On this 25th anniversary of 9/11, I went looking for how Coal Region residents remembered Pearl Harbor in 1966. I came across this remarkable article by Jack Lindermuth for the Shamokin News-Dispatch about two Pearl Harbor survivors from Shamokin, PA. He shared their stories with readers on December 7, 1966. Read the full story.
Last month I walked the ground above Krinkelt and Rocherath in Belgium's Ardennes, where the 99th Division held the line in December 1944. The foxholes are still there. So are the shell craters. And so is the story of a Wilkes-Barre soldier who earned a Bronze Star here — and didn't make it home. Read the full story.
In December 1845, as famine loomed in Ireland, a Pottsville newspaper advertised ship passages from Londonderry to Philadelphia. It’s a small notice that reveals how Irish migration began to reshape the Coal Region - and how welcome later turned to backlash. This story traces that turning point. Read the full story.
Merry Christmas! Enjoy an amusing poem from Luzerne County celebrating the beloved turkey dinner in December 1830. Read it here.
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.
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.
In December 1935, Rebecca Wylie’s death closed a chapter of Coal Region memory. She was the last widow of the Avondale Mine Disaster, where 110 men and boys perished in 1869. Her first husband, Andrew Frothingham, died that day - his eyes “staring wide open.” She carried the loss for life. Read the full story.
On the first anniversary of Pearl Harbor, the Pottsville Republican displayed flags of the Allied “United Nations” on its Mahantango Street headquarters. This patriotic gesture reminded the Coal Region of the global fight against fascism and honored the sacrifices made for victory in World War II. Read the full story.
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.
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.