BIG MINE RUN: Recollections of the Coal Region

The book is mainly oral history. It's a collection of stories describing what it was like growing up in Big Mine Run, a Coal Region patch in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The author includes stories that range from picking huckleberries for a few pennies to making moonshine in the cellar. He writes about dumb things he did as a kid like getting his tongue stuck on a bridge to challenging a freight train. It's also about stealing coal and working in a bootleg coalhole. Bobonich features stories about his family, friends and his most memorable schoolteacher.The book also includes big events such as celebrating more than one Christmas and waiting for the carnival to come to town. It includes reminiscences about old radio programs from Gang Busters to The Shadow to The Day the Martians Landed in New Jersey. He also writes about famous people that made the headlines like the Molly Maguires and Dr.Robert Spencer from Ashland. Lastly the book describes tragic events such as the Baffling Airliner crash near Mt. Carmel, the Centralia mine fire and the Avondale Calamity--the worst mine disaster in the history of the Anthracite Region.

Harry M. Bobonich was born in Big Mine Run, Pennsylvania and graduated from Butler Township High School as valedictorian of his class. He spent three years in the U.S. Army as a deep-sea diver. He is married to Gloria J. Cole from Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania and they have two sons-Chris and Greg. He earned a bachelor's degree from Susquehanna University, a master's degree from Bucknell University and a Ph.D. Degree in chemistry from Syracuse University. Bobonich has taught at Pennsylvania State University, Shippensburg University and Wilson College. He retired from Shippensburg University as Dean of the Graduate School and Research. Harry enjoys playing chess, reading and keeping up with proper nutrition. He has authored a number of articles on the history of the coal region. His first book is titled, "Seeing Around Corners: How Creative People Think." This is his second book.