On This Day In Local History - May

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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 a Time Line By Year, go here:
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2019/12/a-time-line-of-history-in-central.html

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

May

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1st

• May Day Celebrations Throughout The Valley - When The First Of May Was A Holiday: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/05/may-day-when-first-of-may-was-holiday.html
• 1744 Conrad Weiser arrives at Shamokin to see Shikellamy about the murder of John Armstrong in the Juniata Valley. 
• 1778 - Massacre of settlers at Muncy, by Indians. 
• 1855 William Dunham of Delaware Twp, murdered in California
• 1861 - Ex-Governor James Pollock appointed by President Lincoln to be director of the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/10/james-pollock-milton-pa.html
• 1865 - First train into Lock Haven passed over the Tyrone Division.  
• 1877 - J. Michen Houghendobler, a moulder at the car works killed by train as he stepped from the foundry to the P.R.R. tracks
• 1902 - Another subscription began, and $1,205 was pledged by the students alone, for the raising of a gymnasium at Susquehanna University.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-gymnasium-fire-at-susquehanna.html
• 1916, the anthracite mineworkers of Pennsylvania finally earned the 8-hour workday. They had been striving unsuccessfully for that goal for decades. https://wynninghistory.com/2019/05/01/may-day-1916/
• 1982 - Guinness World Record's Largest Banana Split constructed in Selinsgrove Pa.  Selinsgrove broke the world record for the longest banana split not just once, but twice.  In 1982 they won the record with a 1.5 mile long dessert, and in 1986 they took the record back again, with a banana split more than 4 miles in length.  The 1986 record lasted for 29 years, before being broken in 2017 in Australia. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/05/when-worlds-largest-banana-split-was.html 

Sketches, engagement announcements and after graduation plans for the Watsontown High School Class of 1957 The Orange And Blue -  Volume 27, Issue 5, May 1957

See it here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/06/orange-blue-may-1957-watsontown-high.html

2nd

• 1815 - County seat Of Union County changed to New Berlin https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/04/new-berlin-union-county-pennsylvania.html
• 1854 - Eli Slifer of Lewisburg assumed his duties as State Treasurer.  When Eli Slifer died on May 26  1888, the Philadelphia Times called him "one of the few unobtrusively great men of Pennsylvania." https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/04/col-eli-slifer-1818-1888.html
• 1865 - Milton Wire Ferry started below Milton by John A Bogle https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/03/when-milton-had-ferry.html
• 1873 - Laura Pierce a servant on the farm of G.F. Erdly of Union county, attempted to burn his barn
• 1913 - Daniel Hulsizer killed near Hepburn Street on the Pennsylvania Railroad

3rd

• 1823 the owners of the ferry [between Watsontown and White Deer] ran an advertisement in the Miltonian in which they advised all delinquent subscribers for ferriages to pay up what they owed. "Having, hitherto been imposed upon, we hereby give notice that after this date we will no longer continue to ferry (gratis) those who go to attend Divine Worship upon the Sabbath; and particularly as we have hitherto been prevented from attending worship ourselves by attending to our neighbors"  When Watsontown Had A Ferry:  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/10/when-watsontown-had-ferry.html
• 1853 - Montour County was formed, out of Columbia County.  The formation of this new county was controversial, occupying newspaper headlines and political arguments for some time.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2023/02/montour-county-independence-may-3-1850.html
• 1864 - Milton Car Company organized by S.W. Murray, W.P. Dougal, John McCleery and J.S. Stoughton - The History Of ACF In Milton https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/08/from-sawmill-to-american-car-foundry.html
• 1877 - Unsuccessful attempt was made to burn the White Deer Woolen Mills https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/02/white-deer-woolen-mills.html 

4th

• 1757 - Party of 30 men and 44 bullocks arrive at Fort Augusta
• 1898 The Hotel Shikellamy burnt to the ground  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-hotel-shikallamy-1891-1898.html
• 1871 - Borough Of Riverside Incorporated.  Find stories & history of Riverside here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/04/riverside-pa.html
• 1876 - Waldron log house, first built in Milton destroyed by fire.  It was the corner of Broadway and Front street, the present [1923]  site of the Weis Pure Food Store.  The home of Governor Pollock was threatened. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/milton-pa.html
• 1913 - Prof. Charles E. Trate, leader of the 12 regiment band, died at Watsontown https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/11/trates-military-band-watsontown.html

