Brooks Mine was never a commercial operation, but large deposits of coal do exist inside.
The 150-foot-long mine was built as a model in 1902 by Reese Brooks when coal was king in the heating world. It is an example of how Scranton became the Anthracite Capital of the world from the 1850’s to the 1900’s.
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Brooks Coal Mine Grand Reopening
A special thank you to the Underground Miners whose hard work and dedication made it possible for tours of the Brooks Mine. Below are some pictures and information provided by the Underground Miners.
Brooks Mine Tour Information
The Brooks Mine is open for visitors on Saturdays 10AM – 5PM starting the first weekend in April and runs through Halloween weekend. Admission to the mine is Free, it’s our way of giving back to the community! We will be attending the mine on these days for safety and to answer your questions. We will also be hosting several special events at the mine throughout season so keep an eye on our Events Page. Hope to see you there!
History
The Brooks Mine was first conceived by Reese Brooks in 1900 as a showpiece for anthracite mining during the development of Nay Aug Park. Brooks opened this drift mine publicly in 1902 as an exhibition while he was the operator of the Greenwood Mine in Moosic. While not a large mine, there is a sizable coal deposit inside, and under Nay Aug Park. The mine is driven into the outcrop of the Dunmore No.2 and No.3 Veins of coal as they come together in a fault under the park. The mine was closed temporarily in 1938. In 1953 it was retimbered by the Moffat Coal Company, the lighting was upgraded by the Scranton Police Traffic Repair Squad, and mannequins installed simulating miners working at the face. In 1975 the mine was closed for good and with the opening of the Lackawanna 190 Slope Mine Tour in the Keyser valley in the 1980s, it would be deemed un-necessary to reopen.
Rehabilitation
In January of 2022 we stood outside the entrance to the Brooks Mine in Nay Aug Park, Scranton. We made the decision right then and there that we needed to bring this unique treasure back into the public light. We began meeting with the Scranton Municipal Recreation Authority with our ideas and they were just as excited as we were! Next, we met with the PA Anthracite State Mine Inspectors office, who also gave us some guidelines, requirements, and the go ahead to proceed. Once these all were met, we entered the mine for a feasibility study. We determined that the mine was a fine state to be rehabilitated back into something that park visitors could experience once again!
In April of 2022, experienced coal miners, timber men, and laborers within our group began volunteer weekend work spending over 3000 man hours to reopen the 120-year-old Historic Brooks Drift Mine. This included cleaning debris from the mine and retimbering the place using standard anthracite mining practices. Since the mine only had one way in and out, we had to drive a second opening outside as an escapeway and for proper ventilation through the Dunmore No.2 Vein. Track work would then be completed laying all new rail through the mine, installing a new electrical and lighting system, and finally a grand re-opening ceremony on August 11, 2023. The mine is inspected and approved for tours by the Pennsylvania State Mine Inspectors and it is examined daily prior to any tours by our Anthracite Mine Foreman. This entire project could not have been completed without the generosity of the community! It has been completely funded by donations from local individuals and businesses who want to see this succeed.
