January 5, 2025 - A regional observance of Anthracite Mining Heritage Month takes place in January and a variety of programs will be featured in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Plymouth, Pittston, Ashley, Hazleton, Hazle Twp., Bethlehem and Pottsville.

The annual event focuses on the history and culture of the anthracite region of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Jan. 10 — EPCAMR and Earth Conservancy, Public Program: Digging into Our Anthracite Mining History: Famous People, Historic Preservation, and Abandoned Mines; Moderator: Bobby Hughes, EPCAMR, Update on EPCAMR and Earth Conservancy Projects; Speakers: Chris Murley, Underground Miners, The Process of Opening the Brooks Mine in Scranton; Ed Philbin, Industrial Archives & Library, Dan Flood’s Direction on the Use of Anthracite Coal for U.S. Military Bases during the War; Don Kane Jr. and Bill Landmesser, Huber Breaker Preservation Society, Plans for the Wanamie Lokie No. 9, the Multi-Media Center/Museum, and the No. 5 Slope Opening and Huber Breaker History; Mike Korb, Anthracite Chapter-Society of Mining Engineers, The Carnegie Hero Medal Awardees from the Anthracite Region; Venue: Earth Conservancy (101 S. Main Street, Ashley); Time: 6 – 8:30 p.m.

Jan. 12 — Greater Pittston Historical Society, Public Program: Historical Places, Historical Markers; Moderator: Julio Caprari, GPHS; Speakers: Lucia Dailey, The Strike of 1877 Historical Marker (Scranton); Bill Best, Anthracite Preservationist—The Huber Breaker Memorial Park (Ashley); Thomas Mackaman, King’s College and Anthracite Heritage Foundation, The Baltimore Tunnel Mine Disaster (1919) Marker, Wilkes-Barre Township; Vinnie Rotondaro, Historical Researcher, The Need for an Historical Marker for the Murdered (in 1920) Pittston Police Detective Samuel Lucchino; Venue: St. Joseph Morello Hall (237 William St., Pittston); Time: 6 p.m.

Jan. 15 — Wilkes-Barre Preservation Society, Public Program: A Guided Tour of the Luzerne County Court House; Guide: Tony Brooks, President, WBPS; Meet: Court House Lobby; Time: Noon.

Jan. 15 — Eckley Miners Village (PHMC), Public Program: Discovery Discourse Virtual Lectures—Foodways of the Past (focusing on the ways in which food has been the catalyst for everything from community building in anthracite to wartime propaganda); Moderator: Nicole Negron, PHMC; Speaker: Justin Nordstrom, Penn State–Hazleton; Venue: Virtual; Time: 1 p.m 

Jan. 16 — Penn-Anthracite Society of Mining Engineers, Public Program: Moderator: John Ackerman, Penn-Anthracite SME; Speaker  David Williams, Mining Engineer and Professional Land Surveyor; The Battle of the Crater and the 48th Pennsylvania, July 30, 1864; Venue: Hazle Twp. Building (101 W. 27th St., Hazle Twp.); Time: 6 p.m.

Jan. 17 — A Reception and Discussion for the “The Knox Mine Disaster” Documentary Exhibit; With Filmmaker Dave Brocca; Mineworker Chris Murley, The Underground Miners; and Researcher Bob Wolensky, King’s College; Venue: Everhart Museum (1901 Mulberry St, Scranton, PA); Music: Lex Romaine; Time: 6 p.m.; Entry Fee to the Museum required; cash bar and refreshments available.

Jan. 18 — Anthracite Heritage Museum, Informational Program: An Industrial History Tour to the United Kingdom, May 12 – May 20, 2025; Sponsored by the Anthracite Heritage Museum; A discussion of the itinerary, lodgings, guided tours, and costs will be presented including the Itinerary in Scotland, the Itinerary in England; and the Itinerary in Wales; Tour Leaders: Bode Morin, Beth Landmesser, and Bob Wolensky, who will be accompanied on the trip by UK Blue Badge Guides; Venue: AHM; Time: 12:30 p.m. View the tour at www.anthracitemuseum.org/united-kingdom-industrial-heritage-tour-2024/

Jan. 18— Anthracite Heritage Museum, Public Program: The Annual Knox Mine Disaster Commemoration—The Importance and Bright Future of Mining: An Overview and Exhibit; Moderator: Bode Morin, Administrator, AHM; Speaker: John Voight, Section Delegate, Penn-Anthracite Section SME; Bryan Glahn, Teacher, Northwest Area High School, Comment on the Knox Mine Disaster; Music: Don Shappelle and Don Sennett; Mining Artifacts Exhibit: Mike and Linda Mostardi, Wayne, PA; Venue: AHM (22 Bald Mountain Road, Scranton, Scranton); Time: 2 p.m. Zoom link: us02web.zoom.us/j/86319215430?pwd=r3biRhxqXqJode5XH0k3578FSdefGr.1

Jan. 19 — Knox Mine Disaster Memorial Mass: Venue: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (36 William St., Pittston); Time: 9 a.m.; Knox Mine Disaster Historical Markers Commemoration: Venue: Baloga Funeral Home (1201 Main St., Pittston), Pittston; Time: 10:15 a.m.; Annual Walk to the Knox Mine Disaster break-in Site at the Susquehanna River (weather permitting); Venue: Meet at Baloga Funeral Home at 10:45 a.m; Walk Leaders: Bill Best and Bill Landmesser.

