“The great coal depot” – Illustrations of Port Richmond in Philadelphia in 1852

Posted on by Jake Wynn

The development of the rich veins of coal that run beneath Schuylkill County fueled an industrial revolution in the 1850s. And much of the coal that supplied the iron furnaces, steam ships, and kept millions of Americans warm as a home heating fuel traveled to market through America's fourth largest city: Philadelphia. In late 1852, … Continue reading “The great coal depot” – Illustrations of Port Richmond in Philadelphia in 1852

“The Mine Mule Affected by the European War” – 1914

Posted on by Jake Wynn

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

An important moment in Coal Region history took place in a Philadelphia coffee house in 1831

Posted on by Jake Wynn

In 1831, a land sale took place at a coffee house in Philadelphia that launched coal mining operations in northern Dauphin County.

“147,000 ordered to strike” – The beginning of the 1902 anthracite coal strike

Posted on by Jake Wynn

The leader of the United Mine Workers of America addressed the miners of the Coal Region on May 10, 1902.