It all started with The Old Mine, an 1819 coal quarry in the Summit Hill area.
By 1822, the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company had its eyes on the Mammoth Vein, the most important of all anthracite coal deposits.
Coal was becoming big business, in part owing to businessmen Josiah White and Erskine Hazard, who set their sights on its potential as early as 1814.
They promoted and marketed the “black diamonds,” leading to the building of the Lehigh Canal system, the first-ever gravity railroad and the development of rich coal deposits from Tamaqua and Mauch Chunk.
Anthracite coal was special. Its hot, long-lasting fires triggered significant changes in industry, metallurgy and chemistry, creating lasting impact in the entire nation.
According to historical accounts, plans for the No. 9 Mine were on the drawing board by about 1845.
And it was a good thing because, in 1849, the large quarry in Summit Hill flooded.
The operation had to be abandoned because of high water. At that time, they didn’t have high-volume water pumps to remove the water and keep the quarry operable.
So engineers decided to drive a tunnel in the Mammoth Vein on level with the bottom of the Panther Creek Valley.
Coal went on to fuel the American Industrial Revolution and play a role in winning two world wars.
But it also defined life for generations of Americans, many of them immigrant families.
Their lives and stories are a special part of coal heritage.
The Number 9 Mine Heritage Festival and Picnic plays an important role in preserving the details.
But key to the story’s survival will be continued enthusiasm and interest by youngsters often too young to have much firsthand knowledge of the industry.
“It’ll be up to our next generation to carry on the history and culture,” said volunteer Dale Freudenberger.
One of those is John Marasiak, 14, of Coaldale. He is fascinated by coal and railroads. He collects coal mining memorabilia.
“I lived on Foster Avenue by the Foster Tunnel,” said the Panther Valley High School student.
Others at the festival are devoted to telling the story.
Volunteer Bruce Markovich welcomes guests to display tables of the Lansford Historical Society. The carefully crafted displays speak of life in the valley.
“We do a collection of Bright’s Department Store, coal breakers, train station and factories,” he said. “We try to give people a good cross-section.”
Another important goal, of course, is to attract youngsters to the topic of history and offer some hands-on experience.
Mine historian Robbie Flowers says there’s a push to broaden participation across the generations, to “get more youth involved in re-enactments.”
Visitor Joe Regalis of Tamaqua, whose father and other relatives were miners, believes today’s families can play a role in sparking new interest in the legacy of coal and railroad.
“It would be good if parents and grandparents bring the children here,” he said.
Ruthie O’Dell, 85, of Plains, provides demonstrations of a typical laundry day in a miner’s house, using galvanized tubs, hand agitators and an old wringer washer.
“People are amazed and have all kinds of questions,” she said. “But, for me, well … I lived it.”
The festival offers something for just about everyone, from ethnic food to relaxing balladeers.
Entertainer Barton Fritzinger Jr. enjoys seeing the growing crowds who turn out, even when weather is iffy.
“I’ve never seen this many people here,” he said as he blew up balloons.
Fritzinger has been providing slapstick humor and unique balloon animals for the past 35 years, appearing as Buster the Clown.
The main attraction, of course, is the actual 1855 mine. It’s no longer active, but when it closed it had earned its status as the world’s oldest operating deep mine.
The mine and adjacent 1912 Wash Shanty Museum will continue to tell the story of coal mining families in the Panther Creek Valley for generations to come.
Mine historians Carl Orechovsky, left, and John Boyle pilot train cars filled with visitors into the world’s oldest operating deep mine during Sunday’s No. 9 Mine Heritage Festival. DONALD R. SERFASS/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
Visitors fill the grounds of the No. 9 Mine and Museum, Lansford, for Sunday’s heritage festival and picnic. DONALD R. SERFASS/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEW
Folklorist Jay Smar of Coaldale, balladeer and historian, serenades crowds with local tunes at the No. 9 Mine and Museum’s Heritage Festival. DONALD R. SERFASS/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEW
Visitor Jim Witherow of Lansford learns about laundry chores of the late 1800s as demonstrated by wash woman Ruthie O’Dell of Plains during the No. 9 Mine Heritage Festival. DONALD R. SERFASS/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEW
Ready, set, go! Parents watch as children ages 4-6 try test their skills at potato sack races at Sunday’s No. 9 Mine Heritage Festival in Lansford. DONALD R. SERFASS/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEW
Ethnic activities and fun dances are celebrated during the No. 9 Mine Heritage Festival on Sunday. DONALD R. SERFASS/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEW
Hard coal is special because of high heat and long lasting fires. DONALD R. SERFASS/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEW