(Above) "Greenfields": Earliest 19th Century settlement near McAdoo, PA, Greenfields was located in a clearing nearby toward the right of the tree at center. This is an east-looking view. The pioneer settlers of Klein township were principally of German extraction. The first settler was a man named John Stackhouse, at a place now known as the "Green Fields," situated at the foot of the Spring Mountain, on the south side, at a distance of about forty rods from the main road between Tamaqua and Hazleton. Two large apple trees and the ruins of an oven mark the place where his log house once stood. It was built in 1815 or 1816. After his death, which occurred in January, 1846, it was occupied by Jet Scheiner, Weaver and others, who may be considered as being among the early settlers. The first tavern was kept by John Stackhouse more than fifty, (counting back from 1880), years ago. The accommodations were exceedingly poor. Teamsters and travelers were obliged to sleep on the floor on blankets, there being no sleeping apartments. For many years this was the only house between Beaver Meadow and Lindnersville (Lofty), and was a general stopping place for all travelers. It had a large amount of custom, and had stable capacity for ten or twelve horses ...   Text taken from the "Munsell History of Schuylkill Co", which see at

View of the valley of the Lofty Dam and Blue Head Reservoir. This view is to the west, directly opposed to the view of Greenfields in the picture above. Spring Mountain is at right, Locust Mountain at left. Shenandoah, PA is off in the far distance over the dimly seen mountain to the left of center. This viewpoint is from a saddle point on which resides Interstate 81, where Locust Mountain merges with Spring Mountain. The great Interstate 81 highway cut through Spring Mountain is directly to the right, just off the picture. The small stream feeding the two reservoir lakes (unseen here) is called Messer's Run. Four, five miles off in the distance this ravine widens out into the Catawissa Valley