Editor’s Note: This and future articles to follow are dedicated to the miners who lost their lives in the coal mines of Old Forge. They are being researched to preserve our coal mining history for future generations.
The Sibley breaker and shaft were located across from what is now Keyser Avenue, near the junction of the Erie Lackawanna and Ontario & Western Railroad’s between Oak Street and Sibley Avenue.
Built in 1873 as an over shaft colliery, the shaft and cage hoist was built into the breaker, and the large pulley wheels were in the highest part of the structure. It was destroyed by fire on Feb 5, 1886. It was rebuilt by the A. B. Tyrrell Co., on the same foundation in 1886. By July 5 of that year, Tyrell had the remains of the damaged colliery cleared and had started rebuilding rapidly.
This second structure was also destroyed by fire on June 23, 1906. The fire broke out in the breaker about 10:45 a.m., and destroyed the breaker, engine house, boiler and supply houses. The new buildings were completed and in use by summer.
The colliery was first owned by the Elliott, Koerner & Co. in 1872 when the first shaft was sunk. It was bought by the Pennsylvania Anthracite Coal Co. in 1887, and was in their control until it was bought by the Elliott McClure & Co.
in 1885. They ran the colliery until it was purchased by the Pennsylvania Coal company in 1914, and it continued to produce coal until it closed on March 13, 1916 and was raised to the ground during the summer months.
However an underground haulage tunnel was dug to connect the Sibley shaft workings to the foot of the Old Forge Shaft so coal could be brought to the surface. From there the coal cars were moved by locomotive to the Old Forge breaker.
Records show more than 5,260,855 tons of coal was mined at Sibley between 1873 and 1916. In 1901, 496 workers were employed at the Sibley. Some statistics from 1908 are from a report by Inspector H.D. Johnson, of Rendham to James Roderick, Chief of Bureau of Mines. Production of coal shipped to market, 119,214 tons, fatal accidents, 1. The Sibley site was served by the D&H Railroad.
The Sibley Superintendent was R.W. Reese. 615 persons were employed, 15 men and 72 slate picker boys, 175 miners, 125 mine labors, 62 mule drivers, 8 door boys, 43 mules or horses, 3 pump men and 76 company men. A total of 6,053 lb. of black powder and 3,075 kegs of dynamite were used. The complex was powered by 3 tubular steam boilers, 1200hp. 19 steam engines, 900hp. 1 water pump, a 2500gpm. air compressor.
Ventilation was supplied by using a steam powered forced air fan. Records after 1916 are few, Sibley is now listed under Pennsylvania Coal Co, without any breakout as to each mine’s location.
Some of the officers of Elliott McClure & Co were: Judge Harrold Murrary McClure, R.W. Reese, superintendent 1908, J.D. Reedy, Henry W. Kinsbury, general manager 1902, and Robert McClure.
As recorded in the Court of Common Pleas Lackawanna County #12, court case, Sept 1906 Commonwealth of Pa. H.D. Johnson Inspector, v. Elliott McClure & Co., Inspector Johnson had tried to stop rebuilding the Sibley as an over shaft breaker on the same foundation. The judge, citing previous cases relating to rebuilding structures on the same foundation found in favor of the Elliott McClure & Co.
The Inspector had tried to use a new law preventing breakers from being constructed over mine shafts or slopes after the huge loss of life at the Avondale Colliery fire in Plymouth.
The following is the list of miners who lost their lives at the Sibley:
