esidents of Panther Valley commemorated their rich mining heritage with the 13th annual Coal Miners Heritage Festival.

The festival was able to be held this year, despite the pandemic.

A large vein of anthracite coal, known as the Mammoth Vein, was the main focus of mining operations in the Panther Valley.

Early mining operations in the area were located in the town of Summit Hill, just above Lansford. As the mines in Summit Hill encountered ever-increasing levels of groundwater, other methods needed to be employed to reach the coal.

The Panther Creek Valley Foundation operates the No. 9 Mine and Museum in Lansford.

At one point the mine was the oldest, longest-operating Anthracite coal mine in the United States.

The mine, opened in 1855, was operated until 1972.

The coal mine museum reveals the history of the coal mining region and provides insight into what coal mining life was like.

There is a rail that allows visitors to travel 1,600 feet into the mine, walking tours to experience views, and an option to see the mine hospital.

The mining hospitals were crucial in taking care of the workers and miners who got injured on the job.

According to the museum website, the No. 9 Mine is driven at a much lower elevation than the mines in nearby Summit Hill. As the tunnel was being driven, it allowed groundwater to naturally run out from the mine portal without the need of pumps. The tunnel was driven into the mountain far enough to reach the first vein of coal by the end of 1857.

The following year the No. 9 Mine was contracted to produce 90,000 tons of anthracite coal for the company. The No. 9 Mine was the longest continuously operated anthracite coal mine in the world.

Dale Freudenberger, secretary and chairman of Panther Creek Valley Foundation, the nonprofit that put together the festival, said the organization did not proceed with planning the event until they felt they could follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines in a safe and effective manner.

Freudenberger said the majority of the vendors and entertainers were pleased to participate in the Coal Miners Heritage Festival because many other events had been canceled due to the pandemic.

“To meet the COVID guidelines and keep everyone as safe as we could, we asked everyone to wear a mask, practice social distancing while attending and wash their hands frequently,” he said. “We also made reminder announcements during the event over the speaker system.”

The event mirrored the past 12 festivals other than the COVID-19 restrictive measures such as masks and limited contact with others. The event was still able to have animals, tours of the coal mine and museum, the infamous coal shoveling contest, live performances and storytelling as well a live broadcast with Polka Joe Manjack.

“It was great to get out and enjoy a local event,” said John Hall of Lansford. “Everyone was tired of being in their houses, so it was nice to get outside and socialize.”

Twelve people participated in the coal shoveling contest, and there were three winners.

First place went to Shane Fredrickson, second place went to Ryan Strohl of Summit Hill and Jeremy Bellois was awarded the third-place trophy. The trophies each had coal plaques engraved into.

To make the event physically safer, the ledges surrounding the coal shoveling blocks were raised to prevent injury from coal rocks flying out and into the crowd.

For safety regarding the crowd’s health, hand sanitizer was available at several locations for public use, tables were removed and mine tours were limited to 30 people per trip. Despite the restrictions, Freudenberger said he received many comments from the public who were overjoyed that they had an event to attend at all.

“For one day, it gave folks a chance to have some fun outdoors, see old friends, enjoy good food, listen to some entertainment … and experience coal region history and traditions.”

He said the nonprofit is pleased with the turnout considering they were uncertain what to expect.

The annual Coal Miners Heritage Festival at No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum in Lansford is held on the second Sunday in July each year. It is the largest event they hold.

For more information about upcoming events, contact Dale Freudenberger at dalefreud@gmail.com or 610-597-6722 and leave a message.

About The Mine

The No. 9 Mine was left abandoned until a local group, committed to preserving the region’s coal mining heritage, took control of the property in 1992.

This group is known as the Panther Creek Valley Foundation and now operates the No. 9 Mine as a museum. Restoration work on the mine began in 1995 and the first tours inside began in 2002. Visitors to the mine ride by rail 1,600 feet into the mountain before embarking on a 600-foot guided walking tour.

Tourists can examine the original 900-foot deep mine shaft, walk the “mule-way” where young men guided the mules between the different levels of the mine, and see a miner’s hospital cut into solid rock. Outside on the grounds is the museum, housed in the No. 9 Mine’s original “Wash Shanty” constructed before the First World War. The museum houses the largest collection of mining artifacts in the area. The many items on display include tools, blasting equipment, household goods, and more that belonged to the miners who worked the No. 9 Mine.

The No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum is open from the beginning of April until the end of November.

Want a break from the heat of the summer?

The temperature in the mine remains near 50 degrees year round. A light jacket is recommended.