Coal Mining History of Monongahela Pa
Catsburg, Ivill, Fort Pitt, Black Diamond, Robinson, Victory, Sam Hill Monong,Old Eagle, Harlem, Baird
This site is Dedicated to the memory of
Dr. Edmund T. Dlutowski
Archaeologist
1938 - 2024
The Black Diamond Coal Tipple
The Black Diamond Tipple was was one of Five Tipples on east Main Street Located above trolley lane on 837
The mine was opened in 1866 and was in operation until the early 1950's
The Victory mine tipple can be seen in the background
black diamond coal car
.
miners hand drilling a hole for dynamite
.
1st Ward School
Built 1897 on the hill above catsburg
On the hill above town where the Dalattre corp is now located . Also known as the Williams school after
James Williams owner of the tract of land .
Built of the finest materials and craftsmanship
The pride of Monongahela
Built to resemble the pantheon
Mine subsidence claims school
Built over the catsburg mine the school had to be torn down due to subsidence in the mine below
map showing the original catsburg and ivill tipples.
The catsburg mine caught fire in 1863 from a steam pump explosion and closed the mine.The mine was then moved several hundred yards down the street closer to the ivill mine.
The mine burned for many years and the older residents of town were afraid to be buried in the cemetery because it was under mined
The mine fire was cut off with a stream which contained the fire, allowing it to burn for many more years
COAL MINING IN PITTSBURGH BEGAN 1760
FORT PITT 1863
aka the Barr Mine
The Fort Pitt mine
Built and opened 100 years after Fort Pitt was built in Pittsburgh
from 1860 - 1863
Located on East Main Street and Cassidy ave.
Opened by William Barr , J.D.Jhonston and Louis Moule
A block of four houses a road (Sarah Street) and a coal tipple which stood at the end of Sarah Street were built that year
Thomas Cassidy owned the house that stood on the corner of main and Cassidy street next to the mine He and his son in law worked in the mine and had access to the mine thru his basement
He opened the alley between the two houses and sold off part of his farm for coal miner housing to be built at the top of the hill. Cassidy ave was named after him
Eli Webb and his sons also worked the mine. They lived in the house on the corner of East Main and Sarah street (where Sign Guy is now located) The street is named after Eli Webb's wife Sarah
the Mann house
Built 1860 by John Mann Mine Boss of the Fort Pitt Mine
The house was built using Mine rails hot rivited together to use as structural beams thru out the house. Two beams under the living room floor going out thru the wall to support the porch, One under the middle of the dining room floor and one spanning the 30 foot living room ceiling
John Mann worked the Fort Pitt mine with his 2 sons for twenty years until he retired to farming for his family
The two houses on the hill above his were built for his sons around 1880
Monongahela City 1876
Monongahela map 1876 showing the Fort Pitt, Iville & Catsburg mines
Also shown is the Nelson Rock Quarry Where the finest stone in Pennsylvania was quarried.
26 Mine Openings in Black Diamond
Monongahela mines are known as Drift mines
- Drift mines are dug straight back into the hillside running horizontally following the coal seam. They are measured on the mine maps as feet above sea level and on average only vary a few feet in elevation
Click on map above to visit Pa coal mines map atlas, type in your address and check mine maps for mines under your home