A Coal Mining Heritage Site

The Eclipse Company Town, originally called Hocking, was built by the Hocking Valley Coal Company between 1900 and 1902. It was operated by the Johnson Brothers, for whom Johnson Road was named. The company Town sits atop Eclipse Mine #4 of the Hocking Valley Coal Company.

Miners and their families lived in the town. The company store served as the pay station and general store for the miners. Payment was made through a credit system, maintained on ledgers kept at the store. Credit was earned for tons of coal loaded in the mine, and that credit was traded in for goods at the store.

The paymaster for the mine kept his office at the store. Married miners without children rented the two front rooms of the second floor of the store. Miners with families rented the houses. Originally the cluster of ten 'bungalow' type houses in the town were known as Ten Hill.

There were many more company houses on the other side of Johnson Road and in the surrounding area.

The Tipple and entrance to the mine were on the other side of Route 33. In 1922, the tipple was one of the most modernly equipped in the state. The wash house to the mine is still standing. The site is just past Pine Aire Village trailer court across Route 33 from Johnson Road.

The mine operated from 1900 until the early 1930's when it closed... as did many mines in the area during the Depression. It reopened in 1940 as part of the World War II effort, and continued operation until 1948. After it closed, the company store was used as a barn for storing hay and grain, and also as a VFW Hall. Ownership of the surface land of the mine, including the store and houses transferred to the former mine's superintendent, E.A. Cottingham. He rented out the company houses and continued to own the land until he left it to his daughter, Virginia Gamertsfelder.

In 1997, Eclipse, Ltd. was formed by five friends who decided to take on the restoration of the company town because of their interest in historic preservation, local history, and the Hockhocking-Adena Bike Path, which runs adjacent to the company town.

ECLIPSE COMPANY TOWN TODAY

The town is comprised of twelve company houses, one shotgun house, and the company store, on approximately 17 acres. The company houses are currently home to several types of businesses. The company store is open to the public for special events, weddings and community gatherings. We are proud to be on the National Register of Historic Places!