A Walk Back In Time, A Look Back at the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Area's Anthracite Coal Breakers 🇺🇲⛏️

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Hello, & welcome to my channel. This was a fun project for me to do. In this video, I share various postcards/photos/stereoviews & pieces of advertising from my own collection. In this video, I wanted to show scenes from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area solely. I'll do another video on other breakers in the other Anthracite coal fields. I'll also do a video on my Anthracite advertising items.
American Industrial History is my passion, it is my one calling in life. I absolutely love the historical anthracite coal mining era of Pennsylvania. I hold a bachelor's degree in History through Bloomsburg University, also a teaching degree through them (I do not use my teaching degree), I have also completed a good chunk of my master's degree with a concentration in American History specifically. I have not finished it yet because of finances! With this said, I have extensively researched the anthracite mining history of our region through not just print, but also physically as evident from this video. I started in 2003/2004 and it has become an expertise harnessed over decades (a life's work). There's always something new to learn, so please feel free to like & subscribe.
THANKS FOR WATCHING & ENJOY!
#anthracite #anthracitecoal #anthracitemining #abandoned #abandonedcoal #abanadonedcoalmine #pa #pennsylvania #shaft #mine #mining #coalmining #coalmine #industrial #industrialrevolution #miner #mines #hardcoal #ge #generalelectric #flory #minehoist #locomotive #locomotives #train #trains #minetrain #minetrains #labor #laborhistory #minecarriage #explore #exploring #us #usa #ushistory #history #pennsylvaniahistory #forgotten #forgottenhistory #lost #losthistory #heritage #past #americanheritage #americana #colliery #breaker #gildedage #gildedera #victorianera #victorian #victorianamerica #breakerboss #violence #abuse #death #deathinmines #deadly #blacklung #lungdisease #minersasthma #culmpile #coal #poverty #mineshaft
#1800s #1900s #energy #energyhistory #coalfields #anthracitecoalfields #freedom #remember #rememberingthepast #preservethepast #worker #wilkesbarre #scranton #plains #carbondale #plainspa #lehighvalley #lehighvalleycoal #lehighvalleycoalcompany #hudsoncoal #hudsoncoalcompany #delawareandhudson #delawareandhudsoncoal #delawareandhudsoncoalcompany #workers #asmr #asmrsounds #adventure #postcard #postcards #stereoview #stereoviews #coalbreaker #northernfield

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7 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 118

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

Believe it or not, this is just a small example of the sheer volume of coal breakers that were in the Northern Anthracite Coal Field alone...there were hundreds. This area was once an economic powerhouse. Not one breaker was saved. We fueled the American Industrial Revolution via these structures & not one was saved..

@paulwalsh2458 10 месяцев назад

My great grandfather and grandfather worked in the mines too. I remember there were still a few dilapidated breakers around when I was growing up. The Huber in Ashley was the last. Shame we didn't save it for our posterity.

@beardedjerky445 10 месяцев назад

So sad that they didn't preserve more especially due to the impact they had on growing this countries early boom years.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

@@beardedjerky445 true man, and the fact that the whole region exists because of coal solely.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 7 месяцев назад

@@Retired88M There are things that exist like this. Hahahahaha. My friends do this believe it or not.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 7 месяцев назад

@@Retired88M there are maps people have made on Google maps that people made with all the pins of the old breakers, routes of the old narrow gauge rail tracks, etc. Do you use Google maps?

@folday6169 8 месяцев назад

As kids, we could hang around hoist houses, shafts, mine slopes, and breakers and no one chased us off. Nothing was posted or fenced in. A favorite pastime of mine was to sit and watch loaded cars being pulled up the Continental slope or, occasionally, man cars being pulled up, filled with miners, at the end of a day’s shift. The mine was only a short distance from I lived on Bryan Mawr Street in West Scranton, the Sloan Patch, so named because the Sloan Shaft was located nearby.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 8 месяцев назад

That's FRIKEN awesome! What years would this have been?

@folday6169 8 месяцев назад

When I was a kid, we used to jump from the footbridge over the old DL&W hump yard in West Scranton into railroad cars loaded with pea and rice coal. We’d then repeat the process by crawling under adjacent cars and then back up onto the footbridge. Since the coal had been washed, we never got dirty, so our parents didn’t have a clue about what we had been up to. What fun! 😁

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 8 месяцев назад

That's madness. I love it. Did the coal company/railroad people ever catch you doing this?

@mineadventures7938 10 месяцев назад

I love post cards of architecture and old trucks, these are cool, thanks for sharing

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

Thanks for watching. Ya, they are cool, aren't they? I found some tires in these mines from the early 1900s/teens. I did my research on the tires because they looked so cool. Amazing what is down in these old mines.

