Valley Girl Views: Reminiscences of Milton by J.P. Kohler

In the 1920's, Attorney James Pollock Kohler wrote a series of letters about his early years as a boy in Milton Pa. The Miltonian published them under the heading "Reminiscences of Milton by J.P; Kohler".

This letter, published on January 19 1922, tells stories of ice skating , sledding, sleighing parties, in all the best locations in Milton.

AMUSEMENTS

At this wintry season of the year with the earth circling the sun, turning into the spring stretch, cold wind blowing, the small lakes near-by covered with holiday skaters and the small boy drawing his sled over the pavements in search of a place to slide one can reminisce for hours on the beauties of Milton in winter garment and the winter sports so heartily enjoyed in the gone-by days by young and old.

Winter seemed in those days to begin Thanksgiving Day, with the freezing of the shallow ponds and creek and lasted till April Fools' Day, when the tenant farmers were moving their belongings and implements through the spring snow.

A shallow pond, where the fair grounds now are, was among the first to invite the early skaters. In summer this pond had perch and pike in it and bullfrogs, and one persimmon tree stood on its edge, from which the skating boys clubbed its luscious fruit. As cold weather settled in for real business, the canal would freeze over; and the two mill ponds, and later the river, and even Kemmerer's Pond was sought and used because of the smooth ice, when the other places were cut up or wind-roughed.

For long distance skating the canal was much used and many a trip was made to Dewart and back, Northumberland and, through the cut, to Lewisburg and back. For shinny on the ice, fancy skating, jumping and rough house fun, the ponds and river were used. With fairly warm winter weather and smooth ice on Christmas or New Years, the ponds would be literally covered with skaters and the river between the island and the town was the favorite place for night skating, though during the day it was not without its crowd of boys and girls, who enjoyed the clear, glassy ice of the first freezing.

The best skates in those days were home-made by using files rounded at both ends and set in and clamped to wooden-blocks, to which with straps and buckles, the feet were fastened. The "grape-vine," "initials," the figure "8,", back and forward roll were among the skating accomplishments of both boys and girls. A number of fires were kept burning on the shores, around which the skaters gathered and chatted and made merry till late at night.

The mild winters, which our astronomers attribute to the third motion of the earth, (and now they claim a fourth motion) have greatly changed the outdoor winter sports, but no town anywhere was more enthusiastic over them or had better facilities for their enjoyment than had little, old Milton a half century ago. John Faustnaught was considered the best all-round skater at this time; later, Benton Nagle, Will Haag, the Davis and Hull boys, and many others raced and jumped barrels and performed other stunts that we now occasionally see in the movies showing Quebec or Montreal ice carnivals.

But the snow, as well as the ice, contributed to that healthful outdoor Milton life, It was not unusual to see a boy with skates in one hand and his led rope in the other wending his way to hill or pond to join the others. Of hills, Milton had aplenty. They were not so long or so very steep, but, like that hole that was not as wide as a barn door, nor as deep as a well, they served.

The hill on Broadway was very much steeper than now, and with but one single railroad track and few trains, it was much used by small sleds and by half of the buck sleds. The start for small sleds was made in front of Marsh's house at Academy Avenue, on the embankment path, which path was then on a level with the lot, This sharp incline gave the sleds an impetus that carried them over beyond the middle of the roadway, which middle the skillful coasters had to gain to acquire full speed for the longer hill below. The town pump at Truckenmiller's, about the Reading depot, was the end of the ride under, ordinary conditions. At times, with an icy roadway the best sleds would, run up the canal bridge hill, onto the I bridge, or, by turning to the left, run down the canal embankment onto the Ice. A day came, but only once, when the hill was covered with sleds and the sidewalk with onlookers. The road-way snow was packed and smooth when along came a rain that froze as it fell, covering trees, telegraph poles and everything else with smooth ice. It was soon discovered that the Broadway hill was fast. The best sleds went from Marsh's down over the railroad, over the canal bridge and past Cyrus Brown's Red Horse Powder drug store. Almost any old sled could reach the bridge, while the ride over the hill was twice as swift as usual., From all over town the sleds came, while the elders looked on and enjoyed the sport. The Broadway hill could also be reached by sliding down the path that went by Barr and Wertman's carriage shop up to the old Kirkpatrick Academy, where the church now stands. This path was very steep and was used by the smaller boys instead of the start farther back at Marsh's.

