The History information regarding the history of Saint clair was provided by dawn bicht.  Please take the time to visit her site for more information on the history of Saint CLair by clicking this link.  saint clair then and now.

Historic Saint Clair Timeline

Prior to Saint Clair’s incorporation as a town in 1850 it was known as Saint Clairville, a village of Norwegian Township.  The first settlers were natives of the British Isles and Germany.  They were industrious, thrifty, and eager to establish a permanent community to enjoy the freedoms of religious, political, and economic choice.

Early in 1800's Michael Bechtel came and settled somewhere in what is now Arnout’s Addition on a farm owned by the late Samuel Arnout. Previous to Samuel Arnout the farm was owned by "Granny Krebs" who was famous for "Granny Kreb's Cough Drops.

Bechtel was followed by John Malone, a lumber dealer, the Nichols family and others. Saint Clair Nichols purchased the land from Bechtel and Malone and a tract which has become St. Clair proper.  This making Saint Clair Nichols the owner of the original site of the village.  As a mark of respect to his memory the town was named Saint Clair, also honoring  General Arthur St. Clair from Scotland, who fought the British at Fort Ticonderoga, fought alongside George Washington, was governor of the Northwest Territory, and fought the Indians of the Northwest in 1791.  General Saint Clair was the person who gave the name to the city of Cincinnati, Ohio.  "Clair" means illustrious and the surname of St. Clair is derived from the name of a Norman village of St. Clair.

Originally, Saint Clair was a dense swamp with a forest of giant oak, chestnut, and spruce trees. Some of the first settlers turned to lumbering as a means of livelihood. Through the valley flowed a large stream of water, Mill Creek, which provided a source of power and means of transportation in the lumbering industry.

The first development of the lumbering industry was made by the construction of a saw mill, prior to 1800, by George Orwig, at the site of Saint Clair. Thirty years later two other saw mills were built, one back of what is now  the Methodist Episcopal Church and the other near John’s Colliery in what is now known as the "Patch".

In 1831, Henry C. Carey, Isaac Lea, Edward L. Carey and Abraham Hart purchased from Arthur Saint Clair Nichols and Frances B. Nichols the Saint Clair tract (402.75 acres). Carey, Lee and Hart, formed the "Carey Group".  In 1835 Carey and his partners took possession of the tract after their coal workings in Pottsville failed. There was a discovery of iron ore on the St Clair tract that made these businessmen decide to further cultivate this tract. 

The tract was partly laid out by former the owners, the Nichols.  It was laid out on a rectangular grid play and had a population of approximately 100 people. The Nichols family had a hugh farm on the hill to the west of the creek that included a cemetery.  This cemetery was to become the town cemetery that had a building used for a school house and the Primitive Methodist chapel. 

The commercial development of St. Clair began in 1840. The Carey  Group had the land resurveyed and divided up into blocks.  They named the streets after local prominent people in the coal trade.  The blocks were then broken down into numbered individual lots generally sixty feet wide by 200 feet deep (approx. 1/4 acre).   The general price of one of these lots was $200.  It was laid out with 8 streets stretching North to South and 9 streets East to West.    An aggressive effort was then made to sell these lots to miners, businessmen, and industrialists. 

In September of 1845 Burd Patterson purchased 16 lots on the southern part of 2nd Street to build a blast furnace.  He later extended his property.  His furnace smelted 75 tons of anthracite iron per week by 1846.

This tract remained in the possession of Henry C. Carey, Abraham Hart and Eliza C. Baird, the last being the sister and one of the heirs of Edward L. Carey, until January 1, 1872, when it was disposed of to the P.& R. C. & I. Co.  The land comprised the whole of the borough flat.  Later the land surface was sold to individuals for a "fee."  The mineral rights were retained by this company.   The settlers prior to 1872, who bought land from Carey, Lea, and Hart were able to retain the mineral rights to the property they purchased.

