An infamous chapter in Carbon County's history was remembered Saturday during a service at The Old Jail, the former Carbon County Prison, in Jim Thorpe.

"Day of the Rope" was held to pay tribute to the sacrifices of The Molly Maguires, an Irish secret society that rebelled against the harsh treatment of low pay of the Irish-American and Irish immigrant coal miners in the Anthracite region.The service was conducted by The Ancient Order of Hibernians, the oldest and largest Irish-Catholic fraternal organization in the United States with branches in Jim Thorpe and the Lehigh Valley.About 40 people attended the event, held in the main auditorium of the jail with the attendees facing the gallows and nooses used to put four members of the Molly Maguires to death on June 21, 1877.Chuck Thamarus, president of the Alec Campbell Division, which is the Carbon County unit, discussed the importance of remembering the sacrifices of those who died by the rope in Jim Thorpe.Campbell was one of the four Mollies hanged at the Jim Thorpe jail.Just before his execution, he slapped a muddy handprint on his cell wall and said, "There is proof of my words. That mark of mine will never be wiped out. It will remain forever to shame this county for hanging an innocent man."The jail ceased function as a prison in 1995 when a new correctional facility was built in Nesquehoning. The handprint alleged to belong to Campbell is still visible on the wall of Cell 17.The Rev. John Gibbons, pastor of Sacred Heart and Immaculate Conception Churches in Allentown, told the gathering how the Irish fought for justice in the coal mines. He compared their sacrifices to those of Jesus Christ.The pastor led the Prayer of St. Francis.Betty Lou McBride, owner of The Old Jail, mentioned the sacrifices the Molly Maguires made to give miners a better life.She said, "Four men died here and they must have been very, very scared."Historians have regarded the trials for Molly Maguires members as little more than kangaroo kourts.Former Carbon County Judge John P. Lavelle is quoted as saying, "The Molly Maguire trials were a surrender of state sovereignty. A private corporation initiated the investigation through a private detective agency. A private police force arrested the alleged defenders, and private attorneys for the coal companies prosecuted them. The state provided only the courtroom and the gallows."Former Gov. Milton Shapp once labeled the organization of the Molly Maguires as "martyrs to labor."At the service, Kathie Crampsie and Marcia Evans sang several songs, accompanied by Crampsie on the guitar.David Mascari of Allentown played the bagpipe. Attendees marched into the service to the tune of "Amazing Grace."Six service dog trainees and their masters, members of America's VetDogs, also attended.Doug Butler, puppy advisor, of Smithtown, New York, said the dogs were being raised for service dogs and were brought to get used to crowds and sounds. They included two full poodles and four golden retrievers.