LANSFORD, Pa. — Massive hunks of metal at the No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum are blades to gigantic fans, which were crucial in helping keep miners safe in the late 1800s.
"Their whole function is mine ventilation because there are dangerous gases, dust, fumes from explosives underground. So ventilation was key," said Zachary Petroski, superintendent of the No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum.
Now, construction is underway to give them a new home in a new building at the attraction in Lansford.
The project costs nearly $4 million and has been in the works for a decade, paid for with federal and state money.
The large mine fans and steam engines are nearly 150 years old and from the Dorrance Colliery in Wilkes-Barre.
"They were technologically advanced for their day. Modern mine fans are just the evolution of these," said Petroski.
Cody Bartkoski, a coal miner and president of Lehigh Anthracite Coal, says it's interesting to see how equipment has changed over the years.
"History here of how they used to mine it with pick and shovels to now we're mining with our hydraulic excavators. The volume and scale are just incredible that you can do with a lot less manpower, a lot better technology," said Bartkoski.
The fans are so big that a portion of them will sit underground inside a hole. Those at the No.9 Mine say they hope the next exhibit will increase visitors and showcase the area's rich history of coal mining.
"Anthracite coal built the region. It fueled the industrial revolution in the 19th century. I mean, in most of the areas in northeastern Pennsylvania, even the Wyoming Valley included, agriculture was the big thing until the advent of coal mining," said Petroski.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.