1874 Patrick Cawley, June 6; and Abraham Huity, Jan. 20.
1876 James Flemmings, Oct. 12.
1879 Patrick Carrol, Nov.3.
1884 Pat Leyden Jr., March 26.
1888 Patrick Joyce, July 9.
1889 Thomas Murry, Sept. 3.
1897 Edward Joyce, July 9.
1900 J.S. Davis, July 27.
1901 Louis Zegasky, Jan. 31; Thomas Tinner, March 25; and Thomas English, March 28.
1903 John Conosky, Jan. 14; and Andrew Andruchuck, July 5.
1904 John Colella, July 15; and John Fetsco, Oct. 22.
1905 Gusty Balvon, July 26.
1906 Mike Frank, May 22; and S.E. Elliott, Nov. 1.
1908 Raffella Astorino, Sept. 13; Mic Kokinda, Feb. 20; and Andrew Novak, Aug. 28.
1909 Alex Milgick, Nov. 10.
1910 John Heydon, Jan 24; Michael Barry, Jan. 19; and Peter Serko, Sept. 21.
1911 Regnaldo Mattello Sept. 15, William T. Williams Oct. 17, Thomas Griffin Oct. 27.
1912 Joe Matlock, Aug. 12; William Comar, June 21; and Peter Wascavitch Sept. 24.
1913 Harry Hover, Feb. 11; Ben Krotavich, Aug 16; Jacob Benta, Sept 27; Charles Sweders, Oct. 22 and John Huda, Dec. 23.
1915 James Talerico, March 5; Stanley Mirowca, March 11; Alex Makosky, May 4; Frank Sargalsky, June 17; Frank Corridge, July 31; and John Pasco, Aug. 27.
An original photo of the first or second Sibley Colliery taken around 1886 belongs to the Eagle McClure Hose Co. It was hung in the Sibley McClure Hose Co for over 75 years. A photo of the third Sibley Colliery built in 1906 belongs to the Syracuse University Library, Bunnell collection, and was taken in 1908.
If you, your parents, or grandparents have any photos, letters, stock certificates, newspaper clippings, company records or maps relating to coal mining in Old Forge that can add to our heritage, please call Carl Orechovsky at 570-451-0566, or e-mail him at jasper933@comcast.net.
You can also find more information on Old Forge coal mining by visiting http://www.oldforgecoalmine.com/
Research information was obtained from the Scranton Public Library, PA. Department of Mines, Bunnell collection Syracuse University Library, Pa. State Museum Harrisburg, Pa., Eagle McClure Hose Co. Old Forge, and many hours spent Googleing Old Forge coal mining.
The Sibley breaker and shaft were located across from what is now Keyser Avenue, near the junction of the Erie Lackawanna and Ontario & Western Railroad’s between Oak Street and Sibley Avenue.
Built in 1873 as an over shaft colliery, the shaft and cage hoist was built into the breaker, and the large pulley wheels were in the highest part of the structure. It was destroyed by fire on Feb 5, 1886. It was rebuilt by the A. B. Tyrrell Co., on the same foundation in 1886. By July 5 of that year, Tyrell had the remains of the damaged colliery cleared and had started rebuilding rapidly.
This second structure was also destroyed by fire on June 23, 1906. The fire broke out in the breaker about 10:45 a.m., and destroyed the breaker, engine house, boiler and supply houses. The new buildings were completed and in use by summer.
The colliery was first owned by the Elliott, Koerner & Co. in 1872 when the first shaft was sunk. It was bought by the Pennsylvania Anthracite Coal Co. in 1887, and was in their control until it was bought by the Elliott McClure & Co.
in 1885. They ran the colliery until it was purchased by the Pennsylvania Coal company in 1914, and it continued to produce coal until it closed on March 13, 1916 and was raised to the ground during the summer months.
However an underground haulage tunnel was dug to connect the Sibley shaft workings to the foot of the Old Forge Shaft so coal could be brought to the surface. From there the coal cars were moved by locomotive to the Old Forge breaker.
Records show more than 5,260,855 tons of coal was mined at Sibley between 1873 and 1916. In 1901, 496 workers were employed at the Sibley. Some statistics from 1908 are from a report by Inspector H.D. Johnson, of Rendham to James Roderick, Chief of Bureau of Mines. Production of coal shipped to market, 119,214 tons, fatal accidents, 1. The Sibley site was served by the D&H Railroad.
