HISTORICAL SOCIETY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER July 1999 editor, J.R. Zane jrzane@bigfoot.com issue 5 DUE TO ANTICIPATED DEMAND HSSC TO REPRINT 1890 CENSUS At the July Board of Directors meeting it was decided to reprint the 1890 Schuylkill County census. While volunteers are busy transcribing the 1890 census for the Schuylkill GenWeb Page, it was determined that a republication would still be in demand for those researchers who would prefer a bound volume in its entirety. Windmill Publications, Inc. has promised a delivery date of December 1, 1999. A mailing will go out to the membership and to genealogical associations by late August. The cost is $69.50 plus $10. for state tax (six per cent), first class postage and handling. The total will be 79.50. The census is quite extensive making the book rather large. However this is the only census available for the County for the critical year of 1890 when immigration to the area was increasing. The federal census for the year 1890 was lost in a fire and therefore the federal census records go from 1880 to 1900 leaving the gap to be filled by the County census. The deadline for ordering will be October 31st after which the cost will be $75.00 plus tax, shipping and handling. For further information you can contact Leo Ward at llward@voicenet.com or the editor of the newsletter. The book surely will be a ‘must have’ collectors item for genealogists and local historians. It will make a great Christmas or Hanukkah present. A SPIN THROUGH HISTORY The date is September 25, 1999 for a new type of fun(d) raiser. A road ramble scavenger hunt will tour the county and parts of other counties in areas of historical significance. Flyers should be out by Cruise night August 9th in Pottsville. The cost is $100 per person but includes a grand finale dinner at Mollies’Pub and gifts. Road rambles have been held in other parts of the state, such as the Gettysburg area, with much success. Please consider joining the HSSC in an exciting ROAD RAMBLE through Molly Maguire territory in Schuylkill and three other counties. The six hour tour will take you to Molly Maguire sites and other historic anthracite coal region sites. The tour will start at Pottsville, PA and end at Mollies’ Pub in Locust Gap, Northumberland County. Souvenir tee-shirts, Molly Maguire baseball caps, and beer mugs will be given out. The Coal Miner Washery in Lansford will be one stop as well as the Old Jail in Jim Thorpe where many Mollies were hanged. The ramble will begin at 8:00 am. There will be a limit of One hundred cars with four persons to a car - a pilot, navigator, spotter and recorder. To register call Leo Ward at 570-628-3695 , or e-mail him at llward@voicenet.com or call Leo Haley at 570-622-1917, or send checks four your four people to The Historical Society of Schuylkill County P.O. Box 1181, Pottsville, PA 17901. LEAVING A LEGACY The HSSC supports the efforts to promote charitable gifting in Schuylkill County. As it has been often said, ‘Charity begins at home’, therefore please remember the Historical Society of Schuylkill County, which is a tax exempt 501 ( c ) corporation when making a will or making an inter vivos gift. If you make a Will you could leave the HSSC a specific dollar amount or a percentage, whatever amount is entirely up to you. No bequest is considered too small. Life insurance policies can have one or more charitable institutions named as beneficiaries. This applies to your 401 (k) plans and IRA’s. It is best to discuss all of this with your family attorney or financial advisor. However the HSSC encourages you to consider a local Schuylkill County non- profit organization when deciding to make a gift, and the HSSC would be honored to be one of the non-profits you may be considering. If you need further information on how such a gift would be used by HSSC please contact Leo Ward at llward@voicenet.com or contact the editor. RENOVATIONS CONTINUE AT OLD FEMALE GRAMMAR SCHOOL The architect has given the Board estimate of completing the project at $1,152,146. This includes the $60,010. For the purchase of the building and the capital fees and expenses ($40,000). As you are aware the HSSC has been located in the former City Hall of Pottsville since 1937. The present building is too small and cramped having only 1,600 square feet of space. The Female Grammar School has three floors with 4,600 square feet per floor, making a total of 13, 800 square feet. This will give the Society the space that is required for storage of its collections, ample room for researchers and genealogists, and space to properly display the rich treasures of Schuylkill County that it has in its collections. It is hoped that construction bidding will begin in October, 1999. HELP WANTED A data entry person is needed to assist the HSSC computerize. The rate of pay will be $6.00 per hour and the hours are flexible. It would be an ideal part time job for a local college student. Inquire at 628-3695, or e-mail to llward@voicenet.com HSSC SALUTES TAMAQUA Tamaqua is a community on the move. It is preserving its past while moving into the future. 1999 is an anniversary year for the borough and HSSC wishes the best of luck to the community. Make sure to check out all the activities and plans in Tamaqua.