5th

• 1757 - Rumors of the approach of the French and Indians received at Fort Augusta
• 1779 - 11th Penna. Line Regt. on duty on the frontier of the Susquehanna Valley, with 400 at Wyoming, 100 at Fort Jenkins, 100 at Fort Muncy and 70 at Sunbury.
• 1818 - Moses Yoder had the site of New Columbia surveyed and laid out the town in streets and lots. Read More About New Columbia Pa here - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/12/new-columbia-pennsylvania.html
• 1842 - Cornerstone of the Messiah Evangelical Church laid at McEwensville
• 1878 - Christian Swietzer, a raftsman, robbed at new Columbia by a tramp in his employ.  They were lodging with Sampson Paul. 
• 1917 Patriotic Flag Ceremony in Milton https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/04/flag-raisings-in-susquehanna-valley.html

6th

• 1759 - Marie LeRoy and Barbara Leninger, held captive by Indians for 3 years and 7 months, arrived in Philadelphia, having made their escape.  The girls were taken captive in the LeRoy Massacre along Penns Creek.  Marie kept a diary of her captivity, you can read it online here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-journal-of-marie-leroy-held-captive.html  
• 1870 - Daniel Royer killed by being whirled around shafting in the grist mill of Wesley Shearer at Cowan Union County
• 1871 - Steam propelled canal boat from Williamsport passed through Milton.
• 1876 - James McParland enters a courtroom, revealing himself as an undercover Pinkerton Agent, in the Molly Maguire trials. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/02/a-time-line-of-molly-maguire-story.html
• 1876 - Dewart Driving Park Opened  - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/06/when-dewart-had-fair.html
• 1876 - $300,000 fire at Williamsport, in which twenty acres of lumber were burned. 
• 1912 -  two gypsy girls robbed Mr W.R. Dudley, manager of the Star Speedometer Company.   https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/01/star-speedometer-plant-milton-pa.html

7th

• 1831 - White Swan Hotel opened in Milton by R. Grier
• 1847- Cornerstone of German Reformed Church laid at Lewisburg
• 1870 - Family of David Smith, of Buffalo Twp Union County seriously afflicted.  Thirteen ill at once time with typhoid fever, three of whom died.
• 1878 - Woolen Mills of M. Halfpenny damaged in fire.  The Lewisburg Woolen Mill - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-lewisburg-woolen-mill.html
• 1879— Rear-end collision on the N. C. R. at the Junction, when a northbound passenger train runs into a standing freight train. No persons injured.  Index Of Railroading Incidents In The Valley - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/12/an-index-of-railroad-incidents-in.html

In May of 1927, after more than 80 years of arguments and controversy, the bridge project at Watsontown finally began.  The controversy was far from over, and the "white elephant at the northern end of the county" continued to be  blamed for all of Northumberland Counties financial problems for years to come.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/11/building-watsontown-white-deer-river.html

8th

• 1778 - Jacob Stanford, wife, and son, killed by Indians
• 1780 - Col. Weltner advises Pres. Reed that it has been decided to not rebuild Fort Muncy on account of its isolation and distance from other points.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/08/fort-muncy.html
• 1854 - Patrick Daley killed in premature explosion while working on new railroad at Milton.
• 1876 - Captain A.H. Bogardus, champion marksman of the world, gave a shooting exhibition in Milton.
• 1924 - Thrifty Tips From Flo ran in local papers. "This newspaper will publish "Thrifty Tips" in this form at regular intervals.  We suggest you clip this column and paste it in your recipe book."  - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/09/thrifty-tips-for-home-by-flo-1924.html
• 1936 - A series of dynamite blasts wiped out the last traces of the old roundhouse of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Sunbury. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/10/the-sunbury-roundhouse.html

9th

• 1831 - Canal Boat Merchant's Choice in command of Captain Blair, arrived in Milton in 9 days from Philadelphia with a cargo of 20 tons for the Messrs Comley and Cadwallader
• 1881 - First cars built in Watsontown left plant -  When Watsontown Had A Car Works - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-watsontown-car-works.html
• 1927 - Construction of the new Eagles building in Milton, on the site of the old Riverside Hotel, began.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/10/the-eagles-building-in-milton-pa.html

