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“Forgotten Mines & Coal Towns of Thoms Run”

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Hotel Federal, circa 1908 in Federal, Pa. Drawn from the order in which the photographer posed the men, C.R. Coburn, proprietor, is likely the man in the center standing in front of the line of men and just to the right of the doorway.

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The inaugural run of the Pittsburgh, Chartiers, & Youghiogheny railroad (PC&Y) up the new Thoms Run spur in 1885. It is shown stopped in Hickman, Pa., at approximately the intersection of today’s Steen Hollow and Thoms Run roads.

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The O.I.C. Mine Tipple on Thoms Run Road in Presto, Pa. The cart belonged to W.A. Wright, Tea Man from McDonald, Pa. The picture taken facing east in 1909.

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The inside of the Klein General Store, pictured circa 1900 in Federal, Pa. It operated from 1896-1906.

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Edward and Emma Webster and family. Edward emigrated from England in 1891 through New York City to Carnegie. He purchased a half acre from Joseph Hickman, farmer, and built the Hotel Hickman in 1884 and was open for business in 1885 as the coal boom was beginning. It was located on the west side of Thoms Run Road at the intersection of today’s Steen Hollow and Thoms Run Roads.

Book cover

Third cousins Gene Czambel and Rand Gee – who met through Gee’s genealogical research – have co-written the first history book of the Thoms Run coal era. “Forgotten Mines & Coal Towns of Thoms Run” chronicles the history of the mines, life in five coal towns, schools, merchants, hotels, taverns and beneficial associations from 1880 to 1930. The historic pictures and facts provide a panoramic view of life in the coal patches of Beechmont, Hickman, Federal, Burdine and Presto, Pa.

Czambel and Gee are great-grandsons of Edward Webster, the man who started the village of Hickman, Pa, with his wife Emma and their family back in 1884. You can meet both on May 15 at the Collier Township Community Center, when they will present an informal book launch ceremony, sponsored by the Collier Township Historical Society. Introductions and readings will begin at 7:30 p.m. Attendance is free and free refreshments will be served as the authors sign copies sold to support the Historical Society.

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