Situated on top of a hill overlooking the hollow formed by Bute Run, the coal company built town of Juniata was laid out in a small rectangular plan, bounded by two parrallel roads running north-south, about 200 feet long, and two short roads at opposite ends of town, each about 50 feet long.  About thirty of the old coal company houses survive, ca.1990. These are gable-ended, two-story wood-frame double houses.  The original hipped-roof porch extends across the main facade of several of the houses.

In 1908 the H.C. Coke Company acquired the Juniata Mine & Coke Works.  At this time the shaft mine had 1,078 acres of assigned coal, the Juniata Mine shaft was 229 feet deep.  The Juniata Mine & Coke Works continued operating at least through the 1920's/  The coke ovens and mine have been abandoned for many years.

The largest nuber of coal company houses were constructed in Juniata in 1891.  That year the Juniata Coke Company erected five single family houses and twenty-three double family houses.Six more double family houses were constructed in 1892.  The H.C. Frick Coke Company constructed twelve double family houses in 1911, and added six single family and three double family houses in 1917-18.  The Juniata Company Store that once served the town has been demolished.

Support the Coal & Coke Heritage Center, a non-profit research center and museum.
Want to know more about the women who lived in the coal patch towns?  You need this book.  One of the few studies done on the women of the coal & coke era.
Common lives of Uncommon Strength:
The Women of the Coal & Coke Era of Southwestern Pennsylvania 1880-1970
Complied, written and edited by: Evelyn A. Hovanec, PhD
Voices of the women tell unique stores of the coal and coke era, plus vintage photographs, documents, maps, and newspaper articles.  Hardcover $35.00  Soft cover $25.00  Add $5.00 shipping / handling.
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Coal & Coke Heritage Center, Penn State University Fayette Campus
P.O. Box 519, Uniontown, PA  15401

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