In 1922, the coal workers in SMock attempted to organize in order to get better wages and working conditions. The H. C. Frick Coal Company was so upset with the workers that the company promptly threw the workers, their families, and their belongings out of the company homes. The people, young and old, were forced to find shelter. Some raised tents like the one shown below. Mary Spooner of Smock remembers the exact field that her belongings were thrown into that year. She was a little girl of 4 and is shown in the picture below. She is the little head of blond hair standing next to the woman(her mom)at the tent's entrance holding a little boy. The little boy was Mary's brother Joe who died within the year due to sickness.

Mary relates that farmers let people stay inside barns and sheds during the winter months. Another Smock resident, Ernest Farina, now in his 80s, remembers his father opening thier barn to the miners. Amazing to think of such tough times that people have seen.

Duncan Bennett of Maryville, TN recently emailed us this memory of his life near Smock:

"My earliest memories are of Rowes Run in the duplex house in what we called Newtown about 1929. I must have been about two when we moved there from Uniontown. We moved out of the duplex house when I was 13 across the hollow to the house next to the foreman's house. He was Jim Yoakum, a childhood friend of my father's. Ralph Kirk, a friend of my parents from when they lived in Tars, was the superintendent. Later the superintendent was Bill Merwin. I have some pictures of the 1933 strike. My mother took them from in front of our house. They show the highway with a union parade. I remember my father going to work during the strike, and walking down over the hill towards the picket line. My mother was very afraid for him. The pickets (all of whom he knew well) would crowd around him. Once they took his bucket away and then called him back and gave it back. He told them if they did not let him go to the mine it would fill with water and the horses would starve. That's what he did during the strike, run the pumps and feed horses. I have lots of other memories too -- of the strike and life in the town. I'll be glad to work on a memoir this winter and the pictures I have from the early 30's and share them with your historic society." Nov 2004

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The following pictures were donated by Ginny Leichliter, 2004.

Franklin Boarding House

The Original Club House Rules which hung in the Boarding House (on loan from Darlene Cicconi)

The following is taken directly from the Franklin Club House Rules dated April 1, 1924:

?This building was erected by the H. C. Frick Coke Company for the purpose of providing living quarters for the employees of their Colonial No. 1 Plant, and to supply the growing demand on the part of the employees for a boarding house with modern conveniences....Although operated for use by the employees of this plant, meals will be furnished to transients during meal hours, lodging will be furnished [to] transients when possible to do so.

RATES

To Employees: Boarding $10/week Rooms $8/month
To Transients: Meals .75 Rooms $1

RULES

1. Room rent shall include a personal locker in the downstairs wash room.
2. A sick room fully equipped, is provided for the convenience of the boarders.
3. Spitting on the floors is absolutely prohibited and will not be tolerated.
4. Boarders will not be allowed to bring intoxicating liquor into the building. No gambling allowed.
5. The rights of others must be respected at all times.
6. Profane, vulgar, or indecent language have no place in this building.
7. The Manager will not be responsible for loss of clothing, money, jewelry, or valuables.
8. Lock the door when leaving your room. Keep locker in wash room locked. Take care of the keys.
9. Boarders will be expected to conduct themselves as gentlemen.
10. Do not disturb those who have retired, and avoid unnecessary noise.
11. Boarders will be charged for any damage to furniture, locker, or property in their care.
12. We want you to feel at home and will try to do our part, please co-operate with us.
13. Make use of the reading material found in the lobby, you may benefit by it.
14. The Manager wants your suggestion for betterment of the service, make any complaint you may have to him.
15. Only steady, realiable workmen will be accomodated with board and room. We have no room for men who will not WORK.

Practice Cleanliness and safety at all times.
Colonial No. 1 Mine, Smock, PA.
April 1, 1924
R. H. BARRY, Superintendent
O.L. CANTERBURY, Manager

DOWNLOAD COPY OF ORIGINAL BOARDING HOUSE RULES HERE:download Rules.pdf

New Information about Boarding House Proprietors

Oscar Canterbury ran the Boarding House along with his wife Jerusha. Jerusha's granddaughter Olive Scott visited the museum in 2003 and brought a wonderful collection of pictures. Not only do we have pictures of the boarding house, but also of the Frick Hotel as it was being built. Our thanks to Olive for sharing the following pictures.

Oscar and Jerusha Canterbury - Proprietors of the Smock Boarding House

Jerusha Canterbury poses in the soon-to-be Frick Hotel

A picnic at the Smock ballfield

St. Hedwig Church
The parish of St. Hedwig in Smock was established in 1912 through the efforts of Fr. Francis Pribil, pastor of St. Mary's Church in Uniontown. The church was erected on a tract of land acquired from the H.C. Frick Coal and Coke Company. Fr. Adolph Rudolph was appointed the first pastor of this new parish. As mining thrived, the parish grew, and the need for a larger church became evident. In 1918, the first church was converted into a social hall and a new church was built. From 1955-1958, the church was competely renovated and a former public school was purchased for use as a religious education center. The latter was remodeled in 1983.
Through the years, numerous organizations were formed, ministries were established, and shrines were erected. The church was last renovated in 1984.
St. Hedwig provided pastoral care for two mission churches, the former St. Hedwig, Brier Hill (1968-1979) and the former St. Casimir, Kesiterville (1968-2000). The parish serves approximately 285 families in 2004.

Items donated, 2004

This "Essential of Spelling" book circa 1919, Gilette Blue Blades, Merthiolate Applicators, and Little Old Woman in the Shoe Charm were donated to the Heritage museum in honor of George Rakushin by his cousin, Gregory Raskushin. Also donated in honor of George Rakushin were 1 cent, 3 cent and 1 cent postcards which were donated by "his Lil Ole Friend" Mabel Martin, 2004.

SMOCK CENTRAL GARAGE

The garage in 2004- deserted and in need of repair.

SMOCK MEMORIES

It never ceases to amaze me how many people have a connection to Smock. I was recently emailing several people about helping me set up a Health Fair when I received this reply from a helpful lady:

"Smock brings back old memories. My grandma lived there and when I was a very young girl I spent many summers there. That was when there were outhouses in the back yards and kerosene lamps. I remember how we used to wait and hope someone would throw their wash water down the ditches so we could sail our "boats" down the street and chase them. The general store trusted everyone. They had a movie once a week and we coulden't wait for the next episode of series like Rin Tin Tin, Hop-a-Long Cassidy. Everyone had a garden."

What beautiful sentiments. You can tell by how she tells her story that she has very fond memories of her times in Smock. Please send us any of your Smock memories that you would like to share.