A regional observance of Anthracite Mining Heritage Month will take place during January.  This annual event focuses on the history and culture of the anthracite region of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

A variety of programs will be featured in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Plymouth, Pittston, Ashley, Hazleton, Hazle Township, Lansford, Bethlehem, and Pottsville. 

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, Greater Pittston Historical Society, Earth Conservancy Inc., Wilkes-Barre Preservation Society, No. 9 Mine Tour and Museum, The Underground Miners, Everhart Museum, National Museum of Industrial History, Anthracite Chapter-Society of Mining Engineers, Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR), Lehigh Engineering, Alvernia University, Baloga Funeral Home, Susquehanna Brewing Company, The Avondale Mine Disaster Memorial Committee, and The Knox Mine Disaster Memorial Committee.

The public is cordially invited to attend the events free of charge, except where indicated.

-- Throughout January 2025, WVIA-FM—Public Radio in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania will offer anthracite region-related programming at the WVIA website, which will include episodes from Erika Funke’s ARTScene.

-- January 10 - Eastern PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation and Earth Conservancy, Public Program: Digging into Our Anthracite Mining History: Famous People, Historic Preservation, and Abandoned Mines; Moderator: Bobby Hughes, EPCAMR, Update on EPCAMR and Earth Conservancy Projects; Speakers: Chris Murley, Underground Miners, The Process of Opening the Brooks Mine in Scranton; Ed Philbin, Industrial Archives & Library, Dan Flood’s Direction on the Use of Anthracite Coal for U.S Military Bases during the War; Don Kane and Leo Czereck, Huber Breaker Preservation Society, Plans for the Wanamie Lokie No. 9, the Multi-Media Center/Museum, and the No. 5 Slope Opening and Huber Breaker History; Mike Korb, Anthracite Chapter-Society of Mining Engineers, The Carnegie Hero Medal Awardees from the Anthracite Region; Venue: Earth Conservancy (101 S. Main Street, Ashley, PA); Time: 6 - 8:30 pm; Refreshments.

-- January 12 - Greater Pittston Historical Society, Public Program: Historical Places, Historical Markers; Moderator: Julio Caprari, GPHS; Speakers: Linda Scott, Avondale Preservation Committee, The Avondale Mine Disaster (1869) Markers at the Washburn Street Cemetery (Scranton); Bill Best, Anthracite Preservationist—The Huber Breaker Memorial Park (Ashley); Vinnie Rotondaro, Historical Researcher, The Need for an Historical Marker for the Murdered (in 1920) Pittston Police Detective Samuel Lucchino; Thomas Mackaman, King’s College and Anthracite Heritage Foundation, The Baltimore Tunnel Mine Disaster (1919), Wilkes-Barre Township; Venue: St. Joseph Morello Hall (237 William St., Pittston); Time: 6:00 – 7:30 pm; Refreshments.

-- January 15 - Wilkes-Barre Preservation Society, Public Program: A Guided Tour of the Luzerne County Court House; Guide: Tony Brooks, President, WBPS; Meet: Court House Lobby; Time: 12 noon – 1 pm.

-- January 15 - Eckley Miners Village (PHMC), Public Program: Discovery Discourse Virtual Lectures—Foodways of the Past (focusing on the ways in which food has been the catalyst for everything from community building in anthracite to wartime propaganda); Moderator: Nicole Negron, PHMC; Speaker: Justin Nordstrom, Penn State–Hazleton; Venue: Eckley Miners Village Building; Time: 1 – 3:30 pm.

-- January 16 - Penn-Anthracite Society of Mining Engineers, Public Program: Moderator: John Ackerman, Penn-Anthracite SME; Speaker: David Williams, Mining Engineer and Professional Land Surveyor; The Battle of the Crater and the 48^th Pennsylvania, July 30, 1864; Venue: Hazle Township Building (101 W. 27th St., Hazle Township, PA); Time: 6 – 7:30 pm; Refreshments.

