Columns

A century-and-a-half ago, before the Civil War, no one could have imagined equal rights for African Americans, let alone a black man one day becoming president of the United States.

Before the war to end slavery, the only time a black person would become a noteworthy subject would be on a poster, listing him as a runaway slave. The underground railway, a route of safe houses used by runaways to flee north, was common in Pennsylvania's northeast and central counties.

By BOB URBAN

burban@tnonline.com

Raising children has become a lot more intricate in the past 40 years.

Back then, there was no such thing as recalls.

Today, you can't go a week without some brand of crib or baby-related items being recalled by the manufacturer. It makes you wonder how our kids ever survived their early years.

For instance, just in the last week here are two such recalls:

By JIM ZBICK

jzbick@tnonline.com

"Crime Here on Increase," a headline in the Tamaqua Courier blared a century ago.

The article reported that nearly every town in Schuylkill County was experiencing an increase in crime. Leading the way was Shenandoah with 80 criminal cases bound for court, followed by Mahoning City (39), New Philadelphia, Pottsville (16) McAdoo (12) and then Tamaqua (10).

This was not the kind of news local citizens wanted to hear heading into the holiday season in 1909. Most disconcerting was much of the crime was perpetrated by teenagers.

The cold weather has arrived and another highwheel season ends.

The hobby of demonstrating 125-year-old bicycles takes my friends and me to about 30 events each year. Most are in Pennsylvania, along with a few in New York and New Jersey.

The biggest event once again was the annual Scranton St. Patrick's Day Parade. They had over 100,000 spectators lining the streets and countless others watching on television.