@mineadventures7938 10 месяцев назад

@@AnthraciteHorrorStories - i seen some that were firestone and US Tire i think, very cool artifacts for sure

@robertstevens9656 10 месяцев назад

Fantastic photo history of the northern (Wyoming Valley,) coal fields and their colleries. One can tell by your passion for the history of your origins given both great grandfathers and grandfather, along with your dad's knowledge base is entirely based on Pennsylvania's contribution to our country's industrial revolution. Without these men, we're still back in the horse and buggy era. You should be teaching this stuff to our HS and College kids concerning Pennsylvania's history instead of which gender are you. I enjoy your stuff!! Keep it coming!

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

Hahahaha I love it Robert. Thank you very much buddy. I actually have a grade 7-12 teaching certification(s). It's just too political for me personally. You aren't allowed to teach what you want even in the history realm. I didn't like school when I was in school, so becoming a teacher wasn't the best move for me. The kids did like me though...I haven't been in a classroom in almost 12 years now. Don't miss it. Lol.

@robertstevens9656 10 месяцев назад

Your rationale is the exact reason why kids can't count change at McD's!@@AnthraciteHorrorStories

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

@@robertstevens9656 I'm not good at math myself.... Lol

@davestrang8585 10 месяцев назад

Super history tour 🎉🎉🎉🎉 thanks

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

No problem. Thanks for watching.

@beardedjerky445 10 месяцев назад

Love the video. I live in spithern portion of the old Connellsville coalfield area active mine across the road from me but no known exploration areas😢

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

Thanks buddy. I googled that coal field. That's neat. Soft coal! Latrobe is right outside of it to the northeast. I got to buy some Rolling Rock now!

@johndoran3274 8 месяцев назад

I had a demolition and salvage company and took over 2 dozen breakers down between Carbondale and Hazelton from the ‘80s to 2010. I loved to see how ingenious the guys who built these things were.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 8 месяцев назад

Ugh! You're the enemy! Just kidding. You had to do what you had to do. Did you keep any cool stuff for yourself? Brass builder plates for instance on some of those vintage machinery parts command a good price. Like Menzie cleaning cones, etc. A shame nothing got saved. Typical Luzerne & Lackawanna Counties....😞

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 8 месяцев назад

Did you take down the Kehoe Berge in like 2008/09? Old Forge/Duryea border it was located at. Old Lehigh Valley Coal Company.

@johndoran3274 8 месяцев назад

@@AnthraciteHorrorStories I gave a few mine cars and track to the Underground Miner guys, from the Winton Breaker I think. They have a RU-vid channel and I gave some stuff to the Anthracite Heritage Museum. The rest I sold to collectors but scrapped most of it. I gave my neighbor across the street an old mule barn from one mine we tore out and filled. He uses it as a garage.

@johndoran3274 8 месяцев назад

@@AnthraciteHorrorStories the Keyhoe was taken down by a friend of mine. I was busy at the time down in Jeddo.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 8 месяцев назад

@@johndoran3274 a mule barn?!!!!

@user-nu6nh2ix6n 10 месяцев назад

Great video. Around the 10 minute mark you show an unknown slope that you wished you had more info. The slope is part of the Parrish mine in Plymouth, Pa. The breaker conveyor passed over Main Street. It can be seen in the background. The church in the background still exists. In front of the slope was Central School. The slope was enclosed in a metal cage when I grew up. The Little League field and Plymouth HS athletic field used the site in the 1950s and 1960s when I grew up in Plymouth. ,

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

That's awesome! Thank you so much for sharing that. That would have been cool as a kid I'd imagine to see. I'll have to look that one up online. Wasn't there a Parrish breaker too? Appreciate you watching

@user-nu6nh2ix6n 10 месяцев назад

@@AnthraciteHorrorStories Yes, I tend to bunch mines, breakers, and collieries together. The Parrish breaker is in the background and was on the other side of Main Street in Plymouth, Pa. I also remember hiking and seeing the site of the original anthracite mine caves up Coal St in Plymouth. My grandfather died of black lung and my father died in a mine cave at the Glen Lyon Susquehanna mine just before I was born. Like you, I love researching the anthracite history even though a miners life was really tough. Thanks again for your videos, especially the ones exploring the mines.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

