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

Coal Miners Memorial

Anthracite Region

 
 
Coal Miners Memorial Dedication Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 26, 2017
1. Coal Miners Memorial Dedication Marker
Inscription.

Dedicated to All Coal Miners

In Memoriam

Nature bestowed Pennsylvania with deposits of Anthracite coal which contains the highest percentage of fixed carbon. The coal fields approximately 600 square miles from Susquehanna and Wayne Counties North of Scranton, Pennsylvania Southwesterly to nearly Harrisburg.

In the year of 1918 the output of coal reached 88,647,250 gross tons. Hard coal was known to exist in the Wilkes-Barre area as far back as 1768. Young boys ranging from 15 years old worked in the mines and breaker boys ranged from 8 to 14 years old. They entered the mines early in the morning and came out when it was dark, working approximately 10 to 12 hours in darkness. Desire, ability and just plain "guts" got them the job. Many miners, laborers and other personnel were always subject to danger.

Coal mining in the last century was entirely different than today. Energy and power were supplied by man and beast. Hours were long and the biggest portion of a miner's life was spent in darkness, working with problems like dust, water holes, ventilation, illumination and explosives.

The Pennsylvania Anthracite region has probably experienced more strikes and work stoppages than any other similar area in the country. In April to September of 1922 there was a work stoppage of 172 days. In 1925 from September

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to February was the longest coal strike lasting 176 days. While on strike or work stoppage, the men did not receive any financial help.

One of the worst mine disasters in the history of Anthracite mining occurred at the Avondale mine at Plymouth on September 6, 1889, when 110 men lost their lives.

To all fathers, brothers, uncles, nephews and friends who lost their lives in the coal mines, and to those who labored and suffered, we dedicate this memorial monument to these miners.
——————————————————
Avondale Disaster · Shaft Fire · Plymouth
September 6, 1869 · 110 men died

Baltimore Tunnel, Wilkes-Barre Twp.
Powder Explosion, June 5, 1919 · 94 men killed

Twin Shaft Disaster · Mine Squeeze
Pittston · June 28, 1896 · 58 men killed

Maffet's Patch Slope No. 4
May 17, 1890 · 28 men entombed

Jersey No. 8, Ashley · Mine Cave
May 15, 1890 · 28 men killed

Nanticoke No. 1 Slope · Dec. 18, 1885
26 men entombed by quick sand

Lattimer Massacre, Hazelton · Sept. 10, 1897
Striking mine workers · 19 men killed

Eagle Shaft, Pittston · Aug. 14, 1871
Explosion Fire Damp · 17 men killed

Nottingham Colliery, Plymouth, Jan. 1947
Gas Explosion · 15 men killed

Jeanesville Disaster, Feb. 24, 1891
No.

Coal Miners Memorial image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 26, 2017
2. Coal Miners Memorial
10 Slope Water Blast Flood · 14 men killed

Delaware & Hudson Coal Co., Jan. 15, 1846
Great Cave In · 14 men entombed

Loomis Colliery, Hanover Twp.
Gas Explosion · 1924 · 14 men killed

Prospect Shaft · Gas Explosion
Feb. 17, 1912 · 13 men killed

Gaylord Shaft, Plymouth · Feb. 13, 1894
Cave In Workings · 13 men killed

No. 1 Shaft, Nanticoke · Nov. 8, 1891
Gas Explosion · 13 men killed

Knox Disaster, Port Griffith
Mine Cave In · 12 men killed · Jan. 22, 1959
——————————————————
Mt. Lookout Shaft · Gas Explosion
12 men killed · May 12, 1908

West End No. 1 Drift · Mocanaqua · Aug. 11, 1885
Suffocated by White Damp · 10 men died

Auchincloss Shaft · 10 men killed · Nov. 12, 1904
Carriage Dropped · Engineer Lost Control

Conyngham Shaft · Wilkes-Barre · April 26, 1905
10 men killed · Rope on Carriage Broke

