Allison was an operation of W.J. Rainey Coke Co. and was opened in 1909. There were Allison No. 1 coal and coke works, and No. 2, also known as the Luzerne works. Some sources
list the opening date as 1904. Some of the coal was coked in the ovens, and some was shipped to market. Emerald Coal and Coke kept the coke ovens in blast into the 1950s.
Nov. 2002 image by author
These coke ovens at the Allison coke works are a good example of the rectangular style of coke oven. The front "door" is
wider to accomodate the ram bar that pushed the coke out through the other side. Rectangular coke ovens, though not as numerous as bee-hive ovens, were built in Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties in the years before World
War I.
Nov. 2002 image by author
A closer look at a rectangular oven at Allison shows that you can actually look through the oven and see the other block of ovens.Nov. 2002 image by author
This tipple / coal washer at Allison may date back to the days when Emerald Coal and Coke operated Allison. On the left is a deteriorated brick shop building.
Nov. 2002 image by author
Allison No. 2 "patch." Allison No. 1 is on the other side of the ravine where the coke works and tipple are located. Both are sizeable company housing plans and are still called home by many.Google Street View image
Coal company-built houses at Allison No. 1.
Image courtesy of Holly April Harris
This building was once the Allison company store.
1950s image, Enman, John Collection, Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg
Allison in the mid-20th century.
1950s image, Enman, John Collection, Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg
Allison residences still featured outhouses in the 1950s, although the houses may have been updated by indoor plumbing by then.
1950s image, Enman, John Collection, Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg
Allison shaft, preparation plant, and part of the coke yard. It appears that this was in the last days of Allison as an active operation.
1950s image, Enman, John Collection, Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg
The coke tipple is in the center of this photograph, which also show the coke ovens replete with doors, the slate dumps in the background, and, barely visible, Allison No. 1
company housing plan on the hill.
Aerial image by Chris H.
Aerial photograph of Allison with the No. 1 and No. 2 patches on each side of the ravine containing the red dog slate dump, along with mine buildings, coke ovens, the company store, and a new large
metal industrial building.
Aerial image by Chris H.
Another aerial photograph of Allison zooms in on the larger of the two Allison patch towns.
