
Lackawanna Coal Mine
Posted by:
Team Jackal
N 41° 25.028 W 075° 42.899
18T E 440249 N 4585311
Lackawanna Coal Mine slope #190
Waymark Code: WM21BX
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 08/19/2007
Views: 94
This area was once known as the anthracite capital of the world. This mine , slope #190 was opened in 1860 and closed in 1966. The coal mining business was booming during those years and employeed hundreds of families at a time. As many as 497 men worked the mines at the height of the coal boom. Women were considered bad luck in the mines, in fact, men on their way to work would avoid looking at a woman because they did not want to experience bad luck in the mine that day. To help, most women stayed in the house while the men were on the way to work. This mine employed children, since there were no child labor laws back in the day, children as young as 5 would be put to work as breakers. Older boys would tend to the mules under ground or open and close air locks as the coal wagons were coming out. The Breaker boys would earn .11 cents an hour. Men worked very hard, they had the back breaking jobs of blasting and hauling. Many of them would have to spend all day long on their knees or backs mining for coal in monkey veins. Those laborers made about .18 cents an hour. Some of the men were paid in vouchers which were only redeemable at the company store for food and goods.
Regular miners were expected to load 3 ton coal cars daily. A minor would make as much as $2.75 a day!
This mine also used canaries to check for dangerous gases. The mine maintains a constant temperature of about 48 to 52 degress year round.
There is a tour available which is very informative and quite fun. Bring a jacket due to the cold, the tour lasts for about an hour.
Mine Type: Tourist Mine
 Mineral Collecting: No
 Material Mined: Coal, Lignite
 Operation: Underground Mine
 Surface Features: Yes
 KNOWN DANGERS: Very well maintained
 Any associated website: [Web Link]
 Any Other information: If you opt to go on the coal mine tour try using your AAA card for a discount.

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Visit Instructions:
Optional photograph welcomed.