Coal Region Connections: Was Pepper's Ginger Ale the Best in the Coal Region?

THIS FORMER ASHLAND COMPANY WAS ONCE RATED AS BEING BETWEEN "INSIGNIFICANT & HARDLY NOTICEABLE", BUT MANY SAY IT PRODUCED THE BEST TASTING GINGER ALE IN THE COAL REGION. Click Like if you remember & miss Pepper's Ginger Ale or Pepper-Up.

Coal Region Connections: The White Diner Was a Fixture on Route 309 For Almost 80 Years

FOR ALMOST 80 YEARS THIS DINER WAS A COAL REGION FIXTURE ON BUSY ROUTE 309 IN SOUTH TAMAQUA. Click LIKE if you miss the White Diner & tell us what was your favorite meal there.

Coal Region Connections: Yuengling Ice Cream Making a Coal Region Comeback

COAL REGION COMEBACKS ARE POSSIBLE!. Click LIKE if you're happy to see Yuengling's Ice Cream back in stores after a 29 year absence & tell us what is your favorite flavor.

Coal Region Connections: Remembering Schuylkill County's First Hospital

IT WAS SCHUYLKILL COUNTY'S 1ST HOSPITAL, BUT NOW IT'S JUST A MEMORY. Click LIKE if you remember Ashland State General Hospital or were a patient or employed there.

Coal Region Connections: Who Remembers Sidewalk Sales?

FOR MANY COAL REGION TOWNS IT WAS THE BIGGEST SALE OF THE SUMMER. Click LIKE if you remember the huge downtown sidewalk sales from decades ago & the excitement they created.

Coal Region Connections: Great Gridiron Rivalries from the Past

FOOTBALL SEASON KICKS OFF THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND, BUT MANY GREAT GRIDIRON RIVALRIES FROM DECADES AGO ARE GONE. Click LIKE if you miss coal region backyard scraps & tell us your most memorable high school football game.

Coal Region Connections: The Coaldale Hospital looked much different decades ago

THE HOSPITAL IN COALDALE LOOKED MUCH DIFFERENT DECADES AGO THAN IT DOES TODAY & ALMOST ENDED UP IN SUMMIT HILL. Click LIKE if you remember, were a patient, or had family who worked at COALDALE STATE GENERAL HOSPITAL.

During the early mining years, injured area miners were taken to a doctor's office. "Black Maria" wagons delivered critically injured miners & deceased miners to their homes. In later years, injured miners were taken by horse & wagon & then by streetcar to hospitals in Ashland, Pottsville, & Philadelphia.

in 1904, a survey was conducted to determine the need for a Panther Valley hospital. In June, 1907, the Panther Creek Valley Hospital was chartered. LC&N Company wanted to put the new hospital in Summit Hill's "Stoney Lonesome" section. But thanks to strong lobbying by Father L.B. Norton at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Coaldale, LC&N officials relented & turned over a piece of land known as "Moser's Field" for the hospital site.

Miners donated a day's pay to help build the hospital in 1908. $50,000 was raised & LC&N matched those donations. Andrew Breslin was awarded the construction contract. Breslin also built the former Summit Hill High School, Citizens National Bank in Lansford, & Tamaqua Elks.

The Coaldale hospital opened July 11, 1910 & accommodated 30 patients. Defective wiring on the upper floor caused a fire in August, 1911, & forced patients to be moved to nearby homes. The hospital bounced back & grew thanks to community fund raising & grants. By 1934, bed capacity increased from 30 to 92. Before that, additional beds & cots were added. Some patients slept on the floor with blankets & often there were 2 & 3 patients to a bed.

Ground was broken for the nurses home in 1927, but it was wasn't finished until 1933 because of the onset of the Great Depression. A new maternity ward opened in January, 1932. A new laundry & kitchen building & black lung clinic were added in the early 1950s.

In October, 1970, ground was broken for a new building that opened in October, 1973. The hospital was divested from the state in 1992 & today it's part of St. Luke's University Health Network.

I was a patient in the children's ward at Coaldale State during the summer of '65...laying in traction for almost 2 months after fracturing my femur during a little league game. Dr. Steele was the surgeon who patched me up. I remember it was hot...there no was A/C...& TV was limited. My son Kris was born in Coaldale in 1978 & was among the last babies to be delivered by Dr. Dirnberger.

Do you have an old Coaldale hospital memory to share? Remember any former doctors & employees?

If this is the 1st time you've seen a COAL REGION CONNECTIONS post-scroll down our page & enjoy more great nostalgic memories. Thanks for your LIKES, SHARES, & COMMENTS. Please check this page every 2-3 days because Facebook no longer includes ALL posts in your news feed.

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Coal Region Connections: Did the Mt. Carbon Brewery Produce Some of the Best Beer in Schuylkill County?

IT WASN'T THE OLDEST OR THE BIGGEST--BUT MANY SAY MT. CARBON BREWERY PRODUCED SOME OF THE BEST BEER IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. Click LIKE if you remember Bavarian beer, Old Bohemian beer, Mt. Carbon Porter, or Lord Salisbury ale.

Coal Region Connections: Quarter Dropping Arcade Games

ASTEROIDS, PAC MAN, DONKEY KONG, SPACE INVADERS, CENTIPEDE, FROGGER. Click LIKE if you remember dropping your quarters into video arcade games when you grew up & what was your favorite game.

Coal Region Connections: The Pioneer Tunnel, Ashland

By Mark Marek, Coal Region Connections

THERE'S A COAL REGION ATTRACTION THAT DRAWS OVER 40,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY & WAS DESIGNATED A PA. TOP 10 ATTRACTION in 1979. Click LIKE if you are familiar with or visited the Pioneer Tunnel & Steam Train in Ashland.