Tuesday, March 2, 2021

On This Day In Local History - March

On This Day In Local History, March

JAN    FEB    MAR   APR    MAY    JUNE   JUL   AUG   SEP   OCT   NOV   DEC

In the early 1920's, the Miltonian newspaper ran a weekly page of Historical Notes, with history listed by day.  It's one of my favorite things to read, and many of the articles on this blog have come from those blurbs.  This is my version of those 1920's pages, in a month format rather than a daily one.  (They typically post daily on my facebook page, when I remember to schedule them to do so)

For an index of history posts by Subject & Town, go here:
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html
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THIS MONTH IN LOCAL HISTORY
March
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March 1
  • 1770 - Land King Samuel Wallis married Lydia Hollingsworth, "and brought her to his house on the Susquehanna. It was a wild region at that time for a bride. But she seems to have been a practical woman, possessed of good sense, and soon adapted herself to the new situation. Their home became a haven of rest for weary travelers; and there they continued to reside, with only occasional interruptions during the Indian troubles, almost to the close of the century, and dispensed a liberal and elegant hospitality for the rude times in which they lived." - from Meginness History Of Lycoming County https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/how-samuel-wallis-assisted-benedict.html
  • 1790 - Andrew Straub & Christian Yenzer purchased the site  Milton from the estate of Turbut Francis at Sheriffs.   Sale,  Two years later, in  1792, Original survey of the town plot [Milton] made.  This embraced the territory between Ferry Land and Broadway and east as far as the Pennsylvania railroad.
     https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/milton-pa.html
  • 1817 - "The Publishing House was built by the side of the church and the dedicatory services began in the evening when J. Stambach preached from Matt.26:41. After him I preached from Acts 3:19, and it went quite well for me." From the journal of John Dreisbach, regarding the First Church Building and Publishing House Of the Evangelical Association, In New Berlin.  Read more here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/04/union-seminary-new-berlin-pa.html
  • 1830 - David Gottshall issues the first number of the Lewisburg Journal
  • 1870,  Contract to build town hall and market house in Milton let to Nicholas Gauger, of Watsontown.  This was known as the Academy of Music and is the property now owned by the J.R. Smith estate on North Front Street.
  • 1883 - George Fatzinger, a brakeman, injured in a fall from an oil tank car
  • 1883 - Charter granted for Susquehanna & Allegheny Railroad to run from Punxsatawney to West Milton
  • 1889 - Milton Argus, daily and weekly, first published in plant of the Milton Economist by W.H. Smith
  • Demolition of the  Warshow Dye Plant, March 2016  Formerly The Milton Manufacturing Cold Punch Building   https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2024/01/h-warshow-sons-in-milton-pa.html

March 2
  • 1827 - Chillisquque Creek from its confluence with the Susquehanna as far East as Limestone Lick, formed in Columbia County, declared to be a public highway
  • 1855 - Snyder County erected from Union County and Lewisburg became the county seat of Union County
  • On March 2nd 1891 - The White Deer Flour Mill was sold at auction.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-white-deer-flour-mill.html
  • On March 2nd 1912 - Train No 58, fast freight east bound, left Williamsport about 9:20am.  It was running thirty miles an hour when, just in front of Muncy Station, without warning, the engine suddenly exploded. Read more here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/03/engine-explodes-killing-4-muncy-station.html
  • On March 2nd 1912  - Leroy Thomas of Milton and Fred Auten of Pottsgrove each won a pony.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-pony-contest-in-milton-19.html
  • 1920 - James Halinan, aged 20 years, instantly killed in P&R wreck at Pottsgrove
  •  On March 2nd 1926 -  The Danville & Bloomsburg Trolley took its last run, at 11pm.  "the trolley killed off in large part by the automobile." Read more about when Danville had a trolley, here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/03/when-danville-had-trolley.html
  • On March 2nd 1932, Henry Gibson Brock, heir to Muncy Farms, hit and killed 3 people after leaving a party in Philadelphia. Researcher Jonathan Schau believes that the Brock case inspired the Great Gatsby.

    It's also thought that Brock was the first to be convicted of vehicular manslaughter.