The village that resulted consisted of 8 or 10 houses, 2 saw mills, a cider mill and a plot of ground for a graveyard. Anthony Irwing helped fence in the graveyard and became the grave-digger for several years.  The land was afterward deeded, by Carey, Lea and Hart, to the borough, and was set apart for a borough cemetery.

The coal operation heydays were from 1824 to 1870.   About 1875, cessation of many mining operations brought many of the "patch" inhabitants to the town proper.  This also caused many people to seek their fortunes in the undeveloped coal fields of Shenanadoah and Mahanoy City.   Therefore, many old residents of these towns can trace their families to the early settlers of Saint Clair.

The first Borough Hall was located on the corner of Carroll and 2nd Street, the site of the Company Store/Schuykill Supply Store/Lukitus Plumbing now Ron Dunn Plumbing.  The second Borough building was Walker's Hall on Third Street.  In 1880 the Borough Hall was moved to North Third Street near the Reading Station.  Later the former Citizen's Bank at 39 North 2nd Street (our present Police Station) was the Borough Hall.  In the late 1980's the Borough Hall was then moved to Third Street the site of the former Potts Brothers candy distributor.

More info on industries

Patches that grew up around Saint Clair:  John's Patch, Crow Hollow, Mount Hope, Mine's Hill, Girard Tunnel, Georgetown, New Castle, Dark Water, Lorraine, Irish Town, and more.

1758 - Anthracite area purchased from Indian Nations

1759 - First road established between Surbury and Reading, called the "Center Turnpike"

1760 - Coal discovered in Schuylkill County

1761 - George Orwig constructed saw mill in the area of what is now Saint Clair.

1762

1770 - The first road, the Sunbury Road was established between Sunbury and Reading.

1787 - General St. Clair named governor of Northwest Territory, re-christened the town of Hamilton to become Cincinnati.

1800 - William Morris shipped first coal from Schuylkill County to Philadelphia

1806 - Pottsville was founded.

1811 - Stage coach service from Saint Clair to Pottsville and onto Philadelphia started

1812 - On a stage coach it took fifteen hours to go from Saint Clair to Philadelphia.  It ran between Philadelphia and Sunbury by way of Port Clinton, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven and Pottsville.

-East Norwegian Township established.

1813 - Schuylkill Canal started.

1818 - General St. Clair died at his farm in Ligoneer, PA (outside Pittsburgh).

1824 - Rich coal veins were discovered and mining operations were introduced.  These operations continued for more than a century.  The most important veins of coal included the Primrose, Mammoth, Orchard, Skidmore, Seven Foot and Buck Mountain veins.

1825 - Francis Nichols opens Parvin's Colliery (1825-1829).  This was located west of Saint Clair shaft.

- Schuylkill Canal completed

1826 - The Danville-Pottsville Railroad Co. ran their railroad from Mount Carbon to Nicholas St., Pottsville, running then to Wadesville, then to a plane which led to the 750 foot Girard Tunnel. This railroad had mileage of 47 miles. The Girard Tunnel was located in the northwest section of Saint Clair.

-Rainbow Colliery at Crow Hollow operated by Ulrich & Schrader.

-Eagle Colliery opened by Fredrick Haas.

1828 - The Sillyman Tunnel was opened by Mr. Wetherill who operated it until 1834.

-Hickory Colliery 1828-1874 by Beck & Woodside started.  Abandoned in 1874.

1829 - The Mill Creek Railroad between the southern part of St. Clair and Port Carbon was build. It had wooden rails and the cars were drawn by horses. John Heald, one of the pioneers, worked for Superintendent Benj. Nilnes, preparing the road bed on New years day of that year.^(FC31)

-John Burgett started a boarding house for laborers working on the Girard Tunnel.  The tent that he used gave place to a small frame tavern which he called "Cross Keys."  This was the first public house in the village.  His daughter, Charlotte Burgett was the first child born in Saint Clair.

