PLYMOUTH — The story goes that when “the boom” was heard, several men working at the nearby Gaylord Colliery, rushed up to the scene of Plymouth’s Powell Squib Factory explosion on Feb. 25, 1889.
But by the time they got there, there was a second, then a third explosion — the final explosion blew the roof off the factory and prevented anyone from getting close to render aid to the women inside. There was nothing anyone could do for those trapped inside.
On that day, 11 young women and the factory foreman, George Reese, were killed — nine of the women and the foreman are buried beneath the monument placed in Plymouth’s Shawnee Cemetery.
Members of the Shawnee Cemetery Preservation Society (SCPA) and the Plymouth Historical Society (PHS) recently placed a wreath at the monument to commemorate 136 years since the tragedy.
The event comes on the heels of January’s Anthracite Mining Heritage Month, where events like the Avondale and Knox Mine Disasters are often remembered.
Many women aided in the mining effort by working in factories, such as the Powell-Squib factory that was located near Harris Street. Squibs were small explosives that worked like bottle rockets and were used by miners to help separate rock from coal.
The historical record
Factory owner John S. Powell was off-site for lunch, but rushed back after hearing of the incident. Two of his nieces employed at the factory died in the explosion, as well as 15-year-old Jane Ann Thomas, who was awaiting Powell’s return to inquire about a job.
The tragedy was ruled accidental, and a jury at the time concluded the explosion occurred after squibs were tossed into a stove.
The 11 young women that died were between the ages of 14 and 22.
Buried at the Shawnee Cemetery are:
• George Reese, 41 (foreman)
• Mary Walters, 17
• Esther Powell, 22
• Ruth Powell, 19
• Gladys Reese, 15
• Jane Thomas, 16
• Mary Lake, 17
• Maggie Richards, 17
• Hettie Jones, 16
• Katie Jones, 20
• Charlotte Humphreys, 18
Buried at St. Vincent’s Cemetery:
• Margaret Lynch, 21
Fundraiser planned
The two groups will host their Annual Spaghetti Dinner to raise funds to support the goal of remembering and preserving Plymouth’s history.
The event is set for Sunday, March 30, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at The Shawnee Room, 40 West Main St., Plymouth.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling 570-417-9562. Checks can be made to: S.C.P.A, P.O. Box 224, Plymouth, PA, 18651.