Near Sheppton in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Sheppton Mine Disaster and Rescue

Photographed by Carolyn Martienssen, August 22, 2015

1. Sheppton Mine Disaster and Rescue Marker

Inscription.
On August 27, 1963 rescuers used a new technique to drill a borehole that successfully freed two coal miners trapped for nearly 2 weeks by a shaft cave-in 320 feet below ground. One miner was lost and the incident gained national attention and prompted more stringent safety regulations for small independent mines. The borehole technique has been widely used for mine rescues worldwide, notably Quecreek (2002) and Chile (2010).

Erected 2015 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Disasters. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 27, 1963.

Location. 40° 54.118′ N, 76° 7.432′ W. Marker is near Sheppton, Pennsylvania, in Schuylkill County. It is on Schoolhouse Road ¼ mile north of Pennsylvania Route 924. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sheppton PA 18248, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

It is also in the American Northeast,

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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 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Knelly Podany Post 616 Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); War Memorial (approx. 5.1 miles away); Old White Church Cemetery (approx. 5.4 miles away); Old White Church (approx. 5.4 miles away); a different marker also named Old White Church (approx. 5.4 miles away); Frederick Löwenberg "Labenberg" (approx. 5.4 miles away); a different marker also named War Memorial (approx. 5.7 miles away); Reese A. Jones (approx. 5.7 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Sheppton Mine Disaster and Rescue - MarkerQuest. (Submitted on November 2, 2023, by Laura Klotz of Northampton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Historical marker commemorating mine rescue unveiled in Sheppton. The RepublicanHerald.com's article (August 23, 2015) on the

The marker as seen from Schoolhouse Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Laura Klotz, October 26, 2023

2. The marker as seen from Schoolhouse Road

unveiling of the Sheppton Mine Disaster marker. {Subscription required} (Submitted on August 23, 2015.)

3. The Famous Sheppton Mine Rescue - Oneida No. 2 Slope Cave-in. Contains additional audio and images not easily located elsewhere, including the music and lyrics of the "Sheppton Mine Rescue" performed and provided by my friend Ronnie Sando. (Submitted on April 27, 2025, by Robert McGee of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.)

Additional commentary.
1. Remembrance
Remember Lou Bova - (1909 -1963), the sole miner lost in this disaster.

— Submitted March 11, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 22, 2015, by Carolyn Martienssen of West Hazleton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,538 times since then and 75 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 22, 2015, by Carolyn Martienssen of West Hazleton, Pennsylvania. 2. submitted on November 2, 2023, by Laura Klotz of Northampton, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.