Professional Documents
Culture Documents
RH Christmas Memories
RH Christmas Memories
A holiday
gift for you
The Republican Herald has fought Online extra:
through this difficult and most See more photos at
unusual year of 2020 along with its republicanherald.com/
friends and neighbors in Schuylkill photos
County. result is this special section, “Christ-
The tragedy of the COVID-19 pan- mas Memories,” inside your Republi-
demic has touched all of us, but we can Herald today.
find hope in the vaccine that is reach- As many of us celebrate in unusu-
ing our community at the same time al ways this year, we hope this
that we celebrate the holiday season. glimpse back at memories from the
As one of the small businesses that past 50 years helps brighten your hol-
PHOTO COURTESy OF THE SCHUyLKILL COUNTy HISTORICAL SOCIETy
has battled the odds all year, we want- iday season!
Pomeroy’s decorated for Christmas in 1940. The front window decorations were a favorite of ed to offer a special “thank you” to Merry Christmas,
shoppers, especially children. our home delivery subscribers and Michael A. Joyce
advertisers for standing with us. The Publisher
ON THE COVER: Santa arrived in Pottsville Nov. 29, 1980, passing a crowd of people at Centre
and Mahantongo streets. His arrival was the capstone of a parade through the city and was
followed by lunch with St. Nick in the Henry Clay Room at the Necho Allen Hotel. Appreciating our subscribers ...
J2 POTTSVILLE (PA.) REPUBLICAN HERALD THURSDAy, DECEmBER 24, 2020
A blizzard-like snowfall
blankets Centre Street in
downtown Pottsville on
Dec. 18, 1973. Photo by
Vince Ney.
Their delight showing on their faces, a young audience sits enraptured by The Facial expressions tell the story of a recent Christmas party at the Williamstown
Incredible Holiday Machine Puppet Show in the Henry Clay Room of the Necho American Legion as Santa cast his special spell over a most appreciative audience.
Allen Hotel. Earlier the youngsters had dined with Santa. Nov. 29, 1980. Carol Stakem seems to find the experience simply delightful.
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Santa seems to be mentally storing away the list he’s getting from Tina
FILe PhOTO Neidlinger. Perhaps she was making sure Santa has her brother Jason’s FILe PhOTO
A needlepoint angel sits atop the Christmas wishes down pat, since he found the encounter with the bewhiskered A close-up of the needlepoint work by Ben
tree of Ben and Blanche Starr, of Lykens. gentleman a little overwhelming at the Cressona Mall. and Blanche Starr, of Lykens.
Proud mothers Melissa New, left, of Valley View, and Tammy Jo McShaw, Pottsville,
hold their Santa-clad babies Kendra Brooke New, born Dec. 22 and Jamilee Santai,
born Dec. 21, at Good Samaritan Hospital. The newborns are wearing Santa Claus
outfits hand-made by nightshift nurse Ann Marie Coleman.
FILE PHOTO
are John David, Local 1463 president, left, and Frank Davidavage. UMWA members With the Pottsville Post Office being flooded with holiday greetings, John F. Graney,
have been on strike against Gilberton Coal and its subsidiaries for about 1 1/2 years. a postal employee for 40 years, undertakes the considerable task of sorting the
Dec. 24, 1985 mail.
Kmart at the Schuylkill Mall, Frackville, is sponsoring an “Angel Tree” to benefit needy children. Cards with Santa Claus parachuted from an airplane into a park-
children’s first names, ages, gifts desired and sizes have been placed on a tree in the store so customers and ing lot along East Washington Street, Shenandoah, for
employees may select a card and purchase a Christmas gift for a needy child. Dave McSurdy, floor supervisor, his annual visit sponsored by the Shenandoah
holds one of the cards on a tree. Nov. 29, 1986 Merchants Association. Four skydivers accompanied
Santa on his airborne trip. Nov. 29, 1986
While visit-
ing the
Treadway
Hotel, the
jolly old elf
gets the
lowdown
from wide-
eyed
Melissa
Bickelman,
4, on what
she wants
for Christ-
mas. Dec.
