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| Lafayette Mine & Coke Works (Atlas Mine & Coke Works) (ca.1900- ? ), Located on the Pennsylvania Railroad, Helen, Menallen Twp., Fayette Co., PA [Lafayette Coke Works contained 220 coke ovens ca.1905, ca.1920.] Owners: (ca.1900- ? ), Lafayette Coke Company, Uniontown, PA (ca.1904- ? ), Atlas Coke Company, Leetonia, OH (ca.1905- ? ), Atlas Coke Company, Uniontown, PA (ca.1920- ? ), Atlas Coke Company, Uniontown, PA |
| Uniontown Morning Herald - Aug. 10, 1911
James Minerd Sinks to Death in Reservoir In plain view of Mrs. Harry Hassen and her two sons, who made a frantic effort to save him, James Minerd, aged 15, was drowned in the reservoir at the Atlas coke works, Helen, yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock. The woman, attracted by the screams of the boys who were bathing with Minerd, ran to the reservoir. It took but a glance to see the plight of Minerd. She quickly secured a rope, fastened one end around her waist and the other on the bank and jumped into the reservoir. Before she could reach the spot where she had last seen the boy he had disappeared for the third time... The boy, who was the son of Thomas Minerd, a driver in the mines at Atlas, was a cripple and while he and the two sons of Harry Hassen were swimming in the reservoir, Minerd got beyond his depth. The two boys became so excited that they could not save the drowning boy but their cries brought the Mrs. Hassen to the scene.... Minerd was well known in the vicinity in which he lived and was one of the most popular boys at Helen.
As young parents, Thomas Michael and Anna DZiak Minerd resided in the patch town of Helen, Fayette County. The patches were built as inexpensive worker-housing by coal companies, and often their construction was of poor quality. Thomas is seen at right, standing in front of the house which appears to be on a foundation made of field stones. One day the Minerds' house began to collapse. Daughter Theresa, said: What I was told, by my parents, is that my Dad was at work in the mine when the house we lived in began shifting and caving in on one corner. When my Mom realized what was happening, she got me (an infant) out of the baby crib then tried to open the door to get out but it wouldn't budge. She then went to the window and fortunately men were doing road work nearby so she yelled and pounded on the window to get their attention. They came running and got us out. I don't know how many houses caved in or if they were torn down. I guess coal had been removed under the houses and then Helen, Pa., was gone. Most everyone then moved just over the hill to Keisterville; my Dad worked there until it finished... |
| "Coal Miners
Memorial, Lafayette Mine & Coke Works Helen, Menallen Twp., Fayette County, Pennsylvania" |
| 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. Send Check or money order to: Coal & Coke Heritage Center, Penn State University Fayette Campus P.O. Box 519, Uniontown, PA 15401 |
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