Coal Mining in Chauncey

Coal Mining in Chauncey. . In 1838, two capitalists from Philadelphia moved to southeastern Ohio and partnered with Thomas Ewing and Samuel Vinton to purchase a salt mining company nearby from Resolved Fuller. The settlement was named Chauncey in honor of one of the capitalists, Elihu P. Chauncey. These initial mines would become an important part of the history of Chauncey, and the extracted resources of salt, and later coal, would power the growing United States. In the late 1890s and into the early 20th Century, coal mining would boom here in Chauncey as part of the rich coalfields of the Hocking Valley. The Strike of 1932 would bring labor disputes, explosions, fires, shootings, and the National Guard to town. The last mine closed permanently in 1952, which residents remarked brought an eerie silence to the community. The area where the Chauncey Community Park and Baileys Trail System's Chauncey-Dover Trailhead are today was the actual site of that New York Coal Company coal mine, known under other names like the Baileys Coal Mine, Chauncey Coal Mine, and Mine 25, or 255. The large tipple would have been right near this spot. The coal shaft was nearby with gob piles and references to the area's industrial past dotting the landscape. Down the paved bike path connector, you can still see the remains of the historic mining buildings associated with this location. You can use the Invisible Ground app to see the coal mine tipple, railroad, and historic images nearby that are marked.