Word association games can yield interesting results.
When given the name "George Washington," David Derbes, president of the Historical Society of Schuylkill County, said the first thing that came into his mind: "Abe Lincoln. They were both presidents."
The name of the first president of the United States jarred other local educators into lapses of momentary silence last week as they gathered their thoughts for a perfect short description.
"Statesman. Pioneer," said Tiffany Reedy, principal of Pottsville Area's D.H.H Lengel Middle School.
"Founder and father of our country," said Patrick M. "Porcupine Pat" McKinney, the environmental education coordinator for Schuylkill Conservation District, Pottsville.
Today is Washington's birthday. While nationally his birthday is celebrated along with Presidents Day, which was Monday, Washington was born Feb. 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia.
It's not always easy to encourage young people to find relevance in historical leaders, James Toomey, a sixth- and seventh-grade teacher at Pottsville Area's D.H.H. Lengel Middle School, said Thursday.
"It's our job to make them think about it. Kids are so wrapped up in today, they're not too much into history unless you can make it relevant. I asked a class the other day, 'Who was Julius Caesar?' And only one kid in the class knew," Toomey said.
George Washington was an American general and commander-in-chief of the colonial armies in the American Revolution from 1775 to 1783. He was the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. He died Dec. 14, 1799, in Mount Vernon, Va.
Schuylkill County Judge John E. Domalakes and local educators listed numerous reasons why Washington should remain one of the most important figures in American history.
"His inspiration and 'wear them down' strategy won the Revolutionary War, which resulted in the creation of our country," Domalakes said. "His calm demeanor and sense of fairness at the Constitutional Convention resulted in the unification of the original 13 colonies into one nation."
Toomey said Washington had the burden of making impressions as the nation's first president.
"He's probably more relevant than any other president because of the fact that he was the first one. There was a lot of trouble at that time and making that transition from being a colony to being our own country wasn't easy," Toomey said.
Washington was also one of the "founding fathers" who worked to establish the Constitution, he said.
"When you really think about how few times the Constitution's been changed in over 200 years, it's interesting. It's a pretty important document we're afraid to touch," Toomey said.
"I know people have high regard for him but he also was a regular person. He had wooden teeth and he did have Mount Vernon, which was ahead of its time in regards to agriculture practices. He always was looking beyond the present to help make the future a better place for all," McKinney said.
Domalakes and McKinney were not sure if Washington ever stepped foot in the territory that would one day become Schuykill County.
Washington had visited Berks, according to Peter Yasenchak, executive director of the Historical Society of Schuylkill County, Pottsville.
"He was in Womelsdorf in 1793 at a place called Stoudt's. I guess it was a rooming house. Then he came to Reading some time later and stayed at a place called the Federal Inn but I don't know the year," Yasenchak said Friday.
However, one very historical site is located in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County, 89 miles from Pottsville.
On Christmas night 1776, Washington and men of the Continental Army and militia crossed the Delaware River in Bucks County and marched to Trenton, N.J. Washington Crossing Historic Park was founded in 1917 to preserve the site, according to usahistory.org.
In Washington's time, Schuylkill County did not exist.
"What is now a large part of Schuylkill County was once a part of Chester County. In 1729, it was part of Lancaster County; then part of Berks County in 1752," Domalakes said.
Schuylkill County was formed from parts of Berks, Northampton and Northumberland counties in 1811, according to www.schuylkill200.com.
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Judge Domalakes offered a few reasons why Washington is still relevant today:
- "Because the Constitution is somewhat vague as to the duties of the president, Washington's actions as the first president established precedents for the office which remain with us today. In other words, his presidency defined the office and continues to do so."
- "Washington created a cabinet which remains part of the presidency today, dividing duties among the secretary of state, the treasury, etc."
- "Through the brilliant policies of the secretary of the treasury, Alexander Hamilton, the stage was set for the economic behemoth into which the United States developed. Washington resisted feudalism and recognized the value of commerce and capitalism, which led ultimately to the highest standard of living in the world."
- "Through John Jay, Washington negotiated treaties with Great Britain and other nations that allowed the young republic to survive in its infancy."
- "When he put down the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania, Washington firmly established the president as the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces. The president remains the recognized commander-in-chief of the armed forces today."
- "Washington set the precedent for the president serving two terms and then voluntarily leaving office at a time when many countrymen wanted to make him king or at least bestow upon him a permanent presidency. This set the precedent for the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next." A closer look at Washington's legacy
Judge John E. Domalakes offered a few reasons why Washington is still relevant today:
· "Because the Constitution is somewhat vague as to the duties of the president, Washington's actions as the first president established precedents for the office which remain with us today. In other words, his presidency defined the office and continues to do so."
· "Washington created a cabinet which remains part of the presidency today, dividing duties among the secretary of state, the treasury, etc."
· "Through the brilliant policies of the secretary of the treasury, Alexander Hamilton, the stage was set for the economic behemoth into which the United States developed. Washington resisted feudalism and recognized the value of commerce and capitalism, which led ultimately to the highest standard of living in the world."
· "Through John Jay, Washington negotiated treaties with Great Britain and other nations that allowed the young republic to survive in its infancy."
· "When he put down the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania, Washington firmly established the president as the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces. The president remains the recognized commander-in-chief of the armed forces today."
· "Washington set the precedent for the president serving two terms and then voluntarily leaving office at a time when many countrymen wanted to make him king or at least bestow upon him a permanent presidency. This set the precedent for the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next."