The Girard Colliery was located on the southern edge of the borough of Girardville. The land that the colliery was developed on was part of the Girard Estate which leased it to Cornelius Garretson on May 1, 1863. The breaker in this image was erected during 1863-64. In 1866 the lease was transferred to Theodore Garretson who was operating it when this image -- a classic by George M. Bretz -- was made in 1874.