Gezicht op cokesovens nabij Altoona, Pennsylvania 1903

This stereo card photograph shows the coke ovens near Altoona, Pennsylvania, filled with coal from overhead hoppers. It gives us an insight into the labor practices and environmental impact of the coal industry. Stereo cards like this were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as they were a relatively inexpensive way for people to see images of faraway places and industries. This image documents the process of turning coal into coke, a fuel used in steel production. Coke production required intense labor, as workers loaded the ovens, monitored the burning process, and then cooled and removed the coke. The scene, with its smoky atmosphere and rows of workers, hints at the environmental and social costs of industrialization. Understanding the context of this image requires us to look into the history of the coal and steel industries in Pennsylvania, and the labor conditions of the workers who toiled in these dangerous environments.