KING COAL

Coal mining was once essential to our community, influencing the lives and livelihoods of numerous families.  
The Pittsburgh coal seam extended across several states and was so profitable, it was known as "Black Diamonds".  By the 1800's, PA coal played a crucial role in the country's industrial growth.  It became the primary fuel source for the steel industry and by 1917, our state was the top coal mining state in the U.S.  Many of these mines were in our area.

If you are old enough to remember, coal was the primary heat source in our homes.  Many families could not afford to buy it so they sent family members to walk the railroad tracks collecting what they could that had fallen from the trains to keep them warm in the cold temperatures.