Saint Clair Area Students Celebrate the Sesquicentennial   Students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade Challenge Class (enrichment) have been researching the 150-year-old history of St. Clair.  Over the past few weeks the students have been interviewing residents and school staff to record various events that were important in the development of the St. Clair borough.   Students selected topics ranging from economic opportunities to entertainment.   They also investigated some of the people and their contributions as citizens.  The stories and photos that are displayed on this site are a sampling of the events that make celebrating the Sesquicentennial of St. Clair an exciting occasion.  The students would like to thank all the friends, families, and relatives that shared their stories and time with them.  They have learned how St. Clair has progressed over the years, and also how the community has grown in size and technology.  Enjoy the stories and photos that follow as you step back through the last 150 years!!!! _____________________________________________________ Padfield's Corner by:  Sarah Vinansky, 8th grade My great great grandfather moved to the northwest part of St. Clair in 1906. They lived on a farm with 10 acres of land. The fields were generally hilly. In their fields were vegetables. They also had a cornfield that they used for themselves and feed for their livestock. The Padfields had 100 chickens, 6 pigs, 4 cows, and 1 horse that were used for plowing fields. In their field was the stone that separated the boroughs. They had plum, apple, and peach trees. Life there was primitive. Food was stored in the basement because it was the coolest place. There was no running water or electricity. Their water supply was mostly rain water that ran off the roof. After a few years they connected on to the coal companies water line. Their bake oven was also outside. Harry Padfield was steadily employed in the mines. The sinkholes were common. When Harry would come home he would have to work in the fields and then he would go to town and sell the vegetables that were harvested. To get to town from their house they would have to walk over Parvins Hill. All the kids had jobs. Ike had to round up the cows. Their dog used to help because he would be able to here the bells on the cows. Mae had to milk the cows. One time the dog got trapped in a sinkhole and stayed there over night until the next day when it was rescued with the help of a ladder. Another time a cow fell in and was there for a long time. She also had a milk route that she would have to do before school. Enoch had to bring the water because they didnt have running water. For the kids to get to School they had to walk. Then they would walk home for lunch, then back to school again. "The scenery was beautiful. The Huckleberries and the Blackberries were always plentiful in season. Wild Honeysuckle was everywhere. There were also many choke cherry trees. There were five houses that made up the community. In the summer people would come up to Padfield Corner. If you looked south from where they lived you could see Arnots Addition. Unfortunately they didnt own their land. Under their houses were rich coal veins, and ten years later they sold their house for $75.00 to Reading Anthracite. Some of the other houses were sold for $50.00. That is when they moved to St. Clair. I got my information from Jane Frantz, Edith (Padfield) Bixler, and Isaac Padfield. This drawing was made by Ike Padfield in 1997 and shows Girard Tunnel, St. Clair looking south and Harry Padfield's homestead and farm about 1918.  _____________________________________________  Transportation By: Katie Gorenty The Saint Clair Railroad Yard was near the present day Saint Clair Industrial Park. It was built in 1913, and it was as the largest classified gravity coal yards of the world. It was built on the site of a large swamp. It was one of the greatest factors in the transportation of anthracite coal. There was a total of 2,101 cars and 1,020 men who worked in the yard. There was also 46.26 miles of track. The roundhouse was large enough to contain 52 locomotives and it was the third place to bomb on Hitlers list in the United States. The next place was the Indiantown Gap. This information came from John J. Speacht who learned it  from his late Uncle Jacob Speacht. Peggy Wapinsky, school secretary, said, "The trains went by my house ten times a day. It was like clockwork. There were also passenger trains to take people places. The place where everybody had to go at one time or another was downtown Pottsville. The Saint Clair yard employed many people and brought