It was 1935. The Great Depression. Tamaqua's Harry Snyder was a young boy fascinated by color, texture and design. To go along with that intrigue, he happened to have an abundance of raw talent, ambition and inspiration.

But what he didn't have was money. It was an era when American families struggled to put food on the table.

"I couldn't afford classes but I read about art in books," he said during an interview in 1998, then age 68.

Fortunately for Snyder, everything changed with the introduction of Mr. Peanut, a gimmick by an emerging food manufacturer.

"When Planters Peanuts first came out they had a promotion where you would send in three peanut bags and a dime. Then they'd send you a watercolor set. Well, my father bought it for me."

Undaunted, Snyder took brush in hand and tapped into his imagination.

He sat down and painted, and then painted some more. He practiced his technique and taught himself how to illustrate what he saw. Snyder went on to create art for the next seven decades.    

He created scenes on canvas for a lifetime, tapping into the essence of his surroundings - local people, events and landmarks.

One of his favorite subjects, in particular, was the coal industry and coal region culture. He is now 88 and a resident of Hometown Nursing Center.

On Saturday, September 22, the general public will be given the rare opportunity to step into the vivid, detailed world of Harry Snyder when the Tamaqua Historical Society presents Art of the Anthracite.

"Among the display will be paintings of local scenes along with a collection of his coal breakers from Schuylkill, Carbon and Luzerne counties," said Dale Freudenberger, president, Tamaqua Historical Society.  

The opening exhibit of Snyder's work, free to the public, will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Tamaqua Museum Annex, 114 West Broad St.. Light refreshments will be served. The show is part of the year-long 250th Anniversary of the Hardcoal Region and its people.  

Caption: Tamaqua artist Harry Snyder is shown in this 1998 photo at his art studio inside his East Broad Street residence. ARCHIVES/DONALD R. SERFASS