    "While incarcerated, Brock recognized the importance of prisoner rehabilitation and set about developing a workplace skill set – teaching prisoners a variety of occupations so that they could succeed once released from prison. Purchasing machinery and tools, Brock set-up two workshops at the penitentiary where prisoners created fireplace sconces, card tables, and parchment lampshades to name a few of the products produced and sold through the prison system. After serving three years two months of his prison term, the state pardon board recommended that the governor grant him a pardon. "

    After his release, he was appointed to the prison board. Back at Muncy farms, Henry and his new wife hired former convicts as farm help, to help with their rehabilitation.

    Read more about The Brock's, and some of the similarities & connections to Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby, here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2025/02/did-muncy-man-inspire-great-gatsby.html
March 3 
  • 1854 - Lewisburg, Center & Spruce Creek Railroad Incorporated
  • 1864 - Lieutenant George S. Good who escaped from Libby prison with 109 officers recaptured by rebels
  • On March 3rd 1870- Murray, Dougal & Company secured inlets to their pools and stocked them with salmon, bass, perch and pickerel. More about the Car Works in Milton which became ACF - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/08/from-sawmill-to-american-car-foundry.html
  • 1873 - A.S. Wagner and two sons of Turbotville almost perished in a snow drift
  • 1876 - Three days shooting match at Dewart.  Milton marksmen won 4 big prizes
  • In March of 1970, The Wickes Corporation of Michigan acquired the  Milton Wood Products Company.  At the time, the Milton facility was one of 9 plants manufacturing yorktowne wooden and steel cabinets, counter tops, vanities and furniture. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2024/12/the-west-branch-novelty-company-milton.html

March 4
  • 1737 - Conrad Weiser, famous interpreter and missionary among the Indians first visited Shamokin, now Sunbury
  • 1765 - Charles Smith, compiler of Smith's Laws, a resident attorney at Sunbury, born in Philadelphia.
  • 1783 - William Maclay, one of the county pioneers, took his seat in the United States Senate
  • 1801 -  Great celebration at Bethuel Vincent's in Milton, to celebrate inauguration of Thomas Jefferson.  "At a meeting held in Milton on March 4, 1801 celebrating the inauguration of Thomas Jefferson, Col. Kelly had the distinction of proposing the following toast: "May this be the happy day to unite the hearts of all true Americans in their duty to God and our illustrious President." https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/04/col-john-kelly-revolutionary-war-hero.html
  • On March 4th 1870 , Pennsylvania got it's first and only town. Although the town of Bloomsburg was laid out in 1802, it was not incorporated as a town until March 4, 1870. Since that time, Bloomsburg has held the distinction of being the only town in Pennsylvania.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-only-town-in-pennsylvania.html
  • On March 4th 1913, the Sun Gazette published the details of  Way's  gift to Williamsport, Way's Garden.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2024/05/from-faries-castle-to-ways-garden-in.html
March 5
  • 1820 - Union Hickory, newspaper, moved from New Berlin to Lewisburg
  • On March 5 1836 - The Sunbury Advocate ran a special 4 page edition printing the testimony from the John Earls trial word for word. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/05/john-earls-first-hanging-in-lycoming.html
  • 1850 - Large grist mill of James Simington in Chillisquaque township burned to the ground
  • 1857 - German Reformed Church at Turbotville dedicated
  • On March 5 1881 - Fire at Danville State Hospital.  All of the female department, the administration building, and one third of the male wing were destroyed.  The majority of the 392 residents were in chapel at the time, and were removed without casualty.  A few men escaped, and they were either returned later, or remained at home.  The women were transferred to the Harrisburg and Warren Hospitals.  198 men were able to remain in the undamaged wing.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/01/assorted-stories-history-from-danville.html
  • 1881 - Milton Fire Department rushed to Danville to assist in the fire at the asylum
  • 1909 - Bertram Galbraith purchased the Globe Hotel and renamed it the Bartram
March 6 

