Schuylkill County was created on March 1, 1811 from parts of Berks and Northampton counties and named for the Schuylkill River which has its origins in the Tuscarora area. “Schuylkill” is Dutch (not PA Dutch) for “hidden stream.” Parts of Columbia and Luzerne counties were added on March 3, 1818 and created the borders that we know today. Pottsville, the county seat after December 1, 1851, was incorporated as a borough 2018 Marks the Bicentennial of the Completion of the Borders of Schuylkill County By “Porcupine Pat” McKinney with info from the PA Historical and Museum Commission on February 19, 1828 and became a city in 1910. It was named for the Pott family, early settlers. The original county seat was Orwigsburg. This year also marks the 250 th anniversary of the first use of anthracite coal. Historically, Necho Allen discovered in 1790 that anthracite coal would burn, and Colonel George Shoemaker proved in 1812 that it could fire a rolling mill. In 1822, the first shipment of anthracite on the Schuylkill Canal spurred even more mining. The county hosts the Southern and Middle anthracite fields. From 1880 to 1940, Schuylkill County was second only to Luzerne in production of anthracite. In 1842, the Reading Railroad arrived, but the canal carried coal also until 1881. A second generation began mining the northern area using inclined planes that involved using rail “Porcupine Pat” Pat McKinney The First Charcoal Furnace in Schuylkill County In 1830 Eckert and Guilford erected the Swatara Charcoal Furnace at what is now called Ellwood, and this furnace continued in operation until 1856. There was also a small charcoal furnace, the Stanhope, two miles east of Pinegrove, in operation in 1830, owned by the Raudenbushs, afterward by Brown and J. R. and S. Breitenbach, who changed it to an anthracite furnace. The ore used by both these furnaces was brought from Lebanon and Marietta in boats. In 1840 the Swatara R. R. from the junction to Tremont and Donaldson was built and laid with T Rails. Tremont was laid out the same year by Miller, Follweler and Hipple, and Donaldson by Judge Donaldson, and large mill operations were opened. The Union Canal Company relaid its road T rails, on the completion of the Swatara Railroad. During the years from 1832 to 1851 the production of anthracite coal had increased wonderfully, and the Union Canal Company was A typical small version of an early charcoal furnace See Schuylkill County on page 7 See Charcoal Furnace on page 2 “to discover, procure, and preserve...” March - April 2018 SCHUYLKILL HERITAGE Volume 13, Issue 2 A Newsletter of the Schuylkill County Historical Society
Transcript
S c h u y l k i l lCounty wascreated on March1, 1811 from partsof Berks andN o r t h a m p t o ncounties andnamed for theSchuylkill Riverwhich has itsorigins in theTuscarora area.
“Schuylkill” is Dutch (not PA Dutch) for “hiddenstream.”
Parts of Columbia and Luzerne counties wereadded on March 3, 1818 and created the bordersthat we know today. Pottsville, the county seat afterDecember 1, 1851, was incorporated as a borough
2018 Marks the Bicentennial of the Completion of theBorders of Schuylkill County
By “Porcupine Pat” McKinneywith info from the
PA Historical and Museum Commission
on February 19, 1828 and became a city in 1910.It was named for the Pott family, early settlers. Theoriginal county seat was Orwigsburg.This year also marks the 250
th anniversary of the
first use of anthracite coal. Historically, Necho Allendiscovered in 1790 that anthracite coal would burn,and Colonel George Shoemaker proved in 1812that it could fire a rolling mill. In 1822, the firstshipment of anthracite on the Schuylkill Canalspurred even more mining. The county hosts theSouthern and Middle anthracite fields. From 1880to 1940, Schuylkill County was second only toLuzerne in production of anthracite. In 1842, theReading Railroad arrived, but the canal carried coalalso until 1881.
