My Grandfather, Billy O'Boyle, went down into the mines in Pennsylvania at 12 years old - like so many others from poor, hard- working families. Thank you for THIS.🙏💓🍀💐
My mother's family was from Portage. I had a great-grandfather and great uncles who worked these mines. I remember the making of this film, and the video is, in fact, narrated by one of my relatives. As a child I used to sit and watch it in the upstairs room of my grandparents' house, always being fascinated by the closing song and singing along. Looking back now, seeing this with fresh eyes and realizing what this meant for the people of Sonman and Portage, I can't bring myself to even listen to the ending credits. I've always had a deep fascination with coal mining, and a great respect for the men who risked their lives to extract it from the hills in our area and others around the country. Thanks to all who worked on this documentary of a terrible mining accident, thank you for helping us to remember a piece of our heritage.
My grandfather, Kenneth Kepler, always gave me a lump of coal for Christmas and it was never meant to be a joke; it was full of meaning and I was always so grateful. He dearly loved all of the people who perished in this disaster and he took the pain to his grave. May God bless all of the people who lost their lives and May they never be forgotten.
May they never be forgotten, part of our national history which is not being taught to the youth of today. Being raised in Pennsylvania and having relatives who died from Black Lung and hearing about the mine disasters when I was young makes you appreciate what it has taken to have the nation we are, let's pray we don't lose it. God bless the '63'.
My Great grandfather was Michael Tigyer he worked in that mine at the time. The story I have been told by family is that he was supposed to be down there but was up above at the time due to some thing with getting tools. But he survived!
Freeman George is my husband's 1C2R (1st cousin, twice removed). It was very moving and informative to watch this video and I appreciate the time and effort that went into producing it.
Good day Rick, My grandfathers, both Kenneth Kepler and Edward Bem have passed away quite some time ago. I am the daughter of Thomas Bem who is the son of Edward Bem. There is a photo of Edward Bem, with whom I never had an opportunity to know as my grandfather as he died at the time I was born. Would you happen to know where I could obtain a copy of the photo of Edward Bem pictured in this film. I know my Uncle Richard Bem speaks as his photo is depicted. My name is Kristen Bem, daughter of Thomas Bem and Deborah Kepler, both of Portage. Please let me know if you can help me out with my endeavor to get this photo. I would be forever grateful to you 🙏 Thank you, Kristen Bem
@@PHCCLibrary When the video was first released on VHS video, my father, Thomas Bem, showed it to me and I was able to see the story of my grandfather, Kenneth Kepler and my other grandfather who was deceased when I was born, Edward Bem, my father's father. The mine disaster is therefore, part of my family history and although difficult to watch, it is a part of my family history and important to be aware of. Kristen Bem
If you think about when this happened it was at the end of a world that changed extremely by December 1941. Its heart breaking that these men died in such away. They lived and loced more than most of us because they knew how fast it could be lost. God bless them all.
My grandfather George Zimmerman, and uncle Laird Zimmerman were killed in this explosion. I never had the privilege of meeting either of them. I wonder whether my grandpa was stumpy George mentioned in this video. My mother Emerald Zimmerman Hastie would tell me often that I looked like and reminded her of her of her brother
My parents who are in their mid 80 grew up in Portage I remember them talking about this many times My grandfather on my moms side Patty Sopata was a cart driver and a bit of a drinker apparently but I don’t know if he worked in this mine
Mine safety regulation and rules are written in the blood of previous mine victims. I am very much aware that their sacrifice has brought me relatively safely through my coal mining career. Rest in peace fellows.
My Grandfather, Billy O'Boyle, went down into the mines in Pennsylvania at 12 years old - like so many others from poor, hard- working families. Thank you for THIS.🙏💓🍀💐
My mother's family was from Portage. I had a great-grandfather and great uncles who worked these mines. I remember the making of this film, and the video is, in fact, narrated by one of my relatives. As a child I used to sit and watch it in the upstairs room of my grandparents' house, always being fascinated by the closing song and singing along. Looking back now, seeing this with fresh eyes and realizing what this meant for the people of Sonman and Portage, I can't bring myself to even listen to the ending credits. I've always had a deep fascination with coal mining, and a great respect for the men who risked their lives to extract it from the hills in our area and others around the country. Thanks to all who worked on this documentary of a terrible mining accident, thank you for helping us to remember a piece of our heritage.
