[Rockhounds] Coal

[Tim Jokela Jr.]

Any local blacksmiths? They buy it by the railcar load and I'd bet would be 
happy to help. Arts colleges teaching blacksmithing are another possibility. 
There's a big blacksmiths guild, google it up and find out who's doing what 
in snowy Michigan.

T


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kreigh Tomaszewski" <Kreigh at tomaszewski.net>
To: "'Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors'" 
<rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 9:49 PM
Subject: [Rockhounds] Coal


>I was contacted on behalf of the Railroad Club in Traverse City today. 
>Their clubhouse is a refurbished caboose with a coal burning pot belly 
>stove. They are looking for a supplier of coal willing to sell bushel 
>basket to pickup truck loads so they can keep it warm for meetings.
>
> Long story of how they connected to me in Grand Rapids (it is a small 
> world), but I would like to help them out. I found one supplier, but their 
> minimum quantity is a railroad car load, and the club can't afford it (or 
> store it).
>
> Coal used to be a heading in the yellow pages. I remember visiting 
> relatives as a child and helping stoke their coal furnace in the basement. 
> My elementary school had a coal fired boiler. There were several dealers 
> in town. It was common.
>
> My fireplace was designed for coal, and my house was heated by it 80 years 
> ago (my basement office is in the old coal bin). I've still got a 
> wheelbarrow full of Anthracite in the garage, but use it sparingly these 
> days; I have not been able to find it locally for at least ten years 
> (since the dealer seven blocks away closed up shop).
>
> Does anyone know where I could buy coal in small lots? The railroad club 
> has given me a new reason to look for a supplier in Michigan.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Kreigh
>
>
> -- 
> _______________________________________________
> Rockhounds at drizzle Mailing List
> Subscription Services:
> http://lists.drizzle.com/mailman/listinfo/rockhounds
> List Home Page, with a link to the List Usage Policy:
> http://www.eclecticlapidary.com/Rockhounds/index.html