2005

At one time baseball was almost an obsession with Nesquehoning residents. Sometimes over 2,000 fans attended the games. The coalmines and the coal breaker would close and extra trolley cars were added to accommodate the fans. Ministers of local churches became angry because many people went to see the baseball game instead of going to church. Rev. Joshua, of the Baptist Church and Rev. Noon, of the Methodist Church had warrants sworn out against seventeen members of the baseball team on the charge of desecrating the Sabbath by playing baseball on Sunday. It was decided not to start the games until 4 p.m. when services at the churches would be over. This is a picture of the 1904 Nesquehoning team. Pictured in the front row, left to right: Charley Collins, Bill Oxley and Morris Grainger. Second row: J. J. McDonald, Albert Reese, Harry McGorry, Bob Wisely, Frank McGorry and Tom Corby. Back row: Fred Hooper Sr. and Jr. and Ed Taney and James Coll. Bob Wisely was a well know athlete from Nesquehoning, and went to pitch for Holyoke, Mass. Besides being an excellent pitcher he was a .350 hitter and could play any infield or outfield position.

This picture shows a steam locomotive entering Nesquehoning at an area know as Paradise. Paradise was an area where people held picnics and children would play football and baseball, the photo was taken in 1923. On the back of the picture was written “C. N. J. #457 with #2201, last run of this train”. This K1 class locomotive was a mastodon type with a 4-8-0 wheel arrangement, it was built in 1900 by the Brooks Company. Railroads played a big part in the history of Nesquehoning. When coal was first discovered at Nesquehoning the chief difficulty was getting it to market. At first wagons were used to transport the coal to the docks at the Lehigh River. The wagons held one ton of coal and required two horses; each wagon could make two trips per day. The first railroad at Nesquehoning and one of the first in the United States, was called the Room Run Railroad, it was started in 1831. Much time was spent on preparing the grade where the tracks would be laid. Since this was a gravity railroad, you needed enough downward pitch for the cars to roll and not to steep for the mules to pull the empty cars back to the mines at Room Run. When finished it was acclaimed the greatest railroad bed and an engineering marvel. It was finished in the spring of 1833 and was considered the best railroad ever built and the most expensive. The final cost was $123,000, almost $100,000 more than the original estimate of $29,123.75. In the first year 21,000 tons of coal glided down the new railroad from the Nesquehoning mines to the Lehigh River. Each train consisted of six to eight cars loaded with coal and a special car to haul the mules. This car contained water and food bins where the mules could eat, drink and get a well deserved rest after pulling the empty cars back to the mines at Room Run four miles away. The Room Run gravity Railroad was replaced in the 1860’s with a new railroad that used steam locomotives, it was called the Nesquehoning Valley Railroad. This railroad was built principally to carry the output of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company mines, receiving the traffic that formerly passed over the Room Run and Switchback railroads.

This 1890’s photo shows mine inspectors examining a tunnel at Nesquehoning after a cave-in. Miner’s worked under the most intolerable and inhumane conditions of employment imaginable. Miners had extremely dangerous jobs, working in tunnels hundreds of feet underground. He went down into the bowels of the earth each day, knowing that he may or may not return, perhaps descending to his everlasting tomb. Explosions, cave-ins, poison gasses and flooding, killed many. Jobs in the mines were dangerous, dirty and hard. Even under the best of conditions dust was impossible to completely control. As a result, miners were subject to black lung or anthrasilicosis. One new resident to the mining area observed that the only time he saw the miner’s smile was when they were on strike.

