Whitsett, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Whitsett, Pennsylvania
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Great Allegheny Passage in Whitsett
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 Whitsett, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Whitsett, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Fayette |
| Township | Perry |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1191364 |
Whitsett is a small community in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, USA. It's about 30 miles (50 km) south of Pittsburgh. About 200 people live there.
The town was started in 1845 by Ralph C. Whitsett Sr. His family built a large red brick house in 1873, which you can still see today. Many houses in Whitsett were "company houses." These were built for workers at a big nearby coal mine called Banning #2.
Most of these houses were originally built as "half houses" to fit two families. The Banning #2 mine closed in 1954. Since then, many of these old company houses have been updated and are now homes for single families.
Contents
Whitsett's Coal Mining History
The story of coal mining in Whitsett began on July 21, 1891. It lasted for 63 years, ending in 1954. For a long time, Whitsett was known as a coal mining town.
Early Mining Operations
Coal mining started in Whitsett in the summer of 1891. The Luce-Whitsett Coal & Coke Company began digging for coal and making coke. Coke is a fuel made from coal.
This company was run by Henry Luce, Albinus H. Whitsett, and David P. Whitsett. David P. Whitsett was the mine's boss. This partnership worked together from July 21, 1891, until November 16, 1892. During this time, 126 men worked at the mine.
Changes in Mine Ownership
On November 16, 1892, the Luce-Whitsett Coal & Coke Company was sold. Frank M. Osborne from Cleveland, Ohio, bought it for $7,277.86. The coal mine was then renamed the Osborne, Saeger, and Company. It operated under this name for five years.
In 1897, Albinus H. Whitsett and his brother James E. Whitsett bought the coal mine back. They changed its name to the Rainbow Coal Company. Then, on November 18, 1901, the Rainbow Coal Company was sold again. The Pennsylvania Mining Company bought it from the Whitsett family for $6,500.00. This company later became the Pittsburgh Coal Company.
The Banning #2 Mine Era
The Pennsylvania Mining Company, which became Pittsburgh Coal Company, named the mine in Whitsett "Banning #2." This mine started digging coal in 1902.
Banning #2 was a very busy mine. In 1910, it had 659 miners working there. That year, it produced 535,484 tons of coal. This was more coal than any of the other 18 mines in the Youghiogheny River valley produced.
End of an Era: Mine Closures
The Banning #2 company stopped its main operations on Friday, February 22, 1946. This happened after a "slate fall" accident. A slate fall is when rock from the mine ceiling breaks off.
In 1948, the Robertson & Sheppard Coal Company started mining in Whitsett. They dug coal on a very small scale. This mine also closed in 1954. Its closure marked the end of an important time for Whitsett. Coal mining had played a huge role in the town for many years.
Whitsett Today
Today, Whitsett is a peaceful place with new attractions.
Great Allegheny Passage Trail
The Great Allegheny Passage is a popular trail that goes right through Whitsett. At the trailhead, there's a place to park and get onto the trail. This area is called Weiss Memorial Park.
The park also has fun things to do. You can find a basketball court, a baseball field, a playground, and picnic areas there. The trail itself was built on the old tracks of the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie railroad.
Historic Recognition and Art Project
Whitsett was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. This means it's recognized for its important history.
The land where the old Banning #2 coal mine used to be is now owned by an artist named Rachel Sager. She has created an amazing outdoor art project there called The Ruins Project. This project uses mosaics, which are pictures made from small pieces of colored material.
The art installation is built on the remains of the mine's old buildings. It tells the story of the historic mine and the town. Over 250 artists from all over the world have helped create this unique art project.
