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HERMINIE, PA



Mar. 2003 image by author

Herminie, PA was a coal and coke patch built by the Ocean Coal Company, a subsidiary of the mighty Berwind-White Coal Co, in 1893. They named their mine Ocean No. 1.


Mar. 2003 image by author

The large number of immigrants in the Pennsylvania coalfields built many polka palaces like the "Slovenian Ballroom" in Herminie.


Nov. 2004 image by author

The yellow brick company store survives as "Bill's Dandy Dollar" grocery store. Another fact about Herminie is it is the birthplace of jazz pianist Sonny Clark.


Nov. 2004 image by author

Though the Ocean No. 1 mine closed in 1938, several of the buildings related to the mine are still in existence, including the mule barn, power house, lamp house, and the supply house pictured here.


Mar. 2004 image by author

St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church.


Mar. 2004 image by author

Stone plaque on the outside wall of St. Mary Church.

From a December 24, 1936 Associated Press article titled, "Reopen Coal Mine as Gift to Crew:"

Hermine, Pa. - "Merry Christmas" means just that to this western Pennsylvania coal town - the town will have a few more months of life instead of being condemned to abandonment. The Ocean Coal Company changed its mind about halting operations and gave the miners their jobs and homes for another three months as a Christmas present.


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