The Silverton Colliery (Originally Black Mine)

Located along the west side of the west west branch of the Schuylkill River and south of Llewellyn. The original opening of the colliery was made by David Llewellyn in 1828 by a drift driven west on the black mine (Peach Mountain) vein and was worked by Llewellyn to 1832.

In 1832, Samuel Brooke purchased the mine and operated it to 1837. Failing in business, the colliery came in possession of Samuel Heiliner and Son who in 1840 sunk the slope to the first level continuing mining to 1843 when having failed the colliery was bought by John and Joseph Spencer in 1843 who worked it to 1846.

In 1846, the Heiliner brothers purchased the Colliery and in 1853 sunk the Salem Vein slope when they were sold out by the sheriff. In 1853, Frick and Spencer bought the colliery at the sheriffs' sale but operated it but a short time on account of financial troubles. They disposed of the mine in 1855 to Benjamin Tyson who sunk the salem slope to a lower level operating both the black mine and salem slope workings to 1864 when abandoned as worked out.

In 1891, the Albright Coal Company reopened the black mine slope sinking the slope to lower levels, rebuilding the breaker and other improvements were made. The Albright Colliery Company operated the colliery to 1900 when the Silverton Coal Company came in possession expending a large amount of capital in sinking slopes, driving tunnels, one of which was 1150 feet from the bottom of the black mine slope to the salem vein, and other improvements. It was abondoned in 1906. The colliery had a varied life from the beginning to the end, a feast and famine operation. The colliery was very gassous, outbursts of gas occurring frequently closing gangways and heading. It took both time and expense to make repairs.

Total shipment form colliery at its abandonment in 1864 was 513,033 tons.

Grand total shipment from colliery at abandonment in 1906 was 776,479 tons.

Capital invested in 1852 - $50,000.