From plymouth and areas n, take route 11 s past syls auto and turn left into the plymouth twp. Content is available under creative commons attributionnoncommercialsharealike. Ceremony marks 59th anniversary of knox mine disaster. Jan 19, 2015 speakers at the ceremony included bob wolensky, author of several books about the knox mine disaster, and bill hastie, one of the workers who was on site the day of the disaster. Our main tools were two books, the knox mine disaster and the voices of the knox mine disaster, that guided us to make. From then on our focuse was to learn everything possible about the disaster. According to section 302 in the pennsylvania anthracite coal act, just one of 1,405 sections. Apr 20, 2010 failure to learn from knox mine disaster. This page was last edited on 15 january 2020, at 14. Nov 22, 2014 this video shows the location of the knox mine disaster and shows how it looks today as well as footage from 1959.
Jan 10, 2016 the knox disaster monument was dedicated on jan. Knox mine disasters my name is orloski and im employed by the knox company and ill lay my hands on the table for all to see. Josephs church, port griffith, near the site of the 1959 disaster, when 12 miners were entombed when the susquehanna river broke into the mine. A tenacious lawyer takes on a case involving a major company responsible for causing several people to be diagnosed with leukemia due to the towns water supply being contaminated, at the risk of bankrupting his firm and career. Read the poignant and often shocking firstperson accounts of those who lived. The river slope mine, under the ownership of the knox coal company, was one of many to be found in the northern anthracite coal field during the flourishing. Knox mine disaster documentary to be shown times news online. Failure to learn from knox mine disaster william c. Never miss a story choose the plan thats right for you. Report of the joint committee to investigate the knox mine disaster. Albert brocca thinks the footage contained in his new documentary about the 1959 knox mine disaster in jenkins twp. Rec park the soccerbaseball fields and service buildings are clearly visible. River slope mine inundation knox coal company, port. Read the poignant and often shocking firstperson accounts of those who lived through one of the most devastating disasters in american mining history.
The misericordia university department of history and government will celebrate mining history month with the presentation of the documentary, knox mine disaster, on friday, jan. The wolenskys have authored several books together, including fighting for the union label penn state, 2002, and voices of the knox mine disaster. Bob wolensky, author of two books on the knox mine disaster, points to the list of those who died in the disaster. May 29, 2019 over the years, hastie has been quoted in number author robert p. Speakers at the ceremony included bob wolensky, author of several books about the knox mine disaster, and bill hastie, one of the workers who was on site the day of the disaster. Knox mine disaster author bob wolensky points to the names of the. On january 22, 1959 the river broke into the mines. Robby griffith and craig smith read the may 20, 1902 frontpage coverage, and derek washington sings a song based on some letters written by miners trapped without hope of rescue. Robert wolensky, a professor and historian who wrote two books on the disaster, said the incident never should have happened. Mining music the knox mine disaster 1959 by tom flannery see also. Apr 21, 2016 the catastrophic explosion of fraterville mine in coal creek, tn killed 184 men and boys. Check out knox mine disaster documentary film on indiegogo. Knox mine disaster survivor hastie turns 100 times leader. Mocanaqua author signing books in berwick, wilkesbarre, and pottsville.
Hastie will be given a special tribute at that presentation as the last living survivor of the disaster. This event caused major changes in the mining laws of pennsylvania today. Maps of all mines should accurately show the boundary lines of the lands of the said coal mine or colliery and the proximity of the workings thereto, all pipelines, streams or other bodies of water, buildings and structures. John williams testimony, joint legislative committee to investigate the knox mine disaster, march 19, 1995, 893. Ceremony marks 59th anniversary of knox mine disaster times. The final years of the northern anthracite industry and the effort to rebuild a regional economy robert p. Because the book draws on the recollections of miners and. Filmmakers to screen knox mine disaster at pocono cinema. Bill hastie is last survivor of knox mine disaster the. Stories, remembrances, and reflections on the anthracite coal industrys last major catastrophe. The knox mine disaster pennsylvania center for the book. As a lifelong resident of northeastern pennsylvania, music journalist and author maxim w. The knox mine disaster may have been the pittston areas most unusual mining disaster, but it wasnt the worst by quite some way. Over the years, hastie has been quoted in number author robert p.
