President Harry S. Truman campaigning at Pottsville, PA | October 1952

Posted on by Jake Wynn
President Harry Truman speaks at Pottsville, PA in October 1952 Jake Wynn Public Historian

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.

Reflecting on the meaning of the American flag | Speech

Posted on by Jake Wynn
Civil War soldier with American flag Library of Congress Flag Day History

On Saturday June 14, I was asked to give remarks about the history and context of the American flag over the last 250 years of history. These are the words I shared in historic Mullinix Park in Frederick, Maryland.

How Pottsville commemorated the first anniversary of the Confederate army’s surrender | 1866

Posted on by Jake Wynn

Parades, speeches, and way too much alcohol characterize how Schuylkill County marked the one year anniversary of the Civil War's end.

Thanksgiving Day in Schuylkill County | 1864

Posted on by Jake Wynn

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.

A Thanksgiving sermon in the aftermath of the 1902 Coal Strike

Posted on by Jake Wynn
Breaker boys in Pittston, PA in 1911

On Thanksgiving Day 1902, Reverend John Hensyl addressed a congregation in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, just weeks after the end of the historic 1902 Coal Strike. His sermon focused on the harsh realities faced by the region’s mineworkers and called attention to the systemic poverty that plagued working families. Hensyl’s message reflected the growing Progressive Era call for institutional reform to address the inequities created by powerful corporations. Explore how this pivotal moment in labor history was echoed in the pulpit. Read the full story.

“Due for a comeback?” – An address on the Coal Region on eve of Great Depression

Posted on by Jake Wynn

On the eve of the Great Depression, mining official Max Fredericks delivered an optimistic speech in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, predicting a bright future for the anthracite coal industry. Discover the irony and lasting impact of his words as the Coal Region faced unprecedented economic devastation after Black Tuesday in October 1929. Read the full story.