In the fall of 1846, the Miners’ Journal of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, warned readers about the dangers of walking the borough’s streets after dark.

To save money, borough officials in this growing Coal Region community left the street lamps unlit on nights when the almanac predicted a bright moon. On cloudy evenings, that decision left pedestrians and riders in near-total darkness.

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LIGHTNING THE STREETS.

Our borough authorities, appear to think that during that portion of each month set down by the Almanac as the proper period for the moon to shine, there is no use to light the lamps in the streets, even though clouds may totally obscure the rays of the ‘Queen of Night.’

Last Tuesday evening was about as dark as any night well could be, but there was not the glimpse of a street lamp to be seen throughout the borough at 10½ o’clock.

In the neighborhood of the railing it is not particularly safe for a man to walk after 9 o’clock P. M. Since the assault was made upon Mr. Miller a few weeks since, every precaution should be taken to protect the persons of our citizens. The dilapidated condition of the railing, renders it quite dangerous to drive an unruly horse between the York Store and the American House, in a dark night.

We saw a wagon a few evenings since almost upset upon the stones in front of the site of Mr. Crosland’s new dwelling, and but for a timely caution a young man would have walked over the bank not being able to see six inches before him.

In dry weather persons do not mind walking in the middle of the street, but the mud holes between Geise’s Hotel and Morris Addition are not very attractive after three or four weeks of incessant rain.

We hope our borough council will pass an ordinance provided for the lighting of the streets upon every dark night, whether the Almanac predicts moon shine or not.

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The “railing” likely refers to the stretch of Centre Street between Union and Mauch Chunk streets, where the road dropped sharply into the valley below. That same stretch saw the attack on a man who was beaten and robbed after dark near the American House hotel just weeks earlier.

(Illustration: Pottsville in the early 19th century)

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Read more about the early history of Pottsville, PA

An Irish immigrant’s letter from Pottsville, Pennsylvania | 1832

Pottsville, Pennsylvania in 1833 | A growing coal town

“Saturday night in Pottsville” | Scenes from 1845

As Pottsville rapidly expanded in the 1820s, it was missing something important: beer

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