Black Diamond: Its rebirth may be inevitable

Originally published in the News Journal, January 23, 1980

Story and photos by Bruce Rommel

Black Diamond sits nestled in the western foothills of the Cascades.

Once hundreds of men worked the strip mines, producing coal, the “black diamond” which powered the railroads, fueled industry, and heated our homes.

Walking the quiet streets of Black Diamond today, one finds only the reminders of those days when this community was a booming company town.

Nestled in the western foothills of the Cascades, Black Diamond and nearby Franklin once boasted a population of more than 5,000. All that remains of Franklin today are a few house foundations scattered along hillsides. And in 1979 Black Diamond is a town with about 1,100 residents, about 50 less citizens than a decade ago.

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All aboard for twelfth level

Originally published in the Pacific Coast Bulletin, September 10, 1925

That all men who ride coal trips are not coal miners is proven by this picture. The Bulletin photographer caught this trip just before it started for the twelfth level of Black Diamond Mine, where more than 1,500 feet below sea level, an attempt was made by radio experts to log some of the programs with which the air above the surface is charged. But the mine was too deep for the radio waves.

Cager Victor McDonald and Supt. Paul Gallagher are shown on the rear end, with Manager of Mines D.C. Botting in the car. Joe Bennett and Maj. S.E. Hutton are in the lower car.

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Black Diamond striding to improve

Originally published in the Enumclaw Courier-Herald, September 7, 1988

Black Diamond is polishing its image and smoothing out some of the rough spots that were defined in the city’s June 15 economic summit. The city is already working to eliminate its business and occupation tax and has formed a chamber-type organization of merchants and citizens.

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Old-timer is back on the job

Originally published in the Pacific Coast Bulletin, September 3, 1925

This is Supt. Simon Ash’s fiery steed, Flyer. It and its fellows hauled the coal trips in the mines of Western Washington before electric haulage came in.

Engineer-fireman Norman Stevenson and conductor-brakeman-flagman-switchman Tom Dodd do, or would, take turns lifting her back on the track when, as, and if she hopped off, they’re that strong and determined.

The Flyer was cold for years until she was fired up recently for yard duty to take the place of a storage-battery locomotive that went inside on development work.

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Labor Day at Black Diamond

Originally published in the Enumclaw Courier, September 10, 1909

The Labor Day celebration at Black Diamond was a notable event, and all the arrangements were carried out in good style. The crowd in attendance was said to be the largest ever seen at the Diamond.

The parade in the morning showed a full turnout of United Mine Workers, and there were three bands in line. Burnett had some sixty men in line, led by the Enumclaw band, and several hundred came from Seattle, Renton, Ravensdale, and Franklin. The Seattle and Black Diamond bands gave excellent music throughout the day. 

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Black Diamond gears up for its Labor Day

Originally published in the Voice of the Valley, August 29, 1979

By Margaret Winings

Black Diamond is gearing up for its annual Labor Day celebration Sunday, Sept. 2 and Monday, Sept. 3. “Labor Day is really for the kids in this town,” said Sue Capponi, assistant to chairman Evan Morris. “The miners started doing this for their kids years and years ago.”

Peanuts, candy, coke, and ice cream are still free for the kids of all ages who come to help celebrate.

Activities will begin at 9 a.m. Sunday morning with a baseball tournament. So far teams from Black Diamond and Enumclaw are registered, according to Tom Dodd. They will try to unseat last year’s winner, DeGross Construction of Enumclaw.

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Exploration under way

Originally published in the Enumclaw Courier-Herald, August 28, 1947

Shell Oil Company seismograph crew working in Enumclaw area

Shell Oil Company leasing land in area north and northwest of Enumclaw preparatory to drilling for oil; expect real test of oil possibilities in area if Shell Company drills

Late Wednesday the Shell Oil Company, Inc., issued a press release in which they announced the company had acquired considerable acreage in the Black Diamond area from the Pacific Coast Company, Northern Pacific, and other large land holders. They also stated that drilling would start in a few days with the Crissman Drilling Company engaged to do the drilling. This is the first try for oil that the Shell Oil Company has made in the Pacific Northwest.

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