May 6, 2013

Steel Site Hike

Probably the most interesting feature in our new found hometown is the abandoned Phoenixville Steel site. Ages ago, the steel mill built this town and up through the 1980’s, was the chief employer in town. The mill went out, and the site, which separates town from Mont Claire/across French Creek is one big, bizarre open space.  Debris, abandoned rail lines, smoke stacks, bridges & brick cellars dot this landscape, remnants of this centuries aged industrial wheel. Needless to say, it makes for great photography, and how amazing would it have been to hit this place in the mid 90’s? The town has multiple bids on this property, condos, apartments, minor league baseball,…

December 12, 2012

Firebird Festival 2012

Its wild to think we’ve been here for over a year, and that this is the second Firebird Festival we’ve attended. This is probably the most interesting and worthwhile of Phoenixville’s events, and definitely worth checking out. Steel was this town’s main industry, the Phoenix becoming the icon for the intense forges. The mill went out of business in the 80’s, and the town fell into poverty, apparently Phoenixville was a pretty terrible place. The festival started in the 2000’s, as the town slowly (and still is) turning a new leaf and becoming a nicer place. Its a great way to turn the page on the year. Firedancers/eaters from theplayingmantis.com group