This is a picture of the First Baptist Church shortly after it was built. The church was dedicated on April 27, 1907. Baptist services were conducted here as early as 1889 by Rev. J. R. Ellis of Summit Hill. Services were held in the schoolhouse and sometimes at the homes of Baptists. Rev. Ellis organized a mission in 1889, and on November 19 1895, Rev. James Marcus Marwick organized a regular congregation. About this time the Methodists erected Meads Memorial Methodist Church and the Baptists bought the building that had been vacated by the Methodists and moved it to Railroad Street. It was unpainted and humble but happy hours were spent within its four walls (this is now the site of the Sokol Club). In January 1896, S. J. Cleeland a student at Bucknell, conducted a series of services, which happily resulted in the conversion of 22 souls. On April 12, they were baptized by Rev John T. Griffith. It was the first public baptismal service in Nesquehoning and was witnessed by thousands. Rev J. E. Kauaar was the first regular pastor. He served only from November 1897 to June 1898. Rev. Alfred Wells became pastor in September and labored faithfully for nearly two years. Rev. Partridge succeeded him in a short pastorate and then the church was again supplied by students and others until January 1906, when Rev. J. E. Kanaar returned. One of the results of his labors was a beautiful house of worship. It replaced the little old frame building of 15 years ago and was located on a corner on the opposite side of the street. The church had a seating capacity of 300 and was erected at a cost of $6,500. Including the lot, organ, carpets, furniture and a few other needed improvements to the basement the cost was $10,000. Thomas Brothers, (Barnet and George) of Nesquehoning were the contractors. Samuel H. Evans, also of Nesquehoning did the painting for them. The handsome colors of the memorial windows, was also the work of his brush. On the day the church was dedicated John Lauer the commissioner of finance said “We need $1,500 to clear the church of debt,” he told his audience. Mr. Lauer never collected money easier in his life. It fairly flowed into him, ten hundred and forty dollars at the morning service and the remainder afternoon and evening. The spirit of these people may be fairly inferred by the act of two little coal breaker boys. George and Davy Jones, one 16 the other 14. George handed in a $5 gold piece and Davy a silver dollar. “If there are many more boys in this congregation like these two” said Mr. Lauer, no one need fear its future.

This is a picture of the Hauto power plant during construction in 1913. It was built by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company and was the worlds largest coal burning power plant. This power could be transmitted anywhere within a radius of 175 miles. The nearest plant that transmitted power at so high a voltage was located at Niagara Falls. It was the beginning of the most important step ever taken in the United States toward the economic use of coal and generation of electrical power on a large scale. By transforming the coal into electric energy near the mines and transmitting it direct to consumers, handling loading, hauling and dumping was eliminated. The company had an annual waste of about 500,000 tons of coal particles and dust. As this culm was unmarketable it was burned in the company’s boilers, there by affecting another large saving. The main generating plant was located at Hauto because of an abundant water supply, the reservoir was increased to 1,000,000,000 gallon capacity with an area of about 400 acres by construction of a higher dam. The water supply needs of the plant was 300,000,000 gallons daily, most of which was carried back into the reservoir after condensation. To run the plant at the contemplated maximum capacity of 100,000 kw, approximately 1,000,000 tons of coal was needed yearly. The power house was characterized by a number of innovations. Fifty-ton gondolas ran from the mines into the boiler house, where the coal was deposited in steel bunkers, this method doing away with the necessity of other coal handling apparatus. After the consumption of the coal the ash was removed from the hoppers under the boilers by the opening of the gates, which allowed the ashes to fall in specially designed steel cars. The ash was then gathered in a train and lugged away by the locomotive. At first it was called the Lehigh Navigation Electric Company and in 1920 the name changed to Pennsylvania Power and Light Co. The plant was closed in 1969 and in 1973 demolition began and took three years to complete.

This is a picture of “Red Rock Quarry” in the 1950’s. It was located in the east end of Nesquehoning and is now the site of Whitewater Rafting Adventures. The Fauzio Brothers of Nesquehoning operated the stone quarry until the mid 1960’s. Bill Brazzo purchased all the equipment and continued operation until the early 1970’s. While building a road over the Broad Mountain in 1914, Charles E. Stermer, of Pottsville, a district engineer in the State Highway Department, and foreman J. H. Rothermel, of Mauch Chunk found the fine quarry of red shale stone on the hill side north of the Nesquehoning creek where the creek crosses the Broad Mountain road, alongside of which Rothermal was told to locate a stone crusher and put it into operation as soon as possible. In 1915 the State Highway department said Nesquehoning would have a permanent quarry. It is the intention of the highway department to use the stone from this quarry for the roads of this and adjoining counties to be shipped via of the C. R. R. of N. J., which will run a spur from its Nesquehoning branch to the quarry at the foot of the Broad Mountain. The stone from this quarry is said to be the best in the state. At one time all the streets in Nesquehoning were made with this stone. At this time there is still one street made with the red stones, its Allen Street. It starts at Catawissa St and goes behind the baseball field to Rt. 209; many people refer to it as the “Red Road”.

Looking west at the intersection of Catawissa and Ratcliff Streets in the early 1900’s. At the time this picture was taken transportation was by horse and buggy, trains or trolley cars. The trolley came up Catawissa St. and made a left turn at Ratcliff St., it continued for 2 blocks where it made a right turn on High St. heading toward Lansford. The building on the right is the Eagle Hotel. The Eagle Hotel was one of Nesquehoning’s oldest and best-known landmarks, being a licensed place as far back as 1846, when the hostelry was owned by the late James McCabe. The building was destroyed in one of Nesquehoning’s worst fires on May 8, 1977. Faintly visible in the background is the Nesquehoning coal breaker.

