Take a look at the plaque to the right of the door. On the top is the old Civil Defense logo. Beneath are the words "mass care center." It's slightly humorous that a "mass" care center is in a church.
Remember when we really feared nuclear war? Most public buildings had shelters in the basement, and the plaque is still here.
By the way, the location is First Presbyterian Church at South Franklin and Northampton Streets.
I noted this on the 40th anniversary of the Tropical Storm Agnes flood in June-- Civil Defense used to be in the sub basement of the Luzerne County Courthouse-- adjacent to the Susquehanna River. Back then, being roasted by the USSR's missiles was a bigger fear than a flooding river.
