Eckley breaker to be rebuilt
PHOTO COURTESY / PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL AND MUSEUM COMMISSION - An artist's rendering of planned renovations to the breaker at Eckley Miners Village.
ECKLEY – The coal breaker at the Eckley Miners Village in Foster Township, Luzerne County will soon receive a multi-million dollar facelift.
The breaker seen today is a replica, built for the 1970 film The Molly Maguires.
“We are excited to embark on this transformative project,” said Bode Morin, Site Administrator at Eckley Miners’ Village. “The new coal breaker will not only honor the rich history of coal mining in Northeast Pennsylvania but also provide a valuable educational and collections resource for visitors of all ages.”
Construction work will begin this winter to begin building a multi-million dollar structure based on the 1915 Eckley breaker.
It will be functional as well, assisting in preserving and showcasing site and regional artifacts in a climate-controlled environment.
The construction of the upgraded Breaker will be made possible through Commonwealth capital project funds.
Eckley is a largely-preserved example of a coal region patch town — akin to a Raven Run, Colorado, or Yatesville of days gone by — and features preserved homes, churches, outbuildings, gardens, and landscapes similar to the industrial communities of Pennsylvania mine families.
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