Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania was once called “The Diamond City” because of the anthracite coal it produced during its peak in the 1880s and 1890s. At that time, the city was booming, with coal fueling factories, homes, and the railroad industry. My great-grandpa worked in the mines during those years, and the helmet he wore has been passed down in my family, first to my grandpa, then my uncle, and now me. After World War II, when the demand for coal dropped and the industry collapsed, Wilkes-Barre started to fade. The boarded-up shops and quiet streets show how much has changed.


Growing up, I heard stories about the dangers of the mines including men working twelve-hour days underground, families depending on that one paycheck, accidents that happened without warning. I didn’t fully understand until a fourth-grade field trip to an old mine. Walking through the dark tunnels helped me picture what my great-grandpa experienced. That’s when the stories stopped being just stories.


After my uncle passed away, my grandpa gave me the helmet. I think it meant a lot to my uncle as it connected him to where we come from, reminded him of the work and sacrifice that built our family. Now it sits on my shelf, scratched and dusty, but it means everything to me. That helmet isn’t just an old object, but it’s a symbol of where I’m from and a reminder to keep pushing, no matter what.

– Connor Chapple

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