Anthracite Coal Miners of Eastern PA (Scranton, Washington: appointed, for sale, sublets)

[Clark Park]

Although I live in Philly, a part of American History that has always fascinated me was the story of anthracite coal mining, the miners, and their families in Pennsylvania. The story includes the interesting aspects of the Molly Maguires, the Lattimer Massacre, the Phoebe Snow advertisements, the Strike of 1902, the Centralia Fire, etc.

I have toured the region over the years and have visited several times places like Eckley Miner's Village, the Anthracite Museum in Scranton, the Ashland Coal Mine Tour, and others.

Why is it so interesting? I believe it was Pennsylvania coal that fueled the American Industrial Revolution from the decade before the Civil War right up until World War 2. The fact is, the life of the miners and their families were so hard! It was almost a kind of slavery: low wages, long hours, crummy houses in "patch towns" provided by the mining company, having to buy goods from the overpriced company store, exposure to danger and unhealthy conditions.

For example, consider the "breaker boys": these kids - they were supposed to be 12 and up, but the company never checked birth certificates or other documents and there were boys as young as 8 working long hours, sitting on hard wooden benches picking slate and other impurities out of the coal coming down in chutes for 10, 11 or 12 hours a day. They would come home covered in coal dust with bleeding hands. If they were slow or not showing "enthusiasm" at their bench, there was a manager with a big wooden stick who would beat the boy! Yikes!

Did any of you come from coal mining families? Can you share with us any stories you might of heard how people made ends meet? I would love to learn more about the lifestyles of the miners, their families, and people in the region.

[varmintblaster]

My grandfather and a couple of uncles were antracite coal miners. The only detail I can share is that my one uncle was one of the survivors of the infamous Knox Mine Disaster that occurred when the mining crews drilled through the bed of the Susquehanna River near Pittston.

My father was not a miner, but did drive a truck that hauled coal from the breakers.

I don't know many details regarding everyday living - I was born in 1959 - the same year that the Knox Mine disaster occurred.

[coalboy]

when I first joined this site I was going to use the name 'breaker boy' but then thought I would be doing a great misservice to my ancestors and other folks on this site who had fam that worked 'the Black seam'.

PBS did a great segment on 'peeps' from Eastern Europe who settled in Nepa and worked the mines.


My Dad did a short stint in the mines as a teen, but that short time was enough to foul his lungs and make him eligible for Black Lung 'bennies' from the Govt.
Of course he smoked unfiltered 'ciggies', drank Seagrams7 straight with a 'Gibbons' chaser also ran 'moonshine' whiskey, and one day when he was 18,
he flipped a Model A Ford sedan outfitted with whiskey tanks under the running boards while being pursued by the 'State-ies' near Bear Mt.

He then enrolled in Kings College.... after Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Navy...as an E-4, he coached a Fleet Champion Basketball Team.

He was appointed a CWO and finished his Naval stint with a Sea-Bee Unit in the Pacific.....
Came home, and continued his Education at Kings under the GI Bill.

7 of my Uncles all worked 'In the Mines' and all served Honorably in WWII in every branch of the Service, save the Marines...

They are all gone now, but are all buried together in SS Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery, Plains PA.
With the exception of my Dad's oldest Brother, who was killed in Europe. and buried in France.

[theatergypsy]

coalboy, thank you for your story...Although I have no first-hand knowledge, from what I've read, it sounds pretty typical of most mining families in NEPA...

[coalboy]

Originally Posted by theatergypsy

coalboy, thank you for your story...Although I have no first-hand knowledge, from what I've read, it sounds pretty typical of most mining families in NEPA...

Yes, you are 'spot on' and thank you for your response......just regular guys doing their duty, no complaints, no malice, nor aforethought.

The 'Greatest Generation', to be sure.

[theatergypsy]

^^ Indeed.

[Clark Park]

Thanks, coalboy, that was just the kind of response I was fishing for.

I remember chatting with a lady from West Pittston who was telling me about her Daddy who worked in the mines. He would come home covered in coal dust and Ma would put a big tin tub on the kitchen floor and scrub him down and added hot water by boiling it in a kettle. The water turned black. There was no shame or embarrassment to see Dad naked in the tub washing all the dust and grime off his body. Later the coal company installed a shower room near the colliery and the miners could shower before heading home. That was a great improvement! The guys did not mind showering together and would wash each other's backs. It was different back in those days. People were not so fussy or embarrassed.The lady did say her Daddy was just the nicest most loving father a kid could have ... no matter how hard he worked and how exhausted he was he had time for his kids and was always buying them little treats and would tuck them in and was affectionate. It was Ma who did the punishing and was the disciplinarian!

Stories like that are great. It's a part of American history they don't teach in schools.

[MatildaLoo]

Hi Clark Park... how strange, I have been browsing possible sublets in Philly for my internship next summer, and one of the sublets was very near to Clark Park!

