For a couple years now I have been meaning to explore the Ghost Town Of San Toy, Ohio only about one hour away from Lancaster. “San Toy is a ghost town in northeastern Monroe Township, Perry County, Ohio, United States.” Wikipedia LINK
“San Toy was practically a relic from the Wild West that grew out of the Appalachian foothills. It was a rough town where people frequently died in the saloons and streets.”
Was the town named after the boxer San Toy and was there a murder a day? Some say yes. I do know I should not have worn shorts to go tromping through the woods. LOL. The mine is filled in,the jail/prison only show their foundations but there is a modern church.
The only building still standing in San Toy is the old jailhouse.
“In 1931 the 19 registered voters elected to abandon the town. At one time There was a hospital,( only hospital in Perry County ) which was operated by the coal company; a movie theater, three schools; a drugstore; about six general stores; a pool room; seven saloons.” LINK. In doing a little exploring I found the opening to the mines and the poison ivy
“The mine was sold from the New England Coal Company to the Sunday Creek Coal Company in 1915, the new owners of the mine and the town vowed to make it a "modern mining system and a model community." LINK
When the mine failed and was closed down (mine was set on fire) the area turned to moonshine. Check out a previous post of mine for more mining/moonshine history. LINK
I love old places like this, love the history and letting my imagination run loose! Love your photos as always and the history you've included makes for a great post for the day. Look forward to learning where you'll take us next! Thanks for sharing the fun, Joe! Hope you have a good week!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Gee ---doesn't look like ANYTHING anyone tried to do in that town worked!!!!! It's no wonder that it finally died out... It's too bad---but I hope you don't get poison ivy just for visiting that area..... ha
ReplyDeleteBetsy
aloha,
ReplyDeletethose are pretty tour of the ghost town, thanks for sharing these
Joe: What a cool post, it had to be a great place to explore.
ReplyDeleteThis is poignant, as we are selling our cottage in Muskoka. I hope to move closer to grandkids. My world !
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots of the place. Amazed to know such a place exists.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are great, Joe, and I enjoyed the history. I like the fact that only the jail is standing - that says something (I'm not sure what!). Hope you are not prone to poison ivy.
ReplyDeleteSince I just love to go snooping around in places just like this, I enjoyed what you had to say and the pictures you posted. Does not seem to be much left of the old place. It's even a wonder you could find it, unless you had prior knowledge of where it was.
ReplyDeleteWhen I go snoopin' around old places I never wear shorts, because of what you might have to go thru. I also carry a .45 for the simple reason that I never know what I'm going to run into.
Les
Joe that was a great tour. You know I'm ashamed to say this, but I never thought about ghost towns being any where but out west. You'd think I'd of traveled enough now to know better. Live and learn!
ReplyDeleteWow - that really is a neglected town... So lovely even if it is falling apart.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post today, and learned something. It was fun the way you articulate the town, thanks.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun to tour a ghost town! I'll have to search to see if there are any close to where I live. What a fun post!
ReplyDeleteA fascinating post. Ironic how the jail was only survivor. I hope you survived the poison ivy. That's why I love Vermont: no poison ivy (at least up here in the Kingdom!)!
ReplyDeletehttp://meeyauw-pad.blogspot.com/2010/06/my-world-damselflies.html
I'd love to have explored that ghost town - just the type of thing I like doing
ReplyDeleteMy friend actually lived in san toy in the house right near the jail. He married the neighbor girl and they moved back to akron area. We camped down there and swam in the river.
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