At one time Nesquehoning’s main street was lined with all kinds of stores. Some of them are shown in this 1940’s picture of W. Catawissa St. Bill’s Lunch owned by Bill Steventon is on the left. His menu included hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza and hoagies. One of his customers said the little 25-cent pizza’s Billy made were great. The next store was the Ho-Maid ice cream store. The entire left side of the store from front to back was lined with candy cases. Ice cream was served in the rear of the store and there were 2 booths where you could sit. The next store is Newton’s Cut Rate owned by Asenath Newton. She sold a variety of items, from playing cards to cough medicine. Many people in town went there to buy newspapers and magazines. The bowling alley next to the Cut Rate store was operated by the Newton’s. Bill’s Lunch was a popular hang out at this time, some people identified in this picture are Joe Marczyk on left, John Shefchik (second from left), Minners Stemetzki (fourth from left) and next to him is Theodore Taptich. On the right side of the picture is John Hudicka holding the newspaper and next to him is Mike Bazik. The man in the background wearing the overcoat and tie is Hanah Morgan. My Little Salon and St. Lukes Rehabilitation Center now occupy the buildings shown in this picture.

This is a picture of Corby’s Bakery; it was located on W. Catawissa St. at the site of the present Borough Offices. The following is a newspaper article from June 12, 1915. The J. W. Corby Bakery will occupy their well-equipped plant, early next week. The bakery is fitted with all the latest improvements, including a Schaller steam oven, doing the baking in manner to assure excellent results and sanitary advantages. During the opening, the operation will be in charge of a demonstrator from the Fleischman Yeast Co., New York. The public is invited to examine the working of the immense oven, with a capacity of 5000 loaves daily, or 400 every thirty minutes. The equipment will enable the Corby Bakery to continue former routes and at the same time extend to unusually large proportions. Every surrounding town will extend patronage, especially the County Seat, where the Manager has a broad circle of friends. Appetizing delicacies in fancy and pastry cake, as well as pies will be offered including the famous banquet cake in caramel, lemon, orange, raspberry and cherry flavors. White mountain sponge, pound, orange and Spanish bun cakes, jelly rolls, macaroons, ladies fingers and a complete line of lemon custards and meringues, cocoanut and pineapple custards. Arrange to visit the plant and view this important addition to Nesquehoning’s business facilities.

Nesquehoning’s scrapbook. 1.This picture was taken on 10-2-1947 in front of Nesquehoning’s American Legion. Chief of police, Ed McGinley was examining bicycles. Riders were given actual riding tests and also were required to know a series of traffic rules and regulations. All cyclists who successfully passed the tests were given a license plate to be placed on their bike and a membership in the Bicycle Institute of America. 2. A truck wreck at “dead mans curve” on the Broad Mt. highway. It was a car carrier owned by stunt driver Joie Chitwood. 4 cars, 2 motorcycles and a scooter were on the trailer. The “hell drivers” as they were called preformed stunts at area fairs and racetracks. 3. The Hurricanes Model A Ford team car. The Hurricanes were Nesquehoning’s semi-pro football team in 1946-47 and 48. They had a record of 29 wins 2 losses and 1 tie. In 3 years they racked up 769 points and gave up only 96 points. 4. Gary Miller and Joe Boyle on a bicycle built for two. The picture was taken in 1927 on W. Catawissa St. 5. The old Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. 6. Hoopers gas station and Lapo’s Grocery Store in the 40’s; it’s now M J’s Restaurant and Tommy’s Hoagie Shop. 7. Long time Nesquehoning milkman Jack Hager in 1947. 8. Police chief Harold Billig.

During WWII Nesquehoning was one of the most patriotic towns in the Country. On a per capita basis, Nesquehoning had more people in the armed services than any other town in the whole United States, (over 1200 men and women.) Coal was a precious commodity during the war and miners were exempt from going into the armed services but most of the men declined the exemption and went to fight for our country. Many young people fibbed about their ages so they could enlist. The residents were proud of these men and women and honor rolls were placed at various locations. These honor rolls contained the names of the men and women from their neighborhood in the military. The one shown in this photo was the work of O. Joseph Rutch of New Columbus. It was built by him in his basement and was placed on East Garibaldi Ave. Mr. Rutch is the man in the picture.