Scranton Lace Factory
Basic
Region: ScrantonLocation
Type: FactoryStatus: Demolished/Destroyed
Parent: The Scranton Lace Company
Opened: 1890
Closed: 2002
Location:
Click map to zoom/pan.
The Scranton Lace Factory was a gigantic factory in Scranton that was at one time the largest producer of Nottingham lace in the world. It has since been abandoned, and as of 2020 demolition is nearing completion.
Only on NEPA Trains are you able to see a rare view of the Scranton Lace Factory basement and underground structures! See the [[ Scranton Lace Factory Basement ]] page.
History
The history of the Scranton Lace Factory has been documented in great depth in many different resources across the internet, so it would be a waste of effort to rewrite it here. The wikipedia article does a superb job at teaching the history. (Effort is better spent on NEPA Trains documenting places that have not been documented elsewhere.)
As a result, the rest of this page will be pictures and stories of the Scranton Lace Factory from NEPA Trains contributors.
Artifacts
A few artifacts have been recovered for NEPA Trains from the Scranton Lace Factory. They are listed below:
- [[ Scranton Lace Factory Bricks ]]
- [[ Scranton Lace Factory Depreciation Schedule 1931-1932 ]]
- [[ Scranton Lace Factory Nottingham Lace Table Topper Advertisement ]]
- [[ Scranton Lace Factory Yarn Inspection ]]
- [[ Scranton Lace Factory Yarn Order ]]
Photo Gallery
These are above ground photos ONLY. Please see the [[ Scranton Lace Factory Basement ]] page for the basement/underground pictures.
Scranton Lace Factory Main Entrance and Clock Tower
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
The main entrance of the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]]. The clock tower can also be seen in this photo.
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Corridor with Skybridges
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
One of the external corridors of the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]], this one featured many small skybridges connecting the two sides. This was also the best entrance if the gate was open.
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Courtyard
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
A courtyard at the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]].
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Large Room with Punch Cards
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
One of many large, empty rooms in the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]]. It is unclear what this room was used for, but it contained a large amount of old computer punch cards.
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Punch Cards
by NEPATrains.org - All rights reserved
Punch cards at the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]]. These were used to program and run the early computers.
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Junk Storage Room
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
A junk storage room in the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]].
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory The Loom Room
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
The loom room in the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]]. These giant looms wove thread into cloth. To the upper right, a catwalk can be seen that is now partially demolished.
The entire room used to be filled with these looms, but only one remained at the time of this photo being taken. The other looms were removed for use in exhibits (source: a demolition crew employee).
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory The Loom Room Final Product
by NEPATrains.org - All rights reserved
The final bit of cloth ever produced at the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]].
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Cafeteria Area
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
The cafeteria area of the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]].
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Material Cart
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
A material cart inside a large room at the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]].
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Storage Cubbies
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
A large wall of storage cubbies in the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]]. It is unclear what these cubbies stored.
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Rainy View of the Factory
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
On this particular date, it was raining hard at the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]]. To the left there is a skybridge. When we went through it, one of the demolition crew employeed actually saw us, but did not let us know until the next time we went!
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Bowling Alley Lanes
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
The [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]] had a bowling alley. It was small, but interesting. Here is looking down the second set of lanes. No pins or balls were left unfortunately.
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Bowling Alley Lounge
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
The lounge area of the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]] bowling alley. This was directly behind the lanes.
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Flooded Room
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
A flooded room in the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]]. This room was directly next to the bowling alley, and had 2-4 inches of standing water at any one spot. Interestingly enough, this was not a ground level floor!
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Basketball Court and Stage
by NEPATrains.org - All rights reserved
The basketball court inside the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]]. As seen, the court also housed a stage. The floor was littered with advertisements for [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]] products. See one [[ here // Scranton Lace Factory Nottingham Lace Table Topper Advertisement ]]!
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Beginning Demo
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
The beginning of the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]] demolition, as seen from one of the 2-story skywalks. This is actually the exact spot we were spotted by the crew. The crew member that spotted us was down by the excavator.
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Entrance to Document Room
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
The entrance to the document room in the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]]. The document room is what held most of the documents in the factory. This whole area was in the highest part of the factory (excluding towers, etc..), and it was an attic, so it was VERY hot!
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Staircase to the Clock Tower
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
The staircase/ladder up into the clock tower at the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]].
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Clock Mechanism
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
The clock mechanism at the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]]. This mechanism was in a tiny room within the tower. The clock faces were outside of this room on the same vertical level. The bell was above.
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Clock Faces
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
The clock faces at the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]]. To the right is the clock mechanism.
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Bell
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
The bell at the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]]. The bell was rung by swinging a pivoting hammer. I was actually able to ring this bell at one date, and its loud!
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Panorama from the Clock Tower
by Casey Knott - All rights reserved
A panorama of the entire complex, as seen from the clock tower. The shear size of the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]] can truly be appreciated in this photo.
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory The Very Top Ladder
by Casey Knott - All rights reserved
This was the final and highest ladder at the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]]. At the top was a decorative piece.
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Demolition of the West End
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
The demolition of the west end of the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]].
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Partially Demolished Building
by NEPATrains.org - CC BY-SA 4.0
A partially demolished part of the [[ Scranton Lace Factory ]].
[more info]Scranton Lace Factory Lone Skybridge
by NEPATrains.org - All rights reserved
The Lone Skybridge at the [[ Scranton lace Factory ]]. Only one end had a building attached. This is the skybridge seen in the above 2 photos.
[more info]The Basement
To view the basement photos, please see the [[ Scranton Lace Factory Basement ]] page.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scranton_Lace_Company