Monday, June 29, 2020

Record & Star Anniversary Edition Page 3

Find An Index To All Of This Newspaper Here:
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-watsontown-record-star-silver.html

Watsontown Boot & Shoe Company
The Shoe That Made Watsontown

In the year 1870, on the site known as the Tannery Grounds, in the northern part of town, was erected the first building for a shoe factory.
Hollopeter, Bryson, Burns, Miller, and Caldwell formed the company
It grew so rapidly that in four years, a larger building was needed.
The Boot & Shoe Co building on Main street was then erected.
Passed through various hands, large interest purchased by Henry F. Algert in 1886.
In 1898 Algert became sole proprietor.
Principal product was boots.  Algert made a specialty of Lumberman's shoes.
Jere Myerly tested first boots, worked as stitcher.  Estella Westley bookkeeper, Simon Myerly Shipper for 20 years, Lawrence Lewis manager, Carl Heyt (native of Germany) sole cutting and heel making dept.
In 1870 the Postoffice was moved from Minerva Hall to the Shoe Factory building.
Record & Star Publishing office located on the second flood.
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 Bakers Store
Celebrates It's 25th Anniversary This Year (1907)
One of the Most Successful Business Houses Of Watsontown
1882-1907
Opened as a grocery store 25 years earlier by Rev. L.G. Heck, who sold it to James Perry.
Later owned by William McCoy, then purchased by Farmers Alliance 11 years ago, who owned it for two months but "could not make a success of it"
it was sold to Michael Baker, who had no previous experience, but was raised on a farm in Union County and then worked at the Watsontown Planing Mill.
Three years ago the old building was moved back and a new two story pressed brick structure was erected in front.

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Advertisement for Bieber's Plymouth  Rock Chickens

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 Watsontown Lodge No 619, I.O.O.F.
Independent Order Of Odd Fellows
George Walters, Maynard Huhn
W.A. Nicely, S.B. Hillard

Lodge organized with 20 charter members in Milton on December 7 1867
Bachman, Knight, Johnson, Whitman, Krebs, Ware, Carl, Kline, Johnson, Yarnell, Tobias, Grier, Johnson, Thomas, Albright, Ellis, Berger, Miller, Gauger, Wyckoff
First meeting held at the Shay Building, or in teh hall over the store now occupied by W.W. Welsh.  Hall was sublet to them by American Mechanic.
Changed name to Watsontown Lodge in 1871
Membership flailed through the depression of the 1870s, but recovered in the 1880s.
Moved to second flood of N. Gauger building, now occupied by Caldwell's store.
Then moved to second floor of the Mansion House, before moving to the Shoe Factory Building, and eventually to the Marsh block.
"The lodge never refuses an appeal for aid and is always among the first to lend a helping hand."
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 The Marsh Block
Build in 1889 by Dr. W.G. Marsh
First floor - Dr Marsh's office and living rooms, ER Taggert Clothing Store
Second Floor - Family sleeping apartments, U.T.&T. Cos Exchange, & two club rooms
Third Floor -  Two lodge rooms, occupied by I.O.O.F & K.G.E.  Also used by Jr. O.U.A.M., the Royal Arcanum, and the Protected Home Circle
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Samuel Griffith Frey
Born September 14 1835, Berks County
Parents move to Buffalo Twp Union County by wagon in spring 1839
Clerked in several store, attended school at Old Mifflinburg Academy
Came to Chilisquaque twp, North'd County.
Worked in building Northern Central Railroad between Halifax & Dauphin in 1856
Employed at McCauleys Coal and Iron Railroad in 1857
Afterward, engaged in Farming, Hotel keeping and Mercantile business
Came to Watsontown in March 1876, began confectionery, ice cream, and baking in 1883
Followed surveying and civil engineering as a side line.  County surveyor from 1874-1880.
Retired from active business in 1906, serves as Justice Of The Peace & does land surveying.
Borough engineer since 1879.
Married Jan 1 1857 to Miss Deborah Hackenburg.  Three children survive -  Mrs H.M. Knowlton, Emma, and Mrs S.B. Hilliard, all of Watsontown.