1830 - the first coal opening was made in an orchard on the ground known as Arnot's Addition and from it shipments were made.   It was known as the "Orchard Vein".

-The Pinkerton Tunnel Colliery was opened by West, Hudson, and Pinkerton.  It was operated by them until 1841.  This was at the northern end of town.

-Offerman and Whitenoff opened a drift in the Mammoth Vein.  It was called the High German because of the nationality of its settlers:   Cary. Lea, and Hart.

-The Primrose Vein was opened in the northwestern section by Pinkerton and Company.  The Mammoth vein was discovered accidentally by Isaac Beck, a paying teller in the Miners Bank, Pottsville while washing his hands in the creek "where the bed curved around close to the base of the West Hill". This was near the site of the old Railroad Depot on North 3rd Street.  This was worked until 1843.  The vein was opened in a field of Primrose flowers, thus the name.

1831 - Samuel Sillyman and Evan Evans opened a drift in the Mammoth Vein at Crow Hollow, later Pine Forest, and they opened a drift also in High Germany in 1831.

-Daniel Frack, founder of Frackville, came about 1831.  He built a tavern on the next lot south, at the corner of Hancock and Third Streets.

-Primitive Methodist church organized.  Had a chapel in the Nichols cemetery (town cemetery)

1832 - Henry Carey, Issac Lea, Edward Carey & Abraham Hart (known as the Carey Group) purchased land from Authur Saint Clair Nichols and Frances B. Nichols which was to be known as the Saint Clair Tract

1834 - The first schools were formed. They were private schools formed by the landowners. (Evans, Nicholas, Burgett & French families).  Instructors were:  Nancy March, Sarah Runk, Sarah McNair, Richard Grunby, Miss Boyle, Ralph Branch and Mr. McCamant.

1835 - Mammoth Vein was leased by John Pinkerton.  He produced 100,000 tons a year.  Pinkerton drove a gangway 900 yards west & opened both a drift and a slope.  Pinkerton also opened the Skidmore Vein (14" thick) & Buck Vein (7-10" thick).

-On July 29th, a powder mill operated by the Degler family  blew up killing the father and two boys.  The cause of the explosion was never known.  This powder mill was located at the site where the St. Clair Coal Company would soon be located

1836 - The Lawton Peacock Colliery was operated by Lawton , Weiner and Co. until 1848.  It was located west of St. Clair.

1837 - A public road was opened to Port Carbon by Barton Evans.

1838 - The first free public school was opened. School was held in the building at the borough’s cemetery that was erected for religious purposes. Benjamin Jackson, who came from Catawissa, was the first school teacher in the free school.

1840 -The first church was the Welsh Congregational Church.

-Jonathan Hetherington, who came to St. Clair from Durham, England, supplied timber to operations from his lumber yard from 1840 to 1865.   He married Catherine Burgett of town.    His business establishment was located on the site of the Polish Catholic Church on North Mill Street.  In 1865, he retired and moved to Union township where he purchased a farm.

[ 1842 - Burd S. Patterson started iron ore furnace in the southwestern portion of the borough.  Work here was suspended in 1844 due to financial and other conditions.  In 1864 it was finished and put to blast.  It operated until 1873 see 1824 ].    Conflict on information sources.  ^(ZB34)

1844 - The third tavern in town was built by Jacob Metz.  This was to become the town's first voting place.  This tavern was later kept by H.H. Marshall.

-Philadelphia & Reading railroad extended its tracks to  Port Carbon.

1845 -  Benjamin Milnes, Benjamin Haywood, and George Snyder opened a new slope in High Germany called Pine Forest. They went further up the hill in 1848--49.  In 1864 it was sold to Boston Consolidated Coal, Co.

-Population of Saint Clair was:  Males - 342   -  Females - 263 (Total of 605).  Of these only 15 were over 60 years of age with 190 being under the age of 11.

