Program to explore Westmoreland coal history
Westmoreland County’s deep coal mining history will be explored during a March 14 program at the Westmoreland History Education Center at Historic Hanna’s Town on Forbes Trail Road in Hempfield.
Marion Piccolomini, a native of Cardale, Fayette County and author of “Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Coal Region,” will speak about the area’s coal mining history at 1 p.m. Piccolomini, who lives in Phoenixcville, Chester County, is expected to share images from her book and discuss the relationship between coal, coke, and steel in early industry, the development of coal mining communities, and mine disasters, the Westmoreland County Historical Society said.
The book is filled with images of old photographs of coal mines and how the sites look today in Westmoreland and Fayette counties, as well as pictures of miner’s equipment. Patricularly poignant are the photographs of mine disasters, including a picture of the unidentified dead from the Darr Mine explosion in Rostraver in December 1907, which killed 239 men.
Children can learn about the history of coal mining with a read-aloud of “Out of The Deeps” by Anne Laurel Carter, at noon. This educational picture book tells the story of a young boy and his pit pony who work in a coal mine in the 1940s.
A pop-up exhibit of artifacts and documents related to coal mining in the county, in partnership with the Export Historical Society, will be displayed. Explore this exhibit, along with the exhibit in the Kendra Gallery, with a scavenger hunt for all ages
Efforts to mitigate abandoned mine drainage and restore water quality in local streams can be seen at a display about the Monastery Run Improvement Project, which consists of three passive treatment wetland systems on 20 acres of land owned by Saint Vincent Archabbey in Unity.
The Westmoreland Coal Heritage Day program, which will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., is free for historical society members. For non-members, the registration fee is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students through high school and free for children age 5 and younger.
Call 724-836-1800, ext. 210, to register for the book talk. Copies of Piccolomini’s book will be available in the Westmoreland History Shop and can be signed by the author.
For more information, call 724-836-1800 or visit history center’s website, www.westmorelandhistory.org
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
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