A crowd gathered at the Mahanoy City, PA train station in May 1918 as a locomotive carried local men off to war. In the middle of it all, a 14-year-old boy watched his brother leave—one small moment in a much larger story of a region sending its sons into World War I. Read the Full Story.
“It seemed as if the scenes and characters of the Bible were living again now, before our eyes.” Before he became the Coal Region’s most important folklorist, George Korson served in the Middle East during World War I. His letters and reflections capture a world in transition and a remarkable journey from Pennsylvania to Palestine. Read the Full Story.
On October 2, 1918, Lt. Ivan L. Lautenbacher of Schuylkill Haven, PA fell in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive with the 316th Infantry, 79th Division. His own letter home before the battle foreshadowed the danger. A community mourned; a posthumous Distinguished Service Cross honored his resolve despite suffering from pandemic influenza while in combat. Read the full story.
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.
Meet Joseph Puma, a young Sicilian immigrant caught in the harsh world of Pennsylvania coal mining in 1911. Captured by Lewis Hine’s lens, his story spans from the dark tunnels of Pittston to serving overseas during World War I. Read the full story.
Charles E. King traded Pennsylvania’s coal veins for Europe’s battlefields in 1918. Discover how this Williamstown miner-turned-cook served with artillery forces before returning home to build a life shaped by wartime experiences. 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.
Discover Christmas history with Jake Wynn – Public Historian. From Civil War-era celebrations to Prohibition and World War II, explore how communities and people across Pennsylvania celebrated Christmas over the last 200 years. Enjoy these top Christmas stories from the archives. Read the stories.
Discover Thanksgiving history with Jake Wynn – Public Historian. From Civil War-era celebrations to the 1902 Coal Strike and World War I, explore how communities across Pennsylvania celebrated Thanksgiving during times of struggle and hope. Enjoy these top Thanksgiving stories from the archives. Read the stories.
On November 11, 1918, news of the armistice ending World War I reached Pennsylvania’s Coal Region, sparking joyous celebrations. As peace finally arrived after four brutal years, local headlines announced the end of the conflict, and parades filled the streets. Explore these historic Coal Region newspaper stories marking the conclusion of the Great War. Read the full story and the headlines.