A regional observance of Anthracite Mining Heritage Month will take place during January 2024.  A variety of programs will be featured in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Hazle Township, Ashley, Plymouth, Pittston, Nanticoke, Bethlehem, and Pottsville. 

The annual event focuses on the history and culture of the anthracite region of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

The public is cordially invited to attend the events, which are open free of charge (except the NMIH program on Jan. 18; and the Knox Mine Disaster documentary screening on Jan. 22)

Throughout January 2024, WVIA—Public Radio & Television in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania—will offer programs on the WVIA website, including “Songs and Stories of the Mines,” and entries from ARTScene.

Schedule

-- Jan. 6  Penn State University-Scranton; Anthracite Heritage Foundation, Public Program: Studies in Anthracite Region History; Speakers: Richard Healey, University of Portsmouth, UK; “The Scranton 1870 City Directory;” Philip Mosely, Penn State University-Scranton, “The Telling of the Anthracite;” Bryan Glahn, Independent Scholar, “Mining Disasters in Northeastern Pennsylvania;” Mitch Troutman, Independent Scholar, “Bootleg Coal Mining in the 1920s and 1930s;” Moderator: Chester Kulesa, retired administrator, Anthracite Heritage Museum; Venue: Penn State University-Scranton [tentative] and Zoom (link forthcoming); Time: 5:30 – 7:30 pm; Refreshments.

-- Jan. 7  EPCAMR and Earth Conservancy, Public Program: Coal Breakers, Glen Alden Company Records, and EPCAMR’s New Website; Speakers: Eric Bella, Mining Engineer, “Studying Northeastern PA Coal Breakers;” Sue Hand, Artist, “Artistic Representations of Northeastern PA Coal Breakers;” Nicholas Zmijewski, Industrial Archives & Library, “Curating the Glen Alden Coal Company Records; Moderator and Speaker: Robert Hughes, EPCMR, “EPCAMR's Release of New Environmental Education Resources;” Venue: Earth Conservancy (101 S. Main Street, Ashley, PA); Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm; Refreshments.

Jan. 11 Anthracite Heritage Museum and Lackawanna Historical Society, Public Program: Five Regional Documentary Filmmakers—A Panel Discussion: Speakers: Robert Savakinus (“Scranton’s Championship Season”), Dave Brocca (“The Knox Mine Disaster”), David Heineman (“NEPADOC”), John Welsh and Alana Mauger, (“Beyond the Huber Breaker”); Moderator: Mary Ann Savakinus, LHS; Venue: Albright Memorial Library (500 Vine St., Scranton, PA); Time: 6:00-8:00 pm; Refreshments. (See the individual film screening dates, times, and venues below)

-- Jan. 12 Nanticoke Historical Society, Public Program: A Documentary Film Screening of “Beyond the Huber Breaker” (2019); Presenters: John Welsh and Alana Mauger, documentary filmmakers; Moderator: Chester Zaremba, Vice President, NHS; Venue: Cultural Centre of St. Faustina (38 West Church Street, Nanticoke, PA); Time: 6 – 7:30 pm; Refreshments. (See Jan. 11 above for the Panel Discussion by Five Regional Documentary Filmmakers, including John Welsh and Alana Mauger).

-- Jan. 13 Underground Miners, Public Program: Guided tours of the (newly restored) Brooks Mine in Scranton; Guides: Chris Murley, Banks Ries, Dan Shurtleff, Bill Best, Mark Izak, Gerry Babinski, Scott Kerkowski, Isaac Walker, Adam Zuroski, Greg Bock, Justin Ballard, Devin Purcell, Nick Bonk and Mike Borzell; Venue: (Brooks Mine, Nay Aug Park, Scranton); Time: Tours start on the half-hour between 11 am – 3:30 pm; Theme: In addition to highlighting the mine’s restoration, the tour will focus on how the Knox Mine Disaster of 1959 occurred.

-- Jan. 14 Underground Miners, Public Program: Guided tours of the (newly restored) Brooks Mine in Scranton; Guides: Chris Murley, Banks Ries, Dan Shurtleff, Bill Best, Mark Izak, Gerry Babinski, Scott Kerkowski, Isaac Walker, Adam Zuroski, Greg Bock, Justin Ballard, Devin Purcell, Nick Bonk and Mike Borzell; Venue: (Brooks Mine, Nay Aug Park, Scranton); Time: Tours start on the half hour between 11 am – 3:30 pm; Theme: In addition to highlighting the mine’s restoration, the tour will focus on how the Knox Mine Disaster of 1959 occurred.

-- Jan. 14 Susquehanna Brewing Company, Public Program: An Afternoon of Anthracite Region Music: Musicians: Don Shappelle and the Pick-ups; Jim Waltich and Doug Smith; John Stankey, Frank Westowski, Mark Steinkirshner, and the Coal Miners; Master of Ceremonies: Don Shappelle; Time: 4 – 6 pm; Venue: SBC (635 S. Main St., Pittston, PA); food and drink available.

