A view of the Lykens Valley Mine Tunnel entrance at Bear Gap, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. This was the first site of commercial coal mining in the Lykens Valley and was the only mine in operation from 1836-1853. The tunnel was dug eastwardly into Big Lick Mountain. It continued in operation after another tunnel was dug westwardly into Short Mountain on the other side of the gap in 1853. Both tunnels were the main source of coal coming from the Lykens Valley until 1870 when two slopes were opened northward on either side of the gap.
The photo, from an old post card, shows unidentified men with a coal car and two mules. The coal cars were pulled by mules, which were the primary power source for moving them in and out of the mine.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.
Very interesting photographs.
My Great Great Grandfather Thomas Wood lived with his wife Emma, daughter Ester (Esther) and brother Robert in Wiconisco in 1870. His profession is listed as “Coal Company Stable Boss”, and that of his brother Robert as “Labourer in mine”. They appear in the 1870 US Census.
I wonder if Thomas and his brother appear in the photograph?
Esther and her mother Emma appear to have only lived in the USA for 12 months, for I find them returned to the United Kingdom in the 1871 Census living in Thornham, Lancashire, living with Emma’s mother. I know that Emma travelled out on her own from the UK to the USA in 1869 under her maiden name Buckley. So I assume that she married Thomas in the USA, but my search then ends for Thomas. I have no information as to whatever happened to him and his brother Robert.