Books published by publisher Metalmark

During the latter half of the nineteenth century, Pennsylvania German, often referred to as “Deitsh” or “Dutch,” was spoken by a third of the state’s population, yet up until that time, few had attempted to document the typically oral tradition in writing. E. H. Rauch was considered an early leader among those dedicated to exposing the dialect to the masses through print. Defined by no particular orthography, early spelling was incredibly variable. Rauch’s Pennsylvania Dutch Hand-Book was one of several dictionaries that emerged in an attempt to establish uniformity and to document and teach this new written tradition. Rauch’s volume placed great importance on the “practical and profitable” business instruction of nonspeakers and was the first dictionary to include both English–Pennsylvania German and Pennsylvania German–English translations. The volume also served as a written tutorial for those who inherited the Pennsylvania German oral tradition at home but were taught to read and write only English in school. Rauch developed his own method of spelling based on English rather than German, since few Pennsylvanians in the late 1800s had a formal German education. In addition to its dual-language dictionary, this volume includes a phrase book and bilingual sections on conducting business in various settings. It concludes with several translated excerpts of poetry, Bible verses, and even Shakespeare. Rauch’s publication sparked great debates within the community about spellings that still exist today among those who follow the American English orthography and those who subscribe to German methods of spelling.

Originally published in 1912 by the Bright Printing Company, The Indian Steps belongs to Henry Shoemaker’s robust corpus of tales and legends based on the folklore of Pennsylvania. This early Shoemaker collection of literary folklore paints a colorful picture of the natural landscape, folklore, and society of Central Pennsylvania, which Henry Shoemaker held dear. Beginning with the notable legend of the Indian Steps near Stone Valley, this volume includes stories about fantastical fairies, mysterious hermits, serendipitous romance, Native American legends, ghosts, and hauntings. The volume places a special focus on familiar locations in Centre County, such as Tussey Mountain, Black Moshannon, and Stone Valley. The text, reproduced in facsimile for the first time since its original printing, includes period photographs by W. T. Clarke.

Black Forest Souvenirs was inspired by Henry Shoemaker’s early experience in the Black Forest of Germany and the mystical draw of its vast expanse of hemlocks, spruces, and pines interspersed with lumbermen and roaming wildlife. On trips to Clinton, Potter, McKean, and Lycoming Counties in Pennsylvania between 1899 and 1902, Shoemaker discovered forests still intact, evoking the romantic ideal of the German Schwarzwald. However, upon returning to the mountains five years later, he found these forests desolated by the logging industry, practically a ruin—a vision far from the romanticized wilderness he had encountered early in life. This destruction inspired Shoemaker to attempt to preserve the region’s folklore, recording stories and tales told by elderly residents of the area. Traversing the line between fact and fiction, Black Forest Souvenirs reveals a pristine landscape preserved in the minds of its people. This collection of legends from the northern regions of the state was originally printed by the Bright-Faust Printing Company in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1914 and includes photographs by William T. Clarke.

Published in 1916, Juniata Memories was Henry W. Shoemaker’s eighth volume of Pennsylvania folklore. Written in the author’s typical literary style, this volume includes twenty-six legends set in Central Pennsylvania and the Juniata Valley. These stories, “secured from old people, hermits, farmers, lumbermen, teamsters, hostlers, hunters, trappers, old soldiers, and their ladies,” prominently feature the Stone, Kishacoquillas, and Penn’s Valleys and the many towns that lie within and around them, such as Huntingdon, Lewistown, and Selinsgrove. The stories share a common theme with those in many of Shoemaker’s other volumes, portraying Pennsylvania’s pioneers as having a decidedly spiritual connection with nature. Juniata Memories includes some of Shoemaker’s best-known legends, such as “Nita-Nee: A Tradition of a Juniata Maiden” (the story of Mount Nittany’s formation in Centre County) and “The Standing Stone: A Legend of the Ancient Oneidas” (set in Huntingdon County). These popular tales stand alongside Shoemaker’s telling of famous area love stories, ghost lore, supposed Indian legends, hunting lore, and even a story of buried treasure along the Susquehanna River. The volume is illustrated with scenic turn-of-the-century photographs taken by the Pennsylvania Railroad’s official photographer.

Tales of the Bald Eagle Mountains in Central Pennsylvania, originally published in 1912 by the Bright Printing Company, was the fourth of Henry Shoemaker’s many published volumes of fantastical tales about Pennsylvania’s folklore and wildlife. Focusing on what Shoemaker calls the “dark and sombre” Bald Eagle Mountains of Centre, Clinton, Lycoming, Juniata, and Union counties, the book provides a tale or legend centered on each mountain in the range. Stories of hunters and wolves, giant bears, quirky innkeepers and mysterious travelers, nefarious magic, brave Native American warriors, tragic murders, and anguished lovers are spun with the author’s usual flair for blurring the lines between myth and reality. Like Shoemaker’s other books, Tales of the Bald Eagle Mountains preserves a rich oral history, capturing what the author calls “a passing phase, a time and mode of life that will come no more,” and provides a window onto the cultural life and folklore of early central Pennsylvania.