This journal documents a year of work at two anthracite collieries in Schuylkill County.
Journal of the Buck Mountain and Vulcan collieries near Mahanoy City, 1897
Letters from War – Irvin Schwartz welcomed New Year 1944 with the hope that it meant Allied victory
Irvin Schwartz looked forward to 1944 as being the year that he hoped would see the end of World War II.
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
Toxic gasses from a burning coal mine claimed the lives of two Tamaqua mining officials in 1858
Discover the tragic 1858 incident where toxic gases from a burning coal mine claimed the lives of two mining officials in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. Explore this early example of mine fires in the anthracite coal fields, highlighting the dangers miners faced and the environmental challenges of the era. Read the full story.
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.
“As tempting…as California” – A traveler’s guide to Pottsville in 1852
A travel writer vividly described Pottsville and the surrounding region of Schuylkill County in 1852.
“The Breaker Boy” – A poem from 1897 about the child laborers of the Coal Region
In 1897, a former breaker boy penned a poem in remembrance of the child laborers of the Coal Region.
“Quite a surprise” – Tower City mine workers respond to beginning of 1902 strike
A look at the perspectives of the mine workers of far western Schuylkill County as the 1902 coal strike began.