1948: The F.P Pursel Department Store, Bloomsburg, celebrated its 55th anniversary. It dates back to 1893, when F.P., father of Frank and Charles, bought the McKelvy Store, which was already more than 50 years old. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/10/pursel-store-fire-1909-bloomsburg.html

10th

• 1861 - Rev. Dr. Joseph Junkin formerly of Milton, having again arrived on Pennsylvania soil, driving his team from Virginia, stopped at the boundary line and washed the "rebel mud" from his carriage and horse before proceeding north.  His daughter  became the poetress of the confederacy.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-poetress-of-confederacy-was-born-in.html
• 1865 - Charles B. Krauser nearly arrested on account of his resemblance to Booth, Lincoln's assassin. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/05/when-milton-man-was-arrested-for.html
• 1876  - The Centennial Celebration, held in Philadelphia  began on this day.  
   The Buckley's Carpet building at 502 Railroad street in Danville is our area's largest souvenir from the first World's Fair in America, the Centennial Celebration in 1876. Built as a train station for the 6 month celebration in Philadelphia, it was later dismantled, and moved to Danville.
  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/09/when-valley-attended-1876-centennial-in.html 

11th

• 1849 - Blast Furnace on White Deer Creek sold by Sheriff for $7000
• 1874 - Watsontown Lumber Company's plant  destroyed by fire.  
• 1875 - P.T. Barnum's circus exhibited in Milton.  Barnum got his start with Hugh Lindsay. Lindsay settled in Milton Pa when he retired, and it was there that  he  wrote a memoir of his life as a showman.  Read more  here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/08/when-legendary-pt-barnum-got-his-start.html
• 1946 - In May of 1946, Ground Breaking began for the half mile racetrack that would become the Selinsgrove Speedway. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-selinsgrove-speedway.html
• 1950, workmen at the Market Street Bridge cut loose three spans and with hydraulic jacks raised them, "preparatory to moving the bridge to the west."  The first span was to move 48 feet to an abutment already in place.  The second would move 21 feet, and the third only 5 feet. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-market-street-bridge-williamsport-pa.html

In May of 1937, an archaeological dig of the Indian Burial Grounds at Muncy began.  The excavation uncovered a Thunderbird Altar, one of only 3 ever found in the Northeast.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/08/indian-burial-mound-at-muncy-farms.html

12th

• 1852 - Rebecca S. [Thomas] Clayton died.  Rebecca's grave is one of three in Columbia County that was covered with a Mortsafe  - or "Vampire Cage". Although grave robbing was not uncommon in Columbia County, It is known that several members of the Thomas family were ironmasters, and they all were of Scottish descent. Mortsafes were once very popular in Scotland. It's likely that the Thomas family erected them purely as decoration, or out of tradition from their homeland, and not out of any real fear of the bodies being stolen. That does not however, explain why the cages were made to be locked. Read more about the mortsafes in Columbia County Pa, here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-hooded-graves-in-columbia-county-pa.html
• 1880 - Curley found guilty of Murder In The Second Degree.  (Murder of Gunning, near Centralia)
• 1882 - Anthracite Steam Fire Company, No. 1, was organized in Mt Caramel PA https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/11/mount-carmel-pennsylvania.html
• 1890  - Milton divided into 5 wards https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/milton-pa.html
• 1912 - Riverside Park Club organized in Milton
• 1913 - Old baseball grounds at South Turbot avenue purchased by School Board for Public Playground. 
• 1914 a new six-wire antenna was erected on the roof of the Danville Opera House for receiving the latest news and baseball scores. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-victoria-theater-danville.html
• 1917 Patriotic Flag Raising In Watsontown https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/04/flag-raisings-in-susquehanna-valley.html
• 1917 - While visiting her parents in Watsontown, Nurse Helen Fairchild received her orders to report to the docks of Philadelphia for overseas duty. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/05/nurse-helen-fairchild.html

