“The old story” – A short editorial on opposition to vaccines and its consequences… from Pottsville in 1903

Amid a smallpox epidemic in Schuylkill County, a newspaper editor threw up their hands at those who refused to be vaccinated, despite very real danger.

The Gazette: Episode 1 – The War Begins

Pittston responds to the astonishing news that Southern militia forces fired upon a Federal garrison in April 1861. The Civil War had begun.

Charles Miner’s description of the mining industry in Pennsylvania’s Wyoming Valley – 1830 (Part One)

Early industrialist and political power broker Charles Miner describes the opportunity for the future of the mining industry in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Jim Gaffigan’s Coal Region connections featured on “Finding Your Roots” on PBS

Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and comedian Jim Gaffigan explored Gaffigan's family connection to the Coal Region on "Finding Your Roots"

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

And a German immigrant with a (now) famous last name raced to Schuylkill County to quench the city's thirst for suds.

A colorized postcard of Millersburg, Pennsylvania

This newly acquired postcard shows Millersburg, Pennsylvania and the wide Susquehanna River as it winds through the mountains.

An 1835 visit to the mines at Wiconisco Township

In 1834 and 1835, a scientist named Constantine Samuel Rafinesque traveled widely through Pennsylvania in order to document the geology and biology of the Keystone State. In the spring of 1835, the Turkish-born polymath traveled north from Harrisburg aboard canal boats alongside the Susquehanna River to Millersburg. In his book, A Life of Travels, Rafinesque details … Continue reading An 1835 visit to the mines at Wiconisco Township

Photograph from the 1860s shows incredible detail of the Shenandoah City Colliery

Pottsville photograph A.M. Allen made a trip to northern Schuylkill County to capture an image of the Shenandoah City Colliery.

A Scottish immigrant’s remarkable working history in 1850s Schuylkill County (Part 2)

This is a piece continued from last week. You can read Part 1 of our brief series on the remembrances of Robert Weir from 1914 HERE.  After describing his arrival in the Coal Region in 1852, Robert Weir turned to discussing his work in Schuylkill County as a hoisting engineer in various collieries in the … Continue reading A Scottish immigrant’s remarkable working history in 1850s Schuylkill County (Part 2)