Sparrowville Heritage Park Project:

     The Sparrowville Heritage Park has been approved by the Borough of Old Forge at its council meeting on July 21, 2009.

    Clearing of brush has been ongoing, the shaft hoisting building foundation is being uncovered, the Clark Tunnel Slope entrance and pulley hill are being graded for track, and phase one has begin.

    Phase One: develop a funding plan, secure donations to be used as 50/50 and 20/80 matching for grants, secure the services of a surveyor and engineer to lay out the park plans, get the project through the Borough planning commission by January 2010. Our goal is to have the project "shovel ready" in the spring of 2010 for the next round of grants.

   Old Forge Coal Mine has been designated Project Coordinator.

UPDATE 11/24/09: A Franklin mine car has been donated by Chris Murley of the Abandoned Mine Research Group. The car was delivered to my house today, Tuesday, Nov. 24. It will need refurbishing before it will be moved to the park this summer.

     Bill Best of Bridon American Wire Rope, Exeter Twp. donated his time to reinforce and weld a large gate donated by Jeddo Coal Co. This was mounted to the entrance of the Clark Tunnel Slope on Sunday 11-8-09. Thanks to Vic Pagnotti, Mark Miller, Dana Nelson and Dave Wallace for their work to mount the gate and clear the culm pile from the tunnel.

     Thanks to Connie Richards, Old Forge, and Chris Snyder of Northeast Hydraulics, Dickson City for the donation of file cabinets for our office. I can finally organize my mess of paperwork.

Thank You to Penn Security Old Forge Bank for a $ 100.00 donation to the Sparrowville Heritage Project.

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     IN MEMORY of a COAL MINER

The following Northern Coal Field Anthracite Miners rode their last trip of cars underground. May they now find the peace and serenity they never had as an Anthracite Coal Miner.

Quinto " Piletto" Castellani, 1920-2009, January 30, Jessup.

Nicholas Aquilina, 1913-2009, February 1. Pittston.

William W. Casterline Jr. 1927-2009, February 7, Kingston.

John Wypa, 2009, February 3, Hanover Township.

John Oshirak, 1914-2009, March 15, West Nanticoke

John A. Gallick, 2009, March 15, Nanticoke.

Lloyd C. Swoyer, 1920-2009, March 19, Peckville.

John J. Harenza, 1911-2009, March 20. Nanticoke.

Clarence Lee, 1920-2009, March 26, Nanticoke.

Frank M. Nesgoda, 1918-2009, March 27, Dupont.

Harry J. Wasilko, 1927-2009, March 29, Scranton.

Andrew J. Drust, 1920-2009, March 30, Wilkes Barre.

Charles J. Abent, 1926-2009, April 2, Avoca.

Dominick A. Dente, 1928-2009, April 13, Exeter.

Chester Yaniga, 1927-2009, April 13, Newport Twp.

Thomas A. Klukososki Sr. 1915-2009, April 16, Wanamie.

George L. (Abner) Rutkoski, 1929-2009, April 23, Sugar Notch.

Fuller (Junior) Castner, 1924-2009, April 27, Larksville.

Henry (Zolnierowicz) Zolner, 2009, May 2, Larksville.

Richard D. Burrier Sr. 1916-2009, May 15, Nanticoke.

Donald George Wheeler Sr. 1921-2009, May 17, Mountain Top.

George R. McAllister, 1934-2009, May 21, Carbondale.

John R. Williams, 1915-2009, May 24, Old Forge.

Walter Mishanski, 1928-2009, May 29, Wilkes Barre.

Stanley J Jerominski, 1920-2009, June 3, Wilkes Barre.

John L Vengien, 1919-2009, June 9, Plymouth.

Michael P Gillette, 1916-2009, June 10, Carbondale.

Michael J. Salvo, 1916-2009, June 25, West Pittston.

John (Jack) Montague II, 1922-2009, July 3, Kingston.

Albert A. Barkowski, 1911, 2009, July 16, Jermyn.

Robert (Hub) Duffy, 1928-2009, July 20, Askam-Rice Twp.

Charles Magich, 1933-2009, September 30, Swoyersville.

Arthur L. Burnside, 1923-2009, August 20, Duryea.

Carl D. Oakley, 1909-2009, October 22, Carbondale.

John Angeli, 1917-2009, October 10, Old Forge.... John was one of a 5 man          search team sent into the Knox Slope after most of the water was pumped out                to attempt a recovery of the bodies of the miners who were killed in the                    Knox Mine Disaster. They were never found. John was the last remaining of                the five searchers. He has now joined his fellow miners in peace.........

Albert T. Yastremski, ?-2009, October 22, Wilkes Barre.

Edward E. Emeletti Sr. 1922-2009, October25, Nanticoke.

John R. Baer Sr., 1927-2009, October 28, Hunlock Creek.

