The Heilwood website is also available as a 66-page book. Click here to find out more! |
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Misc 1 |
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1907 MAP OF HEILWOOD Although most people can easily discern the present layout of Heilwood in the 1911 map shown on the Early Years page, few people have ever seen this map from 1907 (see photo). On this one, the town is still arranged along rectangular lines of survey, but the location is further to the northeast of its actual location. J.H. Weaver began construction of the present layout as early as 1904, but this 1907 map suggests that at least two separate plans for the town originally existed!
BLACKSMITH SHOP This was located on the opposite side of the bridge over Yellow Creek. Robert Mallory was the blacksmith and would sharpen picks, drills, bars, and whatever other tools the miners needed. In addition, he would shoe the horses from the company livery stable as well as the mules that were used in the mines.
COAL TIPPLELocated in the area below the carpenter's shop and behind the Heilwood Inn (see map at left), this facility would provide residents of the town with house coal. The coal would be hoisted up to the tipple on an inclined plane by a steel cable from either Penn Mary #1 or Penn Mary # 1½ mine, located directly south. It would then be dumped and Harry Stahl, who was the delivery person as well as the ambulance driver for injured miners, would deliver it to the homes in Heilwood. |
THE MEAT MARKET & BUTCHER SHOP This was built in the summer of 1905 at a cost of $680, and it was located directly below the Heilwood Inn. It was a two-storied, wooden frame building that would be utilized as a meat market and butcher shop until around 1919. According to tax records, Steve Wearly was the butcher. In 1921, the building was utilized by the school system as an auxiliary classroom (see photo). On February 19, 1924, the building burned to the ground due to faulty wiring.
THE LIVERY STABLE Located directly above the original Heilwood Company Store, this large frame building would house the livestock of the Possum Glory Coal & Coke Company, and provide travelers a place to have their horse and wagon taken care of while in town. In addition, a person could rent a "rig" for a leisurely ride! County court records indicate that it was also the official polling place for the town in April 1906. An interesting note taken from a May 13, 1907 letter from an insurance company to the superintendent relates that due to the "nature of the character" that "hangs out around a livery," insurance on the building would be at a premium unless the company could give the insurance company an assurance that it would only be utilized as a "company livery."
THE BARN In all probablility, this wooden, single-story, 40’ x 50’ building located behind the meat market, was constructed in 1910. The date is still affixed to the foundation stones. Possibly a replacement for the original livery stable, the barn was utilized for the storage of coal company wagons and delivery teams of horses.
THE ICE HOUSE Although there’s no known mention of the construction of the ice house, the building was located adjacent to the barn and coal tipple directly below the carpenter’s shop (see map). It was probably of frame construction and its purpose was to provide ice for the many “ice boxes” in town. According to the tax records, the building was torn down in 1928. |
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THE FIRE WHISTLE Located on the southern end of Sunnyside, this apparatus was housed atop a wooden platform (see photo below), which was supported by four large timber poles. Through a pattern of sirens (see sign), it not only alerted men in the fire company to proceed immediately to the hose house and take the cart, ladders, and extinguishers to the fire, but it also informed the town of the fire's location. Sometimes the whistle would also be used to alert people to a problem in the mines, for celebrations, or to usher in a holiday.
THE HOSE HOUSE Originally located in the alley behind house #33 on Second Street (see photo), the exact location is documented in a 1911 photograph of the town that also shows a large tower (another siren?). A 1944 map of the town also shows the exact location. At some point, the storage area for the hand-drawn hose cart was moved to a building adjacent to the carpenter’s shop (see photo). Ladders for the fire company came from the Bent Rung Ladder Company of Indiana, Pa. |
