GC1E2BW Donaldson/Frailey Twp..A Schuylkill 100 Geocache (Traditional Cache) in Pennsylvania, United States created by MJScheib

This cache has been archived.

OReviewer: As there's been no cache to find for a long time or has had no owner response for at least 30 days, I'm archiving it to keep it from showing up in search lists, and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements.

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GC1E2BW ▼

A cache by MJScheib Message this owner

Hidden : 7/10/2008

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Robert Morris, born in Liverpool England in 1734, who was a very successful businessman and land speculator, once owned the land that encompasses Frailey Township. In later years, subsequent debts incurred by Morris necessitated a Sheriff’s sale of the property. The Sheriff’s name was Charles Frailey from whom Frailey Township derived its name. The township was officially formed in 1847 and over the years had four towns: Donaldson, Eckertville, Middle Creek and Strongville.

Donaldson was so named in honor of William Donaldson, one of the associate justices of Columbia County, who was the owner of the land when the original part of the town was built. The village is situated nearly in the center of Frailey east and west, at the foot of the Broad Mountain, and about half a mile from the southern boundary line of the township.
The Franklin House, erected in 1842 or 1843, was the first building (hotel) in the village and was kept for about 35 years by Daniel Lomison. Other structures soon appeared. Judge Donaldson was the landowner. The first settlers (lessees and contractors), seeing that the mines promised to yield coal in large quantities, believed that here was the proper place to locate a town, and prevailed upon the judge to survey and sell village lots, which Judge Donaldson offered to purchasers at low figures and on very easy terms. The Swatara Company, owning the land east of what is now Harrison Street, laid out lots and made an addition to the town. Lots for a time were readily sold, and buildings sprang up rapidly. In 1880, the town contained two churches, two schoolhouses, a large foundry and machine shop, three hotels, four general stores, a confectionery establishment, three boot and shoe stores, a furniture store and manufactory, and several small shops and had a population of 1,000.
Soon after the Franklin House was built, David, Michael & Nathaniel Bressler erected a large frame house in upper Donaldson, which since its erection has been kept successively by different occupants. In 1881, it was owned and occupied by William F. Trautman, the inventor and maker of the famous scriptural clock.

Coal History:
Among the other earlier coal operators were: Henry Heil, Mr. Gardner, Clark & McCormick, Wertz & Strimpfler, Snyder & Bar, and a few others. The first openings of these mines were all by drift or tunnel on the water level. The first breaker was built by the firm of Colt, Gaskins & Lomison, and was driven by water power. The first openings, being so near the surface, were soon worked out and abandoned.
The Colket Colliery at Donaldson has a large hoisting power, immense pumping engines, working from eighteen-inch pumps a 30-horse power breaker engine and several smaller engines used to drive fans for ventilation. When this colliery is in full operation about 130 men and boys are employed inside and 70 outside. The producing capacity is about 300 tons daily.

Civil War History:
In 1849 or 1850 the "Donaldson Rifle Company” was formed, with Adam Etien as captain. At the outbreak of the Rebellion the members of the company joined with the Llewellyn Rifles, and, with Hiram Chance as captain, offered their services to the governor and were accepted. Their history is elsewhere related.
At the second invasion of Pennsylvania Captain Etien, with a company of fifty-four men, nearly all from this township went to Harrisburg and offered their services to the governor. They were accepted and sworn into the United States service as Company I,
27th regiment Pennsylvania volunteer militia, to serve during the emergency. June 24th the regiment moved from Harrisburg to Columbia. On the 28th it was attacked by the enemy, and Company I did efficient service.

As the mining industry disappeared in the Donaldson area, the population has decreased steadily. Populations numbers are: 1860 – 1149; 1880 – about 1000; 1950 – 649; 1990 – 518; 2000 – 416. As you travel around Donaldson and Frailey Township, many names from it’s history can still be found here. They include, naturally: Donaldson (Judge William Donaldson) and Frailey (Sheriff Charles Frailey), along with: Clark Street, Colt Street, Gaskin Street and Lomison.

These historical accounts were taken from:
1. Munsells History of Schuylkill County (1811 to 1881) (visit link)
2. 1935 copy of the History of Frailey Township from the Joseph H. Zerby History of Pottsville and Schuylkill County.
3. Printed booklet from the Sesquicentennial celebration of Frailey Township.
4. Wikipedia Encyclopedia.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Erzrzore gb cvpx hc lbhe GENFU ONTF. UNX.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)