You may want to check out a book called The Patch Boys. It's written by Jay Parini, who is a noted biographer of some of the literary greats including Faulker and Steinbeck. He's also a Pittston, Pa. native and a great storyteller. This book is set in the 1920s in NEPA, specifically a patch in Exeter which is near W. Pittston. I really think you will enjoy it.

Here's the Amazon link but you may be able to find it at the library. I know Scranton Public Library has it; you might be able to interlibrary loan it.

http://www.amazon.com/Patch-Boys-Jay.../dp/0805007709

[thecoalman]

My understanding is my Great Great Grandfather did a short stint in the mines but was smart enough to get out. My Great Grandfather started with a horse and wagon back in the early part of the last century hauling things, among them was coal. This is where my name comes from, the oil man, the mail man, The Coal Man.


If you're familiar with Plymouth this picture was taken on Sweitzer Lane, what is now Washington Ave would be behind these houses. Kind of strange because the front of the houses facing Sweitzer Lane which is really short and narrow alley are now the backs of the houses. On the right side in the background is the Gaylord breaker, currently if you head up Washington Ave. from Main St. it would be where they have the flood protection (the forum doesn't likie the word ****) .

We had some trouble pinning down the date of this image but we believe it was 1933. The key is who the kid is but we're unsure if it's My Uncle George or Uncle Steve. The two who are unrelated may not be accurate.

Standing: John Chervenitski Sr., Joseph Chervenitski, John J. Chervenitski, and Leo Kosloski. Child in front: George or Steven Chervenitski. Top of photo: Frank Petrowski

John J. Chervenitski Sr. was the son of Austrian-Hungarian immigrants Jan and Elizabeth Chervenicky the Slovak spelling for Chervenitski. From the early 1900’s to 1939 or 40 John Sr. ran a small store located on Sweitzer Lane in Plymouth, PA. With a horse and wagon he delivered produce and other items from his store. He also delivered anthracite coal, lumber and other products people needed. In 1926 John Sr. purchased his first truck and started Chervenitski’s Trucking with his sons John J. and Joseph. John J. and Joseph did the driving, John Sr. did not know how to drive and never learned. During the early and late 30’s younger brothers Francis, George, and Steve also did their part as they became old enough to help.

The backbone of the business was delivering anthracite coal but these were tough times for almost everyone in America during the Great Depression. John J. and Joseph used their trucks to increase their income however they could. They worked on WPA projects including Rt. 29 between West Nanticoke and Pikes Creek and the original river **** in Plymouth, PA. Using their trucks they moved rock and fill to form the base of the road and ****. To further supplement their income during the summer, weekends and holidays removable benches would be placed in the back of the truck for the purpose of giving rides to Harvey’s Lake and other destinations for paying passengers.


During the 50’s and 60’s John J. did business as John Chervy Coal. In 1969 his son John C. assumed ownership. In the 70’s John C. started to expand the delivery area John Chervy Coal covered because of a shrinking customer base in the Wyoming Valley. Overall the demand for anthracite for home heating had declined due in part to three things. Cheap oil prices prior to the 70's had many consumers switching to oil. The Knox Mine Disaster of 1959 essentially put an end to any large scale underground mining in the Wyoming Valley, an industry that was already in trouble. The flood waters of 1972's Hurricane also took many customers, many replaced their ruined furnaces with oil or gas units. In 1987 John C. acquired the customers of Newcomb Bros. of Swoyersville, PA. which solidified John Chervy Coal as one of the largest independent coal dealers in Northeastern Pennsylvania. By the early 90’s coverage area included places as far as White Haven, Bloomsburg, Benton, Dushore, Laceyville, Montrose and Hallstead.


In the winter of 1993-94 John C.’s nephew Richard S. Chervenitski began working with John Chervy Coal. On January 1, 2001 Richard assumed ownership and is doing business as Chervenitski Coal with his trucks located less than fifty feet from the original store owned by John Sr. back in the early 1900's

I've since "retired" but I'm still very active in the industry with my forum. There is still Chervy Fuel that delivers coal and another relative operting under Chervy Coal I believe.

Here's some more pictures:

This is was probably an excursion out to Harvey's lake or somewhere out in that area. As a side business they would use their trucks for busing people.





This one is Sweitzer lane, the houses in the back would be on Vine St.



Late 60's, my Grandfather is to the left.



Here's one of yours truly from about 1974 or so, I'm the little one on the left:



1996 a little while after I entered the business:


Just recently, if anyone is interested its for sale.

[coalboy]

So Cool, Thanks so much for sharing those wonderful pics! I loved the one of the 'excursion; to Harveys' Lake

Our last names were something to marvel at with their multi-length syllables..Heyna?

My wife, who is Latina and has a 2 syllable last name, once marveled at the proponderance of letters on my relatives graves... once made the comment...

'Dios Mio, the Stone Carvers arms must have been tired after chiseling some many letters on one stone!'