Our Intent is to preserve the vanishing history and heritage of the coal mines, colliers, and breakers that were located in Old Forge Pennsylvania for future generations, and  to gather all the  information into one location

Help Support the Coal Miners Stamp. Contact the post office or write your congressman and local representatives.

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All Web Site Information is provided by Old Forge Coal Mine Inc. Carl Orechovsky Sibley, Old Forge, Pa.

LAST UPDATE: 04/29/2012  

Please use your BACK and FORWARD buttons to go from one page to the next **************************

Looking for the history of Duryea Pa.???   Go to: www.duryeapa.com

Lackawanna Co Coal Mine  HOIST CABLE CHANGING AT 190 SLOPE MINE

 

First miner to die in Old Forge: James Reese Feb. 15, 1872, Pyne shaft.

First mine disaster in Old Forge Sept. 28, 1897. 5 miners killed at the Dunn mine, Rendham, Jermyn Coal Co.  Bad air from a fire in the mine.  

Take a trip underground at the Lackawanna Coal Mine at McDade Park, Scranton.

Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour Scranton Pa.

Pa. Anthracite Heritage Museum McDade Park Scranton Pa.

Old Forge Pa.      Known as Draketown in 1805. Began as Old Forge Township in 1871. Incorporated as Old Forge Borough 1899. Location:   41*22' 11" North, 75*44' 18" West. Population: 8600 Sq Mi: 3.5 Lackawanna County. Pennsylvania.

Help us out send a Buck to cover our expenses. Make a check to Old Forge Coal Mine,       mail to : 1214 Lori Lane Old Forge Pa. 18518

THE HISTORIC PAST OF THE TRIBORO AREA

A new section is being added for area residents past and current to send in items of historical interest for our readers.

Items can be sent to our 1214 Lori Lane, Old Forge ,Pa. 18518 address or by e-mail. Please include your phone number and address for verification.

 Dunn Colliery Disaster 1897

HISTORIC TIME LINE of OLD FORGE

 Miners Poem

Mining terms used in Old Forge

From the Sanborn Insurance maps of 1914, Old Forge had:                 7 Schools                                    2 Fire Companies                        9 Churches                                 6 Warehouses                             163 Stores                                40 Bars/Saloons                        26 Hotels                                    1 Sawmill                                   9 Factories                              306 Barns/Stables                        5 Collieries                              1,686 Homes                              1 Indoor Shooting Range

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THE HISTORY of AVOCA  PA. (Pleasant Valley)

AVOCA TIME LINE

COAL BREAKERS AND COMPANIES

CENTENNIAL BOOK 1871-1971

Welcome to the Coal Mine History of Old Forge Pa.

 

Dedicated to all the men and boys who gave their lives mining coal in Old Forge Pennsylvania.

 

 

 

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       IN MEMORY of a COAL MINER

The following Northern Coal Field Miners rode their last trip of cars underground. May they now find the peace and serenity they never had as an Anthracite Coal Miner.

