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Directions to Driving Tour Stop #6

Return to the intersection with PA Route 601 and turn left onto PA 601 South. Proceed 4.1 miles (crossing the Shade Creek Bridge) to Foustwell and look for parking areas on either side of the bridge after crossing the Stonycreek River.

Latitude: 40.2378
Longitude: -78.8342


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Driving Tour Stop #5

The Berwind-White Coal Company of Philadelphia was one of the nation's leading bituminous coal producers during the first half of the 20th century, providing fuel for steamships and New York City's subway system. Upon acquiring 30,000 acres within The Stonycreek Corridor in the 1890s, Berwind developed 13 mines (Eureka mines 30 to 42) and established its regional headquarters in Windber. By 1962, 150 million tons of coal had been taken from Windber area mines.

While each mine complex was its own little community with worker housing and a company store, Windber provided facilities for company operations and resources for the regional area, including a hospital, theater, company-owned department store, other shops, churches, social clubs, restaurants, hotels and ancillary services. Berwind planned and developed Windber (its name came from reversing the syllables in "Berwind") as a model company town with wide, paved streets, sanitary sewers, graceful architecture and better worker housing than was found in the coal patches.

A total of 945 structures date from that period and contribute to the historic district, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Within the district today can be found Berwind's regional headquarters, now the Windber Borough Building; a Classic Revival style bank building, the former Eureka Department Store, the former post office that once housed the Windber Coal Heritage Center and Arcadia Theater.


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