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"Stone Church" White Deer Valley
Central Concrete Construction Company
S.A. McFarland, Manager
"The growing scarcity of lumber and other building materials and the superior adaptability of concrete have established a business of remarkable present proportions and unlimited future possibilities. "
In addition to the Stone Church, also constructed the new M.E. Church at Allenwood, two buildings for Watsontown Door and Sash, One for Montgomery Door & Sash, a dwelling for John C. Waldron, and foundations in "this and adjoining counties"
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Find An Index To All Of This Newspaper Here:
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-watsontown-record-star-silver.html
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To see more about the Businesses & Stores in Watsontown - 
Find a Block By Block look at Main Street Watsontown through the decades here:
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/main-street-watsontown-block-by-block.html
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Find More Stories & History Of Watsontown Here:

And more local history, from surrounding areas, here:
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When The Mighty Susquehanna Flooded Our Towns

A look at the floods throughout the Central Susquehanna River Valley, 
through photos and newspaper articles, by town

The Floods, By Year
"The first known to early history occurred in 1744, the second in 1758, the third in 1772, the fourth in 1786, and the fifth in 1800. The Indians in the valley had a tradition that a great flood occurs every 14 years, which seems to have been verified in these five instances." - Meningess

The main stem of the Susquehanna has flooded 14 times since 1810 – about every 15 years, on average.It has  flooded 48 times since we began keeping records in 1786.

In the Miltonian Historical Notes, 1923, they published:
Feb 12 1731 - Greatest Flood known in the Susquehanna

1784 Ice Flood - March 15 
In a memorandum on file in Harrisburg, signed by Robert Martin and John Franklin, they state that on the 15th of March, 1784, the Susquehanna rose to a flood exceeding all degrees ever known. The flood was so sudden that it gave no time to guard against the mischief; that it swept away 150 homes and 1000 persons were left destitute of provisions and clothing. The flood was later known as the “Ice Flood”

The Lewisburg Chronicle March 1865


1786 Pumpkin Flood - October
The Lewisburg Chronicle March 1865

1817 - August 9
Limestone Run, In Milton

 1829 - June 28

1846 - March

1847 - October
Documented as "at least three to four feet higher than any previous rise"

1851 July 18 & 19
A great storm raged for 32 hours, and the flood that followed was greater than any previous.

1865 St Patrick's Day Flood
Mill St, Danville Pa, in the 1865 St Patricks Day Flood

1883
The 1883 Flood, Milton Island

1889 - June 1, 1889
The 1889 Flood, in Milton, Pa

1904 North Branch Ice Flood

1936
1936 Flood, Market St Sunbury
1946
1950

1972, June -  Hurricane Agnes

2004

2011
The Two Branches Of The  Susquehanna River

The Susquehanna River, which begins in New York and ends in the Chesapeake Bay.  At 444 miles long, it's the longest river on the east coast.  It's the 16th largest river in the Unites States.

The river forms into two main branches.  The North Branch, also known as the "Main branch" begins in Cooperstown NY.  The river dips into Pennsylvania, then bends right back to New York for a bit, before flowing down through Sayre Pa.  From there it flows down through our local towns of Bloomsburg & Danville, meeting up with the West Branch in Northumberland.

The West Branch beings near Elmora Pennsylvania, and flows through Cherry Tree, & Clearfield before arriving in our local towns of Renovo, Lock Haven, Williamsport, Lewisburg & Milton, joining the North, or Main, branch at Northumberland.

