Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Main Street Watsontown, Block By Block Through The Decades

Main Street Watsontown Pa
Photos of the town block by block, through the years.

In 2017, as we were getting ready for Watsontown's Sesquicentennial, I had an idea for a walking tour of Watsontown that would show you photos of the buildings as they looked over the years.  It was too big of a project for me to take on at that time, and although we did have a very nice walking tour, done by others, it was not what I had envisioned.  Three years later, I still can't quite develop what I have in mind, but this is a start.  This post will take you through Main street, block by block, with all the old photos I could find of that block, and what all was there.  
A Block By Block "Walk" Through Time
 On Main Street, Watsontown

We'll start by heading out of Milton, towards Watsontown.  On our left will be the Trolley Car Diner, and on our right will be the Red Arrow Drive In (Later the Arrowhead).  A bit further down the road, on the left, is the Riverside Amusement Park.  We'll continue to follow along the river, just as the Lewisburg, Milton, Watsontown Trolley would have from 1898 to 1928, and as we come close to the borough of Watsontown, the brick factories, including Watsontown Brick will be on our right.  The Port May Canal lock will be on our left.  


Along the river to our left will be the Watsontown Nail Works, the Watsontown Novelty Works, and the Watsontown Table Works (Today Memorial Park)
Beside the entrance to the park will be the Paulhamus Gas station (Watson Mart Today)
Across the street will be the Watsontown Train Station.

The Watsontown Train Station
To the right is the road that leads along the river to Milton
To the left is the road to McEwensville, which in 1914 would be paved in brick.

Jerry Paulhamus Texaco Station, 15 Main St 

Jerry Paulhamus Texaco Station, 15 Main St 

 At the Entrance to Watsontown Memorial Park.  Lamar Runkle later purchased this, tore it down and built a new building.  Later Time Markets, Then Coastal, today it is the Watson Mart.
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1912 Sanborn Fire Map
Main Street up to  1st Street

100 Block of Main Street

Now we will start our journey through town, looking only at the right side of the 100 block, first. Once we get to the end of the block, we'll start again, looking only at the left hand side of the street, before moving on to the 200 block.
Cooner Hotel, 100 Main Street
Built in  1857, with  a livery stable out back, this was one of the first houses in Watsontown at the time.   Horseback riders would race from the hotel down Main Street through Watsontown.  The Cooners owned the hotel until 1921.  
1928 Cooner Hotel was the Bath & Campbell House (with hardware store)
This is now the Watson Inn  - the oldest continually operating hotel in Northumberland County.

A white wooden horse, sometimes with a sleigh or buggy, stood in the yeard between the High home and Cooners Hotel.  Henry Shoemaker made mention of the "fine wooden horse" in his writings.

Farmers National Bank is on the left, Cooners on the right.

 The Trolley tracks beside Cooners

Watson Inn, 100 Main Street
Notice that there is a street to the left of the hotel.  Today there is a street on the right, and on the left there is a building tight against the Inn.  

This photo is taken from first street.  The first house on the right is, I believe, 42 Main street.  (A. T. Goodman's general store, in 1886)  the white building that can just be seen behind the tree would be Cooners Hotel (Now the Watson Inn)

The large white building with pillars, and the one to the left,  looks very similar to the two buildings now tight against the Watson Inn.  I'm unsure if this was rebuilt, or torn down and replaced.
Casket Storage building, Widmanns Hy-Lo, Allens True Value, Adams Furniture Building (ltall brick building)
2020 View, with the Watson Inn on the right.

124- 140  Main Street, Watsontown
 The small white building was casket storage for Barrs Funeral Home.
Widmanns Hy-Lo, Allens True Value, Adams Furniture Building, Ben Franklin, 
This was taken after the Weaver Building was torn down, Ben Franklin is in its  place.


Widmann Building, 120 Main Street
In 1884 this was a tinware store owned by George H. Shannon & F. E. Kirk.
Widman Discout opened here in 1980.  Today this is Phoenix Rehabilitation

 Main Street, Watsontown
Robbins Dry Goods, Later Acme Market, Then Allens True Value, Then Ciros
This building was torn down by Ciros, it's now the entrance to the new Ciros, built back by the tracks.

Allens True Value, 120 Main Street
Allens replaced Acme.  Later this was Ciros. This building was torn down by Ciros, it's now the entrance to the new Ciros,


Hummel Residence, 124 Main Street
Residence of Dr H.R. Hummel .  In 1951, Herbert Barr opened a funeral home here.  Today this is Brooks Funeral Home.

