Girardville, a tiny, past-its-prime coal borough hidden in the Schuylkill County mountains, could be worth more dead than alive.
Reading Anthracite in Girardville.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
A photograph kept by the Girardville Historical Society shows Mine Rescue Organization members. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
A photograph kept by the Girardville Historical Society shows the borough of Girardville. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
Joseph J. Wayne points to photos on the wall of the Hibernian House bar. John J. Kehoeís great grandson Joseph J. Wayne owns the Hibernian House in Girardville. Wayneís great grandfather was a Molly Maguire. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
Joseph J. Wayne, center, with former state Rep. Neal Goodman, dedicating an historical plaque at the Hibernian House. John J. Kehoeís great grandson Joseph J. Wayne owns the Hibernian House in Girardville. Wayneís great grandfather was a Molly Maguire. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
A view of Frackville borough. Frackville is about five miles from Girardville borough in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
A photograph kept by the Girardville Historical Society shows a parade through the town. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
A mural showing the Molly Maguires, in front, in the Hibernian House bar. John J. Kehoeís great grandson Joseph J. Wayne owns the Hibernian House in Girardville. Wayneís great grandfather was a Molly Maguire. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
Michael Zangari is near the end of his second term as mayor of Girardville borough. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
A cell door from the Schuylkill County Prison is on display in the Hibernian House, next to the bar. John J. Kehoeís great grandson Joseph J. Wayne owns the Hibernian House in Girardville. Wayneís great grandfather was a Molly Maguire. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
Ashland borough hall Anthracite Museum. Ashland is about three miles from Girardville borough.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
The main street through Girardville. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
John J. Kehoeís great grandson Joseph J. Wayne owns the Hibernian House in Girardville. A photo in Hibernian House shows Wayne seated next to Gov. Milton Shapp as he signs the proclamation calling for a review of the trials of the hanged Molly Maguires – including Wayneís great grandfather. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
The Mahanoy Creek that runs through town is orange from acid mine drainage. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
November 19, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
A House of Representatives Citation recognizes the 175th anniversary of Girardville borough in June, 2007. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
Michael Zangari is near the end of his second term as mayor of Girardville borough. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
A view of Ashland borough. Ashland is about three miles from Girardville borough.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
Robert Krick is president of the Girardville Historical Society. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
A photograph kept by the Girardville Historical Society show coal miners. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
A ine drainage pump at the Pioneer Tunnel in Ashland borough. Ashland is about three miles from Girardville borough.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
Keystone Anthracite in Girardville. The land is owned by the Girard Estate, administered by the City of Philadelphia, and leased to Keystone Anthracite for mining activities.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
An anthracite monument along Girardville’s Main Street shows the town literally worshiped coal ñ and for good reason. Life in the mines was never easy. But there was a time, not long ago, when the tiny town had it all. With King Coal’s glory days long gone, Girardville has become a bleak blank slate for minority newcomers. Can this lead to a rebirth?
on the main street through Girardville. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
A Girardville Historical Society photo shows United Mine Workers of America union leaders visiting the town where the labor movement began. Girardville remains a place for ‘underdogs’ who refuse to give up, town leaders say.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
A mural showing coal mining scenes in the Hibernian House. John J. Kehoeís great grandson Joseph J. Wayne owns the Hibernian House in Girardville. Wayneís great grandfather was a Molly Maguire. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
Harley Ingersoll is the secretary, treasurer, and open records officer of Girardville borough. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
An estimated 500 trucks loaded with coal travel the main road through the center of Girardville in Schuylkill County daily.
(Dan Gleiter / PennLive)
Girardville’s only “market” is the Unity Food Mart on Main Street.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
Michael Zangari declined to run for another term as mayor of Girardville. But he’s not giving up on the town, citing his young son and the four generations before him who called it home.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
David Brennan, Girardville’s new mayor, is pictured at right in the borough office. David Willis, who’s been on borough council for about a year, is at left. Together, they represent the town’s new leadership.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
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Reading Anthracite in Girardville.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
Husband-and-wife duo Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill will bring their Americana harmonies and hits from The Bangles, The Cowsills and The Beach Boys to their Sellersville Theater performance.
