Herminie, PA was a coal and coke patch built by the Ocean Coal Company, a subsidiary of the mighty Berwind-White Coal Co, in 1893. They named their mine Ocean No. 1.
The large number of immigrants in the Pennsylvania coalfields built many polka palaces like the "Slovenian Ballroom" in Herminie.
The yellow brick company store survives as "Bill's Dandy Dollar" grocery store. Another fact about Herminie is it is the birthplace of jazz pianist Sonny Clark.
Though the Ocean No. 1 mine closed in 1938, several of the buildings related to the mine are still in existence, including the mule barn, power house, lamp house, and the supply house pictured here.
St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church.
Stone plaque on the outside wall of St. Mary Church.
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA COALFIELDS
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