The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14
GLACIAL POT H0LB At ARCHIBALD
One Of Natures Great Wondefs-Neai
Scranton, Pa.

In no place can one more easily under
stand how, in prehistoric days. the
mountains Of ice. constantly wearing
away at the base by melting with the
ever added weight pressing down. could
I'LL up depressions, grind the rocks into
powder and dust, and so form the earth
and soil. It gives one the unmistaka-
BILE evidence Of the Glacial period. that
ages ago covered all Of northeastern
Pennsylvania with ice and snow. In
our search for places Of interest. we
often forget those that lie at our doors
How many Of the readers Of our paper
bald Pot Hole7 And yet, among geolo-
gistA Lackawanna County enjoys the
rare honor Of having the largest known
glacial pot hole In the world. II any
Of our citizens should chance to meet
some scientist Of Berlin. or Vienna, ol
any far away place. who Is deep stu
dent Of the mysteries that lie under our
feet, or OF the formation Of mountains
and valleys with the wonderful depos-
its Of coal, iron, or other minerals that
are buried deep down in the bosom OF
the earth, they could have no better
introduction than that their home was
near the Archibald Pot Hole In Penn
sylvania-
The following IL brief history Of the
discovery Of this famous relic OF Gla-
cial action, as given by the Pennsyl-
vania Geological Survey: Archibald
Pot Hole, No. l, was discovered In Feb
ruary, 1884, at the Ridge mines OF the
Eaton collicry on the land OF Col. c. b
Hackley; the colliery being operated by
Messrs. Jones, Simpson & Co. The late
Edward Jones, in the month the Pot
Hole was discovered, writes as follows
The discovery was made by the men
at work opening q chamber from the
air way, when they encountered o mass
Of round stones, weighing from one to
six pounds, which were resting like Q
wall in front of them. and which extend
ed across the face of the workings from
within about one foot OF the bottom OF
the vein. up to the roof; worked around
1t and found the coal regular. with this
pillar standing In an almost oval shape
the greatest length being about twenty
feet. Started to clean it out and found
1t ran through the rock to the surface
"a distance Of over forty feet
The hole 10 situated on one Of the
head branches OF the Tinklepaugh
creek, nearly three miles northwest OF
Archibald. There has also been discov.
cred about 1000 feet northeast OF No.
another pot hole called No. 2, not YET
cleaned out. The elevation above tide
Of Pot Hole No. Is about 1880 feet, ita
depth 3S feet: the opening at the top
which is somewhat oval in form, 10 In
greatest width "a feet, and shortest
width "a feet. The hole Is cut almost
exclusively out Of slate and sandy shale
principally the FORMER. and the face Of
same Is very smooth.
Through tine courtesy Of Col. Hackley
who spent q large amount of money te
build a wall around the top and clear
1t out, IT. hAe kGBn pr0gesaeS0 wkh ~
acre Of ground to the Lackawannarn.
stitute Of History and Science, and wa
formally accepted by the Society in the
early fall Of 1888. II I remember the
date, when nearly all the members Of
the Society visited the ground. besides
many others.
Readers of this paper can find nc
more interesting and delightful way tc
spend few hours than to visit the Pot
Hole. Many parties are made up dur
Ing the summer who drive by way OF
Peckville. or take the street cars tc
Peckville and walk up the mountains
some two to two and q half miles from
the street car.
FANNIE WATERS LANSING.