| TUMBLING RUN |
| While the dams and water treatment plant at Tumbling Run are not within the geographical borders of Schuylkill Haven, there is a direct link. In the early 1940's the borough purchased the dams for $100,000. These dams with the adjacent water treatment plant, supply our borough with water. A history and other information along with pictures of Tumbling Run will be presented here. |
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| Below are three articles from the Pottsville Republican surrounding a mysterious case that occurred at Tumbling Run in January 1907. Read all three and enjoy the sensationalism and style of the news reporting of the period. |
| TUMBLING RUN BLOOD TRAIL January 12, 1907 |
Complete mystery surrounds
the finding of a trail of blood
and a tuft of woman's hair
along the Tumbling Run upper
dam and the authorities and
the public are unable to
determine whether the
suspicious circumstances are
the result of a tragedy
performed there late Thursday
night or whether it is a
practical joke or perhaps some
ordinary circumstance which
will later be explained. The
rumor of a woman being
murdered and her head found
along the bank of the lake
came to Pottsville late
yesterday afternoon and Chief
of Police Davies with Officers
Graeff and Spencer drove to
the Run where they made an
investigation.
They found a pool of blood in
the rear of the Newport boat
house and bloodstains on the
doorknob. From there the trail
of blood led to near the
dancing pavilion where a
carriage had been standing.
The carriage wheels were
tracked out the road, across
the bridge where the creek
enters the cove and then
down to Sandy Beach where
the carriage stopped and
turned around. Blood stains
served to lead the officers to a
point along the dam on the far
side where, between the
Conrad and Whalen boat
houses there was evidence of
some heavy body having been
placed on the ground. Blood
was found on the dead leaves
and pine needles. A tuft of
long hair, auburn in color, was
found lying at the same spot.
The circumstances gave rise
to the belief that a woman had
been murdered, carried to the
far side of the dam and then
thrown in the water. Henry
Reichert made the discovery
and William Falls who is acting
as watchman at a number of
boathouses at the Run, states
that he heard a carriage pass
along the road about midnight
Thursday.
The murder theory is
discounted by the fact that the
hair found had the appearance
of having been combed from
the head and rolled into a ball.
The water at the point where
the supposed body was
thrown is not more then three
feet in depth for a distance of
30 feet from the shore.
There is no one reported to be
missing as far as the
"Republican" has been able to
ascertain and the general
sentiment is that there has
been no tragedy but of course
the real facts are not known.
The case will bear full
investigation.
No New Developments
There were no new
developments in the case
today and late this afternoon
the case remained as
complete a mystery as ever.
Local officers did not
investigate the case today and
no thorough search was made
for the body. This is entirely
outside the jurisdiction of
Pottsville officers and no
others have taken up the case.
This is but another example of
the premium placed on crime
in this county. There is no
standing reward for the
capture of murderers and no
incentive for ferreting out
suspicious cases. No man
feels like devoting a day and
perhaps many days of his time
for the small amount of glory
which will be thereby reaped.
the finding of a trail of blood
and a tuft of woman's hair
along the Tumbling Run upper
dam and the authorities and
the public are unable to
determine whether the
suspicious circumstances are
the result of a tragedy
performed there late Thursday
night or whether it is a
practical joke or perhaps some
ordinary circumstance which
will later be explained. The
rumor of a woman being
murdered and her head found
along the bank of the lake
came to Pottsville late
yesterday afternoon and Chief
of Police Davies with Officers
Graeff and Spencer drove to
the Run where they made an
investigation.
They found a pool of blood in
the rear of the Newport boat
house and bloodstains on the
doorknob. From there the trail
of blood led to near the
dancing pavilion where a
carriage had been standing.
The carriage wheels were
tracked out the road, across
the bridge where the creek
enters the cove and then
down to Sandy Beach where
the carriage stopped and
turned around. Blood stains
served to lead the officers to a
point along the dam on the far
side where, between the
Conrad and Whalen boat
houses there was evidence of
some heavy body having been
placed on the ground. Blood
was found on the dead leaves
and pine needles. A tuft of
long hair, auburn in color, was
found lying at the same spot.
The circumstances gave rise
to the belief that a woman had
been murdered, carried to the
far side of the dam and then
thrown in the water. Henry
Reichert made the discovery
and William Falls who is acting
as watchman at a number of
boathouses at the Run, states
that he heard a carriage pass
along the road about midnight
Thursday.
The murder theory is
discounted by the fact that the
hair found had the appearance
of having been combed from
the head and rolled into a ball.
The water at the point where
the supposed body was
thrown is not more then three
feet in depth for a distance of
30 feet from the shore.
There is no one reported to be
missing as far as the
"Republican" has been able to
ascertain and the general
sentiment is that there has
been no tragedy but of course
the real facts are not known.
The case will bear full
investigation.
No New Developments
There were no new
developments in the case
today and late this afternoon
the case remained as
complete a mystery as ever.
Local officers did not
investigate the case today and
no thorough search was made
for the body. This is entirely
outside the jurisdiction of
Pottsville officers and no
others have taken up the case.
This is but another example of
the premium placed on crime
in this county. There is no
standing reward for the
capture of murderers and no
incentive for ferreting out
suspicious cases. No man
feels like devoting a day and
perhaps many days of his time
for the small amount of glory
which will be thereby reaped.
| SAYS MURDERED WOMAN IS DOG January 14, 1907 |
The murdered woman is just a
poor unfortunate injured dog
according to the story of Rural
Mail Carrier DeNapoli who is
convinced that the Tumbling Run
sensation is more of a comedy
then a tragedy. According to
DeNapoli on Thursday he heard a
dog yelping on the mountain side
on the far side of the dam and
then saw him go limping along the
edge of the dam to the bridge and
then down the road stopping
several times to lick his wound
and to gather the strength which
appeared to be ebbing away from
the great amount of lost blood.
The dog traveled the same course
that the murdered woman is
supposed to have been dragged
but he went the opposite
direction from which theory
carried the woman and there was
no carriage in waiting to help him
along.
Yesterday a large number of
people plodded through the mud
to the Run to take a look at the
scene of the supposed crime and
to endeavor to see some of the
blood. They were able to see the
scenery all right but sorry to
relate the blood had disappeared
under the influence of the rain
and snow.
The explanation of DeNapoli is not
accepted by many who believe
that there was entirely too much
blood to have come from a dog,
even a large dog. On the other
hand the murder story is scoffed
at by the majority of people who,
remembering that Thursday night
was cold and particularly cold at
the Run, the ground too hard
frozen to have left the imprints of
carriage wheels.
The members of the Newport boat
house club do not relish the
notoriety they have gained by the
blood tracks leading to near their
house and the stories that have
been in circulation that the body
of the dead woman was found in
their house with her throat cut
from ear to ear. The members of
the club have always enjoyed the
utmost respect of the community
and no suspicion is in the
slightest degree attached to them
by any one who knows anything of
the case in question.
poor unfortunate injured dog
according to the story of Rural
Mail Carrier DeNapoli who is
convinced that the Tumbling Run
sensation is more of a comedy
then a tragedy. According to
DeNapoli on Thursday he heard a
dog yelping on the mountain side
on the far side of the dam and
then saw him go limping along the
edge of the dam to the bridge and
then down the road stopping
several times to lick his wound
and to gather the strength which
appeared to be ebbing away from
the great amount of lost blood.
The dog traveled the same course
that the murdered woman is
supposed to have been dragged
but he went the opposite
direction from which theory
carried the woman and there was
no carriage in waiting to help him
along.
Yesterday a large number of
people plodded through the mud
to the Run to take a look at the
scene of the supposed crime and
to endeavor to see some of the
blood. They were able to see the
scenery all right but sorry to
relate the blood had disappeared
under the influence of the rain
and snow.
The explanation of DeNapoli is not
accepted by many who believe
that there was entirely too much
blood to have come from a dog,
even a large dog. On the other
hand the murder story is scoffed
at by the majority of people who,
remembering that Thursday night
was cold and particularly cold at
the Run, the ground too hard
frozen to have left the imprints of
carriage wheels.
The members of the Newport boat
house club do not relish the
notoriety they have gained by the
blood tracks leading to near their
house and the stories that have
been in circulation that the body
of the dead woman was found in
their house with her throat cut
from ear to ear. The members of
the club have always enjoyed the
utmost respect of the community
and no suspicion is in the
slightest degree attached to them
by any one who knows anything of
the case in question.
| WAS NO MURDER THURSDAY NIGHT January 15, 1907 |
The police will be obliged to
abandon their inquiries of the
rumored murder at Tumbling
Run Thursday night and
instead bend their efforts to
ascertain of suspicious
characters or circumstances
on Monday night of last week.
It has been learned that the
blood trail was seen on
Tuesday just as clear as it was
on the day that the mysterious
circumstance was reported.
Rural Mail Carrier DeNapoli
states that he saw the spots of
blood on Tuesday while
passing along the road to
deliver mail over his route. He
denies the story that he saw a
wounded dog skirting the dam
and the dog story is now
attributed to another or
perhaps was simply one of the
many false stories in
circulation since the town
became excited over the
occurrence.
Rumors are flying around thick
and fast and rumor has
discovered the dead body of a
woman at a half dozen places
at the Run. It has been fished
up out of the water so badly
swollen that it could not be
recognized; it has been found
in different boat houses with
throat cut from ear to ear and
with skull crushed to a pulp
and it has also been found
along the mountain side, if one
is to believe the many stories
which are constantly afloat.
Chief of Police Davies was
desirous of making an
exhaustive investigation but
on account of illness he has
been prevented by his
physician from working in the
mud, rain and water to glean
any further facts which might
be learned.
abandon their inquiries of the
rumored murder at Tumbling
Run Thursday night and
instead bend their efforts to
ascertain of suspicious
characters or circumstances
on Monday night of last week.
It has been learned that the
blood trail was seen on
Tuesday just as clear as it was
on the day that the mysterious
circumstance was reported.
Rural Mail Carrier DeNapoli
states that he saw the spots of
blood on Tuesday while
passing along the road to
deliver mail over his route. He
denies the story that he saw a
wounded dog skirting the dam
and the dog story is now
attributed to another or
perhaps was simply one of the
many false stories in
circulation since the town
became excited over the
occurrence.
Rumors are flying around thick
and fast and rumor has
discovered the dead body of a
woman at a half dozen places
at the Run. It has been fished
up out of the water so badly
swollen that it could not be
recognized; it has been found
in different boat houses with
throat cut from ear to ear and
with skull crushed to a pulp
and it has also been found
along the mountain side, if one
is to believe the many stories
which are constantly afloat.
Chief of Police Davies was
desirous of making an
exhaustive investigation but
on account of illness he has
been prevented by his
physician from working in the
mud, rain and water to glean
any further facts which might
be learned.
Always a scenic spot, Tumbling Run's twin dams were built as a water supply for the Schuylkill Canal. The
lower dam broke during the flood of 1850, carrying away homes in Mount Carbon and destroying roads
and railroad tracks south to Schuylkill Haven. The park itself was generally in operation between 1890 and
1914. Tumbling Run's amusement park centered in the area of the upper dam and consisted of a hotel,
theater, dance pavilion, amusement hall, roller coaster and a skating rink. President Ulysses S. Grant was
often a guest of the hotel. On the hill behind the hotel, a baseball park hosted teams from the Atlantic
League. About sixty boat houses lined the eastern and northern shore of the upper dam. A steam boat
provided nickel rides around the lake.
Trolley cars were kept busy in the late 1890's and early 1900's transporting residents to Tumbling Run with
an in season schedule of every ten minutes. Construction of the trolley line in 1891 marked the beginning
of Tumbling Run's golden era. By 1908, more then 750,000 people visited the park during the three month
summer season.
In 1912 the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, which used the dams to supply collieries
during droughts banned swimming. In 1913 it ordered the boat houses closed and by 1914 the resort was
near abandonment. The decaying hotel and the skeleton of the roller coaster remained for years
afterward but were eventually erased during a reforestation program. In 1919 the carousel was taken to
Willow Lake in Schuylkill Haven and by then all other buildings had been razed.
While rather short lived, Tumbling Run as a resort had experienced a successful time. Remnants of
building foundations are all that remain of the once impressive park. The dams now serve as a domestic
water supply for our town.
lower dam broke during the flood of 1850, carrying away homes in Mount Carbon and destroying roads
and railroad tracks south to Schuylkill Haven. The park itself was generally in operation between 1890 and
1914. Tumbling Run's amusement park centered in the area of the upper dam and consisted of a hotel,
theater, dance pavilion, amusement hall, roller coaster and a skating rink. President Ulysses S. Grant was
often a guest of the hotel. On the hill behind the hotel, a baseball park hosted teams from the Atlantic
League. About sixty boat houses lined the eastern and northern shore of the upper dam. A steam boat
provided nickel rides around the lake.
Trolley cars were kept busy in the late 1890's and early 1900's transporting residents to Tumbling Run with
an in season schedule of every ten minutes. Construction of the trolley line in 1891 marked the beginning
of Tumbling Run's golden era. By 1908, more then 750,000 people visited the park during the three month
summer season.
In 1912 the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, which used the dams to supply collieries
during droughts banned swimming. In 1913 it ordered the boat houses closed and by 1914 the resort was
near abandonment. The decaying hotel and the skeleton of the roller coaster remained for years
afterward but were eventually erased during a reforestation program. In 1919 the carousel was taken to
Willow Lake in Schuylkill Haven and by then all other buildings had been razed.
