Shamokin Online Museum
In this exhibit we present some rare images of the lobby of the Guarantee Trust and Safe Deposit Company Bank on Independence Street in Shamokin from July of 1941. In these photos we can see the lobby as preparations were being made for an interior renovation.
These photos are part of the Thomas Studios silver nitrate collection.
In this exhibit, we present a series of photos from Shamokin’s Old Home Week Parade in 1914. These photos were captured by Frank Posca and presented courtesy of the Northumberland County Historical Society.
Click Here to learn more about Frank Posca and his work.
In this exhibit, we present a series of photos from Shamokin’s Diamond Jubilee in 1939. These photos were captured by Frank Posca and presented courtesy of the Northumberland County Historical Society.
Click Here to learn more about Frank Posca and his work.
Everyone remembers The Fun Shop on Independence Street in downtown Shamokin, but few knew of the incredibly beautiful meeting hall that resided above the famed store. The Masons took over the property, which previously housed the Shamokin YMCA, in 1909 and constructed an impressive meeting hall for their organization.
When the Masonic building burned to the ground in December of 2017, this treasure was lost forever.
Kathy Vetovich had the opportunity to tour the building prior to the fire and took the following photographs, allowing everyone a chance to see what amazing design and architecture existed a couple floors above The Fun Shop.
Northumberland County has 28 buildings/locations listed on the National Historic Register. Sadly, not one is within Shamokin/Coal Township. The only building to be listed on the register was the Victoria Theatre. The Vicky was added to the register in 1985 and belatedly removed in 2004. Such a sad loss. But, maybe it can serve as incentive to look around at what we left and try to protect it from the same fate.
The Victoria Theatre opened in January 1918, designed by W. H. Lee. The theatre was remodeled around 1952 which added a snack bar to the lobby and redesigned the original stage area to accommodate a cinemascope movie screen and modern audio system. The building and land were ultimately purchased by Rite Aid and demolished around 1998.
The following photos were included with the National Historic Register application packet.
The building where the “Capitol Theatre” once stood was built in 1901. Soon after, “The Fraternity Theatre” opened on the second floor and featured stage shows and vaudeville acts as the main entertainment. Patrons could enjoy performances by some of the country’s leading artists and players. The playhouse was managed by W. D. Nields.
In 1908 a drop curtain was added to show the melodramatic, over-exaggerated motion films that were the beginnings of the motion-picture industry. The theatre was renamed “The Family Theatre” and was managed by R. Leitzel. Casper Tharp and his son Chester purchased the building in 1925 and remodeled it into the “Capitol Theatre”. The new owners began their project by renovating the lower floor which, had previously been a storeroom occupied by the Moser Department Store. The Capitol Theatre served the community for many years but eventually closed and was demolished.
The Shamokin and Coal Township Public Library was incorporated in April 1941 under the auspices of the Shamokin Woman’s Club. Thwarted by both World War II and a lack of funds, the area’s first Library did not open its doors until September 20, 1953 at 508 North Eighth Street.
In 1963, the library was moved to a more central location at 69 East Independence St.
The Library moved into its present location at 210 East Independence Street in June 1967 following the use of over $135,000 in federal Appalachian grants that were used to turn the former Wolfe’s Department Store into a Public Library.
Currently the Library provides services and programs to the approximately 22,000 residents of the Shamokin Area School District. This includes the communities of Shamokin, Coal Township, Shamokin Township and East Cameron Township.
The Library offers over 54,000 books, magazines, newspapers, videotapes, books-on-tape, equipment, and microfilm to its patrons. In 1996 the Library received its first Internet access computer through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Bell Atlantic. Since then, the Library has added two additional computers with Internet and word-processing capabilities for use by the public.
Through the Power program, the Library now provides its patrons home access to thousands of periodical articles, newspapers, photographs, pictures, charts, maps, and reference materials for all age groups.
Presently the Library employs a professional librarian, four full-time and two part-time employees to handle the informational, educational and recreational needs of its patrons.