A second generation began mining the northernarea using inclined planes that involved using rail
“Porcupine Pat” Pat McKinney
The First Charcoal Furnace inSchuylkill County
In 1830 Eckert and Guilforderected the Swatara CharcoalFurnace at what is now calledEllwood, and this furnacecontinued in operation until 1856.There was also a small charcoalfurnace, the Stanhope, two mileseast of Pinegrove, in operation in1830, owned by theRaudenbushs, afterward byBrown and J. R. and S.Breitenbach, who changed it toan anthracite furnace. The ore
used by both these furnaces wasbrought from Lebanon andMarietta in boats.
In 1840 the Swatara R. R.from the junction to Tremont andDonaldson was built and laid withT Rails. Tremont was laid out thesame year by Miller, Follwelerand Hipple, and Donaldson byJudge Donaldson, and large milloperations were opened. TheUnion Canal Company relaid itsroad T rails, on the completion of
the Swatara Railroad. During theyears from 1832 to 1851 theproduction of anthracite coal hadincreased wonderfully, and theUnion Canal Company was
A typical small version of anearly charcoal furnace
See Schuylkill County on page 7
See Charcoal Furnace on page 2
“to discover, procure, and preserve...” March - April 2018
SCHUYLKILL HERITAGEVolume 13, Issue 2
A Newsletter of the Schuylkill County Historical Society
March - April 2018 SCHUYLKILL HERITAGE2
Brothers, William (r) and John (l)Grumbine, Kutztown, PA, are picturedwith the 1830-33 Swatara FurnaceLedger (Book number 1). The ledgerbook was recently donated to theSchuylkill County Historical Society inmemory of William T. Grumbine, theirfather. The ledger documents thousands oftransactions which took place duringthe formative years of SchuylkillCounty. Below is a story from thepublications of the Schuylkill CountyHistorical Society, circa, 1903, thatdetails the origins and end of thecounty’s first charcoal furnace.
compelled to enlarge its canal, whichwas done in 1851, for boats carryingfrom up to 65 tons. The same yearthe Canal Company built on the littleSwatara Creek, above Berger’s mill,a reservoir covering over 700 acresof land. This was built to store waterfor supplying the branch canal.
In 1852 the Schuylkill andSusquehanna Railroad Companyextended its railroad from RauschGap to Auburn, connecting there withthe Reading Railroad, and thus givingPinegrove an additional outlet for theshipment of coal. On the night of June2
nd, 1862, during a great freshet, the
dam above Berger’s mill broke, thewater destroying everything in itspath- mills, bridges, the canal and bigdam, and the canal below toMiddletown. The canal was neverrebuilt, the freshet having bankruptedthe Canal Company.
The writer has seen the town growfrom 1830 to present year (1903), andtoday it is one of the most beautifultowns in the State. Its main street isnow being paved with brick, and notcorduroyed as it was in 1830. Someof the old landmarks are still here, butthe majority of them are gone. In theearlier days of the town we had someoriginal characters, but as some oftheir descendants are living, I shall notgive names.
What woul our present miners’organizations say had they to work forwages that were paid in 1842? CalebWheeler drove a tunnel and the bestEnglish rock men received 70 centsper day, laborers 50 cents a day.
Charcoal Furnacecontinued from page 1
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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There were no eight, nine or ten hoursystems, either, but men worked 12hours for a day.
(Taken from the publications ofthe Schuylkill County HistoricalSociety – 1903)
Schuylkill CountyHistorical Society
PresidentJ. Robert Zane, Esq.Vice-President
John WalshSecretary
JoAnn ChubaTreasurer
Diana Prosymchak
Executive DirectorThomas Drogalis
Board of DirectorsDave Derbes
Tom EltringhamAllen Frantz
Colleen HoptakRandy LindenmuthMary Ann Lubinsky
Pat McKinneyJohn Powers
Tom ShayRichard Tomko
Sch .h i s t@comcas t .ne twww.schuylkillhistory.org
305 North Centre Street,Pottsville, Pennsylvania
(570) 622-7540
Society HoursWednesday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Thursday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
The Purpose of theSchuylkill CountyHistorical Society is todiscover, procure, andpreserve the records of thehistory of SchuylkillCounty and any data ormaterials which mayestablish or illustrate thathistory.
