Darr Mine Explosion. and similar historical events.

When I was a younger lad, me and my friends used to explore this abandoned mine building near my house.. I myself have always liked urban exploration (as do many of you here, I'm sure) and there was plenty of cool stuff to get into there.

After doing some research and talking to people, we found out that it was the site of the second worst mining disaster in US history. This intrigued me greatly.. knowing that hundreds of miners were entombed in a mine below our feet. Somehow over the years I've become more and more interested in this whole thing.. it's just amazing how some of this stuff happens and people never forget about it. It started to make me appreciate more the past events and things that go on in the world.. normally I don't give a shit about anything like that.

The biggest mining disaster in Pennsylvania history in terms of number of deaths occurred at the Darr Mine in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County, on December 19, 1907. An explosion claimed 239 lives. The explosion was presumed to have occurred in an area that had been cordoned off, but a group of miners had entered anyway carrying open lamps. The company had permitted the use of open lamps in the mine, a practice it abandoned after the horrible events at the Darr Mine.

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http://www.perryopolis.com/coal.shtml

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This sign is a the end of the road I live on. It's next to a cemetary where some of the miners are buried.

http://patheoldminer.rootsweb.com/darr1.gif'>

These dudes are crazy to work in the conditions they did.. mad props to them. I guess they ahd to support their families somehow.

http://patheoldminer.rootsweb.com/darr2.gif'>

http://patheoldminer.rootsweb.com/darr7.gif'>

It's just too fucking wierd sometimes.. this happened so close to where I live, most of the guys were Hungarian immigrants (my grandparents came from Hungary in the 1940's)... it seems lately I'm just learning of all these coincidences and things that somehow are related to each other and are a part of my life. It makes me realize that everyone is somehow connected. I always thought that my life was separate, a sealed chamber. I'm learing that I was wrong.

Any stories about this kind of thing are welcome. I'd like to hear of happenings and historical stuff that is somehow meaningful to you or a part of your life.