В музее исторического общества Блэк-Даймонд открыли обновленную экспозицию угольной шахты

It all started with a train depot. Black Diamond’s oldest structure is also its most historic – literally. Completed in 1886, a little over a year after the first train load of coal was shipped to Seattle, the Black Diamond Depot was destined to play a continuing role through the rise, fall, and resurgence of what is today King County’s fastest-growing city. Through its first 90 years of history, the depot hosted a rail station, post office, telegraph station, county library, restaurant, and the city’s water department. By the mid-1970s, it sat idle – a forgotten relic of a bygone era. Restoration efforts began in 1976 after the Black Diamond Historical Society was founded and obtained the dilapidated structure from the City of Black Diamond. A small group of citizens, led by founders Carl and Ann Steiert, were determined to honor the nation’s bicentennial by preserving an important part of the town they loved. But their mission was not only to discover, preserve, and disseminate the history of Black Diamond, but also that of surrounding towns in the Green River coal field, including Bayne, Cumberland, Danville, Durham, Elk Coal, Franklin, Kangley, Krain, Kummer, Lawson, Ravensdale, and Selleck. During the early years, founding members published popular yearly calendars with historic photos and descriptive captions. Each week on Thursdays, volunteers have gathered in the depot to work and enjoy a hearty lunch. Originally, lunch was prepared by wives, benefactors like Bill Bremmeyer, and nearby restaurants. Now volunteers bring sack lunches, except once a month when the Black Diamond Bakery provides sandwiches. Over the decades, evolving crews with multiple talents have completely renovated the building. They first restored the depot’s high ceilings and installed wood-framed windows to replicate its early days. In 1980, Louis Gerlach of Enumclaw used 30 gallons of red paint to bring back the depot’s original exterior color. After the City hooked the building up to the sewer system, a restroom was installed. The original jail was built circa 1905 by a carpenter named Vestney, who worked for Pacific Coast Coal Co. Seven decades later, the jail was discovered in Helen Harp’s backyard, where it had been used as a storage shed. Harp agreed to sell it to the Museum for $150. With help from Black Diamond native Dwight Garrett, who founded Garrett Tree Farmers, the deteriorating jail building was moved beside the depot in 1981. There, Ted Barner, Ray Drury, Frank Guidetti, Norm Gumser, Martin Morre, Dave Sprau, and Carl Steiert meticulously restored it to its original condition. The jail is regularly the most photographed spot on the museum grounds. That same year, Ted Barner, an experienced ex-coal miner, undertook plans to reimagine the north end of the depot building by reproducing a model mine portal. With an authentic coal car, machinery, and rails donated by Palmer Coking Coal, volunteers erected a replica coal mine outside and beneath the museum’s main floor. This year, the coal mine exhibit was overhauled and upgraded, adding new artifacts and talking mannequins to coincide with the nation’s 250th birthday. It was unveiled to the public on June 6, 2026, as part of the Historical Society’s Heritage Day celebration. And every Thursday for the past 50 years, except holidays and Christmas break, a rotating cast of civic-minded community helpers has offered their time, talents, and treasures to carry on the work that needs to be done. And thrice annually, the Black Diamond Historical Society publishes one of the finest newsletters for a museum its size. Individuals who join the BDHS automatically receive the triannual publication. And the results speak for themselves – each year since 2023, Black Diamond has been recognized as one of the top three museums in the Pacific Northwest. In 2024, they were voted gold, and in 2025, silver. Unlike fully staffed municipal museums, the Black Diamond Museum is runs entirely by volunteers who pour their blood, sweat, and occasional tears into keeping history alive. The Museum is open 9 am to 2 pm on Thursdays, and Saturday & Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm, except holidays and Christmas-New Year’s break. Labor Day weekend is a great opportunity to visit the Museum, when it’s open for three straight days. For a treasure trove of historical information and photos, check out their website: www.BlackDiamondMuseum.org This photo was taken by BDHS volunteer Ron Heusser in late summer 2020. It’s part of a collection of Depot pictures on display in the Museum, where visitors can see the amazing life story of this building that turns 140 years old this year.