- A public road was opened to New Castle. ^(FC31)

-The Philadelphia and Reading railroad extended their tracks through St. Clair to New Castle at the cost of $15,000.

-The post office was established. Jacob Metz was the first postmaster. Mail was carried by stage to and from Pottsville.  John Breadon owned the first stage coach.  Tony Irvin was the first stage driver.  Tony was known for his humor and for singing "Old Anty at the bread of day--Taking all the ladies away--Ach! You know. "

-First lumber yard was established by John L. Geiger, who in 1900, leased it to Mr. Kyner, the superintendent of the Hooker Colliery. It later passed into the hands of Messrs. Arnout, Parmley, and Reichley. In 1925 this lumber yard, located on Nicholas Street between Lawton and Carroll Streets was torn down and the land sold for residential sites.

-The Holmes Vein named after Mr. Holmes of Ireland, was superintendent of McGinnis's slope.

1845 - Burd Patterson purchased 16 lots to build the "St. Clair Furnace" which was used to smelt anthracite iron.

1847 - Primitive Methodist Church was erected.  The first church built in town.  Rev. A. Miller was the pastor at this time.  Later the Holy Apostles Church was dedicated with Rev. D. Washburn the minister.

1848 - The slope at Mount Hope was opened.  

-The first lodge was organized, Mineral Lodge No. 285 I. O. O. F, organized on April 1, 1848.

-Mrs. Shippen taught in a house which served the purpose of a school, located on the site of the Joseph Towsend property (as noted in 1933).

1849 - Creek school house was erected.

1850 - Saint Clair incorporated as a borough April 6, 1850 - by Pennsylvania Governor Johnson.

-Population of Saint Clair rose to over 2,000.

-The first election under this Act of Incorporation was held on May 9, 1850.  All male residents who lived in the borough for at least 6 months could vote.  The voting place with Jonathan Johnson's tavern, a block north of the center of town.  The center of town being the intersection of Hancock and First Streets.

1853 - The German Reformed Congregational Society was organized and work began on a building.

1854 - November 25th water from Wolf Creek was distributed through a 12" line on Second St. and through a 3" line on Carroll Street from Second St. to Fourth St.  This was under the direction of Engineer Samuel Lewis and with the permission of Wm Littlehales and Lot Evans.  Mill Creek was also used as a source of supply and an intake was built near the PA Railroad bridge at Broad Mt.   In 1861 another intake was built farther upstream.

1859 - Water lines from Front Street to Franklin St. were laid (1400 ft. 3" dia.)

1860 - A telegraph office was put in the post office.

-3" water lines on Carroll St from Second to Front Street, on Front from Carroll to Lawton, on Lawton from Front to Mill and on Mill from Lawton southward.

1862 - The Mahanoy-Broad Mountain Railroad was built and connected its lines at the terminal of the Mill Creek Railroad at New Castle.

-A brick school building was completed on Nicholas Street.  Louis Reese was President of the Board of Education.

-Union Cornet Band was organized.  It had 19 instruments.  It was reorganized in 1871 and was chartered in 1873.

-1900 ft., 3" water line extended north and south on Nichols Street from Carroll St.

1864 - Mine drainage from the New Boston Colliery in Morea polluted the water of Mill Creek.  This compelled the Pottsville Water Co. to abandon its water intakes from the Mill Creek and build reservoirs.

- St. Mary's Irish Roman Catholic Church was built on Mill and Hancock Sts.

- The St. Clair Furnace was "put in blast."  James Lannigan bought it and operated it successfully until 1873.  The furnace was then idle and in 1931 was owned by Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co. ^(FC31)

1865 - 3" lines were laid on Lawton, Morris, Mill, and Railroad Streets.

1866 - Daddow and Beadle Co. patented an invention called a squib.  The squib was used by miners in firing their blasts.   There were two kinds of squibs, sulfur and gas squibs. This business ceased to operate in 1928 with the use of dynamite and fuses.

