Title: New Arcadia Showcases Schuylkill River
Author: Staff Writer
Publisher: A Shared Commons:
Date: Fall 2009
The Schuylkill River Heritage Area is proud to announce the release of Along the Schuylkill River, a book of historic photographs that tells the story of the Schuylkill River, the canal and the communities along it. The book, published by Arcadia Publishing, will be released the week of September 14.
It was authored by SRHA Executive Director Kurt Zwikl and Staff Writer Laura Catalano, who researched dozens of photograph collections of historical societies, museums and private collectors to find the oldest, rarest and most interesting images of the river and the region. Included in the book are some of the earliest photographic images of the river, some of which have never before been published.
Highlighting the book are multiple images of the Schuylkill Navigation System, including old canal barges, mules, boatmen and locks—all part of an infrastructure that was once vital to the region, and of which there are only scant remains.
Zwikl and Catalano set out to write the Along the Schuylkill River in an effort to tell the rich, New Arcadia Book Showcases Schuylkill River compelling story of the Schuylkill River. The finished product therefore contains images from virtually every major town and city along the Schuylkill River, as well as most of the smaller communities. It includes photos of numerous "firsts" in America: the first wire suspension bridge, opening day of America's first zoo, the first tunnel in North America and the country's first vineyard—to name a few. It also tells the story of the river's role in the Industrial Revolution, with pictures of iron and steel mills, textile plants and other factories that give a glimpse into what life was like across the region from the mid-19th to the early 20th centuries.
The book will be available after the week of September 14 from the Schuylkill River Heritage Area. For a copy, visit us at 140 College Drive, Pottstown, PA 19464, or call 484-945-0200 or order on-line at www. schuylkillriver.org. Cost is $21.95 and a portion of the proceeds from each book benefits the Schuylkill River Heritage Area.
Title: New Book Explores History of Schuylkill River through Vintage Photos
Author: Staff Writer
Publisher: Pottstown Herald
Date: 10/6/09
Authors have scheduled a book signing at Pottstown's Schuylkill River Festival on October 10.
The Schuylkill River Heritage Area has announced the release of Along the Schuylkill River, a book of historic photographs that tells the story of the Schuylkill River, the canal and the communities along it. The newly released book was published by Arcadia Publishing as part of its popular Images of America series.
Along the Schuylkill River was authored by Schuylkill River Heritage Area (SRHA) Executive Director Kurt Zwikl and Staff Writer Laura Catalano, who researched photograph collections of numerous historical societies, museums and private collectors to find the oldest, rarest and most interesting images of the river and the region.
The book will be sold at Pottstown's Schuylkill River Festival in Riverfront Park on Saturday October 10, and the authors will be available from 12:00-3:00 p.m. in the welcome tent to sign books. The welcome tent will be located outside the Schuylkill River Heritage Area headquarters on 140 College Drive.
Included in the book are some of the earliest photographic images of the river, some of which have never before been published.
Multiple images of the Schuylkill Canal are a highlight of the book, including old canal barges, mules, boatmen and locks—all part of an infrastructure that was once vital to the region, and of which there are only scant remains.
Zwikl and Catalano set out to write the Along the Schuylkill River in an effort to tell the rich, compelling story of the Schuylkill River.
"As a National and State Heritage Area, one of our goals is to educate people about the river as a valuable resource that played a key role in the development not only of this region, but also of our nation," said Zwikl. "We wrote this book with that goal in mind. It provides a tool for us to introduce the history of the entire river in a way that is interesting and accessible to many people."
The book contains images from virtually every major town and city along the Schuylkill River, as well as most of the smaller communities. It includes photos of numerous "firsts" in America: the first wire suspension bridge, opening day of America's first zoo, the first tunnel in North America and the country's first vineyard—to name a few. It also tells the story of the river's role in the Industrial Revolution, with pictures of iron and steel mills, textile plants and other factories that give a glimpse into what life was like across the region from the mid-19th to the early 20th centuries.
The book is now available for sale at area bookstores, and can also be purchased directly from the SRHA by calling 484-945-0200, or online at www.schuylkillriver.org.
Zwikl and Catalano have also scheduled book signings at the following locations:
* Sat. October 10, 2009, Noon-3 p.m.—Schuylkill River Festival, Riverfront Park, 140 College Drive, Pottstown, PA
* Sun. October 18, 2009, 1-3 p.m.—Schuylkill Canal Association Open House, Lock 60 Locktender's House, 400 Towpath Rd, Mont Clare, PA 19453
The Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area is a non-profit organization that uses conservation, education, recreation, tourism, and cultural and historic preservation as tools for community revitalization and economic development. For more information visit www.schuylkillriver.org.
Title: New Book Tells the Local Story Behind the Schuylkill River
Author: John Ostapkovich
Publisher: KYW Newsradio
Date: 9/27/09
A new book details the ways the Schuylkill River has shaped our region.
Along the Schuylkill River is co-authored by Laura Catalano of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area and her boss Kurt Zwikl. Catalano says she was constantly discovering something new, including its designation as the River of Revolution, political (no big stretch there), industrial (every town had a steel mill at one time) and environmental:
"There was in the 1940's and '50's a project called the Schuylkill River Project that was the first major environmental cleanup undertaken by a governmental agency in America."
