If you’d like to learn more about the coal mining town of Franklin during its peak, 1885 until 1919, we’ve got you covered. Here you’ll find a list of web resources (and a couple of books and a thesis, too) that will quickly get you up to speed.
Top works of the Franklin mine.
The tours this year are Saturday, February 2, and Saturday, March 2, 2013. Come to the Black Diamond Museum at noon to sign up and for orientation. We’ll be leaving at 1 p.m. for Franklin (about three miles). A $5 donation per adult is suggested. Seniors, veterans, and children under 12 are free.
Bring boots, an umbrella, and an imagination.
HistoryLink
Black Diamond and Franklin, as seen in 1902 This article about the east King County coal towns of Black Diamond and Franklin is reprinted from The Coast, Vol. 3, No. 2 (March 1902).
African Americans used as strikebreakers at the Franklin coal mines starting May 17, 1891
On about May 17, 1891, African Americans arrive at Franklin, Washington, to start working in the Oregon Improvement Company coal mines. The Oregon Improvement Company has recruited them from Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee with offers of good paying jobs and free transportation. It is not until the train arrives at Franklin that the black workers realize they are being used as strikebreakers. The white strikers then do as management has planned: They make a racial issue out of an economic one.
Coal mine fire at Franklin suffocates 37 miners on August 24, 1894
On August 24, 1894, 37 miners die fighting a fire in the Oregon Improvement Co. coal mine at Franklin. The following day, a coroner’s jury rules that the fire was caused by “party or parties unknown” who “did willfully, knowingly and maliciously cause said fire with intent and purpose to do great injury and damage to the lives of the miners and property of the Oregon Improvement Company.”
The Franklin train is ready to head toward Black Diamond.
Franklin Mine disaster (August 24, 1894): A Compilation of contemporary sources
This People’s History consists of contemporary newspaper accounts of the Franklin Mine Disaster of August 24, 1894, and portions of the investigative report by the official state mines inspector. With a death toll of 37, this was at the time the second worst mine disaster in Washington state, exceeded only by the Roslyn mine explosion two years earlier, in which 45 died.
A coal miner’s story—Mike Babcanik’s week trapped underground (1914)
This is an account of a coal mine accident that occurred on February 16, 1914, in the Cannon coal mine, near Franklin, about two miles southeast of Black Diamond, located in east King County. Coal miner Andrew Chernick died in the accident. His partner, Mike Babcanik (1876-1942), was believed dead but survived for seven days trapped underground.
Bess the mule: a coal mining story of 1914
The story of a mistreated mine mule named Bess. Bess worked 24 hours a day without a rest at a Pacific Coal Co. coal mine in Franklin, in east King County. The revelation of the mule’s condition came when a reporter went to the mine to cover the accident.
Smith, John James (1869-1910): Enumclaw doctor, banker, and civic leader
J.J. Smith was employed as a doctor by the coal company during the early years in Franklin, a mining town east of Black Diamond. The elementary school on Griffin Avenue in Enumclaw is named “J.J. Smith” in his honor.
Evans, George Watkin (1876-1951): Washington coal mining engineer
George Watkin Evans started working in the Franklin coal mines on January 9, 1888, at the age of 17. Evans would eventually become an internationally renowned consulting mining engineer.
Black Diamond History Blog
Correspondence between J.C. Ford and H.W. Cannon
November 10, 1903
On November 8, 1903, a locomotive derailed at the Franklin Wye. “Damage not serious except the killing of two men,” reported Pacific Coast Co. VP-GM J.C. Ford to Chairman H.W. Cannon.
Veteran coal miner talks to Central Council
October 1, 1925
W.T. “Bill” Thomas, a miner in Franklin in the late 1880s, described the occasion when he, with sixteen others, were entombed in the Franklin Mine behind a raging fire.
History of the coal mines in Franklin
By Chuck Holtz, January 1977
This blog post summarizes the early history of the coal mines of Franklin.
Don Mason brings mining town’s glory days to life
By Mike Archbold, February 3, 1994
The year was 1976 and Don Mason was making his way on foot to the old Kent pioneer cemetery. That’s where he came across the grave of John Hall. The marker simply said he died in the Franklin mine disaster in 1894. But, Don wondered, where was Franklin? What mine disaster?
Memories of our mother
by Regina Marckx Whitehill, December 1996
Read what it was like to live in Franklin, circa 1913. Regina Marckx Whitehill’s dad, with the help of her brothers, built a home at Franklin on property purchased from the Pacific Coast Coal Co. The property was once the mule pasture when mules were used to pull coal cars out of the Franklin mines.
Hike to Franklin
by Cory Olson, January 2002
Twenty-five people met at the museum to go on a hike up to visit Franklin. We drove to the flats just below the old Franklin town site. It was there that our tour guide, BDHS President Don Mason, brought out his collection of Franklin photographs, which had been enlarged to the size of posters.
