Several dozen people gathered at the site of the Avondale Mine Disaster on Saturday, commemorating the 145 years since a mine fire took the lives of 108 miners and 2 men attempting their rescue.
Several of those lost were boys as young as 12, who had simply wanted to go to work with their fathers. They did not realize as they made their way down the shaft, they would not be coming back.
At the site of the disaster, 110 American flags were placed at the Avondale Mine Disaster Memorial. A seperate ceremony was held at Washburn Cementery in Scranton, where many of the dead were burried.
“Anthracite mining in 1869 was very efficient with coal being brought to the surface, processed and placed on rail cars in a timely way,” said Stephen Kondrad, of the Plymouth Historical Society. “But it was not yet safe.”
He said although the disaster was indeed tragic and took many men away from their families, it did compel legislation the following year aimed at making coal mines a safer place for those who worked there.”
“The legislation directed there be two avenues of entry and exit in each mine.” Kondrad said. “Before that, miners knew they were sitting ducks in the event of an emergency.”
Kondrad said he believed the fire was deliberately set in response to tensions after a summer-long strike.
Sharon Powell of Ashley attended the Plymouth Township memorial in memory of her great-uncle William Wildrich, who was lost in the disaster.
Powell addressed attendees saying some of those who had worked in the mines during the late 1800s had travelled from other areas, willing to make a huge sacrifice to improve the lives of their families.
Many of the miners lost had come from Wales where coal mining was a way a life.
After the disaster, the First Welsh Baptist Church on Main Street is said to have been reduced simply to women and children.
Mary Beth Kondrad, of the Plymouth Historical Society, said residents stepped up in support of their neighbors after the disaster. She displayed checks written for thousands of dollars.
Mary Beth, dressed in the mourning garb of that period, said she could only imagine the depth of sorrow as women lost their husbands, their incomes and stability for their children, all in one morning.
Michelle Schasberger, of the Wilkes-Barre YMCA, said the event was part of Luzerne County’s Keystone Active Zone program, encouraging area residents to take part to gain a sense of history.
Robert Hughes, executive director of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, lauded the historical society and area residents with revamping the memorial site.
“I especially remember students from Wilkes-Barre Vo-Tech’s horticultural class, working in the rain to plant flowers,” said Hughes.
He said state funding received for the project was pivotal in refreshing the memorial, removing trash and installing fencing to beautify the area.
A gate has also been installed preventing the illegal dumping of trash at the site.
7 September 2014
http://www.timesleader.com/news/home_top-local-news/50271112/Victims-of-Avondale-Mine-Disaster-remembered
