On April 21 in Millersburg, I’ll be sharing the story of the Short Mountain and Williamstown collieries and the rise of anthracite in northern Dauphin County. From Bear Gap in 1825 to Depression-era closures, this program explores boom, disaster, labor, and lasting legacy. Learn more.
A single photograph from the 1920s captures a mine rescue team standing at the mouth of Big Lick Tunnel – and, just behind them, the old “plane” that once hauled coal cars up Big Lick Mountain toward the Williamstown breaker. Today, only ruins remain on the hillside, but this image offers a sharp glimpse back at the days when the colliery dominated Williams Valley. Read the full story.
As my hometown of Williamstown, Pennsylvania nears its 200th anniversary in 2026, a new article at PennLive looks at how coal built the town, shaped generations of workers, and left a lasting mark on the landscape. Read the full story.
For decades, a slow-burning fire smoldered beneath a massive culm pile on Big Lick Mountain in Williamstown, Pennsylvania, sending sulfurous smoke over the town. In the 1940s, efforts began to reclaim the site - hauling coal from the “Burning Banks” and battling the underground blaze that wouldn’t die until the 1970s. Read the full story.
In 1862, controversial politician and former War Secretary Simon Cameron turned his attention to a major coal project in northern Dauphin County. Using his political clout, he briefly joined the Summit Branch Railroad Company’s board, helping broker a lucrative sale that shaped this anthracite-rich region’s future. Read the full story.
On October 2, 1918, Lt. Ivan L. Lautenbacher of Schuylkill Haven, PA fell in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive with the 316th Infantry, 79th Division. His own letter home before the battle foreshadowed the danger. A community mourned; a posthumous Distinguished Service Cross honored his resolve despite suffering from pandemic influenza while in combat. Read the full story.
In October 1944, Staff Sergeant John T. Stocker of Williamstown, PA was killed during Operation Market Garden in Holland. Weeks later, his mother received a solemn letter from General James Gavin detailing her son’s bravery and sacrifice during World War II. Read the full story.
The Great Depression hit Pennsylvania’s Coal Region hard. Collieries shuttered, jobs vanished, and families scraped by with bootleg mining, relief drives, and New Deal work. In my latest RealClear Pennsylvania column, I trace the collapse from Black Tuesday to efforts in towns like Williamstown and Lykens to survive the depression—and what lingers today. Read the full story.
In 1878, Superintendent Joseph Anthony’s report showed nearly 700 workers—including over 180 boys—at Williamstown Colliery. Boys as young as eight worked underground or picked slate in the breaker, all for meager wages. This data highlights the stark realities of child labor in Pennsylvania’s anthracite industry. Read the full story.
In 1876, a local minister shared how anthracite transformed Williamstown from a remote valley into a bustling coal community. His stirring account reveals staggering production at the massive Williamstown Colliery, providing jobs and forging a then-vibrant town on the edge of Pennsylvania’s Coal Region. Read the full story.