CHESTNUT RIDGE, PA / ROYAL MINE
Workers of the W. J. Rainey Company's Royal coal mine and coke works lived at Chestnut Ridge, Pa. Thus this is
one of the coal company towns where the village name doesn't match the mine name. W.J. Rainey Coke Company constructed Royal in 1908-1909, probably concurrently with nearby Allison. A 1907 state mine report states, "This is a new shaft mine with
no development other than a heading connecting the two shafts."
There were originally plans for over 700 rectangular coke ovens (pioneered by this company at Mt. Braddock) to be constructed, although I'm not certain if that quantity was ever achieved. This Pittsburgh seam mine regularly produced
six figures of tonnage through the 1910s, '20s, and 30s. By 1930, use of the coke ovens had ceased and coal was shipped to market, although I have to wonder if it travelled all the way to the customer
by train or was loaded into barges at Rainey's Clyde river tipple on the nearby Monongahela. W.J. Rainey, Inc. closed the Royal mine in 1941.
Bing maps image
Ariel view of Chestnut Ridge / Royal.
1909 image from "Mines and Minerals" magazaine via Google Books
On the left are the Royal coke ovens, and on the right is the tipple and mine shaft. If anything at all remains of this plant,
it would be fragmented foundations on private property.
1909 image from "Mines and Minerals" magazaine via Google Books
A Covington coke extractor machine loading rail cars at Royal.
July 2024 image by author
This nice sign greets visitors to this "patch town," but I'm not sure where the 1901 date came from. That could be the date that Rainey purchased the surface property.
There certainly was a rush by industrialists to buy coal properties in western Fayette County in 1899-1901.
July 2024 image by author
Former company store.
July 2024 image by author
At the rear of the company store can be found this tiny post office. Although the sign is faded, I believe that this is still an active post
office that is open for two hours each day except Sunday. Chestnut Ridge's zip code is 15422.
July 2024 image by author
The coal company houses of Chestnut Ridge / Royal.
July 2024 image by author
Most of the houses are front-gabled, but a few are side-gabled.
July 2024 image by author
Detail of a Royal company house showing original window frames and vintage asbestos-siding.
July 2024 image by author
Housing constructed for W.J. Rainey managers.
July 2024 image by author
Back yards of the management-level housing.