Richard, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard
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 Richard
Location in West Virginia
Richard
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  West Virginia |
| County |  Monongalia |
| Elevation | 922 ft (281 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS ID | 1555473 |
Richard is a small place in Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States. It is called an unincorporated community. This means it does not have its own local government like a city or town.
Contents
History of Coal Mining
Richard was once an important place for coal mining. A big mine called the Richard Mine operated here for many years.
Early Mining Days
In 1903, the West Virginia Coal Company started the Richard Mine. They built 75 special ovens called beehive coke ovens. These ovens used coal to make coke, which is a fuel used in steel factories.
A few years later, in 1906, a man named Stephen B. Elkins bought the mine. The coal and coke from Richard Mine were first moved by the Morgantown and Kingwood Railroad. This railroad was also owned by Stephen B. Elkins. Then, the products were moved to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. They were sent to steel mills in a place called Sparrow's Point, near Baltimore.
Bethlehem Steel Takes Over
In 1914, the Bethlehem Steel Corporation bought Sparrow's Point. Then, in 1919, a company connected to Bethlehem Steel, called Penn-Mary Company, bought the Richard Mine. The mine continued to operate under Bethlehem Steel's ownership.
The Richard Mine was very busy during its peak. In 1942, over 500 people worked there. They produced more than 600,000 tons of coal that year. Over time, new technology made beehive ovens old-fashioned. Because of this, the Richard Mine finally closed in 1952.
Richard Today
Today, the area where the mine used to be is mostly homes. There are also a few businesses. Some of the old buildings from the mining company are still standing. These include the former company store, the old office building, and many houses. People still use these buildings today.
Cleaning Up the Mine
Even though the Richard Mine closed a long time ago, it still causes problems. It is the biggest source of something called "acid mine drainage" in the Deckers Creek watershed. This drainage is polluted water that flows out of the old mine.
What is Acid Mine Drainage?
Each year, the mine releases a lot of harmful substances into the water. This includes 730,500 pounds of acidity, which makes the water very sour. It also releases 140,000 pounds of iron, 59,000 pounds of aluminum, and 3,200 pounds of manganese. These substances are bad for the environment and living things in the creek.
New Treatment Plant
Good news! A special plant started working on April 15, 2024. This plant treats the acid mine drainage from the Richard Mine. The Richard Mine Complex will become a main control center. From here, people can control other treatment sites in the area.
The WVU Water Research Institute is also doing an experiment at the plant. They are trying to find a way to take out "rare earth elements" from the acid mine drainage. These elements are valuable and used in many modern technologies.