@@user-nu6nh2ix6n I'm terribly sorry about both your grandfather and father. That's terrible man. I've been in Glen Lyon mines, they're terrible. Very steep pitch coal vein with a horrible roof usually. Glen Lyon is my least favorite place to explore to be honest. The mines are all collapsed usually near the entrances too. That's how bad it is there. Wow! Coal Street in Plymouth, ok, that's really neat to know that's where the old school stuff is. I've been up that way before...thanks for that history lesson though. I didn't know that was the original spot to the 1806/1807 stuff! That'd be the Revolutionary era guys working that mine. Thanks for watching my content. I got A LOT coming, you'll like it 😉

@user-nu6nh2ix6n 10 месяцев назад

Interesting comments about the Glen Lyon mines. My grandmother lived on Railroad street just down from the breaker. I remember coal hoppers sitting in front of her house. I grew up across the street from the Nottingham site. The mine was closed by then but the railroad yard was still active getting stripping coal from Plymouth Mountain using that giant drag line. Not sure where the coal was processed but there were still some breakers operating. I understand why you did not say which mine you were in but I would be interested in knowing which mine was in each video. Thanks for the conversation.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

@@user-nu6nh2ix6n anytime my friend. I like Plymouth. That's amazing you remember the Coal Hopper cars. I know that street in Glen Lyon. What year were you born if I may as? Feel free to email me if you want. If you go to the tabs on the channel here, click on "about" as that is where my email is located.

@jimmyjams5 10 месяцев назад

Awesome slide you put together here and very informative. Enjoyed this on my lunch break today, thanks!

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

Glad you enjoyed it! Have a good week man.

@widdlebitz8158 10 месяцев назад

Very impressive collection that you have. Such historic value ! Thank you for sharing this 🤩

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

Thank you! There will be much more from my collection. So stay tuned!

@frankjonathan8043 9 месяцев назад

I enjoyed watching this video very much. My grandfather worked in the Sugar Notch, Loomis, and Huber mines. He took me to the Loomis and Huber mines and showed me around. I wish that I had a camera back then and took pictures.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for the compliment. That's amazing that you got to see them when they were in action. What year if I may ask? I'm very jealous! I wish too that you had that camera!

@frankjonathan8043 9 месяцев назад

@@AnthraciteHorrorStories That would have been in the mid 1960s.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 9 месяцев назад

@@frankjonathan8043 Wow, right at the very end of the mines lives. Did you go underground by any chance? What can you tell me about the Sugar Notch & Huber? (if you want to share) 🙂 Great historical Collieries those all were. The Loomis would have been something to see also.

@frankjonathan8043 9 месяцев назад

@@AnthraciteHorrorStories I don't remember much about Sugar Notch other than seeing the mine railroad and the adit. I watched the locos shifting the mine cars around the Loomis breaker. And Pop took me to the building where they serviced the lamps and showed me how to disassemble them. No, I did not go underground though I wish I could have. I also remember watching them trying to fill in the breach at the Knox Mine disaster.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 9 месяцев назад

@@frankjonathan8043 man, you saw some history! Wow, the Loomis train car shifting would have been neat to see. That lamp house was just torn down for that new Sheetz gas station I believe? What do you remember about the Sugar Notch portal if I may ask? That's wild about Knox. My Pop would have been standing near you then too! It comes full circle 🙂.

@MikeOrkid 10 месяцев назад

Awesome collection, brother. Incredible how different our valley was back then. Simpler times. I think that Pine Ridge is my favorite. 😏

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

Thanks Mike. Ya, it was better in my opinion. We're living post apocalypse now..

@bobgolfs4432 8 месяцев назад

When I was growing up, I lived within a stone’s throw of the Heidelberg Breaker and Laurel trestle - remember them well. Great to see those photos. Both my grandfathers were anthracite miners.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 8 месяцев назад

I know the Heidelberg well, one of the greats! That's cool about your grandfathers. The Laurel Line is my personal favorite.

@bobgolfs4432 8 месяцев назад

@@AnthraciteHorrorStories My dad told me stories of small parades they would have in town to escort young men to service in WW2. They would leave town via the Laurel Line. It’s one of my favorites as well.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 8 месяцев назад

@@bobgolfs4432 oh wow. I never heard that before! That's epic. A shame that rail line is gone. Ever see Ed Miller's "Anthracite Traction"?

@bobgolfs4432 8 месяцев назад

I have not seen it, but just ordered a copy!

@bobgolfs4432 8 месяцев назад

George Gula did a nice presentation on the Laurel line and it’s here on RU-vid.

@jimksa67 8 месяцев назад

My family were miners , great video of an awesome age!

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 8 месяцев назад

Thank you! Where were they miners at if I may ask?

