The Isabella Coal Mine started approximately in the year in 1907 as part of the Isabella Connellsville Coal & Coke Company, and then was taken over by the Hecla Coal & Coke Company in 1916, switching hands again to the Hillman Coke Company, and again to Weirton Steel/Coal Company, and then lastly to the National Steel Company.
Isabella Coke Works |
At one time, the coal mine also had a coke works located there, but there are pretty much no remnants of these left. Isabella functioned into the mid 1980s when it was shut down. The buildings related to the mine were demolished and all that remains is one brick building and the tipple, extending out over the Monongahela River.
Isabella, PA now |
And Then |
The business end of the load out |
Popular spot for river jumpers |
Railroad ties and track used to cover this |
Coal loading chute |
River 40 feet below |
The conveyer where the coal traveled from the tipple to the load out |
Wheels for the conveyer |
Barge tie up |
Wooden underbelly |
The machine shop is the only other building left standing |
Rather unremarkable interior of machine shop |
From last winter. A CSX local freight train passes under the Isabella load out. |
Looking North to the Crucible mine site. Waste piles on right. |
Rope swing on right |