Luzerne County Historical Society

Special thanks to the Benco Family Foundation for sponsoring our 168th Annual Dinner on Tuesday June 16th. The Benco Family Foundation is dedicated to improving the dental health and quality of life in our local communities and around the world. Established in 2005, the foundation supports oral health solutions and community organizations that are innovative, sustainable, measurable and impactful.

We hope you will join us for the Annual Dinner this year. The program for the evening is Celebrating America 250 and will include Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America 250 PA as our keynote speaker. As well as a raffle, artistic portraits, Revolutionary War artifact display, and much more!

On June 27th, our friends at the Anthracite Heritage Center and King's College will be dedicating a new monument in Miner's Park. See the release below for all the info!

For Immediate Release
The Anthracite Heritage Foundation and King’s College
Dedication of the Carnegie Heroes Monument on June 27, 2026
Contact: Professor Robert P. Wolensky, King’s College; 715 252 6742

Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish immigrant, industrialist and philanthropist, established the Carnegie Heroes Fund Commission in 1905 in Pittsburgh. His motive was to award the Carnegie Medal to individuals who had engaged in extraordinary acts of courage.

Over 10,000 medals have since been conferred on persons from throughout the U.S. and Canada. Forty of them have been bestowed on persons whose heroism occurred within the anthracite coal industry of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

On June 27, 2026, at 1:00 pm, the Anthracite Heritage Foundation (AHF), in conjunction with King’s College, will dedicate a marble monument containing the names of the forty anthracite medalists. The list includes the late miner Amadeo Pancotti of Pittston, hero of the Knox Mine Disaster of 1959.

The dedication program will take place in the auditorium of The Alley Center at King’s College on Public Square in downtown Wilkes-Barre, followed by the monument’s unveiling and blessing in The Miners Park at the front of The Alley Center.

The program speakers will include Fr. Thomas Looney, President of King’s College; George Brown Mayor of Wilkes-Barre; Jewels Phraner of the Carnegie Heroes Commission; Thomas Lowther Bell, great grandson of John Tennant Brown, who was awarded the Carnegie Medal for saving four men after an explosion on January 10, 1911, at Hoyt Shaft, near Pittston; and Professor Robert P. Wolensky of the AHF and King’s College. Tony Brooks of the AHF and the Wilkes-Barre Preservation Society will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.

The public is cordially invited to attend this important local event commemorating a group of heroic anthracite mineworkers. The dedication will be open to the public, and refreshments will be served.

Free parking will be available in the street, and in the high-rise ramp at the rear of The Alley Center, with the entrance on North Main Street.

Special thanks to Berkshire Asset Management for sponsoring our 168th Annual Dinner on Tuesday June 16th. Berkshire Asset Management, LLC is located in Wilkes-Barre, PA and was formed in 1986 as a registered investment advisor focused on US equity management for high-net-worth individuals and institutions.

We hope you will join us for the Annual Dinner this year. The program for the evening is Celebrating America 250 and will include Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America 250 PA as our keynote speaker. As well as a raffle, artistic portraits, Revolutionary War artifact display, and much more!

Special thanks to Ochman's Coin & Jewelry for sponsoring our 168th Annual Dinner on Tuesday June 16th. Ochman's was established in 1979 by the late Tom Ochman. Over the years, Ochman's has evolved into your local full service coin and jewelry store. On one side, Ochman's is your local full service jewelry store, on the other side, Ochman's buys and sells gold coins, silver coins, and old US currency.

We hope you will join us for the Annual Dinner this year. The program for the evening is Celebrating America 250 and will include Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America 250 PA as our keynote speaker. As well as a raffle, artistic portraits, Revolutionary War artifact display, and much more!

The Frances Slocum Chapter of the Children of the American Revolution held their June meeting at the Museum today and took a tour of our galleries, including posing by a portrait of their namesake.

If your group would like a tour of the museum, call us at 570-823-6244 x3 or email [email protected].

Today's the big day! If you want to go to our 168th Annual Dinner at The Greens at Irem Clubhouse, you need to have your reservations in by the end of the day today! Order your tickets off of our website, or by calling 570-823-6244 x3, or emailing [email protected].

There's just five hours left! If you are going to participate in NEPA Gives, we ask you to please consider donating to the LCHS! Click the link below to donate, and remember that 100% of all donations go to directing to preserving our area's ;local history!

https://www.nepagives.org/organization/Luzerne-County-Historical-Society

Special thanks to Smith & Miller Roofing, LLC. for sponsoring our 168th Annual Dinner on Tuesday June 16th. Smith and Miller Roofing has been operating since 1976 and has over 10,000 satisfied customers, and a proven track record of excellence in installations for residential and commercial properties.

We hope you will join us for the Annual Dinner this year. The program for the evening is Celebrating America 250 and will include Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America 250 PA as our keynote speaker. As well as a raffle, artistic portraits, Revolutionary War artifact display, and much more!

Order your tickets at the link below, or by calling 570-823-6244 x3, or emailing [email protected].

https://luzernehistory.org/event/168th-luzerne-county-historical-society-annual-dinner/

NEPA Gives is live! Please help us reach our goal! You can donate between now and 7pm tomorrow at the link below!

https://www.nepagives.org/organization/Luzerne-County-Historical-Society?fbclid=Iwb21leASO4cdjbGNrBI7hwGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHnpZBRm2FT7Wf1P001YH7iKjOKIehEzYe2CsOPkSw-HXoX2OaOTVNaL0M3wi_aem_lSwiV0qVLgnQYsqJqIlCBw

The National Service Animals Monument will be holding this year's Purple Poppy Walk on Saturday from 9am-Noon at Trailwood Park in Bear Creek Township. Bring out your pooch for a great cause!