2. Old Photographs of the Region
  3. Old Coal Mining

Shamokin-Coal Twp. Mines

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*Low-Res* Bear Valley in Coal Township.
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*Low-Res* Bear Valley in Coal Township.

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  • *Photo courtesy of Heather Makal* Henry Clay
  • *Photo courtesy of Heather Makal* Henry Clay (Roundhouse is in the background.)
  • *Photo courtesy of Heather Makal* Henry Clay
  • *Photo courtesy of Heather Makal* Big Mountain Colliery- The Big Mountain Coal & Improvement Company purchased 6000 acres of coal-bearing land in 1853 from Lancaster Coal Company. Of that land, 848 acres consisted of the Buck Ridge Tract. A small stream of water called Buck Run serves as the natural boundary between Buck Ridge and Big Mountain collieries. In 1840, Samuel John, of Shamokin, took over operation of the Buck Ridge Colliery which opened in 1835. Old Buck faded into history in 1854 when the Big Mountain C&I organized. C&I built a one-quarter mile private railroad from Big Mountain to where F&S Brewery operated. There were two collieries on the land: Buck Ridge and Big Mountain. In Oct. 1853, Arnold McClow, of Shamokin, built a coal breaker at Big Mountain, on the west side of Buck Run.
  • *Photo courtesy of Heather Makal* Big Mountain- The mine close in 1932 and only AMD discharges from the shaft (seen above) and drift openings remain. To see what the village of Big Mountain looked like, click here --> <a href="http://www.daladophotography.com/The-Thomas-Collection/Historic-Shamokin-2/3183054_zQ2ksR#!i=432132269&k=rXBcpmj&lb=1&s=A">http://www.daladophotography.com/The-Thomas-Collection/Historic-Shamokin-2/3183054_zQ2ksR#!i=432132269&k=rXBcpmj&lb=1&s=A</a>
  • Luke Fidler Colliery- Springfield would be at left.
  • (1915) Luke Fidler Colliery- If I am correct, future Route 61 would be between the two buildings on the left. So, McDonalds is somewhere near the breaker.
  • *Low-Res* Bear Valley in Coal Township.
  • Bear Valley in Coal Township.
  • Bear Valley in Coal Township.
  • Bear Valley in Coal Township.
  • (1962) Bear Valley mine.
  • (1962) Bear Valley mine.
  • (1962) Bear Valley mine.
  • (1962) Bear Valley mine.
  • (1962) Bear Valley mine.
  • (1962) Bear Valley mine.
  • (08.29.1943) Area of Burnside, looking north toward Shamokin.
  • (08.29.1943) Area of Burnside, looking north toward Shamokin.
  • Burnside Colliery (1864-1939)- Seen here is the Burnside Colliery and the village of Burnside in Coal Township. The colliery opened in 1864 and was torn down in 1939. In 1864, Steven Bittenbender and Company secured a lease and built a first class breaker. In 1872, the breaker was leased to Isaac May and Company. The breaker was destroyed by fire in May of 1875. Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Co. took control and erected another breaker, opposite of the first. In 1925, a second story was added to the saw mill and a crane was erected. In 1939, the now-abandoned breaker became a hazard to the major highway (future Rt. 125) which traveled through the breaker. Dynamite was used to tear it down. Over 13 millions tons of coal was mined here, with a maximum work force of 1,094 workers.
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