Rec park the soccerbaseball fields and service buildings are clearly visible. New documentary spotlights knox mine disaster news. The pennsylvania center for the book knox mine disaster. The knox mine disaster was a mining accident on january 22, 1959 at the river slope mine in. Local residents recall knox mine disaster news citizens voice. 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. This film showcases survival through adversity the hope, faith, and courage needed to fight your way out of a dreadful situation. This event caused major changes in the mining laws of pennsylvania today. Report of the joint committee to investigate the knox mine.
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. Kenneth wolensky, a historian who cowrote a book on the knox mine disaster, said northeastern pennsylvania was an area whose entire. The final years of the northern anthracite industry and the effort to rebuild a regional economy robert p. The disaster occurred when workers were ordered to dig illegally under the susquehanna river without proper safety precautions, creating a hole in the riverbed which caused the river to flood into the many interconnected. As worker abuse and working conditions continued without. 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.
The knox mine disaster left 12 men dead and an economy in ruins. Apr 21, 2009 from then on our focuse was to learn everything possible about the disaster. 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. River slope mine inundation knox coal company, port. Furek has always been interested in finding out what really happened during the sheppton mine disaster. Robert wolensky, a professor and historian who wrote two books on the disaster, said the incident never should have happened. The wolenskys have authored several books together, including fighting for the union label penn state, 2002, and voices of the knox mine disaster. According to section 302 in the pennsylvania anthracite coal act, just one of 1,405 sections. Check out knox mine disaster documentary film on indiegogo. The fraterville mine disaster knox county public library. Josephs church, port griffith, near the site of the 1959 disaster, when 12 miners were entombed when the susquehanna river broke into the mine.
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 is the story of anthracite, the men who mined it, a community that depended on it, and the disaster that ended it. Knox mine disaster author bob wolensky points to the names of the. The knox mine disaster, a wvia original documentary film produced in 1984, features many firstperson accounts of the tragedy that helped mark the end of deep mining in much of the wyoming valley.
Hastie will be given a special tribute at that presentation as the last living survivor of the disaster. 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. Jan 20, 2019 albert brocca thinks the footage contained in his new documentary about the 1959 knox mine disaster in jenkins twp. The knox coal mine company built as a hub for transporting coal by road, railroad, and boat back when pittston was essential for mining and coal transportation. New documentary spotlights knox mine disaster news citizens. Jan 10, 2016 the knox disaster monument was dedicated on jan. 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.
Read the poignant and often shocking firstperson accounts of those who lived through one of the most devastating disasters in american mining history. Assistant foreman, jack williams, found the stone roof had cracked and water shot into the chamber. 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. Never miss a story choose the plan thats right for you. 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. A grand jury investigating the cave in found seven men guilty of involuntary manslaughter and three of them also guilt of conspiracy. As a lifelong resident of northeastern pennsylvania, music journalist and author maxim w. Apr 20, 2010 failure to learn from knox mine disaster. Report of the joint committee to investigate the knox mine disaster. The 1959 knox mine disaster may not have the same name recognition of the centralia mine fire. Because the book draws on the recollections of miners and. Near the entrance of the river slope mine this stone commemorates the twelve miners who died in 1959. Wolensky is assistant professor of sociology at winona state university.
May 29, 2019 over the years, hastie has been quoted in number author robert p. 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. Wolenskys books on the knox mine disaster and the two coauthored a book entitled anthracite labor wars. From then on our focuse was to learn everything possible about the disaster.
John williams testimony, joint legislative committee to investigate the knox mine disaster, march 19, 1995, 893. Knox mine disaster victims remembered news citizens voice. Ceremony marks 59th anniversary of knox mine disaster times. This page was last edited on 15 january 2020, at 14. Ceremony marks 59th anniversary of knox mine disaster.
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. The knox company wanted this to be lowered to 35 feet. 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 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 was a mining accident that took place in the port griffith village of jenkins township, pennsylvania, near pittston, on january 22, 1959. Wolensky, an area native and a sociology professor at the university of wisconsin, said in an interview last april. The river slope mine, an anthracite coal mine owned by the knox coal company, flooded when coal company management had the miners dig too close to the riverbed. Bob wolensky, author of two books on the knox mine disaster, points to the list of those who died in the disaster. Knox mine disaster survivor hastie turns 100 times leader. Historic knoxville news podcast knox county public library. On january 22, 1959 the river broke into the mines. Over the years, hastie has been quoted in number author robert p. Read the poignant and often shocking firstperson accounts of those who lived.
Our main tools were two books, the knox mine disaster and the voices of. New book digs up dark secrets of sheppton mine disaster, nepa. Content is available under creative commons attributionnoncommercialsharealike. The knox mine disaster was a mining accident that took place in the greater pittston, port griffith, pennsylvania, near pittston, on january 22, 1959. Stories, remembrances, and reflections on the anthracite coal industrys last major catastrophe, january 22, 1959 wolensky, robert p. Filmmakers to screen knox mine disaster at pocono cinema. From plymouth and areas n, take route 11 s past syls auto and turn left into the plymouth twp. Bill hastie is last survivor of knox mine disaster the. Stories, remembrances, and reflections on the anthracite coal industrys last major catastrophe. This video shows the location of the knox mine disaster and shows how it looks today as well as footage from 1959. Knox mine disaster documentary to be shown times news online.
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. Misericordia university to present documentary on knox mine. Apr 21, 2016 the catastrophic explosion of fraterville mine in coal creek, tn killed 184 men and boys. The hole was an estimated 150 feet in diameter, funneling in 10 million gallons of water and ice like a bathtub drain. Failure to learn from knox mine disaster william c. Knox mine disaster news newspapers books scholar jstor october 2018 learn how and when to remove this template. Williams exited while three rockmen filled one last car. 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. The knox mine disaster may have been the pittston areas most unusual mining disaster, but it wasnt the worst by quite some way. The knox mine disaster is much more than a history of an accidentor an industry, for that matter. In 1896 a massive explosion had caused a cavein that killed 58 miners at the newton coal companys twin shaft colliery.
The knox mine disaster pennsylvania center for the book. Our main tools were two books, the knox mine disaster and the voices of the knox mine disaster, that guided us to make. 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. 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. 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 mining era. Mocanaqua author signing books in berwick, wilkesbarre, and pottsville. Albert brocca thinks the footage contained in his new documentary about the 1959 knox mine disaster in jenkins twp. Mining music the knox mine disaster 1959 by tom flannery see also. Relive the drama of the knox mine disaster of january 22, 1959, through the voices of survivors, the victims families, contemporary newspaper accounts, and the literature and music generated by the tragedy.
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