A newspaper correspondent gives a history of the mining industry in northern Schuylkill County.
“The lonely valley was alive with workers” – The Mahanoy Valley in 1874
Interview with a survivor of the 1904 Williamstown Colliery Disaster
David Watkeys was pulled unconscious from the Williamstown Tunnel on May 25, 1904. He survived to tell his story.
The Williamstown Colliery Disaster of 1904
10 miners were killed when toxic gas from a locomotive filled Williamstown Tunnel on May 25, 1904
Incredible photographs document the Maple Hill mine near Shenandoah in 1938
As we've previously documented here at Wynning History, photographer Sheldon Dick came to the Coal Region in 1938 to photograph the people and places that made up the cultural landscape in this struggling industrial area. Dick centered his efforts for the Farm Security Administration project around the Schuylkill County community of Shenandoah. Read our story … Continue reading Incredible photographs document the Maple Hill mine near Shenandoah in 1938
May Day 1916 – When anthracite mineworkers earned the 8 hour workday
On May 1, 1916, miners in the Coal Region earned the 8 hour workday, successfully ending decades of advocacy and protest.
Online resource from Penn State allows easy access to mine inspectors’ reports from 1870 to 1979
Penn State University hosts a webpage that provides easy access to Annual Report of Mines from 1870 to 1979.
“A first-class breaker” – Photographs of Williamstown Colliery in the 1860s
Isaac Kunkel photographed the Williamstown Colliery in 1860s and documented the birth of a new town.
Failure and bankruptcy loomed over coal operators in 19th century Schuylkill County
Schuylkill County was the graveyard of dreams in the 19th century. Failure stalked coal operators at their every move.
“A Blazing Coal Mine” – Susan Dickinson’s account of the 1874 Empire Mine Fire
Writer Susan Dickinson provided the New York Herald with vivid updates of the 1874 Empire Mine Fire.
War Department film shows Coal Region in 1942
"Anthracite rallies" encouraged miners to produce more coal to help the American war effort in 1942.
