An abandoned synagogue in Pennsylvania’s coal region, which until the early 2000s had served Jewish residents of Mahanoy City for more than 80 years, collapsed late Thursday night, officials and neighbors told the local media.
Emergency crews responded to reports of falling walls and scattered debris at the former Beth Israel Synagogue, a brick building whose cornerstone was laid in 1923.
No injuries were reported, according to Skook News, a news site serving Schuylkill County. Crews began demolishing what was left of the building and carted away the debris.
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“It’s sad to see the buildings go, I lived in Mahanoy City or I worked here my whole life, and one by one these historic buildings seem to be going,” Paul Coombe, president and historian of the Mahanoy Area Historical Society, told television station WFMZ.
According to local histories, Mahanoy City’s first organized Jewish congregation dated to 1888. Jewish merchants and families had settled in the area — about an hour and a half northeast of Harrisburg — at the turn of the century, opening shops and businesses serving the booming coal economy.
“When we talk about the Jewish communities and the Rust Belt, the Jews didn’t come to be part of that particular industry or that particular labor. They came to support it,” said Alanna Cooper, chair of Jewish Studies at Case-Western University and an authority on synagogues past their prime. “They understood that it was important for that economic niche to be there in order to support the people who were working the mines or doing the industrial labor.”
At its peak, the Jewish population in the borough rose to around 50 families, who established the synagogue and, in the 1930s, a Jewish cemetery. Like many small-town Jewish communities in the Rust Belt, the congregation at Beth Israel dwindled as the industry and local economy declined in the decades after World War II.
Beth Israel of Mahanoy City, seen here in the 1950s, was built by Jewish merchants and businesspeople who served the area’s burgeoning coal industry. (Mahanoy Area Historical Society)
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The synagogue ceased formal religious services in 2003, and its doors were locked and the building boarded up, according to Rabbi Akiva Males, a Harrisburg rabbi who wrote about his interest in Beth Israel’s history in a 2012 article. In the process of closing the house of worship, congregation leaders sold its Torah scrolls and offered ritual items to functioning synagogues outside the region.
In 2015, author Ted Merwin reported in the New York Jewish Week that Beth Israel’s stained-glass windows had ended up at Eitz Chayim of Dogwood Park, an Orthodox synagogue on Long Island’s South Shore, under unclear circumstances. Eitz Chayim leaders said they had been given permission to take away the windows by unnamed local leaders.
The same article reported that descendants of Beth Israel families were seeking the return of the windows or payment in “fair market value,” which they hoped to use towards maintaining the cemetery. The case ended up in state court in 2017, although there is no record of how it was resolved.
Merwin said this week that how the eight windows ended up on Long Island remains a mystery, but perhaps one with a satisfying ending.
“The windows are beautiful,” said Merwin. “What is the legacy of these communities that faded out and are forgotten? At least this is some sort of a lasting legacy.”
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Cooper, who is writing a book on preserving and disposing of the assets of fading congregations, said any synagogue’s demise touches on Jewish feelings of historical loss.
“American Jews crave community, and we’re losing it now because of our mobility and digital technology,” she said. “The disappearance of community is not just a Jewish story, but it resonates with people. What does it mean to be in a tight-knit community where all of the members were aunts and uncles to all of the kids? That’s kind of getting lost.”
PHLADELPHIA (WPVI) — The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is celebrating the semi-quincentennial with a new exhibition that shows off some very rare documents that date to the founding of our nation.
“Paths to Independence: 1765 to 1787” documents America’s origin story in two parts.
“The exhibition looks at the decade of controversies and conflicts leading up to the Declaration of Independence,” says David Brigham, Librarian & CEO of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. “Why did we feel as American colonies that we needed to separate from Great Britain?”
And then the 11 years between the signing of the Declaration and the adoption of the Constitution.
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“The colonies have a lot of work to do,” says Brigham.
There are 141 pieces on view.
“They include original letters, journals, newspapers, broadsides,” he says. “And an incredible oil painting of a tea protest event that happened in Annapolis, Maryland in October of 1774.”
The artwork depicts the burning of the tea ship, Peggy Stewart.
“It’s been in a private home for generations,” he says. “This painting has not been seen in public possibly for 170 years.”
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Items are on display in seven cases.
“This case focuses on the Stamp Act, which is passed in the spring of 1765 by Parliament,” he says.
There’s a section on rising tensions in the 1770s, which includes the Battle of Lexington and Concord and the Boston Tea Party.
