Calhoun High students visited the historical Ritchie Mines last week. It was a rainy, muddy day for students of Mr. Gainer's
and Ms. Yoak's class to hike into the area, traveling about six miles. The hike took over four hours.
The mines are located on McFarlan Creek.
The unique deposit of solidified or crystallized petroleum was once mined in the same manner as coal. The lode, discovered
in 1852, is considered by some as a freak of nature, the only deposit of its kind in the United States.
The mines were a source of a natural asphalt that was mined at various times until 1909. Material from the mines was used
to pave streets, including Pennsylvania Avenue in the nation's capitol and Broadway in New York City. The asphalt was
also shipped to several European countries. It took about 4 1/2 hours to hike through the mines.
Mining operations were suspended during the Civil War, but resumed in 1865. A narrow-gauge, wooden railroad known as
the "Calico Road" was constructed from the main B & O line at Cairo. That railroad was later improved and was re-named -
The Cairo and Kanawha Valley Railroad.
Photos courtesy of Calhoun High School
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