On June 13, 1938, the residents of Mary D, Pennsylvania marched in unison down to the newly reopened company mine. They escorted out the watchman, removed the bulk of the equipment, and set charges with thirty-six sticks of dynamite.

BOOM.

The mine was blown shut for over a hundred feet. Now, why would a town do such a thing to the company who employed them? It’s a rather interesting story. In fact, I wrote a whole novel about it. The essence is that when a close-knit patch town in the heart of the anthracite region is told something is impossible, they find a way to make it possible. The residents of Mary D in 1938 felt they were protecting their town. Their actions stirred up all kinds of conversations as to what is right: is it what the law says or what is in the best interest of the people? What can be done when the law and public interests don’t align?

The thing I love about history is just how much we can learn from it. We might be able to change the clothes and the technology that surrounds us, but no matter what century or decade we live in, human nature and the roller-coaster of emotions that come with it remain the same. Mary D might have made its stand eighty-eight years ago, but there are hundreds of small towns out there across the country and the world grappling with their own version of “the mine company”. Here’s to wishing them as much success as Mary D. Hopefully without explosives!