Franklin: An educational experience from the past
by Frank Hammock, April 2006
Nestled in silence along a hillside 3 miles southeast of Black Diamond, Washington the forgotten remnants of an historical town once stood that was busy and teamed with life. Few people know of its existence and even fewer know of its significance to Washington’s history. In fact, driving by the area one would never even know that a town of over 1,000 people once existed there because its current location is severely obscured by trees and underbrush, and there are no signs that betray its hidden presence.
This unidentified youngster is standing on one of the three “frogs,” or switches, that make up the Franklin Wye.
Franklin Hotel
by Bill Kombol, April 16, 2009
A hotel in a coal mining town was more of a room and boarding house for single men who worked in the mines. Married men with families typically lived in homes provided by the coal company.
Bridge over the River Green
by Frank Hammock, January 2010
It’s made of stringers, portal struts, top and bottom chords, top and bottom lateral bracing, sway bracing, portal and counter bracing, diagonals, inclined end and vertical posts, floor beams, and panels.
John D. Jones (Jac Y Cigydd – Jack the Butcher)
by JoAnne Matsumura, April 2010
John D. Jones emigrated to Franklin in about 1885 at the age of 39 and joined the other miners picking coal. Jones was a noted singer of Welsh ballads and verse in the Cambrian tongue, and performed at the 1886 Eisteddfod in Black Diamond to a crowd of nearly 4,000.
Why doesn’t a wye look like a Y?
by Ken Jensen, April 2010
How did trains turn around in Franklin? The short answer is that they didn’t. Trains were always backed into Franklin and then, once loaded with coal, were pulled into Black Diamond.
AKCHO Heritage Advisor
Hiking to history in Franklin
by Karen Meador, January 31, 2012
The theme of this year’s tours addresses how Franklin, and other nearby mining communities, provided opportunities for newcomers—many from Southern Europe—unavailable in their former homelands.
When Coal Was King
Tipple at the Cannon Mine in Franklin
by Bill Kombol, February 7, 2011
This revolving tipple at the Cannon Mine in Franklin was used to dump coal into the bunkers. This method was the “last word in efficiency” proclaimed the Pacific Coast Bulletin in 1916.
Ernie Moore
by Bill Kombol, January 16, 2012
The late Ernie Moore was the author of “The Coal Miner Who Came West” (1982) about his African-American family’s experiences in Franklin.
National Guard at the Franklin coal mines, Franklin, Washington; July 1891
by Bill Kombol, January 23, 2012
The Franklin coal mining community in the late 1880’s and early 1890’s was a raucous scene filled with work stoppages, company lockouts, strikebreakers, and violence.
Black Diamond NOW
Franklin mine tour – A huge success
February 6, 2010
On a perfect day, the Black Diamond Historical Museum attracted 150+ people for a tour of the Franklin mine and town site this Saturday. Thanks so much, Don Mason, for sharing your knowledge and Keith Watson and others at the Historical Society for organizing the event.
Franklin mine tour #2
March 9, 2010
The Cannon mine opened around 1910 and was named in honor of the former president of the Pacific Coast Coal Company, Henry W. Cannon of New York. Yes, New Yorkers had a big financial impact on our community even then.
The National Guard comes to Franklin – 1891
March 22, 2010
In 1891, coal miners went on strike against the Oregon Improvement Company, closing the mines in Issaquah, Newcastle, Black Diamond, and Franklin. When African American miners from Missouri were brought in to break the strike, violence erupted and the governor of Washington ordered in the National Guard.
Franklin – Circa 1915
July 10, 2010
Franklin was certainly a humming place in 1915 as the photo demonstrates with all of the new housing under construction. Another photo shows the company store at Franklin, also circa 1915.
Franklin was certainly a humming place as the photo demonstrates with all of the new housing under construction.
Green River – Circa 1915
September 16, 2010
A photo of the Green River looking down from below the Franklin Bridge in May 1915.
Green River Bridge at Franklin
October 4, 2010
A photo of the bridge over the Green River at Franklin.
A Trek to Franklin before the snow
November 23, 2010
A photo of one of the headstones at the Franklin Cemetery. This headstone marks the grave site of Romulous Monroe Gibson who died October 5, 1895 at the age of 35.
More open space – Franklin heritage area
January 8, 2011
The Franklin Heritage area is owned by Washington State Parks. Located along the northern rim of the Green River Gorge, Franklin was established in the late 1800s at the end of the Northern Pacific railroad line about 3 miles southeast of Black Diamond.
Economic hinterlands of Seattle & Tacoma – Circa 1880
May 18, 2011
In 1988, John C. Hanscom, with the Green River Community College, published an article called Company Coal Town – Franklin And The Oregon Improvement Company 1880 – 1896.