Tourists, HistoricalResearchers, Scholarsand Genealogists are
welcome
March - Aprily 2018SCHUYLKILL HERITAGE 3
Alverda Zemalis, afun loving young womanwas seriously injuredwhile aquaplaning atLake Harmony LaborDay weekend, 1930. Adaughter of JohnZemalis, a local butcher,and his wife, Appolonia(“Pearl”), she wascatapulted into the motoras it made a sharp turnresulting in permanentdamage to her arm. She
began a steady recovery but in the late 1930s adiagnosis of acute debilitating rheumatoid arthritisleft her permanently confined to a wheel chair.Despite her misfortunes and the physicalchallenges, she gained considerable recognitionas a distinguished artist whose works weredisplayed in regional, state and national exhibits.
In 1953 her painting “Ballroom,” which depictedher interpretation of stylish ladies at Shenandoah’sMaher Hall, was selected as Pennsylvania’s entryin the national exhibition by handicapped atWashington, DC. The same year fifteen of herpaintings were shown at the John Bartram Hotel inPhiladelphia. Many of them were sold for the benefitof the Rheumatism and Arthritis Fund. In 1957 herworks and life story were featured during NationalEmploy the Handicap Week, she being only one offour artists selected.
Alverda was married to a well-knownShenandoah pharmacist, Leon Kazunas, whooperated his family pharmacy at 107 S. Main Street.Tragedy struck the household again when in 1940Mr. Kazunas died at the age of 36 in a PhiladelphiaHospital as a result of complications from a virus.Alverna’s life appeared to be destined on adownward spiral; she was now a crippled,unemployed young widow.
She was intelligent as were her siblings.
Brother Charles had been an interpreter inOkinawa and the Aleutian Islands and had severalcollege degrees. She realized that good jobs werescarce for women and even more so for womenwith disabilities. Sitting at home she directed herattention to an advertisement for a mail order artcourse on the back page of a magazine. She hadalways loved to draw and paint and perhaps artwould assist in overcoming sadness and grief; shemight even be able to support herself without relyingon her devoted family. She had nothing to loseexcept $200. She would take a chance and attemptto develop the talent within rather than remainisolated and wallow in self-pity.
Her career as an artist did not make her wealthybut it certainly strengthened her self-esteem. Therecognition she received allowed her to teach otheraspiring artists from her home at 422 WestWashington Street. In 1954, Alverda, now an artist,had her surname legally changed from Kazunas toKae.
Alverta Kae had the ability to paint with bothhands; being confined to a wheelchair, she wouldrotate her canvas in order to reach the top. Unableto move about freely, she relied on her memoriesfrom her youth for inspiration. Lakewood andLakeside Parks were often settings she used. Herwork “Picnic” illustrated dancing happy youngcouples outdoors while family members talkedamong themselves. The church near her home, OurLady of Mount Carmel, was the setting for heraward-winning “Procession.” The Famous ArtistsAward was bestowed upon her from among 2,200entries shortly before her death on April 20, 1961.Her burial occurred in Our Lady of Dawn Cemetery,Shenandoah Heights in the family plot. My sister isin possession of two of her works as Alverda wasa friend and neighbor of my mother. These twoetchings are treasured not for their monetary valuebut rather as a remembrance of the Shenandoahartist who exhibited such courage andperseverance in the face of adversities.
Alverda Zemalis Kae (1908 – 1961)a noted Shenandoah artist
March - April 2018 SCHUYLKILL HERITAGE
I was born in Pottsville andcurrently reside in Cressona. Igraduated from Pottsville AreaHigh School and attended PennState University. My profession isa Software Engineer, in which Iuse my knowledge and expertiseto solve problems at every stageof application development anddatabase design.
My lifelong interest in theAmerican Civil War began withschool trips to the Gettysburgbattlefield. I began readingeverything related to the war. Aftercollege I began a more intensestudy of Civil War history andbegan making trips to numerousbattlefields.
