St. Clair: A Nineteenth-Century Coal Town's Experience With a Disaster-Prone Industry

by Anthony F.C. Wallace

Chronicles the rise and fall of a Pennsylvanian coal town, the center of violent confrontations between labor and capital

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Sociology, American History

519 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1987

Reviews

[Caroline Heins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was tempted to give this book 2 stars, the subject matter is so depressing to me that it was like drudgery to read the book. But then, I did read the whole thing! but more than that, the book has remained in my imagination and understanding of how our nation became what it is today. I've even gone to see the town of St. Clair,PA since I read it. Any book that sticks with me this long and effects my very understanding of what it means to flip a light switch probably deserves more than 2 stars.

[Alie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of information about how coal miner towns began, but a little too heavy on details. Although, did you know that in miner towns, you could hear the workers underground as you walked around main street or in your backyard?

[Seán · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another choice Salvation Army pick-up. Useful to the continual investigation of my Pennsylvania forebearers, and as a splendid bit of anthropology/history using a representative pinprick of a mining patch to elicit a swirl of human events.