When you cross the river bridge (on the left in this photo) from Northumberland to Shamokin Dam, you see the two branches of the river connect.  The best view is from the overlook at Shikellamy state park.
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The Danville Morning News March 4 1946
The Lewisburg Chronicle March 1865



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The Maynard Street Bridge, Connecting Williamsport & South Williamsport Through The Decades

I have a fascination with old bridges, and tend to collect every photo I find of them.  This is my attempt to sort out the bridges at Maynard Street in Williamsport - and please do not take this as gospel - it is simply the information I could easily access, put in order with the photos I believe go with that information.  As always, let me know if you have anything to add.
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Sunday, June 28, 2020

The 1965 Crash of a Convair CV-440 Metropolitan in Williamsport

The 1965 Crash of a Convair CV-440 Metropolitan in Williamsport

"Forty persons- 36 passengers and four crew members - miraculously escaped death Friday afternoon when Allegheny Airlines Flight 604 enroute to the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre Airport from Pittsburg, crashed and burned soon after takeoff from the Williamsport Airport." - The Scranton Tribune, July 24 1965

Shortly after takeoff smoke and fire were observed coming from the right engine and at approximately 1505:30 the captain advised "Six oh four is coming back in, we've got the right engine feathered.”   He then attempted to turn back to the airport, but found it impossible to maintain flying speed.

The plane flew just feet above the Good Shephard Episcopal Church, hitting a nearby pole and knifing through power lines, before landing in a a grove of pine trees.
'

Mrs Geroge H Park, who lives about a half mile from the crash scene, said the plane barely cleared the barn on her farm. "It appeared the pilot was maneuvering it pretty well to avoid striking my barn and the church" Mrs Parkes said.  She was the first on the accident scene, and said most of teh passengers were capable of walking away without assistance.

Donald Brody, a 16 year old passenger on the plane, recalled that the whole right side of the plane was in flames at the point of impact.  "The fire still hadn't hit the fuselage, or the passenger section of th eplane.  There wasn't much panic.  I was surprised"
"Everyone walked out except the pilot - he had to be carried out.  You could see he was hurt"


"The girl in the yellow dress"
Mrs Hal Ebersole spent seven weeks in Williamsport Hospital. "Expected to reach Scranton in 27 minutes, it took her 49 days" reported the Scranton Tribune.
She was the most injured of the passengers, with extensive burns from her fingertips to her shoulder.Mrs Ebersole had some difficulty unbuckling her seat belt as flames shot through the shattered windows.  Still, she  escaped through a window, tearing her arm on the broken glass,  and leapt to the remains of a wing before jumping to the ground. "And I didn't even realize I was burned..  there was no immediate pain" she recalled.She did not remember crawling through the wooded area from the wreckage, but she was soon picked up by some Christian Brothers and carried up a steep hill to the road, to be transported to the hospital.Mrs Ebersole, married to a US Steel executive, was known as an "amateur ham", having appeared in variety shows, and on the Grand Ole Opery.



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For More Local Stories & History Of Williamsport
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/09/williamsport-pennsylvania.html

Find More Local History & Stories From Nearby Towns Here:
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The Allegheny Airlines Flight 371 Crash Site

On December 1 1959,  Allegheny Airlines Flight 371 crashed into the side of Bald Eagle Mountain. Only one of the 26 on board survived.
Remnants of the crash are still on the mountain today, along with a memorial sign.  

First lets look at the history of the crash, and then I'll explain step by step with gps coordinates & photos, how we hiked to the site of the wreckage. Although not an easy hike by any means, this is easier to access than the Piper plane on the mountain near Lock Haven.

The Crash Of Allegheny Airlines Flight 371
Allegheny Airlines Flight 371, on December 1 1959, was headed from Philadelphia to Cleveland, with stops in Harrisburg, Williamsport, Bradford, & Erie. 
The flight made it's scheduled stop in Harrisburg at 8:51, without incident.  It departed at 9:06 with 22 passengers and 4 crew members. At 9:17 the pilot requested instrument clearance at Williamsport.  Cleared for approach, the plane was observed over the airport at 9:45, but at too high of an altitude to make the landing. Both an airport employee and the captain of an airplane waiting nearby, both witnessed the plane roll out of it's right turn, and proceed in a level flight on a southerly direction, disappearing into snow showers and clouds.  