I enjoy hiking the hallowedground and sharing myknowledge with other people. I’vehosted several bus trips for theSch. Coumty Historical Society,including tours of Gettysburg,Antietam, and even sites in theHarrisburg area.
The recent 150th anniversaryof the Civil War certainly kept mebusy! I was the key-note speakerat programs for many localgroups. I enjoyed providingWNEP-TV and our localnewspaper with tours ofGettysburg, with a focus on therole of soldiers from the coalregion. In commemoration of the150th anniversary of the Battle ofthe Crater, I assisted in hosting aprogram at Charles BaberCemetery, near the gravesite ofColonel Pleasants of the 48thPA. To commemorate the endingof the war, I wrote a series ofvignettes which were portrayed
4
Tom Shay: New Board Memberon a local stage, focusing on thetragic assassination of PresidentLincoln and the return of ourcounty’s veterans.
I’ve struggled to maintain anactive Schuylkill County Civil WarRoundtable, but low attendancecombined with a lack of speakershas been a frequent problem.
My other interests includebeing an avid fan of the New YorkYankees and the OaklandRaiders. My mother is fromBavaria and I enjoy makingannual trips there to travel throughthe Alps.
I answered the Society’s callto become a Board Member inorder to offer my assistance in the
Tom Shay
preserving of our county’srecords and artifacts, plusencouraging people to discoverthe awesome history of SchuylkillCounty.
The Schuylkill County Historical Societywelcomes the following new members:
Mark BaddickAndrew BlylerBrian L. ButtersMelissa DandoRick Stone
Beverly and Ralph MunzDavid DissingerKathie CongdonDory GasorekJoseph and Karen Schmidt
charity to honor or remembera departed loved one? Look nofarther. Memorial contributionsto the Schuylkill County Histori-cal Society is one way for fami-lies to keep their loved one’smemory alive by helping thesociety achieve its mission ofhonoring and promoting
Schuylkill County’s history. Wewill notify you of each gift madein your loved one’s name, andacknowledge each person whomakes a contribution. Donorswill be mentioned in our news-letter and information given tothe Republican Herald newspa-per.
WELCOME
March - Aprily 2018SCHUYLKILL HERITAGE
The Nine-teenth Amend-ment to theUnited StatesConstitution wasadopted in Au-
gust, 1920, granting women the right to vote. Atthe time of its passage, Pennsylvania, the seventhstate to ratify the amendment, did not allow womento vote in any election. Pennsylvania women werenot permitted to vote and were not permitted to siton juries as jurors were composed of registeredvoters. While the 19
th amendment gave females
the right to vote, did it automatically give them theright to sit on juries? Soon after its passage womenbegan to register to vote, and the juror list, whichwas comprised of registered voters, began to con-tain women’s names. By early 1921 SchuylkillCounty women were receiving notices to appearfor jury duty, creating a dilemma within the court.The question needed an answer. Should they orshouldn’t they?
Schuylkill County President Judge Harry O.Bechtel permitted women to serve as jurors in hiscourt and had no qualms with his position. HoweverJudge Richard H. Koch was an outspoken opponentof allowing women to serve as jurors. Koch statedfrom the bench that women were ineligible and thattheir newly acquired right to vote did not confer theright upon “the fairer sex” to sit in deliberation inany criminal or civil cases. He ruled that they werenot subject to or eligible for jury duty. Miss AnnBoyer, a local teacher and daughter of prominentPottsville doctor Francis Boyer, of 219 MahantongoStreet, petitioned the court to strike her name offthe court juror list on the grounds of the 19
th
Amendment. She also believed that the right tovote did not bestow the right upon women to sit asjurors. This caused a national uproar. “Thatviewpoint cuts at the very heart of women’s rightsand sets the movement back twenty-five years”wired a national suffrage leader from New York tothe Schuylkill County court. The question neededan answer and right away.