Thomas (Tim) Anderscavage, 1919-2011, May 24, Wilkes Barre Twp.                       Joseph Glinsky Sr., 1916-2011, May 23, Troop.                                                      Jacob Andrew Yurgosky, 1916-2011, June 2, Dunmore.                                         Willard H. (Bill) Gensel, 1925-2011, June 7, Shickshinny.                                         Andrew Gaidos Sr. 2011 June 19, Scranton.                                                              Joseph K. Butler, 1934-2011, June 28, Blakely.                                                        Michael Mirch, 1915-2011, July 6, Avoca.                                                                John Zubkoff Sr. 1926-2011, July 21, Ashley.                                                              Livio Victor Joseph Laurenti, 1918-2011, August 3, Tamaqua.                                      Stanley Dragon, 1928-2011, August 3, Avoca.                                                             Benjamin M. Fortese Sr. 1923-2011, August 8, Dunmore.                                         Joseph L. Barrese, 1927-2011, August 21, Jermyn.                                                         Leo Cecci, 1917-2011, August 29, Clarks Summit.                                                  Edward J. Gupko, 1922-2011, September 6, Plains Township.                                Michael E. Kuhar, 1916-2011, September 18, West Wyoming.                              Joseph J. Bedosky, 1920-2011, September 19, Plymouth.                                         John J. Gadomski, 1927-2011, September 22, Wyoming, John was the last surviving miner of the Knox Mine Disaster on Jan. 22, 1959.                                                    John F. Poslusney, 1928-2011, September 25, Pittston Twp.                                           Leonard J. Sulzinski, 1920-2011 November 19, Wilkes Barre. Dorrance Colliery.     Joseph J. Sofa Jr. 1927-2011, November 20, W. B. Township.                           Thomas J. Creedon, 2011, November 22, Moosic.                                                         Stanley J. Mockus, 1924-2011, November 23, Carbondale.                                      Willard G. Scutt, 1916-2011, December 4, NYC, formally from Plains.                  Andrew J. Kockinski, 1926-2012, January 2, Wilkes Barre, Whitehouse Beach Delaware. Esdras Ellsworth Weidow, 1915-2012, February 2, Covington Twp.                         Howard F. Murphey, 1907-2012, February 2. Clarks Summit.                                     Joseph Prestys, 1919-2012, January 30, Carbondale.                                                  Stephen Klem, 1926-2012, March 4, Olyphant.                                                   Charles P Angelo, 1920-2012, March 13, Plains.                                                     Henry S. "Lutzy" Litchkofski, 1918-2012, March 24, Honey Pot, Nanticoke.            Leonard Endza, 1934-2012, March 25, Harding.                                                        James Hugh McGeever, 1922-2012, April 5, Dorrance Township.                           Walter H. Regeski, 1918-2012, April 12, Scranton.

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NEW BOOKS:

Rails Between Dunmore and Jessup. The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western's Winton Branch.                 by Frank P. Adams. Available from Amazon.com for $12.95 plus shipping. 

 

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Franklin Mine Car 2010 Restoration Project:

   Mine Car Restoration Project Story

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Blue Coal Huber Breaker Chemical Fire Fighting Car restoration 2011 Project has been completed.

      The finished car was delivered to the Lackawanna County Coal Mine at McDade Park, Scranton, on Wednesday November 23, 2011.

 The car has been completely disassembled and all wood was discarded, the car was dismantled down to the wheels. The frame was re-constructed with rough cut Hemlock lumber from the Lake Carey Saw Mill. Wheels, bearings and journals were disassembled, cleaned, greased, re-assembled, then bolted to the frame. The frame and cross beams required 12 mortise and tendon joints. All new cross rods were installed, the draw rod assembly was cleaned and re-installed. A new floor of 2" thick oak was installed. The 4 bumper blocks and plates were attached. The 25 gallon chemical tank was restored, painted and mounted. Both equipment boxes were constructed with lumber from the mine. All bolts, nuts, washers and metal parts were greased to make it easer for the next FOOL to rebuild the car in another 40 years.  Carl Orechovsky.

 

Donations are now being accepted for the second car of this one of a kind set being reconstructed. This will be Mine Car Project 12. You can help by sending a donation to: Old Forge Coal Mine, 1214 Lori Lane, Old Forge Pa. 18518.                Estimated project cost $1150.00                        Your help is  needed!!!!!!!!

  Moving to Old Forge.     Start of dismantling the carriage.

 

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 Mine Map of Old Forge.                        Several researchers asked for a map showing locations of the mines of Old Forge. This street map has all the Breakers, Shafts, Slopes, Drifts, and Air Fans marked on it. Click on the map to enlarge it

 

Hayna or No! Dontcha ?

We are an IRS 501 (c) (3) TAX EXEMPT charitable organization, incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a non-profit corporation, Pa. 

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 Who we are: We are a group of diverse researchers dedicated to the preservation of Anthracite Coal Mining history and the preservation of our heritage for future generations. We rely on donations and grants for office supplies and funds to conduct research, restore, and acquire coal mining equipment.

What we do: Research and post the history of coal mining in Old Forge, and the Anthracite Coal Field, search for the names of miners killed in the mines of Old Forge, educate our new generation about their heritage. Search for hard to find publications, reports, manuals, stories about coal mining and local area history. We are host to the Anthracite Archives, an easy to use, on line repository for all the Anthracite coal mining information and history we can locate.

