Mauch Chunk is an Indian name meaning Bear Mountain. It was a neat little town in upstate Pennsylvania nestled in a steep gorge along the Lehigh River within the Pocono Mountains range.
It is a lovely little part of the world with a colorful history just like those fall trees that dot the landscape.
Some also call this place the Switzerland of America.
Today, there are many charming Victorian buildings, which reminds one of a European alpine village ~ to be sure, it is a most serene and quaint place.
The mountains rise high skyward just behind those structures.
My friend, Sharon, and I went there to investigate its history and beauty.
From Mauch Chunk’s early history in the 1820s, the town grew into a powerhouse with the discovery and mining of anthracite coal, which led to the Industrial Revolution since the coal was used to fire furnaces employed in the creation of steel.
Many years went by, investors became rich, and the town was most popular.
However, after the coal disappeared, and the millionaires left, the town became a place of despair.
What to do?
In California, an Olympian star but indigent American Indian, named Jim Thorpe had died.
Thorpe grew up on an Indian reservation, was poor and made his way to Carlisle. He made the acquaintance of one Pop Warner, a famous football coach.
Warner saw immediately that Thorpe was an athletic species like no other. His prowess as a football player led the coach to believe Thorpe would prosper in the 1912 Summer Olympics held in Stockholm, Sweden.
Trials were held, Thorpe was selected and off to Sweden he went.
The American team and others back then held Thorpe in low esteem because of his Indian heritage. Thorpe was shunned and couldn’t sleep or dine with the team. He was an outcast; even his athletic shoes were stolen.
Warner and Thorpe searched trash cans for some shoes; one large-size shoe was found and a small one; Thorpe would compete wearing this odd pair of shoes.
He would also go on to excel in the Olympics and win many gold medals. He scored 8,413 out of a possible 10,000 points in the decathlon event.
Thorpe credited his success to his dead twin’s ‘spirit’ that lived within him.
He was multi-talented playing many different sports.
But as a Native American, his life would not be so prosperous, dying in March 1963 penniless in California at the age of 64.
His home state of Oklahoma would not assist his widow with his burial.
Thorpe’s widow would reach out to local leaders in Mauch Chunk for a burial spot.
The town still reeling from the loss of the coal industry, was looking to rebound and Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk united to build a memorial to Thorpe.
Soon the new city was named Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, and tourists from around the world would come to visit the grave of the one known as “The Greatest Athlete in the world” at the Olympics medal presentation in Stockholm.
Sharon and I were proud to learn of Thorpe’s story, but his life was marred with being a second-class citizen as an American Indian.
The town of Jim Thorpe, PA, today, however, is one special prize for those who visit. The Lehigh River, Pocono mountains and Victorian homes are places of beauty; This story extends well beyond the high trees that dot the neighborhood.
After a train ride along the river, we stopped at “the Doggie Wagon” stand at the railroad station. A friendly owner, Eric Cinicola and his wife Barb (Babs), were fine hosts, and we soon struck up a conversation over some delicious hot dogs.
Eric was a retired state policeman and I, a retired Prison warden, had much in common. As our conversation continued, a surprise awaited Sharon and I.
Eric shared with us, that he was also the mayor of Jim Thorpe, PA ~ the first time in my life, I became acquainted with a town mayor, who humbly served me the best sauerkraut with brown mustard and onion hot dog I ever had.
Later, as Sharon and I sat on the second floor balcony of the Jim Thorpe Inn built in 1849 watching an evening thunderstorm fall over the city, we admired the Victorian buildings and streets so welcoming to all visitors.
Our trip to this beautiful little town was most special.
Jim Thorpe will always be an American hero!
Go visit.
