J.J. Newman's, Danville PA - Celebrating 50 Years in 1949

The J.J. Newman Store in Downtown Danville was such an institution that when it celebrated it's 50th Anniversary, in 1949, The Danville Newspaper Ran a  special 6 page section dedicated to the Anniversary.

J.J. Newman came from Russia to the United States in August of 1889, at the age of 20.   Born near the German border of Russia in 1869, during the reign of Russian Czar II, his father and forefathers before him had all been Jewish Rabbis, and beginning at the age of 6, that was the path Joseph Jacob Newman expected to follow.  

It was through his rabbinical studies that Newman first studied music, so that he could be a Cantor. As he learned the intricate harmonies of the church music, he became so adept that he later wrote over a dozen religious songs. He soon abandoned his plans to serve the church, and instead pursued a career in music.

Newman came to America through the influence of his brother, a Rabbi in Toronto Canada.  His entire family eventually left Russia, with Newman bringing his mother over in 1906.  He described Russia as a horrible place to live, saying that "A nation that tried to destroy religion will only destroy itself."

Arriving in America, Newman did not speak English.  Knowing the Jewish bible almost by heart, he learned his new countries language by comparing the bible he knew with the one written in English.  His brother in Toronto helped him brush up on pronunciation.

For years he had studied music, and in America, he "took his first unfamiliar steps down the world famous Broadway".  According to the Danville Morning News in 1949, Newman was a musical star on Broadway, but as much as he loved singing, he couldn't stand the back stage atmosphere of theatrical life. Newman said that to outsiders Broadway Beaus and Belles may seem glamourous, bur it's lustre was hidden under a heavy coat o moral tarnish.

The young man abandoned his career plans in search of a more wholesome atmosphere, accepting an offer from his brother in law to go to Philipsburg (near State College) where he found a job as a clerk in a men's clothing store. After two and a half years with Adleman and Ratowski, Newman moved to Renovo where he worked for another two and a half years.

It was in Renovo that Newman met Julias Heim, resident of Danville, and it was through his influence that Newman moved to Danville to open his first business venture. Mrs Heim & Mr Newman became great friends, "for they spoke the same language - the language of music lovers."

When interviewed for the 50th anniversary of his store, J.J. Newman recalled his first years in Danville.

He recalled the days when customers came to town on horseback, and when his store stocked a large supply of "dusters", the old-time cover-all coat for protecting the the clothes of the Horse's Carriage Drivers.  In those days, a boy didn't wear long pants until he graduated from high school.  "Today" [1949] "Mr Newman reminds us, even little tykes of two years sport long trousers."

When Newman started his business, the one price standard was still not yet widely accepted.  It was the custom for customers to come into a store and haggle. The stores Newman had trained in before coming to Danville were early adoptees of the set price system, and when opening his store in Danville, Newman often found himself in difficulties with prospective customers when he refused to reduce the stated selling price.

(The price tag was invented in Philadelphia, at Wannamakers store.  Wannamaker believed that "if all men were equal under God, then they should all pay the same price for their merchandise")

What Danville Looked Like When Newman Arrived in 1899

In 1949, Newman's store was located at 226 Mill Street.  In 1899 when Newman came to Danville, that location was occupied by Peter's Oyster House, and Best's Millinery Store.

Other businesses, as they were located in 1897 (and for most of them, still in 1899 when Newman arrived) included:

• Danville National Bank, & The First National Bank were both in operation
• Sam J. Welliver Hardware Store, 307 Mill Street
• Cole's Hardware & The Montour House were in operation
• In 1949, Gem Furniture was located at 401 Mill Street.  In 1897, P.C. Murray and Sons operated a Department store at that location.
• Gosh's Drug Store was located at 108 Mill St in 1897, advertising hot water bottles at 75 cents, and "no mistakes with our new numbering machine."  In 1949, Cain's Pharmacy was in that location.
• A.H. Grone had a book store, in 1897, where Angles was located in 1949.
• Corcgens [1949] had been the location pf the Globe Warehouse, a barber shop, and a doctors office, in 1897.
• Where Newberry's stood in 1949, a private home stood.  There a barber cut hair in the basement while a photographer took pictures in the rear of the second floor, in 1897
• The present site of the Moose Lodge [1949] was occupied by a stationary store, a pool room, and Shuster's Wholesale Liquor in 1897.
• Sam F. Ricketts had a men's clothing store where McCloughans was located in 1949, and an undertaker occupied the place Wagners Jewelry store filled in 1949.
• Woolworths replaced Sol. Lyons Department store. A jeweler, and Thomas the wallpaper dealer had stores on the site what houses R.L. Marks in 1949.
• In 1949,  Keefer's Department store was located at 298-300 Mill Street. In 1897, J. Doster's Son's was at that location.
• Community Jewelers occupied the location that was, in 1949, Lungers Shoe Store.
• Tooley's Cash Store and Rea & Derrick's were both operating in 1897 in Danville.
• The Judy Miller Shop replaced Western Union and Adam's Express, by 1949.
• The Montour COunty Trust site had once been occupied by the City Hotel.  
• Jackie Meyers Café served Roast Beef to it's customers on the spot where Otto's Auto distribured Goodrich Merchandise in 1949.
• The Armory had been located where Kindt Chevrolet stood in 1949.
• "And of course, everyone knows that the old Opera House was located where the Post office now stands" 