Butler Colliery · June 2, 1938
10 men killed · Gas Explosion

Port Griffith · No. 2 Slope · 1860
9 men killed · Rope on Plane Broke

Dorrance Shaft · Wilkes-Barre · Oct. 7, 1895
Gas Explosion · 9 men killed

Exeter Shaft · West Pittston · Nov. 5, 1898
9 men killed descending in cage by three
loaded mine cars running through opening

Prospect Shaft

Coal Miners Memorial Mine Disasters image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 26, 2017
3. Coal Miners Memorial Mine Disasters
· Feb. 27, 1915
Gas Explosion · 9 men killed

Auchincloss Shaft · Nov. 9, 1909
Gas Explosion · 9 men killed

Susquehanna No. 7 · Oct. 30, 1926
Gas Explosion · 9 men killed

Nottingham Shaft · Plymouth · April 1, 1890
Gas Explosion · 8 men killed

South Wilkes-Barre Shaft · Mar. 3, 1890
Mine Fire · 8 men killed

Dorrance Colliery · 1892
Gas Explosion · 8 men killed

No. 14 Shaft · Port Blanchard · May 2, 1909
Gas Explosion · 8 men killed

Wanamie No. 19 Shaft · Feb. 8, 1907
Suffocated by Fire · 7 men died

Nottingham Shaft · Plymouth · Jan. 11, 1910
Gas Explosion · 7 men killed

Parrish Colliery · Plymouth · Jan. 9, 1912
Gas Explosion · 7 men killed

Lance No. 11 · Plymouth · Feb. 8, 1916
Gas Explosion · 7 men killed

Kirby Park · Edwardsville · May 16, 1927
Gas Explosion No. 3 No. 4 Shafts · 7 men killed
——————————————————
Clear Spring Shaft, W. Pittston - Rope Broke
7 men killed - March 9, 1905

South Wilkes-Barre No. 5 - Gas Explosion
7 men killed - March 12, 1910

Peach Orchard, Parsons - Gas Explosion
7 men killed - July 3, 1926

South Wilkes-Barre No. 5 - Boulder Dislodged
Falling on Cage - 7 men killed - May 7, 1935

Nanticoke No. 2

Coal Miners Memorial Mine Disasters image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 26, 2017
4. Coal Miners Memorial Mine Disasters
Shaft - Gas Explosion
6 men killed - March 5, 1860

Eagle Shaft, Pittston - Explosion of Fire Damp
6 men killed - 1866

Nanticoke Shaft - Platform Broke Hurling Men
450 Feet - 6 men killed - June 26, 1875

Plymouth No. 2 Shaft - Gas Explosion
6 men killed - August 21, 1885

Lance No. 11, Plymouth - Gas Explosion
6 men killed - September 21, 1893

South Wilkes-Barre No. 5 - Gas Explosion
6 men killed - October 29, 1896

Buttonwood Shaft - Gas Explosion
6 men killed - October 25, 1901

Nanticoke No. 1 Shaft - Gas Explosion
6 men killed - August 6, 1906

Warrior Run Slope - Runaway Car
6 men killed - August 10, 1908

Hollenback, Wilkes-Barre - Gas Explosion
6 men killed - March 9, 1916

Woodward Shaft No. 6 - Gas Explosion
6 men killed - August 8, 1916

Woodward, Edwardsville - Gas Explosion
6 men killed - April 18, 1925

Mill Creek Slope, Delaware & Hudson
Gas Explosion - 5 men killed - November 1, 1879

Nanticoke No. 4 Slope - Gas Explosion
5 men killed - April 12, 1890

Nanticoke No. 1 Shaft - Gas Explosion
5 men killed - June 22, 1893

Midvale Slope, Plains - Suffocated by Smoke
from Air Bridge Fire - 5 men killed - October 1, 1898

Prospect Shaft, Plains - Fall of Rock
5 men killed - May 13, 1908

Boston Shaft, Larksville - Gas Explosion
5

Coal Miners Memorial Mine Disasters image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 26, 2017
5. Coal Miners Memorial Mine Disasters
men killed - May 10, 1911

Woodward Cave Mine Fire and Gas Explosion
5 men killed - May 1927

Clear Spring, W. Pittston - Gas Explosion
5 men killed - August 25, 1936
——————————————————
Henry Shaft, Plains - Explosion of Fire Damp
4 men killed - February 26, 1872

