Heckscherville, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Heckscherville is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Schuylkill County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 76 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), all of it land.
Heckscherville Valley includes all of Foster Township, a small portion of New Castle Township and a large part of Cass Township. The Valley is situated between Broad Mountain on the north and the Thomaston / Mine Hill on the west. It is compromised of the following villages: Greenbury, Coal Castle, Kanes Hollow, Pine Knot, Cheery Valley, Heckscherville, Courtneys, Upper and Lower Buck Run and Rohersvilla. Kear’s Hill and Green Hill have disappeared to make way for advanced coal production.
of 2000, there were 76 people, 36 households, and 23 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 450.9 people per square mile (172.6/km²). There were 44 housing units at an average density of 261.1/sq mi (99.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 100.00% White.
There were 36 households out of which 16.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples
living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.57.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 14.5% under the age of 18, 2.6% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 31.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,625, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $15,625 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $18,577. There were 20.0% of families and 28.2% of the population living below the poverty line, including 90.0% of under eighteens and 14.3% of those over 64.
With coal sales increasing, the Payne brothers found it necessary to secure additional laborers. Taking advantage of the famine in Ireland in 1845, they traveled to Ireland to persuade hundreds of families and individuals to move to America. The Payne brothers focused on the Queens and Kilkenney counties, and provided transportation, employment and homes to those who agreed to move. Before the brothers returned to Payne’s Patch, the valley was populated almost entirely by Welsh with only a few scattered Irish families. However, when they did return with the Irish immigrants, the Welsh started to migrate elsewhere and the population changed to dominantly Irish. This influx of immigrants continued until almost the entire population was either Irish or of Irish descent. Because of this, the small valley then became known as the “Irish Valley” [3].
In 1843 the August Heckscher
family from New York acquired the Payne brothers holding, and changed the name to Heckscherville.
Years later the population began to undergo another change. The coal companies, due to a manpower shortage, began to bring into the region laborers from various countries in Europe. Nationalities included: Polish, Lithuanians, Slavs, and Greeks. Today nearly every nationality is represented in the eight miles of the Heckscherville Valley.
The festival is also known as "Irish Weekend". "Irish Weekend" features all aspects of Irish culture from food to family. A wide assortment of food vendors provide Irish comfort foods, including Irish stew, potato pancakes, soda bread, scones, and colcannon (a mixture of cabbage, onions, turnips, mashed potatoes). Irish music is also an integral part of the festival. It has been the launching pad for one Philadelphia based band Blackthorne. Other acts who have performed during the festival include The Molly Wogs, Ceann, The Martin Family, The Irish Lads and Irishtown Road. In addition to the stage bands, other entertainment includes storytelling, Irish plays and Irish dancing [5].
Overall, "Irish Festival" is a celebration of Irish heritage and is an important aspect of the town of Heckscherville.
. Neumann was the first United States Bishop to be made a saint. St. Kieran's is the only church whose construction the Bishop personally oversaw on 3 separate visits to the site. Architecturally designed after the tiny country church at Knock, Ireland (which became famous when the miraculous apparition of Our Lady of Knock appeared there in 1878), St. Kieran's was rumored to be one of Bishop Neumann's favored parishes. The little church was named after a parish in Kilkenny, Ireland from where many of St. Kieran's parishioners originally hailed[5].
St. Kieran's Church was closed in June, 2008. Like many others, St. Kieran's is a casualty in the widespread restructuring and consolidation of Roman Catholic churches currently underway in America. Currently there is a group of individuals working to preserve the Church. This group is known as "The Friends of St. Kierans"[5].
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Schuylkill County
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
-Notable people:*Boxing heavyweight great Muhammad Ali had his training camp in Deer Lake.*Charles Justin Bailey, commanding general of the 81st Division in World War I, was born in Tamaqua on June 21, 1859....
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 76 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Heckscherville is located at 40°43′15"N 76°15′59"W (40.720951, -76.266458).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), all of it land.
Heckscherville Valley includes all of Foster Township, a small portion of New Castle Township and a large part of Cass Township. The Valley is situated between Broad Mountain on the north and the Thomaston / Mine Hill on the west. It is compromised of the following villages: Greenbury, Coal Castle, Kanes Hollow, Pine Knot, Cheery Valley, Heckscherville, Courtneys, Upper and Lower Buck Run and Rohersvilla. Kear’s Hill and Green Hill have disappeared to make way for advanced coal production.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 76 people, 36 households, and 23 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 450.9 people per square mile (172.6/km²). There were 44 housing units at an average density of 261.1/sq mi (99.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 100.00% White.
