Memorial To The 6 From Montgomery Who Died in WWI

In Montgomery Park stands a memorial to the Montgomery Men who lost their lives in WW1.  Six trees were planted, and a cannon once stood here. 

 The cannon was scrapped during World War II, and the 1972 flood destroyed most of the original memorial, but a new stone was later placed, and today, markers remain for each of the 6 killed in World War I.

Soldiers Monument, Montgomery Pa

 

"Guard it carefully you sons and daughters of Veterans. It is a glorious legacy from your fathers and should live and be kept in good order after the memory of the last member of the Grand Army of the Republic is but a memento of the past"

In October 1892, The Grand Army Of The Republic Col. D.L. Montgomery Post No 264 presented the soldiers and sailors monument to the citizens of Montgomery, placing it in Fairview Cemetery. 

When Montgomery Had A Ferry

Until the bridge was completed in the early 1920's, a ferry crossed the river at Montgomery.

"Previous to this time [when the bridge was completed in 1921] crossing was made at the foot of second street, by means of a cable ferry, a relic of the past.

 Just how many years ferry service may have been provided we have been unable to learn, but it goes back as far as the recollections of our oldest residents. 

 How well these older people recall using the ferry as a means of getting away or coming home, or waiting on the other side for the ferry to come for them after calling for it with the old ferry bell and of being awakened during the night by the ringing of the bell when some weary belated traveler wanted to cross.

When unusually dry weather came or when the river filled with ice, crossing became impossible and then came the tedious drive over dusty or muddy roads around by Allenwood or Muncy." - The Montgomery Mirror, 1939

In the above photo, look close on the right and the ferry is clearly visible.

A cropped version of the above photo, focusing on the ferry

The first ferry at Montgomery, Lycoming County Pa was established by Solomon Menges, in around 1827.   Poles and oars were used to navigate the flat across the Susquehanna. Eventually his three sons, Daniel, Samuel, and William continued the business

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

The 1871 Map shows a "Menges Ferry", prior to the Montgomery Ferry Co.

[The Grit later ran a correction, correcting the name to George Henry Aunkst]

Old Ferry Road at the end of 2nd Street

The old ferry house in the 1936 flood.

A ferry bell was placed on each side of the river for patrons to ring when they wanted to cross. 

The Miltonian, June2 1921

On November 12 1921, the Montgomery Ferry was sold at Public Sale.

In 1979, one of the original ferry bells was donated to the borough by Mrs. Margaret Stoltz, her husband Leonard having been the last owner of the bell. 

 The bell was placed in the Montgomery mini park  on the corner of E. Houston Ave and Main Street. Sometime later it was moved to the the Montgomery Borough building. 

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July 29 1940

Jacob Sterner operated the Montgomery Ferry for many years.

1921

"antiquated and inconvenient ferry"

When A Boy From Montgomery Pitched For The Major Leagues

 
 Byron Wardsworth Yarrison, known as "Rube", was a professional baseball player in the 1920s.

Born March 9th 1896, the son of Martin & Ada Yarrison of Montgomery Pa, 

Yarrison was a pitcher for Philadelphia Athletics, and  the Brooklyn Robins. 

Yarrison in a uniform with an A on the Hat.  (Philadelphia Athletics?)

When Montgomery Had A Newspaper - The Montgomery Mirror

The Montgomery Mirror
Devoted to the interest of Montgomery Borough and Black Hole and White Deer Valleys
Published from 1899 to 1944

The Montgomery Pike & Look Out

The Montgomery Pike is the highway from Allenwood, over the mountain to Williamsport.  An early article on the road states that the Montgomery Pike cut eight miles off the distance between Williamsport and Montgomery, as compared with the roundabout route through Muncy.

As early as 1805, the path existed as the Loyalsock Gap.  On March 26th 1821, and act was passed by the Pennsylvania Assembly to open and clear a road through the gap.

In 1840 the Loyalsock Gap Turnpike was incorporated, and from 1840 to 1900 it was a  toll road.   In 1899, the state began condemnation proceedings, the process of converting private property to public use. On February 13, 1900, toll collection ceased and the toll gates were removed.  In October of 1930, as part of the expansion of US 15, the Montgomery Pike became part of the route 15 highway.

Train Stations, Montgomery, Lycoming County Pa

The Train Stations At Montgomery, Lycoming County, PA

[Christ Lutheran Church, and Old East Houston School, in background]

The roof line is different on this one - perhaps an earlier station? 

There were two passenger stations very near to one another, on the 1897 Sanborn Fire Map.

"The railroad facilities are excellent, as the Philadelphia and Erie and the Philadelphia and Reading railroads parallel each other in passing through the town." - Meginnes, 1892

The Philadelphia & Reading Station

Zoomed in on the sign on the side - Phila & Reading RY

1907 Montgomery Pa Lycoming County Train Station Park

Check out those beautiful, unique, light fixtures!

This photo of the station shows the distinctive light post, same as the earlier photo of the train station park.

The photo above, cropped.  The sign for this station says only "Montgomery"

In 1854 when the village of Clinton Mills [Later Montgomery] needed land to build a railroad station, Robert Montgomery offered a parcel near his hotel on Main Street.

The Montgomery Hotel is shown here on the left, and the railroad station on the right.

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LOCATIONS

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1897 Sanborn Fire Map

The station at the corner of Main and Montgomery Streets was demolished in 1973.  On this map it is labeled the P.R.R. Station

A second station is also shown on the 1897 Sanborn Map.  This station is labeled P. and R.R.R. Pass. Station.

It's shown along second street, between Montgomery and Broad Streets.  This second station is shown on page 2, while the first, larger, station is shown on page 1 of the maps.  The locations are definitely different, as the first station sits above the Penns R.R. tracks, and the second station is shown between the Penns R.R. Tracks and the Philadelphia and Reading Tracks. 

1873 County Atlas, showing the rail lines in what is today Montgomery Pa

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MISC

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The Philadelphia and Erie railroad was graded in 1853.

"At the time the distillery was running Henry Bower owned all the land west of Black Hole creek, between the river and the property of Mahlon Printzenhoff, up to the brow of Penny Hill. Mr. Bower being very old his son Jonathan managed the estate. On the 13th of January, 1866, while in the act of crossing the railroad track with his team, be was struck by a passing train and received injuries which soon caused his death. " [Was Mr Bower killed, or his son Jonathan?  Check later.]

After becoming a partner in the publication of the Mirror, Thomas E. Grady was persuaded to start a monthly named Railroad Topics, devoted to "railroads and railroading," and the first number appeared in April, 1891. It is the only railroad journal published in central Pennsylvania and has been well received.

Capt. Simon Cool - The Grave Along The Lycoming Bike Trail

 

Along the Lycoming County Bike Trail in Williamsport, near Heshbon road, is a memorial marker for Captain Simon Cool, a Revolutionary War Captain who was killed by Indians near this spot.

Note that both this marker and the one at Catawissa are Cenotaphs - Memorial Markers.  They are not technically gravestones, as their is no body buried at either location.