You can see what’s known as the Dunlap Broadside.
“This is an original printing of the Declaration of Independence,” he says.
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Just 200 were printed and only 26 survive.
Brigham says the one on display at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania is unique.
“We think it was Jefferson’s proof copy,” he says. “He would mark his speeches out with quotation marks where he intended to emphasize a phrase.”
Another case includes a first draft of the Articles of Confederation, which Brigham says is “the first attempt by Congress to write a Constitution of the United States.”
There is also a first newspaper printing of the Constitution of the United States. It was someone’s personal copy, complete with notes in the margin of the newspaper.
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Brigham says people of different social statuses and religions found their way to independence “for different reasons.”
“Sometimes the story’s flattened out into ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys.’ That’s way too simple,” he says. “There was a lot of complexity and even in that 20-year period a lot of attitudes changed.”
“Paths to Independence: 1765 to 1787” is on view through September 18 at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. This exhibition is free and open to the public during regular library hours, but visitors must check in at the front desk.
Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s library hours:
Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Closed Saturday – Monday
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Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) 1300 Locust Street Philadelphia, PA 19107
Pennsylvania hides some of its best sights in salt-mining canal towns, riverside boroughs of a few hundred people, and overlooks where the Susquehanna unspools below you. These nine small towns trade crowds for character: a 65-mile rail trail tracing the “Pennsylvania Grand Canyon,” gas lamps flickering over a downtown that still has a family-owned department store, a lake that once held an amusement park and now holds stocked trout every spring. From the Endless Mountains of Bradford County to the Allegheny valleys, here are seven Pennsylvania towns worth the detour.
Harveys Lake
Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania from the northeast, By Jakec – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Harveys Lake is a small but approachable borough near the Back Mountain Region of Luzerne County, inviting those who seek outdoor recreation opportunities like boating, fishing, and biking. With a population of just under 3,000, this out-of-the-way town is named for the beautiful lake it surrounds. Harveys Lake was a bustling tourist destination throughout the 20th century. At one point it featured a casino, an amusement park, and Grand Hotel Oneonta. Nowadays, this modest town on a mighty lake is a lesser-known setting for outdoor recreation enthusiasts and those seeking to get away from the usual crowded vacation spots.
Boating is popular amongst locals and visitors alike, and personal vessels can be launched from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission access on Lakeside Drive. The best way to fish on Harveys Lake is by boat, and there’s plenty of trout stocked in the springtime by the PFBC. It’s even possible to charter a fishing trip on the lake with a guide like Dry Creek Charters or rent a boat for fishing from Harveys Lake Pontoon Cruises. Purchase a guest pass at one of the beaches, like the one at Sunset Beach Club, and unwind with a swim along the lake’s shoreline. The slow pace of life in this town lends itself well to biking, too. The Harveys Lake Loop that runs through the borough is an easy, paved ride around the lake’s perimeter.
Saltsburg
Saltsburg, Pennsylvania
About 36 miles from Pittsburgh is a remote borough sitting where the Conemaugh River and Loyalhanna Creek come together, creating the Kiskiminetas River. This location, combined with its history as a salt mining town, makes it an engaging yet secluded area to explore. The historic Pennsylvania Mainline Canal ran through Saltsburg, and people can still visit and learn about the canal whose terminus was all the way in Philadelphia. The yearly Saltsburg Canal Days Festival every June is an ode to the canal history for residents and visitors interested in food, live music, and even a charity duck race.
It’s easy to find roads less traveled along Saltsburg’s hiking and biking trails, like the Westmoreland Heritage Trail or the Conemaugh River section of the West Penn Trail. When the river is calling, it’s easy to rent a kayak from Saltsburg Kayak and Canoe on Market Street for a leisurely float. Time is well-spent at the Rebecca B. Hadden Stone House Museum viewing historical artifacts and furnishings.
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Hollidaysburg
Allegheny Street in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
Hollidaysburg is a beautiful small borough in Blair County, PA. With a population of around 5,600, the borough is small enough to be a calm getaway while still serving peak entertainment, views, and outdoor fun. History and recreation collide at Canal Basin Park, where historic markers and a canal lock replica invite onlookers to interact with the community’s past. The Anne Sloane Borland Performing Arts Pavillion provides live music throughout the summer months. View a quiet, breathtaking aerial of the borough from Chimney Rocks Park. The way up to the overlook via the Chimney Rocks Lookout Trail is a great way to take in the natural landscape.
