On the eve of the 1936 election, Franklin D. Roosevelt came to Wilkes-Barre, PA and delivered one of the sharpest labor speeches of his presidency—rooted in Coal Region history and aimed squarely at corporate coercion. John Mitchell Day gave FDR the setting, and coal miners gave him the audience. Read the full story.
In August 1905, mineworkers in Wilkes-Barre took to the streets under the banner of the United Mine Workers of America as union leader John Mitchell came to town. This photograph captures their parade through the city’s east end, marching down Maxwell Street toward the Jersey Central tracks, a show of strength just a few years after the hard-fought 1902 Coal Strike. Read the full story.
This powerful photograph from Wilkes-Barre’s Parsons neighborhood captured striking miners threatening “scabs” who crossed picket lines. The historic 1902 Coal Strike reshaped labor organizing in Pennsylvania’s anthracite fields, leading to lasting gains for workers. Read the full story.
Discover the inspiring story of Catherine Marie Fischer, a courageous nurse from Wilkes-Barre who fell victim to the deadly 1918 influenza pandemic while caring for soldiers at Camp Dix. Her selfless service and dedication made her a local hero, forever remembered in Coal Region history. Read the full story.
Meet Corp. Joseph E. Law from Wilkes-Barre, photographed in England hoisting bombs onto a B-17 under black-out conditions in 1944. Discover how these grueling tasks supported the 8th Air Force and shaped America’s war effort. Read the full story.
Meet Lieutenant Harry F. Welsh of Wilkes-Barre, a determined paratrooper who joined the famed Easy Company, 101st Airborne Division. Discover his role in the legendary “Band of Brothers” and the lasting impact he made. Read the full story
On Thanksgiving Day 1943, as World War II raged on, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania marked the holiday with a quieter tone. Many residents continued to work in essential industries, while others gathered for church services and family reunions. Discover how the Wyoming Valley adapted to the war-time holiday and embraced the hope of victory on the horizon. Read the full story.
Israel P. Long survived a harrowing ordeal at the notorious Confederate prison camp after being captured in May 1864.
Harry Welsh's wounding during the Battle of the Bulge was portrayed in gory detail in the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers."
A patriotic, holiday-themed beer advertisement from the Wilkes-Barre-based Stegmaier Brewing Company appeared in December 1944.