First Discovery of Coal
The Norway and the Pinegrove tracts in Norwegian and Manheim Townships were surveyed in 1776. William Scull was of the third generation of surveyors of that name. His father, Nicholas, had surveyed other tracts in this township and his grandfather, Nicholas Scull, had been Surveyor General of Pennsylvania In 1769, W. Scull and Wm. Maclay were employed to fix the boundary line between Berks and Northampton Counties, and almost where Ashland now stands, they noticed the existence of coal. The map made by his grandfather, Nicholas Scull, published in 1759 contained coal points which no doubt familiarized them with the summit of Broad Mountain, discovered coal through the uprooting of trees, and as legend goes, ignited it to warm himself while out hunting. In 1800, or thereabouts, Wm. Morris took a load of Coal from Mill Creek to Philadelphia. The Rickert brothers were early pioneers in the development of the newly discovered mineral. George Rickert and George Shoemaker loaded their wagons and hauled coal to Philadelphia.

Early Settlers
Baltzar Gehr, of German extraction bought a large tract of land in Norwegian Twp in 1771. He was an active militiaman during 1775-1776, a judge of the county courts, 1775-1784 and a member of the General Assembly form 1782 to 1799. Baltzar Gehr owned a sawmill at the junction of Norwegian Creek and the Schuylkill River. This mill was operated by John Neyman, who lived on the hill in the rear of the present Pottsville Hospital. The first child born in Norwegian Twp was a son of Mr. Neyman. Col. Val Eckert reported to the Council, August 30, 1780, that John Neyman and his family were barbarously murdered by the Indians. (Penna. Archives, Vol. 8, pp. 529-571). The honor of being the first settler of Norwegian belongs to Neyman, the wood-sawyer.
In 1796, Jacob Zoll, innkeeper of Reading, established a small forge near the site of the aforementioned mill. The Indians so harassed him that he sold his effects to Lewis Reese and Isaac Thomas and moved out of the township. Joseph Zoll, born in the log cabin adjoining the forge, was the second white child born here. Isaac Thomas then lived in Zoll’s log cabin which he named Norway. The Minnich, Zoll, Mayfield Wilson, Moorfield and Physic tracts in Norwegian Twp have formed the nucleus of the present city of Pottsville.

Origin of Township, March 1, 1811
The line between Berks and Northumberland Counties was surveyed in 1795. On Nov., 4, 1799, three new townships were laid out in the upper portion of Berks Co. The newly constructed townships were named Schuylkill, Norwegian and Mahantongo. Berks Co. however, levied taxes on these three districts form 1792 until 1811. Then Rush and West Penn Twps. In the meantime having been lopped off Northampton Co., those five newly created districts together with the three original townships, Brunswick, Pinegrove and Manheim were incorporated into Schuylkill Co. The territory thus incorporated comprised five-sixths of the present area of the county. The remainder of the scope of Schuylkill Co. was ceded form adjoining parts of Luzerne, Columbia and Carbon Co. The original bounds of Norwegian included all territory between the Sharp Mountain on the south and the Mahanoy Creek on the north and between Blythe and West Mahanoy Twps. On the east and Mahantongo and Pinegrove Twps on the west. Township limits at that time were largely determined by stream trails, land elevation, etc. This accounts for the irregular forms of many townships and other divisions.

Population
The population of the district according to the 1810 census was 107, and according to that of 1930 it was 1810.

Subdivisions of Township
The following townships and boroughs were formed from the territory that was originally Norwegian Twp.: Pottsville (1828); Palo Alto, E. Norwegian (1847); Port Carbon (1852); St. Clair (1850); New Castle (1848); Frackville (1876); Girardville (1872); Gordon (1891); Ashland (1846); Butler (1848); Part of Barry (1821); Foster (1855); Cass (1848); Minersville (1838); Branch (1838); Reilly ( 1857); part of Frailey, 1847. The above dates indicate the date of incorporation of these various districts and not when they were severed from the territory of Norwegian.

Boundary of Township
Cass and New Castle lie to the north, St. Clair and E. Norwegian Twp. To the east, Pottsville to the south and Minersville and Branch Twp to the east , Pottsville to the south and Minersville and Branch Twp to the west. Hillside which had not been ceded to either Pottsville or Yorkville is isolated form the rest of the township. It is situated on the Sharp Mountain to the south of Pottsville.

