Duffy's Cut Epilogue: Memorial Services Planned for Railroad Workers

Editor's Note: Recent news have announced the Amtrak-imposed end of excavation work at , but that's not exactly the case. Patch contributor Aimee Herbert joined excavators Dec. 9 as they continued to work to unearth remains beneath a , before they move on to other sites.

History professor William Watson and his crew of researchers are determined to bring a sense of closure to their work at Duffy's Cut, the 19th-century burial site of possibly dozens of Irish railroad workers. They are in the final stages of digging, and plan to hold memorial services for those whose deaths, 180 years later, are still a matter of much conjecture and intrigue.

With many bones and artifacts already unearthed, attention is now focused on a set of remains located beneath a tree.

"There is still a man under this tree," said Dr. Watson. "The homeowners have said that we can continue to excavate him. The left side of him is still under the tree."

However, the crew is not be able to extract those remains located close to nearby railroad tracks. Amtrak will not allow the excavation because of possible toxic waste underground.

"Amtrak said we can hold a private ceremony for the men we cannot retrieve," said Watson. "A public ceremony will be held in March for those we have successfully retrieved."

Watson has also said that it is immoral to leave any man behind that can be removed and given a proper burial.

Once the crew is able to locate the remainder of the left side of the man, they hope to identify bones like his tibia, shoulder and possibly some ribs.

Despite the Duffy's Cut story coming to a close, the crew plans to continue digging at four other grave sites.

"We can't dig here anymore," said Watson, "but we have four other sites that we will transition to. One is in Downingtown, Spring City, Berwyn and West Virginia."

Their probable next dig site, Northwood in Downingtown, has a connection to Duffy's Cut.  

"One of the Irishman from here [Duffy's Cut site in Malvern] we know ran down the tracks to Mile 48 of the railroad which is the present site of Northwood in Downingtown, and infected that whole crew (with cholera), and they all died," Watson said.

For more information and to learn how to volunteer, visit duffyscut.immaculata.edu.