Mining History Month Schedule of Events – January 2020

A regional observance of Anthracite Mining Heritage Month will take place during January 2020. A wide variety of programs will be featured in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Pittston, Plymouth, Nanticoke, Bethlehem, and Port Griffith. The annual event focuses on the history and culture of the anthracite region of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

The events are sponsored by the Anthracite Heritage Museum, the Anthracite Heritage Foundation, King’s College, the Lackawanna Historical Society, the Luzerne County Historical Society, the Plymouth Historical Society, the Greater Pittston Historical Society, the Nanticoke Historical Society, Penn State University-Scranton, Misericordia University, Pittston Area Senior High School, Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR), Wyoming Seminary Upper School, the Susquehanna Brewing Company, the National Museum of Industrial History, the Huber Breaker Preservation Society, the Knox Mine Disaster Memorial Committee, and the Boy Scouts of America-Northeastern PA Council.

The public is cordially invited to attend all events (except the first). The programs are open free of charge except the two Knox Mine Disaster documentary screenings, and the National Museum of Industrial History’s photography lecture.

 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR MINING HISTORY MONTH:

 

Saturday, January 4th
Boy Scouts of America, Northeastern Pennsylvania Council: Mining in Society Merit Badge; Venue: Mulligan Physical Science Center, King’s College, 133 N. River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711; Time: 9 am – 1 pm (Open to Council Boy Scouts only)

Thursday, January 9th
Luzerne County Historical Society, Public Program: Classic Anthracite Photography; Speaker: Mark Riccetti, Jr., LCHS, “A Treasure of Anthracite Mining Photographs;” Venue: LCHS Museum Bldg., 69 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701; Time: 7 – 8:30 pm; refreshments

Tuesday January 14th
Huber Breaker Preservation Society and Nanticoke Historical Society, Public Program: Huber Breaker Documentary; Presenters: Filmmakers John Welsh of Philadelphia and Alana Mauger of Gilbertsville, PA, with a debut a screening of “Beyond the Breaker,” their documentary about the Huber Breaker in Ashley, PA; plus a mining memorabilia display by Mike and Linda Mostardi, Media, PA; Moderator: Chester Zaremba, NHS; Venue: Nanticoke Historical Society’s Cultural Centre of St. Faustina, 38 W. Church Street, Nanticoke, PA 18634; Time: 6:30 – 8:00 pm; refreshments

Wednesday January 15th
Greater Pittston Historical Society, Public Program: Greater Pittston’s Public Monuments, Markers, and Murals; Speakers: Maria Capalorella-Montante, “The PHMC Historical Marker Dedicated to Greater Pittston’s Garment Workers;” Maria Capalorella-Montante, “The Anthracite Coal Miner's Statue;” Rose Randazzo-Pizzuto, “The Inspirational Mural on Main Street, Pittston;” Mayor Mike Lombardo, “The Knox Mine Disaster Mural;” and Mayor Mike Lombardo, “The Heritage Mural on Main Street, Pittston;” Moderator: Ron Faraday, GPHS; Venue: Pittston Public Library, Cosgrove Room, 47 Broad St., Pittston, PA 18640; Time: 7 pm – 9 pm; refreshments

Thursday January 16th
King’s College and the Anthracite Heritage Foundation, Public Program: The Annual Msgr. John J. Curran Lecture; Speaker: Robert P. Wolensky, King’s College, “As Coal Mining Went Down, Garment Making Went Up: Min Matheson, Russell Bufalino, and Other Participants in the Wyoming Valley Apparel Industry, 1945-1995;” Moderator: Thomas Mackaman, King’s College; Venue: Burke Auditorium, McGowan School of Business, King’s College, 133 N. River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711; Time: 7 – 8:30 pm; refreshments start at 6:30 pm

Friday January 17th
Plymouth Hisorical Society, Public Program: A Dramatic Reading from Oliver Thomas’ Memoir, “I Drove Mules in the Nottingham Mines;” plus a presentation on the “The Nottingham Mine Disaster of 1947;” Speakers: Joe Slusser and Steve Kondrad, PHS; Venue: Plymouth Borough Municipal Building, 162 W. Shawnee Ave, Plymouth, PA 18651; Time: 6:30 – 8:00pm; refreshments

Saturday January 18th
Anthracite Heritage Museum, Public Program: The Annual Knox Mine Disaster Memorial Tribute; Presenter: Scott Herring (‘The Last Anthracite Photographer’), “After Knox: A Photographic Exposition of the Anthracite Industry’s Final Years;” plus coal mining Music by Don Shappelle and Don Sennett; and a mining memorabilia display by Mike and Linda Mostardi, Media, PA; Moderator: Bode Morin, AHM; Venue: Anthracite Heritage Museum, 22 Bald Mountain Rd., Scranton, PA 18504; Time: 2 – 3:30 pm; refreshments

