The annual observance, according to an event release, focuses on the history and culture of the anthracite region.

Program sponsors include the Anthracite Heritage Foundation, Anthracite Heritage Museum, King’s College, Lackawanna Historical Society, Luzerne County Historical Society, WVIA-Public Broadcasting, Eckley Miners’ Village Museum, Plymouth Historical Society, Nanticoke Historical Society, Greater Pittston Historical Society, Penn State University-Scranton, Lansford No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum, Underground Miners, National Museum of Industrial History, Anthracite Chapter-Society of Mining Engineers, Earth Conservancy, Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Susquehanna Brewing Co., Baloga Funeral Home and the Knox Mine Disaster Memorial Committee.

With January marked as Anthracite Mining Heritage Month, a range of programs has been scheduled throughout northeastern Pennsylvania, including in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Hazle Twp., Ashley, Plymouth, Pittston, Nanticoke, Bethlehem, Barnesville and Pottsville. 

The public is welcome to attend the events, most of which are free.

The itinerary includes programs in Schuylkill and nearby counties as follows:

• Jan. 18: Penn-Anthracite Society of Mining Engineers program on “The History of Anthracite: Past, Present and Future,” 6:30 p.m. at Mountain Valley Club House, 1021 Brockton Mountain Drive, Barnesville, with refreshments.

• Jan. 25: Reading Anthracite Public Program, speaker Eric Bella, mining engineer, on “History of Philadelphia and Reading Coal & Iron Company and Reading Anthracite,” 6:30 to 7 p.m. at Reading Anthracite Building, 200 Mahantongo St., Pottsville, with refreshments. Parking is available at the Mahantongo Parking Garage across the street from the building.

• Jan. 27: Lansford No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum, 9 Dock St., with tour leader Zach Petroski, president, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for entire program, including lecture and book signing by Mitch Troutman, author of “The Bootleg Coal Rebellion” (2022); also with refreshments.

• Jan. 31: Pennsylvania Anthracite Society of Mining Engineers, with speaker David Williams, on “The Sheppton Mine Disaster of 1963,” 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Hazle Twp. Municipal Building, 101 W. 27th St., Hazle Twp., near Hazleton, with refreshments.

For more information and a complete list of scheduled events, contact professor Bob Wolensky, Anthracite Heritage Foundation and King’s College, by calling 715-252-6742 or emailing rwolensk@gmail.com.