Eckley Miners Village – ChessieWriter

I’m giving a book talk on March 8, 2026 at Eckley Miners’ Village

March 5, 2026

On Sunday, March 8, 2026 Pennsylvania celebrates its Charter Day! It commemorates the 1681 charter granting the land that became Pennsylvania, from England’s King Charles II to William Penn. It will be the state’s 345th anniversary! There are going to be special events and celebrations held all over the state, including at Eckley Miners’ Village … More I’m giving a book talk on March 8, 2026 at Eckley Miners’ Village

Ode to the Eckley coal breaker

December 13, 2025

Thanksgiving during the Civil War and Lincoln’s resonating message

November 21, 2025

In the fall of 1861, 22-year-old John Williamson was spending his first Thanksgiving away from home, hundreds of miles from his new wife and unborn baby. He’d joined the Union Army and had left his home in Eckley, a coal mining town in northeastern Pennsylvania to be part of the Defenses of Washington. He wrote … More Thanksgiving during the Civil War and Lincoln’s resonating message

A misty day of remembrance

May 21, 2024

I woke up thinking about John. John Williamson is the Civil War soldier whose letters home to his wife form the core of my book ‘You Dream Every Night That I am Home.” Since I wrote the book, I think about John every Memorial Day. He was 23 years old when he was killed, was … More A misty day of remembrance

Can’t wait for Patchtown Days at Eckley

May 13, 2024

Every year, an event called Patchtown Days is held at Eckley Miners’ Village in northeastern Pennsylvania. In 2024 it will be held on June 15th & 16th. Eckley is a preserved 19th century coal town, or patch, and the event celebrates the heritage of the coal region. I love Eckley and am a proud descendant … More Can’t wait for Patchtown Days at Eckley

Hiding in plain sight–Eckley, Pennsylvania’s “Love Rock”

February 11, 2024

As we approach Valentine’s Day, I’m reminded of an unusual bit of history related to romance–the Love Rock at Eckley Miners’ Village. Eckley, Pennsylvania is an open-air museum–a coal town from the 1800s that’s basically been frozen in time. Located near Hazleton, it is a destination for history buffs, school groups and those with family … More Hiding in plain sight–Eckley, Pennsylvania’s “Love Rock”

Self-published means self-promotion

December 5, 2023

I’ve been asked again and again how I promote my books, which are published on Amazon. One way is “Meet the Author” book talks. I’ve done two of them now. How did I get the opportunities to do them? By making people aware of my books, which are about the history of northeastern Pennsylvania. After … More Self-published means self-promotion

The Legend & the Curse of the Stone Couch of Buck Mountain

July 30, 2023

It’s a rock formation on top of Buck Mountain, not far from Eckley Miners’ Village in northeastern Pennsylvania. There are many outcroppings of rock, but this particular one is unmistakable—it’s literally a stone couch sitting near the edge of the road. Whether it’s a natural phenomenon or the creation of humans is unknown. Five newspaper … More The Legend & the Curse of the Stone Couch of Buck Mountain

The tale of a bridge, the father of Pocahontas and second chances

July 11, 2023

Sometimes you do get a second chance. A couple of years ago, I discovered the existence of letters in family records written by a young Civil War soldier who was killed on the battlefield in Virginia. John Williamson lived and worked in Eckley, a coal mining town in northeastern Pennsylvania, and he wrote dozens of … More The tale of a bridge, the father of Pocahontas and second chances

“I will remember them”

May 19, 2023

He died on June 30, 1862 in a field near Charles City Crossroads, a rural area of fields and woods 13 miles southeast of downtown Richmond, Virginia. His remains are still there, buried where he fell or reburied at the national cemetery a mile away. There is no way to know. Sergeant John Williamson is … More “I will remember them”

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Melanie Akren-Dickson

Tag: Eckley Miners Village