@kellymurphy6642 Месяц назад

Mine did as well. O’Donnells and McLaughlins Came from Ireland and worked same mines with the Molly maguires in mid 1850s ... Ending with my grandfather in the late 40s in the mines in Scranton before he died of a heart attackk at age 50. 4 generations

@nomadsempirebuilder9461 10 месяцев назад

This makes me want a Breaker on the model railroad lol

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

If I won the lottery, I would build a few scaled down ones, but HUGE at the same time (for outdoors of course). I'd love to build some head frames too. The shaft head frames are really awesome looking.

@frankjonathan8043 9 месяцев назад

Yes, that would be a great scene on a model railroad. I would like to have one on my layout.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 5 месяцев назад

@@frankjonathan8043I'm going to build a headframe this summer possibly (about 6 or 7 feet high). 🤫

@leeturner1838 10 месяцев назад

this is a great video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

Thank you Lee! The Lance was in this one several times!

@starlust6726 9 месяцев назад

One correction: Hollenback No. 2 was located near Coal Street where Fastenal is present-day; not the golf course.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 9 месяцев назад

Hello. Can you elaborate? How far away is that? Thanks.

@starlust6726 9 месяцев назад

@@AnthraciteHorrorStories Hi. I emailed you some info.

@brucepaul6251 10 месяцев назад

My parent were from the area, in the 60's and 70's we were back in Peckville at least once a month because my mother was homesick. I recall a breaker?? along what is now Gino Merli Drive between Crystal Street and the Sturges Road. I was wondering if you had any shots of the structure??? I could be mistaken as I was very young at the time and memories fade with age. Thanks for an awesome and amazing presentation. Brought back a lot of childhood memories.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

Thank you. I'll have to look at the maps, I promise I will get back to you on this. Thanks for the specific street names, I will get you some images 🙂 Off the top of my head though I don't know what Colliery that was, probably a D&H one though.

@brucepaul6251 10 месяцев назад

It may have just been a shaft.....like I said- so young and so very long ago. My one grandfather was a miner at Grassy Island. My other grandfather cut the timbers on the surface for the supports. Unfortunately anyone of my relatives who would know where he worked have all passed. Once again thanks for an awesome video and I look forward to your future presentations.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 5 месяцев назад

@@brucepaul6251thanks buddy! Sorry for responding so late. I miss all my coal miner relatives man. 😔 Grassy Island! Hell ya! 👍

@mattcrowley3075 10 месяцев назад

Another great video! Always enjoy your videos!

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

Thanks Matt! I'm reminded of the song "Mr. Crowleeeeyyyy" hahaha. Ozzy is the best.

@mattcrowley3075 10 месяцев назад

@@AnthraciteHorrorStories yes indeed! Ozzy and the song never get old. Sometimes people even sing parts of the song to me! What’s great too is I still get people that laugh when they hear my last name! It usually follows up with do you know your last name is in an Ozzy song. Great stuff!

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

@@mattcrowley3075 I get the same thing...but with "Hey Jude" lol

@mattcrowley3075 10 месяцев назад

@@AnthraciteHorrorStoriesThat’s true and cool Jude! Glad you mentioned that! We both have great names and great hobbies! I am big on the coal railroads that ran through the northern coal fields. Your videos go hand in hand with my interests. Around 2005 I had the chance to explore the Huber breaker. It was a cool day as I recall and the breaker was massive. Being from Danville I regularly drive 11 North and look for anything related to coal. Because of your Avondale mining disaster video, I’ve been there twice and always take a moment of silence. It blows my mind how many mine related structures were in your area. Can’t wait for many more of your videos my friend!

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

@@mattcrowley3075 Imagine what it was like during the heydey of coal (building wise)! I'm glad that I got you interested enough to visit the Avondale site. What a sad story, but now such a peaceful spot. That's great about the railroads. I'm into them also. My Grandfather on my Dad's side was yardmaster for the D&H here in Luzerne County. There was a small yard near the Mohegan Sun Casino in Plains Township. My father loves trains too. I'm going to build a small live steam rail line in my backyard (if the money ever comes)! Is Old Forge Brewery Company still open in Danville? I used to go there. Nice area you're in..

@PiTjlang 7 месяцев назад

2 VERY impressive sites that were viewable until just a few yrs. ago: -- intact Bucyrus "walking" dragline crane near Glen Lyon -- the GIANT open pit atop avondale mine ....incredible to look at

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 7 месяцев назад

That's awesome. What was the open Avondale pit like? You can see that huge backfill job from anywhere on the other side of the Valley. Was HUGE it looked like.

@bobwoww8384 10 месяцев назад

Excellent disclaimer

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

Hahahaha, thank you.

@kellymurphy6642 Месяц назад

While doing my genetic dna of my ggfathers who came from Ireland to work the coal mines in the mid 1800s I was looking at one of the death records and one died from falling off the roof of a mine is how it was worded. My guess is it had to be from a breaker correct?

