Merry Christmas! Enjoy an amusing poem from Luzerne County celebrating the beloved turkey dinner in December 1830. Read it here.
An amusing Christmas poem celebrating the beloved turkey dinner | 1830
Podcast | Rewatching It’s a Wonderful Life
This holiday episode of the Public History podcast revisits It’s a Wonderful Life as more than a Christmas classic. We unpack the war trauma behind Jimmy Stewart’s performance, the clash between Bedford Falls and Potterville, and why Frank Capra’s critique of power still feels uncomfortably relevant today. Read the full story.
How Shenandoah, Pennsylvania celebrated Christmas after Pearl Harbor | December 1941
Less than three weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Christmas 1941 in Shenandoah, PA balanced solemn church services and charity drives with bustling shops and eager children. Families faced empty seats of those in the service or lost in the war's first actions, yet community spirit shone through. Read the full story.
Video: “A Wet Christmas” in Pennsylvania’s Coal Region | A Prohibition story from 1926
In the winter of 1926, a Hazleton, PA reporter went looking for dry Coal Region towns - and found the opposite. Bootleg liquor flowed freely across Carbon, Luzerne, and Schuylkill counties, especially at Christmas. Prohibition barely touched coal country. This new video brings that story to life. Watch the latest video.
Christmas caroling at the Newkirk Tunnel | December 1947
On Christmas Eve 1946, 125 mineworkers braved freezing temperatures to sing carols by candlelight at the Newkirk Tunnel near Tamaqua, PA. Their voices echoed through the snowy hills, forging a new holiday tradition underground. An unlikely yet moving scene of hope and unity. Read the full story.
“Hard Times” – A holiday message amid economic depression in the Coal Region | 1839
Discover a heartfelt holiday message from 1839, shared by the Pottsville Miners' Journal editor during tough economic times. Amidst depression, he calls on readers to celebrate Christmas and New Year by uplifting spirits and helping those in need. Read the full story.
US soldier’s death at Pottsville, Pennsylvania | December 1863
Sergeant Hiram Perry was one of the US Army soldiers stationed at Schuylkill County to stop labor organizing and anti-war violence in the region during the Civil War. Read the full story.
Podcast – A Pennsylvania soldier in the Battle of the Bulge
In this special episode of the Public History podcast, we share the story of Irvin Schwartz and his experiences during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. Schwartz, a native of Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, served as an anti-tank gunner in the US Army's famed 1st Division. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism during the battle. Listen to the full story.
Lieutenant Harry Welsh of ‘Band of Brothers’ – Wounded at Bastogne on Christmas Eve, 1944
Harry Welsh's wounding during the Battle of the Bulge was portrayed in gory detail in the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers."
“Christmas 1945” – The first Christmas after a long national struggle
The Shenandoah Evening Herald ran a moving editorial on Christmas Eve 1945 about the meaning of the holiday after World War II.