Monongahela photographer specializes in abandoned mines

By Matt Petras

For the MV Independent

Monongahela-based photographer Rich Pantaleo presented a series of photographs he’s taken of abandoned mines along the Monongahela River Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church as part of the Monongahela Area Historical Society’s programming. 

Pantaleo, a 2005 Ringgold High School and 2009 Carnegie Mellon University graduate, works as a senior mechanical engineer for the National Robotics Engineering Center in Pittsburgh. He also runs The Mon Valley Photo Works, a website and Facebook page displaying his photos, including the ones he used in his presentation. 

More than two dozen people attended Pantaleo’s presentation, which included photos from a slew of mines along the river, including Mathies Mine in Courtney and Clyde in Fredericktown. He interspersed his photos with historical images and information he found through research pulled from old newspapers and online databases. 

Mathies Mine, constructed by Pittsburgh Coal Company starting in 1943, provided ample opportunities for Pantaleo’s photography work. He walked around inside and out of the mines, taking pictures of whatever struck his interest in the moment. 

“Sometimes, when I go to take a picture … I don’t know exactly what I’m looking for, but when I see it, I know,” Pantaleo said. “I see it.”  

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