From Shenandoah, PA to a rain-soaked military hospital in France, Bugler Joseph A. Nicholas writes of a shattered leg, ether, exhaustion, and pride at going “over the top” in the Meuse-Argonne during WW1. He survived to come home, but his letter holds the war’s ache and grit in every line. Read the full story.
Discover the inspiring story of Catherine Marie Fischer, a courageous nurse from Wilkes-Barre who fell victim to the deadly 1918 influenza pandemic while caring for soldiers at Camp Dix. Her selfless service and dedication made her a local hero, forever remembered in Coal Region history. Read the full story.
On a fall evening in 1864, the streets of Lykens, Pennsylvania came alive with a torchlight parade in support of President Abraham Lincoln. As the Civil War neared its end, local residents rallied behind Lincoln's re-election, marching in solidarity through their mining town. This procession symbolized the region's deep commitment to the Union cause and Lincoln's leadership during one of the nation's most turbulent periods. Discover the historical significance of this event and its place in the broader context of the 1864 election. Read the full story.
Step back to October 1962, as Luzerne County residents shared their thoughts during the Cuban Missile Crisis. With the world on the brink of nuclear war, locals voiced their support, fears, and hopes as President Kennedy confronted the Soviet threat. Explore their fascinating insights from this pivotal moment in Cold War history. Read the full story.
Uncover rare photographs of a schoolyard turned into a makeshift hospital during the devastating 1918 flu pandemic in Lykens, Pennsylvania. With hundreds falling ill daily, US Army medical teams were called in. Dive into this horrific chapter of American history and see these remarkable images from the pivotal moment.
A vivid account details an average Saturday night in Pottsville, PA in the 1840s.
In April 2023, I explored the historic city of Vienna and found some less-known revolutionary history.
An aerial survey of Pennsylvania by airplane in 1938 shows us the mining operation just a few years before it closed forever.
In 1933, mineworkers in Dauphin County fought to save their jobs as the Great Depression threatened to close the Short Mountain Colliery.
Sergeant Orlando Vincenti was killed in a bombing raid over Munster, Germany in October 1943.