@Sleezax 10 месяцев назад

Do you know what Colliery was on 11 near the quail hill/ Marshall's quarry area? I drive past the area 2-3 times a week, and it certainly looks like a coal mine area.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

Heidelberg 💯%, I have some photos of it in this video. Lehigh Valley Coal Company.

@Sleezax 10 месяцев назад

@AnthraciteHorrorStories thanks ill find em in the video. I'm about to re watch it anyway haha. Edit. Of course it's the same one you have framed. 😅

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 5 месяцев назад

@@Sleezax😆

@bobgolfs4432 8 месяцев назад

Also, by any chance have you ever come across a photo of the Florence Breaker that was located in Dupont?

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 8 месяцев назад

I haven't. I know of it though. Was that Colliery near Oak Street and the bypass? I think there's a baseball field there now?

@bobgolfs4432 8 месяцев назад

@@AnthraciteHorrorStories yes, it’s actually elm street and the little league ball field is there. A large concrete footing still exists at the bottom of elm street.

@db9721 10 месяцев назад

Thanks for sharing, a number of these don't exist online outside your collection I think. Did you ever get to film inside the underwood colliery yourself?

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

Thanks man. I appreciate it. I have a lot more stuff to share yet. 🙂 I can't confirm or deny anything because I don't mention locations 🫡 I know they gated the mine and then it collapsed behind the gate, opening up the mine and then it was massively backfilled. They robbed the hell out of those pillars in the Underwood. The shaft was actually backfilled too with a clay/rock mixture. If you go into mines my friend, be sure to have at least a flame safety lamp or a digital detector. I've hit so much black damp over the years. From like 2004 to 2008, I didn't have a flame safety lamp or anything. How I'm alive is pretty remarkable lol.

@db9721 10 месяцев назад

@@AnthraciteHorrorStories a number of creators had the fortune of exploring it prior to 2018 or so but personally I wasn't able to in time. You're absolutely right about black damp, the anthracite regions the only area I've ever had issues with air quality lol. That underground "motor shop" looked absolutely brilliant from all the media I've seen regarding the site. In the off chance you were able to explore/ record it in time I look forward to the possibility of seeing it and all other future vids.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

@@db9721 hell ya man. There's much better mines out there than that one however. Stay tuned 😉 you've explored non anthracite underground stuff?

@db9721 10 месяцев назад

@@AnthraciteHorrorStories Yes mainly iron, copper, and lead mines scattered around the tri state and the UK. If you're ever around the Hudson Valley be sure to check out some of the cavernous stopes or room and pillar mines.

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 10 месяцев назад

@@db9721 that's awesome. The UK too?? Wow. You're the real deal then man. That's great you get to do this. My friend Tommy (JerseyCustoms577) that's his YT channel, he loves all of those types of mines. I've never done a hard rock or even a cave. I felt adventurous just doing Bituminous mines 😆. You should contact Tommy, he's always looking for the hard rock stuff in the Tri State area, the nicest guy I ever got to know in this hobby. I've known him for a few years now, a great love and respect for the mines he has.

@kellymurphy6642 Месяц назад

Are those still in Archbald? Ir have they covered them up?

@AnthraciteHorrorStories Месяц назад

Most mines have been sealed off, some have eroded open or other ones have never been backfilled. Look through some of my exploration videos for an idea as to what is in our area!

@dexeter3033 8 дней назад

The voice filters are terrible

@AnthraciteHorrorStories 8 дней назад

Thanks!!!! Be sure to smash the subscribe button! Tap tap!

@kellymurphy6642 Месяц назад

@AnthraciteHorrorStories Месяц назад

Hello. Sorry to hear about your family member's death. No, they meant "fall of roof" or simply "roof fall" which just means a roof collapse in a mine tunnel/working chamber. I have plenty of videos on here of me exploring our local abandoned mines. You'll get an idea as to what these "cave-ins" look like underground. They're pretty terrifying. Check out those videos too!

@kellymurphy6642 Месяц назад

@@AnthraciteHorrorStories ahhh ok that makes sense! Thanks and you’re right, I couldn’t wrap my mind around a miner standing on top of a roof and then falling off. It just made no sense to me. But I didn’t know enough about those breakers. Oh that’s funny because yeah, I was picturing him falling off the top of the breaker. 🤣

@AnthraciteHorrorStories Месяц назад

@@kellymurphy6642 it's all good. The mining lingo can be tricky. Ya, the mine "roof" is the "top rock". Hahaha, ya, it definitely wasn't the breaker! A lot of people did die in the breakers too though unfortunately!