Monday, March 17, 2014

Dancing Irishmen of Duffy's Cut - Malvern, PA

In August 1832, fifty-seven Irishmen were working on a difficult stretch of railroad near Philadelphia which became known as Duffy's Cut. It was laborious work, cutting a railway right of way through dense wooded hills and valleys. A tragic event would ensue and some say that the ghosts of the Irishmen haunt the area where they met an untimely end.


The modern day "Duffy's Cut".  A portion of the rail line near Philadelphia, PA passing through Malvern where 57 Irish rail workers died suddenly in 1832.
The modern day "Duffy's Cut".  A portion of the rail line near Philadelphia, PA passing through Malvern where 57 Irish rail workers died suddenly in 1832.



Philip Duffy was hired to dig out a stretch of the Philadelphia to Columbia railroad just west of Philadelphia known as mile 59. This became known as Duffy's Cut. It was rough terrain and he hired a band of Irishmen to layout the mile long piece of road bed.  The roadbed was eventually completed, but at a terrible price.  Read the full story>>