Wednesday, June 2, 2021

On This Day In Local History - June

 On This Day In Local History, June
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
June
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Day By Day:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
A cannon ball was excavated by railroad workmen along Blue Hill, opposite Northumberland, on June 5 1882.


6th

7th

8th
  • 1763 - Fort Augusta again put in condition for defense https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/07/fort-augusta.html
  • 1772 - First feed recorded in Northumberland County
  • 1821 - This vicinity (Milton) damaged by the appearance of a great number of Locusts
  • 1897 - Reish's Distillery "One half mile west of Cowan" Destroyed by fire
  • 1921 - John B. Schreyer, native of Milton, murdered near Washington D.C.
In June of 1931, the "Monkey Shop" was dismantled at AC&F in Milton.
Read about AC&F's connection to the ill fated Collins Expedition, here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-monkey-shop-in-milton-at-acf.html

9th
  • 1869 - Milton Live Stock Association Formed
  • 1881 - Father McElhanney purchased Milton Academy lot on north side of Broadway near Pennsylvania railroad for Catholic Church.
  • 1928 - The Shamokin News Reported: "In the meantime Watsontown Is going ahead with preparations for a big celebration on July 4. two parades being planned over the bridge. Why Watsontown considers the bridge vital to its welfare is difficult for the rest of the county to understand. Certainly it is not bursting with excess population that is seeking an outlet into suburbs, and the trade to be drawn from the foothills of Union county is negligible."  Read more about the "White Elephant Of A Bridge" in Watsontown Pa, here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/11/building-watsontown-white-deer-river.html
"Van Fleets roses bloom only once, in the month of June, but they are very winter hardy and disease resistant" - Dr Walter Van Fleet, Watsontown Native,  Famous Rosarian, 1857-1922, Owned a home on  506 Main Street, Watsontown Pa https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-van-fleet-roses.html

In June of 1929, Montgomery's Island Park opened, on the Island that today is the Milton State Park. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/montgomerys-island-park-today-milton.html

10th
  • 1778  - The Plum Tree Massacre 
  • 1790 - Purchase of the site of Milton was confirmed by deed.
  • 1822 - First drawing for the price or the Harmony Church Lottery, was made and the fund from this lottery was used to liquidate the debt of the triple congregation
  • 1870 - President U.S. Grant stopped in Milton for a few minutes
  • 1925, the I.O.O.F. Orphanage Orchestra broadcasted a mixed program from Station WHBG, Harrisburg. "The Band had 26 pieces and was doing remarkably good work." https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-ioof-orphanage-in-sunbury-pa.html
In June of 1921, the remains from the burial ground of St. John's Reformed Church

When the Original Hiawatha Riverboat Ran To Sylvan Dell, in Williamsport

11th
 From June 1811 to August 1818, Mozart's librettist, the man who wrote the text for operas including "The Marriage of Figaro," "Don Giovanni," and "Cosi fan tutte" lived in Sunbuary Pa.  Lorenzo Da Ponte wrote that on visiting Sunbury, the adopted home of his wife's family, "I grew so enamored of the town that I resolved to settle there." A teacher, distiller, and merchant, he lived at the southwest corner of Third and Market Streets.
Read more here:



12th
  • 1825 - Great hail storm visited this section.  2,000 windows were broken in Milton
  • 1829 - Issac & Abraham Straub raised form of their flouring mill on the island.  This was the first mill to use Burr wheels.
  • 1866 - New passenger depot of P and E. at Cameronia, now Montandon, completed. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/01/lewisburg-junction-railroad-stop-that.html
  • 1873 - Dr J. P. McCleery purchased first Parker Breech-Loading shotgun bought at Milton
  • 1885 - Frank Herdic narrowly escaped death when his carriage upset and his legs were caught in the spokes.  Herdic was drug 500 feet, before the horse was caught and stopped.  More about horse racing at Herdic [Old Oaks] Park in Williamsport - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/10/herdic-park-old-oaks-park-williamsport.html
  • 1917 - Clyde E. Mundy first Milton boy to land in France with General Pershing
  • 1920 - Course Of Limestone Run is changed.
In June of 1937, Chamberlain & Hoffman of Shamokin purchased the Park Theatre amusement business and apartment building in Williamsport for $150,000. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/12/park-theatre-williamsport-pa.html

