In the summer of 1865, victory won in the Civil War, Pennsylvania’s soldiers expected to go home—except the 202nd. Sent instead to the Coal Region to guard mine operators and intimidate striking workers, they called it “disgraceful duty.” A fiery letter from Tamaqua revealed disgust, defiance, and weariness. Read the full story.
In January 1865, an Irish emigrant in Scranton wrote home with urgency and affection: he’s prepaid a passage, warns that “gold is so high,” and begs his brother-in-law to come—packing pipes, oatmeal, and “Paddy’s eye water.” Amid war, paper money, and longing, the letter captures the costs, logistics, and hope of Coal Region migration. Read the full story.
On April 9, 1865, Sergeant Henry Keiser of Wiconisco Township, PA, recorded in his diary the moment he and his fellow soldiers learned of General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, marking the end of their service in the Civil War. After surviving brutal battles from Gettysburg to Cedar Creek, Keiser returned home to Pennsylvania, where he lived until 1933, remembered as a dedicated soldier and community member. Read the full story.
Uncover the remarkable story of Jonathan J. Wright, Pennsylvania’s first African American lawyer and a South Carolina Supreme Court judge. His 1870 Wilkes-Barre speech championed equality and civil rights during Reconstruction, leaving an enduring legacy of justice and progress. Read the full story.
On November 14, 1865, Black Civil War veterans marched through Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in their own “Grand Review” after being largely absent from the official event in Washington, DC earlier that year. These soldiers, who played a crucial role in securing Union victory, were honored by local leaders and called for the right to vote. Read the full story.
Discover a ghostly tale from Pottsville, Pennsylvania, as recorded in the Miners' Journal in 1865. This eerie account describes a mysterious apparition seen near Charles Baber Cemetery on Market Street, leaving locals both intrigued and terrified. Explore the spine-chilling details of this Civil War-era haunting.
An 1860s photograph shows the inclined plane at Wiconsico that carried loaded coal cars down to the main line of the Lykens Valley Railroad.
In July 1865, the Pottsville Miners' Journal published a letter from a vehement support of Black voting rights.
Guest host Rich Condon and I discuss the final episodes of Manhunt and NPR's investigation into American historical markers.
In this episodes, we chat about Manhunt and its portrayal of Reconstruction.