A photograph of Gratz area miners on the path leading to the “Gratz Airhole” where the men climbed down a long ladder to get to their work level in the mines. There is no date on the photograph and the identification only gives 11 names. There are 13 persons in the photo.
Identification as received:
Front Row (seated): Jacob Smeltz; Calvin Miller; John E. Miller; Albert Blyler; Harry Blyler; John Folk; George Buffington.
Back Row (standing): Jacob Hoffman; Daniel Wiest; Milton Umholtz; George Michael.
It is possible that the two individuals in the center front were not identified in the original identification. There is a number key below for readers to supply their own identifications to this photo.
As for the date of the photograph, that could possibly be determined by knowing the age of one or more of the persons in this photo.
Curiously, one person in the photo is definitely not dressed in miner’s gear – #7.
The following account by Guy Scheib was found of men going up and down the mountain to the “Air Shaft.”
It was a sight to behold to see the strings of lights going up the mountain in the morning, and coming down in the night. The lights were illumination from the lamps attached to their hats. An observer closer to the path could have heard the clanging of the round tin lunch pail, and tin water bottle, slung over the soldier. It is difficult to fathom that during much of the year, these men saw very little daylight to fathom, except on Sunday. Sometimes, obligated to work on Sunday, the miners did not see the sun for a month.
Those trips to work were made in all kinds of weather, from torrid summer to coldest winter. During the winter, walking over the mountain was treacherous. To overcome danger, the men attached cleat straps to their shoes. The cleats could dig into the snow and make walking much easier.
Another danger encountered along the was, was a chance of snakes. Some of the men walked along some walls, around neglected farms at the base of the mountain, where snakes enjoy living. It was not unusual for these creatures to slither away in front or beside the men.
Despite adverse conditions, the men each day made their trip. some walked in silence, some whistled, some walked alone, others in groups. Over the years, they cultivated many friendships, even if as silent partners.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.