When William Paine established the Champion Mine’s mining community – named after himself of course – he envisioned a large central square around which the company’s paternalistic contributions to the community could be built. These monuments included the mine built grade school, library, high school and school superintendents house. The square also became home to several other public buildings including the Albert Paine Memorial Church (built from funds donated by Paine himself), the Finlander Hall, and an Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hall that was more popularly known as the “Opera House”. Today, unfortunately, most of the buildings that once graced that public square have been torn down, leaving in their place a large open field and parking lot sitting between the still standing church and high school. Thanks to a few old photos donated to me from the generous Painesdale Mine and Shaft folks we can finally get a good look at that old public square in all its original glory.

Be sure to check out the full sized version of the photo above along with a collection of other recently published shots taken in and around the old Painesdale Town Square over at the
Scrapbook.

View More at the Scrapbook….