While rather short lived, Tumbling Run as a resort had experienced a successful time. Remnants of
building foundations are all that remain of the once impressive park. The dams now serve as a domestic
water supply for our town.
| Images on left and right show trolley transportation as it went to Tumbling Run. Below is a picture of the trolley landing where visitors arrived and departed. |
| These four postcards are representative of the buildings at the Tumbling Run resort and lake. |
| Perhaps the night resembled this setting when a woman was murdered, a dog spent it's waning hours or absolutely nothing occurred at Tumbling Run in January 1907. |
... more images and historical information
will be added to this section regularly...
will be added to this section regularly...
| LAST UPDATED: MARCH 15 |
| BOAT HOUSES |
| As stated above, as many as sixty boat houses lined the shoreline of the upper dam at Tumbling Run. Postcards depicting these boat houses are seen below. First, read the Pottsville Republican newspaper accounts of May 15 and May 16 of 1890 celebrating the apparent important occasion of the opening of a new boat house. |
| The Nellie Bly Club's Day May 15, 1890 |
Between 1 and 2 o'clock this
afternoon the Nellie Bly Boat Club
and a large number of guests,
headed by the Third Brigade Band,
loosed their moorings at their
headquarters, "Stixey" Michael's
restaurant, and marched to
Tumbling Run, where they spent
the afternoon in aquatic sports
and dedicating their handsome
new boat house. The members of
the club wore light caps of many
colors, linen dusters - the latter to
keep off the mud - and each blue
badges inscribed with the name of
the club, while each guest was
supplied with a white souvenir
badge.
afternoon the Nellie Bly Boat Club
and a large number of guests,
headed by the Third Brigade Band,
loosed their moorings at their
headquarters, "Stixey" Michael's
restaurant, and marched to
Tumbling Run, where they spent
the afternoon in aquatic sports
and dedicating their handsome
new boat house. The members of
the club wore light caps of many
colors, linen dusters - the latter to
keep off the mud - and each blue
badges inscribed with the name of
the club, while each guest was
supplied with a white souvenir
badge.
| Tumbling Run Navy May 16, 1890 |
The Third Brigade Band dispensed sweet music yesterday
afternoon at the Nellie Bly boat house, while the Tumbling Run
navy disported itself over the smooth surface of the dam. It
being the dedication day of the handsome new boat house of
the club, all the neighboring clubs threw open their houses
and placed their craft at the disposal of the "Nellie Bly" and
their guests. The new house was gaily decorated with flags
and bunting and the hospitality of its larder was unstinted
during all the afternoon and evening. Steward Schneider
furnished the locker with an abundance of knockwurst and
cured meats of various kinds, in addition to which was
everything usually found on a well regulated collation table,
and Bench Miller did the graceful as waiter. All the officers
and members of the club did their best to amuse their guests
and succeeded while enjoying themselves at the same time.
The "Nellie Bly" is now in full commission for the season.
afternoon at the Nellie Bly boat house, while the Tumbling Run
navy disported itself over the smooth surface of the dam. It
being the dedication day of the handsome new boat house of
the club, all the neighboring clubs threw open their houses
and placed their craft at the disposal of the "Nellie Bly" and
their guests. The new house was gaily decorated with flags
and bunting and the hospitality of its larder was unstinted
during all the afternoon and evening. Steward Schneider
furnished the locker with an abundance of knockwurst and
cured meats of various kinds, in addition to which was
everything usually found on a well regulated collation table,
and Bench Miller did the graceful as waiter. All the officers
and members of the club did their best to amuse their guests
and succeeded while enjoying themselves at the same time.
The "Nellie Bly" is now in full commission for the season.
| OTHER ACTIVITIES |
| There were a multitude of activities available at Tumbling Run Park. Above are two scenes from the campground and below are pictures of the bath house with sliding board for swimmers and a place called the Pleasure Pavilion. |
| Above left is the Midway at the park and on the right is the carousel. Both images are much clearer if clicked on and zoomed. Below is the dancing pavilion which was very popular in its day. |
| A NEW THEATRE AT TUMBLING RUN |
From the Pottsville Republican of March 16, 1907
Work has now been started on the new theatre at Tumbling Run, as a force of men are tearing out the
interior and remodeling it extensively. The position of the stage will be changed to it's location when the
theatre was first built. This will give a much larger seating capacity. Additional chairs will be placed in the
pavilion and the stage enlarged. The entire interior will be changed and greatly improved in appearance.
It is also intended to in the course of the next few weeks build an addition of sixty feet in length of the
pavilion for dancing and roller skating. This will make it an ideal place, especially for the skating, which
has grown in such favor that the present size is not adequate to accommodate the crowds.
Manager De Cato, of the Tumbling Run Park, has a number of improvements in store for the patrons and
these will be on an extensive scale. Amusements of all kinds found at the leading resorts and parks will
be installed at the Run, while high class vaudeville will be secured. Mr. De Cato is manager of the
Woodland park in New Jersey, the Tumbling Run and Manila Grove parks, so that with this circuit of three
we will have a great advantage in securing the very best for all three.
The Traction Co. intends to next month erect a large rustic pavilion on the hill near the site of the one
used as a grandstand. This will be for the accommodation of picnic parties who are without boat houses.
Special efforts will be made to have excursions run to this place from various sections of the state and a
most thriving season is expected for the park.
interior and remodeling it extensively. The position of the stage will be changed to it's location when the
theatre was first built. This will give a much larger seating capacity. Additional chairs will be placed in the
pavilion and the stage enlarged. The entire interior will be changed and greatly improved in appearance.
It is also intended to in the course of the next few weeks build an addition of sixty feet in length of the
pavilion for dancing and roller skating. This will make it an ideal place, especially for the skating, which
has grown in such favor that the present size is not adequate to accommodate the crowds.
Manager De Cato, of the Tumbling Run Park, has a number of improvements in store for the patrons and
these will be on an extensive scale. Amusements of all kinds found at the leading resorts and parks will
be installed at the Run, while high class vaudeville will be secured. Mr. De Cato is manager of the
Woodland park in New Jersey, the Tumbling Run and Manila Grove parks, so that with this circuit of three
we will have a great advantage in securing the very best for all three.
The Traction Co. intends to next month erect a large rustic pavilion on the hill near the site of the one
used as a grandstand. This will be for the accommodation of picnic parties who are without boat houses.
Special efforts will be made to have excursions run to this place from various sections of the state and a
most thriving season is expected for the park.
| Further up the valley in the watershed of Tumbling Run, the creek that fills the dams is crossed by a small bridge. These views show the bridge one hundred years ago. |
| Steam powered boats such as those seen here plied the waters of the upper dam filled with tourists. These views are better seen by zooming in on the pictures. |
| Those so inclined could travel the dam in canoes as seen here. These pictures are better seen by zooming as above. |
| While most activity occurred at the upper dam, views of the lower dam exist. Note the hillside farm on the left image. |
The Sunday schools of town are taking up the question of whether it would not be more satisfactory to
hold their picnics at this place during the summer owing to the fact that no intoxicants are sold at the
hotel and also that the Pottsville Union Traction Company are offering inducements to parties of this kind
by placing many new conveniences for the use of patrons. It is pleasing to town that anxious parents will
be glad to allow their children to go as the former grounds at Adamsdale was considered too long a ride
after a strenuous day in the woods.
Boat house owners are considering employing a permanent patrol to protect their properties. During the
winter previously inclined persons have shot hundreds of holes into valuable property and also smashed
fine glassware and dishes inside the houses. Many other vandalous acts have been perpetrated and a
permanent patrol all the year round is expected to be the outcome.
| As the Pottsville Republican of April 27, 1907 reports, parental concern for children and problems with vandals is nothing new. |
| LIFE GUARDS TO BE RECRUITED |
The Pottsville Republican of May 15, 1907
H. C. Reichart, who for the past two years has been making efforts to have a U. S. life saving station
located at Tumbling Run, has received word from the U. S. Volunteer Life saving Corps, with headquarters
at New York, enclosing blank enrollment forms for him to fill in the names of those swimmers who desire
to become a branch of the volunteer corps at this resort. G. A. Thorman, the general organizer, writes
that no funds can be provided at the present, but this need be no detriment to the establishment of a
branch of the work at once. Should enough good swimmers be secured to form a division, the local corps
would become actual members and become entitled to all the privileges of active members-literature,
membership buttons, and commissions of membership.
Mr. Reichart has given a great deal of his time to establish a life saving station at the Run, and now that
he has it well under way and has succeeded in getting official recognition, it is up to the people to help
the move along as much as they can possibly do. Almost every year one or more persons are drowned at
this popular resort who might be saved if an organization of this kind is established.
Mr. Reichart, who is one of the most expert swimmers in this section, says that he will give exhibitions of
swimming, diving and life saving and military drills at the Run during the summer if the local station is
established. A comparatively small amount is needed.
H. C. Reichart, who for the past two years has been making efforts to have a U. S. life saving station
located at Tumbling Run, has received word from the U. S. Volunteer Life saving Corps, with headquarters
at New York, enclosing blank enrollment forms for him to fill in the names of those swimmers who desire
to become a branch of the volunteer corps at this resort. G. A. Thorman, the general organizer, writes
that no funds can be provided at the present, but this need be no detriment to the establishment of a
branch of the work at once. Should enough good swimmers be secured to form a division, the local corps
would become actual members and become entitled to all the privileges of active members-literature,
membership buttons, and commissions of membership.
Mr. Reichart has given a great deal of his time to establish a life saving station at the Run, and now that
he has it well under way and has succeeded in getting official recognition, it is up to the people to help
the move along as much as they can possibly do. Almost every year one or more persons are drowned at
this popular resort who might be saved if an organization of this kind is established.
Mr. Reichart, who is one of the most expert swimmers in this section, says that he will give exhibitions of
swimming, diving and life saving and military drills at the Run during the summer if the local station is
established. A comparatively small amount is needed.
| The following newspaper articles represent the constant danger at Tumbling Run as related to numerous drownings. |
| TUMBLING RUN SIGHT OF DOUBLE DROWNING |
| The Pottsville Republican of June 26, 1909 Tumbling Run was the scene of the first drowning accident of the season on Saturday afternoon, when Clarence Schuster gave his life in vain to save Clarence Penn, a colored boy, from drowning, both boys going down. The two boys in company with Robert Keller, Herman Schoenfelder, George Lord and George Delong, all members of a baseball team left town shortly after 2 o'clock to go to the Run for a swim, arriving there shortly before 3 o'clock. Young Penn who could not swim was one of the first to go in. While he was wading around close to shore the other boys, all good swimmers, got undressed and went in. They had only been in the water several minutes, when Penn called for help. Schuster, being the nearest went to his assistance and was caught around the ankles by Penn and pulled down. According to the statement of one of the boys, Penn did not come to the surface the second time, but Schuster's head did, and when it did an attempt was made to grab hold of his hair, but the weight of the colored boy evidently pulled him down again. Delong remained on the scene for a short time while Keller and Schoenfelder ran towards the boat houses and sounded an alarm, Lord coming to Pottsville and giving the alarm here. Two boats were soon taken to the scene of the accident, one boat containing John Joyce, Richard Scott and John Graney, the other boat containing George Garrett, Thomas Phillips and John Cowhley. Grappling hooks were brought into service, and at 4:32 the boat manned by Joyce brought up the body of Schuster, the hooks catching him under the knee. Exactly at five o'clock the same crew pulled up the body of Penn, the hooks catching him around the foot. Both bodies were laid along the bank near the scene of the accident, where they were viewed by Deputy Coroner O. J. Carlin, who directed their removal. The bodies were taken in charge by J. C. Heiken and Son, rowed across the dam and brought to Pottsville, arriving here at six o'clock. The scene of the accident was on the opposite side of the lower Tumbling Run Dam, from the trolley tracks, and midway between the two breasts. At this point the bank takes a sudden pitch and it is thought that Penn missed his footing and went down. Both bodies were recovered about 20 feet from shore and in exactly the same location, showing that they both went down together and rolled some distance after being down. The Victims of the Accident Clarence Schuster was the son of Peter and Alice Schuster and was born in St. Clair sixteen years ago moving to Pottsville fifteen years ago. The young hero was a bright lad, being a scholar at St. Patrick's Parochial School. The mother is on the verge of nervous prostration and is under the doctor's care. Clarence Penn, son of John and Bertha Penn, was born in Washington D. C. 17 years ago moving to Pottsville fifteen years ago. He was industrious and well liked taught in the school at Bunker Hill. |
| The advertisement at left appeared in the Pottsville Republican on May 28, 1907 to announce the beginning of the summer season. The article below also appeared in that day's paper touting the event. |
FORMAL OPENING
OF TUMBLING RUN
Tumbling Run was formally opened yesterday for
the season of 1907 when several hundred invited
guests of the management assembled there as the
guests of the Association where they heard the
concert of the Philharmonic Band of Reading,
enjoyed a fine supper by Landlord Schappell and
applauded the splendid entertainment which will be
given every evening this week in the amusement
pavilion.
The weather was decidedly against a popular
outpouring of pleasure seekers and that so many
braved the pneumonia breeding weather must have
been a source of much encouragement to the
Association, which is going to so much expense to
make this resort far more popular then it has ever
been.
After an inspection of the grounds the visitors were
shown into the hotel where many additional
improvements were found to have been made
since last summer. This pretty place is now most
inviting to all and promises to become popular as a
place for holding banquets and special gatherings
of various kinds during the summer.
In the evening the entertainment was further
continued by the guests being ushered into the
amusement pavilion where a high class vaudeville
performance was given.
OF TUMBLING RUN
Tumbling Run was formally opened yesterday for
the season of 1907 when several hundred invited
guests of the management assembled there as the
guests of the Association where they heard the
concert of the Philharmonic Band of Reading,
enjoyed a fine supper by Landlord Schappell and
applauded the splendid entertainment which will be
given every evening this week in the amusement
pavilion.
The weather was decidedly against a popular
outpouring of pleasure seekers and that so many
braved the pneumonia breeding weather must have
been a source of much encouragement to the
Association, which is going to so much expense to
make this resort far more popular then it has ever
been.
After an inspection of the grounds the visitors were
shown into the hotel where many additional
improvements were found to have been made
since last summer. This pretty place is now most
inviting to all and promises to become popular as a
place for holding banquets and special gatherings
of various kinds during the summer.
