The East Brookside Mine Explosion was responsible for the deaths of 20 men that worked at the East Brookside Mine located north of the Borough of Tower City in the western part of Schuylkill County.  It is the most men that ever lost their lives in a single mining accident in Schuylkill County. 

A committee was formed in 2013 to commemorate the miners who died in this mining accident under the leadership of Father Paul Rothermel.  Many of the deceased miners had their funeral service at SS Peters & Paul R.C. Chapel in Tower City.  A program was put together and held at the chapel on August 3, 2013.  The program included the reading of the Brookside Ballad.  The ballad was written by a distraught miner and composed by James Tallon of Tower City shortly after the disaster.  A heart touching letter was also read from a descendent of one of the miners.  The relative lives in Poland and had heard about the service.  The Breaker Boys consisting of Stew Richards and Tommy Simmons performed a dramatic reading in the chapel dressed in clothing worn by miners.  The dramatic reading was prepared as if the Breaker Boys were giving an eye witness account of the accident.  The service was professionally filmed that day and will be shown as part of the program on Thursday, November 6th. at 6:30 pm at the Schuylkill County Historical Society.  Stew Richards passed away on May 17, 2024.  He was a strong supporter of the Schuylkill County Historical Society and had written several books about anthracite mining.  This program is being dedicated to Stew Richards for his strong support to the society and the history of the anthracite region.

David Williams, a mining engineer for nearly 50 years and board member of the Schuylkill County Historical Society, will briefly explain what happened that day at the East Brookside Mine before the film is shown. 

free for SCHS members, $5 for nonmembers