-Griffith Jones, superintendent for the Peach Orchard Coal Co., operated a slope in the east part of the borough from 1866 to 1880.

-2" water lines were laid on Patterson and Hancock streets and 3" lines wer elaid on Mill and Cemetery Streets., Pt. Carbon Rd, Nicholas & 3rd Streets.

1867 - The Hope Hose Co. #1 was organized.  This was the town's 1st fire department.

-Water lines were laid to John's Colliery in the northern end of town.  Also a 3" line was laid on Thwing Street.

1870 - Mine Safety Law of 1870.

-Another school building built. (Site of John Rudd property as noted in 1935).  At this time there were 500 pupils enrolled, that increased to 900 within 10 years.

-Between 1870 and 1880 S. H. Daddow established a box factory. It was located at 41 N. 2nd Street.  At this location the boxes were made out of paper to hold squibs.  W. T. Richards managed this site.  Later the factory was moved to 400 South Mill Street.  This was behind the Daddow mansion.  This factory made wooden boxes to hold the squibs.   The boxes were crude & simple made precisely & quickly.  This factory was managed by Mrs. Parmley.

1871 - Around this date there was a shovel manufacturing plant in St. Clair.  The shovels were used in the mines.  In 1935 the location was Rhenert's Blacksmith shop.  It was owned & operated by a Mr. Bowen.  Mr. Bowen also had a factory where Mettam Brother Lumber Yards now stand.

-4" water line was laid to Wadesville and a 4" line was laid to supply East Mines.

1872 - Adam Jackson reopened a shaft and built a breaker in the east part of town.  This is called the Saint Clair Colliery.

1874 - Monument erected in the Odd Fellows Cemetery to honor those who died for their country in the Civil War.  Dedicated Thanksgiving Day.

1875 - Peter P. Quirin founded the Brass Factory.  Mr. Quirin was an immigrant from Germany who settled in Saint Clair in 1854 and lived here until his death in 1891. Peter was an inventor and master mechanic.  He worked for the Reading Coal and Iron Co. taking care of the machinery in the collieries. Peter's sons took over the foundry in 1891 and operated it until 1928 when John, the oldest son died.  This shop was located in the center of the block of Nicholas St. between Carroll and Lawton Streets.

- Samuel Harries Daddow died of nervous affection that had been bothering him for the past 10 years.  He was only a few days past his 48th birthday.  He was born in Cornwall, England, in 1827.

1880 - Saint Clair, Port Carbon, Pottsville, & Minersville were wired for telephones, 45 homes.

-Collieries/Operators in operation in 1880:  Pine Forest/Phila. & Reading Railroad, Eagle/George Johns & Bros., St. Clair/Joseph Atkison, St. Clair/Thomas Burke,   Peach Orchard/John Denning.  Wadesville:  Wadesville/Phila. & Reading Railroad and Monitor/John Denning.  New Philadelphia:  Eagle Hill/Phila. & Reading Railroad,, Palmer Vein/Alliance Coal Co., Palmer #1/John Harron.

1883 - George Hayes opened a squib factory and manufactured the right handed squibs.  This factory was located o the corner of Hancock and Nicholas Streets and the corner of Morris and Hancock Streets.   On June 13, 1888, the factory on Nicholas Street burned down.

-The Alert Fire Company #1 was organized.

-Rescue Hook and Ladder #3 organized on June 22, 1883.

-Mr. Jones became school superintendent up on the death of Richard Brown.  Richard Brown lost his right arm in the Battle of Fredericksburg, he returned in 1862 home under the instructions of Major Wren, his commander, who sponsored him.  He attended the Orwigsburg Academy and prepared himself for teaching school.  He taught school for 10 years before becoming the high school principal, a post he held for 8 years until his promotion to superintendent.

-Peter P. Quirin, also an inventor, patented a miners' safety lamp.

1885 - Peter P. Quirin patented a non-freezing hydrant.

