The Molly Maguires (Scranton, Jim Thorpe, Penn: rent, crime, houses)

[CoalCityTrash]

In the 19th century worker's rights didn't exist for blue collar society, especially for the Irish. They would work outrageous hours for miniscule pay, which would later receive unnecessary cuts. If a worker died in the mines, a common practice would be to have his fellow employees dump his body on his family's doorstep, along with a notice to vacate the property (often times immigrant miners lived in houses provided by the coal company) & this is just the tip of the iceberg. No regard was shown towards these men's families, futures, or even their lives. Out of this was born, the world's first worker's union, but things weren't easy & every step of the struggle was a feat of Brobdingnagian proportions. In a time when every store had a sign in the window reading "Irish need not apply" career opportunities were limited & the coal barons knew this. They had the miners in a headlock. Because of things like this, there were riot/protests in downtown W-B & Scranton. Coal barons & their families were kidnapped & even murdered in the name of working class rights. Before long, it was a crime to be a Maguire. They weren't allowed in churches & some cities even had shoot on sight orders for any suspected member of the organization, but they persisted & their blood, sweat, & tears gave us our 8-12 hour days, our 2-3 breaks a day, our mandatory lunch, our fair pay & labor, & all modern conveniences & basic rights we experience at factories, construction sites...etc today.

Not a lot is known about these men. At the time, they were public enemy #1, so it's hard to separate the media/police propaganda from the truth. It was also a secret society, so most of what they knew/did was taken to the grave. I know they started in Ireland. I know they exercised violent resistance. I know they changed the world forever. I know they were coal miners mainly residing in NEPA. That's pretty much it. If anyone could provide any other info, it would be greatly appreciated.

[jtab4994]

The Molly Maguires are hugely popular as a historical subject. Lots of stuff available on the Web about them. If you want to see a dramatized account, rent The Molly Maguires movie with Sean Connery, which was filmed locally and used a lot of actual Coal Crackers as extras.

[johnqpublic]

THe Mollys were the reason of the first State Police formed in the United States under Gov. Pennypacker

[warren zee]

Interesting thread! The film was shot at Eckley Miner's Village.

[johnqpublic]

Originally Posted by warren zee

Interesting thread! The film was shot at Eckley Miner's Village.

I was there when they filmed the movie...I was 10 , my parents took me..

[CoalCityTrash]

Originally Posted by johnqpublic

THe Mollys were the reason of the first State Police formed in the United States under Gov. Pennypacker

Really? Is there citation for this? I'm always excited when I find out NEPA was pioneer of yet another thing.

[CoalCityTrash]

Originally Posted by jtab4994

The Molly Maguires are hugely popular as a historical subject. Lots of stuff available on the Web about them. If you want to see a dramatized account, rent The Molly Maguires movie with Sean Connery, which was filmed locally and used a lot of actual Coal Crackers as extras.

I know about the movie, but weary of historically based films because their "artistic license" tends to take away from accuracy a lot.

[CoalCityTrash]

*I tend to be weary*

[MatildaLoo]

Have you visited the old prison in Jim Thorpe yet? Lots of Molly Maguire history there. There's even a handprint allegedly left by one of the Molly Maguire organizers as proof of his innocence.

[karen_s]

My kids love the old Carbon County jail!

Here's the website: The Old Jail Museum

You can purchase this documentary, by The History Channel:
Amazon.com: In Search Of History - True Story Of The Molly Maguires (History: Artist Not Provided: Movies & TV