ANNUAL DINNER SET FOR APRILThe Annual Dinner will be held in early April, 2000. Keeping with the ethnic theme, started in 1999, when the theme was the "Pennsylvania Dutch." The HSSC board of Directors hopes to feature "Slovaks in Pennsylvania." The Pensylvania Humanities Council supplies speakers for local and county historical societies and the topic was on their 2000 list of possiblities. The meeting, which was held at the Quality Hotel in downtown Pottsville, in April 1999, will be moved to another County location. Several establishments in Shenandoah will be reviewed. If the turnout is good then the rotation of the meeting locations will continue yearly.
THE 1890 CENSUS IS NOW PUBLISHEDAs this newsletter is being "printed," word is out that the 1890 Census Book is in the mail or should have arrived. There is a limited quantity of the books left to purchase, so any purchase should be made quickly. This limited addition has had a smashing success. Any suggestions for future reproductions are welcome.COUNTY STUDIES POSSIBLITY OF LEASING HSSC PROPERTY
Benesch & Company have concluded a structural analysis of the Female Grammar School's third floor to determine how much weight it could bear. It appears the Schuylkill County Archives is in need of more storage space. Discussions have been held with County Representative Mark Scarbinsky to determine whether it would be practical for the Cunty to utilize the third floor; which would not be used for HSSC public displays or public access. Apparently an elevator may be necessary if the third floor would be open to the public. The cost would be prohibitive - upwards of $300,000. |
ATTENTION ALL LOCAL CONTRACTORS With Bidding on construction to commence by mid February, it is hoped that the local contractors will primarily be used. At this point HSSC is aware of three local contractors who have both the qualifications from prior work done involving Historic preservation. These contractors are Cresswell Brothers Inc., Miller Brothers Construction Inc., and the Quandel Group. If there are other qualified builders with experience in historic preservation then they should contact HSSC headquarters as soon as possible with their resume'. By the January Board of Directors meeting, approval of the architect's design work by the Pennsylvania Historical and Musuem Commission should have been received. Public advertisement of the bids will not occur and it is therefore imperative for any interested contractor to speak up now. SCHUYLKILL LIVING MAGAZINE FEATURES ARTICLE BY HSSC DIRECTOR
The Winter issue of "Schuylkill Living" magazine, features the article "The Bloody First Ward" written by Director J. Robert Zane. It is an interesting account of the coal strike of 1902, from the perspective of one ward in the Borough of Shenandoah. Many are unaware, Shenandoah was the scene of an uprising by labor supporters, resulting in the state's Governor calling out the miltia to quell the insurrection. The article should be of interest to local historians, genealogists and those interested in ethnic diversity within our county.
|