1, 1986
FILe PhOTO
Parking space is at a premium in the Fairline Village mall lot Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year. Local
retailers offered sales galore as the Yule shopping season began in earnest. Nov. 29, 1986 FILe PhOTO
Maybe the sleigh was in the shop or the reindeer were getting tune-ups, because this sure isn’t the usual mode of transportation for Santa. The jolly old elf boarded
this Schuylkill Transportation System bus Tuesday, much to the delight of the passengers. Dec. 23, 1987
FILe PhOTO
Christmas descends on
Weston Place as multi-
tudes of colorful lights
illuminate the Masonic
and George homes on
Radio Station Road in
Shenandoah Heights.
Cars by the dozens file by
the houses each night to
take in the breathtaking
display. Dec. 23, 1988
FILe PhOTO
Frank Fabrizio stands outside his home that is fully decked out for Christmas in Dave P. Carduff, of Ashland, seems to have found just the right tree while shopping
Brockton. December 1992 at Olmor’s with his family, from left, Erin, with Anne and David.
FILE PHOTO
The new Christmas light in Saint Clair replaced the pre-World War II decorations in 1995.
FILe PhOTO
Kali from a Romanian orphanage. Printed in the Dec. In line for Santa, Barry Elementary School student Andrew Fetterolf tells Santa what he wants for Christmas while
24, 1996, edition. the rest of Beth Fronk’s kindergarten class waits in line Dec. 21, 1995. Heading the line is Seth Waizenegger.
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Jordan Hudick, 3, of Mount Carmel, son of Kelly and Darren Hudick, accepts a Christmas
present from Santa after winning the Schuylkill Mall’s wish list contest. Behind Jordan is Girardville was greeted by Christmas carols sung by a passing trolley on Sunday
Adam Miller, 8, of Orwigsburg, a son of Paul and Mary Miller. Dec. 23, 1998 evening. Dec. 21, 1997
FILe PhOTO
FILe PhOTOPaul Miller directs the third annual tuba Christmas FILe PhOTO
The Christmas tree at Stonehedge Gardens in South concert in front of Holahan’s Food & Spirits in Santa checks his list of names for children who have
Tamaqua features myriad lights and crystal ornaments. Pottsville. Dec. 4, 1999 been naughty and nice. Dec. 20, 1999
FILe PhOTO
The annual Christmas Choral Concert, “Sing About Christmas,” was presented by The Associated Chorus of Pottsville Area High School, with Director Francis M.
Portland playing the piano. Dec. 8, 1999
Frackville’s Alexandria’s Salon, Spa & Gift shop’s “Suzy Snowflake” Bridget A. Garrity, 20, of Mahanoy
Plane, and “Alexandria Snowflake” Alexandria Luscavage, 5, of Shenandoah, greet spectators at
Frackville’s Christmas parade. In the car with the winter royalty are Gina Luscavage, of Shenandoah,
left, and Tara Malafarina, of Homesville. Dec. 10, 2000
FILE PHOTO
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Frackville
Christmas
parade partici-
pants progress
down Lehigh
Avenue. Dec.
FILE PHOTO 10, 2000 JACQUELINE DORmER / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The “wellness committee” of J.E. Morgan Knitting Mills Inc. in It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Hometown donated toys to the Salvation Army for Christmas as snow falls in Alexandria’s store win-
along with other employees. Collecting and sorting the toys are, dows in Frackville as Mary Rabbits
from left, Leon R. Frohnheiser, Stephanie May, LEPL Andrew J. adjusts the hat of her snowman. Nov. 27,
Leibenguth and Al H. Cheese. Dec. 15, 2000 2000.
FILE PHOTO
Garfield Square in Pottsville was all aglow after the Christmas tree lights were turned on Dec. 1, 2001.
FILe PhOTO
to Dominick P. Julian, 85, right, at his home on East A crowd gathers on Second Street to witness the light- The tree on the Parkway in Schuylkill Haven was lit on
Centre Street in Shenandoah. Dec. 16, 2001 ing of the Christmas tree in Saint Clair. Dec. 2, 2001 Dec. 2, 2001.
Allian Productions Broadway performers from New York City presented a Christmas show at the Schuylkill Mall prior to the arrival of Santa. Nov. 17, 2002
Samantha A.