5
Koch’s position was soon supported by JudgeCharles Berger. Women were not qualified to beon a jury….no ifs, no ands, and no buts. SchuylkillCounty District Attorney Cyrus Palmer challengedthe validity of a jury panel when Ida Dengler was inthe panel of potential jurors that was being selectedin the case of Commonwealth v. John Moslosky,a young Frackville soldier on trial for the murder ofJohn Batdorf. Mrs. Dengler was the wife of Pottsvillecity councilman John Dengler, a prominent shoemanufacturer and, unlike Ann Boyer, had noopposition to being a juror. “The Commonwealthchallenges this juror because of her sex,” Palmerobjected. His challenge was sustained by JudgeBerger with no objection from the criminal defenseattorney. Mrs. Dengler, and all other women in thatpanel, were promptly removed and discharged fromany further examination. President Judge Bechtel,however, had no qualms about females beingjurors, and women were seated to hear the case ofCommonwealth v. John Pushonis, involving aMinersville man accused of stealing chickens. Thejury, composed of both men and women, returneda not guilty verdict.
It was not until July, 1921, when the PennsylvaniaSupreme Court answered the question as towhether or not women could serve on both grandand petit juries. To hold otherwise could havethreatened to upset verdicts in hundreds of casesthroughout the state where women had been seatedin the jury box. Justice William I. Schaffer in thecase of Commonwealth v. Maxwell held that thereis no doubt that women are eligible to serve asjurors in all the Commonwealth’s courts. PresidentJudge Bechtel then appointed Fannie Geist to bethe first county female court tipstaff member to assistwomen jurors. The Court that year also announcedthat pleas of household duties will not be anacceptable excuse from jury duty. Women werecompelled to give the same legal justifications asmen in order to be excused. Since 1921 femaleshave been serving on county juries but it would takeuntil 1972 that a county woman would serve as ajury foreman. That honor went to Maude Enders ofAshland.
J. R. Zane, Esq.
1921: Are Women Eligible to be Jurors?
March - April 2018 SCHUYLKILL HERITAGE6
Bonnie Oswald FowlerRobert McGuiganJane PritiskutchStephanie SeweskyLouella WilliamsRobert B. PattonJohn O’ConnorNancy HerrRuth Ann & Frank
SandoGloria RushananJohn ThorntonWilliams Jones & Co,
P.C.Fred Miller DistributingAdmiral Nancy
LescavageDiana ProsymchakSandra K. HirshBarbara LafkoJohn ButtsMrs. T’s PierogiesBoyer’s Food Markets,
IncOheb Zedeck
SynagogueJoanne O’ConnorDerr Construction
CompanyPatricia WagnerNancy Ann CadwellDave HollyBarry & Chris SipleWilliam EdmundsAnne Louise Van
NostrandJoan GrayDonald KoetschRandall Lindenmuth
Mr. & Mrs. Marty HupkaDwight ReimanRuth LishmanRev. Harold HandKristine GoodmanThomas O’ReillyFrances NagleEric CraigCynthia KofskieJohn DomalakesJoseph CaufieldBarbara StolzChris CoyneDennis McGloneJames McHalesJames BohrmanLenore DixonGretchen UlmerMary Ann JoulwanDolores CallahanConcezio Di GregorioJohn LearyTeresa GilbertHarold Furness, Jr.Ronald G. DavisMichelle StraubJohn GarrahPaul CaputoJames ReedMichael CavanaughNancy HesterJoseph HoltMaria Walsh IIIJames & Carol
Elliot, Nork, Herrity and Haley Families John ElliotEva Krupinsky Stephanie Sewesky
Florence Brnnenman 1889-1973 John BrennenmanFlorence Siberling Charles Mullin
Frances J. & Margaret M. Bercher Margaret BercherGeorge W. Johnson Gary Wolfer
Great Uncle Allen Faust 1895-1945 Eric CraigHarron & Murray Families Joan Aldous
Harry Valentine Hafner Lynn Tanguay
Appeal Namescontinued from page 8
See Appeal Names on page 8
as the railroads owned themajority of the mines. Miningtechnology was first workedout in Schuylkill County.