The book moves its focus from place to place along the waterway:
"We didn't have the photos ourselves. We went to dozens of different historic societies along the way and we discovered that there are many great places that anyone can go visit."
The following is a list of book signings:
* Sun. October 4, 2009, 1:30-3:30 p.m.-Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, Philadelphia PA
* Sat. October 10, 2009, Noon-3 p.m.-Schuylkill River Festival, Riverfront Park, Pottstown, PA
Title: The Mercury's own Laura Catalano co-authors Along the Schuylkill River
Author: Michelle Karas
Publisher: The Mercury Blogs
Date: 9/29/09
This may be too much information, but I was in the shower on Sunday morning listening to the news on KYW (I recently purchased a shower radio just for this purpose, cinching my reputation as a news geek), when I heard a familiar voice: The Mercury's own beloved columnist and OJR-area stringer Laura Catalano.
The extensively talented Catalano, who writes a Sunday column for The Mercury that always has me laughing out loud, has gone and written a book. She somehow found the time outside of her full-time job as a staff writer at the Schuylkill River Heritage Area, her part-time writing gig for our fine paper, raising three children and whatever she does for fun.
Along with SRHA executive director Kurt D. Zwikl, Laura has written "Along the Schuylkill River," (Arcadia Publishing, $21.99, 128 pp.) a pictorial history of the river that borders Pottstown. The book is part of Arcadia Publishing's Images of America series, which, incidentally, also includes a history of The Sunnybrook Ballroom and of The Route 100 corridor.
More than 200 vintage photos are featured in the book. According to a release from the SRHA,
the authors have included multiple pictures of the Schuylkill Canal, such as old canal barges, mules, boatmen and locks.
"The book contains images from virtually every major town and city along the Schuylkill River and gives a glimpse into what life was like across the region from the mid-19th to the early 20th centuries. It includes photos of numerous "firsts" in America: the first wire suspension bridge, opening day of America's first zoo, the first tunnel in North America and the country's first vineyard," states the release.
Upcoming book signings are scheduled at the followinglocations:
* Sun. Oct. 4, 1:30-3:30 p.m.-Fairmount WaterWorks Interpretive Center, Philadelphia
* Sat. Oct. 10, Noon-3 p.m.-Schuylkill RiverFestival, Riverfront Park, Pottstown
* Sun. Oct. 18, 1-3 p.m.-Schuylkill CanalAssociation Open House, Locktender's House Lock 60, 400Towpath Rd, Mont Clare, PA 19453
All author royalties benefit the nonprofit Schuylkill RiverHeritage Area.
If you want to buy a copy of the book, buying one directly from the nonprofit Schuylkill River Heritage Area ensures that a greater portion of the profits supports their mission of using conservation, education, recreation, tourism, and cultural and historic preservation as tools for community revitalization and economic development.
To order, contact Cindy Kott at the Schuylkill River Heritage Area at 484-945-0200. Or order online HERE at the SRHA website.
Title: New book explores history of the Schuylkill River
Author: Staff Writer
Publisher: Boyertown Area Times
Date: 9/30/09
The Schuylkill River Heritage Area has announced the release of Along the Schuylkill River, a book of historic photographs that tells the story of the Schuylkill River, the canal and the communities along it. The newly released book was published by Arcadia Publishing as part of its popular Images of America series.
Along the Schuylkill River was authored by Schuylkill River Heritage Area Executive Director Kurt Zwikl and Staff Writer Laura Catalano, who researched photograph collections of numerous historical societies, museums and private collectors to find the oldest, rarest and most interesting images of the river and the region.
The book will be sold at Pottstown's Schuylkill River Festival in Riverfront Park on Saturday October 10, and the authors will be available from 12:00-3:00 p.m. in the welcome tent to sign books. The welcome tent will be located outside the Schuylkill River Heritage Area headquarters on 140 College Drive.
Included in the book are some of the earliest photographic images of the river, some of which have never before been published.
Zwikl and Catalano set out to write the Along the Schuylkill River in an effort to tell the rich, compelling story of the Schuylkill River.
The book contains images from virtually every major town and city along the Schuylkill River, as well as most of the smaller communities. It includes photos of numerous "firsts" in America: the first wire suspension bridge, opening day of America's first zoo, the first tunnel in North America and the country's first vineyard—to name a few.
Zwikl and Catalano have also scheduled book signings at the following locations:
? Sun. October 4, 2009, 1:30-3:30 p.m.—Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, Philadelphia PA
? Sat. October 10, 2009, Noon-3 p.m.—Schuylkill River Festival, Riverfront Park, 140 College Drive, Pottstown, PA
? Sun. October 18, 2009, 1-3 p.m.—Schuylkill Canal Association Open House, Lock 60 Locktender's House, 400 Towpath Rd, Mont Clare, PA 19453
The Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area is a non-profit organization that uses conservation, education, recreation, tourism, and cultural and historic preservation as tools for community revitalization and economic development. For more information visit www.schuylkillriver.org.
