Officials of the Export Historical Society are working with the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Office of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Conservation, Mining and Metallurgical Exploration in Borough, Pennsylvania, to create a historic area at one of the few remains of a bituminous coal mine that can be safely viewed. We would like to cooperate with the association. by the public.
In 2018, two entrances to Mine No. 2 of the former Westmoreland Coal Company were discovered on the hillside as part of the Eagle Scout Project.
Historical Society officials sealed both portal openings with concrete and blocks, installed fences, established stable highwalls, installed and repaired existing retaining walls, and fenced hazardous areas. I would like to block it.
Although they are seeking a $300,000 grant from DEP’s Abandoned Mine Reclamation Office for much of the work, the project was funded by the SME Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Society for Mining and Metallurgy Exploration, in the first Chosen as a recipient of miners. reward award.
The Export Mine was the first major mine on the Turtle Creek Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The first mine in Barra he opened in October 1892 and shipped coal to Philadelphia and New York. Closed in 1952.
SME’s Ray Donelick said in the Foundation newsletter announcing the award, “Local officials will inform residents and visitors about the mining history, artifacts and maps of the area through exposure to the sealed mine portal area. So I decided to create a place to convey the importance of mining.”
The Pittsburgh section of SME was able to provide expert mining engineering and restoration expertise. Otherwise, it was only available at a significant cost of about $40,000 in-kind labor.
The DEP grant application puts into practice the foundation laid by the SME grant.
“The borough has applied for the designation of Pennsylvania Historic Markers, a program designed to capture the memories of the people, places, events and innovations that have impacted Pennsylvanian life over the centuries. I plan to,” Donnelick wrote.
Melanie Ritz, a member of the Borough Council and a member of the Historical Society, said the scope of the project goes beyond the historical aspect.
“We want to rehabilitate this site, which will also address the water runoff problem the borough had along Washington Avenue,” Ritz said.
The Export Council voted unanimously at its January meeting to support the Historical Society’s grant application. Since the Borough owns the land on which the entrance to the mine is located, the Council also voted to allow entry by the Historical Society, with a review of the proposal by attorney Wes Long.
Patrick Varine is a staff writer for Tribune-Review. You can reach Patrick by email at pvarine@triblive.com or on his Twitter. .