The Great Road or King's Highway
The Lightfoot survey of 1759 was the forerunner of the King's Highway built in 1770. This survey led from Reading to Fort Augusta, now Sunbury. From the Minnich tract, Seven Stars, Manheim Twp., on which there was a rode house in 1770 there was not a single dwelling till Fort Augusta was reached where food or shelter for the surveyors could be obtained. His road was cut through a howling wilderness for a distance of forty miles. It was thought that such road leading to the Susquehanna River would greatly enhance trade with the Indians. The route of this followed the "Tulpehocken Path." It was completed in 1771. It crossed the Schuylkill opposite the present site of the Pottsville Hospital winding around the hill to what is now E. Norwegian St. fording both branches of the river. Bear in mind that Norwegian Twp then extended from the Sharp Mountain to the southern boundary of Northumberland Co. One branch of the road wound over Clay Monument hill out along the famous Indian path to Fifteenth and Mahantongo Sts then to York Farm here it formed a junction with that branch which ran along Coal St. through Fishbach to Bull's Head . The road then continued on through Minersville thence to Sunbury. Locally, this highway is known as the Sunbury Pike. At the point where the York Farm and Fishbach branches of the pike met in Bull's Head a log cabin was built. The Seltzers of packing house fame settled her and eventually the cabin became the Bull's Head Tavern. Incidentally, this inn became the first poling place in Norwegian Twp. Nicholas Seitzinger lived on a small farm on Bull's Head in the year 1800. His son Jacob, built the first brick house in Pottsville on the site of the Merchant's Bank. His brickyard was on the site of Pennsylvania Freight Depot. Nicholas, a second son was an Associate Judge of the county. Jeremiah Seitzinger, son of Jacob, born in Bull's head, held the offices of Co. Commissioner and Court Crier. Other families connected with the history of this locality were those bearing the names of Kuhl, Yuengling, James, Horn and Gunder.. Farther west toward Minersville we find the Bush and Scheithelm farms which were later occupied by the Drye family. On these farms at one time or another, lived families who were known by such names as Fenstermacher, Haussler, Zimmerman, Hinkle, Bernitske, Cavalier, and Ditzel. On the opposite side of the road, George Bush farm at present we find the following families Greenberg, Krizon and Ciemochowski.

The First Turnpike Road
The first turnpike road, seventy-five miles long, running from Reading to Sunbury, was chartered and incorporated in March, 1805. Its course ran through Pottsville on Centre St. out by the cemeteries and on to Sunbury. Centre St. was then a vast marsh, and the lowest points were filled in with logs and stones- this was the first "corduroy" road hereabouts. Near the present boundary between Pottsville and Norwegian a log house was built and a farm cleared. Just north of the steel mill we find the McMullin tract. This section of the township is known as Peach Mt. When coal mining was in its infancy, this region was the scene of many mine operations. Approximately one mile north of the log house on the pike, a branch was run off to the left going north to connect with the Sunbury trail. Again a log house was erected at the junction and a small farm was cleared. The Madeira family lived here for many years.
Adjoining the Madeira farm on the north Anton Marx, a native of Alsace-Lorraine, settled and farmed for years. He also conducted a dairy. His descendants still carry on. Now let us follow the connecting link between the Sunbury Trail and the Centre Pike. This branch continued down the hill, forded the Norwegian Creek ascended and crossed Peacock Hill and connected with the Sunbury Trail near the present home of the Krizon family. Two fairly large farms were cleared along this branch- the Delaware on the north and the Forty Acres (Seltzer's) on the south. The Doll family lived on the Delaware farm also, they operated a small coal mine on a hill adjacent to the farm. This mine was called Doll's Coal Hole. This farm antedates to 1825, "Wash Lechleitner in 1881 took possession of this farm having emigrated from West Penn Twp. George, a son of "Wash", is now living on the farm also conducting progressive and up-to-date sanitary dairy.
The Forty Acre farm was located on the present site of Seltzer City. It was originally cleared and owned by the Seltzer family who had formerly lived in Bull's Head. His family later moved to Pottsville where the descendants conduct a meat packing industry. A farm house was built here for the convenience of the hired farmer. Mr. Biddle, was the first to occupy the building. Afterwards in succession the Kirchner, Schuck and Raatz families were tenants. The last mentioned in addition to cultivating the farm conducted a hotel and a hay market. In 1895, the farm was sold and laid out into streets and building lots. At present , it is known as Seltzer City.