My Grandfather was Jim Monteith. Never knew him, but this put a lump in my throat. Rest easy Grandpa.
My grandfather, Kenneth Kepler, always gave me a lump of coal for Christmas and it was never meant to be a joke; it was full of meaning and I was always so grateful. He dearly loved all of the people who perished in this disaster and he took the pain to his grave. May God bless all of the people who lost their lives and May they never be forgotten.
These men were brave souls working to support their families. God bless them.
This is history that's deserves to be remembered...thanks for posting it....am sure it means a lot to these guy's family's 👍👍👍👍
May they never be forgotten, part of our national history which is not being taught to the youth of today. Being raised in Pennsylvania and having relatives who died from Black Lung and hearing about the mine disasters when I was young makes you appreciate what it has taken to have the nation we are, let's pray we don't lose it. God bless the '63'.
My Great grandfather was Michael Tigyer he worked in that mine at the time. The story I have been told by family is that he was supposed to be down there but was up above at the time due to some thing with getting tools. But he survived!
Freeman George is my husband's 1C2R (1st cousin, twice removed). It was very moving and informative to watch this video and I appreciate the time and effort that went into producing it.
My Grandfather Flori Pasi died in this. My mom was only 5. My grandmother was a widow and mother of 3 at 21.
Sadly
This was a bad time for all family’s the widows the children and the son less mothers may the 63 never be forgotten
really liked this!!!!!!!! i worked with some men from portage at the rushton mine in centre county!!
My Mom, Viola Smith Landry was 13 years old and attended school in Portage with the kids who lost their Dads on this day.
Good day Rick,
My grandfathers, both Kenneth Kepler and Edward Bem have passed away quite some time ago. I am the daughter of Thomas Bem who is the son of Edward Bem. There is a photo of Edward Bem, with whom I never had an opportunity to know as my grandfather as he died at the time I was born. Would you happen to know where I could obtain a copy of the photo of Edward Bem pictured in this film. I know my Uncle Richard Bem speaks as his photo is depicted. My name is Kristen Bem, daughter of Thomas Bem and Deborah Kepler, both of Portage.
Please let me know if you can help me out with my endeavor to get this photo.
I would be forever grateful to you 🙏
Thank you, Kristen Bem
@@apindy8953 Would you mind telling us how you found our video? I will look into the photo you mentioned.
@@PHCCLibrary When the video was first released on VHS video, my father, Thomas Bem, showed it to me and I was able to see the story of my grandfather, Kenneth Kepler and my other grandfather who was deceased when I was born, Edward Bem, my father's father. The mine disaster is therefore, part of my family history and although difficult to watch, it is a part of my family history and important to be aware of.
Kristen Bem
@@apindy8953 OK thanks for explaining that for us.
you can tell those are actors at 3:30 , got his battery on the front of his belt and his light cord dangling out front!
If you think about when this happened it was at the end of a world that changed extremely by December 1941. Its heart breaking that these men died in such away. They lived and loced more than most of us because they knew how fast it could be lost. God bless them all.
I love how the small cities or boroughs all came together to help out their buddies.
May these brave men rest in peace. Did the problems found by the mine expector, referred to in this video, have anything to do with the explosian ?
So many multiple family members rip old miners
My grandfather George Zimmerman, and uncle Laird Zimmerman were killed in this explosion. I never had the privilege of meeting either of them. I wonder whether my grandpa was stumpy George mentioned in this video. My mother Emerald Zimmerman Hastie would tell me often that I looked like and reminded her of her of her brother
Sorry I sent that comment before I finished. Just want to thank all those responsible in the making of this video.
my grandfather, an italian immigrant, was an iron miner. he died at 46 of silicosis making the owners rich.
My parents who are in their mid 80 grew up in Portage
I remember them talking about this many times
My grandfather on my moms side Patty Sopata was a cart driver and a bit of a drinker apparently but I don’t know if he worked in this mine
Mine needs to be shut down until repairs are completed, then regular inspections daily after
Mine safety regulation and rules are written in the blood of previous mine victims. I am very much aware that their sacrifice has brought me relatively safely through my coal mining career.
Rest in peace fellows.
Poor kids , there mom had to make a living to raise them
The company screwed the workers families extremely badly
Failure of our system 😢
This scenario was repeated over and over in coal country. It still is, just not on the same scale.