The coal strikes of 1902and 1925–1926 destroyedconsumer confidence andalternative heating fuels, suchas heating oil and natural gas,cut into the market foranthracite. Despite a WorldWar II revival, the industrycollapsed due to a changingmarket.
The county’s populationpeaked at 235,505 in 1930.Coal mining is still a majorpart of the economy. Forexample, in 1990, Schuylkillproduced half ofPennsylvania’s 3.4 milliontons. Other county productshave included explosives,textiles, apparel, and shoes.One-fifth of the land isfarmed, and the county has astrong position in theproduction of swine andpotatoes.
Schuylkill Countycontinued from page 1
March - April 2018 SCHUYLKILL HERITAGE8
James Sillyman FamilyJames, Nancy, James S. Kirk,
George Kirk, Helen Kirk Mooney Patricia WagnerJames Tarone, Art Marsicano Sr. Arthur Marsicano
Jeremiah D. Reed James ReedJohn & Rose Kusiak Richard Sauter
John H. Clifford Catherine CliffordJoseph M. Prosymchak, Jr. Diana Prosymchak
Julia T. & Andrew Wanchick Tudor &Louise A. (Gainer) Davis Ronald G. Davis
Kathleen Kasinecz Norkus John PowersLawrence H. Gellespie Patricia Sarvis
Clan Marcovitch Marcovitch FamilyMary Derescavage Vincent Vaise
Clan McGurk McGurk FamilyMy Irish Ancestors Del Vallo Family
Myrtle Y. Y. Furness Harold Furness, JrPast Family Members Gary Roberts
Patty Ebling Charlie WagnerRuth Y. Davidson William Davidson
Samuel L.Rodgers John RodgersSeiler & Shearer & Rink Families Lenore Dixon
Stephen & Helen Drahuschak Cynthia KofskiTed Twardzik, Sr. Mrs. T’s Pierogi’s
The Geise Family Holly HowardThe Holt Family Joseph Holt
The Joulwan Family Livingand Deceased Mary Ann Joulwan
The Minarick and Hyland Families Jean MinarickThe Pottsville Club Richard B. Jochems
Thomas & Michael Holleram –96th Penn V.I. Michael Cavanaugh
Williams D. Jones,Great GreatGrandfather, 1821-1900 Tamaqua Judy Hoffmeister
William J. Zimmerman Catherine Zimmerman
Appeal Names continued from page 7
IN MEMORY OF / HONOR OF DONOR
The Schuylkill County HistoricalSociety proudly presents a veryspecial documentary featuring theRoyal Romance of Prince Harry andMeghan Markle (The Schuylkill CountyConnection)
The Schuylkill County HistoricalSociety has played an integral role inthe production of this documentary. InMay of 2017, we were contacted byRenegade Films, a division of WarnerBrother Pictures, located in London,England. They were looking for theancestors of Meghan Markle whoimmigrated to Schuylkill County in thelate 1800’s.
As our connection grew with thefolks at Renegade Films, they quicklybecame interested in ourphotographic archives which containnumerous photos of the time periodwhen Meghan Markle’s greatgrandparents lived and worked inSchuylkill County.
The finished documentary includesover a dozen photos that [email protected]
Come Visit Us At
Save the Date!
7:00 PM - Thursday
When Harry met Meghan– A Royal Romance
May 17, 2018
Airing at the historic Majestic Theater,209 North Centre Street, Pottsville, PA
See Save the Date on page 9
March - Aprily 2018SCHUYLKILL HERITAGE 9
Like most women in history, Miss AmandaSilliman was lost over the last 130 years to slowthe passage of time. Her remarkable patriotic spiritand zeal during the Civil War was no longer spokenabout by her neighbors, sisters, Union soldiers, andfriends, they too long gone. Her many acts of charityand kindness toward Civil War soldiers and theirfamilies, her support for the Union cause and herremarkable fund raising efforts on behalf of thePottsville Ladies Soldiers’ Aid Society were largely
provided by the Schuylkill County Historical Society.We are proud to have helped in the production ofthis wonderful documentary.
