With roots in the region spanning two centuries, the Egypt Coal Mine’s seemed destined to be a profitable venture for many throughout history. This page is dedicated to understanding Egypt’s physical nature. Where is it? What did it look like? How did it influence the surrounding area?
A Note on Naming
Peter Evan’s incorporated the LaGrange Mining Company in the late 1840s. According to local lore, Evan’s renamed the area Egypt during a year of a particularly bad drought. The mine adopted this name and operated as the Egypt Mine through the 1890s. After the 1895 disaster, word of Egypt’s dark history spread. In hopes of reclaiming an identity, the mine – and community – rebranded as Cumnock. Some reports note the town changed its name after a northern investor, in hopes of encouraging the individual to buy the mine. Regardless of the reason, the name stuck and is still present in the unincorporated community today.
Where is the Egypt Mine?
At the northeastern extent of the Coal Field, Egypt is situated in a region with a thicker band of coal. Note the darker colors below – the darker the bed, the thicker the extent of coal.
As we zoom into the region presently known as Cumnock, we get a clearer sense of the Egypt Coal Mine.
Situated in the thickest band of Coal, the Egypt Coal Mine seems perfectly placed for success. Let’s take a look at the mine underground.
How is this information possible?
Thanks to newspaper reports and articles throughout its tenure, accompanied by official reports, we can reconstruct the coalfield with confidence. Much of the lines above come from a 1953 USGS report by John Reinemund. Reinemund includes several plates detailing the specifics of the coalfield and the mines. See Egypt’s below:
Note the greyed region to the right of the image, by the main shaft. A small note on the right side of the image tells the reader that the coal in this area has previously been exhausted. An older section of the mine, further historical research allows the reader to better understand when this region was used.
After the 1895 explosion in the Egypt Mine, the local paper, the Raleigh News and Observer, included a drawing of the mine. As we look at it, it becomes clear that the information “missing” to the right of the main entrance is the older section of the mines, titled “Older Workings”. To learn more about the explosions in 1895, please click the link below.
Learning More
For more information about the Egypt Coal Mine, please visit the links below, including reading lists, specific sites of interest, and other resources available on this website.