Jan. 19 — An Afternoon of Anthracite Region Music; Performers: Don Shappelle and the Pickups, Coal Mining Songs; Doug Smith, Jimmy Waitlich, Tom Hamilton, and R. J. Kennedy Band, Contemporary and Jazz; John Stanky & The Coal Miners, Polkas, Waltzes, and Traditional; Venue: Susquehanna Brewing Company (635 S. Main St., Pittston); Time: 4 p.m.

Jan. 20 — Plymouth Historical Society, Public Program; Speakers: Joe Slusser, PHS, The Tools that Kept the Miners Working: The Howell Mine Drilling Company; and David Youells, Mining Lamps in Anthracite; Venue: First Welsh Baptist Church (163 Girard Ave and Shawnee Ave., Plymouth); Time: 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 22 — Anthracite Heritage Museum, Public Program: Six Anthracite Region Personalities. Moderator: John Fielding, AHM; Speakers: Lucia Dailey, William W. Scranton: A Man of His Times; Anne Flaherty, Who Was John Kehoe?; Sarah Piccini, Msgr. John Curran, The Labor Priest; Maureen McGuigen—Min Matheson, Ladies Garment Union Leader; William Conlogue, Thomas Meredith: Early Mining in the Lackawanna Valley; Bob Wolensky, Mary Harris ‘Mother Jones,’ Labor Organizer; Venue: Anthracite Heritage Museum (22 Bald Mountain Road, Scranton, Scranton); Time: 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 23 — King’s College and the Anthracite Heritage Foundation, Public Program: The Annual Msgr. John J. Curran Lecture; Featured Speaker: Anne Flaherty, The Kehoe Foundation, St. Leonard, MD; John Kehoe: “Molly Maguire” or Hibernian Pacifist?; Moderator: Thomas Mackaman, King’s College; Venue: Burke Auditorium, King’s College, (133 N. River Street, Wilkes-Barre); Time: 7 p.m.

Jan. 23 — Anthracite Heritage Foundation, Book Award for 2025; Presenter: Bob Wolensky, King’s College; Recipient: Anne Flaherty, Kehoe Foundation (for The Passion of John Kehoe and the Myth of the “Molly Maguires,” Hibernian Press, 2023); Venue: Burke Auditorium, King’s College; Time: immediately preceding the Annual Curran Lecture (see above).

Jan. 24 — Two Screenings of “The Knox Mine Disaster” documentary with an introduction by the filmmaker, David Brocca; Venue: The Scranton Arts Haus Theatre (301 Lackawanna Ave, Scranton); Screening Times: 6:20 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Purchase tickets at Knox Mine Disaster Facebook Page ($10); Refreshments (including dinner) will be available for purchase.

Jan. 25 — Underground Miners and the Everhart Museum, Public Program: Closing One of the Last Anthracite Deep Mines in Northeastern Pennsylvania, 2021; Presenters: Chris Murley, Underground Miners and Tim Holmes, Everhart Museum; Venue: Everhart Museum (1901 Mulberry St, Scranton); Time: 2 p.m.

Jan. 25  — Underground Miners, Public Program: Free Guided Tours of the Brooks Mine; Tour Guides: Mark Izak, Scott Kerkowski, and Chris Murley; Venue: Brooks Mine (Nay Aug Park, Scranton); Time: 3:45 p.m.

Jan. 25 — Eckley Miners Village (PHMC), In-person Public Program; Moderator: Bode Morin, Administrator; Speaker: Justin Emershaw, Atlantic Carbon Inc., The Hazleton Shaft Colliery: Dethroning Hazleton’s Industrial Era; Venue: Eckley Miners Village (2 Eckley Main St., Weatherly; Time: 2 p.m.

Jan. 26   — Lackawanna Historical Society, Public Program: Artistic Expressions in Anthracite; Host: Mary Ann Moran-Savakinus, LHS; Moderator: Philip Mosley, Emeritus, Penn State University-Scranton; Speakers: Charles Petrillo, Wilkes-Barre (Film); Chester Kulesa, Scranton (Photography); Richard Stanislaus, Scranton (Art); Venue: Catlin House, LHS (232 Monroe Ave, Scranton); Time: 2 p.m.

Jan. 26  — National Museum of Industrial History, Public Program: Moderator: Mike Piersa, Historian, NMIH; Speaker: Dane Rhys, Visual Journalist, A Visit to the Last Operating Anthracite Mine in Wales; Venue: NMIH (602 E. 2nd St., Bethlehem); Time: 1 p.m.

Jan. 29  — Reading Anthracite Company; Moderator: Eric Bella, Mining Engineer; Speaker: Mike Szilagyi, AICP; The Schuylkill Navigation Canal System; Venue: Alvernia University–Pottsville Towne Campus (500 Progress Ave., Pottsville); Time: 6 p.m.

Jan.  30  — Luzerne County Historical Society, Public Program: Speaker: Mark Riccetti, Director of Operations and Programs, LCHS; Jacob Cist (1782-1825), Pennsylvania Anthracite Pioneer; Venue: LCHS Museum (69 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre); Time: 7 p.m.

Jan. 30 — A Lehigh Engineering Public Program: Moderator: Eric Bella, Mining Engineer; Speaker: Nick Zmijewski, Industrial Archives & Library; In Search of the Wanamie Colliery: A Journey Through the Lens of Michael A. Eagleson; Venue: Alvernia University–Pottsville Towne Campus (500 Progress Ave., Pottsville); Time: 6  p.m.