In November 1943, as World War II intensified, coal mines in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania were asked to remain open on Thanksgiving to meet the critical coal demands of the war effort. Despite the holiday, miners worked as a patriotic duty to keep the country powered and the effort to defeat fascism abroad moving forward. Read the full story.
The Shenandoah Evening Herald ran a moving editorial on Christmas Eve 1945 about the meaning of the holiday after World War II.
A patriotic, holiday-themed beer advertisement from the Wilkes-Barre-based Stegmaier Brewing Company appeared in December 1944.
Sergeant Irvin Schwartz describes the Fourth of July festivities in the ruined city of Nuremberg in July 1945.
Desperate to share Christmas cheer and hopes for a happy New Year, Pfc. Irvin Schwartz wished holiday greetings to friends and family through the newspaper.
Four diary entries from the Civil War document the evolution of holiday experiences of a soldier from Pennsylvania's Coal Region.
A writer in Luzerne County penned a beautiful, yet sad, remembrance of Christmas Eves past and the memories they inspired amid a terrible time in the country's history.
An editorial from a newspaper in Pottsville during the 1918 pandemic reminds us to be thankful for life amid a time of death.
Discover how Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, observed Thanksgiving Day in 1864 during the Civil War. This historical piece explores local sermons, community events, and the patriotic spirit following Union victories, offering unique insights into 19th-century American life and culture during a pivotal era. Read the full story.
In this remarkable letter, Pfc. Irvin Schwartz reflects on the meaning of Memorial Day on the eve of D-Day and his first experience in combat.