Another hill near-by was "Kohler's Hill." It ran from Broadway south toward Hepburn street and the lane ( which in summer then was kept like a lawn and was perfectly smooth and level in winter, as no heavy vehicles use it), is now called, for some unknown reason, "Pleasant Valley Avenue." I doubt if any one today can imagine the great amount of fun the coasters had on this hill when the boys and girls came out on moonlit nights to redden their cheeks with real enjoyment. It was a swift ride with a nice walk back, and midnight often found lingerers, loath to depart. However icy this hill became, no ashes were allowed to be sprinkled on it, and midnight revelers were not disturbed so solicitous were its owners of the happiness of those who came. Many a sandwich and cup of coffee were consumed in the little house down the lane and I have seen the young folks bring along a fiddler, take up the carpet, remove the stove and furniture and dance till daylight, after a season of healthful coasting.

The steepest hill was "Stevenson's,' now Academy avenue, which ran from the crest East of the Academy down to the road. There was no cut at the top of the hill in those days and coasters who preferred speed to safety could find it on Stevenson's hill. The drawback was that it ended too suddenly as a pale fence was just beyond and parallel with the little creek that still flows, as of old, but this fence, a boundary then of the Bogle farm, was well battered by the boys whose feet and sleds went into it. Now the street is open beyond the creek, but the cut at the top of the hill has taken away the speed. From the hill crest the coasting toward Walnut street was tolerably fair. And down the Upper Market street incline, from the Academy to the canal, was another hill that was use when neighboring hills were worn bare.

A very long hill with little speed, was the Pottsgrove road down in Shakespeare. With but one track to cross and using the lane instead of Mahoning street, the canal could be almost reached. All of the canal bridges excepting the Center street swinging bridge, provided short hills for the smaller children and the river bank at Broadway from the fire engine house, which Governor Pollock presented to the town to the river level gave one a short, quick thrill which ended as the sled ran out over the ice.

The longest and very best hill was then too rough for use, as it was washed full of ruts, but today it makes an ideal hill that should be crowded with coasters when in condition. This hill is beyond the High School up to the lower cemetery. What a joy-making combination could be created here if used in connection with the playground. The field could be easily flooded for skating and with electricity a revolving rope with handles could pull the sleds up the hill after the coasters had ridden them down. With a rest house at the foot and all vehicles kept off during coasting hours, Milton could have a hill with sufficient grade and length to make it as famous as the park.

There was also much coasting on the crust, which at times was hard and thick enough for skating. Coasting through the fields, back of town towards Limestone Run from the hill tops, generally "belly-bumper," was more thrilling and even dangerous when the crust was soft and let the sled runners through. Then the coaster got a sudden throw forward through the air with both hands going through the crust and badly scratching his arms. But none of the hills were to steep for the daring, and cuts, bruises and broken noses were insufficient to deter the sport-loving multitudes.

But what would winter be without sleighing, alas! Almost forgotten. Parties went from Milton to Danville, Lewisburg, Watsontown and elsewhere for dinner and dancing, through the crisp, cold air, covered in hay and wrapped in blankets, furs and shawls. And others came to the Huff house and ate and danced until daylight. Two fiddlers with their "balance all" and "all hands around" could keep fifty dancers happy and contented for hours.

And the many beautiful single sleighs and two horse sleighs, owned and used in and around the dear old town, where have they gone, and where their owners and drivers? And the little one-horse sleds of the butcher, baker and other town merchants that small boys and girls would rush for and hang on to and the farmers sleds that took them far into the country ? Does the modern flivver take their places? Verily, no! And what of the woolen scarfs and mittens and pulse warmers that Santa brought, and the red-topped copper-toed boots, which, with the skates, sleds, sleighs, snowballs and all else made winter a season of real delight, with joy uncontained. Nothing looked prettier than the full moon coming over the Eastern hills, shedding he benignant rays upon snow-white earth, and both were thoroughly appreciated by the coasters and skaters of the days when amusements were less various than in these days.

JAMES P. KOHLER

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