I was at the gigantic Groundhog Day Weekend sale at the Frackville Mall and on my way back home I got a chance to stop at the Repplier House. It is just north of St. Clair, at the junction of Wolf Creek and Mill Creek. It is chock full of history. It is often referred to as “the jewel of New Castle Township” and is located on grounds owned by the Repplier Coal Company but leased out. Due to some legalize language the landlord’s hands are tied; the perplexed landlord is not permitted to fix up the structure. It is the sole responsibility of the tenant.
“It is the land tenant’s responsibility to fix up the Repplier House!’ is an argument protecting the land owner from responsibility. I agree one hundred per cent. The landowner is fearful of
getting bogged down in mire of litigation and the Repplier House now sits sad and abandoned even though no one knows who the tenant is or whether the tenant is paying rent. No one knows if a tenant even exists. Maybe it is the ghost of George S. Repplier? Who wants to get tangled up in a fight with a ghost? I know I wouldn’t; I just finished watching “Paranormal Activity” on DVD. Ghosts always win fights. I don't know why.The landowner is obviously embarrassed by the tenant’s lackadaisical response to the needs of the building. Some in the county are even demanding that the building be demolished. Do you know how expensive that could be? Why it could cost hundreds of dollars or perhaps even a couple thousand dollars. Take one look. First of all, it looks fixable to me; it appears that all it needs is some tender loving care to restore it to its grandeur past. It could certainly use a fresh coat of paint for starters.
Why should the landowner be responsible for the maintenance of its real estate when the building was erected by its tenant? Aren’t we responsible for our own actions? How can the landowner would be expected to come up with a couple of thousand dollars to demolish the building? That is a lot of money, especially when the landowner is a coal company struggling to
survive in these bad economic times. I bet that the landowner is a member of SEDCO or the Chamber of Commerce - two organizations that promote Schuylkill County. It must be such an embarrassment to the landlord. To argue that this landowner should pay to remove a public nuisance on its property simply defies all logic and compassion. Did you know that coal demand is way down since Santa Claus cancelled many of his anthracite contracts? Bad children have now been getting brussel sprouts in their stockings on Christmas mornings. Good for our west end farmers but terrible for our struggling coal industry. Also Luzerne County has shut down its juvenile detention center, releasing many “bad” children who would have gotten coal (or maybe brussel sprouts) every Christmas. To top it off, the coal industry has lost the Courthouse contract. The Courthouse has switched to gas (not even brussel sprout-generated gas which is bad news for west end farmers). No coal. Not even one lump. 
Na-da. Zip. Zilch.That is why I am calling on the people of the county to role up sleeves and pitch in to volunteer. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Forget about Haiti. Think locally, not globally. Take a look at this building outside of St. Clair. Doesn’t it bring tears to your eyes knowing that the landowner has to suffer with this eyesore? Where is the stimulus money? Where is Habitat for Humanity when we need it? Can’t SKIP send dozens of scouts over to help clean up? Can’t the Penn State students stand along Route 61 with buckets to collect coins from compassionate passer-bys? Too bad that some county philanthropist could not just pick up the tab to help out the coal company (and/or help out the ghost/tenant George S. Repplier).
I will not simply sit back oblivious to this crisis. I will do my part. I will divert all money that intended to send to Haiti to the Repplier Relief Committee once one is formed.
Take a look around New Castle Township and you will agree that Port Au Prince can wait.
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