Sunday January 19th
Annual Knox Mine Disaster Memorial Mass, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 35 Williams St., Pittston, PA 18640; Time: 9 am

Sunday January 19th
Annual Knox Mine Disaster Public Commemoration, at the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Marker in front of Baloga Funeral Home, 1201 Main St., Pittston, PA 18640; Time: 10:30 am; refreshments provided by Baloga Funeral Home

Sunday January 19th
Annual Walk to the Knox Mine Disaster Site along the Susquehanna River in Port Griffith, PA; Time: 11:00 am, gather at Baloga Funeral Home to caravan to the river (weather permitting)

Wednesday January 22nd
On the 61 th Anniversary of the Knox Mine Disaster: “The Knox Mine Disaster Documentary,” a screening of the final (revised) cut by filmmakers David Brocca and Albert Brocca; followed by Q&;A; Music by Lex Romane; Venue: Pittston Area Senior High School, 5 Stout Street, Pittston, PA, 18640; Time: doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7 pm; Tickets: $10 and can be purchased in advance at https://knox_documentary_pittston_area.eventbrite.com/; general admission only

Thursday January 23rd
Lackawanna Historical Society, Public Program: Historical Studies of the Anthracite Region; Speakers: Clem Valletta, King’s College, “Attachment to Place: Ethnicity, Coal, Community, and Corporate Society;” Michael Chimola, Wyoming Valley West High School, and Robert Wolensky, King’s College, “The United Anthracite Miners Union and the Good Friday Bombings of April 10, 1936;” “Robert Savakinus, PHMC, “Documenting Amusement Parks in the Anthracite Region;” Andrea Nerozzi, Wyoming Seminary Upper School and Robert Hughes, EPCAMR, “STEM and Art: Changing Perspectives of Waterways;” Moderator: Mary Ann Savakinus; LHS; Venue: LHS, 232 Monroe Ave., Scranton, PA 18510; Time: 7 – 9 pm; refreshments

Friday January 24th
Penn State University-Scranton, Public Program: Telling and Understanding Anthracite’s Unique Story; Speakers: Paul Shackel, University of Maryland, “Remembering Lattimer;” Bode Morin, Anthracite Heritage Museum, “Contextualizing the Past in Anthracite Heritage;” Philip Mosley, Penn State University-Scranton, “Historical Sites as Commemorative Mode: Three Coal Mine Tours;” Moderator: Michael Knies, University of Scranton; Venue: Hawk Lecture Theater, PSU-Scranton, 201 Business Building, 120 Ridge View Dr., Dunmore, PA 18512; Time: 6:30 – 8 pm; refreshments

Saturday January 25th
Susquehanna Brewing Company, Free Concert: An Evening of Anthracite Region Music; Performers: Lex Romane, folk singer; Don Shappelle and the Pickups, folk-style group; Jay Smar, folk singer; Joe Husty and Bob Wolensky, accordionists; MCs: Ed Philbin, Pittston, PA &; Erica Funke, Kingston, PA; Venue: Susquehanna Brewing Company, 635 S. Main St., Pittston, PA 18640; Time: 7 – 9 pm; free brewery tour at 6 pm; food truck cuisine and beverages available for purchase during the concert

Sunday, January 26th
National Museum of Industrial History, Public Program: Contemporary Anthracite Photography; Speaker: Dane Rhys, International Center of Photography in New York, “Anthracite Workers Today: A Lifetime Calling;” Moderator: Mike Piersa, NMIH; Venue: NMIH, 602 E. 2nd St., Bethlehem, PA 18015; Time: 2 – 3:30 pm; admission fee charged

Sunday January 26th
Anthracite Heritage Museum, Public Informational Program: An Industrial History Tour of United Kingdom Sites, June 25 – July 7, 2020; for persons interested in next summer’s industrial history tour of locations in Scotland, England, and Wales, sponsored by the Anthracite Heritage Museum; Speakers: Beth Landmesser and Robert Wolensky, tour leaders; Commentary: Bode Morin, AHM, who will also join the tour; Venue: Anthracite Heritage Museum, 22 Bald Mountain Rd., Scranton, PA 18504; Time: 2 – 3:30 pm; refreshments (For information about the tour: 570-963-4804)

Friday January 31st
For the 61 th Anniversary of the Knox Mine Disaster: “The Knox Mine Disaster Documentary,” a screening of the final (revised) cut by filmmakers David Brocca and Albert Brocca; followed by Q&A; Music by Lex Romane; Venue: Lemmond Theater, Misericordia University, 301 Lake Street, Dallas, PA 18612; Time: doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7 pm; Tickets: $10 and can be purchased in advance at https://knox_documenatry_misericordia_univ.eventbrite.com/; general admission only