Who (or What) Was Phoebe Snow?

Thursday, April 11, 5:30 PM, Clymer Library, Presented by Kendrick Bisset

The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad that ran through Tobyhanna Township used a woman dressed in white to promote their passenger service in the early years of the 20th Century. Kendrick Bisset will present the origins of the advertising campaign and why it abruptly ended during The Great War, along with its rebirth prior to and after World War 2. Also included will be the birth and death of the train named The Phoebe Snow. Advertising cards and memorabilia will be on display.

Kendrick worked his entire career in the railroad and transit industry as a signal engineer, designing the systems to keep trains separated and moving safely through junctions and main line switches. Kendrick is a member of the Monroe County Historical Society, the Barrett Township Historical Association, and the East Stroudsburg Railroad Tower Society.

Benjamin Franklin: First Ambassador

Thursday, May 9, 5:30 PM, Clymer Library, Presented by Bruce Denlinger     

Benjamin Franklin was our nation’s first official ambassador, setting the precedent for future generations of diplomats.  The presentation includes the two times he represented Pennsylvania in feud with the Penn family in London and more notably his efforts to form an alliance with France. The lessons he learned dealing with the Prime Minister and Parliament served him well. The term “First American” aptly suits Franklin and his time spent representing the fledgling colonies for an achievement few others would have been able to achieve.

HATT Member Bruce Denlinger is a lifelong student of history, and earned his Master’s Degree of Liberal Arts from the University of Pennsylvania after retiring from the insurance industry. He has made various presentations about Franklin at Northampton Community College.

The Lehigh Navigation: Route of the American Industrial Revolution & HATT Annual Picnic

Thursday, June 13, 5:30 PM, Blanche D. Price Park, Presented by Martha Capwell-Fox

Maps, historic drawings and photographs will help tell the story of how the Lehigh Navigation, a river and canal water transportation route, brought anthracite coal from the mines in Carbon and Luzerne Counties to markets in Pennsylvania in the mid-19^th century.  They will also show how the men who built the navigation then introduced anthracite-fueled iron-making, triggering the birth of the American Industrial Revolution.

Martha Capwell-Fox returns for her fourth year at HATT. Martha is a graduate of American University, and is the Archives and Museum Coordinator for the National Canal Museum in Easton, PA. She has worked at National Geographic and Rodale as a senior editor, and has published seven books of historical content.  She is a long-term resident of the Lehigh Valley.

Wandering(s) of Genealogy

Thursday July 11, 5:30 PM, Clymer Library, Presented by Pat Quigley, Ike Olson

   Finding our family roots is a passion for millions of Americans, reaching across generations and oceans. This will be a fun program of two parts. First, genealogist Pat Quigley will provide an overview of how easy, and rewarding, it is to research your family. He will reveal tips and resources to get you started. Then HATT member Ike Olson will moderate our attendees to tell interesting and even remarkable stories of our families….our ancestors….that we can share as an inspiration to seek out the rich history of our families.

HATT member Pat Quigley is an award-winning genealogist and gives seminars about the process of research for finding family roots. HATT member Ike Olson developed serious interest in the genealogy of his family after learning unique stories of his family’s past.

Tobyhanna Township Local History Trivia Game Night

Thursday, August 15, 5:30 PM, Clymer Library, Hosted by Rick Bodenschatz

Tons of fun while learning and enjoying our rich local history of Tobyhanna Township. This trivia game will challenge our bank of knowledge of local people, places, schools, churches, businesses & industries and the development and growth of our community. “Outsiders,”, (those not of Tobyhanna Township) are encouraged to attend to find out about our amazing historical treasures. Rick Bodenschatz, a student of our local history, will throw the questions to teams of attendees. Winners will go down in history, as part of our history!

The Poconos: Pennsylvania’s Vacationland Through History & HATT Annual Dinner

Wednesday, September 11, 6:30 PM, Lake Naomi Club, Presented by Dr. Lawrence Squeri

Vacationing has defined the Poconos; it is the image most outsiders have of the area. This vacation story begins in 1829 with the Delaware Water Gap’s Kittatinny Hotel.  By 1900, all along the Delaware River, from Milford to Delaware Water Gap, numerous hotels and boarding houses catered to city people. By the 1930s, the major resorts were Buck Hill, Pocono Manor, and Skytop.  After World War II, a new kind of resort opened: the honeymoon hotels. The Poconos were now “the land of love.”  In the 1960s, skiing came to the Poconos.  In recent years, all-year, indoor waterparks have defined Pocono vacationing. The one constant has been the ability of the vacation industry to renew itself by catering to the public’s changing tastes. 

Lawrence Squeri is Professor Emeritus at East Stroudsburg University.  He received his Ph.D. in History from the University of Pennsylvania.  Among his publications are Better in the Poconos: The Story of Pennsylvania’s Vacationland (Penn State University Press, 2002) and Waiting for Contact: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (University Press of Florida, 2016).

Six Nations in the Revolutionary War

Thursday, October 10, 5:30 PM, Clymer Library, Presented by Frank Salvati

In the years leading up to the outbreak of hostilities in the Revolutionary War, both the American colonies and the British tried to gain various Indian tribes as allies. The most sought after was the Iroquois Confederacy primarily of upstate New York. This is the story of the Six Nations of the Iroquois participation in the Revolutionary War…..the battles, the scourge of frontier warfare and the consequences after the war.

Frank Salvati returns for his third year at HATT. He has a commanding knowledge of colonial Indian affairs in northeastern Pennsylvania. His career with the Forensic Psychology Center for the state of New York has prepared him for his investigative studies. With his vast library of historical details, Salvati educates and entertains, rather than offering a dry history lesson. Frank has been presenting numerous topics of colonial history to historical groups and schools since 1995.

Ellis Island: Immigration that Built America

Thursday, November 14, 5:30 PM, Clymer Library, Presented by Dr. Brian Alnutt

Ellis Island in New York Bay was the gateway for over 12 million immigrants from 1892 to 1954. This year is the 65^th anniversary of its closing. During those years it was an inspection and immigration center that started families on their miraculous journey to new lives in America. This program will discuss the attitudes towards immigration in the core years of the 1890’s to the 1920’s, and the subsequent Immigration Reform of 1965.

Brian Alnutt, Ph.D., returns for his eight year at HATT as one of our most popular speakers.  He is a Professor of History at Northampton Community College.  His personal focus is on North American history of the late 19^th to mid-20^th century.  A native of Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, he has lived the Lehigh Valley for over 30 years.