Interesting Coal Door With Downward Attached Pipe

I thought the forum would enjoy this photo of a coal door. We were visiting family in Shamokin today and took the dog for a walk. We noticed this unique coal door. It was on an alley behind a big apartment building on a backyard hillside. This is how you get coal delivered when your street level in the front with no cellar How it works there is a cast iron pipe attached to the coal door about 18 inches in diameter. The coal went directly into the back cellar down this hillside/back yard that was very steep. My guess is about 60 feet. The coal comes into the bin with such force that they have truck inner tubes on the coal bill walls to deflect the coal and bounce it around the bin. Pretty amazing but when you live on a steep hill this what you have to do.

Nice B. Thanx!!!!!!

I wish I had one of those for my basement!

Thanks for sharing.

-Don

I saw those somewhere years ago, but I'll be darned if I can remember where it was. Thanks for posting the picture.

StokerDon wrote:I wish I had one of those for my basement!

Thanks for sharing.

-Don

Talk him into pulling it off and having a bunch cast at a foundry!

Based on the writing cast on the door, I would guess it was removed from a large furnace or boiler.

Rob R. wrote:Based on the writing cast on the door, I would guess it was removed from a large furnace or boiler.

You're right, it reads "Keep Ash Pit And Flues Clean". It's probably an ash door off an old boiler.

Hummm,,, That gives me an idea.

-Don

Being from the area my guess is the appartment building was once a clothing factory that were common in Shamokin they had large boilers with radiators that used steam, churches and schools also. The bigger problem was when the front basement of the home was street level with no rear access and you had to get the coal up 6 to 8 feet then shoot it in, enter the high lift scissor truck still common in the area today

Glad you guys enjoyed it My wife brought up the safety issue of a small child falling into it.

ben wrote:Glad you guys enjoyed it My wife brought up the safety issue of a small child falling into it.

If the child is large enough to get stuck in an 18 inch pipe...they are not a small child

Hmmmmm, could they have used those to save on school bus trips ? Little Johnny slides home?

Guys this reminds me of a story told by a friend from Shenandoah a coal town in Pa .He worked for a coal delivery dealer .Anyway they had to deliver coal to a house that had the coal bin cellar 15 feet above street level .Wheelbarrel an buckets got the 2 tonin the bin .However the owner of the house kicked in 2 bucks as a tip .In 1955 That Bought 40 Beers At A Nickel a glass .jack

LOL, indeed it did Jack.

nice photo never seen one in the ground like that. All my neighbors in Shenandoah, PA have them on there front porch.