| Company type | Private subsidiary of the New York Central Railroad |
|---|---|
| Industry | Coal mining, railroad fuel supply |
| Founded | 1882 (as Clearfield Bituminous Coal Company) |
| Defunct | circa 1956 (as a corporate entity) |
| Fate | Coal assets transferred to Chemung Coal Co. (1953); dissolved |
| Headquarters | Indiana, Pennsylvania, U.S. (1920–1953) Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, U.S. (1882–1920) |
Area served | Pennsylvania coalfields (Clearfield, Indiana, Cambria, Centre counties) |
Key people | William C. Brown (President, early 20th c.) Charles Jervis Langdon (President, c. 1886–1916) John S. Fisher (Officer, later Governor of PA) |
| Products | Bituminous coal, Coke |
| Parent | New York Central Railroad |
Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corporation (CBCC) was a large-scale bituminous coal mining company in central Pennsylvania that operated as a "captive" subsidiary of the New York Central Railroad (NYC) from 1882 until the 1950s. At its peak, the company controlled over 50 mines and 40,000 acres of coal lands, employing thousands of miners to produce fuel exclusively for the railroad's locomotives. [1]
In addition to its mining activities, CBCC played a significant role in regional economic development as part of the Vanderbilt-controlled New York Central Railroad system. It managed a network of company towns, held influence in political and industrial circles, and its operations had long-term effects on the local environment. Its eventual dissolution occurred amid declining coal demand and broader structural changes in the American railroad industry.
The company’s origins trace to the McIntyre Coal Company of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. It was formally chartered as the Clearfield Bituminous Coal Company in December 1882 to develop coal tracts on behalf of the New York Central Railroad. [2]
From the outset, CBCC was structured as a captive supplier. It financed the construction of the Beech Creek Railroad to transport its coal, and in 1890 the NYC leased the railroad for 999 years, consolidating logistical control. [3] After a reorganization in 1886, it became the Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corporation. Its charter was amended to limit coal sales exclusively to its parent company. This arrangement allowed NYC to maintain a consistent and lower-cost fuel supply, protecting it from market volatility and labor disputes affecting the broader coal sector.
Demand for steam coal declined sharply after World War II with the dieselization of American railroads. As its primary customer reduced coal consumption, CBCC began to wind down operations, ceasing active mining around 1953.
According to industry records, the New York Central Railroad transferred CBCC's remaining valuable assets, mainly mineral rights, to another subsidiary, the Chemung Coal Company, in 1956. [4] CBCC was then formally dissolved. Analysts have interpreted this sequence as part of a broader mid-20th-century corporate strategy aimed at separating industrial liabilities—such as pension obligations, compensation claims, and environmental remediation costs—from parent company operations.
At its peak in the 1920s, the Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corporation (CBCC) was a major player in Pennsylvania’s bituminous coal industry, operating over 50 mines with thousands of workers primarily in Indiana County, Pennsylvania and Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. Key mines like Rossiter, Commodore, and Clymer produced substantial tonnage, with Commodore alone averaging over 1,000 tons per day (~365,000 tons annually) and the Arcadia group yielding over 340,000 tons in 1917. CBCC’s output, estimated at over one million tons annually across its mines, was significant though somewhat smaller than the largest independent coal operators of the era, reflecting its specialized role as a captive coal supplier exclusively for the New York Central Railroad. This vertically integrated model contrasted with other companies focused on broad market coal sales, positioning CBCC as a critical but somewhat unique entity within the regional coal industry. [5] [6] [7] The table below lists a representative sample of major operations during this period:
| Mine Name(s) | Location (County) | Mine Type | Coal Seam | Approx. Employees | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rossiter No. 4 & 5 | Rossiter (Indiana) | Shaft / Slope | "C" Prime | 750 | The company's largest and most productive mine complex; epicenter of the 1927 UMWA strike. |
| Commodore No. 1 & 3 | Commodore (Indiana) | Slope / Drift | Upper Freeport ("E") | 515 | A large, modern complex serving the "model" company town of Commodore. |
| Clymer No. 1 (Sample Run) | Clymer (Indiana) | Slope | Lower Kittanning ("B") | 350 | Site of the deadly methane and coal dust explosion in 1926 that killed 44 miners. |
| Dixonville No. 6 & 8 | Dixonville (Indiana) | Shaft | Upper Freeport ("E") | 420 | A major production center in the company's Indiana County field. |
| Cooper No. 2 | Peale (Clearfield) | Drift | Lower Kittanning ("B") | 300 | A key early mine in the Grassflat region; representative of the company's original Clearfield operations. |
| Barr Slope | Barr Township (Indiana) | Slope | Lower Kittanning ("B") | 275 | A typical medium-sized mine that was crucial to the company's overall tonnage. |
| Gazzam No. 1 | Gazzam (Clearfield) | Drift | Moshannon | 210 | One of the company's important early mines in the Moshannon Basin. |
In the regions where it operated, CBCC served as a central employer and landholder, shaping local economic conditions. As a captive supplier rather than a commercial seller, it did not contribute to a competitive coal market. Instead, the company established a closed-loop economic system in its towns, where it acted as the primary employer, landlord, and retailer. Some scholars have observed that this structure contributed to regional economic decline following CBCC’s closure, with affected communities experiencing high unemployment and reduced tax revenue for decades.
