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North Mountain Mementos
Our early Pennsylvania history is a collection of both oral
traditions, passed down through the generations, and the written
word recorded by early settlers, as they became literate and capable
writers. Like it or not, most of what historians call factual history had
its basis in some form of oral traditions that was passed down
through family histories. Thus it behooves us as readers of early
history to take the time to read and examine the personal accounts
of legends and tales from the many oral traditions recorded by the
best in the annals of Pennsylvania history, Henry S. Shoemaker.
As both a writer and historian, it has always amazed me that
many historians go out of their way to praise famous and important
authors who write celebrated narratives of times gone by using some
misstated facts often with nary a footnote, only to look down their
noses at many Pennsylvania oral traditions recorded before they
passed into oblivion. I choose to believe differently. I believe oral
traditions have a purpose and are a part of our history. Recording
that history by listening can be just as effective as recording history
by witnessing. But don t be so smug to believe that the only good
history is written history. Indians recorded their history orally, passing
it on from father to son or mother to daughter, and we accept these
stories mostly as gospel. So did the Amish, who passed down
through the generation s their own oral traditions, using only their
spoken language. Yet many historians believe that a spoken history
passed down through generations cannot possibly be as true when
we were only given visions of the past through spoken words or
songs. Sure some oral traditions were embellished but have you
ever read any written story that wasn t? Depends on the author! So
now it s time that we accept these oral traditions as a part of the
history we love to study and read. I look at it as just one more piece
of the puzzle, as credible as many written words.
Henry W. Shoemaker wrote over 100 books and articles about
Pennsylvania oral histories and his North Mountain Mementos
brings you 21 stories straight from the Pennsylvania frontier. We
enjoy a lengthy and interesting account of Chief Cornplanter and
Handsome Lake as they spend time in the Wyoming Valley. We
suffer with Skanando, a Cayuga by birth an Indian philosopher by
choice, dying in prison at Ft. Augusta for a crime he didn t commit.
The West Branch of the Susquehanna comes alive with white
settlers traveling and homesteading on this new frontier, amidst
Buffalo hunters, hunting feuds and bountiful harvests. The
Pennsylvania panther screams one last time in chapter XIV. But my
most favorite story is the story of Chief Logan s long, lost daughter,
unbeknownst to him and how little Letty Logan s presence still
echoes through the mountains and valleys of Central Pennsylvania
today. Our Pennsylvania frontier comes to life with a rich and
rewarding read that you won t be able to put down. Is it real history,
you be the judge! 27TH VOLUME IN THE GREAT
PENNSYLVANIA FRONTIER SERIES IS A 400PP
HARDBACK, ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN 1920,
LIMITED TO 1,000 COPIES
traditions, passed down through the generations, and the written
word recorded by early settlers, as they became literate and capable
writers. Like it or not, most of what historians call factual history had
its basis in some form of oral traditions that was passed down
through family histories. Thus it behooves us as readers of early
history to take the time to read and examine the personal accounts
of legends and tales from the many oral traditions recorded by the
best in the annals of Pennsylvania history, Henry S. Shoemaker.
As both a writer and historian, it has always amazed me that
many historians go out of their way to praise famous and important
authors who write celebrated narratives of times gone by using some
misstated facts often with nary a footnote, only to look down their
noses at many Pennsylvania oral traditions recorded before they
passed into oblivion. I choose to believe differently. I believe oral
traditions have a purpose and are a part of our history. Recording
that history by listening can be just as effective as recording history
by witnessing. But don t be so smug to believe that the only good
history is written history. Indians recorded their history orally, passing
it on from father to son or mother to daughter, and we accept these
stories mostly as gospel. So did the Amish, who passed down
through the generation s their own oral traditions, using only their
spoken language. Yet many historians believe that a spoken history
passed down through generations cannot possibly be as true when
we were only given visions of the past through spoken words or
songs. Sure some oral traditions were embellished but have you
ever read any written story that wasn t? Depends on the author! So
now it s time that we accept these oral traditions as a part of the
history we love to study and read. I look at it as just one more piece
of the puzzle, as credible as many written words.
Henry W. Shoemaker wrote over 100 books and articles about
Pennsylvania oral histories and his North Mountain Mementos
brings you 21 stories straight from the Pennsylvania frontier. We
enjoy a lengthy and interesting account of Chief Cornplanter and
Handsome Lake as they spend time in the Wyoming Valley. We
suffer with Skanando, a Cayuga by birth an Indian philosopher by
choice, dying in prison at Ft. Augusta for a crime he didn t commit.
The West Branch of the Susquehanna comes alive with white
settlers traveling and homesteading on this new frontier, amidst
Buffalo hunters, hunting feuds and bountiful harvests. The
Pennsylvania panther screams one last time in chapter XIV. But my
most favorite story is the story of Chief Logan s long, lost daughter,
unbeknownst to him and how little Letty Logan s presence still
echoes through the mountains and valleys of Central Pennsylvania
today. Our Pennsylvania frontier comes to life with a rich and
rewarding read that you won t be able to put down. Is it real history,
you be the judge! 27TH VOLUME IN THE GREAT
PENNSYLVANIA FRONTIER SERIES IS A 400PP
HARDBACK, ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN 1920,
LIMITED TO 1,000 COPIES
400 pages, Hardcover
Published April 1, 2007
2 people want to read
About the author
Henry Wharton Shoemaker
76 books5 followersHenry Wharton Shoemaker (February 24, 1880 – July 14, 1958) was a prominent American folklorist, historian, diplomat, writer, publisher, and conservationist.
Shoemaker was born in New York City, but was closely associated with Pennsylvania, where he spent summers in childhood and took up residence later in life. His father, Henry Francis Shoemaker (1845–1918), was a railroad magnate, investment banker, and close confidante of future Senator and Vice Presidential candidate Charles W. Fairbanks. His mother, Blanche Quiggle, was the sole daughter of railroad magnate and diplomat Col. James W. Quiggle of Philadelphia and Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. He attended the E. D. Lyons Classical School and Columbia University. He then served in the military and attained the rank of Colonel. Attracted to foreign service, he worked in European embassies before returning home to enter a brokerage venture with his brother William. His brother died in an elevator accident, and Henry closed the brokerage.
Shoemaker was born in New York City, but was closely associated with Pennsylvania, where he spent summers in childhood and took up residence later in life. His father, Henry Francis Shoemaker (1845–1918), was a railroad magnate, investment banker, and close confidante of future Senator and Vice Presidential candidate Charles W. Fairbanks. His mother, Blanche Quiggle, was the sole daughter of railroad magnate and diplomat Col. James W. Quiggle of Philadelphia and Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. He attended the E. D. Lyons Classical School and Columbia University. He then served in the military and attained the rank of Colonel. Attracted to foreign service, he worked in European embassies before returning home to enter a brokerage venture with his brother William. His brother died in an elevator accident, and Henry closed the brokerage.
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