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Many area events planned for Anthracite Mining History Month

WILKES-BARRE — Professor Bob Wolensky, the Anthracite Heritage Foundation and King’s College this week announced that a regional observance of Anthracite Mining Heritage Month will take place during January.

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

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

The events are sponsored by the Anthracite Heritage Foundation, the Anthracite Heritage Museum, King’s College, the Lackawanna Historical Society, the Luzerne County Historical Society, the Plymouth Historical Society, the Nanticoke Historical Society, the Greater Pittston Historical Society, the Greater Hazleton Historical Society & Museum; the National Museum of Industrial History, WVIA-Public Broadcasting, the Anthracite Chapter-Society of Mining Engineers, Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, the Susquehanna Brewing Company, Baloga Funeral Home, and the Knox Mine Disaster Memorial Committee.

The public is cordially invited to attend any of the events, all of which except one (NMIH on Jan. 14), are open free of charge.

Also, WVIA — public broadcasting in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania — will offer a series of programs at various times during January 2023

• Knox Mine Disaster (A documentary film produced and directed by David Brocca in 2019); Available on WVIA-TV: Jan. 22, Jan. 26, and Jan. 27 (see times below.)

• Knox … A Disaster (A WVIA documentary film written and narrated by Erika Funke in 1984); shown immediately following the above documentary; Both available on WVIA-TV: Jan. 22, Jan. 26, and Jan. 27 (see times below)

• Songs and Stories from Coal Country (a history of the anthracite region through music); Musicians: Jay Smar and Tom Flannery; Commentary: Robert Wolensky; available throughout the month at https://www.wvia.org/watch/virtual-events.

• Jan. 14 — National Industrial History Museum, Public Program: Speaker: John Smith, Department of History, Emeritus, Lehigh University; Topic: The Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Anthracite Industry; Venue: NIHM (602 E. 2nd St, Bethlehem); Time: 1–2:30 p.m.; Moderator: Andria Zaia, NIHM; refreshments; NOTE: FREE for NMIH members; $5 plus admission charge for non-members.

• Jan. 14 — Susquehanna Brewing Company, An Evening of Anthracite Region Music: Musicians: Jay Smar, Orwigsburg; Don Shappelle and the Pick-ups, Wilkes-Barre; Polka Band (unconfirmed); Venue: SBC, Pittston; MC: Ed Philbin, Pittston; Time: 7:30–9:30 p.m.; Drinks and Food: SBC drinks and a food truck will be available.

• Jan. 17 — Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR), and Earth Conservancy, Inc., Public Program: A History of Anthracite Region Breakers; Speakers: Eric Bella, Mining Engineer, Pottsville; Bill Lukasik, Curator, Lukasik Photography, Dupont; Sue Hand, Artist, Dallas; Venue: Earth Conservancy Building (101 S. Main St, Ashley); Time: 7–8:30 p.m.; Moderator: Robert Hughes, EPCAMR; refreshments.

• Jan. 19 — Nanticoke Historical Society, Public Program: Mining Anthracite Coal: Reflections by Miners from Yesterday and Today; Speakers: Phil Voystock, Freeland; Tom Supey, West Pittston; Chester Zaremba, Nanticoke; Banks Ries, Heckscherville; Josh Shoeneberger, Muir; Venue: St. Faustina Cultural Center (38 West Church Street, Nanticoke); Time: 6:30–8 p.m.; Moderator, Chester Zaremba, NHS refreshments.

• Jan. 21 — Shamokin-Coal Township Library, Public Program: Speaker: Philip Mosley, Penn State University-Scranton, Emeritus; Topic: Telling of The Anthracite: A Pennsylvania Post-history (presentation on Prof. Mosley’s book published by Sunbury Press; book signing to follow); Venue: Shamokin Library (210 E. Independence St., Shamokin); Time: 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

• Jan. 21 — Anthracite Heritage Museum, Public Program: The Reopening of the Brooks Mine in Nay Aug Park, Scranton, and Mine Equipment Restoration; Welcome: Bode Morin, AHM; Speakers: Chris Murley, Tunkhannock, and Dan Shurtleff, Center Moreland; Venue; AHM (22 Bald Mountain Rd, Scranton; Time: 2-3:30 p.m.; Moderator: Bill Best, West Pittston; refreshments.

