Contact: Prof. Robert Wolensky, King’s College & Anthracite Heritage Foundation phone: 715 252 6742; e-mail: rwolensk@uwsp.edu
The regional observance of Mining History Month will take place January 9-31, 2016, with programs in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Pittston, Port Griffith, Plymouth, Nanticoke, Ashley, and Wilkes-Barre Township. The annual event seeks to remember and honor the area’s anthracite mineworkers, their families and communities. The programs are sponsored by the Anthracite Heritage Museum, Anthracite Heritage Foundation, King’s College, Wilkes University, Lackawanna Historical Society, Greater Pittston Historical Society, Plymouth Historical Society, Nanticoke Historical Society, Huber Breaker Preservation Society, Anthracite Living History Group, and Knox Mine Disaster Memorial Committee. All events except the first are open to the public free of charge.
Mining History Month, January 9 – 31, 2016 Schedule of Events
Jan. 9, 2016 8 am-6 pm, Boy Scouts of America: “Mining in Society” Merit Badge Day, Open to Boy Scouts of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council, King’s College Jan. 14, 2016 7-8:30 pm, Plymouth Historical Society-Public Program: F. Charles Petrillo, “The Susquehanna Navy: The River Coal Dredging Industry in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Community Room of Dan Flood Apartments (150 East Main St., Plymouth), refreshments served
Jan. 15, 2016 6-7:30 pm, Lackawanna Historical Society-Public Program: James Guthrie, “Dealers and Jobbers: Advertising Anthracite to the Intermediate Market,” Catlin House (232 Monroe Ave., Scranton), refreshments served
Jan. 16, 2016 7-8:30 pm, Greater Pittston Historical Society-Public Program: Craig Robertson, “The Butler Mine Tunnel from the Inside: An Examination of the Wyoming Valley’s Worst Toxic Disaster,” Pittston Memorial Library (47 Broad St., Pittston), refreshments served
Jan. 17, 2016 10 am, Knox Mine Disaster Memorial Service, St. John the Evangelist Church, Pittston Jan. 17, 2016 11:30 am, Knox Mine Disaster Public Commemoration, PHMC Historical Marker in front of Baloga Funeral Home (1201 Main St., Pittston), coffee served courtesy of Baloga Funeral Home
Jan. 17, 2016 12 noon, Walk to the Knox Disaster Site in Port Griffith, weather permitting; meet at Baloga Funeral Home.
Jan. 19, 2016 6:30-8 pm, Huber Breaker Preservation Society-Public Program: John Welsh, “Documentary Film: Beyond the Huber Breaker,” (Earth Conservancy Building, 101 So. Main Street, Ashley), refreshments served
Jan. 21, 2016 7:30-8:45 pm, King’s College-Annual Msgr. John J. Curran Lecture: Sue Hand, “The Anthracite Miners and Their Hollowed Ground,” Room 162, King’s on the Square Building, refreshments begin 6:45 pm
Jan. 22, 2016 7-8:30 pm, Nanticoke Historical Society-Public Program: William Hastie and Robert Wolensky, “Anthracite’s Labor Wars and the Knox Mine Disaster;” and David Brocca, “The Knox Mine Disaster Documentary Film,” Nanticoke Cultural Center, (38 West Church St., formerly St. Stan’s Church), refreshments served
Jan. 23, 2016 2-3:30 pm, Anthracite Heritage Museum: Annual Knox Mine Disaster Remembrance Program, (22 Bald Mt. Road, Scranton), David Brocca, Los Angeles, CA—“Documentary Tribute to Myron Thomas and the Knox Mine Disaster;” Myron Thomas Oral History Reading; comments by Robert Thomas, Chester Kulesa and others; refreshments served
Jan. 24, 2016 2-4 pm, Barnes & Noble Bookstore (Wilkes-Barre Township): Meet the Authors, Local authors will speak briefly about their books and sign copies. Authors include Lucia Dailey, Mark Dziak, Stephanie Longo, John Stuart Richards, Sheldon Spear, Robert Wolensky, and Chester Zaremba
Jan. 27, 2016 6-8 pm, Wilkes University: Panel Discussion—The Industrial History of the Wyoming Valley: A Global Perspective, Moderator: Diane Wenger (Wilkes U.); Panelists: John Hepp (Wilkes U., “Railroads”); Jonathan Kuiken (Wilkes U., “Anthracite Coal”); Robert Schmidt (Independent Scholar, “Economy”); Robert Wolensky (King’s College, “Garments”); The Ballroom, Henry Student Center (84 W. South Street, Wilkes-Barre)
Jan. 31, 2016 5-7:00 pm, The Anthracite Café (804 Scott St., Wilkes-Barre): Special Benefit Dinner for The Knox Mine Disaster documentary directed by David Brocca of Los Angeles, CA; Chef/owner Mike Prushinski will serve an authentic Coal Miner’s Dinner; excerpt from the Knox documentary will be shown; tickets for the evening are $20, available at the Café or at 570 822 4677