History of anthracite coal mining in Pennsylvania History of anthracite coal mining in Pennsylvania There are two types of coal found in Pennsylvania: anthracite (the “hard coal” found in Northeastern Pennsylvania below the Allegheny Ridge southwest to Harrisburg; also called “stone coal”, “rock coal” in the 1800s) and bituminous (“soft coal”, found west of the Allegheny Front escarpment). Anthracite coal is a natural mineral with a high carbon and energy content that gives off light and heat (produced energy) when burned, making it useful as a fuel. It was possibly first used in Pennsylvania as a fuel in 1769, but its real history begins with a documented
A. L. A. Himmelwright coal fired furnace with radiators in each room for heat; a similarly stone built garage of sufficient size to accommodate two large touring cars; and awnings and shutters with a concrete sidewalk all around. The walls are of granite, the floors and ceilings of poured concrete with steel reinforcement, the roof is lined with copper. Woodwork, plaster, brickwork, and concrete were all specced to be of "first class materials and workmanship". Himmelwright estimated its lifespan at 400–500 years. In 1913 Himmelwright published detailed engineering plans, drawings, and instructions on how to build replicas of the Stone House in a book,