The true but condensed history of Schuylkill County
Chapter One : The legend of Necho Allen
Prior to settlement by early pioneers, the area we now know as Schuylkill County, was indeed one vast wilderness. More wooly and wild than even Shenandoah today. Native Americans (or "Indians" as they were referred to prior to the Hindu Temple being built in South Manheim Township) ruled the southern area. These original inhabitants had not yet gone into the casino business and used the area primarily for hunting and fishing.
The first German settlers made camp in the southern part of the county and kept a watchful eye on these Delaware and Nanicoke Indians who were allies of the French during the French and Indian War (now the French and Native American War).
Luckily for us the British won the war or else we would all being be eating crepes, Roquefort cheese, fondue, and our women would not be shaving their legs.
Soon after beating the French and Native Americans, Pennsylvanians soured on the British and independence was fought for and won. The area we now know as Schuylkill was then a part of Berks County. After the colonies won the war, resentment began to build as the early Pennsylvania German settlers wanted nothing to do with the Pagoda, the Berks shogun warriors and the imperial city of Reading. They wanted to eat their shnitzels and sauerkraut with forks and knives and not chop sticks. It seemed as if civil war would break out but luckily cool heads prevailed and Schuylkill County (the southern part only) was born in 1811. The northern part was still uninhabited and yet to be discovered. Necho Allen would be the first to explore this area.
And independence came just in the nick of time. Necho Allen discovered coal in the county when he camped out on the Broad Mountain.
The story of Necho Allen is fascinating. While never reaching the fa
me that his siblings, Frodo, Chico and Charo achieved, Necho, in comfortable middle age, led a group of dwarves and hobbits on a quest to reclaim the Broad Mountain and its treasure from the dragon Smaug. Along the way Necho encountered frantastic creatures, including trolls, elves, and goblins. Today, some of the descendants of these creatures are still visible at Renninger’s Market.
While at the base of the Broad Mountain after an exhausting day of picking huckleberries, Necho built a fire and began to toast some stale marshmallows. This would be the first reported toasting of marshmallows in the New World. He was awakened by a great heat and light and stayed up all night trying to figure out what was going on. He thought that he may be a new Moses. This was the same night that Necho Allen created S’mores by placing a toasted marshmallow on a slice of chocolate which was placed between two graham crackers.
Necho Allen never made one single halfpence from his two discoveries. After realizing that his campfire was built on a outcrop of anthracite coal and the fire could not be put out, he quickly left the area for the Green Mountains of Vermont lest he face arrest for attempting to cause a catastrophe.
Back in Vermont he tried his hand in the confectionary candy business creating the Necho Wafer which brought him some financial security. He also penned some long forgotten songs, but had one hit “Baby, It’s Coal Outside” which is played every December in the tap room that bears his name.
The death of Necho Allen remains a mystery. Legend has it that he died accidentally while waterskiing on Lake Champlain. No one knows for sure.
His discovery of both anthracite coal and S’mores would soon fall into the hands of the cunning and crafty Stephen Girard, who would soon become the richest man in the universe. Girard would soon clean his S’mores-covered fingers with the finest linen napkins made by the women who worked in the Pottsville Full Tilt Silk Mills and throw them away in his coal stove.
- end of chapter one - quote the Raven "Never S'more."
Prior to settlement by early pioneers, the area we now know as Schuylkill County, was indeed one vast wilderness. More wooly and wild than even Shenandoah today. Native Americans (or "Indians" as they were referred to prior to the Hindu Temple being built in South Manheim Township) ruled the southern area. These original inhabitants had not yet gone into the casino business and used the area primarily for hunting and fishing.
The first German settlers made camp in the southern part of the county and kept a watchful eye on these Delaware and Nanicoke Indians who were allies of the French during the French and Indian War (now the French and Native American War).
Luckily for us the British won the war or else we would all being be eating crepes, Roquefort cheese, fondue, and our women would not be shaving their legs.
Soon after beating the French and Native Americans, Pennsylvanians soured on the British and independence was fought for and won. The area we now know as Schuylkill was then a part of Berks County. After the colonies won the war, resentment began to build as the early Pennsylvania German settlers wanted nothing to do with the Pagoda, the Berks shogun warriors and the imperial city of Reading. They wanted to eat their shnitzels and sauerkraut with forks and knives and not chop sticks. It seemed as if civil war would break out but luckily cool heads prevailed and Schuylkill County (the southern part only) was born in 1811. The northern part was still uninhabited and yet to be discovered. Necho Allen would be the first to explore this area.
And independence came just in the nick of time. Necho Allen discovered coal in the county when he camped out on the Broad Mountain.
The story of Necho Allen is fascinating. While never reaching the fa
me that his siblings, Frodo, Chico and Charo achieved, Necho, in comfortable middle age, led a group of dwarves and hobbits on a quest to reclaim the Broad Mountain and its treasure from the dragon Smaug. Along the way Necho encountered frantastic creatures, including trolls, elves, and goblins. Today, some of the descendants of these creatures are still visible at Renninger’s Market.While at the base of the Broad Mountain after an exhausting day of picking huckleberries, Necho built a fire and began to toast some stale marshmallows. This would be the first reported toasting of marshmallows in the New World. He was awakened by a great heat and light and stayed up all night trying to figure out what was going on. He thought that he may be a new Moses. This was the same night that Necho Allen created S’mores by placing a toasted marshmallow on a slice of chocolate which was placed between two graham crackers.
Necho Allen never made one single halfpence from his two discoveries. After realizing that his campfire was built on a outcrop of anthracite coal and the fire could not be put out, he quickly left the area for the Green Mountains of Vermont lest he face arrest for attempting to cause a catastrophe.Back in Vermont he tried his hand in the confectionary candy business creating the Necho Wafer which brought him some financial security. He also penned some long forgotten songs, but had one hit “Baby, It’s Coal Outside” which is played every December in the tap room that bears his name.
The death of Necho Allen remains a mystery. Legend has it that he died accidentally while waterskiing on Lake Champlain. No one knows for sure.
His discovery of both anthracite coal and S’mores would soon fall into the hands of the cunning and crafty Stephen Girard, who would soon become the richest man in the universe. Girard would soon clean his S’mores-covered fingers with the finest linen napkins made by the women who worked in the Pottsville Full Tilt Silk Mills and throw them away in his coal stove.
- end of chapter one - quote the Raven "Never S'more."
2 comments:
Incredibly entertaining while irreverantly funny. I can't wait to learn about Henry Clay.
John DiNunzio
Old timers will recognize Necho Allen aka Gabby Hayes. Following his invention of s'mores, Gabby spent much of his life working on the chuck wagon of Leonard Slye(?)
aka Roy Rogers. Gillette had not yet come into being and Gabby refused to part with a quarter for a shave so the beard became his trademark appearance . Ironically,
Gabby was once refusaed admission to the Necho Allen coal mine tap room because he looked too much like someone who might actually mine coal for a living.
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