Berwind-White Coal Mining Company In the latter part of 19th Century, as our nation began its industrial expansion, there became a tremendous need for a source of continuous power. The power furnished by wind and water were unreliable, thus at a very early Time the organizers and directors of the various American enterprises concluded that in spite of the free air that blew over the oceans, and the water that tumbled over waterfalls it was cheaper to power their machines with coal burning steam engines. So the demand for coal. Among the group who anticipated this demand for coal there was one man, who, by virtue of his uncanny foresight, world spanning imagination, and mastery of the administrative art, rapidly gained a firm foothold in the province of the extractive industry...his name was Charles F. Berwind. Looking over his maps, Berwind discovered that within the bounds of the United States there were eight hundred fifty thousand square miles of coal land to supply the needs of the awakening industrial world. Steadied by the possibility of developing at least part of this colossal domain Berwind moved in a partner with a new coal firm...Berwind and Bradley. For more than a decade the firm of Berwind and Bradley prospered. But American business was on the March; manufacturing, transporting, developing new trends of communication and commerce. Keeping abreast of the times Charles F. Berwind reorganized his firm in 1874. With the same fine discretion that had so successfully carried him through the tumultuous beginnings of his early ventures, Charles F. Berwind chose for one of his associates in the new organization Judge Allison White. Judge Allison White was a seasoned and mature business man, who, having served a term In Congress, had retired to Philadelphia. His advice in legal matters was Indispensable to the new venture. The third partner, who was to search out new markets for coal, was Edward J. Berwind...Charles F. Berwind's younger brother. As a young man Edward J. Berwind had learned some first hand facts about coal mining when he took a job as "weigh-boss" for the Powelton Coal and Iron Company in Minersville, Pennsylvania. Thus the firm of Berwind, White and Company was formed. Following through with his plans Charles F. Berwind sent his brother to New York to establish contact with the various steamship companies who demanded high grade fuel. So successful was Edward J. Berwind in finding markets for steam coal that he all but gained a monopoly on the market. Practically every important steamship company sailing out of New York harbor was "sold" on Berwind, White and Company's coal. With the expanding business came the burden of greater responsibilities, and Charles F. Berwind called upon his two remaining brothers...John E. Berwind and Harry A. Berwind to help shoulder the load. John E. Berwind followed his brother Edward to New York where he concentrated on foreign markets, while Harry A. Berwind remained in Philadelphia to prepare himself for the supervision of field operations. In less than a decade after the Berwind, White and Company was organized, Charles F. Berwind saw that the relatively small firm was unable to keep up with the ever increasing demands for Berwind-White coal, and on January 22, 1886, the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company was incorporated with Charles F. Berwind as President, Edward J. Berwind as Vice-President, Allison White as Treasurer, and Frederick McOwen as Secretary. With the flexibility that the new Berwind-White Coal Mining Company had taken on since 1886, Charles F. Berwind was able to not only direct the mining and selling of coal, but to engage and expand into other activities that were related to the coal industry. Notable among these ventures were the Eureka stores, which under the supervision of Harry Frank...the first head of the Eureka stores...kept pace with the expanding enterprise. W. A. Crist was the first manager of the Eureka stores under the Corporation. To provide an inexhaustible supply of coal for the ever growing Berwind White Coal Mining Company, Charles F. Berwind was constantly on the alert to discover new fields of black diamonds. At the time the Corporation was formed there were twenty-one mines in operation. These included the openings of the Big Moshannon Vein in the Clearfield District and in the Lehigh Valley, together with other well known coal regions. But as the supply of coal diminished, virgin fields were explored. The need for new coal lands caused James A. Cunningham, the advance agent in field operations of Berwind-White to enter the Paint Creek Valley in the year 1893. After surveying the area, Cunningham purchased more than one hundred square miles of lands along Upper Paint Creek. Transposing the syllables of the Berwind name, the new site was given a name - Windber. In September, 1897, the first of the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company's mines in the Windber area was opened...Eureka Mine Number 30. Following in rapid succession Eureka mines numbered 31-32-33-34-35-36-37-38-39-40-41-42 were developed and installed with electric haulage, and it was said that, "This equipment is probably the largest and best soft coal installation in the world," producing more than ten thousand tons of Eureka coal per day. Quite aware that the rural community of northern Somerset County could not furnish enough man power to operate these mines, the Company laid plans for a new town...a center of population apart from the mining operations that would attract workers as well as business men. Under the supervision of James S. Cunningham, the present town of Windber was staked out in 1897. Unlike many so-called "coal towns" where "company houses" are built in uniform and regimented rows, the broader vision of the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company invited their workers to share in the designing of the kind of houses they were to live in. The difference in this plan being, that instead of "houses for workers" the new buildings that began to mushroom along the banks of Paint Creek became "homes for participants in a great enterprise". .. designed, built, and paid for by their respective owners. The soundness of this strategy is evidenced by pride of ownership, which from the beginning, set neighbor against neighbor in friendly rivalry in beautifying their homes and gardens. The tonnage produced by the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company in the Windber area during its fifty years of operation staggers the imagination. The figures mount up to meaningless proportions when looking at cold statistics which show that more than 150,000,000 tons of coal have been shipped from the Windber mines. This represents a string of 50 ton R.R. cars circling the earth. Meanwhile John Lockrie went into business in 1908 when he established the Rummel Coal Company. Shortly thereafter he acquired additional coal property and opened up and developed three other mines in the vicinity of Windber. In 1916 he opened several mines in the Central City section under the name of the Reitz Coal Company. As President and General Manager of the Reitz Coal Company, John Lockrie became one of the most successful coal operators in the State of Pennsylvania. The Company continued to grow and prosper during the 20's, late 30's, and World War II. Following World War II, a decision was made to suspend mining operations but continue to lease and sell coal. Mr. Alberter, presently the Chairman of the Board, Reitz Coal Co., was hired to divest the mining operations. However, Mr. Alberter had the foresight to realize that the coal market was on the verge of resurgance. His foresight proved true in that the mid 70's saw a revival of the coal industry. Instead of selling off equipment, property" etc. Mr. Alberter began to move toward rebuilding Berwinds interest in coal mining.