On December 18 1974, the 14 room Guyer house was moved from the Shamokin Dam traffic circle, referred to as the "Dumb-Built Circle", in the Selinsgrove Times, to County Line Road in Winfield Pa. The "traffic circle" was nothing like our modern day traffic circles, and it was the scene of many, many accidents, several of which were fatal. (See aerial photos of the traffic circle below)
A 14 room home once stood in the middle of the traffic circle in Shamokin Dam.
The home, known as the G. Scott Guyer home, was purchased by the state several years prior to 1974, for "use in proposed highway projects". The home was rented to Mrs. Guyer until her death in September of 1974.
Three locals submitted bids for the home when it went up for sale in the fall of 1974. Robert Newton of Watsontown, and W.W. Hoffman of Lewisburg submitted bids, but the firm of C.F King of Sunbury submitted the winning bid of $3,620. The house was purchased as a residence for Robert Myers, president of the King firm. The new location offers a view of 5 counties.
On December 18 1974 the home was "slowly moved approximately three miles north to a lot on the south side of County Line Road."
Southbound traffic was rerouted to the Northbound lanes for nearly two hours, as the Milton State Police, Shamokin Dam Police Department, PP&L and the Continental Telephone company assisted with the move.
Upon seeing the photos shared on facebook, locals recalled taking the day off school to watch the home be moved.
An Aerial View Of the Traffic Circle in February 1956, with a view of the Guyer Home.
A newspaper article in 1956 reported that the traffic circle was the site of more accidents than any other location in the entire Snyder County highway network.
From January 1954 to January 1956, A total of 36 vehicles were involved in 27 accidents occurred, with 2 fatalities.
The article further reports that "the highway between Selinsgrove and the traffic circle is three lanes in width. As motorists approach the circle, the highway suddenly narrows to one lane." "Another cause of accidents is the fact that the highway as one makes the right hand turn, slopes to the right. This is due to the fact that traffic deciding to enter Shamokin Dam must cross the north bound lane if they are rounding the circle from the north or must bear sharply to the right if they entered the circle from the south."
"Traffic flows into the circle at five locations" Route 11-15 from Selinsgrove, Route 11 from Northumberland; Route 15 from Lewisburg, traffic crossing the toll bridge and traffic traveling the old Selinsgrove Sunbury High way through Shamokin Dam.
The traffic circle was constructed during World War II.
A 1968 Aerial view of the Shamokin Dam Traffic Circle, showing the new cut off road to ease accidents at the lower left.
The Shamokin Dam Traffic Circle in 1974
The Selinsgrove Times editor referred to the Shamokin Dam Traffic circle as "The Dumb-Built Circle".
In 1955 The Selinsgrove Times reported that 10 years ago, the "Dumb-Built Circle" was responsible for two more crashes on Tuesday, and that "The G. Scott Guyer home took the brunt of the damage, as a bus and a tractor trailer were involved in separate accidents"
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This brings back so many memories. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWho owns the house now?
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