-- January 17 - A Reception and Discussion for the “The Knox Mine Disaster” Documentary Exhibit; With Filmmaker Dave Brocca; Mineworker Chris Murley, The Underground Miners; and Researcher Robert Wolensky, King’s College; Venue: Everhart Museum (1901 Mulberry St, Scranton, PA); Music: Lex Romaine; Time: 6 – 7:30 pm; Entry Fee to the Museum required; Cash Bar and Refreshments available.

-- January 18 - Anthracite Heritage Museum, Informational Program: An Industrial History Tour to the United Kingdom, May 12 – May 20, 2025; Sponsored by the Anthracite Heritage Museum; A discussion of the itinerary, lodgings, guided tours, and costs will be presented including the Itinerary in Scotland, the Itinerary in England; and the Itinerary in Wales; Tour Leaders: Bode Morin, Beth Landmesser, and Bob Wolensky, who will be accompanied on the trip by UK Blue Badge Guides; Venue: AHM; Time: 12:30 – 1:45 pm; Refreshments. (View the tour online.)

-- January 18 - Anthracite Heritage Museum, Public Program: The Annual Knox Mine Disaster Commemoration—The Importance and Bright Future of Mining: An Overview and Exhibit; Moderator: Bode Morin, Administrator, AHM; Speaker: John Voight, Section Delegate, Penn-Anthracite Section SME; Bryan Glahn, Teacher, Northwest Area High School, Comment on the Knox Mine Disaster; Music: Don Shappelle and Don Sennett; Mining Artifacts Exhibit: Mike and Linda Mostardi, Wayne, PA; Venue: AHM (22 Bald Mountain Road, Scranton, Scranton, PA); Time: 2 – 3:30 pm; Refreshments; Zoom link.

-- January 19 - Knox Mine Disaster Memorial Mass: Venue: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (36 William St., Pittston, PA); Time: 9 am.

-- January 19 - Knox Mine Disaster Historical Markers Commemoration: Venue: Baloga Funeral Home (1201 Main St., Pittston), Pittston; Time: 10:15 am.

-- January 19 - Annual Walk to the Knox Mine Disaster break-in Site at the Susquehanna River (weather permitting); Venue: Meet at Baloga Funeral Home at 10:45 am; Walk Leaders: Bill Best and Bill Landmesser.

-- January 19 - An Afternoon of Anthracite Region Music; Performers: Don Shappelle and the Pickups, Coal Mining Songs; The Doug Smith, Jimmy Waitlich, & Tom Hamilton Trio, Contemporary and Jazz; John Stanky & The Coal Miners, Polkas, Waltzes, and Traditional; Venue: Susquehanna Brewing Company (635 S. Main St., Pittston, PA); Time: 4 — 6 pm; Refreshments available.

-- January 20 - Plymouth Historical Society, Public Program; Speakers: Joe Slusser, PHS, The Tools that Kept the Miners Working: The Howell Mine Drilling Company; and David Youells, Mining Lamps in Anthracite; Venue: First Welsh Baptist Church (163 Girard Ave and Shawnee Ave., Plymouth PA); Time: 6:30 pm; Refreshments.

-- January 22 - Anthracite Heritage Museum, Public Program: Six Anthracite Personalities. Moderator: John Fielding, AHM; Speakers: Lucia Dailey, William W. Scranton: A Man of His Times; Anne Flaherty, John Kehoe: The Last Alleged Molly Maguire to be Hung (1878); Sarah Piccini, Msgr. John Curran, The Labor Priest; Maureen McGuigen—Min Matheson, Ladies Garment Union Leader; William Conlogue, Thomas Meredith: Early Mining in the Lackawanna Valley; Bob Wolensky, Mary Harris ‘Mother Jones,’ Labor Organizer; Venue: Anthracite Heritage Museum (22 Bald Mountain Road, Scranton, Scranton, PA); Time: 6:30 – 8 pm; Refreshments.

-- January 23 - King’s College and the Anthracite Heritage Foundation, Public Program: The Annual Msgr. John J. Curran Lecture; Featured Speaker: Anne Flaherty, The Kehoe Foundation, St. Leonard, MD; Ten Things I Discovered About Pennsylvania's ‘Molly Maguires’ That Historians Have Failed to Document; Moderator: Thomas Mackaman, King’s College; Venue: Burke Auditorium, King’s College, (133 N. River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA); Time: 7 – 8:30 pm; Refreshments.

