Carbondale Township in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Terence Powderly and National Labor Movements / A Valley of Firsts

Lackawanna River Heritage Trail

Terence Powderly <i>and</i> National Labor Movements Marker (front) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 26, 2018

1. Terence Powderly and National Labor Movements Marker (front)

Inscription.

Terence Powderly and National Labor Movements, also, A Valley of Firsts. Lackawanna River Heritage Trail.

Terence Powderly and National Labor Movements

Terence Powderly grew from child laborer in Carbondale to a leader in the national labor movement.

Terence Vincent Powderly , Terence Vincent Powderly was born in Carbondale on January 22, 1849, the son of Irish immigrants. Like many children of the period, he left school at an early age to work in local industry. As a young man, he dedicated himself to helping working men and women gain much needed rights. In 1871, he moved to Scranton where he was hired as a machinist. He immediately joined the Knights of Labor. He later served three terms as Mayor of Scranton.

Shortly after settling in the mayor's office, Powderly was nominated and then elected to head the Knights of Labor, one of the largest, most powerful, and most diverse labor organizations of the 19th century.

Powderly served as Grand Master Workman for fourteen years until his resignation in 1893. The following year, he was admitted to the Lackawanna County bar, a self-taught attorney. He was appointed U.S. Commissioner General of Immigration in 1897 by President William McKinley, a position he held until 1902. He later worked for the Bureau of Immigration from 1907 to 1921. He died in 1924 and is buried at Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

A Valley of Firsts

Much of the history of the Upper Lackawanna Valley reflects that stories of anthracite, railroading, industry, and immigration that are common across the Northern Coal Field. Many important "firsts" occurred in the Upper Valley. These events shaped the history of the larger region.

William and Maurice Wurts discovered anthracite coal near Carbondale. They sunk the nation's first deep underground mine in June 1831 and they built the first anthracite breaker, the Racket Brook Breaker. They also built a gravity railroad that moved the coal over the Moosic Mountains to Honesdale and on to the New York market. Their enterprise, the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, became the first privately financed million-dollar company in the U.S.

As mining took hold, European immigrants arrived from dozens of countries, carrying their cultures with them. The Welsh in the Upper Valley were no exception. On Christmas Day in 1850, the first "eisteddfod" in America (a Welsh festival) was held in Carbondale. Three years later, the first American lodge of an ancient Welsh fraternal order, the Ivorites, was established here.

Social responsibility has strong roots in the Upper Valley. Terence Powderly, head of the Knights of Labor in the 1880s, was born in Carbondale. Alongside other prominent figures in the national labor movement, including John Mitchell of the United Mine Workers and Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, Powderly's leadership gave voice to and sought fair treatment for all who labored in mines and mills.

Unfortunately mine accidents, both large and small, were all too common. The well-recognized medical concept now known as "First Aid" was developed in Jermyn and taught at the Windsor Hotel. The purpose of the classes was to teach miners basic knowledge to assist injured workers until they could reach a doctor. Today, these rescuers are known as "First Responders."

[Photo captions, from top to bottom, read] , . Incline slope of the Gravity Railroad at Racket Brook.

. John Mitchell monument in Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton.

. D&H Gravity Railroad, circa 1898.

Terence Powderly and National Labor Movements

Terence Powderly grew from child laborer in Carbondale to a leader in the national labor movement.

Terence Vincent Powderly
Terence Vincent Powderly was born in Carbondale on January 22, 1849, the son of Irish immigrants. Like many children of the period, he left school at an early age to work in local industry. As a young man, he dedicated himself to helping working men and women gain much needed rights. In 1871, he moved to Scranton where he was hired as a machinist. He immediately joined the Knights of Labor. He later served three terms as Mayor of Scranton.

Shortly after settling in the mayor's office, Powderly was nominated and then elected to head the Knights of Labor—one of the largest, most powerful, and most diverse labor organizations of the 19th century.

Powderly served as Grand Master Workman for fourteen years until his resignation in 1893. The following year, he was admitted to the Lackawanna County bar—a self-taught attorney. He was appointed U.S. Commissioner General of Immigration in 1897 by President William McKinley, a position he held until 1902. He later worked for the Bureau of Immigration from 1907 to 1921. He died in 1924 and is buried at Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

A Valley of Firsts

Much

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of the history of the Upper Lackawanna Valley reflects that stories of anthracite, railroading, industry, and immigration that are common across the Northern Coal Field. Many important "firsts" occurred in the Upper Valley. These events shaped the history of the larger region.

<i>A Valley of Firsts</i> Marker (back) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 26, 2018

2. A Valley of Firsts Marker (back)

"Mother" Jones, Powderly's leadership gave voice to and sought fair treatment for all who labored in mines and mills.

[Photo captions, from top to bottom, read]
• Incline slope of the Gravity Railroad at Racket Brook.

• John Mitchell monument in Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton.

• D&H Gravity Railroad, circa 1898.

Erected by Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Labor Unions • Railroads & Streetcars • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #25 William McKinley series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 22, 1849.

Location. 41° 33.091′ N, 75° 31.668′ W. Marker is near Carbondale, Pennsylvania, in Lackawanna County. It is in Carbondale Township. Marker is on Meredith Street east of Main Street (Business

Terence Powderly <i>and</i> National Labor Movements / <i>A Valley of Firsts</i> Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 26, 2018

3. Terence Powderly and National Labor Movements / A Valley of Firsts Marker

Looking south along the LHV Trail

U.S. 6), on the right when traveling east. Marker is at the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail's Meredith Street Trailhead. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Main St, Carbondale PA 18407, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Saint John's Church War Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); World Wars Memorial (approx. one mile away); War Memorial (approx. 1.1 miles away); From Mine to Market (approx. 1.7 miles away); The Gravity Railroad (approx. 1.7 miles away); Mining Methods (approx. 1.7 miles away); First Aid Pioneer (approx. 1.7 miles away); The First Underground Anthracite Mine (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Carbondale.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. Terence Powderly Bio. (Submitted on January 2, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Terence Powderly USCIS Bio. (Submitted on January 2, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Knights of Labor History. (Submitted on January 2, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. Delaware and Hudson Canal. (Submitted on January 2, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
5. History of anthracite coal mining in Pennsylvania at Wikipedia. (Submitted on January 2, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
6. Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. (Submitted on January 2, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

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Additional keywords. Terence Powderly and National Labor Movements / A Valley of Firsts

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 2, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 264 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 2, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.