The Adams  Building , 128 Main Street, Watsontown  (1907)

Build in 1903 by Merrit Adams.  A furniture store, undertaking establishment and his residence occupied this building.  Merrits son William continued the business after his fathers death.  

The Adams Building In 1919

Adams Furniture Building ,  128 Main Street, watsontown
At the time of this photo, Grays Furniture & Electrical Store
Today Morning Glories Floral Shop is in this building.

Between the Adams Building and Ben Franklin

Ben Franklin, 138 Main Street Watsontown
Kenneth Becker established the Ben Franklin  (5 a& 10) store in 1937 at the Rombach building (beside the Watsontown Bank). In 1940 they moved to the Marsh building (up from the Mansion House). In 1944 he purchased the Kreisher building.  Ken retired in March, 1970, and his son Dartt took over the business. November, 1986, Becker's Ben Franklin closed after 49 years in business.
In April, 1987, Bee Cee Pro Hardware opened in the former Becker's store.

Ben Franklin with new awning and windows.

Ben Franklin 

Bee Cee Hardware, 138 Main Street Watsontown


Bergers Stationary Store, 144 Main Street Watsontown.  1912

Next we'll turn around and look back down the street we just walked up.

From Brimmer Avenue, Looking South Towards Milton
This is a popular view, photographed often for post cards.


The Weaver Building, and the Adams Building. (Approximately 1909)

Minerva Hall
The 1912 Sanborn Fire Map shows an Opera Hall at the end of this block, where Klapps Drugstore (Previously David Kembles Store) is below.  I found mention of "Minerva Hall", which was here in 1869.  That building was destroyed by fire in 1894,   In the photo above, the Adams building was not built until 1909, so after the Opera House Fire.


An article about the fire lists the businesses in this area, in 1894 - 
"At 2 o'clock Sunday morning fire broke out in the livery stable of Peter Faust, Watsontown, and before progress of the flames were checked they had destroyed the Opera House block and adjacent buildings."

"The opera house was among the finest business blocks in Watsontown, being erected about the close of the rebellion.  The first floor, on main street, was occupied by John B. Dunn, Druggist and Smith Heilman and Co, General Merchandise.  The Second street front was occupied by Charles Miller, barber, and Mr Colby, butcher"

"A one story building between the opera house and Fausts clothing store on main street was occupied by William B. Reed, confectioner and saddlery establishment of Mr Faust. The double dwelling at the rear of the opera house on second street was owned by Miss Sadie McKee, and occupied by herself and Misses Buchner, dressmakers."

"The Faust building where the fire originate fronted Main street and extended to the alley in the rear which part was used as the stable of Mr. Faust. The second shop over the read was being used as the workshop of the tailoring department. The Faust store building was at one time used by John Wenner of Williamsport for his grocery business in Watsontown. The barn belonging to Isaac N. Messinger with several small buildings were the only buildings destroyed south of where the fire originated." The Miltonian,  December 28, 1894

Read More About The Early Opera Houses Of Watsontown Here

 Standing at the red light, looking south towards Milton
Klapps Drug store, Weaver Building, Adams Building
Klapps Drugstore Opened in 1911

Drug Store, Bergers Stationary Store, Weaver Building, Adams Building

John Oakes of Watsontown has purchased the soda fountain of S. C. Klapp, the druggist at Watsontown, and will open an ice cream and confectionary store in the Kreisher building on South Main street, that place.  Mr Oakes has been employed at the Krauser drug store this place for several years.  Miltonian, Feb 12 1912

Same view as above - Looking towards Milton.  
The Weaver Building has been replaced by two smaller buildings.

Here Swopes is in the old Klapp store, and the Ben Franklin sign can be seen.
The tree on the right is now gone too.

Left side of the 100 Block
Ok, so we walked to the end of this first block, looking at only what is on the right hand side of the road.  Then we turned around and looked back down the street.   Now we're going to start over, jumping back to the Cooner Hotel (Watson Inn) and this time looking at the left hand side of the 100 block.


This is the view as we  approach 1st street.  For years, what we know as 1st street was  "main street in town" - as traffic arrived by canal, and came up from the river.  Cooners is to the right here, out of view in this photo.  Farmers National Bank can be seen ahead on the left. The trolley ran from 1898-1928, and most of these trolley photos were taken around 1907, but I am not certain exactly what year this is.