Walter J. Rauch, 1916-2009, November 2, Forty Fort.

Emery P. Guffrovich, 1920-2009, November 11, Nanticoke.

Albert C. Caines Sr., 1931-2009, November 12, Olyphant, Grassy Mine.

Willard Pifcho. 1926-2009, November 24, Scranton.

John R. Gaul, December 1948, Scranton, Briggs.

John Mishko February 19, 1963, Dickson City, Marvin.

Pasquale (Patsy) Galella, 1922-2009, December 3, Plains Twp.

Joseph Gustinucci, 1922-2009, December 4, Bear Creek.

Dante (Daniel) Cardoni, 1916-2009, December 3, Plains Twp.

Arthur H. Cragle, 1924-2009, December 9, Shickshinny.

Peter Stanley Lazarowicz, 1921-2009, December 8, Shickshinny.

Edward "Butch" Ginter, 1926-2009, December 14, Moosic.

Durwood G. Smith, 1924-2010, January 14, Plymouth.

John Proietto 1925-2010, January 17, Duryea.

Robert J. Gudoski, 1928-2010, January 20, Sugar Notch.

Robert H. Myers, 1922-2010, January 26, Sweet Valley.

Joseph Chuta, 1924-2010, February 1, Peckville.

Joseph J. Novak, 1916-2010, January 31,Miners Mills, Wilkes Barre.

Paul Pasternak, 1932-2010, February 1, Taylor.

Industrial "Dusty" Yaniello,1914-2010, February 4, Old Forge.

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The following coal miners have passed away long ago. We now list them on the memorial as their descendents notify us. They too never got the respect and honor they justly deserved.....

Mark Ray, Pat Ray, Carl Ray, William Ray Sr. Moosic. William Ray, 1963, Old Forge.

George Huggler,  Fred Huggler, 1949, Old Forge.

George Legg, 1979,  John Legg, Old Forge.

John H. Powell, 2005, Old Forge.   Jack Nickelson, Dupont

John Burk, Old Forge. Bill Corbett,  Jack Corbett, Old Forge.

John A. Fialko Jr. August 3, 1988, Taylor.  John W. Gnall, October 18, 1971, Taylor

Anthony Duchak, Taylor, Killed in the mines at age 30.   Stanley Ginter, Moosic.

Joseph Meriesky, Old Forge, Killed in Barnum No.2 Shaft, Duryea, 1947. Along with, Michael P. Cunningham, Scranton, and Frank S. Kurek, Duryea.

Ignatius Branas, November 18, 1957, Old Forge, worked at the William A.

Charles Edwards, Frank Karlak, Alex Marhelski, Charles Marhelski, Frank Smicherko, Alex Szczubelek, Alex W. Youshock, all of Old Forge, and worked the Sibley Slope for Panzitta Coal Co. in Austin Heights 1953

Peter Horyczon, Old Forge, Pine and 190 slope.  Hubert McCrea, Minooka, Continental.

Joseph Pennella, Victor Materazzi, Louis Materazzi Sr. Old Forge.

Stanley Bubernas, Stephen Bubernas, Frank Bedra, Old Forge.

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 Hayna or No, dontcha !!!!!!!!!

We are an IRS 501 (c) (3) TAX EXEMPT charitable organization, incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a non-profit corporation, and Pa. State Sales Tax exempt. Donation's to help fund the web site can be made out to "Old Forge Coal Mine"  Mail to: Old Forge Coal Mine, 1214 Lori Lane, Old Forge, Pa. 18518

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 Who we are: We are a group of researchers dedicated to the preservation of Anthracite Coal Mining history and the preservation of our heritage for future generations. We are a non profit IRS 501 c 3 and Pa. State non profit corporation. We rely on donations and grants for office supplies and funds to conduct research and acquire mining equipment.

What we do: Research and post the history of coal mining in Old Forge, search for the names of miners killed in the mines of Old Forge, educate our new generation about their heritage. Search for hard to find publications, reports, manuals, stories about coal mining and local area history. We are host to the Anthracite Archives, an easy to use, on line repository for all the Anthracite coal mining information and history we can locate.

What is in our future: Research and create additional pages for the industries, churches, government, and schools of Old Forge. Build a coal miners heritage park in Old Forge. Develop a list of all Anthracite Coal Miners killed in the state. Provide an educational display about coal mining and history at local events.

How you can help: Send a donation. Checks can be made to "Old Forge Coal Mine", mail to: Old Forge Coal Mine, 1214 Lori Lane, Old Forge, Pa. 18518. With the state budget severely cut we are in desperate need of funding resources.

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Funding and Grants:

Old Forge Community Action Committee OFCAC:    $ 2,500.00  "Thank You" for the donation to help fund our coal mine research and expand the web site.

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Penn Security Old Forge Bank:

     $ 100.00 "Thank You" for the donation to the Sparrowville Heritage Park Project.

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