History of Mahanoy Plane, airliner crash near Aristes subject of upcoming discussions at Schuylkill Historical Society
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL FILE
POTTSVILLE – Two upcoming discussions at the Schuylkill County Historical Society will discuss facets of our area’s history.
On May 17 at 6:30pm, Michael Kitsock will discuss the history of the Mahanoy Plane, the railroad incline that allowed the mines of the Mahanoy Valley to export their product to market.
The plane carried millions of tons of coal from the Mahanoy Plane section of Gilberton up the side of the Broad Mountain, and over what is now Route 924 on the north end of Frackville. Ruins of the engine house and an abandoned boxcar or two remain at the site of the plane.
Kitsock is a Penn State fire instructor and a founding member of the Schuylkill Historical Fire Society.
The discussion is free to society members and $5 for the general public and will take place at 305 North Centre Street in Pottsville. For more information, call the society at 570-622-7540.
Then, on June 14 at 6:30pm, local historians Stu Richards and Tom Dempsey will present a program on United Airlines Flight 624, which crashed in Conyngham Township, near Aristes and Wilburton, in June of 1948.
That airplane, headed from San Diego to New York City, was carrying 43 people — four flight crew and 39 passengers — all of whom were killed in the crash. Aboard the plane were Broadway producer Earl Carroll; his girlfriend, actress Beryl Wallace; and Esqure magazine co-founder Henry L. Jackson.
Admission is free to Society members and $5 for the general public. For further information, call the Society at 570-622-7540.
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