1908  Goodman & Brother Dry Goods was at the  Corner of Main & 1st

107-109 Main Street
Spots Insurance, and the Farmers National Bank.  Both of these buildings are now one. The Farmers National Bank expanded into both spaces, and later it became the Santander Bank.  (Across from the Watson Inn)

Farmers Bank, 109 Main St Watsontown, 1957
Later Santander Bank.  Now owned by the borough.

Read More About The Early Banks of Watsontown Here

Farmers National Bank, 1981

The Laidacker Store, 121 Main Street
Original part of the "Watson Farm".  A dry goods store was here, along with a bicycle shop.
Around 1904/5, "Horseless Carriages", mostly Fords, were sold here.

Freight House, 125 Main Street
once a freight store, later Ron's House Of Fashion.


The Gem Theater, 131 Main Street Watsontown

In 1912, Mr Sanders converted his hardware store at 131 Main Street (which had been built in 1850)  into the Gem Theater.

Lyceum Theater 131 Main Street
In 1912, Mr Sanders converted his hardware store at 131 Main street into the Gem Theater.    He later sold the theater to Warren Johnson, where it went by the names of The Peoples Theater, The Carlton, and finally, around 1929, it became the Lyceum Theater.  In 1934, the Lyceum caught on fire.  Six years later, The Watson Theater opened at that spot.

The Watson Theater, 131 Main Street,  1940- 2009.  


Marsh Shoe Store, Merrills Wallpaper, 143-145 Main Street Watsontown
Signs for Juds Restaurant, and Marsh's, and Boot & Shoes, on these two buildings.


Marsh Shoe Store & Merill Wallpaper Store, 143 Main
News-clipping from the Anniversary Edition of the Watsontown Record and Star
This is the building on the left in the photos above and below.

 143-145 Main Street Watsontown
Juds Restaurant
Today this is Rene's Barber Shop & The Chinese restaurant


Later Charlene's Floral shop was here.   Today this is Rene's Barber Shop & The Chinese restaurant


Bachman Dry Goods was on West Side of Main near 2nd street, and was later owned by George Burns.

Tom Evans Clothing Store, 143 Main Street
Today, Rene's Barber Shiop


Looking North towards Dewart.  
This photo looks like it may have been taken from the balcony at the Lyceum Theater, looking towards Dewart

From approximately the area of the current day Watson Theater, looking downtown.
The Boot & Shoe Store sign is not the Boot & Shoe Building, that was where the current cvs parking lot is.  The Trick building is the large building on the right, facing Brimmer Avenue, and the building with the awning is most likely Klapps Drugstore at this time.

Sign for Peifers seen on the left. 

1912 Sanborn Map shows Confectionary, Telegraph Office, Hardware,  Prints
Cooners Hotel, Offfice, Hardware & Tin Shop, Drugstore (Ice house on Peach Alley)
Office, Barber
The Building on the end of the street is labeled "Opera House" with stage, Scenery and Lights In the Opera House is listed a Drugstore,Barber, Tailor & Bookstore
This is not what we refer to as the Opera House today - that building is across from the current day cvs

The 1912 Sanborn Map
Main Street 1st to 2nd street
1912 Sanborn Map Showing the Opera House at the corner of Main & Second Street

Schreyer Store Corner of Main & Second streets, 1916

Brimmer Ave was named for W.C. Brimmer who spent 15 years fighting to get the state to build the White Deer-Watsontown Bridge.

200 Block Of Main Street
Looking down the left side of the street first, starting with the Mansion House.
The Mansion House, 201 Main Street
The Mansion house, built by John Forseman 1867.  It's had numerous owners over the years, and is still operating today.

Looking North, With The Mansion House On The Left




Mansion House, Rabes Dental, Unknown, Fisher Building, Marsh Building

Rabes Dentistry, later Funks Dentistry, 
In the small brick building beside the Mansion House.
Today this is Thairapy Hair Salon



Fisher Building (now the masons building) The Marsh Building (Where D & D is now) The Opera Building


The Fisher Building
Fishers  Building, 209 Main Street
Now Masonic Hall.
In 1872, W. A. Fisher purchased the frame building that stood at this spot, and  moved his confectionery and bakery from the Gauger building, to  here.  Fishers Sporting Goods & Cafe operated here, and later he started a saloon and restaurant, with a pool and billiard room.  He later discontinued the billard business and used the room for a first class cafe.  That original structure was destroyed by fire in 1884.
In 1885 Fisher build the two story brick building that stands here today.   After his death, his wife, and then his son, continued the business here.  

The Watsontown Masonic Hall Association purchased the property and owns it today.