Furek has always been interested in finding out what really happened during the sheppton mine disaster. Because the book draws on the recollections of miners and their families, industry officials, and individuals involved in the legal aftermath of the disaster, it is an epic drama that is as spellbinding as it is sensational. Stories, remembrances, and reflections on the anthracite coal industrys last major catastrophe, january 22, 1959 wolensky, robert p. Williams exited while three rockmen filled one last car. Wolenskys books on the knox mine disaster and the two coauthored a book entitled anthracite labor wars. The pennsylvania center for the book knox mine disaster. Historic knoxville news podcast knox county public library.
The knox mine disaster also exposed the corrupt tactics of united mine workers officials, mine management, and mafiaconnected interests in the mid20th century. Knox mine disaster examines this coal mining tragedy that occurred in the anthracite region of northeastern pennsylvania and sheds light into the life of the hard coal miner. The knox mine disaster was a mining accident that took place in the port griffith village of jenkins township, pennsylvania, near pittston, on january 22, 1959. Misericordia university to present documentary on knox mine. Wolensky is assistant professor of sociology at winona state university.
Knox mine disaster victims remembered news citizens voice. Our main tools were two books, the knox mine disaster and the voices of. This film showcases survival through adversity the hope, faith, and courage needed to fight your way out of a dreadful situation. New book digs up dark secrets of sheppton mine disaster, nepa. Near the entrance of the river slope mine this stone commemorates the twelve miners who died in 1959.
The knox company wanted this to be lowered to 35 feet. Apr 21, 2009 from then on our focuse was to learn everything possible about the disaster. Jan 20, 2019 albert brocca thinks the footage contained in his new documentary about the 1959 knox mine disaster in jenkins twp. After a significant rise in temperature over a few days preceding the incident, the susquehanna river began to thaw and climb to a staggering twentytwo feet on january 22nd. Knox mine disaster news newspapers books scholar jstor october 2018 learn how and when to remove this template.
The knox mine disaster was a mining accident on january 22, 1959 at the river slope mine in. Kenneth wolensky, a historian who cowrote a book on the knox mine disaster, said northeastern pennsylvania was an area whose entire. Knox mine disasters my name is orloski and im employed by the knox company and ill lay my hands on the table for all to see i come from miners whose ghosts they follow me down and watch my back when the roof turns into the ground. The knox mine disaster left 12 men dead and an economy in ruins. Assistant foreman, jack williams, found the stone roof had cracked and water shot into the chamber. New documentary spotlights knox mine disaster news citizens. The 1959 knox mine disaster may not have the same name recognition of the centralia mine fire. The knox mine disaster was a mining accident on january 22, 1959 at the river slope mine in jenkins township, pennsylvania.
Jan 21, 2018 bob wolensky, author of two books on the knox mine disaster, points to the list of those who died in the disaster. New documentary spotlights knox mine disaster news. The knox mine disaster was a mining accident that took place in the greater pittston, port griffith, pennsylvania, near pittston, on january 22, 1959. This year, as part of mining history month, there will be a special presentation, the knox mine disaster commemoration at the anthracite heritage museum in scranton saturday. President obama promised to strengthen oversight of the mining industry last week in the wake of the devastating explosion at west virginias upper big branch mine. Local residents recall knox mine disaster news citizens voice. This video shows the location of the knox mine disaster and shows how it looks today as well as footage from 1959. The hole was an estimated 150 feet in diameter, funneling in 10 million gallons of water and ice like a bathtub drain. As worker abuse and working conditions continued without. The fraterville mine disaster knox county public library. Knox mine disaster is the story of anthracite, the men who mined it, a community that depended on it, and the disaster that ended it.
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