ABOUT RENTON MINE HOIST FOUNDATION
E.M. Smithers discovered coal on Talbot Hill around 1873. Shortly thereafter, Captain William Renton agreed to finance a mining operation there. The mine hoist foundation supported a Ledgewood steam hoist, which was used to lower men, coal cars, and equipment into the mine on a cable– which also hoisted loaded cars out. Over 1,300,000 tons of coal was extracted from the mine during its lifetime.
The main entrance to the mine was covered by Interstate 405. The hoist foundation is the last on-site remnant of the Renton Coal Mine. It was named to the Heritage Registers in 1978, at which time the State Historic Preservation Officer deemed it a “valuable reminder of the history of the development of our state.” The SR15 off-ramp was specifically designed and built to keep the foundation accessible.
E.M. Smithers discovered coal on Talbot Hill around 1873. Shortly thereafter, Captain William Renton agreed to finance a mining operation there. The mine hoist foundation supported a Ledgewood steam hoist, which was used to lower men, coal cars, and equipment into the mine on a cable– which also hoisted loaded cars out. Over 1,300,000 tons of coal was extracted from the mine during its lifetime.
The main entrance to the mine was covered by Interstate 405. The hoist foundation is the last on-site remnant of the Renton Coal Mine. It was named to the Heritage Registers in 1978, at which time the State Historic Preservation Officer deemed it a “valuable reminder of the history of the development of our state.” The SR15 off-ramp was specifically designed and built to keep the foundation accessible.