13th

• 1792 - John Watson purchased 609 acres of land embracing the larger part of the site of Watsontown from John Harris
• 1846 - Mexico and the United States open actual war, the latter calling for 50,000 volunteers.  [Mexican American War 1846-1848]
• 1846 - Great flood in river. The river bridge damaged the canal bank broken in many places.  Mails were stopped for many days.
• 1871 - Ethel Fay Kellog, "America's foremost woman architect" was born in Milton Pa.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/07/americas-foremost-woman-architect-born.html
• 1918 - "Coffin The Kaiser" fundraiser held in Sunbury, part of the War Savings Stamp Campaign.  Every person who purchased a 25 cent stamp had "the privilege of placing a nail in the coffin."- https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/04/coffin-kaiser-in-sunbury-pa.html
• 1919 - Mrs. Elizabeth Moser, of Milton, died of burns received in a lamp explosion.
• 1967 -  Ron Rivero drove his "Frantic Fueler" fuel dragster to a new track record of 215 MPH, at the Numidia Speedway https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/01/numidia-speedway.html

14th

• 1864 - Four residents of Lewis Twp drowned at Muncy Dam when the wagon broke upon which they were riding throwing them into the canal.
• 1880 -  The entire town of Milton burned.  Of the 700 buildings in town, only 60 were left standing.  More than 3,000 people were homeless, many sleeping outside near the island that evening.  See photos and stories from the fire here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-great-fire-of-1880-when-entire-town.html
• 1908 - Miltonian Steam Fire Co. organized with Oscar Stevenson president and William Trate foreman.
• 1919 - Ground broken for Susquehanna Silk Mill Plant  in Milton https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-susquehanna-silk-mill-milton-sunbury.html
• 1938 - Rolling Green Park Opened For The Season - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2019/06/rolling-green-park-peoples-playground-in.html
• 1950, Hank Williams played at the Radio Ranch in Watsontown Pa  - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/03/when-hank-williams-came-to-watsontown.html

15th

• 1819 - Spread Eagle Tavern opened in Milton by L.B. Stoughton
• 1969, the 125 foot tower of the Lycoming County Courthouse came tumbling down. Demolition had begun days earlier. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-day-courthouse-fell-williamsport.html
• 1906 - State Shoot held at Milton Fair grounds - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/05/when-milton-had-fair.html

16th

• 1778  - Three men scalped in field near Pine Creek along the  West Branch. Supreme Executive Committee orders 31  rifles repaired and forwarded to Northumberland County  on account of the desperate situation in that section. 
• 1780 - Indians appear in Buffalo Valley and kill four men at Gronzong's Mill
• 1913 - Public Playground formally opened on south Turbot avenue, F. A. Godcharles speaker
• 1928 - Secretary of Commerce & Future President Herbert Hoover was at the Texas Blockhouse Fish and Game Club,  Waterville Pa,    He had been at Ognotz Lodge the previous two days. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/06/when-presidents-came-to-fish-in.html
• In May of 1976, the Catherine Smith Historical Marker was moved to the mini park along the creek in White Deer.   https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-widow-catherine-smith.html

17th

• 1834 - Destructive Flood on the West Branch Of The Susquehanna
• 1866 - Corner stone of St John's Reformed Church in Milton laid by Rev. John W. Steimets of Danville, orator for the occasion
• 1871 - Baker Frederick Wolfe of Milton severely injured when the horse to his delivery wagon ran away
• 1886 - Milton Manufacturing Company incorporated https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/02/milton-manufacturing-milton-pa.html
• 1897 The Lewisburg & Buffalo Valley Railroad was organized in Lewisburg https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/08/the-lewisburg-buffalo-valley-railroad.html
• 1948 - Harold Anspach, professional boxer, left Turbotville for training in N.J. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/05/harold-anspach-national-aau.html