There were 36 households out of which 16.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.57.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 14.5% under the age of 18, 2.6% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 31.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,625, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $15,625 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $18,577. There were 20.0% of families and 28.2% of the population living below the poverty line, including 90.0% of under eighteens and 14.3% of those over 64.
History
The earliest available history shows [3] that in 1831 the entire Heckscherville valley was composed of two villages. At this time the valley was called “Chapmanville” after the owners of the coal mines. In 1843 the Chapmanville interests were taken over by George and William Payne. Subsequently the valley’s name was changed to “Payne’s Patch”.With coal sales increasing, the Payne brothers found it necessary to secure additional laborers. Taking advantage of the famine in Ireland in 1845, they traveled to Ireland to persuade hundreds of families and individuals to move to America. The Payne brothers focused on the Queens and Kilkenney counties, and provided transportation, employment and homes to those who agreed to move. Before the brothers returned to Payne’s Patch, the valley was populated almost entirely by Welsh with only a few scattered Irish families. However, when they did return with the Irish immigrants, the Welsh started to migrate elsewhere and the population changed to dominantly Irish. This influx of immigrants continued until almost the entire population was either Irish or of Irish descent. Because of this, the small valley then became known as the “Irish Valley” [3].
In 1843 the August Heckscher
August Heckscher
-Biography:Born in Hamburg, Germany, Heckscher emigrated to the United States in 1867. He initially worked in his cousin Richard Heckscher's coal mining operation as a laborer, studying English at night. Several years later he formed a partnership with his cousin under the name of Richard Heckscher...
family from New York acquired the Payne brothers holding, and changed the name to Heckscherville.
Years later the population began to undergo another change. The coal companies, due to a manpower shortage, began to bring into the region laborers from various countries in Europe. Nationalities included: Polish, Lithuanians, Slavs, and Greeks. Today nearly every nationality is represented in the eight miles of the Heckscherville Valley.
Irish Festival
Heckscherville Pennsylvania is host to the annual "Irish Festival" which began in 1987. The purpose of this festival is to celebrate the Irish heritage of the town and is the main fundraiser for the town's Clover Fire Company. The members of the volunteer fire company and town residents are the main coordinators of the event [5].The festival is also known as "Irish Weekend". "Irish Weekend" features all aspects of Irish culture from food to family. A wide assortment of food vendors provide Irish comfort foods, including Irish stew, potato pancakes, soda bread, scones, and colcannon (a mixture of cabbage, onions, turnips, mashed potatoes). Irish music is also an integral part of the festival. It has been the launching pad for one Philadelphia based band Blackthorne. Other acts who have performed during the festival include The Molly Wogs, Ceann, The Martin Family, The Irish Lads and Irishtown Road. In addition to the stage bands, other entertainment includes storytelling, Irish plays and Irish dancing [5].
Overall, "Irish Festival" is a celebration of Irish heritage and is an important aspect of the town of Heckscherville.
Saint Kierans Church
Saint Keirans is a Roman Catholic church located in Heckscherville Pennsylvania. It is the sole church in the town and was built by Irish miners in the 1850s under the direction of John NeumannJohn Neumann
Saint John Nepomucene Neumann, C.Ss.R., was a Redemptorist missionary to the United States who became the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia and the first American bishop to be canonized...
. Neumann was the first United States Bishop to be made a saint. St. Kieran's is the only church whose construction the Bishop personally oversaw on 3 separate visits to the site. Architecturally designed after the tiny country church at Knock, Ireland (which became famous when the miraculous apparition of Our Lady of Knock appeared there in 1878), St. Kieran's was rumored to be one of Bishop Neumann's favored parishes. The little church was named after a parish in Kilkenny, Ireland from where many of St. Kieran's parishioners originally hailed[5].
St. Kieran's Church was closed in June, 2008. Like many others, St. Kieran's is a casualty in the widespread restructuring and consolidation of Roman Catholic churches currently underway in America. Currently there is a group of individuals working to preserve the Church. This group is known as "The Friends of St. Kierans"[5].