Luzerne County HIstorical Society

The Luzerne County Historical Society will host Lorena Beniquez author of “Lost Coal Country of Northeastern Pennsylvania” on Friday, January 23rd, 2026 at the LCHS Museum, 69 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa 18701. As the great-granddaughter of a Wyoming Valley coal miner, Lorena knew little about her family’s story or our area’s history. So, she embarked on a decades long labor of love, shooting a series of photos capturing the Huber and St. Nicholas coal breakers, while they were still standing. From there, she began to explore further and had the honor to meet and interview historians and the witnesses of the anthracite boom including the children of Joe Stella, William C. Best and Thomas Supey to name a few. But now nearly ten years later after publishing the book, many of LCCNP’s subjects are already gone. Lorena will present a talk about what sites have been demolished, which remain and new ones to explore. She will also detail the process of writing and photographing the book, which took almost 30 years to complete. This event is free to the public - no registration required. Books will be available for purchase and to have signed. Seating is limited and is on a first come, first served basis. For more information, call 570-823-6244 x3 or email reservations@luzernehistory.org.