Coral/Graceton

Coral/Graceton. . , The Twin Cities of Graceton and Coral , Graceton and Coral are two distinctive towns with different origins and histories - as most residents are quick to tell you. Throughout the years, friendly rivalries have grown in an area divided unofficially by the St. Francis Catholic Church., Graceton , In July, 1887, Geoge Mikesell, a local farmer and entrepreneur, erected 10 beehive coke ovens on his farm across current Rt. 119 and the area known as "Ranson Station". Using coal from his own land, Mikesell succeeded in creating Indiana County's first beehive coke ovens, producing saleable coke for the Johnstown Steel Works. Within the first year, Mikesell sold his coke works to JM Guthrie who expanded the operation and, in 1890, sold the ovens to the partnership of JW Moore, John and Harry McCreary. A coal scrubbing process was added, developed by Harry McCreary, along with an additional 202 ovens, which allowed Graceton coke to be among the purest in the world. The Pittsburgh steel industry relied on Graceton for their steel production., In addition to the sale of the coke works, 1890 brought the construction of homes to accommodate 200 workers, a park, and a large Company Store - complete with bowling alley. Thus, the town of Graceton was founded., Coral , The coal and coke town of Coral is located just south of Graceton. Previously known as "Oklahoma", this 1903 coal patch town of mines and 300 coke ovens utilized the first pre-built company houses in Indiana County. A nearby extensive coal mining and coke operations employed the near 400 Coral workers. In April, 1919, the workers were evicted from the company-owned housing when they went on strike, demanding wage increase, a shorter work week, and nationalization of the mines. For nearly a year, the miners and their families were residents of a "Tent Colony". , Information and pictures gathered by Homer-Center Historical Society.