13th
The Bloomsburg Ferry Wire was struck by lightening in Mid- June of 1890.  It was replaced a few weeks later.  Read more about the ferry here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/10/the-bloomsburg-ferry.html

14th
15th
16th
According to a DCNR report from June 1977, "Along the east bank of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River opposite Lewisburg is a sand dune field, created during the Wisconsin age, the latest of several periods of glaciation that covered parts of Pennsylvania. Although the Wisconsian glacier halted several miles to the north of the West Branch, large amounts of its sedimentary debris were flushed into the river and deposited on the flood plains downstream." https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-sand-dunes-of-montandon-pa.html

17th
  • 1771 - First trouble on account of the Connecticut raiders.  Wm Speedy killed Nathan Ogden
  • 1779 - Indians appeared at Fort Brady, killed two men and took three into captivity.  Burned Starrets Flouring Mill (on the site of what was later Muncy Mills) and all the principal houses of the area. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-central-susquehanna-valley-in.html
  • 1829, in Williamsport, during a time of strong anti-masonic sentiment, the Masonic Lodge was attacked by a mob of infuriated men, who pitched the paraphernalia and furniture through the windows for the purpose of breaking up the place of meeting. Members made their escape through the windows, being afraid to face the mob.
  • 1883, The railroad station at Muncy was blown down by a cyclone, and a 13 year old boy was killed. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-muncy-train-station.html
  • 1909 - The I.O.O.F. Orphanage in Sunbury dedicated their new buildings, with a large ceremony. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-ioof-orphanage-in-sunbury-pa.html
  • 1943 - The Army-Navy “E” award, which had been given to less than 3% of all the plants engaged in war work, was presented jointly by Colonel John N. Gage, representing the army and by Lieutenant Russell F. H. Crawford, for the Navy, and was accepted by Hector Boiardi president of the company. Individual pins were presented to six employees chosen by the entire working force, as part of the ceremonies, the remaining employees receiving their pins after the ceremonies. The pin presentations were made by private Edward J. Gorski, who was wounded by 14 pieces of shrapnel at Algeria.  https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/chef-boyardee.html
  •  1956, the new "Devitt Home" dedication took place with 2,200 people in attendance. The Devitt family sold the tuberculosis camp to the United Church Of Christ, operators of the Phoebe Home in Allentown Pa.  The camp was sold for $1, with the condition that the Devitt name be retained. 
18th
19th
20th
  • 1869 - Several Pottsgrove boys robbed the home of William McMahan of Liberty township of $530
  • 1972 -  Harry Morgan of Elysburg was found guilty of murdering his ex wife. That was the big news in our area, but tucked in under that headline, beside a photo of Morgan, there is an associated press article about the storm in Florida. By Tuesday, Agnes "the first of the seasons hurricanes", had left 18 dead in Florida, and caused millions of dollars in damage.
  • In the weather report from Harrisburg, on page two of the Daily Item, it again mentioned that Agnes would bring more rain, but it was expected to clear up by Thursday. It weather report included that the river at Sunbury was at 10 feet, "and falling" and was expected to be at 9.7 feet on Wednesday. See photos from the 1972 flood in Milton here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/06/1972-flood-photos-stories-from-milton-pa.html
In June 1956, and again in June 1960, the Flying Farmers landed in Milton:

In June of 1946, The Hughesville School board leased the large room in the rear of the Movie Theater for the Schools Agriculture Department.  At one time, Hughesville's home basketball games were held in that room. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/12/when-hughesville-had-movie-theater.html


