October 16, 2008
Lilly Lines, from the "Mainliner"
LILLY LINES
by Jack Barlick
886-4694
October, 16, 2008
TWO MINERS STORIES
Pete Seno and Joe Suchta recently sat down with Jim Salony and me to discuss the use of several old mining tools that the two elderly Lilly Coal natives had donated to the historical society. We learned a lot.
Both Pete and Joe were born a few houses apart in Lilly Coal, ,the little village a mile east of Lilly that was a thriving community of mostly Polish families with a few Ukrainians and Italians. Only one Englishman resided there, Jerry Harker, who ran the mule barn at the western edge of the village. Pete said it should have been named Hunkyville as Polish was then the everyday language in the village.
Both men were raised during the Great Depression in half houses that had four rooms for the large families and were owned by C.A. Hughes Coal Company. Only one family, the Munzo’s, owned their own home which they had built themselves. Some of the nearly 35 homes had a dozen children and six little ones would sleep in one bed, three facing the head and three facing the foot of the bed. It is estimated there were over 100 children in the village. During the 1930’s they had their own ball team. Joe said you dared not go down town Lilly because you would get “your rear kicked” as a foreigner.
Pete started to work in the Hite Clay mine not far from home when he was only 16 in 1937. There he would drive the horse or mule from the mine with a load of clay to dump into waiting trucks that hauled it to Johnstown to be made into bricks. He said the vein of coal was four to five foot high in the drift mine. Joe went into the C.A. Hughes mine in 1939 at the age of 18 with his father, John Suchta. Both men’s mining careers were cut short when they entered the military service during WW2.After the war both men returned home and went to work in Lilly Coal. Joe was recalled to service in the Korean War, he eventually went to work for Cooney Brothers Coal Company retiring in 1987. Pete, after Lilly Coal closed, worked in Benscreek #2, and then at age 45 was hired at Nanty-Glo, then Bethlehem’s Revloc mine until it closed in 1981 when he retired.
Some of the tools of the trade they explained to us included augers, tamping bar, long drill bits and carbide lights. They also explained the use of black powder and in later year’s dynamite.
The miners had to purchase their own black powder, the Chinese invention that is still used in bullets and fireworks, when working. C.A, Hughes kept it stored in a block building with a steel door and it was sold as the men entered the mine from five and twenty five pound cans. The Black powder was rolled in paper about six inches long and placed in the hole that had been drilled with the auger and long bit. The hole was then filled with coal. The tamping bar with a brass tip (to prevent pre-mature explosion from sparks) was then used to run a hole to the powder and a squid was placed and then ignited. The miner would run to the rear after lighting it. In later years dynamite was used and was set off using a battery charged plunger.
In drilling the hole, first a smaller bit was used to check for water behind the coal, if water was found the digging stopped as this would flood the mine. If none was found then the larger bit was used which was labor intensive as the miner needed to use a breast plate to push the bit with his body weight. Then the black powder charge was placed. All of this hard work was done in a very damp, dark environment. The lanterns that used carbide and water to create a steam that would burn a wick giving off a little light were attached to the miners cap or helmet during the workers shift. The carbide also had to be purchased by the individual miner. They said in the smaller mines the ventilation was usually good but both recalled the use of canaries as air testers.
Joe Suchta also donated a pick that was hand made for him by Al Watts, a Dysart area farmer, who was also the blacksmith at Lilly Coal. Later in the week the society received a coal miner statue from Myra Kreger who has also in the past donated some military mementos about her late father, John Warner who had served in the Army in WW1 and the Navy in WW2.
VALE WOOD PUMPKIN PATCH
Brother Pat and I took a drive out to the Vale Wood farms the other day to visit the Pumpkin Patch. We actually went for ice cream and to purchase Vale Wood T-shirts. We are both now walking billboards for the dairy. While there I also purchased some honey that is made in their aviary. My energy was expended trying to keep Pat from playing in the pumpkin patch. This week would be the time to visit the Patch as its open until the 19th and the fall foliage is in full color.
BIRTHDAYS
Today, October 16th, Fran Hershel, Seth McLendon, Tom Sibis and Daniel Siedlarczyk celebrate their birthdays as will Eugene Miorelli, Tom Miorelli, Lily Poborsky and Ava Russian on the 17th. Then on the 18th Sarah George and Annette Klatt get their turn to party. The 19th brings cake and ice cream for Alexander Cassisi and Sophia Rabatin.
On the 20th William Weakland observes his birthday as will James McCabe, John Pupo and Dillon Tremel on the 21st.
ANNIVERSARIES
Bill and Sherry Agosta celebrate their wedding anniversary on the 16th along with Scott and Nicole Poborsky. Then on the 17th Jim and Joyce Larue celebrate along with David and Theresa Przybyz. The 19th finds John and Kerry Bossler and Cris and Christine Wheeler observing their special day followed by Ray and Catherine Serre on the 20th.
On October 21st Tim and Donna Glass and Chris and Nancy Rowe observe their wedding anniversaries as will Joseph and Kim Gides and Robert and Cristy Koval on the 22nd. Happy Anniversary to All.
SYMPATHY
The community’s sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Agnes Lucas who passed away this past week.
COMING EVENT
The annual Halloween Parade sponsored by the Lilly Area Ambulance Association will be held on Sunday, October 26th starting at 3:30 PM on Cleveland Street. Line up begins at 3 PM and treats will follow the parade followed by trick or treat in the community.
LOCAL FOOTBALL
The Lilly Raiders ended their season at the Lilly field on the 12th with a loss to Portage. A large turnout from both communities witnessed the event under sunny skies. The 8th grade Penn Cambria team had a devastating loss to Forest Hills 10-8 this past week breaking their no loss streak. I am told the 7th grade Penn Cambria team is doing well but I do not have their season record.
AUCTION
Brother Pat and I attended the auction at the Bear Rock Club held for the Lilly Library this past Saturday. It turned into an enjoyable, long evening. Don Sheridan does a great job as auctioneer and keeps the event moving well and interesting with his good sense of humor. There were about 100 present and 80 bidders. Pat and I started off slow but by the end of the night my car looked like Santa’s sleigh with just enough room to drive home. The Library officers and Brenda Marsh and her husband Larry put a long, hard working evening into the events operation which was for the benefit of the local libraries many programs.
ST LUKE”S
On Saturday at 7 PM St. Luke’s Lutheran Church will be holding a Holy Communion and Healing service in observance of the Feast of St. Luke. Reverend Palko extends a warm welcome for all to attend and participate. By the way, do you read his outside billboard? This past week a car with New York plates was stopped by the church and a man was taking pictures. Curious me asked if I could be of any help and he proceeded to tell me how much he enjoys reading the pastors messages as he passes through the community when working in the area.
November 13, 2008
