Since we both had grandfathers and uncles who had worked in the coal mines of PA,
by husband and I planned a trip to tour the No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum.
It's located in Lansford, in the "coal region" situated north of the Pocono Mountains.
Coal was mined here from 1857 until 1972, at which time the mine claimed
the title of the longest running anthracite coal mine in the world.
In it's heyday, the mine produced 90,000 tons of coal each year.
The Number 9 Mine became a tourist attraction in 2002.
A museum of interesting artifacts and photos was added
to help preserve the history and the culture of the coal mines.
Ready to enter the mouth of the mine in the side of the mountain.
We rode this train on rails 1,600 feet deep into the mine.
Very dark, damp and chilly. Temperatures average 50 degrees year round.
This old mine cart can hold 8 tons of coal.
Our thoughts were on our ancestors, knowing they'd spent time in mines
similar poor working conditions, health risks, and dangers.
Anyone who had ancestors who worked in the mines should take this tour
or a similar one to really get the feel for what they experienced on a
daily basis. It gave us a new appreciation and respect for those men.
similar poor working conditions, health risks, and dangers.
Anyone who had ancestors who worked in the mines should take this tour
or a similar one to really get the feel for what they experienced on a
daily basis. It gave us a new appreciation and respect for those men.
This multi-lingual warning sign was in the museum.
Our Czechoslovakian, Polish, and Italian heritages were represented.
In time periods with no electric lighting, this miner's cap
was not for protection, but for the purpose of holding a light source.
was not for protection, but for the purpose of holding a light source.
A hand-painted mural with "The Coal Miner's Prayer."
(Close up below.)
A memorial to those in the mining industry...
...engraved with this Scripture:
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;
and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain:
for the former things are passed away."
Revelation 21:4
Here's the Number 9 Coal Mine & Museum's website.
In memory of those before us who earned a living in the coal mines of Pennsylvania:
John, George, Andy, John, Giulio, Marion and Carl.
