A Summary of Tamaqua’s History

Tamaqua was founded in 1799 by Burkhardt Moser, his 9 year old son Jacob Moser, and John Kershner, who built shelters and a sawmill which is now down town Tamaqua. Burkhardt and his partner named Houser owned 2,000 acres which Burkhardt homesteaded. Where the base of Dutch hill is today, Moser built a log house, the first home in Tamaqua, for his wife. His wife later became the first person to die in Tamaqua followed by John Kershner, both died in 1822.

The borough was originally supposed to be called Tuscarora but was changed after the realization that there was already a community with the same name only a few miles west. The first business that helped the new town was the manufacture of lumber and agriculture, which was the main industry for 20 years. However, in 1817, anthracite coal was discovered by Burkhardt Moser and his son Jacob. The coal that was found led to coal becoming the main industry in Tamaqua, this led to Tamaqua becoming a major town in the area.

In the mid to late 19th century, Tamaqua got many immigrants from all places of Europe. This led to the creation of societies like the deadly Molly Maguires. This also led to major sites like hotels, locations of societies, churches, cemeteries, and houses. Two major spots that were built in the mid to late 19th century were the Tamaqua Railroad Station, 1874, and the Tamaqua Roundhouse, 1857. Sadly the Tamaqua Roundhouse was destroyed in 1896 but the Tamaqua Railroad Station was reopened as a restaurant, in 2004, from help of fundraised money.

Tamaqua was still a thriving community during the heyday of coal production during the 20th century. However coal mines started to slowly go away, in the 1950s, which led to Tamaqua starting to decline in numbers, along with other anthracite communities. Around that same time, in 1945, business man, John E. Morgan, made a knitwear manufacturing industry in Hometown. The company he made grew into one of the largest employers in the area, right behind Atlas powder company, Morgan also patented the widely known thermal underwear.

Tamaqua has a rich history. The 55-block Tamaqua Historic District, Anthracite Bank Building, George Ormrod House, and Tamaqua Station, were all the places in Tamaqua that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Tamaqua is still very proud of it’s history and is making history to this day. Recently the Tamaqua Railroad Station made it onto a collection of U.S. postal stamps because of it’s history. Another recent event that is happening in Tamaqua is the filming of movies in downtown Tamaqua.