Minersville Coke Ovens
Why it's listed
Coke ovens, foundations and mine works near Coalmont in southern Huntingdon County mark a coal extraction and coke production site worked from the late nineteenth century into the 1920s. The site lies between Millers Run and Shoups Run and includes two banks of beehive coke ovens, the remains of Mitchell ovens dating from 1924-25, a tipple, a coal pocket, supply and power buildings, a blacksmith and machine shop, rail rights-of-way and the Gordon Mine. The Prospect Mine was opened in 1857 on the Shoup's Run branch of the Huntingdon and Broad Top Railroad. Robert Hare Powel later built Belgian ovens there, and Joseph Thropp removed them before building the beehive ovens. Thropp operated the works until 1925, when the property was sold at auction. Its significance rests on its link to the local iron and coal industry and on its potential to show how the plant was arranged and operated. Little of the structures survives above ground, but their foundations still show the layout.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the site is eligible under Criterion A for its association with the coal and coke industry in Huntingdon County. It is also argued to be eligible under Criterion D for its potential to yield information about the efficiency, scale and methods of coal extraction and coke production, including the little-known Mitchell oven type.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 90000401, listed March 20, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | PA 913, 1 mi. E of Coalmont, Coalmont |
|---|---|
| County | Huntingdon County |
| Listed | March 20, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000401 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1879-1925 circa |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The site was left to deteriorate after operations closed, structural material was removed, and machinery is no longer present. |
| Acreage | 13 |
| Coordinates | 40.21678, -78.18402 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 90000401.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6864458
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.