The Rochester and Pittsburg Coal and Iron Co. opened the Lucerne Mines operation and patch town in 1907. These coke ovens were some of the last beehive ovens built in America. They were constructed in 1952. They operated until 1972, when the Pennsylvania D.E.P. closed down most of the beehive coke works in the state at Lucerne Mines, Shoaf, and Calumet (Public Domain photo by Jet Lowe, Courtesy of the Historic American Engineering Record [HAER]).
This tipple at Lucerne Mines was standing just a few years ago, but it must have been destroyed. Who would do such a terrible thing? (Public Domain photo by Jet Lowe, courtesy of the Historic American Engineering Record [HAER])
Ruins of the refuse conveyor,with the slate dump in the background, at Lucerne Mines today.
Part of the large Lucerne Mines patch as it looked in 2002.
Allen was nice enought to contribute this picture of the refuse conveyor that has been demolished at Lucerne Mines. In the background is Penelec's coal-fired Homer City Electric Generating Station.