It’s All Mine – Coal Mine, that is.I

Coal mining was a huge industry in and around Lethbridge. In the late 1800s and into  well into the 1900s and there were several large mines in the area. The most prominent remains are those of the old Number 3 Federal mine locate on west Lethbridge near the railway bridge. Two structures stand out prominently. These are the remains of the old tipple, and the mine water tower. I got snoopy and walked around the old mine site, trying to get a sense of the place when it was a mine. I’ll need to do more research on that over at the Galt Museum.  In the meantime, her’s a selection of photos.

The large steel structure (the tipple) was centered over the opening to the main shaft. Coal cars and miners starting and ending shifts, would be conveyed  by the massive lift machinery.

It was the coal mines that brought the Paterson, Armitt and countless other families to Canada looking for work . Now, this site, along with countless others across the country are industrial wassteland