Eckley Miners Village

Those who came to this country in search of the American Dream weren't asking for much-- just a life better than the one they lived before, and the mere chance for a life even better than that. There are some who say that the American Dream is dead, but there are a few places in this country where you can at least meet its ghost-- the abandoned boom towns dotted across America that attracted so many with their promises of riches. They're not just in the West, either; Pennsylvania, with its large coal deposits, was home to many mining towns that died off as well. One of the best preserved is Eckley Miners' Village in Eastern PA. It's definitely seen its share of hardships since its glory days in the 19th century, but what little remains has been eerily frozen in time. Coal was discovered in the area in 1853, and the little group of houses that stood nearby quickly sprouted into Eckley Miners Village. Irish, Welsh and German immigrants flocked to the town in search of work, and as they climbed the ranks of the mining company, Eastern European immigrants filled in their spots doing the dirty work. The town actually held on until the 1940's or so, when the last few citizens finally moved out, leaving behind a ghost town. It was rehabilitated by the Pennsylvania Historical Society before it became too ghostly, though. Some of the buildings you can tour include the Catholic Church, built in 1861 for the many Irish families who came to Eckley and restored to look as it did in the 1920's, a slate picker's house, one of the more rudimentary settlements in the village, a laborer's dwelling, which could have fit up to 15 people in the tiny double-family home, a recreation of the company store, which was demolished in the 1940's, the 1940's era sports and social club, the Episcopal Church, and a few other odds and ends left standing. And, of course, it's not a story about the American Dream if it doesn't involve Hollywood, murderous gangs, and Sean Connery. Actually, let me back up and explain. There's an urban legend of sorts about a secret society that many Irish miners joined in the 19th century-- although allegedly fronted by the legitmate Ancient Order of Hibernians, this shadowy gang, called the Molly Maguires, was involved in some pretty unsavory stuff. Fixing elections, murdering mine bosses who mistreated members, drinking large quantities of whiskey, all that sort of thing. There's little hard evidence about the Mollies, but in 1969, Sean Connery starred in a movie called The Molly Maguires inspired by the "partly true" story of the legendary gang. Parts of the film were shot at Eckley, which is one reason it's been so well-preserved. So whether you're a history nerd, a movie buff, or just looking for some remains of the American Dream, you might find it at Eckley. -Roadtrippers  Founded in 1854, Eckley is an example of a planned nineteenth century coal mining town. It is a community, or coal “patch town,” which provided mining families with the basic necessities such as housing and medical care, as well as basic amenities like a store, a school and churches. Companies often designed and constructed industrial communities to house their employees in close proximity to the collieries, or mining operations, for which they worked. Such mining towns were built to attract other mining families to live and work among the coal fields of northeastern Pennsylvania. While the company greatly influenced the lives of its village residents, and each family member faced challenges and difficulties every day. The way in which they faced these challenges is the history of the region that is studied, preserved and interpreted. 1942 Eckley Coal Miners Eckley coal miners, 1942. Coal is why they came. Many immigrants who came to America hoped to work in the mines just long enough to save money, buy land and return to the farming lifestyle they had known in Europe. However, once they became part of the company-owned system, very few were able to escape the years of poverty and hardship that faced them. Despite these challenges, many immigrants were able to achieve marginal improvements, not only to their lives, but to the lives of descendants. The story of the Eckley village and the people who lived and worked in it is one of dynamic economic and social change. Beginning more than 160 years ago, it exemplified the clamor and conflict of the anthracite coal industry, which almost singlehandedly fueled the early stages of America’s industrial revolution. 2013 Fall Foliage Contest photo, Joann Stewart. Remembering the time when coal was king. Today, Eckley is a museum representing the lives of the immigrant anthracite coal miners and their families. Come for a visit and experience life in northeastern Pennsylvania coal patch towns during the time when coal was an essential industrial fuel. Visit the Visitors’ Center exhibitions, take a guided tour, plan a trip around a living history event, and learn more about housing and daily lives within the village.