When Coal Was King by Jay Luke

When Coal Was Queen:
The History of the Queen City – Olyphant, Pennsylvania
JAY LUKE
ISBN:9780982256527 (paperback)
Published by the Olyphant Coal Miners Memorial Association

A Look into a Small Town’s Past

Journey into the history of what was once called the “Jewel of the Mid Valley” — Olyphant, Pennsylvania, “The Queen City.” This journey takes the reader through the earliest days of the township and notable events of the past. Included are some famous residents and visitors who passed through over the years, and of course the storied Anthracite Empire that built the town. Check out a wealth of photographic documentation as well as many interesting facts about Olyphant, such as:

• A mine disaster occurred at the location of Olyphant’s mining memorial statue in 1903 that swallowed an entire hotel into the ground below.
• The first woman ever enlisted in the U.S. Navy was from Olyphant.
• Patricia Crowley of Olyphant once graced a Life magazine cover in the 1950s.
• Nestor Chylak of Olyphant is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame for his work in the major leagues as an umpire.
• President Theodore Roosevelt came to Olyphant to try to find a solution to mining relations in 1910.

“There can be no better tribute to a people than to keep their stories alive. With exceptional detail and a wonderful sense of time and place, When Coal Was Queen captures the history and the stories of the Queen City and its mining heritage. A wonderful book for those who call Olyphant home — and for anyone who loves history.” – Cheryl A. Kashuba, co-author of Scranton & Scranton Times-Tribune local history columnist

“It is wonderful to see the valley’s coal mining history promoted through this project. The support shown to the monument fund drive from the local community truly demonstrated the pride we all share in our industrial heritage.” – Mary Ann Moran-Savakinus, Executive Director, Lackawanna Historical Society

CLICK to read sample pages.Available from: Tribute Books