“My brains and my wits” – A Scottish immigrant recalls his arrival in Schuylkill County in 1852

Posted on by Jake Wynn

An 84-year-old sat down with a Pottsville Republican reporter in October 1914 for a discussion about what it was like to live and work in Schuylkill County in the mid-19th century. Robert Weir came to the Coal Region from Scotland in 1852 and found work in the coal mines in the vicinity of Branchdale, Forestville, and Heckscherville. … Continue reading “My brains and my wits” – A Scottish immigrant recalls his arrival in Schuylkill County in 1852

Letters from War – Preparations for a war-time Christmas in England, November 1943

Posted on by Jake Wynn

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 Pfc. Irvin Schwartz had Christmas on his mind when he penned the following letter … Continue reading Letters from War – Preparations for a war-time Christmas in England, November 1943

“Our Pottsville Volunteers” – A song about Schuylkill County’s brave Civil War soldiers

Posted on by Jake Wynn

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, the bravery and courage of the volunteer soldiers of Schuylkill County 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 United … Continue reading “Our Pottsville Volunteers” – A song about Schuylkill County’s brave Civil War soldiers

“The Mine Mule Affected by the European War” – 1914

Posted on by Jake Wynn

In October 1914, war raged on the European continent. In what was then called the "Great War," industrial-scale war was waged on a massive scale for the first time. Americans were paying attention. A commentator for the Pottsville Republican noted a curious thing about the suddenly mechanized armies smashing each other to pulp on the battlefields … Continue reading “The Mine Mule Affected by the European War” – 1914

Letters from War: From Somewhere in England, November 1943

Posted on by Jake Wynn

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 In his first letter from war-ravaged Great Britain, Pfc. Irvin Schwartz wrote home to … Continue reading Letters from War: From Somewhere in England, November 1943

Toxic gasses from a burning coal mine claimed the lives of two Tamaqua mining officials in 1858

Posted on by Jake Wynn

Pennsylvania's anthracite coal fields have long been known for long-lasting mine fires. The most famous of these environmental disasters continues burning today beneath the empty town lots known as Centralia in Columbia County. Mine fires were a feared menace dating back to the first underground mines in the region. One of the early mine fires … Continue reading Toxic gasses from a burning coal mine claimed the lives of two Tamaqua mining officials in 1858

Letters from War – At a “Northern Camp” in November 1943

Posted on by Jake Wynn

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

“As tempting…as California” – A traveler’s guide to Pottsville in 1852

Posted on by Jake Wynn

A travel writer vividly described Pottsville and the surrounding region of Schuylkill County in 1852.