In October 2004 an oak gallows was built in the yard of Schuylkill Prison, and was used in the documentary “The Blue-Eyed Six” about a family group of 19th century robber-murderers. The inmates, naturally, were not happy about having gallows in their exercise yard, and the prison searched for someone to take it. That someone turned out to be the State Miners Village Museum at Eckley, in Weatherly, PA.

Eckley is a "living history town," with actors portraying 19th century coal miners. As to why it needed a hangman's platform, the town's "museum educator" wrote to the warden: ''… we would have a number of uses for a gallows here at Eckley … Our village is used quite often for historically based movies, documentaries, television programs, etc. … Having the gallows would be an added incentive to someone wanting to film here.''

Note that Eckley was completely rebuilt for the 1970 film "The Molly Maguires," starring Sean Connery. In 1877, ten of the Molly Maguires were hanged -- though that was over in Mauch Chunk, now known as Jim Thorpe, PA. They hanged three more in 1878 and 1879. Maybe Jim Thorpe is the really the town that needs a tourist gallows.

No timetable has been set for the gallows' relocation to Eckley, although one hopes that it will be in place for the summer tourist season. [05/13/2005]

November 26, 2009