The West Bear Ridge Colliery
was located within the borough limits of the town of Gilberton near the foot
of the Mahanoy Plane. The colliery (known as Bear Ridge No.1) was opened by
a slope sunk 300 ft. on the south dip mammoth vein to the first level by Morris
Robinson in 1863. The first shipment of 214 tons was made in 1864. The colliery
was operated by Robinson until 1865 when a new company was formed named Robinson,
Guiterman and Company who operated to 1870 when they failed.
In 1870, Day, Huddle and
Company leased the colliery and changed the name to the Bear Ridge Colliery
and operated it under the name of the Bear Ridge Coal Company (1870-1879). They
sank a new slope 720 ft. on the mammoth vein to the second level and used the
old slope for pumping.
On August 1, 1875, the breaker,
which was located directly over the slope, was destroyed by fire and caused
damage to the timber 150 ft. inside the slope. A new breaker was started immediately
and was completed April 10, 1876.
In January 1880, Meyers,
Mccleary and Company leased the colliery (1880-1883) and operated it to the
end of 1882 when they began stripping a part of the mammoth vein on top of the
Bear Ridge Mountain.
On November 20, 1883, they
transferred their lease to the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co.,
(1883-1898) who began making improvements by driving a tunnel across the basin.
In 1884, from the mammoth vein south dip second level to the north dip buck
mountain vein intersecting the primrose and holmes veins. They replaced 24 old
boilers and removed all the gunboats replacing them with mine cars on the slope.
In 1885, the colliery was
suspended to allow the full running of other collieries on Girard lands. It
remained idle for 3 years with the exception of needed repairs and pumping which
continued to September 1, 1888 when the colliery resumed mining.
In 1890, the breaker was
remodeled and the slope hoisting engines were rebuilt. A slope was sunk 300
ft. below the second level on the south dip mammoth vein but it was allowed
to fill with water until the upper levels were exhausted.
In 1891, this slope was
pumped out and a tunnel was driven 200 ft. across the basin to the north dip.
The P&R C&I Co. continued to operate the colliery to January 1, 1899,
when they terminated their lease and the colliery was closed.
On December 1, 1904, the
Brookwood Coal Co. leased the colliery (1904-1905). they were succeeded by W.R.
Mcturke and Co. who operated it to 1913 (1913-1948).
The total shipments from West Bear Ridge was 3,121,690 tons of coal as of 1928.