Pittsburg State University - Kanza Yearbook (Pittsburg, KS)

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Residents of Pittsburg respect and appreciate the abandoned mines for two reasons. Not only do they represent the town's origin, but today they provide an option for entertainment, Kent Misse, Pitt- sburg High School junior, enjoys the sunshine and the swing rope located at a pit east of Pittsburg. — Less Coss The pits are stocked with croppie, catfish and bass, a delight for avid fishermen. Shane Krutl, Osawatomie junior, takes advantage of the quiet seclusion of a water-filled pit to pursue his sport. — Dale Bratton Continued from page 10 Area residents have found many ways of utilizing the remaining pits. Steve Kissane, Colgan High student, like many others likes to spend hot summer afternoons swimming in the pits. 'Tve lived here for 15 years and spent two or three days each week out of the summer at the pits. My friends and I usually go to the pits out Quincy Street, There's a swing rope there that we jump off of. It's really fun, cheap entertainment. Some people think it's dangerous, but we're real careful. If there was a bunch of people out here drinking it would dangerous. The three wheelers that kids ride out here are more dangerous than swinging off the bank. Tami Roskoski, Overland Park junior, spends her Labor Day weekend at the pits. Every year since I've been going to PSU, I've lounged on a raft all Labor Day at the pits. It's about the only time I can make it out there because I spend my summers working at home. Usually Labor Day is the last time my friends and I can go enjoy the sun for the year. We take picnic lunches, rafts, suntan lotion, something to drink and have our own little party. At this time of year, most of the locals have burned out on the pits, and we have it all to ourselves, Roskoski said. Fishing is another form of entertainment found at the pits. Rob Kaelin, Topeka junior, is an expert fisherman of the old mine land. I especially like to fish in the pits. It is secluded, quiet, and packed with bass. They are also full of croppie and catfish, but I'm after the bass. It makes the time go faster when a bunch of us all get together with a loaded cooler of beer and fish for hours. Yeah, I can't decide which I like better — fishing at the pits or drinking at the pits — so I do them both! Rob Wood, Pittsburg junior, also likes to fish in the pits. According to Wood, The pits have a lot of bass, perch and croppie. We own land with pits which 72 Mining Pits

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What began in the early 1800s as mines for lead and zinc has turned into a fishermen's haven. Those who visit the pits now find not only a variety of fish, but also a scenic array of greenery. — Ragan Todd The recent renovation of Big Brutus, one of the largest coal shovels of its kind, has attracted many visitors to the area. This set of visitors came to the big shovel for a special occasion — a marriage ceremony. — Buzz Palmer Mining Pits 77

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makes it really convenient to fish often. Some people are afraid of snakes, but the ones out there are harmless. We have to keep our property posted to keep people out, otherwise we would have strangers walking alt over. This land was once used for mining . . . not the safest pi ace to tress pass ' The pits have some competition, though. Shawn Strasser, Pittsburg junior, has an alternative to traditional pit entertainment. My dad owns 120 acres of land by Girard that has an old rock quarry on it. This quarry is better than the mining pits because it isn't as muddy so you can see the bottom. The walls around it are seven to eight feet high, so jumping off of them into the 25 to 30 feet deep water makes it better than a pool, Strasser has friends over almost every day in the summer. Among them are Scott Vena and Doug Latty, both juniors at PSU. They enjoy swimming, rafting and playing horseshoes and football at the quarry, as well as being on the invitation list for all the parties held there. It is suprising to find out how many people don't know the history of the pits. These people go tho the pits to swim, fish, ride three wheelers, picnic, to get a tan, or to shoot fireworks — and have never known what purpose the pits had at one time. Kathy McCarthy, Overland Park junior, admits that she has no idea what they used to be. I go swimming in the pits every spring before I go back to Overland Park to work, I've never really thought about where the pits came from or what they once were used for. I thought maybe someone just dug pits to swim in since there weren't any lakes near here. Sometimes I get scared I might meet face-to-face with a snake, but so far I haven't seen any. I've also heard rumors that a couple of guys died in the same pit I swim in — that's erie. I hope it's only a rumor! McCarthy sald.DLesa Cess and Stacey SanderJin For many years the monstrous coal shovel Big Brutus stood proudly unused as a reminder pf the long ago mining days of Pittsburg, Now painted and renovated, the shovel is one of the state's newest toursist stop for those traveling through Kansas. — Buzz Palmer The Kansas Legislature passed a law in 1969 requiring mining companies to level the stripped land and plant trees and grasses. The effects of this action have been successful. The once ugly pits are now almost beautiful with its wild flowers and green foliage. — Dale Bratton Mining Pits 73