In the evening the entertainment was further
continued by the guests being ushered into the
amusement pavilion where a high class vaudeville
performance was given.
| These two views show the road along the Tumbling Run dams. The dress of the visitors reveals the fact that these images are one hundred years old. |
| Pottsville Republican of May 14, 1917 Frank Meister Tumbling Run Dam Murder Suspected The lifeless body of Frank Meister, 26 years old, of town was found floating on the water at the upper dam at Tumbling Run, near the Defender boathouse on Monday morning shortly before eight o'clock by Anthony Blum and James Buckley, the latter watchman at the park. They pulled the body to shore and notified the state police and coroner's office. Sergeant Smith, Coroner Moore and Deputy Coroner Heller made an investigation and decided that an autopsy be held, the death being a suspicious one, according to the views of all three. Blum was walking along the road above the boathouses and saw the body of a man floating on the water. Sergeant Smith arrived in a half hour and upon searching the man found books showing that he was a member of the American Hose Company, the O. of I. A. and the Odd Fellows. His name was written in the books. He joined the Odd Fellows on March 12 and there was a watch found on his person together with a receipt of April 12. Meister has been missing from home since April 14th. He was employed at the Eastern Steel Mill and on that date got his pay and when he left home said he was going to work. That was the last seen of him alive. Later he was thought to have gone to Reading and the folks were daily awaiting a letter from him. When found Meister who was five feet five inches in height, wore a dark suit with a striped shirt, the way he was dressed when he left home. His money that he drew as pay is gone and this fact together with the fact that he has a deep hole in the back of his head, his face was badly marked and there are several marks about his body lead the authorities to believe that he may have met with foul play. At any rate the case is a mystery and the police are trying to strengthen their belief that he was dealt a blow then thrown in the water to hide the crime. When taken from the water the usual test as given a man supposed to have drowned was given him but very little water turned up and this led to a closer investigation, the marks being then discovered on his head and face. Meister is a son of Frank Meister of town and is well known here. He was a man of mild temperament and his habits were as such as to assure the police that he was not intoxicated. |
| Next is an article noting the demise of Tumbling Run as a recreation area September 4, 1913. After that is an editorial in the Pottsville Republican three years later on May 14, 1917 lamenting the loss. |
| ALL BOAT HOUSES ORDERED CLOSED |
| Consternation seized boathouse owners, Thursday morning, when they received notices from the Land department of the P and R C and I Company directing them to close their boathouses immediately and what is more to the point, it was said that a police patrol is seeing to it that orders are carried out to the letter. Of course, there will be little inconvenience suffered, as the Traction Company will not run any cars to or from the Run regularly every half hour after next Sunday and with no cars running the beautiful nook in the valley will lose its charm. It is rumored too that fishing is to be stopped - in fact, our informant went so far as to state that the police have orders to prevent fishing and the rumor went further then that, too, that the order to shut up the boathouses merely is the fist in a series of orders that will "bottle up" the run against all boathouses, without exception, but that idea is opposed stoutly in some official circles. Tumbling Run Lake water was condemned for drinking purposes by the State Department of Health a year ago and if it is to be restored to its purity, something must be done. In reference to the closing of the boathouses, there is one consolation for the harassed owners, and that is, "everybody's doing it", as a witty person remarked when the order was under discussion. |
| TUMBLING RUN SHOULD BE RESTORED |
| Those movements so suspiciously begun to have Tumbling Run restored to Pottsville and vicinity as a public park have all strangely and unexplainable been forgotten. Men who emphatically endorsed the movements and were placed in the needs of various committees to take steps to bring about the return of this summer resort have rather easily given up the task set before them, with little more explanation than that the place was owned by the Reading Company and the Reading Company officials were unwilling to have it restored to the status of a summer resort. All these things were known long before any movements were suggested so that as far as the public is informed no new reasons have ever been presented by any of these committees as to why this fine body of water should be kept useless at Tumbling Run, resulting in the effectual confiscation of the property of individuals there and robbing the people of this section of one of the finest summer resorts to be found in inland Pennsylvania. At the present time it is doubly desirable that Pottsville should have Tumbling Run restored and we trust that some of our organizations will speedily take up the matter, investigate thoroughly, engage the services of an able attorney, who cannot be overawed by corporation power and set to work to have Tumbling Run restored to the people of Pottsville as a place for boating, a place for bathing, a place for fishing and a place for general recreation. It is a crime upon the people to be deprived of this wonderful place when it serves no good purpose whatever to drive them off. It is a wastefulness which is criminal and evinces the old time corporation demonstration of autocratic power which years ago was periodically manifested to keep the public in subjection. Times have changed. The modern corporations have come to realize that they are merely the children of the people, not the czar or kaiser of them and as a result there has been a vast improvement in relations between them and the public. The spirit of the times is for the corporations to desist in the policy of hogging it, particularly when such policy does not return dividends. In olden times corporations held communities in subjection because they comprised the greatest employing agencies of such communities and used the influence they were able to create. Theses conditions are disappearing almost everywhere. The policy of the modern corporation is to work in harmony with the community and for the benefit of such and we hop that the Reading Company will see that it is detrimental to its own well being as well as detrimental to the interests of the people to continue to play the dog in the manger act with reference to Tumbling Run. Let us have a demonstration of patriotism on the part of the company which will result in restoring the old conditions at Tumbling Run this summer. |
| All rights reserved. |
Pottsville Republican of November 29, 1909
TUMBLING RUN WATER TO KEEP COLLIERIES AT WORK
A few more weeks of the present dry spell will turn Schuylkill County upside down as the time is now
approaching when we will appreciate the value of water as we have never before done and the entire
hope of this section of the county rests on the Tumbling Run dams, which are the only reservoirs which
today are filled to the brim. Not only will the collieries soon be obliged to depend almost entirely upon
these dams but the Pottsville consumers may also fall back upon them as their sole water source.
Almost every day a colliery here or there is obliged to close down on account of no water and as the days
pass on those which are still at work see the time for such work gradually growing shorter. But as stated
Tumbling Run gives a ray of hope in this section as arrangements are now being made to connect these
two big dams with the P & R Collieries of the Pottsville District. For weeks work has been in progress on
the construction of an eight mile water main from Wadesville, out through the Heckschersville Valley and
to the collieries at Newtown, Branchdale and Phoenix Park. The task is a big one and a few years ago
would have been considered nonsensical, but with the experiences of last summer and this summer and
fall it is conceded to be the very wisest move which is possible under existing conditions.
With the completion of the line it will be possible to draw upon Tumbling Run to supply the collieries at
Wade, the Heckschersville Valley and the West End and two or three weeks will find a necessity for
drawing upon the water at this famous summer resort.
About two years ago, a pipeline was laid from Silver Creek to Wadesville, that the colliery at the latter
point, which had very poor water facilities, might be able to work without interruption when water was
scarce. The Palo Alto reservoir which supplies the engines at that point with water is also maintained
through pipe line connections with Silver Creek and by this means, Wadesville and Palo Alto are
connected. Work is now in progress to connect Palo Alto with Tumbling Run. A twelve inch main is now
being laid for this purpose and will shortly be completed. This will allow the supply to the Palo Alto dam
from Silver Creek being cut off and Palo Alto being supplied entirely for the time being with Tumbling Run
water. This will necessitate the installation of a small pumping station.
But the water system is to be extended much further than this. West from Pottsville and also from the
Wadesville end gangs of workmen are working seven days a week to complete the eight miles of pipe
which is being laid and which when completed will connect the West End and Heckschersville Valley
collieries with Silver Creek.
At present the Silver Creek dam is in good shape, considering the small water shed and the great
demands which have been made upon it, but when the pipeline is completed and the demand upon it
many times greater it will not be able to hold up long under the pressure. The Rohrsville dam at the head
of the Heckschersville Valley which has been supplying the collieries in the Heckschersville Valley, has
not been exhausted, and in order to give the people of that valley a supply for domestic purposes the
company has shut off the use of the water of this reservoir for colliery purposes and instead water is
being hauled.
But this haulage system is both expensive and unsatisfactory and it has been found impossible to keep
some of the collieries working full time. Even the mine water is giving out and where it is usually one of
the expenses of mining to keep the inside workings pumped free of water, no pumping is now being done
and the breakers are without this supply of mine water which was used for washing purposes. Never
before has the situation been so troublesome to the colliery officials.
The new pipe line in course of construction, it is estimated, will cost close onto $100,000 before it is finally
finished. It seems like a prohibitive figure but when it is taken into consideration that thousands of
dollars are being spent each week in this section for hauling water to the collieries, the expense is
justified and when it is completed will soon pay for itself.
With it completed there will be three sources of supply – Rohrsville with its big shed but small reservoir,
Silver Creek with its big reservoir but small shed and Tumbling Run with its big shed and big reservoirs.
By combining the supply of the three it is believed that al future danger of water famine will be averted.
Tumbling Run will not be drawn upon however, except in case of distress, as it is lower then Wadesville
and will require a good size pumping station to force the water up to the Wadesville level.
But there is danger that the Water Company will find itself obliged to shut off its supply to the various
industries of town, the electric roads, the factories, etc and in such an emergency it will be necessary for
them to either provide for hauling their own or else make arrangements to get a supply from Tumbling
Run. In the event of more serious trouble it may be necessary for the town to become dependent upon
Tumbling Run and with this great drain, even these overflowing dams may be unable to stand the strain,
especially in view of the fact that the Tumbling Run stream has dried up to a mere small stream.
If conditions should arise demanding it, it is possible to have all industries closed in order that the water
may be given for domestic use, but as plenty of water without any work will be a worse condition than
work and little water, it is not likely that such a contingency will arise.
TUMBLING RUN WATER TO KEEP COLLIERIES AT WORK
A few more weeks of the present dry spell will turn Schuylkill County upside down as the time is now
approaching when we will appreciate the value of water as we have never before done and the entire
hope of this section of the county rests on the Tumbling Run dams, which are the only reservoirs which
today are filled to the brim. Not only will the collieries soon be obliged to depend almost entirely upon
these dams but the Pottsville consumers may also fall back upon them as their sole water source.
Almost every day a colliery here or there is obliged to close down on account of no water and as the days
pass on those which are still at work see the time for such work gradually growing shorter. But as stated
Tumbling Run gives a ray of hope in this section as arrangements are now being made to connect these
two big dams with the P & R Collieries of the Pottsville District. For weeks work has been in progress on
the construction of an eight mile water main from Wadesville, out through the Heckschersville Valley and
to the collieries at Newtown, Branchdale and Phoenix Park. The task is a big one and a few years ago
would have been considered nonsensical, but with the experiences of last summer and this summer and
fall it is conceded to be the very wisest move which is possible under existing conditions.
With the completion of the line it will be possible to draw upon Tumbling Run to supply the collieries at
Wade, the Heckschersville Valley and the West End and two or three weeks will find a necessity for
drawing upon the water at this famous summer resort.
About two years ago, a pipeline was laid from Silver Creek to Wadesville, that the colliery at the latter
point, which had very poor water facilities, might be able to work without interruption when water was
scarce. The Palo Alto reservoir which supplies the engines at that point with water is also maintained
through pipe line connections with Silver Creek and by this means, Wadesville and Palo Alto are
connected. Work is now in progress to connect Palo Alto with Tumbling Run. A twelve inch main is now
being laid for this purpose and will shortly be completed. This will allow the supply to the Palo Alto dam
from Silver Creek being cut off and Palo Alto being supplied entirely for the time being with Tumbling Run
water. This will necessitate the installation of a small pumping station.
But the water system is to be extended much further than this. West from Pottsville and also from the
Wadesville end gangs of workmen are working seven days a week to complete the eight miles of pipe
which is being laid and which when completed will connect the West End and Heckschersville Valley
collieries with Silver Creek.
At present the Silver Creek dam is in good shape, considering the small water shed and the great
demands which have been made upon it, but when the pipeline is completed and the demand upon it
many times greater it will not be able to hold up long under the pressure. The Rohrsville dam at the head
of the Heckschersville Valley which has been supplying the collieries in the Heckschersville Valley, has
not been exhausted, and in order to give the people of that valley a supply for domestic purposes the
company has shut off the use of the water of this reservoir for colliery purposes and instead water is
being hauled.
But this haulage system is both expensive and unsatisfactory and it has been found impossible to keep
some of the collieries working full time. Even the mine water is giving out and where it is usually one of
the expenses of mining to keep the inside workings pumped free of water, no pumping is now being done
and the breakers are without this supply of mine water which was used for washing purposes. Never
before has the situation been so troublesome to the colliery officials.
The new pipe line in course of construction, it is estimated, will cost close onto $100,000 before it is finally
finished. It seems like a prohibitive figure but when it is taken into consideration that thousands of
dollars are being spent each week in this section for hauling water to the collieries, the expense is
justified and when it is completed will soon pay for itself.
With it completed there will be three sources of supply – Rohrsville with its big shed but small reservoir,
Silver Creek with its big reservoir but small shed and Tumbling Run with its big shed and big reservoirs.
By combining the supply of the three it is believed that al future danger of water famine will be averted.
Tumbling Run will not be drawn upon however, except in case of distress, as it is lower then Wadesville
and will require a good size pumping station to force the water up to the Wadesville level.
But there is danger that the Water Company will find itself obliged to shut off its supply to the various
industries of town, the electric roads, the factories, etc and in such an emergency it will be necessary for
them to either provide for hauling their own or else make arrangements to get a supply from Tumbling
Run. In the event of more serious trouble it may be necessary for the town to become dependent upon
Tumbling Run and with this great drain, even these overflowing dams may be unable to stand the strain,
especially in view of the fact that the Tumbling Run stream has dried up to a mere small stream.
