Ligonier Valley Rail Road Newspaper Articles
We have compiled over 1,400 newspaper articles that mention the Ligonier Valley Railroad, or related subjects. The articles were originally published starting in 1873 and our collection runs through 1995. Enjoy!
Ligonier Echo
Wednesday, March 31, 1915
Why Coalpit Run?
The Name A Misnomer No Coal No Pit
The question has been asked us frequently "Why is Coalpit Run thus named?" This run flows down the valley and empties into the Loyalhanna creek at Millbank station on the Ligonier Valley railroad. The stream is divided into two branches which unite some distance up from the mouth of the creek. Both branches are called Coalpit, yet there is no coal any place along either branch of the stream.
We have recently found a reason for the name. Mr. H. A. Shoup, who was born on the bank of the stream and lived there nearly all his life, is authority for the present name of Coalpit. He informed us that he has heard from the older people of that section, all now deceased, that the original name was not Coalpit, but Coldpit, which in speaking was changed to "Coalpit." The name "Coldpit" was given it on account of the very cold
water in the streams and deep holes, then called pits, in early days when the country in that section was well covered with tress and the water was cold and pure the entire year. For this reason the streams were called "Coldpit" and in latter years "Coalpit."