Mine Fatalities Maps

A line drawing with a close-up detail showing where a body was found, the location of a pit prop before the accident and the location after the accident. The victim was hit by the prop. The title is Plan showing where Jasper McDonald met fatal accident, Albion Colliery, June 16, 1926.
Plan Showing Where Jasper McDonald Met Fatal Accident / Albion Colly / June 16, 1926. MOI Collection, I97.30. map 27. This plan shows where a mine worker was killed by a pit prop that moved from supporting the mine roof.

 

When a fatality occurred in a Nova Scotia coal mine, part of the gathering of evidence to determine the cause was a detailed drawing of the location where the body was found and including any and all features in the immediate vicinity underground. Our collection contains 60 such plans, some including multiple fatalities. They represent only a fraction of the investigations that took place and span the years 1927 to 1953.

We thought that some people researching family or coal mining history may be interested in these and so have made digital copies available.

Download the PDF below to see the names, dates, and mines for these maps. Contact us to request a digital copy.

Names of Pictou County Coal Mine fatalities having investigation drawings (PDF 150 KB)

Here is a sampling of some of the plans available:

: A line drawing from the investigation into a coal mine fatality. It shows the spot where stone fell on a worker in a mine tunnel near a roof support and rail track. An elevation and end elevation views are also provided. The title of the plan is plan showing where Kenneth H. Skidmore met with fatal accident in Acadia No 7 Colliery June 4, 1942. This drawing is in the Museum Collection with the number I97.30 plan 15.

Plan Showing Where Kenneth H. Skidmore Met With Fatal Accident in Acadia No 7 Colliery / June 4, 1942. N.W. McLeod. MOI Collection I97.30 plan 015. The plan shows where a pile of stone killed a mine worker.

 

A line drawing from the investigation into a coal mine fatality. It shows the spot where stone fell on a worker at the coal face where coal was being mined. There are four diagrams: one showing the working face before the fall, one showing the working face after the fall, a side elevation and a sectional view. The title of the plan is Plan showing where Wallace Keddy met with fatal accident in Allan Mine, November 5, 1942.
Plan Showing Where Wallace Keddy Met With Fatal Accident in Allan Mine, Nov. 5, 1942. N.W. McLeod. MOI Collection I97.30 plan 051. Mr. Keddy died from a fall of stone from the coal face where coal was being mined.

 

A line drawing showing where a fatal accident occurred in which William Munsie was crushed between a box and a steel boom. A box is a small open container on wheels into which miners shovelled the coal they mined to transport it to the surface. Two views are offered: from the top looking down and a profile view. The title of the plan is Plan showing where William Munsie met with fatal accident in McGregor Mine, May 13, 1943. It is in the Museum collection with the number I97.30 plan 55.
Plan Showing Where William Munsie Met With Fatal Accident in McGregor Mine / May 13, 1943. N.W. MacLeod, Chief Surveyor of A.C. Co. MOI Collection I97.30 plan 055. Mr. Munsie was crushed between a box and a steel boom. A box is a small open container on wheels into which miners shovelled the coal they mined to transport it to the surface.