• Jan. 21 — Greater Hazleton Historical Society & Museum, and Pennsylvania Anthracite Society for Mining Engineers, Public Program: Topic: A 125th Anniversary Commemoration of the Lattimer Massacre; Speakers: Paul Shackel, University of Maryland (“Remembering Lattimer”); Robert Wolensky, King’s College (“The Ethnic Component of Lattimer”); Jim LaRegina, P.G., Greater Hazleton Area Historical Society & Museum (“The Iconic Dryfoos Photographs of Lattimer”); John Fielding, Anthracite Heritage Museum (“The Dryfoos Camera”); Lew Dryfoos III, One Group Insurance (“Remembering Henry Dryfoos”); John R. Ackerman, P.E., Twin Oaks Consulting (“Reflections on the Lattimer Massacre Monument” and “Our Repair Plan That Would Have Broken the Monument into Pieces”); Chuck Knisell, Vice President, UMWA District 2 (“Commentary on Lattimer”); Venue: Hazle Township Building (101 W. 27th Street, Hazle Township); Time: 6:30–8:30 p.m.; Moderator: Mike Korb, Penn Anthracite-SME; refreshments.

• Jan. 22 — Knox Mine Disaster Memorial Mass: Venue: St. John’s Catholic Church (35 William St., Pittston) Time: 9–10 a.m.

• Jan. 22 — Knox Mine Disaster, Public Commemoration: Venue: Historical Marker in front of Baloga Funeral Home, Port Griffith (1201 Main Street, Pittston); Time: 11–11:20 a.m.

• Jan. 22 — Knox Mine Disaster: Annual Walk to the Disaster Site along the Susquehanna River; Venue: gather at Baloga Funeral Home and travel to the site; Time: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; weather permitting.

• Jan. 22 — Anthracite Heritage Museum, Public Program, The Annual Knox Mine Disaster Commemoration: Topic: International Connections: Welsh and American Coal Heritage; Speakers: Bode Morin, Site Administrator, AHM; Dai Price, Head of Museum, Big Pit National Mining Museum, Wales; Darren Macey, Operational Manager, Rhondda Heritage Park, Lewis Merthyr Colliery, Wales; Ceri Thompson, Curator, Big Pit National Mining Museum, Wales; John Fielding, Curator, AHM; Moderator: Bode Morin, AHM; Music: Mining Memorabilia Display: Mike and Linda Mostardi, Wayne; Time: 2-3:30 p.m.; Venue: AHM (22 Bald Mountain Rd, Scranton) and Zoom, Join the Meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81587673478?pwd=cDZUOCtPNkJQZHZtMlBkd0ttZUVRUT09 (the program will also broadcast on Facebook live from the AHM page); refreshments.

• Jan. 22 — WVIA TV-Public Broadcasting, Two Public Programs: (1) Knox Mine Disaster (A documentary film produced and directed by David Brocca, 2019; narrated by Lex Romaine; sound by Albert Brocca); Time: 12:00 pm; to be immediately followed by (2) Knox … A Disaster (A WVIA documentary film written and narrated by Erika Funke, 1984); both available on WVIA-TV.

• Jan. 23 — Plymouth Historical Society, Public Program: The Remembrances of a Retired Coal Miner; Speaker: Alvin Cole, Shickshinny; Topic: Mining Coal at the Wanamie No. 19; Venue: First Welsh Baptist Church (168 Girard Ave., Plymouth); Time: 6:30–8 p.m.; Moderator: Steve Kondrad, PHS; refreshments.

• Jan. 25 — Greater Pittston Historical Society, Public Program: A Forum on Five Northeastern Pennsylvania Ethnic Groups; Speakers: Stephanie Longo, The Italians; Beth Landmesser, The Welsh; Jim McFarland, The Irish; Jan Lokuta, The Polish and The Rusyns; Venue: Cosgrove Room, Pittston Memorial Library (47 Broad St, Pittston); Time: 7–8:30 p.m.; Moderator: Julio Caprari, GPHS; refreshments.