18th

• 1757 - Bateaux with 2 four pound cannon arrive at Fort Augusta from down the river.   Three companies of Col Weisers battalion sent to Fort Augusta
• 1811 - Great horse race at Derrstown, now Lewisburg. Much excitement over this important event https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/10/when-union-county-fair-was-held-in.html
• 1857 - Home Journal published at Lewisburg
• 1877 - Tobacco Store of Daniel Oswald at Lewisburg robbed
• 1891 - Thomas Beaver died.  Beaver, a  trustee of the Danville Iron and Steel works, not only build the library in Danville,  and YMCA, but he also donated 6,000 volumes to fill its shelves, and gave the library a trust fund of $100,000 [ nearly 3 million dollars today].  In his will, he left the library an additional $50,000. Other Area Donations Made By Thomas Beaver include the Howard Clock on the tower of  St Joseph's Catholic Church, Danville PA  & the Pipe Organ to Mahoning Presbyterian Church [1882].  THomas's nephew James became Governor of Pennsylvania in 1887. James was acting president of Penn State University from 1906-1908, and Beaver Stadium at Penn State is named in his honor  Read more about the Beaver Library in Danville, here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/08/when-thomas-beaver-built-library-for.html
• 1947 - Two planes smashed in mini-cyclone at the Selinsgrove Airport - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/04/when-mini-cyclone-crashed-two-planes-in.html
• 
  

19th

• 1820 - Margaret Junkin, born in Milton, became poetess-laureate of the South.  Died March 19 1897. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-poetress-of-confederacy-was-born-in.html
• 1834 - Cornerstone of the German Church laid at Lewisburg with English and German Services
• 1854 - Susquehanna Dental Association organized
• 1870 - Howard Reed of Lewisburg had his hand shot off by a premature explosion of a cannon while attending a reunion at Lock Haven.
• 1898 - James Richard Cleaver Died.  Before his death, he penned his recollections of his early life in Columbia County Pa.  Read them here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/12/reminiscences-of-james-r-cleavers-early.html
• 1910 - The earth passed through the tail of Haleys Comet.  At the time, that year anti comet pills were stored, houses were sealed up to keep the gasses from entering, and in Oklahoma, one religious group attempted a ceremony, including the sacrifice of a virgin, to warn off the comets ill effects.  (They were stopped).  Locally, the comet couldn't be seen on May 19th, but a professor at Bucknell had viewed the comet earlier in the month.  Read his account here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2023/05/when-valley-saw-earth-pass-through.html
• 1980  Author Robert Newton Peck came to Warrior Run  to research a book he planned to write.   A reception was 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.
  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-history-of-fort-freeland-society.html

20th

• 1760 -  Tellinemut, an Indian, bearing wampum, arrived at Fort Augusta concerning the release of prisoners. 
• 1778 - Savages attack and massacre settlers near Lycoming Creek on the West Branch.
• 1851 - Great railroad convention held at Sunbury.  This was in the interest of the Susquehanna Railroad.
• 1881 - Milton Church and Novelty Works established in Milton
• 1904 The Milton Elks  Lodge was established.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-elks-home-milton-pa.html
• 1910 - The earth passed through the tail of Haley's Comet 
• 2017 - The Algert Fountain, donated to the  borough, was dedicated at corner of Brimmer & Main streets.  [The fountain is once again being moved in 2023 - this time to the corner of  first and main] https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-algert-fountain.html

21st

• 1757 -  Gov. Denny instructs Thomas McKee to conduct the Indians from the treaty at Philadelphia to Fort Augusta where they are to be furnished com, ground to settle on and to be treated civilly and aided by all. 
• 1769 - Survey of 245 acres for Ensign Stine, which included the mouth of Muddy Run, made.  Capt Hawkins Boone erected mill and fort soon afterwards.
• 1770 - Gov. John Penn appointed Col. Turbut Francis prothonotary County Cumberland and he moved to Carlisle.  Both Tubotville & Turbut twp were names for Col Francis. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/11/how-turbut-township-got-its-name-and.html
• 1850 - Abraham Straub and Isaiah B. Davis of Milton and D. Rockefeller of Sunbury appointed commission to survey and run boundary line of Montour County
• 1864, The Muncy Creek Railway was chartered.  It was intended to provide a railroad outlet for Laporte, the newly established county seat of Sullivan County, via the valley of Muncy Creek.  The Muncy Creek railway was foreclosed on August 9 1882, and reorganized September 1 1882 as the Williamsport & North Branch Railroad. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/12/the-hughesville-railroad-station.html
• 1966, at the Travelers Inn.  Restaurant Equipment, dishes, utensils, a 2 car frame garage, etc.  "Must evacuate due to road construction." Mae D. Platt Owner, Neil S. Moyer Auctioneer https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/12/travelers-inn-lewisburg-pa.html
• 1982, Nick Rosato opened a studio and art gallery in Cogan Station, next to his home. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-art-of-nick-rosato.html