If conditions should arise demanding it, it is possible to have all industries closed in order that the water
may be given for domestic use, but as plenty of water without any work will be a worse condition than
work and little water, it is not likely that such a contingency will arise.
| The Pottsville Republican listed this news item on February 9, 1945 which announced the beginning of Schuylkill Haven's acquisition of Tumbling Run as a water source. |
| SCHUYLKILL HAVEN MAY BUY TUMBLING RUN Negotiations are said to be in the final stages for the purchase of Tumbling Run water rights by the borough of Schuylkill Haven. The borough reservoir is inadequate and large purchases of water are necessary from the Pottsville water Company. Schuylkill Haven now owns its own electric light plant. |
| Pottsville Republican of February 17, 1902 TUMBLING RUN CHANGES HANDS The Tumbling Run property, land and all the buildings located on it has passed from the hands of L. W. Weissinger and is now the property of R. E. Lee, junior member of the firm of Lee brothers, the Market Street grocers. It is not known what figure was paid, but as the owner recently refused an offer of $40,000, it must have been close onto the half hundred mark. With the change of the ownership of the property will also come a change in the manner of conducting it. Extensive improvements will be made in the hotel and surrounding buildings and grounds. It will be made an entirely different place and the change will be a welcome one as it will be in the way of a decided improvement. The property purchased consists of about twelve acres of land embracing the buildings now used for amusements. The new owner has had this purchase in view for some time and has already mapped out extensive improvements to make Tumbling Run the pleasure resort that it should be. The hotel will be remodeled. Another story will be added, large verandas will encircle each story and a first class summer hotel conducted. The bar will be removed entirely from the building and the first floor remodeled as to make a large up to date and handsomely furnished dining room and parlor. A caterer will be secured from the city to take charge of this department and Mr. Lee promises to serve dinners second to none at large hotels at summer resorts and in the large cities. When these improvements are made there should be no more popular summer resort in the state. The dancing pavilion will also be remodeled and the bar probably located where the pool rooms and bowling allies now are. Another feature of Tumbling Run which for long has been neglected is the picnic grounds. The groves have been left uncared for and no effort was made to accommodate picnic parties, but now, however, special attention will be paid to this. Special attractions will be found at the Run nightly in the shape of bands, orchestras and other concerts. In winter when there is ice on the dam there will be skating, skating carnivals and music and no end of amusement. It is understood that the Traction Company have under consideration the advisability of building a baseball ground at the Run. These improvements are not mythical but are they simply conjectures of what may be done in the future but will be found to be established facts before the summer season is opened at the popular resort. Mr. Lee will organize a Tumbling Run Improvement Association and the place will soon gain a reputation as one of the leading summer resorts in the state. |
| Pottsville Republican of September 13, 1907 P & R PURCHASE AT TUMBLING RUN In order to own all the land surrounding the Tumbling Run dam, the P & R Company has purchased the large field, formerly owned by C. H. Woltjen, and which was sold to the Eastern Railways Company in the early part of this year. This includes all of the 100 acre purchase with the exception of the ground on which is located the Tumbling Run Hotel and the baseball park, which will continue in the ownership of the trolley company on account of the interests in these two important features of the Tumbling Run Park. This is what comes to the "Republican" from a seemingly responsible source, but it is not corroborated by the trolley officials here. The purchase price of this big tract of land was $12,000 and was made originally for the purpose of building a baseball park. The remaining portion of the field could not be used to any advantage which would justify holding it, so that the rumor is quite within reason in this respect. The P & R now owns the land on which is built the boat houses at the upper dam, while all the other surrounding is in its possession. With these interest it is but natural that they should desire to secure control of the entire watershed and exercise a supervision which would prevent the use of the ground for any purpose which they might deem detrimental to their property or interests. It may be possible that at some future time the water may be used for drinking purposes and in this event the company would again need control of the adjoining watersheds. |
| This aerial view displays the Water Treatment Plant at Tumbling Run which today provides our water supply. |
Pottsville Republican of July 6, 1903
The first fatality which has occurred in the lake at Tumbling Run in several years occurred Saturday
afternoon when Harry Moyer, a young man from Shenandoah, was drowned as a result of rocking a boat
while rowing about in the middle of the dam. Two companions, James Needs of Tamaqua and John Wirt of
Shenandoah, were in the boat with him at the time, but they succeeded in catching hold of the sides of
the upturned boat and clung on until they were rescued by a party from the Myrtle boat house. The
unfortunate young man was but nineteen years of age and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Moyer. He
was employed by D. and J. Siegel, furniture dealers of Shenandoah. His parents were visiting friends in
Mount Carmel yesterday, but his brother and sister were notified at Shenandoah and the former came to
Pottsville and took the remains home on the 7:05 Pennsy train.
The three young men came to Pottsville Saturday morning to spend the day and soon after arriving here
they went to the Run. After dinner it was proposed that they take a boat ride and they hired a boat at the
pier, laughingly making the remark to some friends on shore that they were going to be drowned. They
had not been rowing long when Moyer it is said, commenced to rock the boat. This occurred about half
way down toward the breast and near the far shore. The water is about forty feet deep at this point, but
like many other visitors they imagined that the water was shallow. With numerous boats in sight and the
shore not far away, the rocking was continued until finally the boat was upset and the three were
precipitated in the water.
Several different parties saw them from the boat house porches, but all thought it was a party of bathers
in the water who were having some fun with the boat. But it was not long before the seriousness of the
affair dawned upon all and several boats were put out to their rescue.
Wirt was the only member of the party who could swim although Moyer had told his companions that he
was an experienced swimmer. When the boat upset, they all made a scramble to catch the sides but it
slipped from their grasp. Wirt with a few strokes again reached the side of the boat and then turning
around saw Needs near him going down for the second time. He reached out and caught him by the
collar and drew him towards the boat until both had a secure hold. He then looked around for Moyer, but
that unfortunate young man was nowhere in sight as he had gone down for the last time.
In the meantime boats had been put out from several of the boat houses, but the Myrtle Club was first to
the rescue. William Bray, David Thomas and William Frizzle were in the boat and they lifted the two almost
exhausted young men from the water into their boat. They were then taken to the Myrtle boat house
where they were attired in dry clothing. Grappling hooks were secured and for four hours they grappled
for the body before Robert Schoener and Jacob Scheafer finally succeeded in getting the grappling iron
fastened in the unfortunate young man's coat sleeve and pulled him to the surface.
Coroner Gillars empanelled the following jury: F. C. Reese, frank Fessler, Frank Sterling, Robert
Schoener, Frank Frizzle and Jacob Scheafer. They returned a verdict of accidental drowning.
The remains were taken in charge by J. C. Heiken, who shipped the body to Shenandoah. Besides his
parents he is survived by his sister, Mrs. Thomas Evans, Mount Carmel, and brother George and sisters
Maud and Nattie at home.
The first fatality which has occurred in the lake at Tumbling Run in several years occurred Saturday
afternoon when Harry Moyer, a young man from Shenandoah, was drowned as a result of rocking a boat
while rowing about in the middle of the dam. Two companions, James Needs of Tamaqua and John Wirt of
Shenandoah, were in the boat with him at the time, but they succeeded in catching hold of the sides of
the upturned boat and clung on until they were rescued by a party from the Myrtle boat house. The
unfortunate young man was but nineteen years of age and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Moyer. He
was employed by D. and J. Siegel, furniture dealers of Shenandoah. His parents were visiting friends in
Mount Carmel yesterday, but his brother and sister were notified at Shenandoah and the former came to
Pottsville and took the remains home on the 7:05 Pennsy train.
The three young men came to Pottsville Saturday morning to spend the day and soon after arriving here
they went to the Run. After dinner it was proposed that they take a boat ride and they hired a boat at the
pier, laughingly making the remark to some friends on shore that they were going to be drowned. They
had not been rowing long when Moyer it is said, commenced to rock the boat. This occurred about half
way down toward the breast and near the far shore. The water is about forty feet deep at this point, but
like many other visitors they imagined that the water was shallow. With numerous boats in sight and the
shore not far away, the rocking was continued until finally the boat was upset and the three were
precipitated in the water.
Several different parties saw them from the boat house porches, but all thought it was a party of bathers
in the water who were having some fun with the boat. But it was not long before the seriousness of the
affair dawned upon all and several boats were put out to their rescue.
Wirt was the only member of the party who could swim although Moyer had told his companions that he
was an experienced swimmer. When the boat upset, they all made a scramble to catch the sides but it
slipped from their grasp. Wirt with a few strokes again reached the side of the boat and then turning
around saw Needs near him going down for the second time. He reached out and caught him by the
collar and drew him towards the boat until both had a secure hold. He then looked around for Moyer, but
that unfortunate young man was nowhere in sight as he had gone down for the last time.
In the meantime boats had been put out from several of the boat houses, but the Myrtle Club was first to
the rescue. William Bray, David Thomas and William Frizzle were in the boat and they lifted the two almost
exhausted young men from the water into their boat. They were then taken to the Myrtle boat house
where they were attired in dry clothing. Grappling hooks were secured and for four hours they grappled
for the body before Robert Schoener and Jacob Scheafer finally succeeded in getting the grappling iron
fastened in the unfortunate young man's coat sleeve and pulled him to the surface.
Coroner Gillars empanelled the following jury: F. C. Reese, frank Fessler, Frank Sterling, Robert
Schoener, Frank Frizzle and Jacob Scheafer. They returned a verdict of accidental drowning.
The remains were taken in charge by J. C. Heiken, who shipped the body to Shenandoah. Besides his
parents he is survived by his sister, Mrs. Thomas Evans, Mount Carmel, and brother George and sisters
Maud and Nattie at home.
| This story of an unusual man appeared in the Pottsville Republican on January 7, 1918. |
| HEX CAT MAN IS FROZEN TO DEATH |
| W. S. Thomas of the Tumbling Run valley, widely known throughout the state as the originator of the famous "Hex Cat" episode of several years ago and since that time a self imposed hermit in a little shack in that valley, was found dead from exposure in the building on Saturday evening, by a farmer. He had evidently been dead for some time. Deputy Coroner Dirschel investigated the cases and decided an inquest would not be necessary. Thomas was of a peculiar disposition and he obtained state wide fame following his making of a silver bullet to kill the black "Hex Cat" which he claimed was responsible for his troubles. His place of residence was quickly populated with dogs and cats and his peculiar manner of living brought him brought him before the authorities on several occasions. |
| Pottsville Republican of April 24, 1899 BOAT HOUSES IN DANGER - Those on the Far Side of the Dam Narrowly Escaped The forest fires that have been raging at Tumbling Run during the past week almost proved more destructive this morning than might have been expected. On the far side of the second dam the flames spread toward the boat houses at the "Cove" and for a time it appeared as if the houses would be consumed. Having burned to the water's edge the flames spread up the mountainside, and this afternoon were confined to the top of the mountain, a safe distance from the boat houses. The mountains are on fire on all sides and the houses are still threatened by flying sparks and there is still cause for apprehension. If one house takes fire there are slim chances for the rest as all are built of frame and form a contiguous line half around this side of the dam. |
Pottsville Republican of August 5, 1899
Yesterday afternoon about 4:30 o'clock, in the deep still waters of Tumbling Run, without warning and
within a stone's throw of merry bathers, sporting in the water at Sandy Beach, Walter Galbraith, a young
man twenty years old, was drowned. He disappeared beneath the surface of the water without a cry of
alarm and the bathers but a short distance away, were not aware that he had gone down until too late to
be of assistance.
Walter Galbraith, in company with Frank Schnerring, went to Tumbling Run to enjoy the half holiday, Mr.
Galbraith having been a clerk in one of our stores. During the afternoon both men donned bathing suits
at Gorman's launch and after swimming a while in the vicinity of the launch, they agreed to join the
bathers at Sandy Beach. They raced to a point opposite the beach, on the west side of the dam, near the
new bath house of the Y> M. C. A., which is a distance of fully 300 yards. The run was a severe tax on
their hearts, and when they reached the spot, Galbraith was much exhausted. Both jumped in without
much ceremony and attempted to swim across to Sandy Beach. When about thirty five feet out Galbraith
said to his companion, "I can't make it. I'm played out now." He turned to go back to shore and as he did,
he suddenly threw up his hands and disappeared. Schnerring, who was a short distance away, attempted
to rescue him and grabbed his bathing shirt but the weight was too much and Galbraith sunk to the
bottom. When the alarm was given that a man had gone down, the bathers at Sandy Beach and other
parts of the dam hastened to the spot to try and aid in the rescue. A. W. Swartz, who was bathing at the
new Y. M. C. A. bath house, secured a boat and tried to locate the body with a long pole. Dr. W. G.
Hoeffer, Lamar Pritchard, J. G. Smith and Fred Hause dove after Galbraith but couldn't find him. The Nellie
Bly boat, with grappling irons, was quickly brought into service and in a short time the grappling hooks
caught the body and it was hauled to the surface, about fifteen minutes after the accident. In attempting
to recover the dead man the boat was upset but the body was gotten into shore and carried to the Y. M.
C. A. boat house where Drs. Cristman, Boone, Kramer, Albright and Hoeffer worked hard to bring back life
but their efforts were in vain. One of the physicians stated that he thought Galbraith became exhausted
due to the run along shore and when he plunged into the water the strain was too much and he collapsed.
The Pottsville Hospital ambulance was there shortly after the accident with Dr. Fegley and two attendants.
The body was taken to the home of Galbraith's grandfather, George Pfeifer of 809 Minersville Street
about seven o'clock. Where Galbraith went down, the water is about twenty feet deep.
Galbraith's parents reside at Plymouth but were formerly residents of Pottsville. The family were notified
last night. It is thought that young Galbraith's father is en route to Mexico. On the fifth of last August
Frank Gordon sunk near Gorman's launch. Both Gordon and Galbraith could swim, but their drowning was
attributed to exhaustion. An inquest will be held tomorrow afternoon by Deputy Coroner Veith. Young
Galbraith was of a quiet disposition and well liked among his friends and acquaintances.
Yesterday afternoon about 4:30 o'clock, in the deep still waters of Tumbling Run, without warning and
within a stone's throw of merry bathers, sporting in the water at Sandy Beach, Walter Galbraith, a young
man twenty years old, was drowned. He disappeared beneath the surface of the water without a cry of
alarm and the bathers but a short distance away, were not aware that he had gone down until too late to
be of assistance.
Walter Galbraith, in company with Frank Schnerring, went to Tumbling Run to enjoy the half holiday, Mr.
