Gravity Slope Colliery

While enjoying a stroll down a portion of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, I came across the site of the former Gravity Slope Colliery in Archbald. A large red brick coal breaker was located around this area between 1910 and 1955. The colliery was owned by the Hudson Coal Company. All that remains today are three brick buildings, which are being restored by the Gravity Slope Committee.

The first of the buildings is the old oil house. As the name suggests, it was used to store oil.

The second building is the shifting shanty, where the miners changed shifts. It was a place to store gear, shower and get changed. At some point after the closing of the colliery, the shanty was used to repair large equipment, and large garage doors were installed. The building is currently boarded up for safety and restoration concerns.

The last remaining building is probably the most impressive. It is a large fan house used to draw fresh air through the mines. The Guibal Fan contained inside is one of only two left in the Northeast Anthracite region.

In addition, there is one other structure, a small oil storage tank area.

Recommended links for more information:
Archbald Borough Gravity Slope
Gravity Slope Restoration Project