There were two coal mines and coke works at Wynn, Pa. in Fayette County. One was the Laughead mine and coke plant, and across from what is now PA Route 857 were the Wynn coke ovens. One of the earliest operators at Wynn was J. W. Moore & Company. Later H.C. Frick Coke Co. added Wynn and Laughead to their coke empire.
Image from The Coal Trade Bulletin via Google Books
A Covington coke pulling machine in operation at Wynn long ago.
Circa 1912 American Iron and Steel Institute image via Google Books
Gardens in the Wynn coal company town in the early 20th Century.
Circa 1959 image from Series MG-377.1: Photographs circa 1959-1965; Enman, John Collection, circa 1959-1965; Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, PA
The coal mine at Wynn was closed in 1926, but these Laughead ovens were kept in blast by the Ruane Coal and Coke Co. into the late 1950s. Even a 1968 inventory of coke ovens in the United States lists Ruane's Laughead ovens, but they may have been inactive by then. At any rate, here is a photo of the Laughead coke plant in its later days. The ash dump is seen in the background.
Circa 1959 image from Series MG-377.1: Photographs circa 1959-1965; Enman, John Collection, circa 1959-1965; Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, PA
In this view a coke oven is in blast with the door bricked up and covered in mud. Note the small but important air gap at the top of the bricked-up door.
Circa 1959 image from Series MG-377.1: Photographs circa 1959-1965; Enman, John Collection, circa 1959-1965; Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, PA
Although the Laughead works were machine drawn by the 1950s, the photographer was able to take a picture of these tools for hand-drawing ovens. In the background is a dump truck that is probably bringing coal in from another deep or strip mine.
Dec. 2002 image by author
What looks like a watering hose for quenching coke left in one of the Laughead coke ovens, which are some of the best preserved in Fayette County.
Sep. 2005 image by author
Former Union Supply Store (coal company store) at Wynn. Union Supply Company was the retail subsidiary of H.C. Frick Coal & Coke Co., which itself was later a subsidiary of US Steel.
2018 image by author
Only a few of the original "patch" houses still exist at Wynn now.
January 2015 image by Mike Mance at coalandcoke.blogspot.com
A brick silo behind the ovens.
Dec. 2002 image by author