March 7 - 
March 8
  • 1737 - Bishop Spangberger and Conrad Weiser first visited village of Shikellamy on Chillisquaque creek
  • 1857 - Milton gas company incorporated
  • "These men were called drivers. They were log drivers, and as I've said before about the men, they were real men, because those men would go into the water, ice cold water possibly in March, as soon as the floods came, and would be in ice cold water possibly up to their waists, maybe a whole day. And they claim that those men slept in the clothes that they wore." https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2024/04/personal-reminisces-of-lumbering-era.html
  • In March 1965, $70 was taken from the cash box at the Hefty Mill.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2025/02/watsontown-flour-mill.html
The Miltonian, March 8 1923

WIFE TURNS TABLES "Equal rights" for women took a broader meaning in Berwick last week when there appeared an advertisement in a local paper, the first of its kind in this vicinity ever signed by a woman, giving notice that Mrs. Harry Watts will not pay her husband's bills. Her advertisement says: "I notify the public that Harry Watts has left my bed and board, and I will pay no bills contracted by him."



March 9
  • 1771 - Susquehanna River declared to be a public highway
  • 1869 - Barn of James Reed burned near Pottsgrove.  All of the grain, implements, ets and furniture and library of Dr Richard of Mifflinburg destroyed.
  • 1871 - M.A. Nicely of Dewart severely burned when warming oil over fire
  • The 1904 Ice Flood In Bloomsburg, Catawissa, Danville, & Espy
    In a span of just over 6 weeks time between January 27th and March 9th, Bloomsburg, Catawissa, Danville, and the other small villages nearby, would flood three times.  The entire area lived in fear, not knowing when the ice would jam, or what would happen when it let loose.  In the first two floods, homes were lost, and fields were coated in ice.  So much so that trains full of spectators, as many as 6,000 in one week, traveled to Catawissa to view the damage and ice, from as far as Williamsport, Dushore, and "the coal region".  So many people visited the small town that the hotels and butchers ran out of food, and small vendors set out road side stands selling "ice gorge sandwiches".
  •  On March 9th  1895 - The South Side Railway was formed in Williamsport, extending trolley service outside the city limits  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/12/when-trolleys-ran-in-williamsport.html
  •  On March 9th 1896- Rube Yarrison was born in Montgomery, Lycoming County, Pa.  Rube went ton the pitch for the Philadelphia Athletics and the Brooklyn Robins. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/05/when-boy-from-montgomery-pitched-for.html
  • Grady Writes of New Home of Telegraph, Miltonian, Mirror
     Written by T. E. Grady of Montgomery, Pa.  March 1929
    https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2024/04/keystone-telegraph-press-home-of.html
March 10  
  • 1774 - Col Turbut Francis received patent for 1775 acres of land from Thomas and Richard Penn https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/11/how-turbut-township-got-its-name-and.html
  • 1801 - Ground was purchased in Sunbury for the erection of a new county jail
  • On March 10, 1864 - Canal bridge at Center street [Milton] opened for travel.  Read more about when the Susquehanna Valley had a canal here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/10/when-susquehanna-valley-had-canal-west.html
  • 1913 - Elmer S. Zarr attempted to murder his employer William Potter in Liberty, near Montour County
  • On March 10 1945 - Lt. William Earl Dutrow [of Watsontown] was returning from a bombing raid on Tokyo, in a badly disabled plane, when the plane crashed into the ocean. Three members of the crew were killed, and Lt. Dutrow was trapped in the plane, part of which was 30 feet under water.  He was pulled from the plane, and the surviving members of the crew managed to paddle the raft to an island half a mile away. He made a "remarkable recovery, once the water was removed from his lungs. He stated in his letter that he hoped the people back home realize and appreciate what the boys were going through." This was the 2nd plane crash that Dutrow survived.   He would be listed as MIA, presumed dead, after a 3rd crash, in May of 1945. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/05/a-living-memorial-to-those-who-made.html
Appearing at the Lewisburg Opera House on March 10, 1906
See more about the Lewisburg Opera House here -
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-lewisburg-opera-house-fire.html