more people to St.Clair." Peggy lived in Mill Creek and now, for the past 38 years. lives in Saint Clair Also Earl L. Gorenty said, " Everyday I went to school the kids on the buses would watch what was going on. It was very interesting." Earl L. Gorenty went to the Saint Clair Area High School. Before any railroads were built they only had horses. The first road was the Sunbury Road, which opened in 1770. It ran between Sunbury and Reading. In 1811, the stage coach became useful carrying passengers and some freight from Saint Clair to Philadelphia. In 1845 it carried mail between Pottsville and Saint Clair. The first railroad was built in 1829. Its rails were wooden and the cars were drawn by horses. It extended to Port Carbon. In 1830 the first coal opening was made in an orchard on the ground known as Arnots Addition and from it shipments were made. On August 10, 1894 the first trolley started operating. It was known as the "long line" and ran to Pottsville via Mill Creek. Then in 1915 the "short line" began operating to other places. From that period on Saint Clair was connected with all the towns in the county, and two places outside the county. As residents became owners of automobiles, the use of trolleys declined and it became obvious that rail lines could not operate as cheaply as buses. Therefore buses became into use. Taxi service later became available. Today the main form of transportation in the borough is automobiles. Most people today own two or more cars. Also buses arent used as much, and you rarely see taxies coming to the borough today. __________________________________________________________ The Theaters By: Robin Kellagher 6th Grade Hi! My name is Robin Kellagher and my project is about the theaters in Saint Clair. I interviewed my Nan, Mrs. Barbara Schaeffer and Mrs. Grace Boyer, her next door neighbor. They told me you could go to the movies for $1.00 for five people. Grace said "We used to go with all my friends and we could get in for $2.00 for all of us." The theaters used to attract people on Fridays and Saturdays. My Nan said, "I used to go with my whole family and it only cost $3.00." Grace told me that there were two theaters in St. Clair. They were the Ritz and the Hollywood. The Hollywood was located where Grassas flower shop is now, and the Ritz is located on the north end of town in that old red building across from Giorgios pizza shop. My Nan told me that there was a family night which was on Fridays. I also interviewed Nancy McMurtrie and she told me a lot about what they looked like. She told me that the Hollywood movie theater was always very dark inside. She said it was also very large. Inside Nancy told me the seats were on an angle that went up in a slant. Nancy said that Mr. Michael Swartchick, janitor at St.Clair school, had a brother who was an usher at the Hollywood. She told me they showed mostly western movies. They usually featured western stars at the theater. Nancy said that the Potts's family owned the Hollywood building. She also mentioned the other theater that was in St. Clair which was called the Ritz. Nancy said it was brighter than the Hollywood and she thought they showed better movies. She said that on certain nights they gave dishes and plates to people. The snacks that were popular were soda, popcorn, candy, peanuts, and gummy candy like jujubees.  Nancy said that the Ritz family helped with taking care of the theater. She said that the daughters were "usherettes" and the sons were projectionists. Today the Ritz is owned by Stanley Peters and the Hollywood is owned by Anna Potts and Mark Rubinsky. Thank you for taking the time to read my report.I hope you enjoy it! ___________________________________________________________ Education by Nicole Gauker, grade 6 For my report on schools I interviewed two people. Their names are Miss Barbara Sninsky, a teacher in St. Clair and Mrs. Maureen McDonald, a woman who lived here her whole life. I also learned a lot of things from books. Hope you enjoy reading it! The St. Clair private school was first established in 1834. But the first public school was established in 1838. It was found on the borough cemetery and the teacher was Benjamin Jackson from Catawissa. This school was taught by both men and women and was also used as a church. But in 1846 this building was erected. In 1862 Louis Reese, President, built a brick building on Nicholas Street. In 1892 the schoolhouse was rebuilt and used as a high school.   