Along the Schuylkill River (Images of America)

Along the Schuylkill River (Images of America)

The Schuylkill River got its name, meaning "hidden river," from Dutch settlers who discovered its mouth sequestered behind the Delaware River's League Island. It later became a river of revolutions. Along its banks Revolutionary War battles were fought, and George Washington's army famously camped at Valley Forge. Later the river helped fuel the Industrial Revolution with coal from Schuylkill County shipped to Philadelphia via the Schuylkill Canal. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad began here and grew into the largest corporation in the world. The iron and steel industry flourished along its waters. The Schuylkill River Desilting Project of the 1950s was the first large-scale cleanup of its kind and helped usher in an environmental revolution. The nation's first public water supply was developed here, and its first zoo and university overlook the river. Title: New Arcadia Showcases Schuylkill River Author: Staff Writer Publisher: A Shared Commons: Date: Fall 2009 The Schuylkill River Heritage Area is proud to announce the release of Along the Schuylkill River, a book of historic photographs that tells the story of the Schuylkill River, the canal and the communities along it. The book, published by Arcadia Publishing, will be released the week of September 14. It was authored by SRHA Executive Director Kurt Zwikl and Staff Writer Laura Catalano, who researched dozens of photograph collections of historical societies, museums and private collectors to find the oldest, rarest and most interesting images of the river and the region. Included in the book are some of the earliest photographic images of the river, some of which have never before been published. Highlighting the book are multiple images of the Schuylkill Navigation System, including old canal barges, mules, boatmen and locks--all part of an infrastructure that was once vital to the region, and of which there are only scant remains. Zwikl and Catalano set out to write the Along the Schuylkill River in an effort to tell the rich, New Arcadia Book Showcases Schuylkill River compelling story of the Schuylkill River. The finished product therefore contains images from virtually every major town and city along the Schuylkill River, as well as most of the smaller communities. It includes photos of numerous "firsts" in America: the first wire suspension bridge, opening day of America's first zoo, the first tunnel in North America and the country's first vineyard--to name a few. It also tells the story of the river's role in the Industrial Revolution, with pictures of iron and steel mills, textile plants and other factories that give a glimpse into what life was like across the region from the mid-19th to the early 20th centuries. The book will be available after the week of September 14 from the Schuylkill River Heritage Area. For a copy, visit us at 140 College Drive, Pottstown, PA 19464, or call 484-945-0200 or order on-line at www. schuylkillriver.org. Cost is $21.95 and a portion of the proceeds from each book benefits the Schuylkill River Heritage Area. Title: New Book Explores History of Schuylkill River through Vintage Photos Author: Staff Writer Publisher: Pottstown Herald Date: 10/6/09 Authors have scheduled a book signing at Pottstown's Schuylkill River Festival on October 10. The Schuylkill River Heritage Area has announced the release of Along the Schuylkill River, a book of historic photographs that tells the story of the Schuylkill River, the canal and the communities along it. The newly released book was published by Arcadia Publishing as part of its popular Images of America series. Along the Schuylkill River was authored by Schuylkill River Heritage Area (SRHA) Executive Director Kurt Zwikl and Staff Writer Laura Catalano, who researched photograph collections of numerous historical societies, museums and private collectors to find the oldest, rarest and most interesting images of the river and the region. The book will be sold at Pottstown's Schuylkill River Festival in Riverfront Park on Saturday October 10, and the authors will be available from 12:00-3:00 p.m. in the welcome tent to sign books. The welcome tent will be located outside the Schuylkill River Heritage Area headquarters on 140 College Drive. Included in the book are some of the earliest photographic images of the river, some of which have never before been published. Multiple images of the Schuylkill Canal are a highlight of the book, including old canal barges, mules, boatmen and locks--all part of an infrastructure that was once vital to the region, and of which there are only scant remains. Zwikl and Catalano set out to write the Along the Schuylkill River in an effort to tell the rich, compelling story of the Schuylkill River. "As a National and State Heritage Area, one of our goals is to educate people about the river as a valuable resource that played a key role in the development not only of this region, but also of our nation," said Zwikl. "We wrot