GRIFFIN, PA
Circa 1920 image from Keystone Coal Catalog
Griffin coke ovens in action a long time ago. At the time of this photo
there were 200 rectangular coke ovens at Griffin. In the background a loading machine is taking coke that is being pushed
out of the ovens by an electrically operated ram.
Dec. 2014 courtesy of coalandcoke.blogspot.com
The abandoned Griffin rectangular ovens many years later.
Sep. 2002 image by author
Evening shadows on the coke yard and slate dump at Griffin No. 2 coke works. You can still make out where the track for the mechanical coke puller was located.
Sep. 2002 image by author
The Griffin No. 2 coke yard was built by the Bessemer Coke Co. around 1900, and later owned by the Hillman Neff Coke Co. The coke ovens there are of the bee-hive variety. Over
at Griffin No. 1 the coke ovens are rectangular and were also built by the Bessemer Coke Co. Note that the operator used whatever kind of brick or block was handy to repair the ovens over the years.
Sep. 2002 image by author
Tipple Ruins at Griffin No. 2. The slate dump there was being reclaimed at the time of this photograph.
Sep. 2002 image by author
More tipple foundations.
Sep. 2002 image by author
A well preserved coke oven at Griffin No. 2. There are 2 rows of block ovens there, which are now rarer to find than the bank ovens built in the hillside. The
wide opening is probably indicative that they were modified for mechanical pulling of the coke.
Feb. 2004 image by author
Here is what I believe to be the Griffin company housing development on the edge of the Masontown borough. These are one family, two story homes.
Feb. 2004 image by author
Nearer to the coke yard are these one story company houses at Griffin that look more like what you would see in a Southern Appalachian coal town.