The scenic views continue on old State Route 22, where gorgeous flowers are planted and maintained by the borough at Gateway Garden. Small-town hospitality is abundant at The Dream Restaurant on Allegheny Street, feeding nostalgia with home-style comfort meals. The living history of Hollidaysburg surrounds guests at the Allegheny Street Bed and Breakfast who choose to go out and explore the historic district.
Wyalusing
Three buildings on Main Street in Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, via jschumacher on Flickr.com
Wyalusing is a borough best known for the Wyalusing Rocks Overlook, a natural rock formation that offers grand panoramas of the Susquehanna River. The borough is a treat for visitors to the Endless Mountains Region of Bradford County. Wyalusing was originally settled by several groups of Indigenous tribes, such as the Susquehannock, the Iroquois, and the Delaware, before becoming a vital hub for logging and farming. Today, Wyalusing is home to 613 residents who cherish and appreciate their small town.
Spaces like Wyalusing Creekside Park are a phenomenal way to savor the scenery and participate in activities like disc golf and trail walking. The babbling Wyalusing Creek is sure to offer opportunities to catch smallmouth bass. The rich narratives of the borough and surrounding area are highlighted at the Wyalusing Valley Museum. Their location on Main Street makes it easy to book a private tour and browse items in the archive.
Curwensville
Curwensville, Pennsylvania, By Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The valleys of the Allegheny Mountains are the place to find off-the-grid destinations. Curwensville is a town among them that offers adventure and outdoor fun. Like many municipalities in Western Pennsylvania, the area established itself through the extensive logging industry. The flow of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River nearby made this possible. Now, Curwensville is a valuable riverside town with lots of potential for exploration.
The most popular attraction is Curwensville Lake. Formed by the Curwensville Dam, folks can swim, boat, and fish throughout the spring and summer months. The ever-popular Irvin Park offers a kayak launch area, inclusive playground, and pavilion rentals all season. It’s also the location of the Curwensville Days Festival, a five-day event full of vendors, exhibits, and even a car show. Another annual happening is the Curwensville Blueberry Festival, which includes vendors and a farmers market. Outside of festival season, locals love to satisfy their sweet tooth at the Blue Kow on Susquehanna Avenue.
Shickshinny
View of Shickshinny, Pennsylvania from Overlook B on the Mocanaqua Loop Trail, By Jakec – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Named for the Shickshinny Creek that runs through the center of town, this borough is located between Berwick and Nanticoke in Luzerne County. The Historical and Preservation Society of the Greater Shickshinny Area helps its 715 residents remain active participants in maintaining its regional legacy. They’ve operated an informative historical museum in their building on Main Street that’s available by appointment and during scheduled open houses.
The yearly Shickshinny Borough Carnival is a delightful blend of food, vendors, and live music the town looks forward to in North Canal Park. Parks and recreation go off the beaten path on winding trails like the Mocanaqua Loop Trail or the Susquehanna Warrior Trail. Shickshinny has truly stunning natural formations. Little Shickshinny Falls is arguably the most beautiful. It’s only about 15 minutes’ hike up from the trail on Shickshinny Valley Road.
Wellsboro
Wellsboro, PA, USA: The downtown streets of Wellsboro still illuminated with authentic gas street lamps.
The Tioga County seat of Wellsboro is visually stunning, with its most prolific landmark being the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. This six-million-year-old artifact of nature is part of Tioga State Forest. Many find their way to the canyon from the Pine Creek Rail Trail, which traverses 65 miles through Tioga and Lycoming Counties, respectively. It offers a low-grade path that lends itself well to hiking, biking, and even horseback riding in some sections.
The allure of gas lamps lining the streets downtown gives Wellsboro an almost magical feel. This feeling is amplified by the many shops in the borough, with Dunham’s being one of the last family-owned and operated department stores in the nation. A statue of one of the borough’s founders, Mary Wells Morris, is a welcome and graceful presence on Main Street. Just a few blocks down, the Gmeiner Art and Cultural Center is an inviting space to appreciate more local art at one of its many planned exhibits.
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Off the Beaten Path
When the natural beauty of Pennsylvania meets the amiable small towns of the various regions, it creates an incomparable experience. Chartering a boat to fish Harveys Lake is one example of that immersive energy. It’s celebrated in festivities like the Shickshinny Borough Carnival or the Canal Days Festival. At the end of the day, these off-the-grid areas have just as much excitement as their more populated counterparts in terms of atmosphere and offerings.