The Sibley Superintendent was R.W. Reese. 615 persons were employed, 15 men and 72 slate picker boys, 175 miners, 125 mine labors, 62 mule drivers, 8 door boys, 43 mules or horses, 3 pump men and 76 company men. A total of 6,053 lb. of black powder and 3,075 kegs of dynamite were used. The complex was powered by 3 tubular steam boilers, 1200hp. 19 steam engines, 900hp. 1 water pump, a 2500gpm. air compressor.
Ventilation was supplied by using a steam powered forced air fan. Records after 1916 are few, Sibley is now listed under Pennsylvania Coal Co, without any breakout as to each mine’s location.
Some of the officers of Elliott McClure & Co were: Judge Harrold Murrary McClure, R.W. Reese, superintendent 1908, J.D. Reedy, Henry W. Kinsbury, general manager 1902, and Robert McClure.
As recorded in the Court of Common Pleas Lackawanna County #12, court case, Sept 1906 Commonwealth of Pa. H.D. Johnson Inspector, v. Elliott McClure & Co., Inspector Johnson had tried to stop rebuilding the Sibley as an over shaft breaker on the same foundation. The judge, citing previous cases relating to rebuilding structures on the same foundation found in favor of the Elliott McClure & Co.
The Inspector had tried to use a new law preventing breakers from being constructed over mine shafts or slopes after the huge loss of life at the Avondale Colliery fire in Plymouth.
The following is the list of miners who lost their lives at the Sibley:
1874 Patrick Cawley, June 6; and Abraham Huity, Jan. 20.
1876 James Flemmings, Oct. 12.
1879 Patrick Carrol, Nov.3.
1884 Pat Leyden Jr., March 26.
1888 Patrick Joyce, July 9.
1889 Thomas Murry, Sept. 3.
1897 Edward Joyce, July 9.
1900 J.S. Davis, July 27.
1901 Louis Zegasky, Jan. 31; Thomas Tinner, March 25; and Thomas English, March 28.
1903 John Conosky, Jan. 14; and Andrew Andruchuck, July 5.
1904 John Colella, July 15; and John Fetsco, Oct. 22.
1905 Gusty Balvon, July 26.
1906 Mike Frank, May 22; and S.E. Elliott, Nov. 1.
1908 Raffella Astorino, Sept. 13; Mic Kokinda, Feb. 20; and Andrew Novak, Aug. 28.
1909 Alex Milgick, Nov. 10.
1910 John Heydon, Jan 24; Michael Barry, Jan. 19; and Peter Serko, Sept. 21.
1911 Regnaldo Mattello Sept. 15, William T. Williams Oct. 17, Thomas Griffin Oct. 27.
1912 Joe Matlock, Aug. 12; William Comar, June 21; and Peter Wascavitch Sept. 24.
1913 Harry Hover, Feb. 11; Ben Krotavich, Aug 16; Jacob Benta, Sept 27; Charles Sweders, Oct. 22 and John Huda, Dec. 23.
1915 James Talerico, March 5; Stanley Mirowca, March 11; Alex Makosky, May 4; Frank Sargalsky, June 17; Frank Corridge, July 31; and John Pasco, Aug. 27.
An original photo of the first or second Sibley Colliery taken around 1886 belongs to the Eagle McClure Hose Co. It was hung in the Sibley McClure Hose Co for over 75 years. A photo of the third Sibley Colliery built in 1906 belongs to the Syracuse University Library, Bunnell collection, and was taken in 1908.
If you, your parents, or grandparents have any photos, letters, stock certificates, newspaper clippings, company records or maps relating to coal mining in Old Forge that can add to our heritage, please call Carl Orechovsky at 570-451-0566, or e-mail him at jasper933@comcast.net.
You can also find more information on Old Forge coal mining by visiting http://www.oldforgecoalmine.com/
Research information was obtained from the Scranton Public Library, PA. Department of Mines, Bunnell collection Syracuse University Library, Pa. State Museum Harrisburg, Pa., Eagle McClure Hose Co. Old Forge, and many hours spent Googleing Old Forge coal mining.
2 comments:
Awesome story, you should go to the site and taske pictures of what it looks like today.
'take'
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