An undated photograph of the “Black Diamond,” the inspection engine of the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company.
From a series of articles that appeared in the Pottsville Republican and Herald in 1998:
Greenwood Slope was located on Coal Street in the yard of the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company lower shops at Pottsville.
It was originally opened by a drift in 1828 by Buckley, who was succeeded by Samuel Lewis, who began the sinking of the slope in 1834. He continued the mining to 1840 when, through litigation due to the subsidence of the surface from his mining operations, he was forced into bankruptcy.
Burd Patterson tried to operate the colliery from 1840 to 1842 but was unsuccessful. Milnes & Haywood, to prevent the water from draining into its mines at Young’s Landing, continued pumping at the slope from 1842 to 1844, when it decided to stop pumping and the colliery was abandoned.
The subsidence of the surface due to the mine workings damaged properties on Centre and Railroad Streets to such an extent as to require the rebuilding of some of the houses.
The Mount Carbon Railroad was drawn out of line and the tracks sank several feet. The affected the canal basin to such an extent as to draw off the water flooding the mine.
The East Gangway was driven into the Salem (Youngs’ Landing) workings operated by Milnes & Hayward. The West Gangway extended to about Eighth Street.
There were four air holes; the first on the east side of Coal Street, which is the water level east and west of Pottsville; the second one at the First Presbyterian Church; the third at the Garfield School; and the fourth at Eighth Street. These air homes were lined with stone and brick, making a permanent air passage for the colliery.
Total shipment from the colliery was 44,559 tons. The capital invested in 1837 was $12,500.
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Article by Frank Blase, Historian, Reading Anthracite Company Historical Library, Pottsville Republican & Herald, July 11, 1998. Obtained from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.