• Jan. 26 — King’s College and the Anthracite Heritage Foundation, Miners Memorial Park, Plaque Unveiling Ceremony: Unveiling by Rev. Thomas P. Looney, President, King’s College; Venue: Miners Memorial Park, in front of the Alley Center Building (Public Square, Wilkes-Barre); Time: 5:30 p.m.; Moderator: Robert Wolensky, Kings College and AHF.

• Jan. 26 — King’s College and the Anthracite Heritage Foundation, Public Program: The Annual Msgr. John J. Curran Lecture; Speaker: Philip Mosley, Penn State University-Scranton, Emeritus; Topic: Telling of The Anthracite: A Pennsylvania Posthistory (presentation on Prof. Mosley’s book published by Sunbury Press); Welcome: Fr. Tom Looney, President, King’s College; Venue: King’s College Alley Center Auditorium (Public Square, Wilkes-Barre); Time; 6:30–8 p.m.; Moderator: Thomas Mackaman, King’s College and AHF; refreshments (Note: The Lecture will be preceded by Sue Hand’s presentation to Fr. Thomas Looney of her painting of the Dorrance Colliery Breaker, which once stood near King’s College.)

• Jan. 26 — WVIA TV-Public Broadcasting, Two Public Programs: (1) Knox Mine Disaster (A documentary film produced and directed by David Brocca, 2019; narrated by Lex Romaine; sound by Albert Brocca); Time: 12 p.m.; to be immediately followed by (2) Knox … A Disaster (A WVIA documentary film written and narrated by Erika Funke, 1984); both available on WVIA-TV.

• Jan. 27 — Lackawanna Historical Society, Public Program: Lackawanna Past Times Series; Speaker: Sarah Piccini, LHS; Topic: The Vigilantes and the Grandmaster: The Molly Maguires and Terence Powderly; Time: 2–3 p.m.; Venue: Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82418792701?pwd=SDUxOFVSdERjODQ1ek1DNE1YMTNQZz09.

• Jan. 27 — WVIA TV-Public Broadcasting, Two Public Programs: (1) Knox Mine Disaster (A documentary film produced and directed by David Brocca, 2019; narrated by Lex Romaine; sound by Albert Brocca); Time: 12 p.m.; to be immediately followed by (2) Knox … A Disaster (A WVIA documentary film written and narrated by Erika Funke, 1984); both available on WVIA-TV.

• Jan. 27 — Majestic Theatre, Public Program: Speaker: Philip Mosley, Penn State University-Scranton, Emeritus; Topic: Telling of The Anthracite: A Pennsylvania Posthistory (presentation on Prof. Mosley’s book published by Sunbury Press; book signing to follow); Venue: Majestic Theater (209 N. Centre St, Pottsville); Time: 7–9 p.m.

• Jan. 28 — Lackawanna Historical Society, Public Program: Brief Histories of Four Anthracite Coal Companies; Speakers: Charles Kumpas, Penn Anthracite Coal Company; Chester Kulesa, Delaware & Hudson Coal Company; Tony Brooks, Butler Coal Company; Robert Wolensky, Pennsylvania Coal Company; Venue: Albright Memorial Library (500 Vine St., Scranton) (for instructions on how to watch the program livestream, please email lackawannahistory@gmail); Time: 3–4:30 p.m.; Moderator: Mary Ann Savakinas, LHS; Happy Hour: cash bar immediately following at Sidel’s Restaurant (1202 N. Main Ave, Scranton.)

• Jan. 29 — Luzerne County Historical Society, Public Program: Speaker: Jayne M. Booth; Topic: Rocked in the Cradle of Coal (Ms. Booth’s latest book in the series; book signing to follow); Venue: LCHS Museum (69 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre); Time: 2–3:30 p.m.; Moderator: Mark Riccetti, LCHS; refreshments.