March 11
March 12

March 13
March 14

John Adlum
1759-1836
Sacred
to the Memory of
MAJOR JOHN ADLUM
a Native of Pennsylvania
and a Soldier of the American Revolution
Who Departed this Life
on the 14th Day of March Anno Domini 1836
in the 77 Year of Age
"He died and he lived an Honest man
the Noblest Work of God"
See photos of the historic Adlum House  here:
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2024/06/the-historic-adlum-home-pennsdale-pa.html

March 15
March 16
  • 1795 - Lycoming county erected from part of Northumberland
  • 1855 - Citizens of Union County voted to divide the county
  • The 122-year-old Weis dynasty began with a German immigrant named Sigfried Weis, who arrived in New York on March 16, 1867. Records show that Sigfried filed a petition for naturalization in 1874. Although it is not certain how this Weis patriarch supported himself during his first years in America, he eventually settled in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, where, according to an obituary citation in the Snyder County Tribune, he opened a small "notions and fancy goods" store that would eventually grow into the largest "mercantile emporium" in the county." Read more here - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-first-weis-store-sunbury-or.html
  • On March 16 1889 - "The denizens of Swampoodle were regaled a few evenings since with a hand to hand battle between two women.  It was settled before Squire Weaver"
  • 1908 - Sergeant Paul C. Stout, a member of the State Constabulary, formerly of Milton, shot in the face while making an arrest near Uniontown.
  • 1914 - Store of William L. Raup [Milton] robbed for the 25th time
  • On March 16th 1926 - New Lights on the Danville River Bridge turned on for the first time. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/03/danvilles-street-lights-financed-by.html
  • 1936 -  3 days of floods caused 175 deaths throughout Pennsylvania, and caused more than half a billion dollars in damage. The 1936 St Patrick's Day Floods remain on the list of the worst floods to ever occur in the Susquehanna River Valley. See photos of the 1936 St Patrick's Day Flood In Milton, here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-1936-flood-in-milton.html 

March 17

March 18
March 19
The Watsontown River Bridge, March 19th 1936, at 8am



March 20

March 21

March 22
  • 1813 - Union County was erected from Northumberland county, with nearby Mifflinburg being made the  first county seat.  New Berlin became the second seat of the Union County Government. The first Courthouse built specifically for that purpose was completed in 1815. [the county seat was moved to Lewisburg in 1855] https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/04/new-berlin-union-county-pennsylvania.html
  • 1813 - Columbia and Union counites erected from Northumberland, Milton was located in Columbia County
  • On March 22nd 1851  - An article in the Cecil Democrat  noted that "about fifty rafts of lumber had descended  the Susquehanna to Port Deposit up to Wednesday last , and many others were on their way."
  • 1871 - Lloyd Britto hung for murder in Lycoming County
  • 1884 - An unsuccessful attempt was made to burn grocery store of A.S.Lamm at Watsontown
  • On March 22, 1909 -  When Mr Galbraith objected to a rent increase, he "He moved his frame structure to the new location bodily, without taking any of his goods out, doing business all the time his building was on the move, and had electric light every night."  Horses pulled his store on logs up Broadway in Milton.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/05/when-galbraith-moved-his-news-stand.html

March 23
  • 1816 - Jeptha Hughes purchased the land that is today known as Hughesville.  Soon after making the purchase, Hughes laid out a town and named it "Hughesburg." https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/12/hughesville-pennsylvania.html
  •  1865 - W.H. Bogle empowered by Act Of Assembly to establish a ferry across the river below Milton
  •  "The  Milton  Record  was  first  published  under  its  present  name,  March  23,  1889,  and  is  the  result  of  a  consolidation  of  the  Argus and  Economist. " From Bell's History Of Northumberland County.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2024/12/the-milton-record-newspaper-1889-1909.html
  • 1932 - T. E. Weidensaul was injured when struck by a bundle of papers thrown from a passenger train at Allenwood station.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-allenwood-train-station.html

