PAWASHIN-L Archives

Archiver > PAWASHIN > 2000-07 > 0962568579


From: "Russ McGrew" <>
Subject: RE: [PAWASHIN-L] Reddog streets..........
Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2000 16:09:39 -0400
In-Reply-To: <395E8F0B.6762C31E@usaor.net>


Re the Red Dog Roads
I recall them in Allegheny County - and was trying to figure where the red came
from - then thinking it may have been residue from brick ovens, I decided to do
a little search.

I tried Google.com and got just two responses and it took a while before I found
the spot they associated with it -
It was a continuing story running in some Coal magazine in WV. I copied the
following excerpt:

"Dirt roads that ran through our town were covered with jagged red-dog, residue
left over when spontaneous combustion caused burning of slate and coal on dumps
that dotted the area. Red-dog was used on coal-patch streets to keep the dust
and mud down. Richeyville's only paved road was built by the state in 1930. It
runs from Route 40, past the mine to Deem's Park, about a mile from town."

Now, let me see if I can insert the source:

http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:www.coalpeople.com/janfeb00/in_the_hole.htm

I read a large part of the chapter of this book about immigrant miners and
others in Washington Co. It was quite interesting - but I don't know whether it
is biographical, a documentary or an historical novel. I couldn't read too much
because I was denied access.
Didn't have enough soot in my blood-

Try it -
Russ


This thread: