The mining industry in Northeastern Pennsylvania destroyed waterways and killed wildlife and its legacy remains with us today.
“Killed all the fish for miles around” – A lament for Coal Region waterways – 1895
Photographs from the 1930s show a ramshackle mining operation on outskirts of Mount Carmel
These 1938 photographs by Sheldon Dick show a landscape destroyed by mining and the efforts of local residents to survive the Great Depression.
Golden-tinged memories of Christmas Eve recalled in the dark days of the Civil War | 1861
A writer in Luzerne County penned a beautiful, yet sad, remembrance of Christmas Eves past and the memories they inspired amid a terrible time in the country's history.
Photographs from 1938 document the damage done to homes by mine subsidence in Schuylkill County
Sheldon Dick photographed damaged homes in Gilberton, Schuylkill County in 1938.
Sketches of the Coal Region from 1877
These remarkable sketches show life in the Coal Region during the middle part of the 19th century, a crucial time in the area's history.
“Among the Coal Mines” – A trip into the Coal Region in 1877
Explore an 1877 journey into Pennsylvania's Coal Region through a detailed article from Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Monthly. Discover the rich history of anthracite coal mining, the picturesque town of Mauch Chunk, the famed Gravity Railroad, and insights into the era's industrial life, including the notorious Molly Maguires. Read the full story.
As Pottsville rapidly expanded in the 1820s, it was missing something important: beer
As Pottsville transformed into a bustling Coal Region town in the 1820s, it was missing a key ingredient: beer. With a population thirsty for more than whiskey, the stage was set for David G. Yuengling to establish the iconic Yuengling Brewery in 1829, forever linking Pottsville with America’s oldest brewery. Read the Full Story.
“Among the Pennsylvania coal-strikers” – A dispatch from the 1902 Coal Strike
This dispatch from the 1902 Coal Strike eloquently describes the battle lines as the strike entered its pivotal fifth month.
A colorized postcard of the Glen Burn Colliery at Shamokin
We recently acquired this colorized postcard of the Glen Burn Colliery near Shamokin
“The Mine Mule Affected by the European War” – 1914
In October 1914, war raged on the European continent. In what was then called the "Great War," industrial-scale war was waged on a massive scale for the first time. Americans were paying attention. A commentator for the Pottsville Republican noted a curious thing about the suddenly mechanized armies smashing each other to pulp on the battlefields … Continue reading “The Mine Mule Affected by the European War” – 1914