Travel back to 1863 Scranton through a striking Harper’s illustration revealing its smoky ironworks, bustling railroads, and crowded immigrant shanties as it powered the Union war machine in the Civil War. The contrast between humble huts and wealthy homes illustrates gritty industrial life and class divide in Pennsylvania’s Coal Region in the 19th century. Read the full story.
In 1894, author Stephen Crane ventured into Pennsylvania’s coal fields and documented the gritty scene in McClure’s Magazine. His vivid descriptions capture the rumble of looming colliery machinery and miners returning in coal-dusted exhaustion. Discover a first-hand view into a relentless underground world. Read the full story.
During the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, a Wilkes-Barre letter writer condemned corporate greed and the brutal suppression of striking workers, calling for solidarity among laborers. Published on August 1, 1877, the plea coincided with a deadly clash in Scranton, where militia fired on strikers, foreshadowing decades of labor struggles in the Coal Region. Read the full story and letter.
Take a rare look at an 1863 illustration of the Oxford Colliery in Scranton, where “breaker boys” sorted anthracite by hand amid roaring machinery. Discover how these early breakers shaped Pennsylvania’s coal industry. Read the full story.
Sergeant Walter Baranowski was wounded while serving as a paratrooper in France one week after D-Day. Read the full story of his evacuation from the front lines.
The remains of Sergeant Orlando Vincenti, a coal miner from Carbondale, PA returned home in June 1949 for a solemn military funeral after falling in his B‑17 “Aw‑R‑Go” raid over Muenster, Germany, in 1943. Read the full story.
Civil War soldier Frederick Hitchcock called army coffee “the soldiers’ solace and stay.” Learn how a hot cup fueled tired, homesick troops in Pennsylvania’s 132nd. A brew so beloved, it revived spirits on freezing picket nights and endless marches alike. Read the full story.
A haunting interview from 1861 reveals Private John Lanahan’s remorse after fatally shooting Major Arnold Lewis in a whiskey-fueled rage. Discover how an Irish immigrant’s fleeting moment of violence led to a shocking public execution – and a cautionary tale for other Civil War soldiers. Read the full story.
Discover the fascinating stories of Irish immigrants in Pennsylvania’s Coal Region - tales of resilience, labor struggles, and cultural traditions that shaped a community. From St. Patrick’s Day parades to the Molly Maguire trials, explore the rich history behind the green. Don’t miss these captivating stories. Find all the stories.
Llewelyn Evans emigrated from Wales to Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1871. He began working in the anthracite industry at age 9 and served as a Pennsylvania mine inspector for 40 years before retiring in 1942. His poignant memories of child labor as a breaker boy highlight the harsh realities faced by children in that era. Read the full story.