At 9:47, the airport employees heard the flight 371 crash into Bald Eagle Mountain.
The only survivor of the crash, Louis Matazzo described the events leading up to the crash.

" The hostess was just turning on the loudspeaker and tell us us we were coming in.  All of a sudden, the pilot seemed to race the motors and pull up.  There was a crash.  The planed burst and exploded." Before the plane made impact, "The Lord opened my side of he plane, and I was able to jump out" Matarazzo recalled.

The plane rammed the mountain about midway.  It cut a wide swath through the snow covered, tree studded slopes. The fuselage was shredded.  Then fire broke out.  But oddly, the tail section was virtually undamaged"
The Charlotte Observer Dec 2 1959




"I fought my way though flames, past the wreckage" explained Matarazzo, age 35, was at the time president of a Philadelphia sportswear company."I tried to make my way back to the wreckage, but I couldn't made it. My legs were too stiff. The pain-"


When a catholic priest was flown in by helicopter arrived, Matarazzo told him, "Thank God, father you are here." The Rev. Francis Corcoran, an assistant pastor at the catholic church in Williamsport, was lowered by helicopter to administer last rites to the victims of the crash. 

A helicopter from Olmsted Air Force Base in Middletown Pa, flew several to the site, and lowered them to the crash scened by means of a winch, while the helicopter hovered overhead. In the photo above, Dr Wilcox was being lowered to the scene.

"I flew up to the crash scene in a helicopter and was lowered about 50 feet to the ground in a sling something like a horse collar" he recalled. "I had the holy oil with me and I went from person to person looking for those who might be alive. I found only three." said Rev. Cochran.  "There was nothing left of the plane except a piece sticking up in the air."
"The area is all rocks and broken trees and I had to practically crawl around.  I wasn't dressed for it. Mr Louis Matarazzo was the first man I got to.  He was lying on the ground about 20 feet from the plane.  He was completely conscious and rational.  He felt bad bout the other people on the pane and was worried about his wife and children. He said he wasn't scared or afraid to die. I was with him when they brought him down the mountain because the doctor said he was the only one who had any chance at all to live."

Matarazzo, being loaded on a stretcher to be carried down the mountain

The Rev. said it took an hour to reach the railroad tracks. "It was hard work for me, and an awful experience for him, but he never complained."  Rev Corcoran stayed with Matarazzo as he was taken by by train, and then ambulance, to the emergency ward.  "He didn't want me to call his wife, because she was not well; so I called a priest in Philadelphia who got in touch with her. I'll never forget it as long as I live.  I never saw anything like that.  It was a terrible scene."

Jack Kramer who was involved in the salvage operations in 1959, recalls that as one of the engines was being recovered it rolled down the side of the mountain over the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks and into the river.


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Hiking To The Site
Disclaimer - This is not a simple hike. There is no trail, and it's a rather treacherous straight down the mountain climb over loose boulders, moss, and wet leaves.  It's very do-able for anyone familiar with this sort of hike, but it's not something everyone should attempt.  As one description of the rescue states: "Recovering anything from the crash site would be difficult because much of it is on a 67-degree slope. It is difficult to stand in places without hanging onto a tree and the footing is treacherous."

Distance: Approximately half a mile down the mountain
(It's going to feel like a LOT more than half a mile)

Parking GPS Coordinates -  N 41 13 11.327  W 076 54 41.921
Trail Marker (almost there) GPS Coordinates: N 41 13 28.451 W 076 54 38.662

Final GPS Coordinates: N 41 13 30.796 W 076 54 38.318

Armstrong Road is a dirt & gravel road, right off of 15.  Navigate carefully, and consider driving on the berm for the last bit of the approach, as traffic on 15 does not adjust well to sudden stops, and the road is VERY easy to miss. 

