Historical notes: These mines were opened about 1821 by the Black Heath Company of Colliers. Coal was hauled by wagon on the Midlothian Turnpike to Manchester for 9 cents per bushel. The property had several shafts from 150 to 700 feet deep. Colonel John Heath purchased these mines in 1839 along with Salle's Pits and an undetermined adjoining tract. In 1840 or l841 Colonel Heath went to England to attract capital to invest in these mines. While he was there, an explosion occurred in the Maidenhead Pits killing 53 of 56 men. Less severe explosions, which killed or burned several men, had occurred several times in years prior to this. One shaft (where the explosion occurred) was 700 feet deep; the other was 600 feet deep. The mines worked a 25-foot coal with partings and were capable of producing 30,769 tons of coal per year.
Interesting recent history- The pits were reclaimed and covered. When the American Family Fitness was built, the shafts were uncovered by accident, but building construction continued anyway.