Galbraith having been a clerk in one of our stores. During the afternoon both men donned bathing suits
at Gorman's launch and after swimming a while in the vicinity of the launch, they agreed to join the
bathers at Sandy Beach. They raced to a point opposite the beach, on the west side of the dam, near the
new bath house of the Y> M. C. A., which is a distance of fully 300 yards. The run was a severe tax on
their hearts, and when they reached the spot, Galbraith was much exhausted. Both jumped in without
much ceremony and attempted to swim across to Sandy Beach. When about thirty five feet out Galbraith
said to his companion, "I can't make it. I'm played out now." He turned to go back to shore and as he did,
he suddenly threw up his hands and disappeared. Schnerring, who was a short distance away, attempted
to rescue him and grabbed his bathing shirt but the weight was too much and Galbraith sunk to the
bottom. When the alarm was given that a man had gone down, the bathers at Sandy Beach and other
parts of the dam hastened to the spot to try and aid in the rescue. A. W. Swartz, who was bathing at the
new Y. M. C. A. bath house, secured a boat and tried to locate the body with a long pole. Dr. W. G.
Hoeffer, Lamar Pritchard, J. G. Smith and Fred Hause dove after Galbraith but couldn't find him. The Nellie
Bly boat, with grappling irons, was quickly brought into service and in a short time the grappling hooks
caught the body and it was hauled to the surface, about fifteen minutes after the accident. In attempting
to recover the dead man the boat was upset but the body was gotten into shore and carried to the Y. M.
C. A. boat house where Drs. Cristman, Boone, Kramer, Albright and Hoeffer worked hard to bring back life
but their efforts were in vain. One of the physicians stated that he thought Galbraith became exhausted
due to the run along shore and when he plunged into the water the strain was too much and he collapsed.
The Pottsville Hospital ambulance was there shortly after the accident with Dr. Fegley and two attendants.
The body was taken to the home of Galbraith's grandfather, George Pfeifer of 809 Minersville Street
about seven o'clock. Where Galbraith went down, the water is about twenty feet deep.
Galbraith's parents reside at Plymouth but were formerly residents of Pottsville. The family were notified
last night. It is thought that young Galbraith's father is en route to Mexico. On the fifth of last August
Frank Gordon sunk near Gorman's launch. Both Gordon and Galbraith could swim, but their drowning was
attributed to exhaustion. An inquest will be held tomorrow afternoon by Deputy Coroner Veith. Young
Galbraith was of a quiet disposition and well liked among his friends and acquaintances.
| Pottsville Republican of December 30, 1910 TURTLE BOAT HOUSE BURNED The Turtle and Mount Carbon boat houses on the upper Tumbling Run dam were destroyed by fire shortly after eleven o'clock last night, burning completely to the ground. A number of the boat houses in the vicinity were saved from destruction by the timely rain of last night which started about nine o'clock. No one was near the place when the fire broke out and the boat houses had been closed for the winter. It is supposed that boat house thieves made a visit and in order to cover up their tracks, set fire to the buildings. They were among the finest appearing houses situated along the dam and were owned by a number of Pottsville people. |
| Pottsville Republican of June 24, 1888 DROWNED AT TUMBLING RUN Matthew Ryan was drowned in the lower Tumbling Run dam yesterday afternoon about three o'clock. He and William Schrader of Palo Alto had been engaged in a swimming contest and Ryan becoming fatigued was taken into a boat. After a short rest, he again took to the water, and a few minutes later was observed by some young men on shore to turn his face skyward, make an effort to cry out and then sink to rise no more. The place where the drowning occurred was about fifty feet from the breast of the dam and thirty feet from the northern shore and the Pottsville road. Grappling irons were secured and with the aid of the Greenleaf Club boat, every effort was made to recover the body but without effect. The water is very deep at the point where Ryan disappeared and as the wickets were open it is probable the body found its way to the lowest point. Ryan was a widower and resided with his mother on the lower road to Port Carbon opposite the shops. A young son is in charge of the P and R telegraph station at Spring Mill station just below Conshohocken. Ryan was a former well known Schuylkill Canal boat owner and boatman and was an expert swimmer. Of late he was employed at the Atkin's furnace. He was about forty five years of age. Deputy Coroner Clemens was on hand early and directed operations for the recovery of the body. Large crowds visited the scene last evening and today. At nine o'clock this morning, John Kane and Jesse Garrett of Mount Carbon and James Kirk of the orchard, resumed the search and succeeded in grappling the body between ten and eleven o'clock, near the spot where he went down. The hook caught him by the neck. Deputy Coroner Clemens' jury consisted of B. U. Kirk, C. D. Elliott, Edward Fisher, F. W. Fey, Thomas Waldron and John Kane rendering a verdict of accidental death by drowning. |
This is the earliest story found in the Pottsville
Republican newspapers on a drowning at Tumbling Run.
Republican newspapers on a drowning at Tumbling Run.
Three drownings occurred in less then two months in 1895...
| Pottsville Republican of July 3, 1895 BOY DROWNED AT TUMBLING RUN Walter Gross Sinks the Last Time Before His Companions A very sad drowning case took place yesterday afternoon at Tumbling Run. Walter Gross, aged eight years and son of William Gross, residing up near Bare Field was drowned at the first dam at a place commonly called "Red Rock" on the opposite shore and above the tool house of the Knickerbocker Ice Company. Young Gross was accompanied by three companions, but he was the only one who went in to bathe. The place is very treacherous as the incline runs almost perpendicular for twelve feet and the boy in his struggles was unable to return to shore, his companions being powerless to help him. Deputy Coroner J. J. Clemens was notified at about 4:45 p.m. through a telephone message from the P.S.V. roundhouse. The father of the boy in the meantime was notified of the drowning of his son and had preceded the coroner on the grounds. A. E. Saul, an employee of the P. S. V. and R. W. Skelly procured a boat and grappling iron and succeeded in bringing the boy to the surface about 3:30 pm. It took over half an hour to find the body. Mr. Saul dressed the young lad in his clothes and procured a sheet from the residents nearby and tenderly placed him upon the bank. Eddie Kane, Willie Bachman and John McAtee attempted to recover the body by diving in the water but were unsuccessful. The companions of Gross wee afraid to report the circumstance to his father which accounts for the late hour in which the news reached Pottsville. William Gross, the father of the boy, was almost heartbroken when the sheet was removed from the face of the dead boy and his sobs could be heard at quite a distance. Two friends carried the body to a shady place near Bowen;s ice house while the father came to Pottsville for an undertaker. I. L. Meyers of Wilkes barre, visiting at Mount Carbon, kindly assisted in getting the boy out of the water. The coroner's jury convened this morning at 9:30 and rendered a verdict in accordance with the facts. |
| Pottsville Republican of July 23, 1895 ONE MORE DROWNING! WENDEL GRAF FINDS A WATERY GRAVE IN THE UPPER TUMBLING RUN DAM Wendel Graf, the North Centre Street baker, hired a boat from J. H. Gorman to row on the dam about 5:15 p. m. yesterday, and at none o'clock he was drowned. Graf was accompanied by another baker named John Schott. Both men had been drinking at the hotel and were told frequently to go home. In coming down to play ten pins, Schott jumped over the high wall in front of the hotel, but Graf refused. After this they came down to hire the boats, each taking one. They were seen on the upper dam rowing around, when Schott moved to the opposite shore, undressed and went in bathing. His comrade drew up close to him with his boat and followed suit. This was about six o'clock. They had been fooling in the water for some time neither of the men being swimmers of any account. One of their practices was to catch hold of the boat from the stern and go under the water. As soon as Graf was drowned a messenger was sent in to notify Deputy Coroner J. J. Clemens who made his appearance after eight o'clock and summoned the following jury: John Boland, William Stevenson, William J. Kennedy, Robert Howell, Moses Rothstone and Charles Clouser. Mr. Gorman tendered the use of several boats to bring the remains of Graf over from the opposite shore where it had been taken out of the water. Three of the jury went with the coroner and brought the dead body of Graf to the landing at the level near the Gorman boat houses, where the inquest was commenced. J. H. Gorman testified to the time the boats were hired:5:15, when he returned from supper the men were not back yet, he took one of his boats to go in search of them at seven o'clock, he saw Schott when he returned. Arthur Strong saw the men about seven o'clock from the opposite shore jumping in and out of the water. He was under the impression they were under the influence of liquor, the men were not able to swim, the water is about four feet deep at that point. William Stevenson thought they were under the influence of liquor when they were going down to the dam. Al Nimmocks, an attaché of the hotel, was next sworn when he stated he went into a boat, went over to the opposite shore, procured a grappling iron and pulled Graf to the shore. He notified the Coroner at seven o'clock. Anthony Lloyd brought the body up. George Mager was the next witness sworn. He was told by Schott that his buddy was drowned. This witness corroborated the others. J. D. Lowrey tried to pump the water from Graf but it was too late as the man was dead, but he got some water from the man's stomach after rolling him on a keg for a short time. The inquest then adjourned until 12:30 o'clock today to take the testimony of John Schott, the man who was with Graf when he drowned. The remains were given over to Heiken Brothers to prepare for burial. John Schott, who had been with Graf all afternoon of yesterday, was sworn today at 12:30 o'clock and from the testimony given by the witness he had very little remembrance of what took place until his friend was drowned. The jury after hearing all the testimony rendered the following verdict: That Wendel Graf came to his death by being accidentally drowned while bathing in the upper Tumbling Run dam between six and seven o'clock, July 22, 1895. An administrator was appointed by the coroner this morning in the person of Charles Striegel and the proper bond filed. The coroner found $18.32 in cash on Graf's person last night and $72.00 at his late home and also a gold watch. The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock with interment at German Catholic Cemetery. |
| Pottsville Republican of August 30, 1895 ANOTHER DROWNING! Angelo Varallo, of the Italian Orchestra the Victim FRANTIC GRIEF OF HIS RELATIVES Angelo Varallo, aged twenty three years, first violinist of the Italian Orchestra, was drowned in the upper Tumbling Run dam near the Orwigsburg road bridge this morning at 10:30 o'clock, while his brother in law, Tony Viti, unable to swim, stood nearby powerless to lend a helping hand to his kindred. Frederick J. Greiner, a waiter at the Tumbling Run Hotel, nobly went to the drowning man's assistance twice and tried to push him into shallow water, but Varallo turning, clutched him in the death grip and then trampled him under foot in his frantic efforts, Greiner with the utmost difficulty escaping. Edward Koch, of the hotel, and James Graeff with several others went to the scene and after a half hour's diving and grappling, Mr. Koch discovered the body in eight feet of water and holding onto a boat clasped his feet about the corpse, thus raising it to the surface. The body was allowed to lie on the bank until the arrival of the Deputy Coroner. Michael Varallo, father of Angelo, and his brother Frank were in Pottsville at the time and hurried to the hotel where they sought their room. They were inconsolable. The father bit his fingers and tore at his hair and face, while his son and son-in-law and the Swedish cornetist tried in vain to calm him. It was indeed a sad scene to witness. Frederick J. Greiner said that Varallo, Tony Viti, James Coyle, a boy and James McCormick, another boy and himself went along the near shore of the upper dam to a point below the Orwigsburg road bridge where the water is shallow at both banks but deep in the center, the running stream having cut a channel when the dam was drawn off. They had been swimming some time and the boys swam across the dam several times. Greiner was resting on the far side. The Italian musicians, both of whom could not swim, then waded out with the two boys, Coyle and McCormick, the latter slightly in front of Angelo. Greiner shouted to look out for the hole or channel but was not heeded or understood and Angelo went too far and was at once struggling for life. Greiner at once plunged to Angelo's assistance, Coyle and McCormick being too young to be of any help. He got behind the drowning man and endeavored to push him towards shallow water. As he is but seventeen years old and slightly built, he was at a disadvantage with Varallo, who weighed at least one hundred and eighty pounds. The latter grabbed his would be rescuer to stand upon him. Greiner broke away and made a second attempt to shove the excited man from the deep water but was again seized and trampled under foot. This time he almost lost consciousness and with difficulty made his way to shore, where he lay for some time panting for breath. James Coyle, a boy almost twelve years old, told practically the same story. He said Varallo's struggles were terrible to see, that he beat the water frantically and seemed maddened with fear. Had it not been for this fact it is probable Greiner would have effected his rescue. Coyle speaks of some stranger who followed and sat on the bank watching them swim. This man made no effort to help. Heiken Brothers took charge of the body and prepared it for shipment to Philadelphia on the 4:35 train, Reading Railroad, the brother-in-law, Tony Viti accompanying it. The father and brother and cornetist took the 2:50 Pennsy train. It was not possible to get the corpse ready for this train, consequently Mr. Viti was obliged to wait. The funeral will be held from the family residence, Washington Avenue, that city, where his mother and married sister, Mrs. Viti await him. Deceased was a fine looking man. His hair was brown and wavy and he wore a small light mustache with side whiskers. He was very neat in his attire generally sat next to his father, the harpist. Only four months ago he came to the United States from Naples Italy after serving two years in the Italian Army. He was unmarried. Deputy Coroner Clemens being out of town, his deputy, John J. Murphy, empaneled a jury who were adjourned to meet at the call of Mr. Clemens. The performance will be held this evening the same as usual weather permitting. |
Frequent drownings at Tumbling Run may
have prompted the following story...
have prompted the following story...
Still tragedies continued...
