As you ride down US119 near the Pa. 981 Mt Pleasant exit you will pass by an old YMCA and Sports complex . If you get the sudden feeling of sadness or grief there is a good reason.
7 Coal Miners would loose there lives near this intersection during the Morewood Riot as it was known across the street from Morewood Coke Ovens which where on the site at the time.
They where a thousand strong protesting wage and labor conditions in a prolonged Labor Stoppage at the all too well known and Infamous Henry Clay Frick coke ovens ,when Sheriffs deputy's let loose a volley of fire killing the 7 Coal Miners instantly and 2 who would pass from their wounds on April 2nd, 1891
There is nothing left of the town of Morewood or Coke Ovens only the superintendents office to see and a road with a name.
It was all but forgotten tragedy .But luckily it has been remembered by a handful of people who helped to get a state marker in place and a memorial where they are buried.
One of a handful of bloody and deadly encounters between lboir unions and management .
It seems even today unions only know one way to negotiate and thats with force,threats and intimidation .
Which has gotten hundreds killed. and why groups like the Iron & Coal Police, Pinkerton's and Baldwin Felts detectives where formed in the first place. You have a right to strike , stop working for some one and to protest you do not have the right to destroy property and when you do the results seems to always be the same and so was the Morewood Massacre or Riot as it is some times known.
Instead of working with management to make things efficient and increase production so wages and benefits can rise its always strike and destroy . This is why unions get very little support or sympathy from the general public.