- Pennsylvania Railroad built through St. Clair. 

-January 6th - Griffith T. Jones,St. Clair resident, former coal operator died. ^(ZB34)

-January 27th - Joseph Hopkins,St. Clair resident, former engineer at the Saint Clair shaft died^(ZB34)

-February 16th - Blyth township school house at Valley Furnace burned down.^(ZB34)

-March 20th - Holy Apostles Episcopal Church in Saint Clair was being heated by steam, the only church in the county with similar heating.^(ZB34)

-December 13th - The store and home of David W. Lewis of Second Street, below Carroll St was badly damaged when dynamite was set off in the front of the store.  The homes of Mr. Schaff, Mrs Evans, H. Hilbert, Mr. Wellner, John Wellner, N. Wellner, John Betz, Adam Kline, Edwin Thompson, J. Brosche, and CLay W. Evans were also damages.   The object of the blast was evidently to stop Mr. Lewis' activities as president of the Law and Order Society. ^(ZB34)

1886 - Pennsylvania Railroad that was built in 1885 was put into operation. ^(FC31)

-August 1st - The home of Adam Omrad was blown up with dynamite and was badly damaged.^(ZB34)

1887 - Albert Mettam, son of John and Elizabeth Mettam, established a lumber business on Third Street. Albert was a well known journeyman carpenter.  He was born in Hucknall, Torkard, Nottingshire, England, on July 29, 1861. On December 29, 1883, he married Clara Swan, daughter of Thomas and Rhada Swain and immigrated to St. Clair in 1884.    Albert had three sons, Archibald, Alfred and John.  Alfred died of a heart attack on October 21, 1902. Upon the death of Albert on November 12, 1912, from pneumonia the business was passed to his sons, Archibald and John Mettam.  On February 21, 1922, John died and Archibald took over the business. The business remains in the family today.

-February 3rd - Miss Margaretta Boone married A. T. Dice in Saint Clair today.  ^(ZB34)

-February 14th -Doctor William Carr of Saint Clair was appointed almshouse physician.   ^(ZB34)

-March 6th - Mrs. Mary I. Matier, ex-postmistress of Saint Clair died. ^(ZB34)

-Pennsylvania Railroad connected St. Clair with Frackville, Shenandoah and other towns north of the mountain, plus towns to the south and ran to Philadelphia.  ^(FC31)

-April 11th -Several people were killed at an explosion at the Chamberlan Colliery, opposite the St. Clair Tunnel during a tour of the mine.  Miss Minnie Keiter, home from school with several friends arranged a tour of the tunnel for her friends who were from out of the coal area.  While the women were being shown through the mine a lamp ignited gas in the mine.  Killed were: Miss Minnie Keitner, Miss Volista Shaul, Sinking Springs, and Edwin Thompson, inside foreman.  Harry Short of Saint Clair died on April 14th.    ^(SP87)

-May 29th - Miss Maggie Duffy of St. Clair died today. ^(ZB34)

-September 26th - Col. T. D. Griffith, whose quartet, was a prize winner at the "Pottsville Eisteddfod" held in Pottsville today.  The event was presided over by Governor James A. Beaver.   ^(ZB34)

-October 13th - Moses Thrornton of St. Clair was fatally injured at the Chamberlan Colliery today   Daniel Howells had a narrow escape.  ^(ZB34)

1892 - School building was erected that replaced the old Creek School house.  This new building was used as a high school until a new structure was erected in 1909, at the corner of Mill and Carroll Streets.

-Saint Clair Electric Light Department was organized.  This same year an electric light plant was erected.   Light service began on December 24, 1892, Christmas Eve.

1893 - First parochial school came into existence.  This was the Saint Boniface parochial School.

1894 - The first trolley in St. Clair began operating on August 10, 1894, via Mill Creek.  It was known as the "St. Clair Long Line."