22nd

• 1757 - Fort Augusta alarmed by sounds of Indians on the west side of the river. Bullocks and guards called into the fort and a scouting party of 40 men sent across the river. Scouts report many fresh Indian tracks from opposite the fort to George Gabriel's at the mouth of Penns Creek. Later camp fires are discovered at George Gabriel's and the Indians flee in haste down the river. General review held at Fort Augusta.   More about Fort Augusta - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/07/fort-augusta.html
• 1865 - Fishing Creek Confederates released from Fort Mifflin

In May of 1940, Mr & Mrs William Eberly took charge of Betty's Coffee Pot, one mile north of Lewisburg on Route 404. Mrs Eberly was the former Miss Bertha Stassner.

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/02/bettys-coffee-pot-lewisburg-pa.html

23rd

• 1819 - Harmony Church dedicated by Rev Just Henry Fries, assisted by Rev Martin Bruner of Sunbury
• 1831 - Thomas Wilson, aged 50 years, crushed to death while unloading timber near Lewisburg
• 1907 - Ground was broken for the Keystone Glue Factory, which would later become Glyco.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-keystone-glue-factory-later-glyco.html

 In May of 1970, the fair was cancelled due to lack of interest.  The last fair in Turbotville Pa was held in 1969, When Turbotville Had A Fair: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/10/when-fair-was-held-in-turbotville.html

24th

• 1829 - Riot among workmen on the canal at this place caused 100 volunteers and local militia to be called out.  Sixteen arrests were made.  When the Susquehanna Valley Had A Canal - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/10/when-susquehanna-valley-had-canal-west.html
• 1836  - John Earls executed in Lycoming County.  Earls, infatuated with another woman, poisoned his pregnant wife, administering the fatal dose of poison just after she gave birth.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/05/john-earls-first-hanging-in-lycoming.html
• 1853 John F. Cowan and wife, Rosetta, of Williamsport, Pa., deeded to Ole Bull for the sum of $10,388.00 eleven warrants of land in Potter County.  Ole Bull, a famous violinist, intended to form a Norwegian refuge in America.    Read more here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/11/ole-bull-famous-violinist-with-castle.html
• 1873 - L.A. Rauch began manufacturing hoop skirts in corsets in Milton
• 1884 - Stranger aged about 32 attempted to commit suicide at P.R.R. station in Milton, later succeeded at Montandon
• 1909 - Work men began razing "the old structures that are on the site of the proposed new Sun building" https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-williamsport-sun-building-northeast.html
• 1918 - Great Red Cross Parade at Milton with 5,000 people in attendance and 10 bands in the procession
• 1919 - Welcome Home Parade for WWI soldiers in Sunbury Pa https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/05/when-sunbury-welcomed-soliders-home-may.html 
• 1923 - Milton Library Opened
• 1935, 24-26  - Lewisburg Sesquicentennial

25th

• 1769 - Col. Samuel Hunger surveyed the tract of 609 acres which included the mouth of Warrior Run
• 1863 - Co. E. 131st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry returned home from war under the command of Capt. I.B. Davis, and a great parade was held in Milton. Captain Bly's company of the same regiment received a great ovation at Watsontown.
• 1869 - Ground broken at Danville for the new State Hospital for the Insane https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/01/assorted-stories-history-from-danville.html
• 1917 Patriotic Flag Raising in Lewisburg https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/04/flag-raisings-in-susquehanna-valley.html
• 1963 - Selinsgrove Speedway re-opened after a two year hiatus.  Bobby Gerhart and Ed Spencer captured the feature events. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-selinsgrove-speedway.html