Tumbling Run was also the scene for odd rumors,
murder and the tale of a strange resident of the valley...
murder and the tale of a strange resident of the valley...
| Tumbling Run was sold to different owners, including the Reading Railroad and eventually the Borough of Schuylkill Haven. By 1917, it's days as a resort were ending. |
| Read about the care free days of camping in Tumbling Run in 1888 Two very different articles from the 1880's, one about the demand for high quality ice from the dams and the other about a problem with nude swimmers. Improvements are made to the grounds at the dams in 1910. Brokhoff, the milkman is robbed by gunmen in Tumbling Run in 1910. Please note: Articles on this page have now been grouped by type and in chronological order. Newest articles are highlighted in yellow background. |
| Pottsville Republican of March 17, 1927 BOYS HAD RIDE ON CAKE ICE Three lads from Mount Carbon, ranging in age from twelve to fifteen, had quite an experience on Wednesday afternoon from two to four o'clock when they had their first swim of the season without being prepared for it. The boys had gone out to Tumbling Run and when they came to the first dam decided to test the thickness of the ice. The three of them were walking along the edge of the ice, which had been unusually thick this winter, when, without warning the part on which they were standing broke away from the rest of the piece and floated toward the middle of the dam before they could jump ashore. Their predicament was discovered by the residents along the road and lines were thrown out to them but they were too far away to catch them. All this took time and the piece of ice on which they were afloat was honeycombed from the sun these last few warm days and it broke under the strain of the boys perched on it, plunging them into the dam's icy waters. Fortunately they were all good swimmers and made good time to the shore. The boys, Joseph Shaw, Thomas Moore and young Folino are none the worse for their experience. |
| Pottsville Republican of September 4, 1917 BOAT HOUSES ARE TORN DOWN Tumbling Run is surely a thing off the past now and this once popular summer resort will never again be the scene of picnics and outings if the plans of the P and R C and I are carried out. The boat houses are all torn down and the lumber is being bought up by various contractors for small sums. Some individuals have purchased some of there lumber to erect garages and there is still some lumber lying around unused. On Saturday the last of the boat houses was "tilted" and the general appearance of the lakes has so changed that one would never know the place. The tracks of the trolley company are covered with dirt and will be torn up as it is practically assured that Tumbling Run as a summer resort has passed into the "has beens". There will be no permits granted for the use of the ground and notices are to be put up around the lakes and all the company ground, to the effect that anyone even found walking thereon will be arrested for trespassing. Thus passeth one of the finest summer resorts in the state. |
| Revival becomes a possibility... |
| Pottsville Republican of August 13, 1920 CITY TO TAKE TUMBLING RUN AS PUBLIC PARK The condemnation of Tumbling Run for the benefit of the people of Pottsville is provided in a resolution that has been prepared by City Councilman Dengler and signed by Councilman Bearster and has been placed in the hands of the city solicitor. Steps of this kind were under consideration for some time but have now been brought to a head through the announcement by the "Republican" that the Reading Company has commenced work on cutting the timber away from the beautiful drive through the Tumbling Run Valley and also because of the activity of the company in cutting other timber in that valley and protecting slopes. Because the Silver Creek Water Company enjoyed certain rights at Tumbling Run this section has been held up but now it is figured that it can be shown that a reservoir further up the valley can be built at comparatively small cost which will render the water free of all danger of contamination and at the same time make it possible to lawfully use it for domestic purposes while the public will be able to enjoy the advantages of the resort made famous in past years. It is feared that unless prompt action is taken in this matter, the entire Tumbling Run valley will be desolated and made as a desert thus also destroying the value of the water shed, which it has been claimed it is now desired to protect. The closing of the road up the Tumbling Run valley has also created a serious condition as it was this road that was depended upon as the detour with the closing of the Tamaqua road and now long and almost impossible detours are being made necessary by this sudden, unexpected and peculiar decision of the company. |
| Pottsville Republican of July 11, 1895 AT TUMBLING RUN - The Largest Number of People Ever Assembled at the Resort The largest crowd that ever assembled at Tumbling Run was present last evening to witness the attractions provided for the amusement of the patrons of the Schuylkill Electric Railway. People of Pottsville and vicinity commenced to rush to the groves surrounding the upper dams and the boat houses lining the shore and all that could find seating room around the hotel fixed themselves to take in the sight of the many people passing to and fro. It was a good natured crowd and every person seemed pleased with what they saw. In the afternoon the regular performance took place which was greatly admired and gave general satisfaction to all who witnessed it. |
| Pottsville Republican of August 5, 1895 DEATH AT THE RUN - Tobias Potsdamer Found Floating on the Lower Dam, Lifeless At 7:30 o'clock Sunday morning two ladies walking along the shore of the lower Tumbling Run Dam saw the body of a man floating in the water fifty feet from the dam breast, and screamed out an alarm. James Graeff and William Reinhart secured a boat and brought the body to shore, when it proved to be that of Tobias Potsdamer, in his fifty ninth year, a resident of 421 Minersville Street. Deputy Coroner James J. Clemens was notified and empanelled Benjamin Cake, John S. Murphy, Theodore F. Heilner, William Burns, William Reinhart and James Graeff jurors, who elicited the following story from witnesses and after viewing the body gave it into the care of Schoener Brothers, then adjourning until today at two o'clock. Potsdamer, who had been in ill health and unable to work at his occupation of spectacle selling for the past year, left home about five o'clock in the morning to bathe at the Run in accordance with the advice of his physician. He was seen passing the P and R station, Mount Carbon, at 4:50 o'clock by Thomas Keene. About one hundred feet from the breast of the dam his clothing was found and the marks of his stockinged feet were plainly visible on the muddy beach. When found he had on a full set of underclothing and stockings. His body was black and floated and his lungs contained little or no water. The supposition is that Potsdamer, who recently suffered a stroke of paralysis received another stroke shortly after entering the water. His body was in such a condition that the funeral was held this afternoon at three o'clock. He was a member of Beth Israel congregation and interment was made in the Hebrew cemetery, Reverend A. D. Chadowski officiating. He leaves besides his widow, one daughter. On Saturday morning he took his usual daily bath but Sunday morning his wife did not hear him arise. His power of speech was very much affected by the first attack of paralysis and he could eat only soft victuals. The family of deceased will receive one thousand and seventy five dollars from the Hebrew benevolent fund, provided for such cases. The verdict of the jury was that the deceased came to his death by drowning. |
| Pottsville Republican of August 14, 1920 READING COMPANY CUTTING TIMBER OF TWP. AT RUN, ORDERED TO STOP The officials of the Reading Company and the Silver Creek Water Company and their subordinate employees are likely to have criminal prosecution instituted against them for cutting timber and appropriating property. This grows out of the heartless destroying of the beauties of the Tumbling Run valley by the Reading Company ordering the trees cut down along the road. If it is true that trees have been cut down on property not belonging to the corporations and the timber appropriated for the corporation use, then there is probability for proceedings for theft, trespass and other criminal counts, besides the special state timber laws that make it a heinous offense to cut down trees on other persons property under the timber regulation acts. The proceedings are to be amicable at the beginning but if the corporation will not enter into an agreement to stop destroying the beauties of the Tumbling Run road, the harshest possible proceedings will be instituted. Gordon F. Nagle, the well known contractor of Pottsville, whose home is in the suburbs of North Manheim Township between Pottsville and Cressona and who is supervisor of North Manheim Township has officially notified the Reading officials that they must stop cutting the timber along the Tumbling Run road. The timber contractors engaged in the work this Saturday morning accepted the notice and stopped proceedings at once. This action is based on the fact that the Tumbling Run road was laid out as a thirty three foot road over half a century ago but in most places it was never opened to more then sixteen feet and so many of the big trees lining the road are still in public township property so that the cutting down of the same by the corporations is a criminal offense that if the proceedings are pushed may land the leading corporation officials behind the bars. Unfortunately this would leave just a mere fringe of trees along the road on both sides, but as the public highway trees have been cut down without legal rights and as the perpetrators have made themselves amendable to the law by doing this, it is hoped to bring about a compromise whereby the corporations will mainly agree to leave the trees stand for a partial distance beyond the road that are on the corporation property in addition to those that are on the public highway ground. Township Supervisor Nagle has the advice and cooperation of some of the leading citizens and most eminent legal authority of the county. It is hoped that an adjustment can be brought about that will continue the Tumbling Run road with its beautiful tree surroundings. |
| This late nineteenth century stereoview shows the Tumbling Run dams looking east toward Pottsville with a farm in the foreground |
| Pottsville Republican of December 10, 1896 BOAT HOUSE ROBBED The Nellie Bly boat house at Tumbling Run was broken into a few nights ago and everything portable was carried off including a set of dishes won at the regatta, pictures, looking glasses, china, barware, chairs, tables and in fact everything except the boats. Some of the knives and spoons were found on the road coming from the run, so that the parties that carried away the goods must have had a horse and wagon. The boat club members are after the thieves. The door lock was broken with a chisel and hammer. |
| Pottsville Republican of July 20, 1896 LEWIS MILLER DROWNED - His Boat Capsized and He Sank Never to Arise Alive Lewis Miller, aged twenty one years, employed as a baker by John J. Kohler on Fourth and Schuylkill Avenue, was accidentally drowned at Tumbling Run on Saturday evening about seven o'clock. Miller and a party of associates had been having an afternoon out at the dam and among the pleasure participated in by them was boating. His friends, Charles Hartman and Charles Brandt had taken a boat belonging to George Peifer at the Edgewater boat house. The two had taken a trip and returned, when Miller got aboard, taking the place of Brandt, and he and Hartman paddled out together. They had reached the Neversink boat house. When about thirty feet out the boat overturned and threw both men out. Hartman struck out for the shore and landed in safety. Miller however, who could not swim, was left to struggle. He grappled with the light boat and cried aloud for help, but in a few moments he hold slipped and he sank into the water below, a depth of about thirty feet and never arose again alive. The bottom at this point is covered with rock and stumps and it is believed Miller's clothes became entangled among one of those objects which prevented his rising to the surface. His cries brought Thomas Wardle, who was engaged eating his supper in his boat house nearby, to respond. Wardle boarded his boat and with several well directed strokes of the bar was within a few feet of Miller's side when the unfortunate young man gave a cry and his body sank out of sight. Others in their pleasure boats hastened to the rescue but they too were too late. Several persons ashore witnessed the drowning, some of whom expressed surprise that Miller was not rescued by one or more of those who were near at hand. Some of the onlookers seemed to be dazed with fright. Deputy Coroner Clemens empanelled Messrs.. Joseph Defrehn, J. W. Eisenhuth, J. M. Madison, Joseph Myers, P. C. Thomas and Albert Roehrig, foreman, to inquire into the cause of Miller's drowning. The Deputy Coroner had been notified shortly after the sad occurrence and he hastened to the spot with his jury. Upon reaching the dam the body had not yet been recovered , but several gangs of men in boats were faithfully at work with grappling hooks, making efforts to bring the body to the surface of the water. This work of rescue was continued until after midnight, the Deputy Coroner himself assisting. After midnight the work was abandoned until morning when it was again resumed. At about eight o'clock harry Dewald, one of the rescuers, was rewarded by locating the body, which was brought to the surface after a brief struggle. Heiken Brothers took charge of the remains and conveyed them to their undertaking establishment, after which they were removed to John Kohler's residence, the home of his employer, where they will remain until the arrival of his sister, who has been notified and is expected to arrive here today. The final disposition of the body will then be determined upon. Young Miller's parents live in Germany, and it is reported that he comes from a well to do family. He had but recently been left an inheritance, which was expected daily. He was a thrifty, industrious and sober young man. He had but recently taken out an insurance policy in one of the many American Life Insurance Companies. His employer had the most implicit confidence in him and classed him as a superior workman. He was popular among his friends, of whom he gathered a large number during his residence here. It was after enjoying a pleasant afternoon and in the midst of the sports provided that his sad and sudden end came. A number of shop hands had invited him to enjoy the afternoon with them, and Miller and his friend Charles Hartman, who is also a baker, and who is employed by John McKenna of Port Carbon, joined the festive party. Neither of the men had imbibed to excess and their conduct was rational all afternoon. He and Hartman during the afternoon had their pictures taken in a group together, a number of which they had distributed among their friends at the dam, who had taken them in possession after the accident. The boat, or more properly, the canoe, is a treacherous vessel, and the two men were cautioned not to go out upon the water in it. Both men answered that they could swim and their friends had no further concern of their welfare, believing that they were able to take care of themselves, but Miller's confidence in his swimming skill was no doubt overrated by himself, and when the boat overturned he lost his presence of mind, and he alone is to blame for his untimely and sad death. |
| DROWNED AT TUMBLING RUN |
| Pottsville Republican of April 7, 1908 FOUND COUNTERFEIT DOLLARS - Shovers of Strange Dropped Bad Money in Tumbling Run Dam Children while playing about the breast of the Tumbling Run Dam yesterday found a number of counterfeit dollars supposed to have been thrown into the dam by some party who feared arrest for passing bad money. The water has been lowered about six feet and the money was found just at the water's edge. It is known that last summer counterfeit dollars were being circulated in various parts of the county, several being passed among Pottsville merchants. Secret Service men tried without success to locate the shovers of the strange, but that they were making their presence felt, is borne out by the supposition that the guilty ones in finding themselves hard pressed got rid of the convicting evidence by dropping it into the dam in what they believed to be the deepest part. |
| The Pottsville Republican of August 31, 1912 LOADED RUN CAR JUMPS THE TRACK About sixty passengers on one of the big open trolley cars on the Tumbling Run division had a narrow escape about ten o'clock Friday night when the car left the rails at the point where the dam road crosses the trolley tracks near the white rock at the curve just as the car was entering Palo Alto from the Run. The passengers were thrown about in the car and a number shaken up but fortunately none was seriously injured. The car was in charge of Motorman McGovern and Conductor Reber. When the car left the rails it was saved from running over the road to the high bank by the high style of rails which have just been installed. As the car jumped the trolley came off the wire throwing the car in darkness. A Miss Hughes was the only one to be injured in any way, the rest of the passengers keeping their seats and escaped with a severe jarring. The car was of the large summer type and an examination showed that the heavy car had ground a stone into powder. Evidence of a stone on the track was also found along the rail. An examination has convinced the officials that the car left the rails as a result of an obstruction on the track either placed there or knocked on the rail by a team. |
