Thanks to the generosity and kindness of Robert Saye Jr. and family (see picture below), we now have a very accurate history about the mines and miners in Whitby. Please note that all of the pages in the Mining at Whitby series would not be possible without the Saye Family. These documents represent a unique historical and personnal recollection of Whitby. I have also added a table of Whitby WV Tipple links at the bottom of this page as the tipple at Whitby was integral to its history.
OCTOBER 1926 STERLING SMOKELESS COAL COMPANY
TOM SNYDER - OWNER
P. Q WARDEN - SUPER
NICK THOMPSON - MINE FOREMAN
W. J. TULLY - BOOK KEEPER
MARY SYNOR - SECRETARY LONNIE PRICE - INSIDE SUPER
EARL CHRISTIAN - BOSS
DALLAS RHINEHART - BOSS
THE FIRST CAR OF COAL MINED WAS MINED DECEMBER 7,1926.
THE COAL WAS LOADED BY PICK AND SHOVEL, WORKERS WERE PAID BY THE TON. THE METAL TAGS THAT ARE IN THE PICTURE (CLICK HERE FOR PICTURE) WERE IDENTIFICATION CHECKS THAT THE WORKER HUNG WHEN THE CAR WAS LOADED AND WHEN IT WAS WEIGHED FOR TONNAGE. THAT IS HOW HE GOT PAID.
MY DAD ROBERT SAYE SR. WAS SECTION BOSS IN 1951, THERE WERE 73 MEN ON THE DAY SHIFT. MACHINE MEN CUT THE COAL AT NIGHT. IN MAY 1954 SOME WORKERS LOST THEIR JOB. THE MEN THAT WAS LEFT HAD TO PRODUCE 15 TON PER MAN.
ALL THE OLD PEOPLE PASSED ON AND NO ONE WAS INTERESTED IN KEEPING THE MINE OPEN. STERLING SMOKELESS COAL COMPANY CLOSED IN AUGUST 12-1960.
STERLING KEPT THE TIPPLE RUNNING AND BOUGHT COAL FROM SMALL MINES CALLED PUNCH MINES $5.00 A TON.
Saye Family
MARCH 1, 1961 MY DAD ROBERT SAYE SR. OPENED THE OLD MINES BACK UP WITH 27 MEN AVERAGING 350 TONS A DAY. R&F COAL COMPANY SHUT DOWN JAN. 1969.
ROBERT SAYE SR. - OWNER & SUPER INTENDANT
TENNIS HALLSTEAD - BOOKKEEPER
LAWRENCE WOODS - FIRE BOSS
WILBURN AKERS -FIRE BOSS
THE OLD TIPPLE BURNED DECEMBER 13, 1963. STERLING BUILT A NEW PROCESSING PLANT AND IT OPENED MAY 1964. STERLING SMOKELESS COAL COMPANY OPENED NEW MINES ON THE KIRBY TRACK MINING COAL WITH A MACHINE CALLED A WILCOX LOADER. IT TOOK 7 MINERS TO OPERATE A SECTION.
FROM 1964 TO JAN. 1982
THOUSANDS OF TONS OF CLEAN COAL WAS SHIPPED OUT BY RAIL ROAD I STARTED WORKING IN JULY 18, 1947 AND RETIRED JANUARY 29, 1982 AFTER THAT THEY SHUT THE OPERATION DOWN FOR GOOD.
ALL INFORMATION CONTRIBUTED BY: ROBERT F. SAYE JR.