Mufflys Barber Shop operated out of the Fisher building, beginning in 1940.


Shoe Shine Stand outside of the Fisher Building

J.C Gibson, Fishers Block

The Marsh Building
The Marsh Building, 215-219 Main Street Watsontown
In 1882, The Lot of Mrs Wagner (deceased) was sold to Dr. Marsh, who built this building in 1889.  Dr Marsh's offices and living rooms were on the first floor,  E.R Taggert Clothing store, on the second floor, along with "family sleeping rooms".

The third floor was used by a variety of organizations, including the Odd Fllow, Royal Arcanum, Protected Home Circle, and Knights Of The Golden Eagle.

In 1942, The Ben Franklin Store was in this building.

In 1960, The Marsh building included four apartments, a number of lodging rooms, and the Day Star Restaurant. After the death of Dr Marsh, his daughter, Marie Marsh Leinbach, owned the property. In 1960, Mr & Mrs William Walker (who owned a paint store in Watsontown) purchased the Marsh building, with the agreement that Mrs Leinbach would continue to occupy the first floor apartment.
  
Pammy J's, and now D & D Restaurant is where the right side of this building stood.  The left is now a parking lot.



Kenneth Becker established the Ben Franklin store in 1937 at the Rombach building (beside the bank). In 1940 they moved to the Marsh building. (This must be in the Marsh building - the door to the Opera house can be seen on the right) In 1944 he purchased the Kreisher building

Pammy J's 219 Main Street
Today, D&D Restaurant

The Opera House
The Opera House, 223 Main Street
Directly across from CVS.  Today this is B & E Antiques.

Joseph Hollopeter purchased this land and constructed a frame building.  In 1887 George Seiler owned the building, and Trates Music Store and the John Dunn drug store operated out of here.  In 1906, Charles Werner purchased the building for his meat business. Charles son Lewis took over the business after his death.

Trates Music Store, Watsontown

The second story of the building was used as an opera house.  School commencements, talent plays, picture shows, and dances were all held here.  

The Opera House, 223 Main Street
Directly across from CVS.  Today this is B & E Antiques.

In 1969 The Opera House was a paint and hardware store, owned by Robert & Ruth Barr.

225 Main St, The Oasis Inn
Beside the Opera House

Down The Right Side Of The Street, Starting With The Trick Building

The Trick Building 201 Main Street, Watsontown
William H. Trick & Son, located on Brimmer Ave & Main Street
Also at had a store at  109 Main Street.

201 Main Street, across from the Mansion House

"Watsontown Building Razed - The building, corner of Main St and Brimmer Ave, Watsontown, formerly owned by Earl W. Truck and recently purchased by Donald L. Swope, is being torn down to make way for the erection of a modern pharmacy store for Swope.  For many years the old building with the top floor now removed, house an A & P store that is now located with the former A & P store at South Gate Plaza in Milton."  The Daly Item, February 23 1966

Swopes Pharmacy, 201 Main Street

Swopes Pharmacy, 201 Main Street.
In 1962 Don Swope purchased Patton's Drug Store in Watsontown.  He closed the store 1986,   For a couple of year, Jarrets Clothing store was in this building,  then it was purchased and rebuilt by Bucks plumbing.

The A & P in the Trick Building
Later this was Bucks Bucks Plumbing, A Doll Hospital, and on the far left, Foust Insurance

Shaffers Barber Shop, 220 Main Street
This house is identical to the house to the right - 218.  218 was the Gifts and Goodies Store.
220 was torn down, CVS stands there.  The Boot and shoe building is to the left in this photo, it was torn down and is now the CVS parking lot.


Boot & Shoe

Postmaster Philip Shay moved the Post Office  to the Boot and Shoe building around 1882.
 The Watsontown Record was established in 1870.  The Star, Watsontown's second paper, was established in 1882, by Fosnot and Fisher.  At some point, Burr replaced Fisher.  In 1884, Fosnot & Burr purchased the Record, and the name was changed to The Record & Starr.  The Record & Starr printing house was in the Boot & Shoe building.

Nolls Restaurant, in the Boot & Shoe Building, 218 Main St

In 1927 the Boot and Shoe building suffered severe damage when a fire raged through the 3-story building .  After the fire, the building was reconditioned and the Wilson Novelty Company employed 100 people here to make Wilson Walkies (A Watsontown Invention)
 The  building was not completely razed until 1971
This is now the CVS parking lot.

