Pictures from the Clean Up

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Coke Ovens Cleanup

COKE OVENS CLEANUP a HUGE Success!!!!

Coke Ovens Cleanup, A Huge Success!

Truman Aldrich founded Blocton and West Blocton and organized the Cahaba Coal Mining Company on the promise of fortune from the coal and coke to be made from the Cahaba Coal Seams. These materials then fed the steel and iron industry in Birmingham, Tannehill, Brierfield, and the surrounding areas. West Blocton’s "Beehive Coke Ovens” were built in the 1880s and 90s as the rich seams of coal were discovered, turning out blocks of coal that weighed over a ton a piece. The Blocton Coke Ovens-were and remain as four batteries (banks) of 467 coke ovens that at one time produced over 600 tons of Coke a day.

On Saturday, March 10, 2007 a group of fifty plus people worked into the afternoon cleaning our Coke Ovens Park, opening up the walking trail and a large section of the ovens, and clearing brush off the hillsides, so that we can enjoy the park and spend time in it. A Big, Big Thanks to all our workers, including Mayor Jabo Reese,Water Superintendent Jerry Fondren, two city councilmen, Commissioner Al Green, two representatives from the Office of Surface Mining, a work crew from the Town of West Blocton, eight students with the Upward Bound Program at the University of Montevallo, the local Tombigbee RC&D director, the Archaeologist for Tannehill, Biologist from Cahaba River Society, Cahaba River Authority Chairman, Walter Sansing, Friends of the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, the Coke Ovens Committee, two ministers, Centreville Historical Preservation Commission, Better Hometown Group, West Blocton Improvement Committee, Bibb County Citizens for Wildflowers, and the miners! Another Big, Big Thanks to our sponsors: Food Center, Food Outlet, The Country Store, Seaman’s Timber, The Cahaba River Authority and The Town of West Blocton!

The park is a heritage park, to reflect on our coal mining history. It is a community center for the Town of West Blocton and neighboring communities. It is an integral part of the Cahaba regional tourism plan, serving as the Northern gateway to the Lower Cahaba Basin and a place for tourists and sightseers to land. Starting in 2007, our Coke Ovens park will now be available for special events and will be opened for Lily Day, The Cahaba River Ramble, and the June Smithsonian exhibit’s opening- Between Fences.

Please join us for our next Coke Ovens Committee Planning Meeting, March 29th at 6:30, at the West Blocton Municipal Building/Library, as we plan what the future will hold for our park.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Salter, your OSM/Americorps/VISTA, at 205-566-2479

Coke Ovens Cleanup this Saturday!!

March 10th- 9:00



At the Ovens- Hwy 24 Just East of West Blocton

Bring your clippers/gloves/etc.

Refreshments Provided


West Blocton's "Beehive Coke Ovens" were built in the 1880's as rich seams of coal were found in the area. Truman Aldrich, the founder of Blocton and the Town of West Blocton, organized the Cahaba Coal Mining Company in 1883 and built the Blocton Coke Ovens- four batteries of 467 coke ovens that produced 600 tons of Coke a day!

On Saturday, March 10, 2007 we are cleaning up our Coke Ovens Park, to make it a place that we can enjoy, spend time in, and open up for the community and our guests.

The park will be a heritage park to reflect on our coal mining history, a cultural center for the Town of West Blocton, and a key component of the regional Cahaba tourism plan.

Please come join us on Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 9:00 as we fight privet, build signs, place signs, re-mark the walking trail, and generally clean up our Coke Ovens.

For more information, contact Elizabeth at 205-566-2479