Although unions are by no means entirely gone or lacking in lobbying power, their membership in traditional industries is on the decline and their influence continues to diminish. Only a generation ago, large unions such as the United Mine Workers of America held greater political and economic capital and inspired millions beyond their immediate ranks. In this book, Christian Wright explores the complex history of the UMWA and coal mining in the West over a fifty-year period of the twentieth century, concentrating on the coal miners of Carbon and Emery counties in Utah. Wright emphasizes their experience during the 1970s, which saw the rise and passing of American workers' most successful postwar effort to internally reform a major labor organization: the Miners for Democracy movement. As Wright details how and why Miners for Democracy and nonunion mining raced to control coal's future, he also touches on the UMWA's regional origins during and immediately after the New Deal, when cracks in union efficacy and benefit programs began to appear. Using sophisticated demography, Wright not only details how miners' racial, gender, and generational identities shaped their changing relationships to mining and organized labor, he also illustrates the place of nonunion miners, antiunion employers, the unemployed, ethnic minorities, and women in transforming "Carbon County, USA." Drawing on a variety of primary sources, Wright provides evidence for organized labor's continuing significance and value while effectively illuminating its mounting frustrations during a relatively recent chapter in the history of Utah and the United States.

While walking along the top of Sharp Mountain in 1791, Philip Ginder kicked up a piece of black stone that turned out to be anthracite coal. This discovery paved the way for a million-dollar coal industry that thrived for more than a century and spawned the birth of Summit Hill. In early 1827, a nine-mile stretch of the Switchback Gravity Railroad was built for the purpose of hauling coal from Summit Hill to the Lehigh River in Mauch Chunk. By the end of the century, the Switchback was the number two tourist attraction in America, second only to Niagara Falls. Many of the early buildings are no longer standing, but thanks to postcards and photographers of the time, many images of Summit Hill's lost places have been preserved.

A young woman finds fortune in the Colorado hills and becomes the toast of San Francisco's glittering high society, but yearns for her roguish lover and for the fire of their everlasting passion.

"The articles which compose the body of the following pamphlet, were originally published as leading editorials in the North America."--Introductory note

... An 8 year plan to preserve Lowell's historic and cultural resources in order to tell the story of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century; included in the plan are mills, institutions, residences, commercial buildings and canals; describes the areas covered; discusses preservation standards, public improvements, financing, related programs, etc.; provides architectural information, dates of construction, history, plans for building reuse, etc. of specific structures in the Lowell National Historic Park and Lowell Heritage State Park ...

No one knew when Philip Ginder discovered coal on this mountain in 1791 that it would fuel the Industrial Revolution as well as found the little hilltop community of Summit Hill. This little town at one point was a center for mining and tourism in Carbon County in the late 1800s. Along with that important history, the town also developed a rich fabric of folklore, legends and ghost stories which author David A.Wargo has recorded in this volume.Drawing from the rich stories of his community and personal experiences, he provides a new perspective into the fabric of this historically important town. Read about the Woman in White, one of the oldest legends in the community. Also learn about Summit Hill's role in the Molly Maguire story, ghostly tales of soldiers and miners, the unsolved payroll murders, the phantom singer and haunted cemeteries. These stories provide a richness to this quaint little borough along with historical context making this book not only a treasure of folklore but a useful collection of local history and photographs of this hilltop town.