A regional observance of Mining History Week will take place January 8-22, 2014, at programs in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Pittston, Port Griffith, and Ashley. The annual event focuses on anthracite mineworker, families and communities, and the hard coal industry in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
The programs are sponsored by the Anthracite Heritage Museum, the Anthracite Heritage Foundation, King's College, the Lackawanna Historical Society, the Luzerne County Historical Society, the Huber Breaker Preservation Society, the Anthracite Living History Group, the Old Forge Coal Mine, the Greater Pittston Historical Society, and the Knox Mine Disaster Memorial Committee.
The public is cordially invited to attend the events. All but one is open free of charge.
Schedule
-- January 8: 7 p.m., William Conolgue, Professor of English, Marywood College, will speak on his recent book, "Here and There: Reading Pennsylvania's Working Landscapes," Lackawanna Historical Society, Catlin House, 232 Monroe Avenue, Scranton. Refreshments served.
-- January 9: 7 p.m., Thomas Dublin, Professor Emeritus of History at SUNY Binghamton, will deliver the Annual Msgr. John J. Curran Lecture, "When the Mines Closed," at King's College, Burke Auditorium, McGowan Business School. Refreshments served at 6:30 p.m.
-- January 12: 2 p.m., Robert Thomas Hughes will present a dramatic reading of his work, "A Miner's Tale," which tells the story of the anthracite coal miner in Northeastern Pennsylvania through monologue. The event will be hosted by Anthracite Heritage Museum, McDade Park, Scranton; the cost of $5.00 per person also includes admission to all of the Museum's exhibits.
-- January 18: 2 p.m., The Annual Knox Mine Disaster Commemorative Program, Anthracite Heritage Museum, McDade Park, Scranton. F. Charles Petrillo, Wilkes-Barre, will present a multi-media program on, "The End of Deep-Coal Mining Following the Knox Mine Disaster of 1959." Guest musician Lex Romane will play original musical selections. A large needlework designed and embroidered by Audrey Baloga Calvey, as a tribute to her father, Knox victim John Baloga, and the other men lost that day, will be exhibited. Other speak. Refreshments served.
-- January 19: 10 a.m., Annual Knox Disaster Memorial Mass, St. John the Evangelist Church, Pittston.
-- January 19: 11:30 a.m., Annual Knox Disaster Commemorative Ceremony, PHMC Knox Disaster Historical Marker located in front of Baloga Funeral Home (formerly St. Joseph's Church), Main Street, Port Griffith. Coffee served.
-- January 21: 7 p.m., William A. Hastie, West Pittston, will speak on his recent co-authored book: "Anthracite Labor Wars: Tenancy, Italians, and Organized Crime in the Northern Coalfield of Northeastern, PA, 1897-1959," Huber Breaker Preservation Society, Earth Conservancy Building, 101 South Main St., Ashley. Refreshments served.
-- January 22: morning (time and place TBA), Dedication and Unveiling of the PHMC Historical Marker for The Baltimore Tunnel Mine Disaster of 1919, in Wilkes-Barre.
-- January 22: 3 p.m., Panel discussion on the Baltimore Tunnel Mine Disaster of 1919, featuring King's Colleges Professors Thomas Mackaman and Dan Clasby, Katie Lavery who lost two uncles in the disaster, and King's students who worked with the above persons in securing the PHMC marker; Fitz Room, Sheehey-Farmer Campus Center, King's College, Wilkes-Barre.