1900 - The first automobile in Saint Clair, a single-seated steamer, was purchased by H. L. Daddow.  It was a "Pope Toledo" and sold by a traveling salesman, R. J. Mills, who had a bicycle & men's furnishing store in Pottsville.

-September 17th - UMW, lead by president, John Mitchell, issued a call to strike.  Within a week 125,000 men were idle.  The Reading Company reported all of its collieries were closed.

Click here for transcript of PBS's film, "America 1900".  If this link fails click here.

-October 29th - Coal companies accepted a proposal by the UMW for a set wage scale and the men went back to work.   But coal companies refused to met with the UMW.

1901 - March - John Mitchell called another convention where the delegates authorized a strike the coal operators refused to recognize the UMW and negotiate grievances.

-September 12th - Miners walked out on strike.  Within one week 112,000 men were idle.

October 29th - P&RC&I posted a notice it was increasing the wages at the its collieries.   P&RC&I was the largest employer in the region in 1901.

1901 - Year of the Great Miners Strike. 

1902 - January 2nd - "Passengers on the St. Clair Branch of Union Traction Co., were notified that straight 5 cents fare each was was the rule thereafter."    ^(ZB34)

-January 12th -  Nathaniel Krebs, 68, died. ^(ZB34)

-January 16th - William E. Super and Miss May Reese were married.  ^(ZB34)

-February 6th - J. F. Canfield of Pottsville and Miss Vera McDonnell of New Philadelphia were married at the Holy Family Church. ^(ZB34)

-July 2nd - John Doyle of Palo Alto was killed at the St. Clair Colliery. ^(ZB34)

-August 30th - William A. Boone and Mrs. Florence Short were married by Rev. John Stringer in the Methodist Church. ^(ZB34)

-August 14th - St. Boniface's Church was renovated due to damage to the foundations from an early summer flood.  ^(ZB34)

-October 6th - The widow of Martin Duffy, Margaret, died today at the age of 79.

-December 17th - Moses Robinson, 75, was killed on the R.R. today.

1910 - AN AMENDMENT TO THE IMMIGRATION ACT OF 1907 MAKES IT NO LONGER POSSIBLE TO ADMIT CRIMINALS, PAUPERS, ANARCHISTS AND DISEASED PERSONS INTO THE UNITED STATES.

-THE BUREAU OF MINES IS SET UP AS PART OF DEPT. OF THE INTERIOR.

1913     -Phila. & Reading Railroad dedicated St. Clair Railroad Yard.

1914     -St. Mary’s erected schoolbuilding

1914-1918 - World  War I,  Saint Clair sent 405 soldiers and 5 nurses.  There were 17 men who died in this war.

1915 - Pottsville & St. Clair Railway Company began services.  Electric street cars were first operated from Pottsville to St. Clair by way of Port Carbon, this was known as the "Long Line."  The "Short Line" ran to Pottsville through East Mines.^(FC31)

-The Schuylkill Railway coming from Shenandoah and other places north of the mountain were connected by tracks of the East Penn Traction Company on North 2nd Street and ran the "short line" to Pottsville.

-Independent Hose Company on Diener's Hill organized and chartered.

1919 - November 27, 1919 a celebration was held to honor those who served and those who died.  The veterans were awarded gold metals.

-Woodrow Wilson is President

1922     -  First Milk pasteurizing plant opened

1923     -  Annie H. Wernet sworn in as first women in county to serve on a borough council

1925     First meeting of Masons Anthracite Lodge #285 at Blue Ribbon Club

1925 - Allen Kirk, of Saint Clair, was voted the world’s best saxophone player

1928     -Bus transportation was provided by the Reading Line

1930     -Breakersbuilt at Locust Summit and St. Nicholas

            -CONGRESS VOTES TO APPROPRIATE SOME $300 MILLION FOR FEDERAL AID TO STATES FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

1929 - Daddow's Squib factory closed on February 9, 1929

The beginning of the Great Depression

1931 - Three shirt factories were operating in St. Clair; H.D. Bob Manufacturing Co. on St. Morris St., the Frackville Mfg. Co. on South Third Street, and the Tru Bilt Shirt factory on the corner of North Second and Franklin Streets.