Join us for an evening of celebration just twodays before their wedding.
SCHS Members: Free AdmissionGeneral Public: $5.00
unrecorded, undocumented, and unrecognized inSchuylkill County and Pennsylvania history.
She, like many women of the time, received notestimonials, no high and lofty praises, no goldmedals and no flowery accolades for her serviceon behalf of the Union. There would be no “likeness”recorded of her, no great bombastic newspaperaccounting of her heroic war efforts, no gold, jewel-encrusted presentation swords inscribed with hername and offered to her on behalf of the gratefulsoldiers. Her fate would be to lie forgotten in thedark, silent halls of time for more than a centuryuntil 130 years later, the memory of her deeds ofselfless patriotism and unselfish devotion to countryand cause would be rediscovered, recognized andrewritten back into history.
Amanda Silliman, was born in Pottsville, aprosperous anthracite coal mining town inNortheastern Pennsylvania. Her father, JamesSilliman, was a prominent and wealthy coaloperator in the area, and it is likely that Amanda,along with her eight siblings enjoyed a comfortablelifestyle.
Amanda’s greatest contributions came duringher late thirties when, upon the outbreak of the CivilWar in 1861,she promptly volunteered to Secretaryof War Cameron along with twenty other Pottsvillelaides as nurses for the sick and wounded of theSchuylkill County regiment of volunteers. She thenlead an ambitious effort on behalf of the PottsvilleLadies’ Soldiers Aid Society to sew towels, needlecases and head coverings for the soldiers in thefield.
During the early part of the War of the Rebellion,while she served as principal of the PottsvilleFemale Primary School, she actively participatedand led local efforts to recognize and applaudSchuylkill County Soldiers and their officers inappreciation of their sacrifices while leadingSchuylkill County Regiments.
Noble Women of Schuylkill CountyBy Danielle Richards
Save the Date continued from page 8
See Noble Women on page 10
March - April 2018 SCHUYLKILL HERITAGE
Amanda orchestrated the sewing of a specialsilk battle flag for presentation to the SchuylkillCounty 48
th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment. The
48th played a major role in the July, 1864 Battle of
the Crater at Petersburg, Virginia.As the war continued, Amanda with her sister,
Sarah, and other prominent Pottsville women,organized the Ladies Aid Society of TrinityEpiscopal Church. Through the efforts of this andsimilar Aid societies, local donations consisting ofwooden boxes filled with shirts, mittens, towels,bandages, dried fruits and vegetables, soap andrice were sent to the soldiers as the front. Thecontent of these boxes were a blessing tothousands of sick, wounded and dying soldiers.Later in the war the Ladies Aid Societies ofSchuylkill County assisted larger, nationwideSanitary Commission (forerunner to the Red Cross)with large fundraisers called Sanitary Fairs. Thefunction of these fairs, held throughout the northernstates from 1863 on, was to raise valuable funds toprovide food, and medical supplies for sick andwounded soldiers.
In June 1864 the great Sanitary Fair ofPhiladelphia was held. Amanda Silliman wasappointed chair of the committee upon “Labor,Income and Revenue” in the female department oflabor in Pottsville. Contributions from SchuylkillCounty to the Fair amounted to over $8,000.Through these contributions, gained largely by thevolunteer work and dedication of Amanda and otherSchuylkill County women, the Sanitary Fair ofPhiladelphia succeeded and many soldiers’ liveswere saved.
In 1865, despite great personal risk Amandatraveled the long distance from Pennsylvania toPetersburg, Virginia to nurse her wounded brother,Thomas, of the 48
th P.V.I. He was wounded April 2,
1865 during the Battle of Fort Malone. Accordingto Old Schuylkill Tales., Amanda was the firstwoman granted permission at Petersburg to enterthe lines after the battle. The commanding general
Noble Womencontinued from page 9
supplied her with a pass and granted her an escort.To undertake such a long and arduous trip throughConfederate territory, attested to Amanda’scourage and her loyalty to family, country, and cause.