The Schuylkill Canal
On March 8, 1815 an act was enacted by the Legislature incorporating the Schuylkill Navigation Co. The work of construction was laid out in two sections- one body of laborers worked on the project from Philadelphia to Reading, the other from Reading to Mill Creek, Norwegian Twp. The distance required to be covered is on hundred eight and two-thirds miles. It was completed and ready for navigation in 1821. By 1825 the port at Mt. Carbon was doing a brisk business in shipment of lumber, merchandised and also some coal. During the winter months the canal at times could not function due to ice and at such times transportation had to cease. Such conditions finally led to the development of the railroad. During the year 1886, the canal from Hamburg northward was abandoned.

First Railways
The Danville-Pottsville (Norwegian Township then) railroad was incorporated in April, 1826. This road finally became insolvent in 1842. It was sold at sheriff's sale in Jan. , 1851. In 1826, Abraham Heebner of Port Carbon, then in Norwegian Twp built a railroad one-half mile in length to connect his coal mine with the Schuylkill Canal. Thus the third railway to be operated in Norwegian. In 1829, John Burgett opened a boarding house to accommodate laborers working on the Girard Tunnel through which the Pottsville-Danville R. R. was to run. This tunnel is located about half way between St. Clair and Wadesville. The tent which he used gave place later to a small frame tavern which he called "Cross Keys." This was the first public house in this section of the township. Burgett's daughter, was the first child born in East Mines.
An act to incorporate the Mount Carbon Railway Company passed the State Legislature in 1829. This was the forerunner of the present Reading System. The Mine Hill railroad was chartered March, 1828, finished in Oct., 1831, and connected Mine Hill with the Schuylkill Haven locks of the canal. The main line extended from Schuylkill Haven to Locust Gap.
The Schuylkill Valley R. R. was built to connect with the coal landing at Port Carbon in 1830.
The Mt. Carbon R. R. extended from Mt. Carbon to Mt. Laffee. Horses and Mules were first used. When locomotives were adopted the firms using them reserved the right to return to horses, if locomotives did not prove satisfactory.
On Jan. 1, 1842, the first trip ninety-one miles distant was made over the Reading from Mr. Carbon to Fairmount, Phila. The time required was eight hours.
In 1890 the Pennsylvania R. R. began the building of a branch line from the Nichols St. junction, Pottsville to the Lytle Colliery. While excavating for the cut on the Dyer's section: a splendid vein of coal was unearthed. This is in the eastern end of the cut on the Delaware farm. The first train of coal cars (five) was taken over this road from the Lytle Colliery to Pottsville on the morning of Feb. 16, 1893.
During the summer of 1933 a spur was turned off this road near Brumm's Row. Minersville to make connection with the Oak Hill Colliery.

The Coal Industry
From 1829 to 1836 the North American and the Delaware Coal Co. were extensive operators in the township; the former worked the Lewis and Spohn veins; the latter Peach Mt and the Diamond veins. These operations were both near the site of the Pottsville Colliery. This shaft is situated at East Mines. In 1869 the preliminary work of sinking the shafts was started by the Mammoth Vein Coal Co. In 1870, the P. & R. C. & I. Co. gaining control continued the sinking of the shafts. The east shaft was sunk to a depth of 1597 feet. The west shaft is 700 feet distant and is of larger dimensions. Both shafts have the same depth and they were said to be the deepest in the county at the time. It was the intention of the owners to make this the greatest mining operation in the anthracite region. Thousands of dollars were spent on this huge development . In fact, it was the big show place of this region. The first shipment of 1810 tons was made in 1875, and the last shipment of 12,485 tons in 1884. The operation is reputed to have been a failure. There are some fine veins of coal beneath the surface. When the coal fields lying to the north are exhausted, capital may be glad to come to the East Mines shafts for its supply of black diamonds.
The closing of this operation in 1884 was a serious blow to the residents of St. Clair and Pottsville as most of its 400 workers came from these towns.
The Red Ash Coal Co. opened a mine on the Thuron tract adjoining the Delaware tract in 1840 and worked it until 1847 when it was abandoned. Another shaft was sunk on the Navigation tract directly north of the Steel Mill near McMullin's field. Both operations shopped over the Mt. Carbon R. R. to the canal. During the financial panic of 1856 the coal operators were forced into bankruptcy and the mines were bought up by individuals and worked by them for a time. But during the panic of 1873, the individual operator became bankrupt and then the mines were taken over again by the large corporations, who still have possession. These two panics together with the loss of the "Knights of Labor" strike of 1887 seriously retarded the mining development in Norwegian Twp. Until the reopening of the old Williams colliery in 1893, the township was without mining activities.