A hike to the top of Franklin hill – Spectacular
August 5, 2011
Taking advantage of the last gasp of summer, Black Diamond NOW journeyed up to the old coal mining town of Franklin.
Cannon mine trestle – Then & Now
August 8, 2011
The Cannon Mine trestle is now being used to transport water from the City of Black Diamond’s springs located on the south side of the Green River.
Walking tours of the historic coal mining town of Franklin now scheduled for Feb. 2 and Mar. 2
January 17, 2013
“If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the historic coal mining town of Franklin located very near the single lane Green River Gorge bridge, then this is a must-do event,” wrote Craig Goodwin in his blog, Black Diamond NOW.
Ghost Towns of Washington
Take a field trip to historic downtown Franklin
Franklin, WA 1880s–1919
Franklin was a coal mining town located in east King County. The community was established in the 1880s, with a post office established by 1886. In May 1891, labor recruiters brought African-Americans to Franklin from Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee with offers of good paying jobs and free transportation. The white miners who were on strike took exception to the African-American strikebreakers and tensions grew for a month and a half. In early July, a riot broke out resulting in the deaths of two people and the Governor called out the National Guard to restore order.
Cannon Coal Mine 1910-1919
The Cannon mine opened around 1910 and was named in honor of the former President of the Pacific Coast Company, Henry W. Cannon of New York. The mine was driven on the Gem seam, the No. 17 seam in the Franklin series. New bunkers were built around the same time, but water problems plagued the mine. The Cannon mine closed around 1919, but the bridge pictured here is still used to carry the City of Black Diamond’s water supply over the Green River.
Franklin B roll
Ghost Towns of Washington posted photos of Franklin on its Facebook page that didn’t make the cut for its web site—the “B roll.”
Franklin No. 2 shaft
The purpose of the Franklin No. 2 shaft was to mine coal down to 500 feet below sea level. Come join the Black Diamond Historical Society on its tours of Franklin and see the shaft for yourself.
Black Dollar Days Task Force
African-American heritage in King County
“In 1891, African-American miners arrived in the King County coalfields…. These industrial workers were engaged in one of the region’s most important early industries, and they moved from mine to mine in places like Newcastle, Coal Creek, Ravensdale, and Franklin. The community of black miners numbered more than a thousand by the turn of the century, and their influence was felt in towns like Newcastle and Franklin, where African-Americans served as school board members, police, jurists, and church leaders.”
Photos
IR photography of Franklin
by David Woodford
IR images of the abandoned town site and coal mining operations at Franklin, 2 miles east of Black Diamond.
Franklin Cemetery
Abandoned Cemeteries on Waymarking.com
The cemetery is in a deplorable state of neglect. A forest has grown up inside the cemetery, heaving up some headstones and crushing others that lay in the path of falling trees. Blackberries threaten to swallow the entire cemetery and no doubt conceal some of the graves. Many of the headstones have been stolen by vandals.
Franklin Catholic Cemetery
by Black Diamond History
The Franklin Catholic Cemetery is located just a few miles east of Black Diamond on the Green River Gorge Road above the river. The Catholic church next to cemetery was torn down following the demise of Franklin in the 1920s. The earliest burial was 1906.
BDHS Director Don Mason talks about the Franklin Catholic Church while his assistants, Dan Hutson and BDHS President Keith Watson, hold the photo.
Franklin School
by Black Diamond History
The Marckx brothers, who attended school in Franklin, planted these 5 maple trees along with their classmates on Arbor Day 1917. Today only a portion of the school’s foundation remains, but all 5 of the century-old trees still stand, and are marked as Wildlife Trees through the generosity of Bill Kombol of Palmer Coking Coal Company.
Franklin school children, ca. 1900
by Black Diamond History
“There were a lot of colored people in Franklin,” said Vera Duduk Kidd, whose family arrived in town in 1898. “We didn’t know what segregation meant. We just played with them [the African-American children] nicely.”
Franklin tour, February 5, 2011
by Black Diamond History
Take a look back at our successful tour in February 2011.
Cannon and Gem mines
by Black Diamond History
Several members of the historical society and guests joined Franklin expert and BDHS Director Don Mason for a tour of the Cannon and Gem mine ruins.
Franklin No. 10 and 12
by Black Diamond History
Members of the historical society visited the sites of the Franklin No. 10 and 12 coal mines with Bob Morris, who actually worked in No. 10.
Old-timers picnic, 1922
by Black Diamond History
Wm. Wiemar of Enumclaw and T. H. O’Neill and Elmer McDonald of Renton held an old-timers picnic for former residents of Franklin at the Knights of Pythias Hall [pictured, circa 1908] on August 13, 1922. “A big dinner, pleasant reminiscence of early days and sports made up a day’s enjoyment and everybody had a good time. About 150 people were present,” reported the Enumclaw Courier.
