We recently acquired this colorized postcard of the Glen Burn Colliery near Shamokin
A colorized postcard of the Glen Burn Colliery at Shamokin
Silent film footage of a strip mine operation in Schuylkill County, 1917
A filmmaker recorded silent moving images of a strip mine in operation in Schuylkill County in December 1917.
An 1835 visit to the mines at Wiconisco Township
In 1834 and 1835, a scientist named Constantine Samuel Rafinesque traveled widely through Pennsylvania in order to document the geology and biology of the Keystone State. In the spring of 1835, the Turkish-born polymath traveled north from Harrisburg aboard canal boats alongside the Susquehanna River to Millersburg. In his book, A Life of Travels, Rafinesque details … Continue reading An 1835 visit to the mines at Wiconisco Township
Photograph from the 1860s shows incredible detail of the Shenandoah City Colliery
Pottsville photograph A.M. Allen made a trip to northern Schuylkill County to capture an image of the Shenandoah City Colliery.
A Scottish immigrant’s remarkable working history in 1850s Schuylkill County (Part 2)
Discover the remarkable journey of Scottish immigrant Robert Weir in 1850s Schuylkill County. From his work as a hoisting engineer in Pennsylvania's coal mines to his experiences in the California Gold Rush, explore his vivid recollections and the impact of the Civil War on his life. Read the full story.
“The great coal depot” – Illustrations of Port Richmond in Philadelphia in 1852
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
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 1891 photograph shows workers at the Lincoln Colliery in Schuylkill County
A photograph from 1891 shows mineworkers posed at the bottom of the Lincoln Colliery breaker.
An August 1962 report warned of escalating disaster in Centralia, Pennsylvania
An August 1962 news report documents the early efforts to squelch an escalating mine fire at Centralia, Pennsylvania.
An important moment in Coal Region history took place in a Philadelphia coffee house in 1831
In 1831, a land sale took place at a coffee house in Philadelphia that launched coal mining operations in northern Dauphin County.