Posted in Businesses, Mining, People, Towns, tagged Bayne, Black Diamond, Black Diamond Coal Co., Cascade Mountains, Cedar Mountain, cemetery, clay mining, coal mining, Cumberland, Danville, Durham, Eddyville, Elkcoal, Franklin, Issaquah, King County, Lake Washington, Landsburg, Maple Valley Historical Society, mine accidents, mules, Pacific Coast Coal Co., Palmer Coking Coal Co., Ravensdale, Renton, Rogers #3 Mine, Taylor, Voice of the Valley, Wilkeson on May 16, 2020|
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Originally published in the Voice of Valley, May 16, 2006
By Barbara Nilson

In 1920 Fred Habenicht, holding a hand saw, supervised the unloading of the new hydraulic mine motor vehicle or pulling loaded mine cars from water level tunnel to the Continental Coal Co. bunker (in the background). It replaced mules in the mine. Miners are: 18-year-old Vern Habenicht; Bob Kingen Sr., Frenchy Ferdinand Maigre; Evor Morgan, holding the chain; and onlooker Bill Baldwin. (Photo—Habenicht collection from Ravensdale Reflections book)
Before the turn of the 20th century, coal seams ran from the shores of Lake Washington to the foot of the Cascade mountains leading to the establishment of towns at the mine sites, some of which are still in existence, i.e., Renton, Black Diamond, Cumberland, Issaquah, Wilkeson, and Ravensdale. Some linger in memory only, i.e., Franklin, Elk, Bayne, Durham, Danville, Eddyville, Taylor, and Landsburg.
From the year 1888 through 1967, there were an amazing 232 coal seams being tapped in King County and operated by 157 different companies. (more…)
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