| The Pottsville Republican of October 3, 1912 THIRD DAM TUMBLING RUN, SURVEYS START UP VALLEY As announced heretofore in the Republican at different times, calling attention to preliminary surveys, we are now in a position to say that the authoritative, definite, official survey is being made by the Reading Company for a third dam to be constructed up the Tumbling Run valley, which is intended to carry out the suggestions of the State Water Department when permission was refused the Reading Company for the use of Tumbling Run water from the two present dams for domestic use in adjacent towns. The Reading Company has been using Tumbling Run water without the consent of the State Water Department and the State Board of Health as an adjunct to its Silver Creek and Crystal Run reservoir supplies, the former being located at New Philadelphia and covering all of the territory between Pottsville and Silver Creek, while the Crystal Run Company has its reservoir located beyond Minersville, at West West Falls, and was intended to supply the territory between Branchdale, Minersville Heckschersville, etc. Several years ago the Reading Company laid a water line from Tumbling Run to Port Carbon, where connection was made with the Silver Creek main and this same water line was continued to Port Carbon and Saint Clair and then the new line was extended over the intervening hills to Mine Hill Gap for the Pine Knot Colliery in the Heckschersville valley and the other line passing through Duncott and Jonestown, up to a connection with the Lytle and Branchdale supply coming from the Crystal Run’s big West West Falls reservoir. The official surveying for a third dam up Tumbling Run Valley, which is now officially under way, is intended to cover the territory extending from a point opposite the old baseball park at Tumbling Run, five miles up the valley to Heiser’s farm where the ravine narrows. This will give the company opportunity of building two reservoirs with, of course, some side breasts to block up intervening small valleys. At points these two new dams would cover a width of a half mile at its widest point, while the breasts of the dams can be raised to a height equaling the present Tumbling Run dams, or even making them still higher. In all probability they will be higher and this will mean that while the present dam is ninety feet deep, the new dams may be from 125 to 150 feet deep and the principal dam is calculated to hold over 700,000,000 gallons of water. The Tumbling Run watershed is partially occupied by some farms, but the Reading Company has been getting, or rather somebody, presumably representing the Reading Company, has been getting options on these farms for several years past, leaving a few unpurchased and these with the assistance of the State Water Board had a price set upon them by arbitration. The Reading Company is ,making this improvement in order to be in a position to supply Schuylkill Haven, Cressona, Orwigsburg and intervening territory on the south and also take care of the shortage that will occur in times of drought of the Silver Creek and Crystal Run to which, as stated above, the Tumbling Run water line is connected, but to get the water into the pipes as at present connected, pumping must be done and in order to get the height for the south of the mountain towns above mentioned, the third and the fourth reservoirs of the Reading Company at Tumbling Run have long ago been known to be a positive necessity and tentative plans for them have been in existence for quite a while. Several years ago and since, at different times the “Republican” has called attention to not only the contemplated Tumbling Run additional reservoirs but also to the fact that the Reading Company had to sooner or later secure an additional water supply to take care of its mining property lying east of Silver Creek between New Philadelphia and Tamaqua. The official starting of the work for the construction of the new Tumbling Run reservoir higher up the valley will relieve the people from their fear that the Tumbling Run pleasure resort of the Traction Company, the boat houses, etc will be interfered with. This means that the Tumbling Run pleasure resort will be permanently located there, subject however to legal contentions emanating from State Board of Health regulations and the unsettled claims of other people to Tumbling Run dam exclusive ownership. The intricacies and red tape of the water question are not generally known by the public but the Reading Company is compelled to file a monthly report, together with a chemical analysis of all of the water passing through the pipes, including a statement of the probable known pollution of the water shed and if there is any one department of the state government that is not influenced by politics, fear, favor, relationships, or graft, it is the Water and Health Board and Dr. Dixon, the director of these departments, is one of the few men who can decline to listen to political or official orders, for he is a power in himself and only agreed to accept these positions with the distinct understanding that he never was to be interfered with. It also may not be generally known that Dr. Dixon’s family are heavily interested in Schuylkill County lands, consequently he is acquainted with the situation here in this section a little more then the entire stranger would be. The Republican congratulates the Reading Company and the public on this move for additional Tumbling Run reservoirs, for it is going to relieve a very harassing situation that affected not only the Reading Company with their industrial working, but also interfered with the growth of towns, the development of industries and the health of the people by the insufficiency and claimed unhealthiness of the supply of water furnished through the Reading Company’s Silver Creek and Crystal Run systems which covers the suburban territory of Pottsville to the east, to the north and to the west for many miles. |
| The Call of October 10, 1910 TUMBLING RUN WATER FOR TOWN At a special meeting of Town Council held Monday night, Solicitor Noecker reported the result of negotiations with the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company relative to securing a permanent supply of water for Schuylkill Haven from the Tumbling Run dams. The idea was originally suggested by the Reverend John P. Muldowney of town and the committee has been greatly aided by that gentleman in the prosecution of its work. Briefly stated the proposition is that the P. & R., C. & I. Company has agreed to furnish the borough with a permanent supply of water from Tumbling Run, provided the borough or a local water company will build its own pipe line from the Run to the borough and lay its own distributing mains. For the present the supply of water will be taken from a temporary reservoir to be built above the second dam and later from the big dams when the boat houses and all other sources of contamination have been removed. Upon the committee’s request, on motion of Mr. Weiss, the committee was authorized to employ a competent engineer to determine the cost of pipeline and distributing mains and to ascertain if the water will run by gravity to supply the highest points in town. The engineer will also enable the committee to come to some agreement with the P. & R., C. & I. Company regarding the price to be paid for the water. IF the engineer’s estimates show that the borough is able to finance the proposition a special vote of the people will be taken on the matter of increasing the borough debt. If the borough can not finance it, it is the opinion of our moneyed men that a corporation of local capitalists can be quickly formed, provided at least eighty percent of the present consumers will agree to take the water. The members present at the meeting were Messrs. Berger, Brown, Beck, Moore, Rooney, Saul, Weiss, Wagner and President Keller. Secretary Minnig, Burgess Hartman, Solicitor Noecker and Special Solicitor Berger were also present. |
| The Pottsville Republican of June 28, 1933 HOW ABOUT IT? DO WE WANT TUMBLING RUN? To take up some of the task of supplying men with work, the “Republican Morning Paper” proposes restoring Tumbling Run for the use of the public. It has long been a mooted question as to whether the Reading Company had a more secure title to the former feeders to the Schuylkill Canal than the state proper. As more liberal construction is being placed upon state and government properties, these publications are ready to back the movement in the following manner. The closing down of the use of Tumbling Run for the use of the public was said to be the necessity for taking the dams for domestic purposes. That’s a good claim but it can be overcome. USE LOWER DAM Give up all thought of using the second dam for public use and have one dollar a year men take up the problem of building a third dam up the valley beyond the second dam, using the lower dam for bathing purposes. How to meet the expense? Providing the State of Pennsylvania will take title and demand sufficient space surrounding the lower dam for traffic, for the building of houses, for the building of roads that will provide one way traffic and allow sufficient space around each bath house to park cars and to so build the lower dam that its great depth be filled in sufficient to make a beach of perfect safety for all ages. BUILD STATE ROAD Starting at the Pennsy Railroad, run the new road up the southern side of the lower dam, surround the entire dam, using small bridges for crossing where the bathing dams are now located near Mount Carbon and another at the breast of the upper dam on a level with the lower dam, coming out onto the old road and thus making a complete circle of the lower dam. HOW TO MEET THE COST Taking it for granted the public, if given a chance to do so will participate in a financial scheme that will finance the building of the third dam in the following manner: Sites for two hundred houses can be provided at $500 each, payable in a ten year installment plan, houses to be built of a material selected by the one dollar a year men and to consist of only two rooms on one floor, this to be paid out of the monies paid for the sites. The State of Pennsylvania to consider this as a state public park, but the building of the third dam to be done out of the funds provided through the purchase and finance of these two hundred sites, the new dam to be so erected that perfect safety to all inhabitants living along the line of this outlet be provided, and the water from the dam to be kept pure and clean as it is at present, and water to be furnished for the use of the occupants of the boat houses along the present lower dam. The day of public entertainment, amusement and places in which to secure unpolluted air, has so far advanced that a public sentiment wins over the action of heretofore seeming impossibilities. We believe the Reading Company will be glad to cooperate and secure the good will of the public by entering into this movement that will be of no expense to them and will close up a former sore topic of ownership and at the same time provide them with revenue from the use of hydrants in the boat houses. WORK FOR MANY MEN This turning of Tumbling Run lower dam over to the public at this time would come as one of the greatest boons to Schuylkill Countians and answer the request of the governor for projects wherewith to make proper use of funds soon obtainable for unemployed purposes. Sewage could be provided at little expense, for the Schuylkill River is close at hand and thus far dumping of sewage into it has not been prohibited, but if such should be the case, there are more modern methods perhaps no more expensive at hand for the purpose, and the matter of electricity can be taken up with little thought. As stated above, the “Republican” is prepared to go into details if the public agree with them that Tumbling Run should be used for the local county people and no better time could be found then now to do the work. A rough sketch of the proposition is submitted herewith. herewith. |
| This map accompanied the article in the Republican. |
| Tumbling Run Wavelets |
| The Pottsville Republican of August 4, 1933 BODY FOUND AT TUMBLING RUN The body of Michael Trabosh, aged twenty eight of 326 Laurel Street, son of Nicholas Trabosh, was found floating in he first dam at Tumbling Run Friday afternoon. The body was fully clothed. The body was found by Jefferson Davis who was fishing at the breast. He saw the body near the middle of the dam. Mrs. Wade Smith, who lives near there waded into the dam and got out the body. Three years ago she recovered the body of another drowned man. He had been missing from his home for the past three days. No one had seen him nor had any word been received since Tuesday when he left his home in the afternoon. He was last seen by his sister, Miss Louise Trabosh, whom he told he was going for a swim in the big dam at Tumbling Run. When talking with his sister, he told her the heat was bothering him and that he was going to take a plunge. He asked her to tell his mother and dad, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Trabosh, when they returned home in the evening after visiting friends. Thinking that he had returned in the evening, and had gone to bed, the family did not discover his absence until Wednesday morning, when his mother went into his bedroom. A search of the house was made and his bathing suit, which he was wrapping up while talking to his sister, was found tucked away in the corner of the kitchen, where he always kept it. His brothers went to Tumbling Run. They searched everywhere near and around the dams but found no trace of him. He was in perfect health. He complained of nothing except his inability to obtain work. He was accustomed to work, steadily having been employed for nine years at the round house until several months ago. Sergeant Blankenhorn, Councilman Stevenson and Sergeant Deegan went to Tumbling Run and identified the body. Trabosh is survived y his parents, two brothers, Joseph and Nicholas at home, and two sisters, Louise and Eleanor at home. |
| The Pottsville Republican of August 13, 1908 TOT SWAM ACROSS LAKE - Had Never Been in Swimming Before and Her Feat is Remarkable A most remarkable feat was accomplished at Tumbling Run the other day by a twelve year old girl who swam across the dam and back again despite the fact that she had never before tried to swim. She is little twelve year old Miriam Howard of Birmingham Georgia, who with her mother, was visiting Mrs. Howard's sister, Mrs. M. F. Sheafer of Washington and South Centre Streets. A boat house party was being held and a number of the participants attired themselves in bathing suits. After playing about the water, Miss Howard suddenly decided she could swim across the dam and jumping in struck put for the opposite shore. She easily kept afloat and made progress like an experienced swimmer. People in boats watched the little one make her way across the deep water and followed close to her to give assistance if necessary, while those at the boat house were almost in a frenzy with fear. The members of the family and the little girl herself insist that she never swam before. It was one of the most remarkable feats ever accomplished at the Run and it is not probable that it ever will be duplicated. She had not the slightest assistance through any artificial device. |
| The Pottsville Republican of November 12, 1908 ICE HOUSE DESTROYED - Tramps Believed to Have Started Blaze at Tumbling Run Shortly after eight o'clock last night, a bright light in the sky could be seen in Pottsville and surrounding towns when the big ice house of the American Ice Company, just below the breast of the upper Tumbling Run dam was being burned to the ground, the probable result of tramps building a fire in or near the big structure. The Schuylkill Haven and Pottsville departments were ready to respond in case a call was made for assistance, but their services were not asked, because the building was doomed and there was little if any danger of it spreading further. The loss will reach several thousand dollars. The house was practically empty except for a small amount of ice which had been stored there since three years ago. It has a capacity of several hundred thousand tons and was built some years ago by William Hamilton. Lambert Hess of Mount Carbon is the local superintendent of the company. A number of Pottsville people hurried to the Run as it was reported that the hotel was afire and that there was danger that the boat houses being wiped out. The fire set the dried leaves ablaze an it was feared that a serious mountain fire would follow but this was extinguished before it gained much headway. |
| The Pottsville Republican of January 23, 1909 BOAT HOUSES ROBBED AT TUMBLING RUN Robbers sometime during the week broke into several of the boat houses at the Run. In the Weissinger boat house at the end of the dam, entrance was gained by breaking in the door with a hatchet. A suit of clothes belonging to Mr. Weissinger was taken together with several other articles and dishes were broken and scattered all over the floor. In the Turtle boat house entrance was gained in the same way. Besides smashing a fine phonograph and several dozen records, the robbers committed other depredations. Several other boat houses were entered and robbed in like manner. |
| The Pottsville Republican of January 25, 1909 MORE DEPREDATION AT THE RUN An inspection made by a number of owners of boat houses at Tumbling Run show that the depredations committed last week were greater than supposed. In several of the boat houses, bedding, chairs and dishes were removed, curtains on the windows were torn down and even the carpets were ripped from the floor. In the YMCA boat house, every locker was broken open in the expectation of finding something valuable. Entrance was gained to the Ferret. Attempts were made to get into the Magnolia and the Whippoorwill but the robbers were scared away or gave it up. Several more of the boat houses were entered and the loss to the owners will amount to hundreds of dollars. |
