American Industrial Mining Co.
Preserving Our Mining and Industrial Heritage
Non-profit preservation, restorations and education
Ray Stahl Coal Mine
Port Washington, Ohio
"The Littliest Coal Mine in the State"
The story of the Last One Man Coal Mine in Ohio
Ray Stahl purchased a 100 acre farm just south of the Tuscarawas River on the out skirts of Port Washington, Ohio. On the property was an old coal mine from the Walsh Coal Company that was abandoned in 1940. Ray started his coal mine in 1958, it was so small he never officially named it so it became the Ray Stahl Mine.
The drift mine was in the Kittanning #6 coal seam. The height of the seam ranged from 33 -40 inches of coal primarily used for heating local homes in the winter months.
Who was Ray Stahl ?
Ray was a family man that earned a true American living working off his land. He would farm / garden in the Spring and Summer then work in his coal mine from mid fall into the winter months.
He was married to Bernice and had one son & daughter (Tim & Karen).
He was extremely independent individual. "I like being my own boss".
Ray with his daughter Karen and grandaughter Stacy picking apples in Ray's orchard. Snoopy the dog keeping an eye out for any critters in the fields (1980).
The
Ray Stahl
Coal Mine
The Last One Man Coal Mine that operated in the state of Ohio.
THE MINE FACTS
- Ray started mining in 1958 on his farm.
- Drift mine and one fan shaft that was also a drift entry
- It was in the Middle Kittanning #6 bituminous coal seam.
- The coal height in the mine ranged from 33" to 40"
- The drift entry to the working face was 600 feet into the hillside.
- Ray built his own 36 inch gauge mine railway
The mine superintendent: Ray Stahl
The mine foreman: Ray Stahl
Total number of employees: One
Average production: 4 tons per day
(Mined in the fall and winter only)
Mine Map
Ray started his coal mine adjacent to the closed Walsh Coal Company Mine.
Ray drafted his own mine map. He had 2 drift entrances. The one to the left was for his ventilation fan and the second was the main haulage that paralleled the old workings for the Walsh Coal Company.
Mine Maps courtesy from Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Ray Stahl's
Mining
Equipment
THE Sullivan Coal Cutter
-
Designed for light duty use in small mines
-
Weight of the cutter less the rail cart 2,750 pounds
-
The height of the coal cutter 17-3/4"
-
The kerf thickness or cut height 2-1/2"
The purpose of this machine is to cut a relief at the bottom of the seam which will allow the coal to fall once the dynamite had been detonated.
Coal cutter machine
The Storage Battery Mine Locomotive
Ray's pride-n-joy masterpiece
-
Manufacturer: Designed and built by Ray himself
-
Weight: Approximately 2800 pounds
-
Track gauge 36 inches
- Would pull all the mine cars with ease from the working face to the tipple
What makes this so fascinating is that Ray utilized parts from a:
-farm tractor
-corn picker
-motorcycle
-several automobiles
-an overhead crane
-a truck
-a street sign
and last but not least a pinball machine.
Now that is truly some ingenuity !!
Mine Cars
Ray Stahl had a total of 4 mine cars, each with a capacity of 1700 pounds.
Mine Ventilation
Mine Tipple
Preservation
and
Restorations
By : The American Industrial Mining Team
Coming Winter
2017
BEFORE
AFTER
Restoration
Page
Coming Winter
2017
Restoration
Page
Coming Winter
2017
This page is dedicated to the loving memory
Ray Stahl
"The last one-man coal mine" in Ohio
and
to the Stahl Family
Special Thanks to:
- Jim & Karen (Stahl) Bouscher for donating a mine car and ventilation fan for preservation.
- Stacy Skukowski, the daughter of Jim & Karen for providing and gathering the family history.
- The American Industrial Mining Team volunteers for this special project:
Mike & Faith Jedlicka, Jake Crockett and Pete Jedlicka