Near Frederick, MD, I stumbled upon Engine No. 85, a 1928 Vulcan Iron Works tank locomotive that once haulted stone and anthracite in the Coal Region until 1964. Now lovingly restored as “Mack,” it steams on excursions - bringing Coal Region history back to life. Read more of the 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.
John Hale’s firsthand account plunges you into 1860s Bellevue Colliery, where miners cut props by hand, hoisted cars with mules, and battled gas in dark chambers. Discover the grit and ingenuity that defined early anthracite mining in the vicinity of Scranton. 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.
For Women’s History Month, we highlight the remarkable women who shaped Pennsylvania’s Coal Region. From labor strikes to suffrage activism, their impact on industry, politics, and daily life endures. Read powerful stories of resilience, advocacy, and community strength.
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.
Celebrate Black History Month with stories of African American pioneers in Pennsylvania’s Coal Region—from Civil War bravery to crucial roles in 20th-century progress. Discover heroes like Nicholas Biddle and Charles H. King, Jr., and learn how they shaped our communities. Join us in honoring this remarkable legacy. Read the full story.
"Anthracite rallies" encouraged miners to produce more coal to help the American war effort in 1942.
Newspaper headlines across Northeastern Pennsylvania carried news of war and destruction in Hawaii in December 1941. Read the full story and the headlines.