=================

For More Local History & Stories In Danville

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/08/danville-pennsylvania.html

For More Local History & Stories from other local towns:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html

==========

READ MORE

===========

Clothing Brochure

When 6 Local Men Were Pardoned By George Washington - The Whiskey Insurrection in Northumberland

The Extremely Unfortunate Year of Mr. William Savidge, Of Turbotville.

This 1931 photo is of Links Store. Sixty years earlier, this had been the store of William Savidge.

In 1870, Mr William Savidge of Turbotville was having a very bad year. His valuable horse had been stolen, then later his store had been robbed. An attempt was made to blow up his safe, and separately, his stable had been burnt to the ground. Then, on September 27th 1870, a coal oil lamp exploded in his home, burning him and his two children, and killing his wife.

Born in January of 1821 in Derry Twp, Columbia (Now Montour) County Pa.  He was the 3rd child, and first born son, out of 14 children born to Benjamin Savidge and Elizabeth Hunter.

In 1848, at the age of 27, he married Elizabeth Statton.  Six years later, William was appointed postmaster of the town of Turbotville, where he owned a store.

In 1869,and 1870, his parents, in their 70's, passed away within a year of each other.  Around the same time, a valuable horse owned by William was stolen.  And then his store was broken into , the safe carried out and an attempt made to blow it open. 

A short time later, his stable was burnt to the ground.

And then, on n September 27th 1870, "Mrs. William Savidge of Turbotville died of the effects of burns from an exploding lamp".  

"Coal Oil Lamps" were typically glass lanterns with wicks, what we refer to as an oil lamp, or kerosene lantern today.

Fairly new to homes in the 1860s, in the 1870s more and more families were leaving them burn overnight, as robberies became more of a problem.  

The Savidges had done just that, leaving the light on in a coal bucket, in a room adjoining their sleeping room.  Mr Savidge was awoken by the light of the blaze as the flame "struck out beyond the chimney of the lamp".

William leapt out of bed, but finding he could not blown out the lamp, he went to the kitchen for water to pour on it.  Mrs Savidge then sprang out of bed, picked up  the bucket and was going to carry it out the door, but the fire burnet her hands, and she dropped the bucket and lamp.  As she dropped it, the lamp fell over, and flames engulfed the woman's clothing.

Mr Savidge ran in and tore the burning clothing form his wife, burning his hands almost to the bone.  

Their two children, Benjamin and Sadie, had been awoken by their mothers screams, and both burned their hands and feet as they attempted to help her.

Mrs Savidge was burned from head to foot, every part of her body except "the top of hear head."  She lingered until 5am, when "death relieved her of her suffering."

The house was set on fire, but the fire was extinguished before too much damage was done.

================

Find More Stories & History Of Turbotville Here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/07/turbotville-pennsylvania.html

And More Stories, Photos, & History From Other Local Towns Here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html

=============

READ MORE

=============

The Northumberland County Democrat, Friday Oct 7 1870

William Savidge died in 1876, and his son Benjamin then took over the store.  In 1926 when Benjamin did, his son William briefly ran the business before selling it to Joseph White in 1927.

The Dewart Train Station

The Dewart Train Station was located on the North Side of Main Street, West of the Tracks. 

"When the Pennsylvania Railroad was built in 1846, Mr Pardee sold his grain market to a company known as Hull, Man & Nagle"

"The first business established, and the most important ever conducted at the place, was that of purchasing and forwarding grain. Hull, Marr, and Nagle erected the first warehouse for this purpose, a frame building twenty-eight by fifty feet, which, as enlarged by Arlo Pardee, the next owner, constitutes the present freight and passenger station of the Philadelphia and Erie railroad. Several other warehouses were also conducted, and at one time the shipments from this point amounted to two hundred thousand bushels annually, at a conservative estimate. Less attention is given to grain than formerly by the farmers of the adjacent region, and the opening of the Philadelphia and Reading 
railroad on the opposite side of the river has also reduced the shipments at this point. "

 

In October of 1918, Mrs Mattie A Cummings of Dewart received a verdict in her favor, awarding her $15,000, for a grade crossing accident resulting in the death of her husband two years prior.