March 24
March 25

March 26

March 27

March 28

March 29
  • 1839 - William Dunlap hung for murder in Lycoming County
  • On March 29th 1851 the Daily Alta in California reported that Talbot H. Green was running for mayor.  "The ticket however, will be a strong one, with a man so well known and generally respected as Talbot H. Green at the head of it."  "Green" was an alias for Paul Geddes, a Lewisburg man who ran away to the west to avoid his gambling debts, taking on the identity of a man he met along the way for his new life in California.  His run for Mayor was the beginning of the end for "Green".  Read more here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2024/09/paul-geddes-aka-talbot-h-green-of.html
  • 1871 - Seidel and Tilden purchased the property at the corner of North Front and Upper Market street [Milton] for their carriage works.
  • 1909 - Ground broken in Milton for a new interlocking switch and signal tower
  • 1913 - Edward J. Shade killed by the P. and E. annex at Strine's Coal yard, aged 53 years


March 30
March 31


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In January of 1923, the Miltonian ran several pages recapping the news of the prior year.

This is what they had to say about March 1922:

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READ MORE 
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Miss Britton Skates 32 Miles
Miss Britton, of Lewisburg, Pa. skated thirty-two miles on the ice in three hours and thirty-two miles on the ice in three hours and thirty-five minutes the other day.
The Advertiser-Courier, Mar. 1, 1875, page 3
Hermann, MO

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Grampian Hills Cross

Eastertide & Bock Beer Go Hand In Hand
Get it at the Germania Brewery in Danville Pa

Bock, known as the "Easter Beer", was a traditional German Beer traditionally brewed in the winter months and lagered (or stored) until it was ready to be consumed in spring, “Bockbier”, or "liquid bread", was  the only thing German monks consumed over Lent, and when German settlers came to American, they brought their traditional Easter beer with them.  Newspaper ads in the years both before and after prohibition advertised that the Bock was ready, and wouldn't last long, every year between March and April.

Wide Awake Clubs

Hairy John - The Legendary Hermit Who Had A State Park Picnic Area Named For Him

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 In March, 1785, Ludwig Derr laid out the town of Lewisburg.

1934 Can Offer Free Pretzels, But Cannot Advertise Them
In March of 1934, The Shamokin News Dispatch published an article explaining that the code merely prohibited the advertising of free pretzels.  Bars could offer free pretzels they just could not advertise them as free.

In 1832, Twin Brothers Abraham & Isaac Straub erected the first bridges over the West Branch of the Susquehanna at Milton.  Those bridges  were carried away by the flood on March 17, 1865. 

1900 - Maud S., a famous racehorse, died.  Five years earlier, the Washingtonville Fair had announced that Maud S. would be in attendance at the fair - but it was all a hoax.  A horse from Danville was named Maud and brought in her place.

March of 1887 - The Dewart Creamery was built.  (Later destroyed by fire, built as the building that today holds Cabinet Surplus)


General March Events (No specific date other than March)

In March of 1891, the last casting was made at the old iron furnace at Winfield

In march of 1759, Marie LeRoy made her escape from her Indian Captors.  She had been kidnapped in the LeRoy massacre, near Penns Creek, in 1755.  Marie kept a journal of her captivity.  

In March of 1878 S. Cloyd Hartranft of Watsontown and Horace Aunkst of Milton joined a part of men, many from the Susquehanna Valley, who travelled from Philadelphia to Brazil to built a railroad.

Captain James Thompson Captured, And Later Escapes
Thompson had taken his wife and children to Penns Creek, where they would be safer as the Indians were attacking. In March 1781 he was headed to his home in Derrstown (today Lewisburg)  to prepare to move his family down country.  Along the way, he was waylaid by four Indians, who took him prisoner.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-central-susquehanna-valley-in.html

In late March 1782, Captain Thomas Robinson sent his lieutenant, Moses Van Campen, and men from his company of Robinson’s Rangers to build the “third” Fort Muncy. 

In March of 1923, a horse owned by Dr. U. Meyers of Catawissa turned 52 years old.
Dr Meyers refused offers to have the horse, named Clover, travel in the circus.
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/04/catawissa-pa.html

1899 - A narrow-gauge railroad was con structed by the John F. Duncan Lumber Co. along the White
Deer Creek solely to facilitate the removal of timber from the nearby mountains.
It was operated just as a logging railroad under private management.

March 1923
  




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