26th

• 1769 - Gov. Penn advised Col. Turbut Francis at Fort Augusta of encroachment of 500 Connecticut settlers upon the residents of the Wyoming Valley.
• 1772 - First regular court held at Fort Augusta.  Judge William Plunket granted Marcus Huling Jr license to keep a tavern in Turbut Twp (This was at the corner of Front street and Broadway )
• 1851 - First message sent from Lewisburg to Philadelphia by telegraph.
• 1871 - Borough of Snydertown incorporated
• 1888 - Col Eli Slifer, having been thrown from his carriage a day earlier, died of his injuries. The Philadelphia Times, reporting his death,  called him "one of the few unobtrusively great men of Pennsylvania."   Read More Here - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/04/col-eli-slifer-1818-1888.html
• 1914 - Daniel Ack, the potter from Montour County, died.  Read more about Ack Pottery, here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2023/02/ack-pottery-mooresburg-pa.html
• 1917 Patriotic Flag Raising at the Pottsgrove School  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/04/flag-raisings-in-susquehanna-valley.html
• 1926 - The Pennsylvania Gazette reported: “Farrington is believed by the police officers to be the largest illicit liquor distiller in the state,” https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-king-of-bootleggers-was-prince-in.html
• 1965 - Demolition began on the Montour Hotel in Danville - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/07/montour-house-danville-pa.html

27th

• 1851 - Ground broken for Sunbury and Erie Railroad at Farrandsville
• 1882 - Free Masons laid the cornerstone of public school building at Watsontown
• 1885 - Monument to Ex-Governor Simon Snyder unveiled at Selinsgrove
• 1888 - Hon Eli Slifer former secretary of the commonwealth and state treasurer, died at Lewisburg from injuries received in a  fall from his carriage.
• 1908 - William H. Showers, White Deer Twp, killed on the P. and R. at East Mahanoy Junction in the performance of his duties as a brakeman
• 1914 - Reber warehouse gutted by fire at Lewisburg
• 1925 - Six Tons Of Hershey's Chocolate was spilled into the river at Sunbury when a train derailed on the bridge there.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/06/when-train-dumped-load-of-chocolate-in.html

In May of 1937 the Williamsport Sun Gazette reported that those taking stones from state land must have a permit, and that no permission would be granted to remove stones from the Devils Turnip Patch, "which is considered by local persons an unusual formation of much public interest"  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/06/the-devils-turnip-patch.html

28th

• 1757 - Bateau men refuse to do any duty not with the boats while lying at Fort Augusta, and are ordered to parade, whereupon they are ordered to report their decision the following day. 
• 1892, May 28 - President Benjamin Harrison stopped in Williamsport  on his way to Rochester NY to dedicate a Civil War Monument.
• 1910 - Riverside Park, The Amusement Park built by the trolley between Milton and Watsontown, Opened.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/riverside-park-milton.html
• 1920 - Meeting held at Milton, to further the plans of building a Dairy League Co-Op building there.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-dairymens-league-milton-pa.html
• 1946,  In the last week of May, 1946, there were 4 straight days of heavy rains.  "In the mind of residents, the river was area was the ever-present danger of high water, water that could be seen rising as the result of four days rain... However, optimistic radio reports served to lull many into a sense of false security and not until quite late did this medium of warning begin to sound ominous. All doubt was removed with the sounding of the fire alarm at Lewisburg, and whistles at plants at nearby Milton." Residents awoke to find themselves in the midst of a full fledged flood. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-1946-flood.html
• 1946, The Valley flooded, severely. In all of the stories I read, Memorial Day Services went on as planned - serious flooding did not stop the ceremonies. In Lewisburg, a radio station mistakenly announced they had been cancelled, but the residents showed up anyway (and the ceremony had never been cancelled) https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/05/memorial-day-in-valley-through-decades.html

29th

• 1757 -  Bateau men parade at Fort Augusta and agree to do as ordered. Col. Burd then sends them four miles down the river for limestone. Garrison holds a general review. 
• 1851  - First telegraph message sent out of Milton, office in Nagles Store
• 1867 - Attempt to change name of Watsontown to Ario City in honor of Ario Pardee failed as Mr Pardee objected to the new name. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/05/ario-city-1867-watsontown.html
• 1870 - Grist Mill of Henry Snyder at Washingtonville burned
• 1871 - Enos Hilliard nearly killed when whirled around a shaft in the Wagner and Starr planing mill

Remembering Early Memorial Day Celebrations - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/05/remembering-early-memorial-days-in.html

