Major Joseph Anthony, an Irish immigrant and revered Civil War veteran, survived grievous wounds at Chancellorsville only to succumb to their effects in 1885. After the war, he helped shape anthracite mining in Williamstown, Pennsylvania, earning lasting admiration for his bravery and leadership. Read the full story and a moving obituary for this Civil War veteran.
In this "emergency" episode of Public History with Justin, Jake, and Molly, Jake and Molly respond to the quiet removal of slavery interpretation at Philadelphia’s President’s House ahead of America’s 250th. Listen to the full episode.
In 1910, artist Joseph Pennell sketched a dark, foreboding view of Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, capturing the stark industrial landscape dominated by coal breakers and immigrant communities. His illustration, now in the Library of Congress, reflects the hidden world of America’s coal towns, largely unseen by the broader public. Read the full story.
This rare etching by John Rubens Smith offers a glimpse of Pottsville before it exploded into an industrial hub. Discover how the Schuylkill Canal, emerging railroads, and booming anthracite mines transformed this once-quiet valley into a pivotal Coal Region center. Read the full story.
Learn more about the Irish Memorial in Philadelphia, dedicated to those who fled famine and hardship in the 1840s. Learn how these immigrants overcame discrimination to shape Pennsylvania’s mining towns and America itself. A tribute to resilience and hope, this monument tells an enduring tale. Read the full story.
Irvin Schwartz's vivid description in a letter home to Schuylkill County describes the horror of the Battle of Aachen in October 1944.
As Pottsville transformed into a bustling Coal Region town in the 1820s, it was missing a key ingredient: beer. With a population thirsty for more than whiskey, the stage was set for David G. Yuengling to establish the iconic Yuengling Brewery in 1829, forever linking Pottsville with America’s oldest brewery. Read the Full Story.
The development of the rich veins of coal that run beneath Schuylkill County fueled an industrial revolution in the 1850s. And much of the coal that supplied the iron furnaces, steam ships, and kept millions of Americans warm as a home heating fuel traveled to market through America's fourth largest city: Philadelphia. In late 1852, … Continue reading “The great coal depot” – Illustrations of Port Richmond in Philadelphia in 1852
When the Civil War broke out in 1861, the bravery and courage of the volunteer soldiers of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania immediately became the stuff of legends. The famed "First Defenders," a group that included a sizable number of men from Pottsville and surrounding communities, were among the first to arrive in Washington to protect the … Continue reading “Our Pottsville Volunteers” – A song about Schuylkill County’s brave Civil War soldiers
This is part of our “Letters from War” series documenting the World War II letters of Irvin Schwartz of Pine Grove, PA. The letters were all published in the West Schuylkill Press-Herald between 1943 and 1945. Read the previous letter here After a brief furlough at home with family in Pine Grove, PA, PFC. Irvin … Continue reading Letters from War – At a “Northern Camp” in November 1943