Fisher, 14,
of Port
Clinton, a
daughter of
Brian and
Michele
Fisher, tells
Santa what
she wants
for Christ-
mas while
visiting him
at the
Schuylkill
Mall. Nov.
17, 2002
The Byzantine Men’s Choir sing Christmas carols under the direction of Emil Simodejka, of Minersville, at Broad
Mountain Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Frackville on Dec. 18, 2002. The presentation was sponsored
FILE PHOTO by the Frackville Rotary Club.
Huddling to keep their candle lit in front of the Orwigsburg Christmas of Minersville, waits for the next group
tree are members of the Yoder family, from left, Hannah, Lyle, Emily and of visitors at the Lighthouse Church on
Jessica, of New Ringgold. They participated in the annual Festival of Route 61 in Orwigsburg during Beth-
Lights on Dec. 6, 2003, on the square in Orwigsburg. lehem Live, a live Nativity done by
church members.
FILe PhOTO
Bobby Cox, of Minersville, helps a customer on the from the wind as the Christmas tree lights up in the Frank Neisweinder, of Schuylkill Haven, carries
phone while working at the registers at the UCP background in the square during the Festival of Lights Christmas wreaths made of fresh greens for sale at
Greenhouse on Dec. 5, 2003, in Pottsville. on Dec. 6, 2003, in Orwigsburg. the UCP Greenhouse on Dec. 5, 2003, in Pottsville.
Angela R. Cazonie, 9, of
FILE PHOTO
Minersville, fills the air
FILE PHOTOJoyce Smolskis, of Teaberry Hill, hasn’t seen the likes with Christmas colored
of it before — a Christmas tree constructed of walkers balloons at Angelita’s
Santa Claus came to town — specifically, to the Blue Mountain High School audi-
towering over guests at the Minersville Nutrition Kreations and Gift Shop
torium, to pay a special visit to the children’s chorus during the Schuylkill County
Center at Zion Lutheran Church, Fourth and Lewis on Sunbury Street in
Community Chorus’ concert, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Dec. 6, 2004
streets, in the borough. Dec. 14, 2004 Minersville. Dec. 4, 2004
FILE PHOTO
The Red Hats gather for a photo at their annual Christmas party in 2004.
Joseph D. Jr. and Eileen M. Lewis, of Mahanoy City, by the traditional reindeer, but by Tamaqua Area High
were trying to bring smiles to their fellow shoppers School football players, from left, Bryant Butala, 17, of
with their festive hats at the Schuylkill Mall, Frackville, West Penn; Kevin Faber, 17, of Tuscarora; and Travis
on Black Friday. Nov. 26, 2005 Comisak, 16, of Brockton, on Dec. 3, 2005.
A live Nativity scene was the main attraction at the Old-Fashioned Christmas festivities in downtown Ashland
on Dec. 15, 2007.
FILE PHOTO
Portraying a shepherd, Jeremy Billie, 14, of Frackville, helps ManorCare Health Services resident John JACQUELINE DORmER / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
warms his hands by the campfire during the Lighthouse Wessner decorate ManorCare’s Christmas tree in Andrew Hunt, 18, of Pottsville, volunteers as a Salvation
Church’s annual Bethlehem Live program in Orwigsburg. Pottsville. The school has been decorating for Army bell ringer at the Schuylkill Mall, Frackville. Dec.
Dec. 15, 2007 ManorCare for 23 years. Dec. 6, 2007 11, 2007
Summit Station, open presents during the Big Brothers/ Kaden Lengle, 6, of Pine Grove, watches the festivities
Sisters Christmas party at Citizens Fire Company in during the Pine Grove Tree Lighting ceremony in down-
Palo Alto. Dec. 12, 2008 town Pine Grove. Dec. 6, 2008
Vinny Hopper, of Schuylkill Haven, and Becky Youse, of Members of Frackville Brownie Troop 1069 wait for the lighting of the Community Christmas tree at borough
Auburn, play Joseph and Mary at the living Nativity hall during the Frackville Holiday Parade sponsored by the Frackville Recreation Board. Among the troop mem-
Scene at the Lighthouse Church in Orwigsburg. bers are, from left, front row, Colleen Hummell, Ashley Harper and Raven Collins. Dec. 14, 2008
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