Salem Township in Slickville in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Slickville Coal Patch
Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 15, 2025
1. Slickville Coal Patch Marker
The town of Slickville was created in 1916-17 as a 'model coal town' by the Cambria Steel Company. It was named for one of the company's senior executives, Edwin E. Slick. Until 1943, the five underground mines near here produced around a half million tons of coal per year from the thick Pittsburgh seam. The coal was shipped east by rail to fuel Cambria's steel mills in Johnstown PA.
Most of the red brick buildings seen around Slickville were originally mining facilities, including the commissary near the Frank Pavlovich Pavilion (left) and the power-house (right). The 'model town' also had well-built company houses along attractive curved streets, a large red brick school, and a distinctive town sign on top of its 'bony' pile of mine tailings.
Erected by Westmoreland Heritage Trail and Westmoreland County Parks and Recreation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1943.
Location. 40° 27.503′ N, 79° 31.422′ W. Marker is in Slickville, Pennsylvania, in Westmoreland County. It is in Salem Township. It is on Pennsylvania Route 819 just south of Depot Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located on the Westmoreland
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Laurel Highlands and in Greater Pittsburgh. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Original Bell (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Twin Valley Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.3 miles away); Deane S. Van Dyke Jr. (approx. 3.8 miles away); Eastview Union Cemetery Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.8 miles away); Fairview Park (approx. 3.9 miles away); Delmont (approx. 3.9 miles away); Delmont's Water Trough (approx. 4 miles away); Salem Crossroads Historic District (approx. 4 miles away).
Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 15, 2025
2. Slickville Coal Patch Marker
PA-819 is the crossroad in the distance.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 312 times since then and 157 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 20, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.
