In 1869, the Avondale Mine Disaster claimed 110 lives, leaving grieving families to bury loved ones in a solemn mass funeral. This tragedy rocked Pennsylvania’s Coal Region, sparking outrage over safety failures and pushing for long-overdue reforms. Read the full story.
Discover how this neatly laid-out mining operation near Wilkes-Barre employed up to 1,000 workers, running multiple breakers and a record-length tunnel. Explore the ambitious growth fueling Pennsylvania’s Civil War era coal boom. Read the full story.
On May 8, 1945, drenched but ecstatic, Wilkes-Barre’s streets exploded with horns, confetti, and church bells as Coal Region residents celebrated VE Day victory. From umbrella-clad crowds in Public Square to ticker-tape showers from office windows, the rainy jubilation captured both relief and remembrance. Read the full story.
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.
In June 1940, an American Red Cross chapter in Luzerne County used a powerful photograph of refugees to encourage donations for war relief.
This week's "Gazette" has flag raisings, assassinated US Army officers, talk of blockades and neutrality, and a letter from a Pittston soldier at war.
We explore the story of Pittston's volunteer aid association, refugees from southern states, and an epic rant written by a Wyoming Valley minister.
In Episode 3 of "The Gazette," explore letters from new recruits in the US Army, flag-waving in Pittston, and the state of war in May 1861.
Pittston's young men mobilized for action one week after the attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861.
Pittston responds to the astonishing news that Southern militia forces fired upon a Federal garrison in April 1861. The Civil War had begun.