Early Inhabitants of the Auburn Area -
the Native Americans
Updated 02/16/2021
Long, long before the current residents of Auburn, long before their ancestors who worked the canal and railroads, even long before the first "settlers" migrated into the fertile lands of Pennsylvania, the original inhabitants of the Auburn area were the Native Americans (often commonly but inaccurately referred to as "Indians"). The most common of the Native Americans to inhabit the Auburn area were the Lenni-Lenape tribes who were part of the larger Delaware "Indian" nation. While the Auburn Area Historical Society has virtually no historic memorabilia pertaining to these early inhabitants, their presence definitely impacted the manner in which the early "settlers" lived and sometimes died.
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LOCAL NATIVE AMERICANS EXONERATED:
While atrocities between Native Americans ("Indians") and early settlers have been factually documented with both parties having committed their share of regrettable acts, a couple of Schuylkill County folktales unfairly portrayed the Native Americans in at least one aspect.
FOLKTALE #1 - THE ORIGIN OF "SCULPS HILL":
"Sculps Hill" is famous as being the site of Muhammad Ali's training camp located at 58 Sculps Hill Road, Deer Lake, Pennsylvania. While Muhammad Ali helped "make a name" for this area, a question arises about how did "Sculps Hill" originally receive its name. If you were to ask many area residents, they might tell you that "Sculps Hill" is actually derived from an earlier, more gruesome name of "Scalps Hill". Legend has it that the hill, situated southeast of Orwigsburg, received its name as a result of numerous Native American ("Indian") atrocities against the local settlers which had allegedly occurred here. In fact, in a 1906 publication titled "Old Schuylkill Tales" by Ella Zerbey Elliot, a passage reads "Sculps, or Scalps Hill, was so called owing to the number of scalps taken".
Ella may have documented this story in good faith based on what she had been told by area residents. After all, the story sounded good, and was not an unreasonable assumption to make based on the fact that atrocities had occurred throughout the county to include the taking of settlers' scalps by Native Americans (although the Native Americans had their fair share of atrocities brought against them by others). As further "proof" of this assumption, it is documented that an ancient "Indian" village was once located in the general area of Sculps Hill. Unfortunately, the assumption as to how Sculps Hill received its name was totally wrong.
Almost one hundred years prior to the publication of "Old Schuylkill Tales", sometime between 1811 and 1818, a map of the newly established Schuylkill County shows the basic U-shaped geographical formation now known as Sculps Hill. However, the map clearly states the name of this site was then known as "Scollop Hill". (See picture at bottom of this article). This name was mentioned in several contemporary publications to include an 1843 History of Schuylkill County by Sherman Day. This publication states "It is said that at the junction of the little creek that winds around Orwigsburg with the Schuylkill, was an ancient Indian village, on or near Scollop hill. No vestige of it now remains." But perhaps the most enlightening passage can be found in the 1800s document "A Gazetteer of the State of Pennsylvania" by Thomas Francis Gordon who wrote "Scollop hill, so called from its shape, is situated in Brunswick t-ship, Schuylkill co.". According to Gordon, whose publication was decades closer to the original naming of the hill than that of the version offered within the "Old Schuylkill Tales", the original name of "Sculps Hill" was Scollop Hill...named because of its geographic shape, not because of the taking of scalps. But, you ask, what is a "Scollop"?
A scollop is a common Irish term for a device used in thatched roofs. Basically, it is a U-shaped rod inserted into the thatch whose purpose is to hold the thatch to the roof...almost like a giant staple. (See picture at bottom of this article). Based on the U-shaped formation of the hill, the the name "Scollop" makes sense. It is easy to imagine the word "Scollop", due to mispronunciations, misunderstandings or misspellings, evolving to "Sculp" and finally "Sculps" over the decades since the hill was first named on a map.
In summary, "Sculps Hill" was not named as a result of any actual Native American (Indian) atrocities which may or may not have occurred in the area, but instead it received its name due to its distinct geographic shape. The name isn't a morbid tribute to some horrific remnants such as bloody scalps, but instead it is simply due to its resemblance of a device used to thatch roofs.
While atrocities between Native Americans ("Indians") and early settlers have been factually documented with both parties having committed their share of regrettable acts, a couple of Schuylkill County folktales unfairly portrayed the Native Americans in at least one aspect.
FOLKTALE #1 - THE ORIGIN OF "SCULPS HILL":
"Sculps Hill" is famous as being the site of Muhammad Ali's training camp located at 58 Sculps Hill Road, Deer Lake, Pennsylvania. While Muhammad Ali helped "make a name" for this area, a question arises about how did "Sculps Hill" originally receive its name. If you were to ask many area residents, they might tell you that "Sculps Hill" is actually derived from an earlier, more gruesome name of "Scalps Hill". Legend has it that the hill, situated southeast of Orwigsburg, received its name as a result of numerous Native American ("Indian") atrocities against the local settlers which had allegedly occurred here. In fact, in a 1906 publication titled "Old Schuylkill Tales" by Ella Zerbey Elliot, a passage reads "Sculps, or Scalps Hill, was so called owing to the number of scalps taken".
