Letters to the Editor
Written by PA Heritage Staff in the Letters category and the Spring 1991 issue Topics in this article:Preserving the Legacy
I hope I am one of many Lycoming County natives to write, thanking you for the article on Lycoming County (see “Lycoming County: Many Call It Romantic” by Michael J. O’Malley III in the fall 1990 edition). The naming of Jersey Shore took place well before incorporation in 1826. Prior to the Revolutionary War, the area was called by its Indian name, Cawichnewane, or “Long Isle,” referring to the Susquehanna River island adjoining the borough, now known as Long Island. After the war, the town was named Waynesborough after Gen. “Mad Anthony” Wayne. In 1800, the name was changed to Jersey Shore because of confusion with another Pennsylvania town. By that time, a number of settlers had moved to the west bank of the river, and the island residents had been calling that settlement “the Jersey Shore,” as differentiated from the island residents or those farming on the eastern shore and down into the Nippenose Valley. By 1814, the name “Jersey Shore” was shown on maps, along with Newberry and Williamsport. Thanks for preserving the legacy!
Graham Humes
Philadelphia, Pa.
Image Maker
William C. Kashatus III has done it again! His article, “Benjamin Franklin, Image Maker,” in the fall 1990 edition was outstanding! I always look forward to his articles.
W. Donald Pratt, Sr.
Cape May, N. J.
I may not agree with all of the author’s comments in his article on my hero, Ben Franklin, but I did appreciate his point of view. I am just amazed by the exceptional illustrations. Where did Pennsylvania Heritage find all of those fantastic portraits of Franklin?
Sean P. O’Reilly
Philadelphia, Pa.
The staff of Pennsylvania Heritage is greatly indebted to several institutions for their courtesy in making available numerous images of Benjamin Franklin, including the Library Company of Philadelphia, Harvard University’s Fogg Art Museum, Yale University Library, American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Highway of Dreams
I would like additional information on the book about the Pennsylvania Turnpike by Dan Cupper (see “America’s Dream Highway” in the fall 1990 issue) that was mentioned in his article. My sister and I really enjoyed the article because we remember our first trips on the “super highway:’ The post cards looked so familiar, but I cannot believe they are fifty years old and that so much time has passed since we first traveled the Turnpike.
Mildred A. Lorsch
Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike: A History, written by Dan Cupper to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of what has become recognized as “the nation’s first super highway,” was reviewed in the winter 1991 edition. The book was published by Applied Arts Publishers, Lebanon.
Last But Not Least
The fall 1990 edition is, as usual, excellent. “America’s Dream Highway” by Dan Cupper serves to point out the importance of canals and, later, railroads in the history of our state! At seventy-eight years of age and a member of the Canal Society and similar organizations, I hope to see more attention given to such information in the article on Lackawanna County. How sad that our younger people have so little knowledge of, and, therefore, appreciation of, the growth in our country in such a short span of time, particularly in comparison with Europe. Hopefully, our schools will return to teaching Pennsylvania history? Eagerly looking forward to the next issue!
Jean D. Bennington
Scranton, Pa.
The article in the winter 1990 issue, entitled “Lackawanna County: The Last Shall Not Be Least,” by Michael]. O’Malley III concentrated on the region’s early transportation systems, especially those developed by the Leggett’s Gap Railroad, the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Westem Railroad. The staff hopes you enjoyed this history of the Commonwealth’s sixty-seventh county.