The Heilman Building (Built in 1868)  224-230 Main Street 
Located beside the CVS Parking lot. 
First Weidenhammer's General Merchandise, then the Ward H. Welsh Store, then purchased by Fred Carson in 1910.
In 1915 Martin Yeagle operated a shoe store here in part of the building, followed by James Zettlemoyer's shoe store in the 1920s.  Later it was the Schooley radio shop, Essiks barber shop, Vogels Dry cleaners, and for a number of years, Watsontown CATV.  
In the other part of the building, Attorney Shay  had an office, followed by Dr John Biddle, Attorney Luther  Harter, and then it was a beauty shop

 Ward H. Welsh's store was here from 1902-1910
(Ward's sister Hattie married Ed Truckenmiller. )
 Store front is currently empty.
 
Standing on 3rd street, looking south
Carson 's Store is on the left,  Followed by the Boot & Shoe Building

Here's the same view as above, but a "few" years earlier.  
Carson's Staple Fancy Grocery Store is on the left, beside the Boot & Shoe building.
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In 1912, the Sanborn map shows Watsontown Boot & Shoe, the post office a bank, and 
Mansion House, Meat, Meat, Billiards, Jewelry, "Gent", & "Milly"
1912 Sanborn Fire Map
showing 2nd-3rd Street

Dr Rabe's Office was the brick house right on the corner of the alley on 2nd street.
"Dr. E. F. Rabe the dentist has purchased twenty feet of land fronting Main Street from Landlord Stewart Of the Mansion House. It takes in the vacant lot between the residence of E.P. Wolf and the mansion house, near the corner of main and 2nd streets. A two story brick office building will be erected on the site during the coming summer."

300 Block Of Main Street
We'll start by looking at the right hand side of the street, looking north towards Dewart.


From second street, looking towards Dewart
Look on the left, near the second house, and you can see the Public Water fountain with its white globe on top.  On the right is the Watsontown National Bank.


Same photo as above, but in black in white

The Water Fountain On 3rd Street was part of the Christian Women's Temperance Unit Public Water Fountain Initiative.  Watsontown's fountain was dedicated in memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Follmer.  Read more here.

Watsontown National Bank, 300 Main Street

Watsontown National Bank, 300 Main Street
First National Bank, Rombach Building, Cronrath Home, Dentist
The building shown here was built in 1915.
Today this is the First National Bank.

In 1956 the Watsontown National Bank was enlarged by joining the bank with the former Rombach building.

Housel & Son Dentist 310 Main Street
Later Willard Simplers Dental Office.  Beside Cronrath Funeral Home

Read more about the Housels At
"Prominent Men Of Early Watsontown" here

 Cronrath Funeral Home, 308 Main street
Built by Dr J.H. Harley in 1880, the Silas Rombach family purchased it in 1887
Paul Cronrath purchased the property in 1938, and opened a funeral parlor on the ground flood.  His son took over the business in 1983.
Today this is the Cronrath Grenoble Funeral Home



 Follmer & Wilson Hardware Store, 314 Main Street
Fred Knight opened his hardware store in 1866.  In 1906 he retired and sold his business to 

Rolland B. Follmer and Jay F. Wilson. Later, B  & E Cafe

B& E Cafe 314  (Fomerly Follmers Hardware) Main street
Formerly Johnny Oaks Ice Cream Parlor, later Burrows Cafe, today it is a private residence.

Looking north, towards Dewart.
On our left we see the distinctive turret of the Hefty house
On the right, if you zoom in on the sign, it reads "Diehls Bakery"
The Building on the end will  purchased by the borough in 1912, to be  the Borough Building

Looking North, Beside Diehls Bakery was Sterners Shoe Repair,  Cromis Garage, then the Borough Building on the corner.  The Lutheran Church With it's new square steeple.  (The previous steeple had been hit by lightening three times, and was redesigned around 1940)

Modern Photo of the view above, showing the Lutheran Church, new borough hall, and new post office.

Garage, and  Sterners Shoe Repair,  3?? Main Street?  Is the shoe repair the former Diehls Bakery?

3??  Main Street Watsontown

Diehls Bakery Moved to Elm Street in 1912
(Was this in the same building the shoe repair store 

Watsontown Borough Hall, 318 Main Street
The Miller building was purchased  by the borough in 1912.  It was used by the  West Branch Fire Company as well as the town hall.. It was torn down about 1960, and the current borough building was built in its place.



