PRINTER'S NO. 3821
No. 575 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY SOLOBAY, M. BAKER, BASTIAN, BEBKO-JONES, BELFANTI,
BROOKS, BUTKOVITZ, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, COLEMAN, CORRIGAN,
COSTA, COY, CREIGHTON, CRUZ, DALEY, DERMODY, DeWEESE,
DONATUCCI, D. EVANS, J. EVANS, FAIRCHILD, FICHTER, FORCIER,
FRANKEL, GABIG, GEIST, GEORGE, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARHART,
HERSHEY, HESS, HORSEY, HUTCHINSON, JAMES, JOSEPHS, KELLER,
LAUGHLIN, LEDERER, LESCOVITZ, MANDERINO, MARSICO, McGILL,
McNAUGHTON, MELIO, PALLONE, PETRARCA, PIPPY, PISTELLA,
READSHAW, ROBERTS, ROONEY, ROSS, RUBLEY, SAINATO, SCHRODER,
SHANER, B. SMITH, STABACK, SURRA, TIGUE, WALKO, WANSACZ,
WASHINGTON, WATERS, J. WILLIAMS, WOJNAROSKI AND YOUNGBLOOD,
MAY 6, 2002
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 6, 2002
A RESOLUTION
1 Honoring the Borough of Cokeburg, Washington County, on its
2 100th anniversary.
3 WHEREAS, The Borough of Cokeburg, previously known as
4 Richard's Valley and Shaft Four, was established in 1902 when
5 Chicago businessman James W. Ellsworth purchased 283 acres of
6 land that became the site of a coal-mining development; and
7 WHEREAS, It was only one of many deep-mining operations which
8 began to dot the hills of western Pennsylvania as a result of
9 the demand for more coal to satisfy foreign markets and fuel the
10 Pittsburgh Steel mills; and
11 WHEREAS, The coal fields opened doors of opportunity,
12 starting an influx of European immigrants who brought their
1 culture and religion to the melting pot of western Pennsylvania;
2 and
3 WHEREAS, These immigrant miners worked in highly dangerous
4 conditions and were assigned by nationality to houses for which
5 they paid $2.85 a month in rent; and
6 WHEREAS, Beginning in 1900, two mine shafts were constructed,
7 along with a string of 100 beehive coke ovens for which Cokeburg
8 was named; and
9 WHEREAS, The first coal produced in Cokeburg in 1902 was
10 processed into coke and shipped out by rail; and
11 WHEREAS, European experts tested the area's coal and
12 proclaimed it to be among the richest they had ever seen; and
13 WHEREAS, Today, while the coke ovens have since disappeared,
14 many families, homes and buildings remain, preserving the
15 history of the borough; and
16 WHEREAS, In addition to its many economic, social,
17 recreational and cultural attributes, Cokeburg continues to be a
18 historical treasure in this Commonwealth; therefore be it
19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives congratulate the
20 Borough of Cokeburg on the 100th anniversary of its
21 incorporation and honor the borough on its outstanding
22 contributions to the coal-mining industry in this Commonwealth
23 and beyond.
D12L82MRD/20020H0575R3821 - 2 -