Black Diamond

After our walk along the Cedar River trail yesterday, we followed the river through Maple Valley to the old coal mining town of Black Diamond. Black Diamond was established by 1885 as a company town of the Black Diamond Coal Company of California. Through several owners, coal was mined here until the decline in demand after WWI. Some historic buildings still remain, and the area is riddled with old mine shafts. The only building still serving it's original purpose is the Black Diamond Bakery. The center structure still houses the old brick oven which is still in use. A restaurant has been added, as well as some gift shops. And it was our destination for lunch.

Breakfast, for which they are famous, is served until 2:00. Tom ordered a sausage scramble.

I wanted something lighter, so I ordered half a sandwich and a cup of soup. You see, I was saving room for dessert. I did share with Tom.

On a clear day there is a magnificent view of Mt. Rainier from the restaurant, but the clouds were playing peek-a-boo this day.

After a leisurely lunch, we wandered next door to this book shop.

The interior was very charming, and the browsing was great.

And, yes, we did - buy more books.

Farther down the street was the Fire department and the city jail.

The old train depot is now a museum. I wanted to know where the coal mines were so we went in to ask. The volunteer at the desk pointed down to the floor, and said "Under here"! He showed us on a map that the whole town is undermined with tunnels and shafts.

We spent some time enjoying the museum displays.

They have done a good job of collecting items for display that reflect life as it was during the mining days.

And yes, they did use canaries in the mines.

These old ringer washing machines reminded me of one my own mother used when I was a little girl. For the first five or six years of my life we did not have indoor plumbing in our little house in Oregon's Willamette Valley. How far we've come in my own lifetime!

This chain saw display also reminded me of my father, who used a big old yellow Mcculloch chain saw when he worked as a logger in the forests of the Cascade foothills around Molalla, Oregon.

A car load of "black diamonds".

As our day was winding down, we made one more stop, at the Smoke House.

The owner showed us his smoker full of pepperoni.

And, yes, we did - buy some smoked salmon. Come to think of it, now would be a good time to go try some!