Coal mining accidents in pennsylvania have killed hundreds of miners. Pennsylvanias rich coal mining history dates back centuries to the late 1700s and boomed between 1870 and 1930. During the time i was reading this book, i met a nice chap out in scranton at steamtown, and as i was interested in local history since i had recently moved to the. A history of carbon county, pennsylvania joan campion paperback published march 1998 this is a superbly illustrated history of carbon county, pennsylvania, from its early development through its years as the source of americas bestquality anthracite the fuel of the industrial revolution and the years of decline, to the present. Anthracite coal mining region of northeastern pennsylvania. One in 1907 killed 239 miners in westmoreland county. Details of mining accidents, fatal and nonfatal, can be found in the volumes of the commonwealth of pennsylvania mine inspector reports. Tours of underground mines can be taken in ashland, scranton, and lansford. American mafia history website american mafia website scranton pittston bosses. Virus has renewed interest in 1918 pandemic news wyoming. Coal miners pocketbook, eleventh edition, new york. The first breaker was built in 1852 at the diamond mine near scranton. Here is a list of some of the coal mining disasters in pennsylvania.
An ecological history of coal refuse bank fires in scranton, pennsylvania. Collections containing genealogical material are chiefly located at the anthracite heritage museum in scranton. History of anthracite coal mining in pennsylvania wikipedia. The coal deposits are pennsylvanian in age 325 million years. Learning mining history at the lackawanna coal mine tour. The anthracite mining region of northeastern pennsylvania extends over. It was possibly first used in pennsylvania as a fuel in 1769, citation needed but its real history begins with a documented discovery near summit hill and the founding of the lehigh coal mine company in 1792 to sporadically send expeditions to the wilderness atop pisgah ridge to mine the deposits, mostly with notable lack of great success. After the boom, the industry began a steady decline that continues to the present day. Coal culture projects from indiana university of pennsylvania. Pennsylvania anthracite heritage museum pennsylvania historical.
Various series by acadia publishing chronicle the history of small towns and. This digital collection comprises the annual reports of the consolidation coal company from 1940 to 1965 as well as a corporate history published in 1934. Pa state archives mg282 scope and content note pa coal. The coal region is a historically important coalmining area in northeastern pennsylvania in. Writing this book, i wanted to know more about him and the life he lived, and the coal mining community that exited then. The pennsylvania coal company was chartered in 1838 and organized in 1915 in scranton to mine anthracite coal. The reader experiences what the mystery of coal mining. Posted jul 31, 2018 a scene from the anthracite mines under pitttston, pa.
This mafia family sprang up in the northeast pennsylvania coal mining communities of pittston, scranton. Many, many books exist that document aspects of the anthracite coal mining. Books related to the history of the anthracite and bituminous industry in the keystone state. The american mafia scrantonpittston bosses mafia history. Coal miner records the pennsylvania state archives hold numerous collections which pertain to persons either employed in or in some way associated with the anthracite hard coal and bituminous soft coal mining industries of the commonwealth. An ecological history of coal refuse bank fires in scranton. The anthracite mining region of northeastern pennsylvania extends over 485 square miles of nine counties. Anthracite heritage museum, located in mcdade park, overlooking the city of scranton. Dirty mines is a story about coal mining in pennsylvania.
Given pennsylvania s rich mining history, i jumped at the chance to check out the lackawanna coal mine on the outskirts of scranton. Coal miner records pennsylvania historical and museum. Pennsylvania mining reports collection the university of scranton. Martin novaks book takes a look back at key moments 102 years ago. Coal in pennsylvania pennsylvania mines and mining. Field and survey books and underground field books give elevation and other measurements for mines and breakers. There was coal mining, iron works, garment factories, silkmaking factories, dress. Mining in pennsylvania was a well regulated industry after the avondale mine disaster in 1869. Mining resources genealogical society of pennsylvania. Over time, some nine billion tons of anthracite were mined from the narrow parcel. It continues through the fortunes of the anthracite industry, which peaked as a major fuel supplier for the nation, then. In fact, between september 2014 and april 2016, the industry as a whole in the u. Part of that was probably due to the heavy manufacturing in pennsylvania.
The lackawanna coal mine opened in 1860 and is set in the northern anthracite coal field, the largest of four coal fields in pennsylvania. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. The coal mining massacre america forgot the mountains of southern west virginia are riddled with coal and bullets child coal miners with mules in gary, west virginia in 1908. Its a great read, i grew up in northeastern pa, my grandfather was a coal miner. This article originally appeared in pennsylvania heritage magazine.
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