Despite a rainy Sunday morning, community members and local officials gathered on September 13th as the Plymouth Historical Society unveiled a new mural commemorating the Avondale Mine disaster and the generations of people whose labor helped build the anthracite region.
On September 6, 1869, a fire at the Avondale Colliery in Plymouth Township trapped 108 men and boys underground. Two additional men died while attempting to rescue them. The disaster was a pivotal moment in Pennsylvania’s mining history, drawing attention to the dangers faced by mine workers and prompting the legislature to strengthen safety regulations by passing the Anthracite Mine Ventilation Law in 1870, the first legislation of its kind enacted by a state. The law established requirements for improved ventilation and multiple exits within mines across the region.
Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti was on hand to speak about the city’s connection to the tragedy. Dozens of miners has travelled from Scranton to work at Avondale that day, and 61 were among those who perished, most of them Welsh. They are now buried in the Washburn Street Cemetery in the city’s Hyde Park section.
Created by Plymouth area artist Joel Carson Jones, the new mural recognizes both those who lost their lives at Avondale and the and the thousands of miners and families whose work and sacrifices shaped the communities of northeastern Pennsylvania. The dedication drew descendants and relatives of those affected by the disaster, creating a meaningful connection between the region’s past and present.
Also offering remarks were PHS board member Jim Youells Sr., Joel Carson Jones, and PHS President Joe Slusser.
The mural’s completion reflects more than a year of planning, fundraising, and collaboration among the Historical Society, the artist, community supporters, and project partners. As an organization rooted in anthracite’s legacy, Earth Conservancy believes that preserving and sharing these stories helps connect communities to the people and events that shaped the landscapes we work to restore today. We are honored to have helped bring this vision to life and to see such a meaningful tribute now permanently recognized in the community.