| The Call of December 19, 1902 THE HERMIT OF TUMBLING RUN John Boyer, a Civil War veteran, is living a peculiar life in the Tumbling Run Valley some six miles above the upper dam. He has a hut on the side of the mountain built of logs. It has one room wherein he spends his time, eats and sleeps. He was wounded in the back during the war and draws a small pension from the government. On this he manages to live comfortably, notwithstanding the fact that he has no friends or neighbors close by, he is as happy as a lark and could not be persuaded to give up his present quarters for one of the finest of city mansions. |
| The Pottsville Republican of August 27, 1909 COUPLE RESCUED FROM DROWNING AT THE RUN Just as the theatre was leaving out last evening at Tumbling Run, the hundreds of visitors to this popular resort were called to the water's edge by the cries of help coming from the dam. People who were seated on the porches of their boat houses immediately put out their boats and those who were rowing in the vicinity went to the rescue. There they found a man and woman struggling in the water and the boat overturned. Messrs. Harry Marx and John Keeler were the heroes of the evening. Pulling the woman out by the hair just as she was sinking and grabbing the man by the coat collar, they got them aboard their boat and took them to the Fairmount boat house. Here the couple were given all the attention possible. They were given dry clothing and then taken to a house on Prospect Hill in a cab. The couple refused to give their names but the young lady was identified as a Miss Hummel residing in the vicinity of Laurel Street. The rumor was circulated that another boat ran into them overturning the boat in which they were in and that the parties had rowed off calling for help without rendering any assistance. During the excitement following the accident the report gained circulation that three young men were drowned and that efforts were being then made to recover their bodies. This rumor proved untrue as the only other accident reported during the day was the precipitating of several young men into the water by the breaking of a rail early in the afternoon. The young men were given a thorough ducking but otherwise uninjured. |
| The Pottsville Republican of August 25, 1909 BIG FIRE AT TUMBLING RUN Several sheds and barns adjacent to the Reichert House, a short distance below the Mountain View Hotel at Tumbling Run caught fire at three o'clock presumably from spontaneous combustion and were totally destroyed. It was feared the Reichert House and the Mountain View Hotel conducted by Harry Keeny would be destroyed as there was no water at hand to fight the fire and the wind was blowing the flames toward the hotel. Word was telephoned to Pottsville and the Humane Company with chemical and hose truck was directed to respond. Eighteen of the State Police mounted their horses and galloped to the scene of the blaze to render any assistance possible. At four o'clock the flames were well under control and the hotel was safe although it was damaged considerably by the flames. The fire company rendered excellent service. A small house and stable were destroyed. |
| The Pottsville Republican of November 10, 1909 TUMBLING RUN MAY HIDE CRIME Yesterday afternoon while a party of hunters were scouring the woods in quest of game around the Tumbling Run dams, they came across a lady's black coat. Not paying much attention to it at the time they came to Pottsville and notified the State Police. Two of the troopers were sent to the place but after searching for several hours returned home without discovering it. This morning Troopers Blasser and Dart again went to the scene and after several hours hunt were rewarded by finding a hat, coat, pocketbook and two silver mounted side combs to which were attached several blonde hairs. The articles were brought to the barracks and carefully examined but the only thing to show on them was where the hat was purchased. The pocketbook was open and the contents removed. The hat was one of black straw and trimmed with black ribbon, while the coat was medium size and of black. One theory advanced is that the clothing may be that of a woman or probably a young girl who was led to this lonely and secluded spot and murdered. From the place where the clothing was found to the water's edge is only about one hundred feet. From the appearance of the ground there was a struggle. The ground was torn up and branches for some distance are broken off, showing plainly that the person was either pulled or dragged through them. No blood stains were found in the vicinity but a careful search is being made by the State Police to try and find out if there was a murder and how it was committed. No reports have been made to either the State Police or to the borough police of anyone from this section missing. It may be one of those cases that will go down into the annals of crimes unsolved. |
| Front page stories on consecutive days relate a supposed murder scene which turns out to be nothing of the sort |
| The Pottsville Republican of November 11, 1909 TUMBLING RUN MYSTERY SOLVED The owner of the articles consisting of a hat, coat, side comb and pocketbook found at Tumbling Run yesterday morning by the State Police, has been found and the fear of a tragedy removed. After reading the article in last evening's "Republican" relatives of a young woman, residing on Front Street in Jalappa, came to the barracks of the State Police and there gave a minute description of the found articles. The lady in question is feeble minded and is at present in some institution. On several occasions she has wandered to remote spots staying often times for several days or even a week. The State Police on several occasions have been appealed to by her relatives to locate her and each time have been successful. Her relatives were aware of the fact that she had lost the wearing apparel but where they did not know and were startles to know they were found along the banks of the Tumbling Run dam. |
| The Pottsville Republican of November 13, 1909 WILD MAN SEEN ON MOUNTAINS Several days ago a party of hunters from Schuylkill Haven encountered a wild man on the mountains several hundred feet back of the Weissinger Hotel. One of the party came across the fellow who jumped to his feet and implored the hunters not to shoot him. The fellow possessed all the characteristics in Daniel Defoe's story of Robinson Crusoe, with the exception he was on a mountain instead of an island. His clothing was torn to shreds, he wore no shoes and his hair and whiskers were of several months growth. Not many feet from where he was found sleeping was his cave. It was of rock in the side of the mountain and was partially filled with dry leaves and hay. On the outside and near the entrance was a place where he did his cooking, an old tin can answering for the purpose. When asked about himself he acted like a madman and started to tear his clothing from his body. The fellow spoke in broken English and it was hard to determine whether he was of German or Polish descent. He was given something to eat by the hunters and swallowed it down like a famished beast. The hunters told him he could go and he bounded away like a deer jumping over big rocks and stumps of trees. Yesterday a searching party went after the fellow but failed to locate him. All they found was the place he lived in. He had been seen on several other occasions by other parties but each time in another locality and this was the first time that anyone was able to get close to him. The fellow is supposed by many to be demented and is hiding in the woods to avoid capture by the officials from the institution from which he escaped. |
| The Call of September 20, 1929 BODY FOUND AT TUMBLING RUN Frederick Yoder of Black Horse, son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Yoder of reading and a former resident of Schuylkill Haven, was found drowned in the upper Tumbling Run Dam, Saturday morning shortly after the noon hour by several men who were walking along the banks. Yoder had been missing from his home since Saturday evening, September 7th, when he left his home presumably to do some shopping in Schuylkill Haven. He made a number of purchases of goods in stores in Schuylkill Haven. He left his home with a goodly sum of money in his wallet. It is believed Yoder met with foul play as the body, when discovered, bore marks to that effect. There was a deep gash above the eye and one eye was bloodshot. On his person at the time of finding was one dollar in change but four dollars in bills. His wallet and watch and hat were missing. Identification of the body was made by relatives, although this at first was difficult owing to the condition of the body which is believed was in the water from Saturday night, September 7th. The deceased was forty four years of age. For a number of years he has been operating a farm in the lower Black Horse Valley and has been apparently successful. The news of the finding of his body was a shock to his family and neighbors, although his absence for an entire week has led to misgivings as to his welfare. He was born in Schuylkill Haven and resided here with his parents, who operated the Yoder Hotel, corner of Main and Saint John Streets , for a number of years. To survive he leaves his wife and five children, two brothers, George of Pottsville and Harry of Reading and one sister. The funeral took place Tuesday morning from his late residence. The services were strictly private. Reverend Zufall, pastor of the Evangelical Church of Friedensburg, conducted the services. Interment was made in the Union Cemetery in Friedensburg. The bearers were James Nagle, Milton Kutz, Paul Swartz, Elias Phillips, Russel Reed. D. M. Bittle was the funeral director. |
| The Call of September 20, 1929 BELIEVE YODER MET WITH FOUL PLAY In the death of Fred Yoder of Black Horse, it is believed evidence points to Mr. Yoder having met with foul play. It has been established for a definite fact that no reason of any kind was present for him to have taken his life by drowning. He was not a man to become intoxicated and to lose his way and accidentally fall into Tumbling Run dam. He had no relatives or friends in the Tumbling Run section whom he could have gone to visit on the night of Saturday, September 7th and there was no occasion for him to transact business with anyone in the valley. Yoder was missing from his home since Saturday, September 7th. He left home early in the evening and walked form Black Horse to Friedensburg where he took a bus to Schuylkill Haven. He visited and made purchases of clothing, etc. in several stores in Schuylkill Haven. He left home in good spirits. A wallet which he carried was pretty well filled with bills as has been testified to by several merchants of Schuylkill Haven with whom he transacted business. When the body was discovered last Saturday, the wallet was gone from his pocket as was also an expensive gold watch. On the side of his head was a deep gash as though inflicted with some blunt instrument. The eye on this same side was badly bloodshot. It is hardly likely that with the body lying in the water or being dragged to the side of the dam would cause injuries such as these. Piecing all the evidence together and considering the habits and the character of the man, it is confidentially believed he met foul play in being attacked on his way home, knocked unconscious with a blow over the head and the body taken to the dam and thrown therein. It was learned Thursday morning that an investigation is to be started at once by Schuylkill Haven authorities as this town was the last place in which the man was seen alive. |
| These two articles printed on the same day report the mysterious death of Fred Yoder at Tumbling Run and the suspected foul play. |
| Pottsville Republican of March 23, 1910 MILKMAN HELD UP Three masked men yesterday afternoon held up William Brokhoff along the Tumbling Run Road and relieved him of all the money after which they took to the mountains. The state police are now working on the case and have hopes of being able to land the culprits. The holdup occurred about 1:30 in the afternoon at a lonely section of the road about two miles up the valley when three masked men jumped from the bushes, each with a leveled revolver and ordered him to hand over all his money. They threatened to take his life if he made any resistance. After securing the money they lost no time in making their escape into the bushes. 2/18 |
| Below is a token from the Tumbling Run Hotel. |
| Pottsville Republican of December 30, 1886 THE ICE BUSINESS The Knickerbocker people who it was supposed would not visit us this year, came up today on a tour of inspection to see how the Schuylkill County ice crop was likely to pan out. On the lower Tumbling Run Dam they found about ten inches of good solid ice. It is from this source that they have for years reaped their best harvest. The aristocracy of Philadelphia always demands Tumbling Run ice and are willing to pay an advance price for it. The Knickerbocker Company have in former years taken as high as 18,000 tons of ice from here. What they will take this year is not yet been decided, but it is believed they will make a large harvest. The lower dam is capable of furnishing, at a ten inch thickness, 23,000 tons of the congealed. The local dealers, the Messrs. Bowen, house about twenty five hundred tons, which is circulated throughout the town. They will probably commence cutting next week. There is no danger in Pottsville being short of ice this summer. 3/7 |
| Pottsville Republican of June 28, 1888 SUNDAY SWIMMING The attention of the civic authorities and especially the Coal and Iron Police is called to the practice of swimming indulged in at the lower Tumbling Run Dam by hundreds of men and boys on Sunday. Both banks are lined with nude swimmers, many who conduct themselves in a respectable manner yet, to their shame, it must be said that some of the young men show an utter absence of respect for both themselves and others. Let the heavy hand of the law be placed upon them on a manner that they shall not soon forget. 3/7 |
| Ice from the dams is in high demand in 1886.... |
| A problem with swimmers at Tumbling Run.... |
| Pottsville Republican of July 23, 1888 CAMPING IN TUMBLING RUN VALLEY Tumbling Run Valley is becoming quite noted as a camping ground, as was seen by a representative of this paper in a trip through that region recently. There are already five different parties encamped in different parts of the valley, while this week bids fair to double that number. A day spent at Camp Foster (named in honor of Foster, the plumber) convinced us that nothing could be more enjoyable or beneficial than a few weeks spent in our own vicinity, and is by far more preferable to double that time at the seashore. Camp Foster is located about four miles up the valley near the Schraeder farm. Surrounded by a fine grove of oaks, with a spring of ice cold water, and the famous run in close proximity, it is one of the most beautiful spots in the valley. The boys enjoy themselves in various ways. Up with the first break of day, a breakfast of fried bacon and potatoes are indulged in, after which they disperse, some hunting woodcock, others roaming the mountains over, catching crabs, bathing, pitching quoits and after a dinner of bean soup and pork, all engaging in a game of ball. Then a rest is ought under the trees until the heat of the afternoon is over when preparations for the evening sports begin. Coon hunting is then indulged in. Harry Foster, by the way, took the prize last week in coon hunting, bringing down a fine specimen from a high oak. The J. E. Rice and John O. Beck families are very pleasantly located at the Woltjen farm at the upper dam. Walt Whiting and Dan Kaercher and a number of friends today pitched their tents close to Camp Foster and will spend a few weeks there. 3/15 |
| Pottsville Republican of April 6, 1910 IMPROVEMENTS AT TUMBLING RUN Workmen are engaged in razing the buildings at Tumbling Run which for years have been used as a penny arcade and a refreshment stand on the little flat adjoining the theatre and the hotel and on the site a fine summer garden will be constructed. The sides will be of lattice work with a rough and rustic roof. Inside, vines, flowers and plants will be planted and trained up along the sides of the garden and up the pillars. A fountain may also be put in the garden and it is expected to make a big hit. The hotel this year will be conducted by W. H. Kline who gave such excellent service last summer. The Park association is arranging to make a number of improvements at this resort early in the spring. Nothing very elaborate will be attempted this year and it is expected that it will consist chiefly in improving the walks and beautifying the scenery about the park proper. It is expected that this will be the banner season for the resort even though the torn up condition of Centre Street will have the effect of cutting down the traffic. The opening this year will be on May 30th as usual. Nothing is being done at the ball park but the park management reiterate that they stand willing to take one third of the stock of a stock company in case one is organized and that they will give the club other backing, providing that it is a stock company and has a large number of shareholders. While there has been considerable criticism of the P. & R. in refusing to permit parties to remain at the Run overnight, it is generally believed that it will result in decidedly more desirable conditions. A few of the houses it is claimed abused this privilege and now all the others must suffer. The same is the case with beer at the boat houses. Because of the abuse of a few, others who enjoyed this refreshment in moderation will be obliged to confine themselves to spring water and lemonade. 3/15 |