Posts Tagged ‘local history’
Then and Now: A 1918 Mask Comparison
The 1918 strain of influenza was unique among most types of flu, as it had a high mortality rate among 15 to 34-year-olds, rather than the oldest and weakest of the population. By the time what we now incorrectly call the “Spanish Flu” was over, it had even lowered the life expectancy across the United…
Read MoreMary L. Trescott, Luzerne County’s First Female Attorney
Just as last month was African-American History month, March sees another notable historical celebration in Women’s History Month. And just like last month with William Camp Gildersleeve, this month we bring you the story of another prominent resident of the County, Miss Mary L. Trescott (left). Mary Luella Trescott was born in 1861 to Miller…
Read MoreWyoming Valley Epidemics
The following blog post is a modified version of a column that appeared in the December 2020 edition of The Westside Bulletin. The article originally ran to promote a lecture the Society was planning on local epidemics. That lecture is now available for view on the LCHS YouTube channel, and we are reprinting this article…
Read MorePreservation and Perseverance in the Patches: A Woman’s Role in Coal County
Lewis Hine. Noon hour in the Ewen Breaker, Pennsylvania Coal Co. Location: South Pittston, Pennsylvania, 1911. Images of miners covered in black coal dust and Lewis Hine’s iconic photographs of breaker boys come to mind when many people think of the Anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania. These images evoke important memories and stories about the…
Read MoreLet Freedom Ring, The Justice Bell Tour and the 1915 Suffrage Referendum
The year 2020 is of course the 100th anniversary of ratification of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, which finally gave women the right to vote. As part of this centennial celebration, the LCHS, in cooperation with the League of Women Voters and over a dozen other non-profit organizations put together an exhibition entitled…
Read MoreFIC: Stories of items “Found in Collection” #2 – Snow White and the Seven…… Shoes?
The following is the next in a series of blog posts titled “FIC: Stories of Items “Found in Collection”. FIC is a museum industry term for items that were, well, found in a collection. The levels of provenance for these items often vary, and researching these items and tracking down why…
Read MoreFIC: Stories of items “Found in Collection” #1 – Andersonville Prison
The following is the first in a series of blog posts titled “FIC: Stories of Items “Found in Collection”. FIC is a museum industry term for items that were, well, found in a collection. The levels of provenance for these items often vary, and researching these items and tracking down why they are in your…
Read MoreBringing The Giant to Its Knees, A Brief History of the Giant’s Despair Hillclimb: Part II -The Golden Anniversary Brings About A Golden Age 1951 – 1985
In 1951 after being dormant for 35 years, Giant’s Despair was reborn. The revival of “The Giant” coincided with a post-war boom in auto racing interest throughout America. American G.I.s had spent the years after the war in England watching the small, two-seat sports cars so popular in Europe race around the dozens of now…
Read MoreAnthracite Heritage Month Schedule
A regional observance of Anthracite Mining Heritage Month will take place during January 2020. A wide variety of programs will be featured in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Pittston, Plymouth, Nanticoke, Bethlehem, and Port Griffith. The annual event focuses on the history and culture of the anthracite region of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The events are sponsored by the Anthracite…
Read MoreOctoberfest Talk at Luzerne County Historical Society – “History of Brewing in Luzerne County” – October 10, 2019
In celebration of Octoberfest, the Luzerne County Historical Society will offer a lecture and slideshow entitled, “The History of Brewing in Luzerne County” on Thursday, October 10, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. at the LCHS Museum, 69 Rear South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre. The lecture will be presented by LCHS Director of Operations and Programs Mark J.…
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