Robertsdale, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Robertsdale is an unincorporated community
in Wood Township in southern Huntingdon County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. It is situated on Broad Top Mountain near the eastern slope. It was founded in 1872 as part of the construction of the East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company as the original terminus and mining location. The town was created by the EBT's parent company, the Rockhill Iron and Coal Company, which operated most of the mines on the east side of the Broad Top Coal field. The initial focus of mining was the Houk Mine (renamed Rockhill Iron and Coal Mine #1) which predated the town, though as a much smaller producer. Later RI&C #5 became a large producer. Mines #2, #3 and #4 were in Robertsdale but were not large producers and operated only briefly. Later the EBT was extended to Woodvale, Alvan and new Alvan as the focus of mining moved along the coal seams, though Robertsdale remained the mining headquarters. Robertsdale was a typical coal ming town complete with company owned miner houses, a company store, a company owned water and power system and other company owned facilities. Coal mining and its support industries were the principal employers.
As coal demand declined after World War II
, the deep mines began to close in favor or more economical strip mining. The last of the deep coal mines closed in the early 1950s. As the demand continued to slack, RI&C shut down in 1956 along with the EBT and both were sold to the Kovalchick Salvage Company of Indiana, Pennsylvania
. Limited deep mining resumed under contractors and contract surface mining continued into the 1990s. Limited surface mining resumed in the late 2000s.
Although the EBT ceased operations in 1956, the track and structures are is still in place through Robertsdale. The Station building is currently the museum for Friends of the East Broad Top
, who also own the Rockhill Iron and Coal Company post office building. The Reality theater which was built in 1948 just as the slide in coal demand started, and the former United Methodist Church are now owned by the Broad Top Coal Miners Historical Society as their Broad Top Coal Miners Museum and Entertainment Center
. In the wake of the RI&C sale and the end of large scale mining, most miner homes were sold off the their occupants. The EBT continued to operate and maintain the ancient water system until it was replaced by a new municipal system in the 1990s.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Wood Township in southern Huntingdon County
Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
Huntingdon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 45,913.Huntingdon County was created on September 20, 1787, from part of Bedford County. Its county seat is Huntingdon.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is situated on Broad Top Mountain near the eastern slope. It was founded in 1872 as part of the construction of the East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company as the original terminus and mining location. The town was created by the EBT's parent company, the Rockhill Iron and Coal Company, which operated most of the mines on the east side of the Broad Top Coal field. The initial focus of mining was the Houk Mine (renamed Rockhill Iron and Coal Mine #1) which predated the town, though as a much smaller producer. Later RI&C #5 became a large producer. Mines #2, #3 and #4 were in Robertsdale but were not large producers and operated only briefly. Later the EBT was extended to Woodvale, Alvan and new Alvan as the focus of mining moved along the coal seams, though Robertsdale remained the mining headquarters. Robertsdale was a typical coal ming town complete with company owned miner houses, a company store, a company owned water and power system and other company owned facilities. Coal mining and its support industries were the principal employers.
As coal demand declined after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the deep mines began to close in favor or more economical strip mining. The last of the deep coal mines closed in the early 1950s. As the demand continued to slack, RI&C shut down in 1956 along with the EBT and both were sold to the Kovalchick Salvage Company of Indiana, Pennsylvania
Indiana, Pennsylvania
Indiana is a borough in and the county seat of Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 14,895 at the 2000 census.The borough and the region as a whole promotes itself as the "Christmas Tree Capital of the World" because the national Christmas Tree Grower's Association was...
. Limited deep mining resumed under contractors and contract surface mining continued into the 1990s. Limited surface mining resumed in the late 2000s.
Although the EBT ceased operations in 1956, the track and structures are is still in place through Robertsdale. The Station building is currently the museum for Friends of the East Broad Top
Friends of the East Broad Top
Friends of the East Broad Top, Inc. is a 501 nonprofit, tax-exempt educational and historical society dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the East Broad Top Railroad National Historic Landmark in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania....
, who also own the Rockhill Iron and Coal Company post office building. The Reality theater which was built in 1948 just as the slide in coal demand started, and the former United Methodist Church are now owned by the Broad Top Coal Miners Historical Society as their Broad Top Coal Miners Museum and Entertainment Center
Broad Top Coal Miners Museum and Entertainment Center
The Broad Top Coal Miners Museum and Entertainment Center is a museum documenting the history of the isolated Broad Top Coal Field in south central Pennsylvania. The museum is operated by the Broad Top Area Coal Miners Historical Society...
. In the wake of the RI&C sale and the end of large scale mining, most miner homes were sold off the their occupants. The EBT continued to operate and maintain the ancient water system until it was replaced by a new municipal system in the 1990s.
Points of interest
- Friends of the East Broad TopFriends of the East Broad TopFriends of the East Broad Top, Inc. is a 501 nonprofit, tax-exempt educational and historical society dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the East Broad Top Railroad National Historic Landmark in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania....
Museum - Broad Top Coal Miners Museum and Entertainment CenterBroad Top Coal Miners Museum and Entertainment CenterThe Broad Top Coal Miners Museum and Entertainment Center is a museum documenting the history of the isolated Broad Top Coal Field in south central Pennsylvania. The museum is operated by the Broad Top Area Coal Miners Historical Society...