- Howard W. Sterner was Mayor of Saint Clair and Edward Morrow as Chief of Police.

- Saint Clair had three school buildings that could accommodate 900 pupils.  The oldest building at this time is known as the Creek building on Front Street.  The "lower" building on Mill Street, between Railroad and Patterson has the capacity for 320 students.  On the top is a tower, in which is the town clock.  This building was also known as the "Town Clock" school.  The third school was the high school located on Carroll Street, known as the Carroll Street school.

- A 100%, all-wool, men's overcoat cost $12.75 at the Chesters Clothes in Pottsville. A new Ford Tudor Sedan was only $490 + freight and delivery, of course, the spare tire was extra..

- The county's Prothonotary was William J. Evans, a St. Clair townsman.

            -Mahanoy Inclined Plane ceased operation

1932 - September, East Penn Transportation Company began bus services

1933 - An explosive device was thrown near the Peoples Bank on 2nd street damaging the windows in a few homes in the area.   November 5, 1933.

            -Harold D. Smythe takescontrol of St. ClairCoal Company

1945 - Edmund A. Quirin Machine Shop became Incorporated as the Leed Foundry, Inc.  LE for Leona Quirin and ED for Edmund.

1949 - Admiral Boone returned to Saint Clair to speak to his fellow townspeople.  On October 17th, he addressed a crowd of townspeople in the High School gym. 

-Saint Clair Coal Company miners go on strike.

1950 - Vice-Admiral Joel T. Boone retired form the Navy

-Kindergarten is started in the St. Clair School District.

1951 - Little League began in St. Clair with the following teams: American Legion, M & S Lunch, St. Clair Fish & Game Assoc., St. Clair Amvets, Honicker’s Dairy and Michael Fitz

1956     - Lease denied by P&RC&I Co. to St. Clair Coal Company

1957     - November, St. Clair Coal Company closes

1960 - The present community swimming pool constructed on top of the Gun Club Hill.

1960’s   -Railroad yard closes in St. Clair

1964     - Roundhouse closes in St. Clair Railroad yard Roundhouse closes in St. Clair Railroad yard

1970 - Saint Clair Area Basketball team won the District 10 Pennsylvania State Championship

1972     -Roundhouse demolished in St. Clair Railroad yard.

1972 - Railroad yard sold to Greater Pottsville Industrial Development Corp.

1974 - Vice-Admiral Boone died on April 2nd.

1975 - United States Bicentennial Celebration - many events were held in St. Clair.

1986     -ReadingAnthracite ceases in Pine Forest operation.

-The Leed Foundry was moved to its present location on the West Side of Saint Clair.  The business split into two separate businesses and is now known as Leed Foundry, Inc. and E.A. Quirin Machine Shop, Inc.

1996 - United States Government finally released documents about the sinking of the Leopoldville and loss of 798 men.  Bob Plummer, a Saint Clair resident, survived the sinking but was unable to talk about it because the government swore him and other survivors to secrecy.

The county's Prothonotary is Peter J. Symons, a St. Clair townsman

1997 - Last meeting of Masonic Anthracite Lodge #285 in St. Clair

1998 - Masonic Anthracite Lodge #285 merged with Pulaski Lodge #216 of Pottsville

1999 - Plans formalized and ground prepared for Wal-Mart complex to be completed at north end of St. Clair in February 2001.

2000- Sesquicentennial Year - Events happened all year round.  Follow Link

2001 - February SC151 community committee formed.

2001 - April - Wal-Mart Super Store opened, 2nd largest in the state of PA.

December 31, 2001 -1st New Years Celebration sponsored by the SC151

If you would like to contribute any information to our history page please contact the Mayor at the Link above.