21st
22nd
In June of 1885 the puddlers at the Sunbury Nail and Iron works were on strike, "on account of a reduction of wages" https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2023/04/the-sunbury-nail-bar-and-guide-iron.html
23rd
  • 1848 - Hon. James Pollock offered a resolution in Congress calling for a commission to investigate the necessity and practicality of building a railroad to the Pacific Ocean.
  • 1863 -  Joseph W. Cake "made wealthy in real estate speculation and through interest in the railroads", purchased most of the land in the general area of the Hunter farm.   He laid out the streets and sold lots, naming the area "Caketown".  Cake had also acquired the adjoining Scott farm in 1859, making him the owner of the original Hunter and Scott farms that comprised Fort Augusta.
  • 1872  - Flood at Milton.  Nagle, Eschbach, and Churchill of Muddy Run sawmill lost 11 rafts of pine and oak in sudden rise of the river.  Lost $10,000.  Murray, Dougal and Co lost one raft. McCleery, Newhard and Clinger lost two rafts in the same flood.
  • 1881 - L.C. Fosnot withdrew from the Watsontown Record and Star and became publisher of the Shamokin Times
  • 1913 - The Women's Suffrage Bell began it's journey across Pennsylvania https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/08/when-womens-suffrage-bell-toured-valley.html
  • See Photos of the 1972 Flood in Montgomery PA  - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/06/1972-flood-stories-photos-from.html
24th
  • 1740 - First house built at Shamokin [now Sunbury] by John Hagen, and Joseph Powell
  • 1815 - Danville Turnpike Company Incorporated
  • 1856 - Henry Chapman Mercer was born.  Mercer built a stone castle in Doylestown, Bucks county Pa, that is definitely a sight to see.  It's open to the public for tours.   Read more about our visit to the castle, and a little about the incredibly fascinating life of Mercer - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2023/05/fonthill-mercers-castle-in-pennsylvania.html
  • 1881 - Alex Munson crushed to death on the Pennsylvania Railroad while riding to his work below Watsontown
  • 1887 - Charles Simpson died from injuries received while working on the P & R. Railroad
1942, the new Dreisbach Hardware store opened in Lewisburg, the previous building having been destroyed by fire the year before. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/08/5-5-5-1941-dreisbach-hardware-fire-in.html

1893, the Montgomery Ferry company was established. From June 1893 to May 1894, two boats worked bank to bank. 


25th
26th
"The Baker House opened in June 1882 on the west side of North Second just north of Cherry Alley. The original structure was a three-story frame building. It was ideally located–the depot of the Lewisburg & Tyrone Railroad was less than a block to the north on St. John Street. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-baker-house-hotel-in-lewisburg-pa.html

27th 
28th
29th 
30th

Misc June History:
In June of 1843, Josiah Schweinhart announced the opening of his new business in New Berlin Schweinhart and John S. Heimbach made buggies, sulkies and barouches, with an attached blacksmith shop. They were located one door east of Baum's Hotel. Schweinhart later patented for a new single-tree and locking apparatus. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/04/new-berlin-union-county-pennsylvania.html

In June of 1866, Raftsman's Journal published an article they had received from the Huntington Globe, saying the treasure of Lewis The Robber had been found. 62 years later,  the Harrisburg Telegraph reported that it was still being searched for. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2023/04/central-pennsylvanias-robin-hood-and.html


June 1916 - the Woolen Mill "Which had been idle for some time" had been leased by Percy Whitaker of Philadelphia and Providence, who will start up the plant installing 48 additional looms for work on mens wear https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-lewisburg-woolen-mill.html

The Pennsylvania Pullman Vestibule Train, was placed in Service June 1887



"When only a few weeks old, the Mirror won  fame thruout the West Branch valley  by appearing daily temporarily.  This was during the June flood of 1889, when Montgomery was shut off from the world by high waters and the destruction they brought, and the  only news it had of the outside was what Editor Clark could glean over  railroad telegraph wires and from visitors, and publish in a single-sheet newspaper, which he continued to  serve the people of the town until  other communication was opened. " - Watsontown Record & Star, 1925 https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/05/when-montgomery-had-newspaper.html

In June of 1979, the future of the Sunbury Train station was uncertain.  Penn Central, who owned the building, had gone bankrupt, and the last train to stop at Sunbury was back in 1971.   In 1979, Penn Central still owned the train station.  At that time, the building needed $7,000 in roof repairs, and many windows were broken and boarded up.   They considered the possibility of tearing down the old building, and selling the land.  Fortunately, that did not occur, and the beautiful old brick station still stands today.  It now houses an antique mall. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/02/third-street-station-sunbury.html

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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 June 1922:



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