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ERNEST, PA

Jefferson and Clearfield Coal & Iron Company, a subsidiary of Rochester and Pittsburgh Coal Company, opened Ernest No. 1 coal mine in 1902, and the first coal shipped in 1903. 274 beehive coke ovens were constructed next to the tipple by 1907. Eventually mines numbered 2, 3, and 4 were opened. The Ernest mines produced Freeport seam coal until 1965.

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Ernest coal company houses.

March 2021 image by author

Most of these coal company houses have had their front porches enclosed, but the 2nd one from the right still has it's original porch.

March 2021 image by author

A coal patch town surrounded by Western Pennsylvania mountains.

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Looking down yards in this former coal mining town.

March 2021 image by author

Parish and (probably former) rectory of what was, until 1995, Assumption Roman Catholic Church. This is now a mission known as Church of the Resurrection Parish.

There is also a Protestant church in Ernest, but there was not really a parking place where I could stop and photograph it.

March 2021 image by author

Another view of Church of the Resurrection Parish in Ernest.

March 2021 image by author

Most of the Ernest coal mine complex has been demolished. The structure shown here is a portion of what was a larger building containing the mine's machine shop, blacksmith shop, and carpenter shop.

March 2021 image by author

Foundations of the Ernest mine boiler house.

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Boiler house foundations and shops building.

March 2021 image by author

Although there were beehive coke ovens at Ernest, I saw no sign of them. I did see this coke lying on the ground, however.