates. This sounds like an amazing adventure and an experience to remember. Alvira, Pennsylvania and The Bunkers A while back my friend Jared and I visited Pennsylvania State Game Lands 252 near Allenwood, Pennsylvania which is where the town of Alvira once existed. ( Log Out / Looks like you had a great time here, it’s a wonderful way to let kids know more about the history as well. A close-knit community, it boasted tidy houses, white picket fences and four churches. Only after 11 months of operation, the need for TNT was greatly over estimated and the Ordnance was closed.In the 1950âs the land was distributed and the factory torn down, but the TNT bunkers ⦠Destination PA: Bunkers of Alvira WTAJ | 07-07 ALLENWOOD, Pa. (WTAJ) â If youâre looking for a day trip this summer, nature lovers and history fans would enjoy an easy road trip out to Union County, where a historical landmark called the âBunkers of Alviraâ are located.
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