The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation will hold a ceremony July 29 to dedicate an official State Historical Marker to commemorate the successful efforts to rescue nine miners trapped in the Quecreek Mine in July 2002.

The dedication will take place beginning at 9:30 at the mine rescue site on the Arnold Farm at 151 Haupt Road in Somerset.

“We were honored the state Historical and Museum Commission approved a State Historical Marker this year to remember the efforts of all those involved in the Quecreek Mine Rescue,” said Bill Arnold, President of the Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation. “This is the fourth anniversary of the rescue and each year more and more people want to learn about what happened here and this marker will help us tell the story.”

On July 24, 2002 miners broke through into an abandoned, water-filled mine flooding the Quecreek Mine with over 50 million gallons of water. Nine miners scrambled to safety, but nine were trapped in a pocket of air in the dark, cold, water-logged mine. They were rescued four days later through the combined efforts of state and federal mine rescue agencies and hundreds of workers and volunteers.

Laura Fisher, from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, will be on-hand for the dedication.

The text on the blue and gold historic marker reads--

QUECREEK MINE ACCIDENT AND RESCUE

On July 28, 2002, nine coal miners, trapped for four days due to flooding of the Quecreek Mine, were saved via a rescue shaft drilled here. Combined efforts of local, state, and federal agencies, mining and other industries, local mine workers, emergency responders, and community members led to the rescue. The incident prompted changes in mine safety, mapping, and drilling methods. It roused national media and public attention.

The PHMC Historical Marker Program began in 1914 to commemorate a person, event or site that has a meaningful impact on its times and is of statewide or national, rather than only local significance. Nominations for markers are reviewed and approved by a panel of independent historical experts from across the state.

“The Quecreek Mine Rescue was a unique event in the history of Pennsylvania and the country,” said Arnold. “That fact was brought home to us this year as we saw the tragic loss of life in mine accidents in West Virginia, Kentucky and even our own state. We should never forget what a miracle this rescue was.”

The Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization that relies on support from the public to educate the public about the rescue and to maintain and operate the mine rescue visitors’ area.

Contact the Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation by writing: 151 Haupt Road, Somerset, PA 15501 or calling 814-445-4876 or by visiting: www.QuecreekRescue.org .

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