Smith Brothers Mining Company, Williamson, Mingo County,West Virginia

The men are waiting for their shift to begin, sitting on the low lying “mantrip” they will use to ride into the mine. They will ride it lying down because this is a low coal mine. The height of the ceiling of a mine is determined by the thickness of the coal seam. Low coal averages 36″ high but can be as low as 21″. The photographer was invited to photograph at this mine by B L Farley, seated in the center of the photo in the light shirt.

Image taken from a collection of photographs by Builder Levy of the mines and mining communities of Appalachia.

View the exhibit My Daddy was a Miner for related images.