-- Jan. 17 Luzerne County Historical Society and the Eckley Miners Village Museum, Public Program: Speaker: Justin W. Emershaw, Mining Engineer, Atlantic Carbon Group, Inc.; Topic: “Current Anthracite Mining Operations in Northeastern Pennsylvania;” Venue: Eckley Miners Village Museum Auditorium (2 Eckley Main Street, Weatherly, PA); Time: 7-8:30 pm; Refreshments.

-- Jan. 18 Penn-Anthracite Society of Mining Engineers, Public Program: “The History of Anthracite: Past, Present and Future,” Speakers: Henry Zielinski, P.E., “Past Anthracite Mining,” Dan Koury, PA DEP, “Todays Anthracite Mine Reclamation,” John Voigt, Past, Present and Future of Anthracite Mining”; Moderator: Dr. Brian Redmond: Venue: Mountain Valley Club House (1021Brockton Mountain Drive, Barnesville, PA 18214); Time: 6:30 pm; Refreshments.

-- Jan. 19 Anthracite Heritage Museum and Lackawanna Historical Society, Public Program: A Documentary Film Screening of “NEPADOC” (2023), a documentary on Northeastern Pennsylvania history; Presenter: David Heineman, Bloomsburg University; Venue: Snyder Room (Third Floor), Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center, King’s College (133 N. River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA); Time: 6:30 -8 pm.  (See Jan. 11 above for the Panel Discussion by Five Regional Documentary Filmmakers, including David Heineman).

-- Jan. 20 Anthracite Heritage Museum, Public Program—The Annual Knox Mine Disaster Commemoration: After Knox—Legacies and Prospects; Speakers: Tom Supey, retired coal miner, “Flushing the Mines”; Robert Hughes, EPCAMR, “Mine Reclamation;” Elizabeth Hughes, Earth Conservancy, “Restoring the Land;” Bill Best, Underground Miners, “Mine Restoration;” William Conlogue, Marywood University, “Environmental Implications;” Bode Morin, AHM, “Anthracite Heritage;” Moderator: Robert Wolensky; Music: Don Shappelle and Don Sennett; Mining Artifacts Display: Mike and Linda Mostardi, Wayne, PA, Venue: AHM (22 Bald Mountain Road, Scranton, PA); Time: 2 – 4:00 pm; Refreshments.

-- Jan. 21 Knox Mine Disaster Memorial Mass; Venue: St. John the Evangelist Church (36 William St., Pittston), Time: 9 am.

-- Jan. 21 Knox Disaster Commemoration; Venue: The Knox Disaster Monument, Baloga Funeral Home (1201 Main St., Pittston); Time: 10:30—11 am.

-- Jan. 21 Annual Walk to the Knox Mine Disaster Break-in Site; Venue; Susquehanna River, Port Griffith (weather permitting); Meet: Baloga Funeral Home; Time: 11 am; Leaders: Bill Best and Bill Landmesser.

-- Jan 21 Anthracite Heritage Museum and Lackawanna Historical Society, Public Program: A Documentary Film Screening of “Scranton’s Championship Season” (2022); Presenter: Robert Savakinus, documentary filmmaker; Venue: The Ritz Theatre (222 Wyoming Ave, Scranton, PA); Time: 2 – 3:30 pm.  (See Jan. 11 above for the Panel Discussion by Five Regional Documentary Filmmakers, including Bob Savakinus)

-- Jan. 22 Anthracite Heritage Museum and Lackawanna Historical Society, Public Program: A Documentary Film Screening of “The Knox Mine Disaster” (2019); Presenters: David and Al Brocca, documentary filmmakers; Venue: Snyder Room (Third Floor), Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center, King’s College (133 N. River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA); Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm; to purchase a ticket ($10) please go to www.knoxminedisaster.com. (See Jan. 11 above for the Panel Discussion by Five Regional Documentary Filmmakers, including David Brocca).

-- Jan. 24 Plymouth Historical Society, Public Program: The Powell Squibb Factory Explosion, February 25, 1889, Plymouth, PA;” Speakers: Joe Slusser (“Narrative of the Disaster”) and Heather Ruseskas (“The Victims and the Families”); Moderator: Steve Kondrad, President, PHS; Venue: First Welsh Baptist Church (168 West Shawnee Ave., Plymouth, PA); Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm; Music: Don Shappelle and Don Sennett; Refreshments.

-- Jan. 25 King’s College and the Anthracite Heritage Foundation, Public Program—The Annual Msgr. John J. Curran Lecture, Speaker: Breandan MacSuibhne, University of Galway, Ireland; Topic: “From The Potato Patch to the Mine Patch: The Irish of Northeastern Pennsylvania, c. 1820–1920,” Welcome: Fr. Thomas Looney, President, King’s College; Moderator: Thomas Mackaman, King’s College; Anthracite Book Award Presentation to Philip Mosley, Penn State University-Scranton; Venue: Burke Auditorium, McGowan Business School (133 N. River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA); Time: 7-8:30 pm; Refreshments.