-- January 23 - Anthracite Heritage Foundation, Book Award for 2025; Presenter: Robert P. Wolensky, King's College; Recipient: Anne Flaherty, Kehoe Foundation (for The Passion of John Kehoe and the Myth of the “Molly Maguires,” Hibernian Press, 2023); Venue: Burke Auditorium, King’s College; Time: immediately preceding the Annual Curran Lecture (see above).

-- January 24 - Two Screenings of “The Knox Mine Disaster” documentary with an introduction by the filmmaker, David Brocca; Venue: The Scranton Arts Haus Theatre (301 Lackawanna Ave, Scranton, PA); Screening Times: 6:20 pm and 8 pm; Purchase tickets at Knox Mine Disaster Facebook Page ($10); Refreshments (including dinner) will be available for purchase.

-- January 25 - Underground Miners and the Everhart Museum, Public Program: Closing One of the Last Anthracite Deep Mines in Northeastern Pennsylvania, 2021; Presenters: Chris Murley, Underground Miners and Tim Holmes, Everhart Museum; Venue: Everhart Museum (1901 Mulberry St, Scranton, PA); Time: 2 – 3:30 pm.

-- January 25 - Underground Miners, Public Program: Free Guided Tours of the Brooks Mine; Tour Guides: Mark Izak, Scott Kerkowski, and Chris Murley; Venue: Brooks Mine (Nay Aug Park, Scranton, PA); Time: 3:45 pm – 5 pm.

-- January 25 - Eckley Miners Village (PHMC), In-person Public Program; Moderator: Bode Morin, Administrator; Speaker: Justin Emershaw, Atlantic Carbon Inc., The Hazleton Shaft Colliery: Dethroning Hazleton's Industrial Era; Venue: Eckley Miners Village (2 Eckley Main St., Weatherly, PA; Time: 2 — 3:30 pm; Refreshments.

-- January 26 - Lackawanna Historical Society, Public Program: Artistic Expressions in Anthracite; Host: Mary Ann Moran-Savakinus, LHS; Moderator: Philip Mosley, Emeritus, Penn State University-Scranton; Speakers: Charles Petrillo, Wilkes-Barre (Film); Chester Kulesa, Scranton (Photography); Richard Stanislaus, Scranton (Art); Venue: Catlin House, LHS (232 Monroe Ave, Scranton, PA); Time: 2 – 3:30 pm; Refreshments.

-- January 26 - National Museum of Industrial History, Public Program: Moderator: Mike Piersa, Historian, NMIH; Speaker: Dane Rhys, Visual Journalist, A Visit to the Last Operating Anthracite Mine in Wales; Venue: NMIH (602 E. 2nd St., Bethlehem, PA); Time: 1 – 2:30 pm.

-- January 29 - Reading Anthracite Company; Moderator: Eric Bella, Mining Engineer; Speaker: Mike Szilagyi, AICP; The Schuylkill Navigation Canal System; Venue: Alvernia University–Pottsville Towne Campus (500 Progress Ave., Pottsville, PA); Time: 6 – 7:30 pm; Refreshments.

-- January 30 - Luzerne County Historical Society, Public Program: Speaker: Mark Riccetti, Director of Operations and Programs, LCHS; Jacob Cist (1782-1825), Pennsylvania Anthracite Pioneer; Venue: LCHS Museum (69 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA); Time: 6 – 7:30 pm; Refreshments.

-- January 30 - A Lehigh Engineering Public Program: Moderator: Eric Bella, Mining Engineer; Speaker: Nick Zmijewski, Industrial Archives & Library; In Search of the Wanamie Colliery: A Journey Through the Lens of Michael A. Eagleson; Venue: Alvernia University–Pottsville Towne Campus (500 Progress Ave., Pottsville, PA); Time: 6 – 7:30 pm; Refreshments.

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

[Posted: December 21, 2024]

12/23/2024