TREVORTON - There are few local municipalities that can boast as being the birthplace of a World Series champion, but Zerbe Township can.
Earl "Sparky" Adams was born in the township on Aug. 26, 1894. He had a 12-year career in the major leagues, debuting on Sept. 18, 1922, with the Chicago Cubs and making his final appearance on Sept. 30, 1934, for the Cincinnati Reds. He also played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals.
From 1925 to 1927, Adams led the National League in at-bats with the Cubs. The 1931 season was considered his career highlight when he was named the Cardinals' starting third baseman and hit a career-high 46 doubles as the Cardinals went on to defeat the Philadelphia Athletics four games to three in the World Series. Adams finished ninth in the Baseball Writers Association of America's Most Valuable Player balloting for the National League.
He retired from baseball in 1935 and became a farmer and service station operator in Tremont. He died Feb. 24, 1989, in Pottsville.
Township born in 1853
Trevorton, known as a community and a census-designated place, has an area of 4.3 square miles and had a population of 1,834 people at the time of the 2010 census.
Zerbe Township, which overlaps Trevorton with its 11.6 square miles, had a population of 1,872 residents in 2010.
Zerbe Township was formed by an act of the Legislature on March 11, 1853. According to Bell's History of Northumberland County, the township's first house was built around 1800 by William Cressinger.
The existence of coal in the area was discovered as early as 1827 when a company was incorporated to construct a canal for slackwater navigation from the Susquehanna River to "The Coal Mines" at the mouth of Zerbe Run. The canal was never constructed, but coal interests began to develop.
Shamokin civil engineer Kimber Cleaver laid out the town, with public sale of lots for Trevorton being held on May 28, 1850.
Following the sale, Judge Alexander Jordan deposited a lump of coal from Zerbe Gap and a container of water from the Susquehanna River in a hole that he dug in the ground, proclaiming Trevorton as "the banns between Zerbe Gap and the Susquehanna River," which he predicted would be united by the railroad. That occurred in November.
During World War I, 499,800 tons of coal was produced at the North Franklin Colliery under the ownership of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal & Iron Co. However, in 1929, all operations ceased, and on Jan. 27, 1931, the breaker was destroyed by fire. Meanwhile, the Stevens Colliery continued to thrive. It employed 551 people in 1945 and operated until 1963.
Community pride
In recent years, there have been a number of new events and holiday celebrations to promote community pride.
On Oct. 13, the township held its annual fall festival in conjunction with the Zerbe Township Halloween Parade, with a great turnout at each. A Zerbe Township Christmas was held last December, and the community recognizes National Night Out each year with a large turnout of emergency responders and the public.
The township recreation committee continues to work to improve the Foundry grounds. A tot lot playground has already been installed, and there are plans to resurface the tennis courts.