I have never been able to find out a whole lot about the Newcomer Coke Works. There were only 30 ovens total here and they were operated by the independent Newcomer Coke Company of Uniontown. They began operating the ovens around 1900-01 and lasted until at least 1912. Whether or not else somebody operated the ovens is unknown to me.
While I was there today I met a gentleman who lives nearby and he was able to show me an undated photo he had of the ovens in operation. Across the road from the ovens is a garage that he owns. The garage used to be the hoist house for Continental No. 3. The interior of the garage is redone and no longer looks like a mine building. The exterior looks original other than a new roof. Across from the garage and north of the ovens is the site of the old Georges Township school. The building is gone now but he told me stories of watching the mine in operation while he sat in school.
This is a photo of the photo he showed me. I just took a picture of it. It's the best I could do.
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The ovens in operation. The house at the end of the ovens is still there. You can see the school to the left behind the ovens. The current garage is to the left of the house. |
Looking up the old railroad spur that served the ovens.
Part of the retaining wall from the loading pier.
Part of what remains of the 30 ovens.
This is the most intact of the ovens. However, the inside of the oven has collapsed.
The arch still retains its original blocks.
Garfield block. Made in Bolivar, PA.
Haws brick. Made by the W.H. Haws Firebrick Company, Mount Union, Huntington County, PA.
Somebody wrote something in the mortar when it was wet. I can't make it out.
Field behind the ovens.
This is the back of the intact oven.
The oven next to it. The dome has mostly collapsed.
An example of a tree destroying an oven.
Coke ovens often become tire dumps.
The end of the bank. The house across the road that's in the old photo.
Trunnel hole still intact on this one.
A pile of rubble. All that's left of this oven.
Foundations of ovens.
Looking up the railroad spur.
The garage/former hoist house.
Looking up the old railroad spur that served the ovens.
Part of the retaining wall from the loading pier.
Part of what remains of the 30 ovens.
This is the most intact of the ovens. However, the inside of the oven has collapsed.
The arch still retains its original blocks.
Garfield block. Made in Bolivar, PA.
Haws brick. Made by the W.H. Haws Firebrick Company, Mount Union, Huntington County, PA.
Somebody wrote something in the mortar when it was wet. I can't make it out.
Field behind the ovens.
This is the back of the intact oven.
The oven next to it. The dome has mostly collapsed.
An example of a tree destroying an oven.
Coke ovens often become tire dumps.
The end of the bank. The house across the road that's in the old photo.
Trunnel hole still intact on this one.
A pile of rubble. All that's left of this oven.
Foundations of ovens.
Looking up the railroad spur.
The garage/former hoist house.
Interesting how nature sure reclaims her own.
ReplyDeleteCertainly is. They're degrading pretty quick.
DeleteLive Here All My Life. I Knew Some, But Thank You For All Your Work! Our History. Thanks Again Randy
ReplyDeleteSorry Lived Here..
ReplyDeleteThe school in the background of the old picture is (was) Newcomer School. I attended 1st-5th grades there. Continental 3 was a H.C. Frick mine, coke works, and patch. I lived in Continental. My girlfriend and I used to play in a coke oven that was across the road from her house. There was an ash dump from the coke works, and a slate dump from the mine. Interesting finding your blog about Newcomer and the picture.
ReplyDeleteFascinating stuff, Mike. I'm looking at a 1918 U.S. draft registration card (World War I) for an immigrant from Slovakia which says his permanent home address was "Newcomer, PA" and that his place of employment was "Continental #3 Newcomer, PA." His employer's name was "H. C. Frick Coke Co." and his present occupation was "Coke Drawer" -- my research suggests he emptied or sealed the doors of coke ovens and/or loaded coke on rail cars. Your great photos indicate that this work wasn't mechanized with conveyors, rather the workers used wheelbarrows and shovels to load the rail cars.
ReplyDeleteIn back of the coke ovens was Amend #1 coal mine. I wrote a book on Amend coal mines # 1,2,3. The book is Slavery - Coal Miners, Life in a patch, Amend works, Pa. Curtis A. Early cearly5@juno.com I was born in Amend The book is on line.
ReplyDeleteWe need to save 1 or 2 of the ovens and make a little park there and put up a history sign.
ReplyDelete