The Gate is located at
41°13'11.5"N 76°54'46.9"W

Once on Armstrong road, you will approximately to the area of the State Forest Tower  gate up a small hill the the south.. 
Where we parked - Fire tower gate on the right, you can see our car up ahead.
N 41 13.185 W 076 54.777

You can probably park safely in front of the gate, but there's a grass pull off to the left nearby, and just past the gate, if coming from 15, there is a second gate, which feels like a better area to park without blocking access.  (we didn't see a single other vehicle the entire time we were here, this is not a heavily trafficked area)

Now you want to make your way downhill.  Exactly where you begin will not matter too much - and it's all going to be rocky.  Just pick a spot that looks good, anywhere near the parking area, and head down.  

Some of our route downhill. It's even steeper than it looks.

Eventually, and I do mean eventually, you will come to a trail of sorts.  It's an old logging path, and you can finally walk on somewhat level ground for a few feet, which is really nice, after that trip down the hill.

From here, it will depend on where exactly you came down - but 
you'll be headed to these coordinates, where you will see a pile of sticks and rocks:
N 41 13 28.451 W 076 54 38.662

  You can't really tell in this photo, so I marked it in yellow, but if you stand on the trail with your back to the pile of rocks, and look down the hill, you will be able to spot the green memorial sign through the trees.
The wreckage is only about 150 feet down the hill, from the trail.

Shane Collins, along with his cousin Mark Avery, re-located the crash site in May of 2014.
In October 2016 a memorial plaque was installed at the crash site.







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Piper Plane N32777 Crashed On July 16 1986
The entire plane is still on the mountain, although this hike is a bit more difficult than the Flight 371 site.
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/03/in-1986-plane-crashed-near-lock-haven.html

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Flight Memorial Page On Facebook

The Tyrone Daily Herald, Dec 2 1959

Two others, Fred Gettys of New Cumberland Pa and William T. Derry of Pottstown were alive but unconscious when rescuers reached the scene.  They both died before they could be brought down the mountain.

The Crash Report


For more than 13 hours after the crash, it was believed that 24 had died.  But on Tuesday night it was discovered taht off duty pilot Donald W. Tygert, 26 of Webster NY had boarded the plane as well, making the death toll 25.

 The crash was startlingly similar to one a month before, near Charlotsville VA, when a two-engine Piedmont airliner crahsed into the mountainside, killing 26 of the 27 persons on board.

Captain Thomas R. Goldsmeith of North Olmstead Ohio was called in unexpectedly for this flight.  He had been on two weeks vacation with his infant child.

  



Officer Sherosick recalls his arrival at the scene, by helicopter:
“On the helicopter, one of the guys told me to sit down and allow my feet to dangle out the door. He put a harness around me and told me he was going to lower me to the ground,” said Sherosick.

“When I first got aboard, I thought we would go over the site and then the pilot would try to set the helicopter down nearby,” Sherosick said, adding this was the first time he ever saw an airplane crash. 

“I had to do what I was ordered to do,” he said, describing the scene “as very remote, hilly and rocky,” very rugged terrain.“

“When they pushed me out, I heard a big ‘Eek.’ It scared the heck out of me. It was the equipment, probably the sound of the cable stretching. As they were lowering me, I was swinging back and fourth on the cable, due in part to the wind as well as the motion of the blades from the helicopter,” he said.
Once he was on the ground, Sherosick regained his balance and took the harness off so it could be raised up. He was the first state trooper, but not the first civilian, to reach the tragic site.

“I don’t think any emergency vehicles got near the scene. They were down at the foot of the mountain. I can’t recall, but I believe some of the vehicles were stationed at an old railroad bed. They had to carry the bodies down the mountain and then take them away in the vehicles,” he said.

Sherosick stayed at the crash site for hours, assisting in carrying the last body off the mountain.

 “It was clearly the most horrific scene I would see in my lifetime. It was very sad.”







 Louis Matarazzo died in December of 2004, at age 82.



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