Plymouth in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Avondale Mine Disaster

Photographed by PaulwC3, August 3, 2013

1. Avondale Mine Disaster Marker

Inscription.
On September 6, 1869, a fire broke out at the nearby Avondale Colliery, trapping the miners. The eventual death toll was 110. This included five boys between the ages of twelve and seventeen, and two volunteers who were suffocated while attempting rescue. As a result of this disaster, Pennsylvania's General Assembly enacted legislation in 1870 which was designed to enforce greater safety in the industry.

Erected 1994 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1964.

Location. 41° 13.586′ N, 75° 58.472′ W. Marker is in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, in Luzerne County. It is on West Main Street (U.S. 11) one mile north of South Cross Valley Expressway (Pennsylvania Route 29), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Plymouth PA 18651, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Pennsylvania’s

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Anthracite Coal Region,

in the Wyoming Valley,

and in Greater Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Avondale Mine Disaster (within shouting distance of this marker); Abijah Smith & Company (approx. 0.9 miles away); Shawnee Fort (approx. 0.9 miles away); Veterans and Pioneer Families Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away); Civil War Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away); Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away); Sephaniah Reese (approx. 1.6 miles away); World War I Memorial (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Plymouth.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . . Andrew Roy's account of the Avondale Disaster.

Avondale Mine Disaster - Rescuers standing in the rubble of the Avondale Colliery’s breaker image. Click for more information.

Photographed by voa Wynning History, April 3, 2023

2. Avondale Mine Disaster - Rescuers standing in the rubble of the Avondale Colliery’s breaker

Avondale - The Coal Region's Deadliest Mining Disaster
Wynning History website entry:
Click for more information.

eHistory at OSU website entry (Submitted on September 19, 2013, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia.)

Additional commentary.
1. Marker broken in vehicle crash
This marker was broken at its base in a vehicle crash on January 20th, 2018. The Plymouth Historical Society is hoping to replace the damaged marker.

— Submitted February 1, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.

2. Marker reinstalled
A Google Earth image dated 11/2022 shows the marker at the given location.

— Submitted January 28, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.

Avondale Mine image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeffrey Adams, March 30, 2014

3. Avondale Mine

Opening to collapsed mine shaft.

Wide view of the Avondale Mine Disaster Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by PaulwC3, August 3, 2013

4. Wide view of the Avondale Mine Disaster Marker

Avondale Mine Disaster image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeffrey Adams

5. Avondale Mine Disaster

Ruins of the shaft location at the Avondale Colliery

Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 18, 2013, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,724 times since then and 83 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 18, 2013, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. 2. submitted on April 3, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on April 18, 2016, by Jeffrey Adams of Dallas, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on September 18, 2013, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. 5. submitted on April 18, 2016, by Jeffrey Adams of Dallas, Pennsylvania.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photos of the Avondale Mine site and Memorial Gardens • Can you help?