Mine Workers' Homes on 3rd Street, circa 1940

Mine Workers' Homes on 2nd Street, circa 1940

Miners' Homes circa 1943 - 1st Street to the right, 2nd Street to the left

HOUSING FOR THE MINERS

Housing for the coal miners in Heilwood had many similarities to the housing in other bituminous mining areas of Western Pennsylvania in the early 1900s. Designed and constructed for the most part by mine engineers rather than architects, the housing was of a similar plan and type. Arranged along rectangular lines of survey, the houses presented a dull, uniform appearance, devoid of trees and natural vegetation. Streets and alleys were open dirt roads and sidewalks were rare. D. Lynne Morehead laid out the town of Heilwood, while J. P. Kennedy of Blairsville, Harry Clark of Glen Campbell, and W. L. Johnson of Lycippus, plus a few others, would construct the homes.

The standard miner's house was a plain (Vernacular Homestead style), two-story, probably balloon/frame construction, with an average of 4-6 rooms, and built as economically as possible (a four-room house cost $575, while a six-room house cost $617). For coal mine operators, keeping the cost of building the houses low was very important - since there was no way to predict the lifespan of the mine, the town was viewed as a possible temporary settlement, to be abandoned when the mines were worked out.

The miners rented their homes, probably paying as much as $1 to $2.50 for each room per month. There were written leases, but they only covered a miner's period of employment. The death of the miner or the termination of employment meant that the miner only had five days to vacate the premises or face court action (see letter below).

With no basement, the homes were heated by a single coal/wood-fired stove in the kitchen, with floor grates that opened into the second floor for heat. In some cases, additional heaters of some type were utilized to supplement the stove in the kitchen. Running water and electricity were usually provided for free, but "house coal" had to be ordered and paid for by the miners. Each house did have some room for a yard and vegetable garden.

In most cases, indoor plumbing was non-existent - at least in the typical coal miner's home. Privies were usually located at the back end of the lot, next to the alley and alongside the coal shanty or neighbor's privy (and in some instances, privies were shared by neighbors!) "Honey dippers" would pump the contents of the underground holding tank on a regular basis, and spread a fresh coat of white lime to sterilize the area. This turned the alleys into a checkerboard of brown and white.

The eviction letter at left reads:

May 24th, 1906

Dear Sir:

Whereas you hold posession of Lot No. 218 on which is erected a dwelling in the village of Heilwood, Pa. under lease from the Heilwood Coal Co., Lessor, dated November 1st 1905, which lease provides that it shall cease and determine immediately upon the termination of your employment by the Lessor, and that you will peaceably surrender to the Lessor possession of the aforesaid premises within five days after the termination of your employment as aforesaid.

You are hereby notified that you are no longer in the employ of the Lessor and that you are required peaceably to surrender to the Lessor possession of said premises within five days.

Yours very truly,

H.P. Dowler
Superintendent