Coal Breakers and Photography...

viablex1 · Post by **viablex1** » Mon. Jan. 22, 2007 3:15 pm

hello all...I recently photographed St. Nicks Coal breakers in Manahoy City pennsylvania, I am trying to find out if there are anymore coal breakers in the vicinity to photograph. I know of Ashley coal breakers but it has unfortunately been disrespected.

St nicks is untouched and I left it that way.

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

matto....

Gary in Pennsylvania · Post by **Gary in Pennsylvania** » Mon. Jan. 22, 2007 4:11 pm

You've come to the right place! In our Anthracite Coal Region History page http://coalpail.com/coal-forum/viewforum.php?f=54 you'll find a lot of what you're looking for!
I have scoured the net and grabbed a bunch of Breaker pics that I would like to e-mail to our Admin (if he wants 'em!).

But something else has got my interest piqued.
Why St. Nicks Coal breakers? What about them stirs you so much? You even honor them in your sig line. I'm not trying to call you out....I'd like to know what fuels the passion.
I personally have some items/places/buildings/aircraft/you-name-it that I obsess about....though they are usually not held in the same regard that I do - But I can usually articulate what I like about it.

What's the St. Nicks story?

viablex1 · Post by **viablex1** » Mon. Jan. 22, 2007 4:20 pm

saint nicks is untouched and I couldn't believe it...

I started working with the Pittsburgh , Film society and got lucky by filming two abandoned steel mills..

by the time I got to both of them the RIDC had done a number on them.

I went on a photographic trip and my friend knew about saint nicks...took me there I couldn't believe how beautiful that place was and what an engineering marvel..

I am a west virginia grad with several coal miners on both sides of my family..

I was essentially estranged from my family of origin and this is an effort to reclaim myself in a way...

thanks for the reply..

MAtt Friel

Gary in Pennsylvania · Post by **Gary in Pennsylvania** » Mon. Jan. 22, 2007 4:27 pm

Very neat...

I've never stood close to a breaker before - some appear massive.
We have a town here called Dunmore/Throop....it is where one of the Penn State University satellite campuses sits. The site is situated on the side of one of our 'mountain' ranges and overlooks the sprawling valley from Carbondale to just beyond Scranton towards Old Forge. Many times I would stand at a particular point on the campus and look across the valley. I would imagine where all those breakers once stood. How they looked. How much less residential buildup there once was. I can vaguely make out what I swear is the remnants of culm piles.
History is a wonderful thing.

viablex1 · Post by **viablex1** » Mon. Jan. 22, 2007 4:53 pm

cool..

my guess is that there are lot of these left.at least that is my hope....there is ashley coal breakers but it has been vandalized...

several urban explorers know about st. nicks but only those who take pics and leave footprints...

Post by **Richard S.** » Mon. Jan. 22, 2007 5:04 pm

Gary in Pennsylvania wrote: I have scoured the net and grabbed a bunch of Breaker pics that I would like to e-mail to our Admin (if he wants 'em!).

Thanks Gary but all the pictures I have are scanned from 8x10's, very few of which I've seen elsewhere. I'd like to keep the collection on my site as original as possible.

coal berner · Post by **coal berner** » Mon. Jan. 22, 2007 5:13 pm

viablex1 wrote:hello all...I recently photographed St. Nicks Coal breakers in Manahoy City pennsylvania, I am trying to find out if there are anymore coal breakers in the vicinity to photograph. I know of Ashley coal breakers but it has unfortunately been disrespected.

St nicks is untouched and I left it that way.

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

matto....

Wellcome to the forum matto there is another St.Nicks Coal Breaker in Minersville P.A. on Duncott rd. take I 81 south from Manahoy City to the Minersville Exit you will be on Rout 901 E down at bottum of the hill you will take a left the road spits do not go right follow the road for about 4 to 5 miles look on you right you can not miss it is a big one . you can also go to local.com and put in coal breakers. you will find all active ones in the area. you will need a local zip code you can use pottsville P.A. 17901 or minersville P.A. 17954 hope this helps. there is a lot in the Hegins P.A. 17981

they all have maps to help you find them. take care

viablex1 · Post by **viablex1** » Mon. Jan. 22, 2007 6:07 pm

durn thanks, is the one in minersville, active???

coal berner · Post by **coal berner** » Mon. Jan. 22, 2007 6:48 pm

viablex1 wrote:durn thanks, is the one in minersville, active???

Not sure if they are doing anything overthere Reading Anthracite company owens it they shut it down sometime back when they purchess a breaker up at Giradville p.a. 17935 but some one said they where bagging coal there but I am not sure ill have to take a ride over and see it is only 8 miles from my house I will let you know sometime this week if you go on that web page you will find alot in this area I have one right across from me and one down the road. Ginther coal is one and the other is tuscarora coal. you can spen a lot of time looking at all of them many photo's will be taken hope this helps .

viablex1 · Post by **viablex1** » Mon. Jan. 22, 2007 6:58 pm

cool, thanks for the info, are the ones near you abandoned??

My photos from st. nicks came out beautiful..I could't believe my eyes...

matto

coal berner · Post by **coal berner** » Mon. Jan. 22, 2007 7:41 pm

viablex1 wrote:cool, thanks for the info, are the ones near you abandoned??

My photos from st. nicks came out beautiful..I could't believe my eyes...

matto

No both are active you can go to any active ones they are open to public just stop in and ask to take photos like I said go on the web page you will see there hours there on most of them there are phone # to. are you in the area now or back at home.there are 8 to 11 with in 10 to 20 miles. from my house. I myself drive 20 to 25 miles to get my coal the ones that are close to me are stipping mines and the coal does not burn to well for me to much rock and shale thats why I go to the deep mine coal breakers.such as summit coal & superior coal. sherman coal is Ok to well hope this helps talk to you later.

oh I forgot one it is about 5 miles outside of minersvlle it is the swatara coal breaker that one is shut down . it is in the newtown area or you can call it the town of zerb. it is on rout 209 west you just go in to minersville and pick it up or just ask some one they will point you the right way.

barley master · Post by **barley master** » Tue. Jan. 23, 2007 9:28 pm

there is an operating breaker right around the corner from the "old" st nick breaker. if you continue west on rt 54 going towards girardeville you will see a state of the art breaker on the left that is owned by reading anthracite.

coal berner · Post by **coal berner** » Tue. Jan. 23, 2007 9:38 pm

coal berner wrote:
viablex1 wrote:durn thanks, is the one in minersville, active???
Not sure if they are doing anything overthere Reading Anthracite company owens it they shut it down sometime back when they purchess a breaker up at Giradeville p.a. 17935 but some one said they where bagging coal there but I am not sure ill have to take a ride over and see it is only 8 miles from my house I will let you know sometime this week if you go on that web page you will find alot in this area I have one right across from me and one down the road. Ginther coal is one and the other is tuscarora coal. you can spen a lot of time looking at all of them many photo's will be taken hope this helps .

lincolnmania · Post by **lincolnmania** » Fri. Jan. 26, 2007 10:28 pm

i can see and hear the hegins breaker on rt 25 from my shop........was just up there today getting coal.........the whole building shakes when they are running the breaker, including the powerlines lol

that breaker owned by reading anthracite near minersville is shut down I believe......never seen it running, and I pass there a few times a week

lincolnmania · Post by **lincolnmania** » Fri. Jan. 26, 2007 10:32 pm

we tried sherman coal when the hegins breaker caught on fire last yr.......didnt like it, needed too much draft and didnt make as good of heat.....glad they had the breaker rebuilt in 2 weeks lol