MHA is looking for a new Web Coordinator.  After over ten years, Mike Kaas is retiring as the MHA Website Coordinator.  We need a new volunteer who will enjoy creating the material seen on MHA’s public face, the website.  The job is fairly routine using standardized templates Mike has developed.  No computer coding is required.  Ruth Zalewski at ZStudios takes care of hosting the website and converting the content material that you provide in Microsoft Word into what is shown on the screens.  The website content mainly advertises and documents the annual MHA conferences, tours, and social events. It also provides public access to the MHA Newsletters and Mining History Journals articles in pdf form. Mike has offered to train his replacement starting with the coverage of the 2026 conference in Pittsburg, KS and the Tri-State Mining District.  Please contact Mike (minermike@att.net) or any MHA officer if you want more information about this unique opportunity.

National Miners Day.  Congress has designated December 6th, as National Miners Day to commemorate the contributions and sacrifices of miners past and present.

Saint Barbara’s Day. In many parts of the world, December 4th is celebrated as the feast day of Saint Barbara.  She is the patron saint of miners as well as artillerymen, military engineers, tunnellers, and others who work with explosives. Shrines to St. Barbara have been erected at many mines where she is venerated.  In parts of Europe, the feast day is celebrated with parades of miners and bands appearing in historic mining uniforms.  CLICK HERE to learn more about the Saint Barbara tradition.

New Pennsylvania Historical Marker Approved – Hunt Douglas Process, Phoenixville.  Thanks to the tireless work of MHA’s own Bill Culver, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission recently approved an historical roadside marker for site where James Douglas and T. Sterry Hunt developed the process for copper extraction bearing their names.  This marker was endorsed by the MHA Board.  It will be dedicated in 2026.

This is the second mining historical marker recently approved in Pennsylvania. On November 20^th, 2024, the National Museum of Industrial History joined with Lehigh University and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to host the dedication of a State Historical Marker for The President Pumping Engine at the Ueberroth Zinc Mine site in the Friedensville Mining District in nearby Friedensville, PA.  The President began operation in 1872 for mine dewatering and was reported to be “the most powerful stationary engine in the world.”  The engine was housed in the only remaining Cornish-style engine house in the U.S.  MHAer, Mark Connar, was the sponsor of this project.

New MHA Brochure Available.  The new tri-fold MHA Brochure can now be downloaded (CLICK HERE). Feel free to print as many two-sided copies as you need and pass them along to any organizations and people who share an interest in mining history and are potential MHA members.

Tell Rockhounds About Mining History.  There are many rock, mineral, gem, and lapidary clubs located across the country.  Their members often share an interest in mining history and learning where their minerals came from.  A new MHA business card helps introduce the members of these clubs to the MHA and the photo galleries of historical mines available on the website.  The cards can easily be printed using business card stock (Avery 8371, Staples Heavyweight Business Cards, etc.) available at office supply store (Staples, Office Depot, and others).  You can CLICK and download the MS-Word files for the Front Side and the Reverse Side.  After printing the front side just flip the paper over and print the back side.  Give the cards to your local clubs and offer to make a short presentation at their meetings.