Exeter Shaft, W. Pittston - Gas Explosion
4 men killed - February 12, 1876

Prospect Shaft, Plains - Gas Explosion
4 men killed - October 8, 1878

Stanton Shaft, Wilkes-Barre - Gas Explosion
4 men killed - May 6, 1879

Woodward Shaft - Platform Broke While
Timbering - 4 men killed - September 2, 1883

Oakwood Shaft - Rock Fall on Descending Car
4 men killed - September 2, 1885

Nottingham Shaft, Plymouth - Fall of Coal
4 men killed - June 10, 1889

Hollenback Shaft, Wilkes-Barre - Gas Explosion
4 men killed - September 20, 1890

West End Drift, Mocanaqua - Gas Explosion
4 men killed - May 31, 1892

Edwardsville No. 4 Shaft - Gas Explosion
4 men killed - July 24, 1893

Edwardsville No 1 Shaft - Gas Explosion
4 men killed - October 30, 1900

South Wilkes-Barre No. 5 Shaft - Dynamite
Dropped - 4 men killed - December 9, 1902

Dorrance Shaft - Wilkes-Barre - Carriage Hoisted
Against Wheel - 4

Coal Miners Memorial Mine Disasters image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 26, 2017
6. Coal Miners Memorial Mine Disasters
men killed - March 6, 1904

Buttonwood Shaft, Dynamite Explosion
4 men killed - February 17, 1906

Buttonwood Shaft, Gas Explosion
4 men killed - December 6, 1906

Port Blanchard No. 14 Shaft - Gas Explosion
4 men killed - August 22, 1907

South Wilkes-Barre No. 5 - Gas Explosion
4 men killed - September 21, 1907

South Wilkes-Barre No. 5 - Gas Explosion
4 men killed - July 17, 1912

Woodward, Edwardsville - Gas Explosion
4 men killed - April 1914

Kingston Coal Company - Gas Explosion
4 men killed - October 10, 1930

West End, Mocanaqua - Gas Explosion
4 men killed - October 25, 1931

Inman Shaft, Buttonwood Colliery, Gas Explosion
4 men killed - March 29, 1951

Many other disasters are recorded at Wyoming Historical & Genealogical Society, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

[Memorial dedicated] October 25, 1987


 
Erected 1987 by Coal Miners Memorial Monument Committee and Concerned Citizens and Organizations.
 
Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Civil RightsDisastersIndustry & CommerceLabor Unions. A significant historical date for this entry is May 17, 1890.
 
Location. 41° 14.476′ N, 75° 56.562′ W. Marker is in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, in Luzerne County. Marker is
Coal Miners Memorial Mine Disasters image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 26, 2017
7. Coal Miners Memorial Mine Disasters
at the intersection of Main Street (U.S. 11) and Carolina Street, on the right when traveling east on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 114 East Main Street, Plymouth PA 18651, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Arthur Horace James (1883-1973) (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Agnes Flood Line (approx. 0.2 miles away); War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Gulf War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sergeant Sherwood Baker (approx. 0.3 miles away); Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); 28th Infantry Division Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); World War I Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Plymouth.
 
Also see . . .
1. History of Anthracite Coal Mining. (Submitted on July 9, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. History of the Pennsylvania Anthracite Region. (Submitted on July 9, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Coal Miner Records at Pennsylvania Historical and Museums Commission Archives. (Submitted on July 9, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. Anthracite Coal Region of Northeastern Pennsylvania. (Submitted on July 9, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
 
Coal Miners Memorial Mine Disasters image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 26, 2017
8. Coal Miners Memorial Mine Disasters
Coal Miners Memorial Mine Disasters image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 26, 2017
9. Coal Miners Memorial Mine Disasters
Coal Miners Memorial image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 26, 2017
10. Coal Miners Memorial
Anthracite Coal at Coal Miners Memorial image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 26, 2017
11. Anthracite Coal at Coal Miners Memorial
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on July 21, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,666 times since then and 110 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on July 9, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

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Mar. 28, 2024