In 1922 there was an addition to the school including more classrooms and an auditorium. In 1927 the building was added onto again. It was the high school. For my interviews Miss Sninsky and Mrs. McDonald both said that the classrooms were small and very strict! The classes were split up by sections. The schools years ago didnt have the technology. "It really benefits the children," said Miss Sninsky. Also I was told that they had longer school years because they had longer holiday vacations!   They did not have cafeterias. They went home for lunch! Mrs. McDonald told me that she would bring her friends and then her mother would have lunch ready for them. She said they normally have sandwiches, but sometimes they had chicken. Mrs. McDonald also told me that it was  about 40 minutes long. "Field days, drama club and school dances were fun." says Mrs. McDonald. According to Miss Sninsky everyone walked to school.  "Before the districts were so large we did not have snow days," said Miss Sninsky. Some games they played were hopscotch, jump rope, and they even enjoyed just sitting under the tree. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Coal Mining By: Jonathan Cicero, grade 7 Coal mining started in this region in 1824 when rich coal veins were discovered around here. Coal operations were not regularly started until 1830. Some mining operations were continued for over a century. Some of the most important veins were the Primrose, Mammoth, Orchard, Skidmore, Seven Foot, and Buck Mountain, which extend beneath the entire surface of the town and vicinity. The discovery of these different coal veins in the vicinity of Saint Clair was followed by the construction of various collieries in this section. These early operations were developed into the following collieries: Pine Forest, Wadesville, and Saint Clair Coal Company. Periods of prosperity and depression follow the activity and inactivity of various coal operations. Saint Clair has the distinction of having the first United Mineworkers Union in the United States. Mr. John Siney, Sr., organized the union about 1869. It was a welfare organization to take care of the victims of mine fatalities. In the early years,coal mining was not aided by the large machines that we use today. So now, mining goes faster and is probably much easier for the miners that use them. Some people call coal "black gold". Upon the discovery of the many coal veins, many collieries opened. The Parvins Colliery was the oldest colliery. It was operated from 1825-1860. Miners got their supplies from the miner supply company store in St. Clair. ___________________________________________________________ Churches of Saint Clair Hi! My name is Kate, and for my Challenge Class report I studied all about the past, and present churches of St. Clair. Below there is a list of the churches and their pastors from 1850--1950. I have also included a list of churches that are in St. Clair today in the year 2000. You may notice that there are many churches that are still standing, that may have been erected in 1850. CHURCHES FROM 18501950 St. Clair Primitive Methodist Church erected in 1847. The first church built in St.Clair. Rev. A. Miller was the pastor. The Holy Apostles Church dedicated in 1847. Rev. D. Washburn was the minister at that time. The Methodist Episcopal Church organized in 1848 under the pastor J.D. Bowen. St.Johns Reformed & Evangelical Congregation Begun in 1853, by Rev. Gautenbein St. Boniface German Catholic Church Built in 1853, Rev. Wincellaus Joames Repis, was the first pastor of this church. St. Marys Roman Catholic Church This church was erected in 1863, Rev. James A. Brehony as the pastor. The Baptist Church Organized in 1870 under Rev. A.H. Sembower. St. Michaels Greek Catholic Russian Orthodox Church This church was built in 1897, under the Rev. N. Mulchany. St. Marys Immaculate Conception Church "Dormers", was erected in 1903, the first pastor was Father Schaff. St. Nicholas Greek Catholic Church Located on North Morris Street, this church it was Originated from St. MichaelsChurch, Was erected in the year 1905, Re. Levitskey, was the first pastor. Saint Peter and Pauls Polish Church Erected in 1906, under the leadership of Rev. Olishienski Saint Johns Slovak Lutheran Church Organized in 1907 by Rev. L. Sanjek St. Marys Russian Orthodox Church Located at Nicholas, and Lawton streets. It was built in 1907. The first clergyman was Rev. Michael Fekula. St. Casimers Lithuanian Church Organized in 1912, under the direction of Rev. Dumucus. The Slovak Presbyterian Church It was organized in 1920, under the Rev. George Bardarik. St. Johns Ukrainian Greek Church Located on North Mill Street, it was organized in 1921 under Rev. Strotsky. Present Churches RELIGIONS OF THE CHURCHES Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, UCC, Baptist, Episcopal, Orthodox, Presbyterian