Coal Mining History

[zarjacks]

Those with roots in Pennsylvania may be interested in this article about a man who is preserving coal region history in photos and maps:

Local man working to preserve coal region history - 1 photo at a time - News - Republican Herald

[Tempo]

Hi Ruth,

You hit upon a topic that can be a treasure chest full of family information for not only
Ukrainian immigrants but also those of Polish, Slovak, Italian and other of Eastern European origin.

Just as you have indicated, many immigrants, including those in my family came to Pennsylvania and ended up in the coal mines that dot the state. There are basically two regions where coal is mined in Pa. The eastern part is the anthracite (hard coal) area.
If you look closely at the EI manifest records, the arrivals are oft headed to places like Coplay or Nesquehoning or Mauck Chunk (today called Jim Thorpe). These are the anthracite coal patches that dot the hills and valleys. If you see names like these you can almost be positive that your ancestors were headed to a life in the mines.

The western counties including Allegheny, Washington, and Westmoreland, etc. are literally honeycombed today with abandoned bituminous (soft coal) mines. Members of my family worked and died in the mines located in these counties.

Here is another interesting site that lists the names of mines and the miners that worked in them.

Bituminous Coal Mines of Western Pennsylvania, U.S.A. - Main County Index

Ruth, I know you love to write and to tell good stories. So do I. As a matter of fact I was able to add to important “chapters” to my family history because of research done on the coal mines of Western, Pa. I will save that story for a future post however.

Let me generalize a bit since you raised an important point with your post. Our Ukrainian ancestors were often headed to a specific location to find work in a specific industry. The same can be said for those headed to either the U.S. or Canada.

Some were headed to the coal mining regions of Penna., West Virginia or Ohio as you pointed out.

Tin Mills attracted many to the Western Pa area.

Steel Mills in Pittsburg, Bethlehem, Chicago, Buffalo, Phillidelphia attracted many.

The textile mills in New England were the destination for others.

The western Provinces of Canada attracted many Ukrainian settlers eager to homestead the 160 acres that the government was offering.

Lumber camps and mines attracted many to the Eastern provinces.

The growth and development of the railroads in both Canada and the U.S. played major roles in history of our immigrant families.

I like to pay attention to where my relatives were employed when they arrived. "Grandpa worked in the tin mill while Baba took in boarders to make a few extra dollars" . For some reason this kind of imformation seems important to me. The places were they lived and worked add to their story in a unique and colorful way. I would like to pass this part of their story on to my children.

Thanks Ruth

Tempo

[babaof2]

Ruth and Tempo,
I want to thank you both. I'm fairly new to the site and have not posted before. What a pleasant surprise to read your post Ruth and find an article about my hometown area. I know some of the families mentioned in the article.Tempo you gave me another resource for my research. I am waiting for a church record to give me more information before I request more help from this site. I have been able to get information on my grandmother and some of her family but have not been successful in getting immigration/passage records for my grandfather. I am hoping for some leads if I am able to obtain their marriage record.
I have learned a lot by reading the posts and this is one of the best sites to learn about the area.
I guess I need help to understand how so many places are now listed as being Uzhhorod. Did many small villages get absorbed into one place. Names that have come up in my research are Alsodomonya, Borholani, Borhalom and Bobovisce. Any help would greatly be appreciated.

[Hannia]

Baba,

I am setting up a separate thread for you. You can participate wherever you like, but keep your family info in one thread. It will be easier for all of us to keep track of your progress.

[babaof2]

Hello Hannia,
I have read so many wonderful posts from people you helped. Thank you for setting up a thread for me. Now to add to my learning. What exactly do you mean about setting up a separate thread? How do I access it when I am ready to post more family info? So much to learn but always surprised by the helpful peoople I meet.

[Hannia]

This is a thread, one line of posts regarding specific surnames or places or subject matter.

I named your personal thread Zakarpatska oblast/region. Just click on to it and you will find info re your ancestral villages. Please provide your surnames there.

[babaof2]

Hannia,
Thank you. I will use that thread as I continue my research.