Aug. 10—Residents within a certain section of Kingston were evacuated due to a mine subsidence and heaves that snapped gas and water lines on Aug. 12, 1961.
“More than 100 homes are affected in the 500 blocks of Ford, Charles, Rutter and Westmoreland avenues. The area is bounded on the south by Westmoreland Avenue on the north by Ford, on the west by James Street and on the east by Dorrance Street,” reported the Wilkes-Barre Record on Aug. 14, 1961.
Residents in the area reported hearing a sound similar to a “jack hammer” at 11:35 p.m. on Aug. 12, 1961. Upon exiting their homes, they observed a subsidence on Charles Street that slowly expanded under curbs and sidewalks, and heaves that lifted other sidewalks and driveways six inches to two feet high.
Kingston police Officer Joseph Oliver responded to reports and while standing in the driveway of 265 Charles Ave., the driveway buckled under his feet lifting him 18 inches, the Record reported.
As residents were evacuated from their homes, the scene became a tourist attraction for many others as large crowds gathered at street corners.
“Six homes were damaged extensively in the squeeze which hit with full force Saturday night at about 11:35. Most damage was to sidewalks, driveways and streets which were lifted in places six inches to three feet,” the Record reported.
Water lines burst, flooding basements of several homes. Gas lines were ruptured.
“A resident on James Street returned after a weekend trip to find his home filled with gas fumes even though he did not have gas appliances,” reported the Record.
Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary of Mines Daniel Connelly arrived at the impacted neighborhood with mine maps.
After an inspection and studying the maps, Connelly estimated the mine squeeze would continue but the worst was over.
The area impacted was over abandoned workings of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company’s Dorrance Colliery, which was also worked by Pettebone Company.
Ironically, two months earlier, Connelly, during a Kingston Borough Council meeting in June 1961, warned of the possibility of a mine squeeze in the impacted area.
“The settlings are in the Hillman Vein of the Dorrance Colliery and are being caused, it is believed, by water which is filling the mine,” the Record reported.