tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048678732955919447.post3896750235079106820..comments2024-03-18T13:45:32.457-04:00Comments on Old Industry of Southwestern Pennsylvania : Delmont Mines - Turtle Creek Branch Of The Pennsylvania Railroad, Dunningtown to White ValleyCoke Oven Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793208285590253080noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048678732955919447.post-15062551380847899952024-01-12T16:33:45.934-05:002024-01-12T16:33:45.934-05:00Hey Mike i live over by Penn Trafford Highschool j...Hey Mike i live over by Penn Trafford Highschool just over the turnpike off 130. Last summer one of the roads leading into downtown irwin collapsed into the mines. The road was closed for about a year and the township had to reopen the mine and fill it with boulders and a drainage and then repave it. Then they had to do it again about an 8th of a mile further down the same road.<br />I have some cool pictures of the sinkhole and of the two mines that were re opened that i thought you would like. When they excavated the mine i went down and looked through the dirt piles and found the head to a pickaxe and some small guage mine rail sections and a few awesome bottles (one of which appears to be from the 1860s-80s) and tons of awesome stuff like old glasses and the remnants of leather boots. It would be cool to take an afternoon to go walk around the area with someone that knows how to read the old mining maps. My email is Pnobodyknows@gmail.com. I'd be happy to share the photos for your website too.<br /><br />-AndrewAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048678732955919447.post-33416518430417482782019-06-04T00:50:01.218-04:002019-06-04T00:50:01.218-04:00Hi Jake, the way I understand it is they are going...Hi Jake, the way I understand it is they are going to be using the original route through White Valley, Ringertown and Dunningtown. They are in negotiations with the pipeline company that owns the ROW and own the adjacent properties on each side already. The plan is to re-tunnel under 66 and keep the original route as much as possible. There may be a spur that connects Delmont with the trail but that route is undecided. Dura Bond is going to be tricky, but hopefully they allow an alternative route around the property like the CAT dealership in Murrysville did. I live right next to the little tunnel in Dunningtown and the old ROW is adjacent to my property. I'm really pushing for using the original route. It's one of the reasons I bought this house. I look forward to the day that I can push my bike up through my yard and ride to Saltsburg and (eventually) points beyond, or just to ride to Jiggers in Export and grab some wings.Coke Oven Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00793208285590253080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048678732955919447.post-19156044736601322512019-05-26T02:55:33.894-04:002019-05-26T02:55:33.894-04:00Just saw this.
When they eventually bring the res...Just saw this. <br />When they eventually bring the rest of the Westmoreland Heritage Trail in thru here, will it go the exact route as the railroad did? I know in Trafford-Export it is, and it is the same for the Athena RD- Saltsburg parts, but I was looking, and I found some possible alternate routes for them. I know at Dura Bond, they will do an alt route, but I saw a few possible alternate routes right before the old tunnel that goes over the little road in Ringertown. One of the routes would take it right they Delmont, and then it would eventually make it to Athena Rd. I’m not sure if you saw this, but I’m hoping they take the original route. They still will have to cross Route 66, which I’m guessing they’ll do a bridge Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06584148335785508479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048678732955919447.post-35136680550242011412018-04-17T19:00:06.470-04:002018-04-17T19:00:06.470-04:00Wow! Thank you for responding. I am still familiar...Wow! Thank you for responding. I am still familiar with the name Schake. I live in Dunningtown, which is right up the "tracks" from White Valley. White Valley was the first of the New York and Cleveland Gas Coal Company towns in this area. As the mine expanded and more housing was needed, they started the company towns of Ringertown and Dunningtown. Thanks for sharing!<br />Coke Oven Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00793208285590253080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048678732955919447.post-26317367571253456592018-04-16T15:24:03.177-04:002018-04-16T15:24:03.177-04:00Thank you for sharing. My granddad, Henry Schake w...Thank you for sharing. My granddad, Henry Schake was a coal miner at the White Valley mine. He was killed at 41 when crushed between a coal car and the mine wall. January 31st, 1918. My dad had just celebrated his 13th birthday.Dangerous job, but when you have 5 children to feed, you take what you can. Author and Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06275313084319285562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048678732955919447.post-58161282918059718802017-01-08T16:58:59.075-05:002017-01-08T16:58:59.075-05:00Haha! There ya go!Haha! There ya go!Coke Oven Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00793208285590253080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048678732955919447.post-2576897407518699792017-01-08T10:07:13.252-05:002017-01-08T10:07:13.252-05:00I don't just miss the slate dumps. I especial...I don't just miss the slate dumps. I especially miss the ones that were on fire!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11496635586050675192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048678732955919447.post-39201856489221627122017-01-04T19:08:02.381-05:002017-01-04T19:08:02.381-05:00I wish you had camera then too Walt. I don't t...I wish you had camera then too Walt. I don't think I've ever seen any photos of Huron.Coke Oven Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00793208285590253080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048678732955919447.post-29055906567031544182017-01-04T19:06:16.852-05:002017-01-04T19:06:16.852-05:00I know. They're like monuments.I know. They're like monuments. Coke Oven Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00793208285590253080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048678732955919447.post-2680138998001911272017-01-04T19:04:28.468-05:002017-01-04T19:04:28.468-05:00Thanks Paul.Thanks Paul.Coke Oven Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00793208285590253080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048678732955919447.post-23422290605563179372017-01-02T21:51:09.680-05:002017-01-02T21:51:09.680-05:00There are actually slate dumps that I was sorry to...There are actually slate dumps that I was sorry to see reclaimed. You're not alone.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11496635586050675192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048678732955919447.post-90587759064404673222017-01-02T12:22:57.435-05:002017-01-02T12:22:57.435-05:00Mike, nice job, very clear explanations. Superimpo...Mike, nice job, very clear explanations. Superimposing the maps on the pictures is a nice touch. Thanks, PaulPaul Molnarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01571099293271188047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048678732955919447.post-906699519065323032017-01-02T10:33:28.764-05:002017-01-02T10:33:28.764-05:00Great pictures and great narration of this great i...Great pictures and great narration of this great industry that was part of western pa Thanks Mike Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16393938805172580638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048678732955919447.post-67059400945905903622017-01-02T09:36:17.139-05:002017-01-02T09:36:17.139-05:00It's always a pleasure to take a "walk&qu...It's always a pleasure to take a "walk" with you Mike. It was very interesting and well researched as always. I grew up in Salem Twp., within walking distance to the Huron Mine and spent many summer days there with my friends and brothers exploring. I wish now that I'd had a camera with me.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01959031433102465949noreply@blogger.com