30th

• 1869 - First observance of Memorial Day in Milton.  GAR Post from Milton, soldiers from Lewisburg, and civic bodies in the parade.  At that time there were 17 soldiers buried in the Milton cemetery and 18 filled in unknown graves on the battlefields.  Read about Memorial Day Celebrations throughout the valley - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/05/memorial-day-in-valley-through-decades.html
• 1883 - "It is said that the Philadelphia and Reading will run their first train to Lewisburg to Milton about May 30th, Decoration Day" Read more about the Milton Train Station here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-milton-train-station.html
• 1893 -  A Circus Train Crashed Near Tyrone - Killing 7, wounding 19, and releasing Lions, Tigers, Apes and Elephants throughout the area. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/09/walter-l-main-circus-train-wreck-tyrone.html
• 1902 - Sunbury Nail Works destroyed by fire https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2023/04/the-sunbury-nail-bar-and-guide-iron.html
• 1913 - Henry Shoemakers Lenape Wigwam Monument was unveiled at McElhattan
• 1915 - P.R.R. station at Montandon robbed. Safe blown to pieces.
• 1919 - Memorial Tablet to Liet Col. W.W. Fetzer unveiled at High School. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/05/wallace-w-fetzer-when-milton-gave-one.html
• 1925 - The New Miller Park and Race Track Opened in Montgomery,  with a flag raising, followed by horse races, motorcycle races, and automobile races.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/05/when-there-was-race-track-in-montgomery.html

31st

• 1834 - Black frost so severe that almost every species of plant life in this section was killed.
• 1878 - Uriah Moyer, Emanuel Ettinger, and Mary Hartley were arrested for the brutal murder of wo elderly German Fortune Tellers in Snyder County.  Ettinger would later poison himself to avoid the gallows.  Uriah & Jonathan Moyer were executed.  The scaffold is on display at the Snyder County Historical Society. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/12/when-german-fortune-tellers-were.html
• 1881 - Henry Fauver ages 12 rescued Charles Townsend aged 6 who had fallen in the canal lock near the flood gates.
• 1928 - A Sink Hole Was first noticed on the Ira Dougherty Farm,  at the highest point in the Nippenose Valley.   Thousands of tourists flocked to the area to see this.  Bands played, hot dogs were sold.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/08/swallowed-by-earth-suddenly-appearing.html
• 1985 -  The deadliest tornado to ever hit Pennsylvania occurred on May 31, 1985. It struck  the area between 9:25-10:15pm, hitting Allenwood, Dewart, and Watsontown, including Hidden Creek Campground and Spring Lake Village.  Rated an F4, the tornado was 1.5 miles wide and it's path was 19 miles in length. It resulted in 6 deaths, and more than 60 injured, in our local area alone. More than 60 people were killed across the state. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/05/when-tornado-ripped-through-our-valley.html
  

Photo labeled simply "May 1904, Selinsgrove"

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Misc May Events

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First woman bootlegger in the county

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-first-woman-bootlegger-arrested-in.html

May 1750 Homes of "squatters" along the Juniata Valley burned by Richard Peters and Conrad Weiser at the order of the Proprietaries.

May of 1815 "locust prevalent in local territory" 

1822  Jury in trial of the John Snyder's Heirs vs. Simon.  Snyder Case dismissed as a relative of the Plaintiff was found on the jury after same had been sworn

1829 - May , The River road between Lewisburg and Selinsgrove  surveyed and laid out by James F. Linn

1885 - Governor Snyder Monument erected in Sharon Lutheran Cemetery

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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 May 1922:

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For More Local History & Stories:
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html

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READ MORE 

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Daily Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania) Monday, May 24, 1875

Our Neighbors - Union County

Snow is still lingering in the mountains bordering Union county.

Although the furnace of Winfield is not in operation, the proprietors keep all their men engaged in other work.

At a late meeting of the dental association held in Scranton, Pa., Dr. Gerhart of Lewisburg, was chosen treasurer.

The energetic and music loving young men of Hartleton are about to organize a brass band, with Prof. Feehrer as instructor.

Work on the new German Reformed church at Laurelton was commenced by the builder, Mr. S. S. Miller, some time ago.

Mr. Wm. Young, of Mifflinburg, has purchased a $30,000 home, near Philadelphia, and he and family are preparing to occupy it.

Wm. Cameron, Esq., nearly an octogenarian, Mr. Hafer, of Kelly, three months older, and Mr. McCurley, of White Deer, seven years still above that, were noticed standing on a street corner in Lewisburg the other day discussing the situation of affairs.