In the early days in mining towns and camps there were generally no theaters, show
halls, restaurants, or entertainment. And, saloons were not a suitable place for
a date. So, what was a man to do when courting a young lady? Well, if you were John
Henry Morris and you lived in Spiketon, you organized a Sunday tour of your family’s
underground coal mines, and brought along a photographer. Shown here is the party
which descended into one of two mines operated by the South Willis Coal Company
in east Pierce County, circa 1916. First (bottom) row: Edward G. Morris, unknown;
Second row: Ruth Snow Morris, Lana Fay Morris; Third row: Nina Marie Morris, unknown;
Fourth row: unknown, John H. Morris, unknown; Fifth row: unknown. This underground-coal-mine
method of courtship must have worked because a year later John and Nina Morris were
united in marriage. In 1933 Morris helped start Palmer Coking Coal Co, Inc., which
forty-two years later was the last surviving underground coal mining company in
Washington. This image comes from a postcard photo in the Morris family archives.
Next week a photo of the same party down underground in the Spiketon mine.