CBCC’s prominence in Pennsylvania's industrial landscape allowed it to develop close connections with county and state officials. One notable figure was John S. Fisher, a former CBCC officer who served as Governor of Pennsylvania from 1927 to 1931. His governorship coincided with the 1927 Rossiter strike, a labor dispute involving CBCC miners. Historians have noted that Fisher’s dual roles exemplify the close alignment between industrial and political interests during this period.
CBCC created and managed numerous company towns to house its workforce. Early examples such as Peale were compact and functional, whereas later towns like Commodore reflected the principles of "welfare capitalism," offering more durable housing and community infrastructure. In all towns, employment was closely tied to housing, and CBCC’s control extended to local retail via the company store. Housing policies, including evictions during labor disputes, were a key element of workforce management.
CBCC employed a diverse workforce over its operating decades. Skilled positions were typically held by workers of English and Welsh descent, while coal-loading jobs were filled by successive waves of immigrants. Recruitment patterns shifted from British and Scandinavian migrants in the late 19th century to Slovak, Polish, and Italian workers by the early 20th century. [9] Scholars have suggested that such demographic divisions sometimes hindered efforts toward unionization.
CBCC had a complex relationship with the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). During periods of strong union activity, the company recognized collective bargaining agreements. However, during downturns, CBCC resisted union influence. A key flashpoint was the 1927 strike at the Rossiter complex, during which 750 miners held out amid wage disputes. The company responded with strikebreakers and mass evictions, supported by law enforcement. A county court injunction effectively curtailed union activity, contributing to the strike’s end. [10]
In the 1880s and 1890s, CBCC’s Clearfield County operations relied on drift mining methods adapted to local topography. Miners extracted coal manually using hand tools, and mules were employed for haulage. Above ground, wood-frame tipples were used to load coal onto Beech Creek Railroad cars. [11]
By the early 20th century, operations in Indiana County, Pennsylvania had transitioned to mechanized undercutting, electric locomotives, and larger steel tipples. These changes increased efficiency and scale.
Town design mirrored shifts in labor management strategy. Early towns like Peale featured basic balloon-frame housing arranged pragmatically near mines. Later developments, such as Commodore, were laid out in a grid system and featured standardized concrete block homes produced by company-owned facilities. [12] Housing was assigned by occupational rank, with supervisors occupying larger homes on higher ground.
CBCC’s safety record reflected the broader hazards of early 20th-century mining. The most serious incident occurred in 1926 at the Sample Run Mine (Clymer No. 1), where a gas and coal dust explosion killed 44 miners. Investigators attributed the cause to the ignition of methane gas by an open-flame lamp. [13]
Environmental effects of CBCC’s operations continue to impact the region. These include:
CBCC's mineral rights, after transfer through Chemung Coal and subsequent entities, remain active in leasing arrangements for natural gas extraction. [14] Archival records are held at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania State University, supporting academic research. [2]
The built environment of several former company towns—such as Rossiter and Clymer—remains inhabited, while others like Peale are now ghost towns. These towns serve as physical reminders of the region’s coal heritage.