The Mercoal mine was opened in 1920 and was known for its high quality coal that was suitable for railway use.
When the mine was acquired by Canadian Colleries Ltd. in 1941, the population of the community increased from 200 to nearly 850 in only five years.
Following the closures of the Mountain Park and Cadomin mines in the early 1950s, residents fled to Mercoal for work until the mine there closed in 1959.
Today, only remnants of the mining town are visible today. Concrete remnants of the mine are located on the north side of the Mercoal Creek. To the south of the creek, several original homes dot the landscape, and residential buildings can be seen on the raised hills straddling the creek.
Visit yhcounty.ca/explore/heritage-program-splash/heritage-inventory-map-videos/ for exact locations of Mercoal’s historical locations.
If you would like to explore Mercoal virtually, visit www.gallowaystationmuseum.com/yellowhead-county-virtual-heritage-tour.