What is in our future: Research and create additional pages for the industries, churches, history, and schools of Old Forge. Provide an educational display about coal mining and history at local events. Rebuild all the mine cars on display at the Lackawanna County Coal mine, McDade Park, Scranton.  Assist other non-profit groups with similar interest.

How you can help: Please Send a donation. Checks can be made to "Old Forge Coal Mine", mail to: Old Forge Coal Mine, 1214 Lori Lane, Old Forge, Pa. 18518. With the state budget severely cut we are in desperate need of funding resources and supplies.

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To our viewers in China, India, Russia, and Asia. If you don't send e-mail in English we don't read them.

   

2012, Car 12 Project Donations:

Scrap, Pa. $200.00

2008Copyright by DeStefano Computer Installations LLC.
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Contact us at  
Info@oldforgecoalmine.com

 

 

Please feel free to contact us. We are a not for profit web site,  looking for any and all donations Including pictures, letters, anything historical for our web page. Thank you.

If you have anything to add, or see something that needs to be corrected, or want to contact us, use the following address: info@oldforgecoalmine.com

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NAMES OF THE COAL VEINS THAT WERE WORKED UNDER OLD FORGE:

MARCY,  CLARK,  BOTTOM CLARK,  NIGGER, TOP RED ASH, MIDDLE RED ASH, BOTTOM RED ASH, 5 FOOT ,  DUNMORE 1&2&3, SURFACE, BIG, MONKEY, CARBON HILL, PITTSTON, CHECKER,  NEW COUNTY, AND POWDER MILL VEINS.

 

****************** List of FORGOTTEN COAL CO NAMES that operated in Old Forge

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We are always looking for any information regarding the coal mines in the Old Forge area. Please contact us. info@oldforgecoalmine.com

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Our thanks to Harald and Caroline DeStefano of DeStefano Computer,   Glen Lion, Pa.  for help in creating this web site. Please visit them at: destefanocomputer.net

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From the report: U.S. Bureau of Mines, Bulletin 517, Barrier Pillars in the Lackawanna Basin of the Northern Coal Field. 1952:

BarrierPillars:93                      Mines Affected: 48         Total Length: 89 Miles  Underground Pools: 21     Gal. Water Held: 10 Billion Estimated Water pumped to surface between 1944-1948: 44 Billion Gallons.

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Your history is out there, you may be amazed at what you might discover in your own town.....

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MASTER LIST of  MINERS KILLED by LAST NAME in OLD FORGE

MINERS KILLED by YEAR in OLD FORGE

 A  column has been added between name and date. The Two letter designation is for the mine or colliery the miner died at. 540 miners have been identified.

Index to list of Miners Killed:

O1-Old Forge 1, O2-Old Forge 2, J1-Jermyn 1 & Dunn, J2 Jermyn Mudtown, JE-all Jermyn combined, LA-Lawrence, WA-William A., AU-Austin, SB-Sibley, PY-Pyne, RU-Russell, CO-Corey, MO-Morgan, CH-Carbon Hill.

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PATCH TOWNS OF OLD FORGE:             Austin Heights; Austin was the daughter of the mine owner.     Western Corners; Rural farm area of town.                                 Barbertown; Mr. Lewis was a barber in the patch.                                Babylon; Babb family operated a foundry in the patch.                    Bush Patch;  ?                          Connell's Patch; William Connell coal operator.                                    Goose Alley; Farmer had large flocks of geese.                            Lawrenceville; Lawrence was the maiden name of W. Connell's wife. Rendham; Town in England where John J. Jermyn was born.     Rosemont; ?                               Sibley; Brother-in-law of Judge McClure.                                Snyder's Patch;  ?                           Italy Green; early Italian immigrants settled here.                          Raytown; ?                        Grideltown; ?                        Draketown; settled by the Drake family Carbon Hill; first coal breaker in town. Mudtown; Main Street, downtown.       Nickel Plate; Nickel Plate Slope         Sparrowville; forest roost for sparrows along the river.                           Worlds End; early name for Austin Heights, Sibley, Western Corners area. Little Jerusalem; first Jewish settlers.

Can you fill in the missing meanings?

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