Friday, December 21, 2018

La Belle Coke Works

Opened:  ca. 1910 (best guess, this is when the patch town was constructed)
Closed:  end of WWII, though the coke works were closed earlier
Owned by:  Not sure.

Mine Map

13 June 1939 aerial photo


The coke works were clearly out of operation by this date, as you can see vegetation beginning to reclaim them.  North is the Monongahela river, South is the patch town.

What's left today?

Nothing.  When I was a kid there was the tipple, which we referred to as the "old fort", the remains of several coke ovens (only one was not collapsed) and one old mine shaft was still there.  You couldn't get very far back as it was caved in/blasted in but cool air would always rush out of it.  It's all gone now, as is the prep plant J&L Steel built along the river in 1950 for the Vestaburg mines across the river, which at the time was the largest in the world.


Sunday, July 14, 2013

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Skullduggery!

In the alley behind our house, we find this
It used to house the brain of a white tailed deer, I assume.
 It's got teeth
and horns 
probably dangerous

yep, haunted.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Greater Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival

Just a friendly reminder, you won't want to miss this. 

AUGUST 20-21, 27-28
SEPTEMBER 3-4-5, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25 - 2011
Saturday, Sunday and Labor Day Only!
10:30am - 6:30pm

Rain or Shine / No Pets

FREE PARKING

http://www.pgh-renfest.com/General%20Information.html 

Saturday, July 30, 2011

CSX action in Brownsville

Down on Second St. at the newish crossing, I caught a CSX train taking off.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Food Box: Scott's Pizza

Google street view, (C) Google and all that.

Located just outside of Brier Hill, PA (between Brownsville and Uniontown), on the North side of U.S. Route 40 (don't take the turnpike extension 43 or you'll miss it) across the street from LaFayette cemetery, on the other side of the road from where Show's used to be (if you remember that, you've lived around here a while!), Scott's Pizza is a really excellent place to get lunch. 

This is the kind of place that gets a lot of regulars (of which I am one), and that alone should be a good indicator of the quality of the food.  After all, people might stop once only to discover that the food is horrible and never return, but people keep coming back, that alone speaks volumes. 

What we have here is a rather small roadside pizza shop/Italian food place.  No alcohol is served here (I only mention that because a LOT of small pizza joints are also 6 pack shops, this one is not).  The pizza here is good, certainly won't be the best you've ever had in your life, but it's decent pizza.  Their subs are also very good.  Those are available daily, however I usually get one of their specials.  On Mondays, for example, they usually have Spaghetti and Meatballs, which is VERY good, quite filling (as pasta often is) and it comes with a salad and fresh bread on the side.  Another really good special they sometimes have is their turkey dinner.  It's like a little slice of thanksgiving in a lunch sized portion.  Their little yelllow sign out front (not pictured) will list their special each day. 

So if you're in the area and hungry, stop in, you won't be disappointed.  The parking lot is way larger than it needs to be, and I don't see why it wouldn't accommodate even large trucks, though I don't recall ever seeing many trucks parked there, might be hard to get in and out of with a big rig.  Frequent guests include ambulance drivers/EMT's, police (local and state) and of course employees of nearby businesses. 

Screw Flanders.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Fredericktown Ferry

Just a few more recent photos of old `Fred'.  Thing still runs, lots of traffic is now those who live in Washington or Greene county, but work at SCI Fayette.  I think it's about 2 bucks a car now.

 LAND HO!
The Monongahela river, in all its glory.
Glad we have life boats, you never know.
Yarr!  Etc.