New church at Franklin
by Black Diamond History
“On Sunday, June 19, 1904, Rev. J.E. O’Dea, Bishop of Seattle, assisted by Rev. Father Dedecker and Rev. Fr. Fafara, dedicated the new church at Franklin. On this day and Monday following, the bishop confirmed 93 children in Enumclaw, Krain, and Franklin,” reported the Enumclaw Courier-Herald.
Celebrating 100 years of Black history in Franklin
by Black Diamond History
Ernest Moore authored “The Coal Miner Who Came West,” chronicling his African-American family’s experiences in nearby Franklin. “On May 17, 1891, 700 Negroes arrived in Franklin with 2 ministers, about 40 single women, and miners’ families,” he wrote. To commemorate the event, Moore organized a BBQ on July 25, 1992, celebrating 100 years of Black history in Franklin.
Franklin clean up
by Black Diamond History
Members of the historical society were cleaning up the coal mining foundations at Franklin in preparation for our annual tours Saturday, February 4, and Sunday, March 4, 2012.
Sealing up shaft at the Franklin School
by Black Diamond History
Last September [2011] the Office of Surface Mining was sealing an old opening near the site of the former Franklin School. This photo shows the result.
Now & Then: Green River Gorge Road (near Franklin)
by Black Diamond History
These photos were taken below the town of Franklin, just past the one-lane bridge as you drive toward Black Diamond.
Franklin tours, 2012
by Black Diamond History
The weather was perfect for both Franklin tours this year. How ‘bout that? If you missed this year’s tours, we’ll be back next February and March 2013.
Franklin foot bridge
by Black Diamond History
An early photo of the Franklin foot bridge over the Green River. And speaking of Franklin, the historical society will be conducting tours of the Franklin town site Saturday, February 2, and Saturday, March 2. Orientation begins at 12:30 p.m. at the museum.
Livin’ the “bachelor’s life” in Franklin
by Black Diamond History
Company houses in Franklin came in two sizes: 2-bedroom or these larger, 2-story, 4-bedroom homes. To make extra money, families would convert their downstairs parlor into a bedroom and rent it out to single miners. Learn about livin’ the ‘bachelor’s life’ in Franklin on Saturday, February 2, and Saturday, March 2. (Meet at the museum between 12 and 12:30 p.m.)
Covington, Maple Valley, Black Diamond Reporter
Maple Valley, Black Diamond heritage: The history of Franklin
by TJ Martinell, May 13, 2011
Black Diamond Historical Society Directors Don Mason and Dan Hutson – our Franklin tour guides – talk about the history of Franklin.
Maple Valley/Black Diamond heritage: Franklin the ghost town
by TJ Martinell, May 23, 2011
Reporter TJ Martinell joins Black Diamond Historical Society Director Dan Hutson for a tour of the ghost town above the Green River.
Black Diamond Historical Society to offer tours of Franklin ghost town Feb. 4
by TJ Martinell, January 25, 2012
Formed in 1886, Franklin was a coal mining town of about 1,000 people. The diverse population consisted of immigrants from Wales, Italy, Slovenia, and Sweden. But one of the most interesting ethnic groups in Franklin were African Americans who were hired by the coal company in 1891 to break a union strike.
Voice of the Valley
Livin’ the “bachelor’s life” in Franklin
by Kathleen Kear, January 23, 2013
BDHS members Don Mason and Dan Hutson will be conducting the tours again this year with their theme touching on bachelor living in Franklin.
Video
“In search of the Franklin mine”
by NorthwestJournalonline.com
Books
Black Diamond: Mining the Memories sells for $27 and can be purchased from the Black Diamond Historical Society by calling 360-886-2142 or sending an e-mail to blackdiamondhistory@comcast.net.
Moore, Ernest and Gloria Phelps, The Coal Miner Who Came West, (Seattle, 1982) by the Author.
Ernest Moore’s book about his African-American family’s experiences in Franklin.
Hedlund, Gerald C. and Mark A. Vernon, From Smoke to Mist: An Archaeological Study of Franklin, WA. A Turn of the Century Company Coal Town, (Auburn, 1994) Green River Community College.
Franklin was developed and used as a company coal mining town from around 1885 to 1919. At its peak, there may have been 1,100 people living and working in Franklin.
Olson, Diane and Cory, eds., Black Diamond: Mining the Memories (Seattle, 1988) Frontier Publishing and Black Diamond Historical Society.
The last chapter of the book, available at the Black Diamond Museum, is devoted to the history of Franklin.
Master’s Thesis
C. William Thorndale, “Washington’s Green River Coal Co., 1880-1970,” Master’s Thesis, University of Washington, 1965.
Do you have any pictures of the black people that lived in Black Diamond during the early 1900′s?