Leaving Black Diamond while traveling south on SR 169, one’s view to the right is of a charming lake not dissimilar to this view from 112 years ago. Jones Lake is its official name, but old-timers still call it Lake 14 from the section in which it’s located. This vantage is looking southward most likely from the railroad that used to haul coal from nearby Mine #14. That was Black Diamond’s first underground coal mine, located just east of Highway 169 and south of the Cenex gas station. The mine’s 130-year-old concrete foundation can still be seen on a privately owned property 50-feet south of the City-owned shops. This image #2003.87 comes courtesy of the Black Diamond Historical Museum, dating to October 1909. It originated from a post card gifted to the Renton Historical Society by the Custer estate with a copy passed along to Black Diamond. JoAnne Matsumura, an Issaquah historian provided background information.
This Saturday, less than one-half mile north of Jones Lake on Railroad Avenue, Black Diamond stages its annual Miner’s Days from 9 am to 5 pm. Activities include food trucks, face painting, kid’s games, and a live band. The highly regarded Black Diamond Museum will be open from 11 to 3.