-- Jan. 25 Anthracite Heritage Foundation, Book Award for 2024; Presenter: Robert P. Wolensky, King's College; Recipient: Philip Mosley, Penn State University-Scranton, for The Telling of the Anthracite (2023); Venue: King’s College, Burke Auditorium; Time: immediately preceding the Annual Curran Lecture (see above).

-- Jan. 25 Reading Anthracite Public Program: Speaker: Eric Bella, Mining Engineer; Topic: History of Philadelphia and Reading, Coal & Iron Company and Reading Anthracite; Venue: The Reading Anthracite Building (200 Mahantongo St., Pottsville, PA; Parking—Use Mahantongo Parking Garage, 201 Mahantongo Street, Pottsville, PA, across the street from the building, entrance is on South 2^nd Street); Time: 6:30-7 PM; Refreshments.

-- Jan. 26 Lackawanna Historical Society, Public Program: Lackawanna Times Past; Hosts: Sarah Piccini, LHS and Darlene Miller-Lanning, University of Scranton Hope Horn Gallery; Topic: The Centennial of the John Mitchell Monument in Scranton; Time: 2 - 3 pm; Venue: Zoom  Meeting ID: 886 8639 6901; Passcode: 975417.

-- Jan. 27 Lansford No. 9 Mine Tour and Museum, Public Program: Mine Tour Leader: Zach Petroski, President; Venue: No. 9 Mine Tour (9 Dock St., Lansford, PA); Time: 11:30 am – 1 pm; AND Lecture and book signing: Mitch Troutman, Author of The Bootleg Coal Rebellion: The Pennsylvania Miners Who Seized an Industry: 1925-1942 (2022); Venue: The No. 9 Museum (9 Dock St., Lansford, PA); Time: 1:30-3 pm; Refreshments.

-- Jan. 27 Knox Mine Disaster Documentary Screening & Filmmaker Q&A; Venue: Allen Theatre, 36 E. Main St., Annville, PA 17003; Time: 3:30 p.m.; $10 Admission; 717-867-4766.

-- Jan. 28 Anthracite Heritage Museum, Public Information Session: A Travel Adventure Tour—Industrial History of the United Kingdom (Scotland, England, and Wales), September 17-27, 2024; Tour Leaders: Beth Landmesser, Bode Morin, and Bob Wolensky, who will provide a PowerPoint presentation on the itinerary, lodgings, cost, and other aspects of the trip; Time: 2:30 – 4:00 pm; Venue: AHM (22 Bald Mountain Road, Scranton, PA); Refreshments.

-- Jan. 28 National Museum of Industrial History, Public Program: Speaker: Andrea Krupp, artist and independent researcher; Topic: Seeing Coal: An Artist’s Perspective; Introduction: Andria Zaia, NMIH; Venue: NMIH (602 E. 2nd St., Bethlehem, PA); Time: 2 – 3:00 pm; Light Refreshments.  Entry is included with a paid Museum admission. (NOTE: Andrea Krupp’s art exhibit will be on display at the NMIH during all of January)

-- Jan. 28 Knox Mine Disaster Documentary Screening & Filmmaker Q&A; Venue: Allen Theatre, 36 E. Main St., Annville, PA 17003; Time: 1:00 p.m.; $10 Admission; 717-867-4766.

-- Jan. 29 Greater Pittston Historical Society, Public Program, Topic: Organized Crime in Northeastern Pennsylvania; Speakers: Dave Janoski, Citizens’ Voice, “Historical Overview of Organized Crime in the Local Area;” Ken Wolensky, Rutgers University; “Organized Crime in the Ladies’ Garment Industry;” Robert Wolensky, King’s College, “Organized Crime in Anthracite Mining;” Moderator: Julio Caprari, GPHS; Venue: St. Joseph Morello Hall (237 William St., Pittston); Time: 6:30 – 8 pm; Refreshments.

-- Jan. 31 Pennsylvania Anthracite Society of Mining Engineers, Public Program: Speaker: David Williams, PA-SME; Topic: The Sheppton Mine Disaster of 1963; Venue: Hazle Township Municipal Building (101 W. 27th St., Hazle Township); Time: 7 -8:30 pm; Refreshments.

The programs are sponsored by the Anthracite Heritage Foundation, Anthracite Heritage Museum, King’s College, Lackawanna Historical Society, Luzerne County Historical Society, WVIA-Public Broadcasting, Eckley Miners Village, Plymouth Historical Society, Nanticoke Historical Society, Greater Pittston Historical Society, No. 9 Mine Tour and Museum, Underground Miners, National Museum of Industrial History, Anthracite Chapter-Society of Mining Engineers, Earth Conservancy, Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR), Susquehanna Brewing Company, Baloga Funeral Home, and Knox Mine Disaster Memorial Committee.

Questions should be directed to Prof. Bob Wolensky, Anthracite Heritage Foundation and King’s College, 715-252-6742 or rwolensk@gmail.com.

[Posted: December 29, 2023]

1/1/2024