Working conditions at Williamstown Colliery | 1878

Williamstown Colliery

In 1878, Superintendent Joseph Anthony’s report showed nearly 700 workers—including over 180 boys—at Williamstown Colliery. Boys as young as eight worked underground or picked slate in the breaker, all for meager wages. This data highlights the stark realities of child labor in Pennsylvania’s anthracite industry. Read the full story.