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Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

Ku Klux Klan Gather at Funeral of Simon Nelson in Tower City, 1925

Simon Peter Nelson was born on 23 October 1878, in Orwin, Porter Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, the son of John Nelson, an immigrant from Germany, and his wife, Rebecca [Heberling] Nelson, who was born in Pennsylvania.  He was a coal miner.  He died on 26 February 1925, killed accidentally by a crush of falling coal.  […]

More Lykens Valley Ku Klux Klan Events Needing Further Research

Today’s post presents some events involving the Ku Klux Klan that were reported in the Lykens Standard.  Each event needs further research. The above photograph was published in the Lykens Standard on 31 July 1925 along with three other photographs of the funeral of James Spangler, all showing hooded Klansmen marching in Lykens Borough in […]

Ku Klux Klan Holds Meeting at Fisherville, 1925

A meeting of the Ku Klux Klan at Fisherville, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in 1925, was reportedly poorly attended, mainly because of bad weather.  Regardless, it was noted that despite the weather, “many” came from a distance, including contingents from Williamstown and Halifax. This post is a continuation of the reporting on hate groups that were […]

Report on the Ku Klux Klan Demonstration at Millersburg, 1927

Although no actual attendance count was given, a news report praised the Ku Klux Klan demonstration that was held in Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in late June 1927.  The anti-immigrant stance of the Klan was evident in the speech by a representative from the National Headquarters who decried the large number of immigrants who were […]

5000 Attend Ku Klux Klan Demonstration at Gratz Fair Grounds, 1924

On 4 October 1924, the Gratz Fair sponsored on its closing day, a Ku Klux Klan event that turned out to be the largest such event ever held in the Lykens Valley area.  The advertisement shown above, appeared two weeks in a row in the Lykens Standard.  The advertisement for the Fair was in the same […]