Ella may have documented this story in good faith based on what she had been told by area residents. After all, the story sounded good, and was not an unreasonable assumption to make based on the fact that atrocities had occurred throughout the county to include the taking of settlers' scalps by Native Americans (although the Native Americans had their fair share of atrocities brought against them by others). As further "proof" of this assumption, it is documented that an ancient "Indian" village was once located in the general area of Sculps Hill. Unfortunately, the assumption as to how Sculps Hill received its name was totally wrong.
Almost one hundred years prior to the publication of "Old Schuylkill Tales", sometime between 1811 and 1818, a map of the newly established Schuylkill County shows the basic U-shaped geographical formation now known as Sculps Hill. However, the map clearly states the name of this site was then known as "Scollop Hill". (See picture at bottom of this article). This name was mentioned in several contemporary publications to include an 1843 History of Schuylkill County by Sherman Day. This publication states "It is said that at the junction of the little creek that winds around Orwigsburg with the Schuylkill, was an ancient Indian village, on or near Scollop hill. No vestige of it now remains." But perhaps the most enlightening passage can be found in the 1800s document "A Gazetteer of the State of Pennsylvania" by Thomas Francis Gordon who wrote "Scollop hill, so called from its shape, is situated in Brunswick t-ship, Schuylkill co.". According to Gordon, whose publication was decades closer to the original naming of the hill than that of the version offered within the "Old Schuylkill Tales", the original name of "Sculps Hill" was Scollop Hill...named because of its geographic shape, not because of the taking of scalps. But, you ask, what is a "Scollop"?
A scollop is a common Irish term for a device used in thatched roofs. Basically, it is a U-shaped rod inserted into the thatch whose purpose is to hold the thatch to the roof...almost like a giant staple. (See picture at bottom of this article). Based on the U-shaped formation of the hill, the the name "Scollop" makes sense. It is easy to imagine the word "Scollop", due to mispronunciations, misunderstandings or misspellings, evolving to "Sculp" and finally "Sculps" over the decades since the hill was first named on a map.
In summary, "Sculps Hill" was not named as a result of any actual Native American (Indian) atrocities which may or may not have occurred in the area, but instead it received its name due to its distinct geographic shape. The name isn't a morbid tribute to some horrific remnants such as bloody scalps, but instead it is simply due to its resemblance of a device used to thatch roofs.
FOLKTALE #2 - THE FAHL CEMETERY SITE MASSACRE
Located east of Auburn, in a small wooded plot between Fort Lebanon Road and the Schuylkill River, is one of two separate grave yards containing early interments of the Fahl family. (The Auburn Area Historical Society would like to remind everyone that both Fahl cemeteries are located on private property and no one should assume entry onto these sites without first obtaining permission from the owners.) This particular burial site has previously been considered to have had a total of five interments; three adults and possibly two children or infants. However, presently the site is believed to contain only three adult interments and two smaller "foot-stone" markers associated with two of the adult grave sites.
Local folklore states that this cemetery was the result of an "Indian" (Native American) attack during which a family of settlers (the Fahls) were desperately attempting to reach the sanctuary of nearby Fort Lebanon when they were overtaken and brutally killed. The slain bodies were believed to have been subsequently interred at the site of the slaughter, buried where they were discovered. A fascinating, frightening and fortunately, ficticious fabrication. Actually, Fort Lebanon had ceased to exist approximately one century earlier; "Indian" hostilities had ceased occurring many, many decades previously, and...if this story was really true, then the event would represent the longest single massacre in history...considering their dates of death span over twenty-six years! (Although longevity does play a role in their lives...their ages at the time of their individual deaths were 72, 85 and 90 years old).
Located east of Auburn, in a small wooded plot between Fort Lebanon Road and the Schuylkill River, is one of two separate grave yards containing early interments of the Fahl family. (The Auburn Area Historical Society would like to remind everyone that both Fahl cemeteries are located on private property and no one should assume entry onto these sites without first obtaining permission from the owners.) This particular burial site has previously been considered to have had a total of five interments; three adults and possibly two children or infants. However, presently the site is believed to contain only three adult interments and two smaller "foot-stone" markers associated with two of the adult grave sites.
Local folklore states that this cemetery was the result of an "Indian" (Native American) attack during which a family of settlers (the Fahls) were desperately attempting to reach the sanctuary of nearby Fort Lebanon when they were overtaken and brutally killed. The slain bodies were believed to have been subsequently interred at the site of the slaughter, buried where they were discovered. A fascinating, frightening and fortunately, ficticious fabrication. Actually, Fort Lebanon had ceased to exist approximately one century earlier; "Indian" hostilities had ceased occurring many, many decades previously, and...if this story was really true, then the event would represent the longest single massacre in history...considering their dates of death span over twenty-six years! (Although longevity does play a role in their lives...their ages at the time of their individual deaths were 72, 85 and 90 years old).