Journey back to 1910 Pottsville with this rare postcard of the Morris Building - home to the historic Dives, Pomeroy, & Stewart department store and Gowen Post #23 of the Grand Army of the Republic. Captured during a women’s event at the corner of Mahantango and Centre streets. Read more of the story.
Discover mid-19th century Pottsville as Schuylkill County’s industrial heart: surrounded by anthracite mines, its iron works churned out pumps and engines fueling the coal trade and railroads. Illustrated maps and photos bring these bygone factories to life. Step back into Pottsville’s smoky past. Read the full story.
The 1902 Coal Strike ended on October 23, 1902, with thousands of miners returning to work across Northeastern Pennsylvania. The resolution, driven by President Theodore Roosevelt’s intervention, secured wage increases and shorter hours, reshaping American labor relations while bolstering the United Mine Workers of America. Read the full story.
In the summer of 1865, victory won in the Civil War, Pennsylvania’s soldiers expected to go home—except the 202nd. Sent instead to the Coal Region to guard mine operators and intimidate striking workers, they called it “disgraceful duty.” A fiery letter from Tamaqua revealed disgust, defiance, and weariness. Read the full story.
In October 1952, President Harry S. Truman rolled into Pottsville on a campaign stop for Adlai Stevenson. It was the first time a sitting U.S. president visited Schuylkill County, and thousands packed the streets and stadium to hear him speak. His words touched directly on the Coal Region’s struggles with unemployment, the decline of anthracite, and the promise of new industry. It was a moment of history in Pottsville, even if the county ultimately swung for Eisenhower that November. Read the full story and listen to the speech.
On Election Night 1864, politics turned deadly in Tremont, PA. After Schuylkill County voters re-elected Congressman Myer Strouse, a band of Irish mineworkers—calling themselves the “Bloody 69th”—paraded through town. Hours later, 25-year-old George W. Thompson was beaten to death. No one was ever tried. This is the Coal Region’s volatile Civil War era—press bias, ethnic tension, and justice denied—told through one forgotten murder. Read the full story.
An 1854 view of Mount Carbon’s grand Mansion House Hotel stands beside the Schuylkill River and canal, once welcoming travelers to Pottsville, PA. Read more and see the detailed image.
In 1855, Pottsville raised a monument to Henry Clay - the “Great Compromiser” whose vision for canals, rails, and industry helped unleash the Coal Region’s boom in the 19th century. I trace the statue's history and why Clay’s ideas appear in today’s fights over infrastructure, trade, and partisanship. Read the full story.
From runaway drummer boy to Pottsville’s own “Williams the Hatter,” John H. Williams carved a path of daring and enterprise. After Civil War service as a teenager, he founded a thriving hatter shop in 1870, becoming one of the county’s youngest and most renowned, respected merchants. Read the full story.
This 1840 sketch reveals a bustling town fueled by newly tapped anthracite reserves. Witness Pottsville’s rapid expansion as it transforms into a major economic force in Schuylkill County. Read the full story.