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<p>PLYMOUTH &#8212; The Plymouth Historical Society was transported back in time to the 19th century on Sunday, as roughly a hundred people gathered on the site of the Avondale Mine Disaster to remember those lost in the tragic fire 150 years ago.</p><p>&#8220;This is a great rurnout, this is something special,&#8221; said Stephen Kondrad, president of the Plymouth Historical Society.</p><p>Kondrad&#8217;s wife, Mary Beth, served as the hostess of the proceedings. She is descended from a number of victims of the Avondale mine disaster.</p><p>Kondrad opened the proceedings with a welcome and his opening remarks before turning the microphone over to Don Shappelle and Don Sennett, who played a stirring rendition of &#8220;Amazing Grace,&#8221; encouraging the crowd to sing along.</p><p>After the song, state Sen. John Yudichak offered some remarks as well.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m a native son of Plymouth, and I was raised in the shadow of Avondale,&#8221; Yudichak said.</p><p>Georgetta Potoski, the chairwoman of the board for the historical society, spoke next, offering some facts and figures about the men involved in the disaster.</p><p>&#8220;We are remembering the lives of men who died bravely on our behalf, in the act of working for better lives for their families,&#8221; Potosky said.</p><p>Kondrad then got back on the mic to offer an overview of the Avondale disaster in vivid detail.</p><p>On Sept. 6, 1869, a huge fire erupted in the Avnodale mine shaft, just off of what is now U.S. Route 11 in Plymouth. One hundred and ten miners, mainly adult men but also some sons, were killed in the blaze after being trapped underground and suffocated. At that point, it was the deadliest mine disaster in American history.</p><p>The disaster led to many changes and reforms in safety regulations for the coal mining industry. Pennsylvania being the first to put such changes into effect.</p><p>After Kondrad&#8217;s overview, Shappelle and Sennett performed the &#8220;Avondale Ballad,&#8221; a song full of rich history and detail about the disater. The song was originally penned by George Korson in the 1940s.</p><p>Next up was the tribute ceremony, in which living descendants of those who perished in the Avondale tragedy were asked to come up, read their ancestors&#8217; names aloud and pin a carnation on a ceremonial wreath.</p><p>The proceeding was a somber one, as many people dressed in all black and some even shed a tear as the names of the dead were spoken.</p><p>When everything was concluded and the benediction was given by James Youells, the ceremony adjourned to the Plymouth Historical Society site on Gaylord Avenue for refreshments.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Plymouth Historical Society member Mary Beth Kondrad holds a photo of her great-great grandfather and Avondale mine disaster victim John D. Evans during a commemorative service noting the 150th anniversary of the event Sunday in Plymouth Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_TTL090919Avondale_1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Plymouth Historical Society member Mary Beth Kondrad holds a photo of her great-great grandfather and Avondale mine disaster victim John D. Evans during a commemorative service noting the 150th anniversary of the event Sunday in Plymouth Township. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_TTL090919Avondale_2-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Plymouth Historical Society President Stephen Kondrad provides an on-site overview of the Avondale mine disaster during a commemorative service for its 150th anniversary Sunday in Plymouth Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_TTL090919Avondale_2-1-.jpg</photo1><caption1>Plymouth Historical Society President Stephen Kondrad provides an on-site overview of the Avondale mine disaster during a commemorative service for its 150th anniversary Sunday in Plymouth Township. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_TTL090919Avondale_3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Don Sennett, left, and Don Shappelle, both of Wilkes-Barre, perform &#8216;He&#8217;s Only a Miner&#8217; near the mine shaft entrance during the 150th anniversary service of the Avondale mine disaster in Plymouth Township on Sunday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_TTL090919Avondale_3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Don Sennett, left, and Don Shappelle, both of Wilkes-Barre, perform &#8216;He&#8217;s Only a Miner&#8217; near the mine shaft entrance during the 150th anniversary service of the Avondale mine disaster in Plymouth Township on Sunday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_TTL090919Avondale_4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Plymouth Historical Society member Joe Caffrey, of Larksville, rings the bell as Avondale mine disaster victim&#8217;s names are read suring the memorial service on Sunday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_TTL090919Avondale_4.jpg</photo3><caption3>Plymouth Historical Society member Joe Caffrey, of Larksville, rings the bell as Avondale mine disaster victim&#8217;s names are read suring the memorial service on Sunday. </caption3><photoCredit3>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_TTL090919Avondale_5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">State Sen. John Yudichak walks back to his seat after presenting a citation from the state senate during the 150th anniversary commemoration of the Avondale mine disaster Sunday in Plymouth Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_TTL090919Avondale_5.jpg</photo4><caption4>State Sen. John Yudichak walks back to his seat after presenting a citation from the state senate during the 150th anniversary commemoration of the Avondale mine disaster Sunday in Plymouth Township. </caption4><photoCredit4>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_TTL090919Avondale_6.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A woman holds a flower during the 150th anniversary commemorative service of the Avondale mine disaster Sunday in Plymouth Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_TTL090919Avondale_6.jpg</photo5><caption5>A woman holds a flower during the 150th anniversary commemorative service of the Avondale mine disaster Sunday in Plymouth Township. </caption5><photoCredit5>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_TTL090919Avondale_7.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A cross and flags are seen overlooking the Avondale mine site in Plymouth Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_TTL090919Avondale_7.jpg</photo6><caption6>A cross and flags are seen overlooking the Avondale mine site in Plymouth Township. </caption6><photoCredit6>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_TTL090919Avondale_2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Plymouth Historical Society President Stephen Kondrad provides an on-site overview of the Avondale mine disaster during a commemorative service for its 150th anniversary Sunday in Plymouth Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_TTL090919Avondale_2.jpg</photo7><caption7>Plymouth Historical Society President Stephen Kondrad provides an on-site overview of the Avondale mine disaster during a commemorative service for its 150th anniversary Sunday in Plymouth Township. </caption7><photoCredit7>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit7></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Ceremony marks the 150th anniversary of mine disaster</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Kevin Carroll</p><p>kcarroll@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Kevin at 570-9540-8360 or on Twitter @TLKevinCarroll</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Ceremony marks the 150th anniversary of Avondale Mine Disaster