Sadly, it is difficult to find anything written aboutAmanda’s activities and service to her communityand church following the Civil War. One can assumeshe remained dedicated, as she had during theRebellion to making a difference in the lives of herfamily, friends, neighbors, and country.
Perhaps we can glimpse a warm early springday late in May, 1904. A large funeral cortegemakes its way to Pottsville’s Mount LaurelCemetery, graves just growing green with the newspring rains, tearful mourners, dressed in black,take their places by the freshly dug grave. Today,they are lying to rest lady. A gentle voice speaks tothe assembled mourners:
“Gently she sleeps. Her rest is in the bosom ofGod. Asleep, far away from cares and woes of thislife. Asleep, after a long life of service to her Godand humanity. To her many friends here on earthshe will ever sleep and never awaken. Who willnow answer the frail cry of the poor orphan, the callfor help from the widowed mother, the wail of therepentant sinner who used to come to her gates?Who will now bind the wounds of the soldiers andsailor as she bound them? Who will now heal thesick and distressed as she comforted them?Where is the woman who could take her place inheroic action becoming good womanhood? Thereare those who can be few are possessed of hercourage.
Her life was as pure as that of Ruth. Her examplein the heroism of true life as great as that of Ruth..Her accomplished work in the furtherance of publicgood in her community was probably greater thanthat of any man who lived therein. Her life was abeautiful picture. Her lifework stands inimperishable bronze. The fleeting years pass away,so shall we, but her sweet memory never.”
Miners Journal.…Rest in Peace, ministering angel to the
afflicted. Your courageous acts and patriotic deedsare remembered and celebrated.
10
March - Aprily 2018SCHUYLKILL HERITAGE 11
Not Jackie Mitchell, but Lilly Arlington was thefirst woman to play on a regular professional team,according to Ed Barrow, the 84 year-old executiveof the Yankees. Barrow says it happened beforethe turn of the century and that the lady pitched abouttwelve full games. It was part of the old AtlanticLeague, which Barrow was president. He doesn’tsay which team the young lady pitched for, but thatit was the regular season in a number of regulargames. He also hired a maid to travel with thefemale pitcher.
Elizabeth Stride was the girl pitcher’s true name,and not Arlington. It was evident she really could
First Female Pitcher was from Schuylkill County“Now it’s a regular girl Pitcher in 1989"
by Walter S. Farquharpitch for a half a game, because she had beeninstructed by the great pitching star of the 1890’sJack Stivetts of Ashland, who was about the bestmoundman ever to perform in Boston. It is believedtherefore, that she resided somewhere in thisvicinity.
Barrow asserts that Miss Stride had plenty ofstuff and control for five innings, but that she wasn’tstrong enough to keep going at full pace after that.But the girl’s pitching, good as it was a hippodromejust the same. That was why Barrow carried her. Itwas during the summer of the Spanish-AmericanWar, when, men athletes were in uniform andpatronage was lacking. Everyone knows what itmeans to promote sports during a war.
Board Member JoAnn Chubademonstrates how the computerterminal, located in the gift shop, isavailable for visitors to view 1000’sof Schuylkill County historicalphotographs.
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S068 - Sm. Med. Lg.XL. $14.002XL $15.00
March - April 2018 SCHUYLKILL HERITAGE
Or current residentSch. County Borders ..... 1First Charcoal Furnace .. 1Alverda Zemalis Kae ..... 3New Board Member ..... 4Women Jurors ............... 5Thank You ..................... 6Save the Date ................ 8Noble Women ............... 9First Female Pitcher ...... 11Gift Shop Specials ........ 11
at what’s inside
7The Historical SocietyOf Schuylkill CountyP.O. Box 1356Pottsville, PA 17901
Schuylkill County Historical Society inviteseveryone to come and see what is blooming inthe exhibits in our landmark building. Our newestexhibit “Schuylkill County Cinema” is a collectionof photographs of the historic movie houses fromthroughout Schuylkill County. Our hours are:
We are located at 305 North Centre Street,Pottsville, Pennsylvania.
