GENERATIONS OF TRADITION

From Ebbow Vale Monmouthshire, Wales to Ohio, Pennsylvania, Iowa and finally settling in the Washington Territory, the roots of the Morris family are long and steeped in tradition.

It was in 1878 when Joshua A. Morris, the eldest of the ten children born to Welsh parents, David and Mary Harris Morris, purchased land in Buckley, Washington. Joshua found employment in the coal mines surrounding the Renton area.

In 1880 Joshua was a member of the Victor Tull Expedition that discovered the famous McKay seam of coal in the Green River area. Using packhorses, the expedition fought their way through tick underbrush, rivers, tick timber, and swamps exploring the countryside for coal deposits. From Black Diamond to Enumclaw and beyond, coal was king and highly sought after. Many coalmines were operated in Southeast King County, Durham, Occidental, Danville and Landsburg to name a few.

On August 14, 1933 the "Palmer Coking Coal Company" was founded by John H. Morris, Jonas Morris, William Morris, Edward Morris, Joe Kievlak, and J. G. Raley. In 1953 Palmer acquired 6,000 acres of property that included Newcastle, Ravensdale and Black Diamond. Palmer continued to operate underground and surface coal mining throughout the 1950's.

In the 1960s Palmer founder John H. Morris' four children, Jack A., Evan D. Morris, Betty (Morris) Falk and Pauline (Morris) Kombol, along with Jonas Morris' son, George, assumed the management duties of the company. Washington State purchased properties from Palmer that were later developed into te Green River Gorge Conservation area, Cougar Mountain Regional Wildlife Park and Lake Sawyer Regional Park.

With the increase in oil availability and cheaper electricity Palmer closed their last underground mining operation in 1975. The company continued surface mining around Ravensdale, Palmer, Franklin and Black Diamond until 1986. In 1997 Palmer was awarded the first ever "Special Recognition Award" by the Washington Department of Natural Resources.

Today, however, with the name "Palmer Coking Coal Company" remaining the same, the products available are very different. Palmer supplies businesses and do-it-yourselfers with many landscaping products such as beauty bark, chips, red cinders, lava rock, golf course sand and quarry rock. In addition to gravel products, Palmer handles topsoil, mulch, and firewood. U-haul or delivery is conveniently scheduled and prices are very affordable.

Today, Bill Kombol, a descendent of Welsh coal miner Joshua A. Morris, is managing the Palmer Coking Coal Company's operation. Bill was born in Selleck. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children and still live in Southeast King County.

Palmer Coking Coal Company is located on Highway 169 in Black Diamond. Orders can be made by calling 425-432-4700 or 360-886-2841. Fax is 425-432-3883, web site at palmercc.com or email palmercokingcoal@aol.com. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7 to 5 pm and Saturday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Going to re-do your yard or have some landscaping needs? Call Palmer Coking Coal Company. For pick up or fast easy delivery.

Published: March 12, 2003, Voice of the Valley, Maple Valley, Washington