A fan house is an essential building at any tipple scene. Most
of them are located close to the tipple, as their purpose is
to get fresh air down into the mine. This is to clear methane
gas that accumulates in some mines, sometimes with deadly
consequences. The fan was mounted to draw air through the
open mine entrance and then up a shaft and out of the mine.
Inside the mine were doors that were opened and closed to
regulate the air flow. This particular fan was 5’ in diameter, and
was operated by a gas engine that was started every morning
by the carpenter who walked from the shop to the fan house
before the shift began. There was only one shift at the Jollar
mine, and it varied in length, from eight to 12 hours, depending
10
10. The ruins of the fan house showing the interior detail
and fan as they existed in 1991. Vagel Keller photograph
used with permission.