The 1912 Sanborn map shows - Bank, Hardware, Tin Shop, Barber, "Lodge Rms 2 & 3"
1912 Sanborn Fire Map
, Main street from 3rd to 4th


400 Block Of Main Street

On The Right Side Of The Street
The Blue Diamond, 408 Main Street Watsontown
 Juke Box, Candy & Ice Cream, Youth Hangout, Owned by Boyd Anspach, and the Manevals
Across from Dr Hitchens Office.  Today it's a chiropractors office.


Everitt & Heilman, who also ran a furniture and undertaking business near the Boot & Shoe.

On The Left Side Of The Street

The Lutheran Church, With It's Original Spire


On the 1912 map are listed (some are in the rear of buildings)
A confectionary, a restaurant, A jewler, a baker, and the Lutheran & Presbyterian Churches.
1912 Sanborn Fire Map
 Main street from 4th to 5th 


500 Block of Main Street
Looking south from 6th st


The Baptist Church, 501 Main Street Watsontown
View of the church is along 5th street.  Main street is to the right, at the front of the church.

In 1868, the members of the Baptist congregation purchased the lot at 5th & Main Streets for $687, from George Burns. A white frame building was constructed in February of 1870.
Members brought thier own lamps to meetings, and they met in the basement of the church until it was completed. In 1884, the outside frame of the building was completed, but the inside was not.  Ladders were used to get to the second story and to the basement. In 1896 the congregation decided to build a brick church.  Part of the white frame church was torn down, and the present building was built. 
The cornerstone at the church reads 1870- rebuilt 1897

5th st, looking south on Main


From 5th Street, Looking South.  About 1907
House on the left was the office of the Record And Star

The other side of the same view above.  Standing at 5th street, looking towards Milton.
The baptist church is on the left, office of the Record and Star on the right.

507 Main Street
The Baker Store, and Residence


600 Block Of Main Street
Looking South From 6th St
I'm not absolutely certain of the exact location of this photo, but the Lutheran Church spire can be seen on the left,as you look towards Milton.



700 Block Of Main Street

McFarlands Country Store, 723 Main Street

Red  light out front of the store - 
In 1959 Joseph Habig wrote a letter to the borough asking them to have the traffic light operate for an extra hour. Currently it stopped working at 7am, and then the children started heading to school on 8th street shortly thereafter. He suggested that the light function until the children were all safely at school.

800 Block Of Main Street

Farmers Hotel, 805 Main Street Watsontown
The building still stands today, as a multi family dwelling
To the back on the right you can see the top of the 8th street school
1882 "The Watsontown Hotel"  Property on Main street above 8th, from the Lewisburg building association, which he will occupy in the spring with the intentions of opening a hotel." 
1917 Liquor License granted to A. L. Bardo of the Farmers Hotel.
1902 - Farmers Hotel damaged in fire.  Davis & Barto proprieter.  Fire contained to the upper storeis, building was insured and "will be rebuilt at once"


Raverts Philco, 822 Main Street

From 9th Street Looking South

Whitmans Furniture Store
Corner of Main & 8th St
Frederick Whitman opened the store in 1877, adversitsed location as both "New Furniture" and "Undertaking"

1882 - The Corner lot of Lewis Koch, Main & 8th Streets, was sold to Josiah Stewart, who intends to erect a large brick house there.

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Not Sure Where These Go
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Knowlton's Ice Cream Parlor

Hesters Meat Market
Inside Hesters Meat Market





Messinger Hardware
Isaac N. Messinger came to Watsontown in 1867, and in partnership with Phineas Leiser engaged in the Mercantile business, continuing for one year before opening a new store composed of hardware, groceries, and wallpaper.


Sturgis Jewelers, Watsontown


Prowants Groceries





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1891 Merchant Appraisal List

The first Dr in Watsontown was H.D Hunter, from White Deer Hole Valley.  The First attorney was Oscar Foust

There were 3 hotels in early Watsontown
1881  There was a Kremers Hotel in Watsontown


1873
Christian Grubb owned the Watsontown Hotel in 1873

In 1937 Henry Shoemaker mentions remembering the "fine old wooden horse" in front of the Watsontown Hotel.


Haller Brewery, Watsontown - 1880



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1883 Map Of Watsontown Pa

Breon Table Co, 1901
Formerly West Branch Table Co.






3 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing a great collection of photos and back stories to go with.

    ReplyDelete
  2. WOW! So awesome. Thank you so much for posting these pictures. Your hard work certainly was a blessing to me.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for sharing, you put a lot of time and work into this post, great job! I enjoyed reading it.

    ReplyDelete

I'll read the comments and approve them to post as soon as I can! Thanks for stopping by!