General Mine Offices

Original General Offices (1905-1911)

Original General Offices (1905-1911)

General Office of the Penn Mary Coal Company, circa 1912.

General Office of the Penn Mary Coal Company, circa 1912.

The original general offices used by the early Heilwood coal companies were constructed between 1904 and 1905 and located directly below the company store manager’s home (see top photo). These two buildings served the coal companies until 1910-11, at which time the Penn Mary Company constructed a new, brick building adjacent to the Company Store (see second photo).

These photos show two safes (one in the basement and one on the first floor) installed in the "new" Penn Mary office building circa 1910-11. Both safes were walk-in types and were used for payroll and records storage. The safes are located near the center of the building and stacked on top of each other, with walls about 14"-18" thick.


These photos show two safes (one in the basement and one on the first floor) installed in the "new" Penn Mary office building circa 1910-11. Both safes were walk-in types and were used for payroll and records storage. The safes are located near the center of the building and stacked on top of each other, with walls about 14"-18" thick.

From outward appearances, the two offices were connected by a small shed – but that shed was actually the company vault, hidden with siding and roofed just like the other buildings.

This vault was approximately 12’ x 14’ x 8’. The walls and the roof were 18″ thick, poured with cement and stones. In addition, the sloping roof was reinforced with steel rails. The floor was two feet below ground level and the only opening of the structure was protected with a solid-steel door!

The First National Bank of Barnesboro, Pa. was responsible for having the cash payrolls delivered on the designated bi-weekly paydays in iron strongboxes.

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