Mount Hope in Pottsville in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Hanging of the Mollies

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 18, 2024

1. Hanging of the Mollies Marker

Inscription. Here in this Schuylkill County prison yard on June 21, 1877, the largest mass execution in Pennsylvania took place with the hanging of six alleged "Molly Maguire" leaders. That same day, four other alleged "Mollies" were hanged at Mauch Chunk in Carbon County. Between 1877 and 1879, twenty alleged "Mollies" were hanged in Bloomsburg, Columbia County; Mauch Chunk, Carbon County and Pottsville, Schuylkill County[.] One hundred and one years following the hanging execution of Jack Kehoe, December 18, 1878, in this Schuylkill County prison the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania granted posthumous pardon to Kehoe, reflecting the judgment of many historians that the trials and executions were part of a repression directed against the fledgling mineworker's union of that historic period.

Erected 1980 by The Pennsylvania Labor History Society and the Schuylkill County Commissioners Pottsville, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Labor Unions • Law Enforcement. A significant historical date for this entry is June 21, 1877.

Location. 40° 41.283′ N, 76° 11.955′ W. Marker is in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in Schuylkill County. It is in Mount Hope. It is on Sanderson Street just east of North 3rd Street

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, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 230 Sanderson St, Pottsville PA 17901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Pennsylvania’s Anthracite Coal Region.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Molly Maguire Executions (here, next to this marker); Schuylkill County (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Allan P. Jaffe (about 700 feet away); General George A. Joulwan (about 700 feet away); Pottsville Maroons (about 800 feet away); Pottsville Downtown Historic District (approx. 0.2 miles away); John Pott (approx. 0.2 miles away); Spanish War Veterans (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pottsville.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 18, 2024

2. Hanging of the Mollies Marker

The Schuykill County Prison from 1851 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by PaulwC3, August 3, 2013

3. The Schuykill County Prison from 1851

Credits. This page was last revised on October 20, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 20, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 560 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 20, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on September 8, 2013, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia.