Maple Hill, PA

Maple Hill Colliery

Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co. opened Maple Hill Colliery in 1892. When it was new, the state said, "This we consider a model anthracite colliery, both as regards inside and outside equipment." Maple Hill coal was processed at its own breaker until the St. Nicholas Central Breaker was constructed next door to process coal for all of Philadelphia & Reading's mines in the Mahanoy City area. In the 1930s, Maple Hill fed the most coal into St. Nicholas. From 1939 and off and on through the 1940s, the Maple Hill culm bank was also remined. P & R C & I ceased Maple Hill production in 1954 just before the company changed its name to Reading Anthracite.

1938 image by Sheldon Dick, Libary of Congress Maple Hill Colliery was going full blast when this picture was taken.
March 2026 image by author 88 years later and the No. 1 Shaft headframe still exists. (And that makes me happy.)
March 2026 image by author A closer look at the Maple Hill shaft head frame.
1938 image by Sheldon Dick, Library of Congress In the 1930s, the photographer climbed on top of the shaft head frame to take this picture of the motor barn. Reading Railroad trains are in the background. In the upper left background can be seen the coal company town of Yatesville.
March 2026 image by author The motor barn is still being used by a coal company as a repair shop in the 21st century.
March 2026 image by author Former Maple Hill bath house.
March 2026 image by author This may have been a lamp house. The old bath house / wash house is in the background.
March 2026 image by author Vintage view from atop the shaft head frame showing the lamp house and bath house. Some of the company houses are in the background.
March 2026 image by author This coal company duplex house is shown in the image above and was once part of a row of six similar houses.
April 2025 image by author A coal company house at Maple Hill, Pa. still wearing the green asbesos siding that was apparently once very common in anthracite company towns. At least one of the windows appears to be the original 4 pane design. The porch is authentic, too, as is part of the soffit.
March 2026 image by author Maple Hill mine pump house and valves.