Girardville’s history can be read through two distinct strands: the town’s early history and the later coal-mining industry. The town’s founding history includes the construction of Girard Mansion in 1832; in 1863, Cornelius Garretson opened the Girard Colliery, later known as Hammond Breaker. The Hibernian House offers another point of entry: It combines its role as a living museum with the stories surrounding the alleged Molly Maguires. In Girardville, industrial history and specific places of remembrance thus meet.
From the Town’s History to the Coal Industry
Girard Mansion and the Girard Colliery represent different chapters in the town’s history. The construction of the Mansion is part of Girardville’s founding history. The Colliery offers a later industrial perspective: Cornelius Garretson opened it in 1863, after which it became known as Hammond Breaker. This sequence helps put the two places in context without conflating their histories.
Before it closed in the 1920s, the Colliery shipped more than 4.5 million tons of coal. This figure offers a different perspective on the facility than the dates: while 1863 and the time of its closure mark its historical timeframe, the figure describes the volume of coal shipped. Those interested in mining history can thus consider both the industry’s timeline and its scale.
The Hibernian House and the Molly Maguires
The Hibernian House is a living museum, a local pub, and an inn. Historically, it was the original hotel and meeting place of the alleged Molly Maguires. This connection gives the house a different focus from the history of the Colliery: Here, the building’s historical function and the stories surrounding the Molly Maguires take center stage.
The Hibernian House contains artifacts from the era of the alleged Molly Maguires, including Kehoe’s original jail cell door, shackles, and coal-mining equipment. The collection connects the Molly Maguires theme with the local mining history. This provides a concrete way to explore both subjects, rather than treating them only as separate historical chapters.
A special opening of the bar and a tour can be arranged through Joe Wayne. If you would like to plan a visit, making arrangements is the intended way to do so; the special opening should not be understood as unrestricted walk-in access.
Audio Tour, Parade, and Getting Around
The Molly Maguires Audio Tour includes a downloadable map. It lists Shenandoah, Girardville, and Wiggan’s Patch at stops 18 through 20. This helps put Girardville in the context of the locations on the audio tour. The map is also a useful guide if you would like to consider the stops and places mentioned in advance.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is also part of Girardville’s annual event calendar. It is organized by the Ancient Order of Hibernians. If you would like to make the parade the occasion for your trip, check the specific dates before making plans: The annual tradition alone does not provide an event date for your trip.
For getting around, Route 54 is an important point of reference: It runs through the main part of Girardville and is the town’s main road there. Check road conditions separately. The historical topics, the arranged visit to the Hibernian House, and the audio tour stops mentioned above address different questions when planning a trip; you can prioritize them according to your personal interests.
Discover more destinations: Mahanoy City, Zion Grove, Frackville, Pine Grove, Coaldale, Minersville, Pottsville.
For the broader travel overview: Schuylkill County.
