Iron Steps: Illustrated History of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania

Incredible accounts that weave a fascinating story of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, founded 1799 - a coal and railroad center rich in history. Included are accounts such as the man many experts believe survived Custer's Last Stand; the story of the building of the nation's first commercial railroad to haul coal using a steam engine; the tale of the 1860s Tamaqua barber who tried to warn President Lincoln of his impending assassination; the minister accidentally shot during the Battle of Gettysburg; how one resident created the nation's first fish hatchery; the Great Flood of 1850; the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Tamaqua, and many other amazing stories.

Donald R. Serfass was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and attended Tamaqua Area High School and Penn State University. He served as assistant production manager in the advertising/public relations department of Hess’s Department Stores, Allentown, Pa., followed by a 20-year career as director, corporate communications at Blue Cross of Lehigh Valley, Allentown, and Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Wilkes-Barre. He is past president of the Tamaqua Historical Society, past chairman of Downtown Tamaqua, Inc., a federal Main Street program, and served as co-manager of the Tamaqua National Historic District project. In 2002, he participated in the Penn Ambassador program of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg. He is currently employed as managing editor - features, for the Times News daily newspaper, Lehighton, Pa., a Pencor publication. He has received countless state journalism honors in investigative reporting, column and feature writing, sports, general news and public service writing. He also has won top awards at the Philadelphia Press Association. In 2004, he was recognized at the Pa. Press Conference in State College, Pa., as the first Pennsylvania journalist to win five individual Associated Press writing awards in a single year. In his spare time, he rides an 1888 Columbia Light Roadster highwheel bicycle, taking part in living history programs and heritage celebrations.