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PLYMOUTH — A small group gathered inside the historic Shawnee Cemetery on Saturday, paying tribute to a lesser-known mining-related disaster that happened 130 years ago.

The Shawnee Cemetery Preservation Association along with the Plymouth Historical Society held a ceremony remembering 11 people — including 10 young women — who lost their lives during the Powell-Squib factory disaster.

The event comes on the heels of January’s Anthracite Mining Heritage Month, where events like the Avondale and Knox Mine Disasters are often remembered. However, Shawnee Preservation Association volunteer Lorraine Smith reminded attendees of the important roles women played during the height of King Coal.

“There were a lot of great Anthracite Heritage Month events, but they focus primarily on the men. And we also have women, girls, working too in the mining anthracite industry,” she said.

Many women aided in the mining effort by working in factories, such as the Powell-Squib factory that was located near Harris Street. Squibs were small explosives that worked like bottle rockets and were used by miners to help separate rock from coal.

Standing in front of the monument, historic society president Stephen Kondrad told the story of the tragic day in 1889. A small crew of women was working Feb. 25 when the first explosion went off.

Hearing the boom from above, several men working at the Gaylord Colliery below tried to rush up to the scene.

“By the time they got there, there was a second and a third explosion,” Kondrad said, noting that the final explosion blew the roof off and stopped anyone from getting close to render aid to the women. “There was nothing they could do for anyone that was inside of the building.”

‘A lot of history’

Factory owner John S. Powell was off-site for lunch, but rushed back after hearing of the incident. Two of his nieces employed at the factory died in the explosion as well as 15-year-old Jane Ann Thomas, who was awaiting Powell’s return to inquire about a job.

Foreman George Reese was able to survive long enough to give an account of what transpired, but ultimately lost his life. The tragedy was ruled accidental, and a jury at the time concluded the explosion occurred after squibs were tossed into a stove.

Along with Reese, 10 young women between the ages of 14 and 22 died.

Margaret Reese-Bau said she couldn’t possibly miss the memorial event. Her great-great aunt, Mary Lake, died in the tragedy at age 16.

Coming from a long lineage of miners, the Plymouth native is happy more residents will now know of the event that helped mold child-labor laws.

“In those days, the children, as soon as they could work, got a job and gave all the money to the head of the household. That’s the only way they could survive in those days,” she explained of why Mary worked in the factory.

Following the ceremony, Kondrad said he hopes area residents will take some to learn about the cemetery and their own family lineage.

“This community was built on coal mining and the industries that revolved around coal mining,” he said. “There’s a lot, a lot, of history in this town.”

Shawnee Cemetery Preservation Association volunteer Lorraine Smith puts flowers on the grave of Minnie Picton at the Shawnee Cemetery in Plymouth during a memorial event Saturday. Picton died Nov. 6, 1909, at the Powell-Squib factory in a fire.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_ply_disaster5_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgShawnee Cemetery Preservation Association volunteer Lorraine Smith puts flowers on the grave of Minnie Picton at the Shawnee Cemetery in Plymouth during a memorial event Saturday. Picton died Nov. 6, 1909, at the Powell-Squib factory in a fire. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Tom Jesso, president of the Shawnee Cemetery Preservation Association, talks about the Feb. 25, 1889, Powell-Squib factory explosion Saturday at the site of a memorial to the disaster in Shawnee Cemetery in Plymouth.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_ply_disaster1_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgTom Jesso, president of the Shawnee Cemetery Preservation Association, talks about the Feb. 25, 1889, Powell-Squib factory explosion Saturday at the site of a memorial to the disaster in Shawnee Cemetery in Plymouth. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Ruth Jesso and Heather Ruseskas, dressed in clothes of the period, stand next to the memorial for the 1889 Powell-Squib factory explosion after a wreath was placed in front of it during an remembrance event Saturday at Plymouth’s Shawnee Cemetery.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_ply_disaster2_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgRuth Jesso and Heather Ruseskas, dressed in clothes of the period, stand next to the memorial for the 1889 Powell-Squib factory explosion after a wreath was placed in front of it during an remembrance event Saturday at Plymouth’s Shawnee Cemetery. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

By Marcella Kester

For Times Leader