In In 1928, Samuel Cummings, a bread distributor, was killed when he drove his wagon in the path of a train crossing near Dewart.  The train had been rerouted from the main line due to a wreck, and witnesses stated that it was traveling at a high rate of speed.

The crossing was protected by a watchman during part of the day, but was unguarded when the accident occurred.

In December of 1950, three brothers ages 13, 13 (the two were born 11 months apart) and 11, had received bb guns and were firing them "promiscuously" in the area. A passenger coach on Train 570 at Dewart had one of it's windows pierced, and a woman was nearly hit.

"The train was passing between the  Dewart Creamery and the overhead crossing outside of Dewart,  at 4:45 pm. The 57o Train leaves Sunbury every day at 3:47 pm for Harrisburg, but it was running late last Tuesday"

(The boys were not named, but the article did mention that there were 5 other children in the family)

In January of 1929, 39 year old Allen Mincemoyer of Watsontown was killed when a school bus he was driving was hit by the Dewart Milk train.

The man had taken a load of children to the Dewart school and was on his way home. He did not notice the approach of the train.

The Dewart Train Wreck Of 1918

November 1970

=========================

Find More Stories & History Of Dewart Here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/06/dewart-pennsylvania.html

And more local history from the Susquehanna Valley here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html

====================

READ MORE

====================

"On the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad, about three miles north of Dewart, is the distillery of John Eyster, a frame building forty five by sixty feet, built in 1866"

=================

Often the building that is falling down near the overpass, along the tracks in Dewart is confused as the old train station.  That building was the Dairyman's League building.  See mention of it in this newspaper article:

In September of 1930, the Miltonian reported that "work of preparing the approaches to the overhead crossing which is to be erected near the plant of the Dairyman's League at Dewart..."

====================

The History Of The Fort Freeland Society

July 1979

According to their website, the Fort Freeland Society was formed in 1978, the year of the archaeological dig at For Freeland.    Newspapers tell us that the society was started in conjunction with an archaeological dig at the farm site in 1978.  

The first Fort Freeland Society however, met nearly 100 years earlier, in 1880.

May 1880 Record and Star

"Fort Freeland Celebrations"

"In pursuance of public notice persons friendly to celebrating the capture of Fort Freeland and its destruction by the British and Indians in July 1779, met at the Huff House in Milton on Saturday the 1st of May 1880, at 10 am.

John M. Kirk of Watsontown was chosen president, and RH McCormick, same place vice president and JF Wolfinger, of Milton secretary. And after an interchange of opinion and some description, it was agreed as follows, to-wit:

1. That we will celebrate the history of the fall of 'Fort Freeland' in a becoming manner the 28th of July 1880.
2. That a committee of sixteen appointed to fix on the location place of holding said celebration as follows: Watsontown-Isaac Vincent, Samuel DeArmond, Jos G Durham, Jacob M Follmer, E. Everitt
Turbotville-DW Denius.
McEwensville-George W Armstrong.
Dewart-William Datesman.
Milton-LV Housel, CW Tharp, John L Watson
Lewis township-SP Gaston, Robert Montgomery, William A Dean.
Delaware township-JW Weeks, Hiram Dunkle
Said committee to report their choice of location at our next meeting.
3. That we hold an adjourned meeting at Cooner's Hotel in Watsontown Saturday the 15th of May inst. at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
4. That all of our county papers are requested to publish said proceedings.

In 1978, members of the Warrior Run School Board of Directors reached out to local communities and formed the Warrior Run-Fort Freeland Heritage Society. An archeological dig by Penn State University at the Fort Freeland site uncovered many artifacts and building details.

 On July 29, 1979 a bicentennial celebration was held at Fort Freeland. Society members cleaned the exterior and interior of the Hower-Slote House, decorating the rooms with period-correct furniture. Despite the rainy first day of the first remembrance of the Battle of Fort Freeland, people stood in line to tour the Hower-Slote House and attend a commemorative service at the Warrior Run Church.

After being rejected for financial support from the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission, the Society’s passion for their history and heritage led to the decision to raise the money they needed by themselves. The first Heritage Days was held the first week of October in 1982.