Catholic St. Casmires R.C. St. Boniface German Catholic St. Marys R.C. Immaculate Conception St. Marys Byzantine Catholic Church St. Peter and Paul R.C. Polish Church St. Nicks Ukrainian Holy Trinity Ukranian St. Michaels Orthodox St. Marys Orthodox Methodist Primitive Methodist Church First United Methodist UCC St. Johns UCC Lutheran St. Johns Lutheran Baptist Bethlehem Baptist Episcopal Church of Holy Apostles Orthodox St. Marys Orthodox St. Michaels Orthodox Presbyterian First United Presbyterian Nationalities The first settlers Saint Clair were Natives of the British Isles and Germany. These people were thrifty and industrious, and eager to establish a community, in which they would be able to enjoy religious, political, and economic freedom. ***** The first church in the town was The Primitive Methodist, it was established in 1831. Rev. William Sanders was the first pastor. *************************************** For my report, I interviewed: *Mr. Michael Swartchick (lifetime resident of St. Clair) *Mr. Joseph Subulak- grandfather attends St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church St.Clair *Mrs. Joan Subulak-- grandmother attends St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic church, St.Clair also. Mrs. Kathryn Steranko--great- grandmother Mrs. Terry Schane -- mother--(attends St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church, St. Clair ) **************************************** This report has been written by: Kady Schane, grade 6 _______________________________________________________________________ The Saint Clair Clock By Dustin Pangonis, grade 8 If youve ever been in the library  at Saint Clair Elementary/Middle School, then youve probably noticed the clock standing inside. It is 11 = feet tall, and weighs 1200 lbs., but the size of the clock isnt the only impressive thing about it. The clock has English ancestry, and dates back to 1768. It once stood in an old English castle originally owned by William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke. Research says that Herbert may have been the 10th Earl of Pembroke, and it may have been built for Herbert and his wife, Lady Margaret. William H. Taylor, a former owner and president of the St. Clair Coal Company purchased the clock. Before Taylor purchased it, the clock was on display in the Chicagos World Fair in 1890. After purchasing the clock, Taylor had it moved to his home in New York City. He had the clock insured for $30,000, 1/3 of its estimated value at the time. Upon Taylors death, his wife donated the clock to the Saint Clair Area School District. It arrived in St. Clair on December 30, 1928. It was placed on display in the Carroll Street Elementary School. Mr. Holobetz, the computer teacher at Saint Clair Elementary/Middle School, says that he remembers the clock from when he was in elementary school. But the clock was neglected and remained there until early 1990, when it was removed to be restored and displayed in the current school library. The decision to have the clock restored was made in 1989. Donald J. Wordling, who had 30 years of experience in clock building/restoration, restored the clock. His job was to do the conservation and repairs to the clock, which included replacing any small missing oak carved ornaments. Also working on the clock was John Huyett, who had 25 years of experience.  He cleaned and polished the complicated works and dial and fabricated the missing parts. The clock restoration took part over a period of seven months. The clock took 50 years to complete. It is made out of black walnut, weighs 1,200 lbs., and stands 11 = feet tall. The names of the Earl and his wife, Lady Margaret, are engraved on the clock. The clock is very detailed, and contains 8 complete human figures, 17 faces and 12 animals. The central part of the base has a wreath with the crest of the Herbert Family. The main figure is of "Madonna and the Child", which forms the door for the pendulum and weight cabinet. In the front of the clock, beneath the mother and the child, is the King of Time. In one hand he hold an hourglass, in the other he is ready to make an entry into the Book of Ages. "Time Rules All" is inscribed beneath him. In the center part of the base there is a wreath with the crest of the Herbert Family. To the left of the panel is a figure of a woman with the Bible, and to the right is a figure of a man with a cane and book. With the cane he is spearing four demons. Inside of the clock case, behind the center door opening, behind the pendulum and weights, is a carved painted figure of a man with a flowing robe and holding a book, with the name "Lambartis". The significance of this figure is still being researched.         ________________________________________________________  Saint Clair Houses and Mines By Ellen Paulis     St. Clair, from 1800 to 1850, started out very small. At first St. Clair only had 8 to 10 houses, 2 saw mills, a cider mill, and a small piece of land for a cemetery. In 1800, Michael Bechtel settled somewhere in what is called now Arnots Addition. Next came a lumber dealer named John Malone. After his came, the Nichols family came with others to follow them. John Burgett erected a tent to shelter and board the workmen from Girard Tunnel. The first child born in St. Clair was Charlotte Burgett. The Nichols farm comprised the whole of St. Clair site in 1831. Carey, Lee, and Hart bought the farm. General Saint Clair Nicholas of Revolutionary fame was the christian name for St. Clair made by Carey, Lee, and Hart. They also laid out the streets.    While interviewing Margaret Wapinsky, a long life resident of St. Clair, who also works at St. Clair Elem./Middle School, I learned that times have changed since the borough was started in 1850. People would come to your house and you could buy food and other products they were selling. Their homes were heated by coal. You got milk in glass bottles everyday. Bakers came to your house to sell bread, pastries, and other things. A place called Bakers came to your house to sell groceries.     Mrs. Wapinsky also told me in the 1950s and earlier most mothers did not work. Trains took you to the places you wanted to go. The mines in the 1950s were underground mines. Now today they are stripping pits and we have to fill them in. Many miners died in the mines.     Mr. Michael Swartchick, a custodian at St. Clair Area School, told me while I was interviewing him that his father worked in the mine for 25 years. His father helped carry  a dead miner out of the mines. Mr. Swartchick said, "up at the patch most of the old mine houses were either torn down or burned." His father asked him if he wanted to go down in the mines. Mr. Swartchick said, "I did not want to go after I saw how dark it was." The " loci" carried the rock up from the mines. Coal they mined was carried to different places by train. After the mine was closed the mules they had were left to die in the mines. Inside the mine the braces were made out of oak. The St. Clair Coal Company was where they are putting in the new Wal-Mart.     I learned from these interviews that times have really changed. I learned new things that I did not know from the history of St. Clair on this project. It also taught me a little more about the history and people from St. Clair. ____________________________________________________ Joel Thompson Boone and Dr. Caude Becker By: Justin Lengel -7th grade- St Clair Area School District     As I was trying to decide who I was going to write about, Mr. Holobetz, the computer teacher at St. Clair, told me about an interesting man who was the first open-heart surgeon in America. His name was Dr. Claude Beck. Another well-known person who came from St. Clair was Joel Thompson Boone, so I decided to look for information about him.     Joel Thompson Boone was born on August 29, 1889 in St. Clair, Pennsylvania. He earned the Medal of Honor in World War I. He served as Lieutenant in the medical corps with the Marines at the Vicinity of Vierzy, France, July 19, 1918.     He went to school at Mercerville Academy in Pennsylvania. He was a M.D. at Hahnermann Medical College, Philadelphia, 1913, with graduate study at the U.S. Navy Medical School, Washington D.C., 1915.     On June 20, 1914 he married Helen Elizabeth Koch.     He served as a Naval Medical officer, 1914-1950, and served on combat duty in Haiti, 1915-1916, and France and Germany during World War I.     He was the physician to 3 presidents; President Harding, President Coolidge, President Hoover.     He retired from active duty as a Vice Admiral Administration in 1951-1955.     His decorations were the Medal Of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star with two oak leave clusters; the purple heart with two oak leave clusters; Bronze Star Medal; Defense Medal with Star; Haitian Campaign Medal; W.W.I Victory Medal with six Battle Clasps; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, W.W.II; Croix de Guerre with two Palms, Officer of the Legion of Honor, Order of Fourrogere (France); War Cross (Italy).     He died on April 2nd, 1947 in Washington D.C. He was buried in section 11 in the Arlington National Cemetery. He was buried with his wife Elizabeth. More information can be found at: www.arlingtoncemetary.com. ________________________________