The Historical and Preservation Society of the Greater Shickshinny Area invite the public to attend its upcoming meeting on October 10, 2010 at its museum and repository at the FLT Building in on North Main Street, Shickshinny. The general membership meeting will be held at 1 PM.
The Historical Society will welcome Georgetta Potoski, President of the Plymouth Historical Society as the speaker who will talk about ethnic struggles in the Plymouth area at the turn of the century. Her presentation will follow the meeting.
In addition, members will also discuss upcoming fundraising events as well as the latest progress in the renovation of the FLT Building.
Meetings are also scheduled for November 12 where the Society will welcome Shickshinny’s Don Hargraves who will narrate a video from the 1960 Centennial Parade. On December 12, local historian Roger Gilbert will conduct a presentation on the Powder Hole.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
This Day in History - September 17
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On September 17, 1900, The New York Times continued its series of articles about what they dubbed one of the greatest labor outages in the country’s history; the miners’ strike stemmed from a labor dispute with coal operators throughout Wyoming Valley.
However, at Mocanaqua’s West End Colliery, things were different.
When everyone else refused to work, miners in Mocanaqua went to work.
“When the whistles blew this morning for the commencement of work there were very few men in sight. The pumpmen and runners were on hand to go to their posts, but miners and laborers were conspicuous by their absence. Some distance from the collieries, watchers were stationed. They were there to see if any of the miners intended to go to work. When they found that the men remained away, they returned to the United Mine Workers’ headquarters and reported. By 9 o’clock Present Nicholls had reports from every mine in the district. They were very encouraging, showing that all had closed down, with the exception of the one at Mocanaqua.”
Through the Valley, more than 22,000 miners were off the job.
Union bosses were expected to make the rounds again on the following day to encourage miners to not go back to work – evening Mocanaqua where workers said they were ‘satisfied with the conditions of things.’
From the New York Times, September 18, 1900
However, at Mocanaqua’s West End Colliery, things were different.
When everyone else refused to work, miners in Mocanaqua went to work.
“When the whistles blew this morning for the commencement of work there were very few men in sight. The pumpmen and runners were on hand to go to their posts, but miners and laborers were conspicuous by their absence. Some distance from the collieries, watchers were stationed. They were there to see if any of the miners intended to go to work. When they found that the men remained away, they returned to the United Mine Workers’ headquarters and reported. By 9 o’clock Present Nicholls had reports from every mine in the district. They were very encouraging, showing that all had closed down, with the exception of the one at Mocanaqua.”
Through the Valley, more than 22,000 miners were off the job.
Union bosses were expected to make the rounds again on the following day to encourage miners to not go back to work – evening Mocanaqua where workers said they were ‘satisfied with the conditions of things.’
From the New York Times, September 18, 1900
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
September 15, 1900
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On September 15, 1900 Mocanaqua’s West End Colliery was one of a number of coal operations up and down the Wyoming Valley where its workers were getting ready for a strike. The New York Times reported ‘the West End Coal Company men at Mocanaqua reported nearly all employees at work’ and that ‘many of the foreign element were noticed about the mines’ (meaning a large number of its workers were not native born). The Times was anticipating ‘what may prove the greatest strike in the history of the labor world’ and that it would be one of the ‘darkest days of anthracite.’
Workers were fighting for higher wages and better working conditions.
The NYT article also gives insight into the management of the West End Coal Company in Mocanaqua. The writer (who wasn’t named in the archived report) said the mine operators were waiting for developments and that ‘many are of the opinion that the novelty of the thing will wear off in a few days’ meaning there would be a rush for work once again. It also said the mine employed about 5,000 people – mostly of Hungarian and Slavic descent.
John Conyngham, West End’s president, was quoted as saying that only five percent of the miners working in Mocanaqua belonged to the union and that even after the mine shut down for the day notices were posted that the union would strike.
Workers were fighting for higher wages and better working conditions.
The NYT article also gives insight into the management of the West End Coal Company in Mocanaqua. The writer (who wasn’t named in the archived report) said the mine operators were waiting for developments and that ‘many are of the opinion that the novelty of the thing will wear off in a few days’ meaning there would be a rush for work once again. It also said the mine employed about 5,000 people – mostly of Hungarian and Slavic descent.
John Conyngham, West End’s president, was quoted as saying that only five percent of the miners working in Mocanaqua belonged to the union and that even after the mine shut down for the day notices were posted that the union would strike.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Welcome!
To all those who have ‘Googled’ Shickshinny and came up with few places to go – welcome! To those of you who know the address of our site – welcome! To those of you who are here to learn about local history – welcome!
The Historical and Preservation Society of the Greater Shickshinny Area was created in the early part of the new millennium to help share the knowledge of the local history of the ‘land of the five mountains.' So far, we’ve been able to collect pictures and artifacts as well as oral histories from some of our older members.
We’ve come a long way.
We started out hopping to different venues around the area and we now have a home. Even though it’s not quite ready, the FLT Building (the former Odd Fellow’s Building next to the CVS) is where we hold meetings. Soon, we'll have a museum for everyone to see.
We did this in conjunction with the Business Association of the Greater Shickshinny Area to help save an old building from the wrecking ball and to add community space for our little corner of the world. When it’s done it will be the cornerstone of the community and something that everyone will be proud of.
If you'd like to join, drop us an email and we’ll be more than happy to get you involved!
Everyone has something to share, regardless of their roots and regardless of their abilities.
In the next days and weeks, you can read about local history, find out about our upcoming meetings, and other things that we’re doing.
Our email address is: shickshinnyareahistory@gmail.com
Meetings are held on the second Sunday of the month at 1 PM at the FLT Building and usually have a speaker. We do not have meetings in June, July, or August.
Thanks for stopping by and make sure you bookmark us!
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