The D&L Blog

More than Coal in the Lehigh Valley

Written by Steve Fala

Most people associate coal mining with the Pocono Mountains and have heard the phrase “Coal is King”. It’s understandable as a massive Anthracite boulder sits adjacent to the Jim Thorpe train station for all to see. Climb the hill in town and you will reach the Old Jail Museum where the legendary story of the Molly Maguires; a secret union of Irish coal miners was imprisoned and executed (and an irremovable miner’s hand print remains as an eternal stain of the town’s shame). The No. 9 Coal Mine in Carbon County (where else would it be) takes visitors along an eerie rail ride down a 700 ft mine shaft for tours.

Mining began before the American Revolution and continued reaching its production peak in 1918. Pennsylvania estimates over 11,000 mines exist with the overwhelming majority having been abandoned. The Atlantic Carbon Group operates the only four active mines in the area, although these are strip mines (think of digging a big hole in the ground as opposed to sending miners underground).

That being said, the area has a long history of producing other mineral products. Most residents have long forgotten of these now dormant ventures that fueled the country’s development. Here are three stories from that rich mining past.

1 – Iron

Iron is the fourth most abundant element on earth after Oxygen, Silicon, and Aluminum. Of all the other mines in the state, Iron mines make up 80% of them. As Iron is the primary component of Steel (<95% typically), it’s not hard to see why these instances far outpaced other elements. One only has to visit the colossal Bethlehem SteelStacks to understand the demand. Bethlehem Steel was the second largest steel producer in the US (behind United States Steel in Pittsburgh). At its peak in World War II, it employed over 300,000 workers. At the shipbuilding yard in Sparrows Point (Maryland), it turned out one ship a day supporting the war effort.

Behind these two behemoths were hundreds of iron mines spread across the state. The list of American iconic structures made from their steel includes such landmarks as:

• Golden Gate Bridge
• George Washington Bridge
• Ben Franklin Bridge
• Empire State Building
• Rockefeller Center
• Hoover Dam

In addition to these famous landmarks, the steel produced from the iron mines and forged in smelters fired using the anthracite coal likely was used for the engines of the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway and the rails the train rides on. Even the newly opened King Coal Café may have locally sourced materials for the mining past.

2 – Zinc

Zinc was the second most popular mined element in the state comprising a little over 5% of the sites. Among its primary and still current uses are as paint and coatings additives and cosmetic products. The earliest Friedensville Zinc Mines were founded in 1845 and eventually taken over by New Jersey Zinc in 1899. Friedensville is a small community in Lehigh County. New Jersey Zinc was once the largest supplier in the US with the small cluster of Friedensville mines operating until 1983. A small housing development known as Friedensville Terrace was constructed for workers and their families in the 1950’s within walking distance of the mine entrance and still exists today.

Lehigh University (Special Collections) houses the authoritative collection and history of the Zinc mining in the area including many first-hand accounts even leading to restoration efforts for some of the historic landmarks. iv One of these efforts is focused on the largest of the mines

(Uberroth Mine) President Pumping Engine which still stands off Old Bethlehem Pike accompanied by a historical marker.
For those of us biking or hiking along the D&L Trail or white-water rafting on the Lehigh River this summer, we might likely be using it as Zinc Oxide is the active ingredient in many sunscreen products and a common ingredient in other skin care creations.

3 – Beryllium

If you have never heard of Beryllium, don’t worry as very few people know this element. While not part of the “so-called” rare earth elements, there is only one mine in the US still actively producing this mineral (Utah).

The previous source of this material was the Kawecki Berylco mine located in Hazelton. The mined was shuttered in 1980 and its remains lie along aptly named Beryllium Road. The material is a high-tech element valued for its lightweight strength and shielding capabilities. It can be used to make non-magnetic and non-sparking materials for tools and fixtures deployed in hazardous environments. In industries such as Oil & Gas, Nuclear, and Space, where even a simple spark can lead to a catastrophic event, this material is highly prized for its safety and reliability.

Currently the Greater Hazelton Rail to Trails uses an abandoned rail line and runs a trail adjacent to the mine. This trail is considered part of the D&L Heritage Corridor and may become a future feeder trail into the main D&L Canal Trail as it lies less than 10 miles west of the Rockport area.

Environmental Issues

It would be remiss if the lasting environmental and health issues of these abandoned mines were not mentioned. Lung diseases like “Black Lung Disease”, Silicosis, and Berylliosis to name a few can have debilitating effects in miners. Water pollution including acidification and contamination with toxic chemicals can taint ground water and rivers and streams without proper remediation and cleanup.

Legacy

History is often seen as the places and structures left behind, but its true story lies in the people and memories connected to them. These mines employed thousands of men and women who labored in difficult and dangerous conditions to support their families. The resources they produced powered our towns and cities and helped create the goods used in everyday life. Let us not forget those people and memories that endure in the region’s history knowing it goes much deeper (literally and figuratively) than we realize.

About the Author

Steve Fala is a retired IT consultant and now works seasonally as a bike guide for Pocono Biking in Jim Thorpe.