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GARY NO. 12
U.S. Steel's U.S. Coal & Coke Co. subsidiary, which had been mining coal down the Tug Fork at Gary, opened up a
new mine in 1909 on the edge of Anawalt, W.Va. This became their No. 12 mine. The mine produced coal until it was closed in 1924. However, it was reopened from 1943 until 1949.
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Photo of the opening of the new Gary No. 12 mine, courtesy of Chris. He writes, "My grandfather was involved with coal mines in both
Lynch, KY and
Gary, WV. He was a coal mining engineer and I remember visiting Gary in my
youth. Too bad I never asked any questions! I have a picture that may interest you taken Oct 31, 1945 of the first cut being taken in the coal by the mining machine in Gary, WV North Portal Mine No 12....smokless coal." Note the
employees of U.S.C.& C. with their hats raised in salute to the new mine.
Former U.S. Coal & Coke Company store. This brick store replaced an earlier wooden company store. It was torn down not long after
this photo was taken.
A few of the remaining No. 12 coal camp homes.
Sources:
Schust, Alex P. Gary Hollow. Two Mule Publishing, 2005.
W.Va. state mine records, 1883-2008.
As you can see on this old mine map the No. 12 mine was an isolated hilltop of Pocahontas No. 3 coal.
Image courtesy of Chris Druehl
March 2017 image by author
March 2017 image by author