The  Heritage Days Festival At Fort Freeland

Although the Fort Freeland Heritage Festival is reported to have officially began in 1981 the Lewis Twp Supervisors proclaimed July 29th as Fort Freeland Heritage Day, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Battle.  Programs were planned to be held at the site of the Fort.   There was a festival held that year.

The Fort Freeland Heritage Society also held all day workshops on basket weaving, and rural medicine, in June of 1979.  

Author Robert Newton Peck visited the area in 1980, attending a reception held for him by the Fort Freeland Historical Society. He played ragtime on a piano and spoke about his childhood, and the characters in his novels.  He was reported to have been considering a novel based on Fort Freeland, and is quoted as saying "It could make the site into a historic site like Gettysburg".  Peck wrote nearly 100 books, but never did write about Fort Freeland.

There were 50 exhibitions at the Heritage Days event in 1984.  They included blacksmithing, candle stick making, authentic pigs stomach cooking, and rug braiding.

In 1985, the organization had more than 200 volunteers.  Exhibits then were much the same as what we see today: candlemaking, apple butter making, blacksmithing, cider pressing, and flax cultivation.  Proceeds from Heritage Days in the early years were designated for the restoration of the Hower Slote House, with the purpose of restoring the home to it's 1829 appearance.

In 1988, the society started an orchard of old fashioned apples on the property.

Rich Nornhold, who demonstrated making linen from flax that year, told a local reporter that the society rented the 14 acre site from the school district for $1 a year, with a 40 year lease.  The group had by 1988 spent more than $45,000 in renovations to the house and property.

The fort at Fort Freeland stood from 1772-1779.

===========

Find More Local History & Stories Here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html

============
READ MORE
=============

The Battle Of  Fort Freeland

The Residents Of  Fort Freeland In 1779

Mrs. Margaret Dunham Survived a Scalping Metal Plate in her head -  In 1778!

The History Of  The Fort Freeland  Historical Society

The Archeological Dig At Fort Freeland

Heritage Days First Week-end  In October

The Warrior Run Church

U-Turn History Machines

Fort Rice Built after Fort Freeland  was destroyed Still stands today.

 Books:

Available On Amazon

FREE To Read on Internet Archive

 

The Archealogical Dig At Fort Freeland

Archeological Dig At The Site Of Fort Freeland

I think I must have known there was once a dig at the Fort Freeland Site, and now that I am thinking about it, I think I have seen some of the artifacts in a display case at the church.  But I had never given it much thought before I came across these articles.  I could spend more time researching this, as I normally do - or, I can take a short cut.  I'm sure many of you know more about this than I do, some of you who read this were probably even there.  

So rather than spend time searching for more articles, I am  going to post this as is  on facebook, and see what you all can tell me about this dig.  

 

In 1978, an archeological dig was held at the site of Fort Freeland.

The diggers found a stone foundation about four feet east of the Hower Slote House.

It was determined that the foundation was not old enough to have been part of the original fort, and was likely built sometime later.

The Hower-Slote house was built between 1811 and 1830.  It's believed that the brick house stands where a log cabin once stood, in the middle of the fort.

Fire Pit

Evidence of a log cabin was discovered on the west side of the house.  There diggers found what is believed to be a "sleeper floor" from an old log cabin.  In the center of the site, the group found a prehistoric fire pit.

Items found in the 1978 dig included:

• Buttons
• A Bayonet from a British Brown Bess Rifle
• Broken Pottery
• Rusted Metal
• Flint
• Projectile Points (Arrowheads)
• Animal bones
• Several fire pits were found near the southeast corner of the Hower-Slote House.

Found Before The Dig:

Three "flint or chert projectile points" found in the Warrior Run area in the 1970s
The one in the center is a paleo point, found where 54 crosses the creek.
The two on the sides were found near where the Weaver One-Room School house stood.  (Today, the Lewis Twp building is located there)
These artifacts are thought to predate the battle of Fort Freeland by thousands of years.

Find More Local History & Stories Here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html

============
READ MORE
=============

The Battle Of  Fort Freeland

The Residents Of  Fort Freeland In 1779

Mrs. Margaret Dunham Survived a Scalping Metal Plate in her head -  In 1778!

The History Of  The Fort Freeland  Historical Society

The Archeological Dig At Fort Freeland

Heritage Days First Week-end  In October

The Warrior Run Church

U-Turn History Machines

Fort Rice Built after Fort Freeland  was destroyed Still stands today.

 Books:

Available On Amazon

FREE To Read on Internet Archive