Eckley: A Coal Patch Town Frozen in Time

Founded in 1854, the patch town of Eckley, Pennsylvania served to provide coal miners and their families on-site housing, medical amenities, markets, schools, and churches. Enticed by its rich sense of community and thriving coalfields, miners from all over Northern Pennsylvania began relocating their families to Eckley. The village also opened its doors to European immigrants looking to leave behind poverty and hardships in the pursuit of the American Dream. Eckley quickly began to thrive, contributing to social and economic change at the start of the Industrial Revolution.

Eckley is now preserved as a village frozen in time to help educate tourists and locals about the home life of rural America and the production of industrial fuel.

Each guided tour of Eckley begins with a 17-minute orientation film on the town’s history in the Visitor Center. Artifacts and pictorials offer guests a brief introduction before setting foot in town.

Dusty tree-lined paths lead to the village and its historical monuments, including two fully reconstructed churches, various dwellings, company stores, and grassy pastures. The Sports and Social Club is perhaps the most popular stop along the way, built in 1946 for social gatherings and after-hours entertainment. Beautifully curated, the club’s bar has been featured in a number of Hollywood films, including The Molly Maguires.

Eckley also hosts Civil War reenactments, fundraisers, festivals, and educational workshops throughout the year. The next Civil War reenactment takes place in the village on September 9th and 10th, and includes a complimentary hour-long tour. Haunted Halloween tours are also a hit, full of spooky stories and costumes along the town’s darkened streets.

Eckley Village is located just three miles south of Freeland on Highland Road off Foster Avenue and Route 940.

For rates, hours, and more, be sure to visit their website at http://eckleyminersvillage.com/.