Picture Rocks, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Swarthmore Chutauqua 1913-1926
In October of 1848, Amos Burrows and his nephew A.R. Sprout came from Susquehanna County to settle at the base of a rocky cliff along Muncy Creek.
The two men purchased the land in the bend of the creek from John Tice for $2500. The earliest title for the land was dated June 3 1773, in the name of Henry Rody. Rody sold to Abraham Singer, who sold the land to John Tice.
Tice had set up a sawmill at the foot of the Rocks at Muncy Creek. There was also a log home on the property, when Burrows and Sprout purchased it.
Crude signs were scrawled on the trees and Rocks, left behind by the Monsie Tribe. The town was named for those pictures.
The newly purchased property was laid out immediately in two sections - one for Burrows, the other for Sprout.
Burrows & Bros, Main Street, Picture Rocks Pa
The sawmill was expanded, and from it grew a number of industries. Savie Burrows, son of Amos, began the manufacture of furniture in 1856.
Dam at the Picture Rocks Planing Mill
A.R. Sprout started a factory to make berry boxes and shingles. The berry boxes were used to market his own strawberries.
Sprout also devise a scheme for a toboggan slide off his peach orchard, into the flats below. Maple trees marked out the course.
Ariel Sprout invented a horse drawn hay rake and hay fork. Another brother, Erastus, patented a wagon spring. Yet another brother, Amos, held a patent on an iron fence post.
Amos Burrows, son of the founder, invented a steam and pump regulator.
The Baptists built their first chapel in 8 days time, in 1851. A new building was erected in 1876.
The Methodists built their first church in 1869. It was located just above the state highway bridge, and later was moved and became Gillis Wagon Co, later, Howard Peterman's auto service. A new Methodist church was constructed in 1901, on Laurel Street.
On July 9 1861, the town got it's first post office. James Lobdell was the first postmaster.
Birds Eye View Of Picture Rocks, 1875
Bridge at Picture Rocks, June 1972
Main St, Picture Rocks PA
Picture Rocks was incorporated as a borough on September 27 1875, with Theodore Little serving as the first burgess.
W.N.B.R. Station, Picture Rocks, Pa
The Williamsport & North Branch Railroad came to Picture Rocks on March 14 1884. To celebrate, the train made 3 excursion trips to Hughesville, allowing townspeople to ride for free.
The first high school class graduated in 1897.
See more of the Schools At Picture Rocks, here:
In 1926, the school moved to its new building located in Van Rensselaer Park, "where vocational classes produced outstanding results, as shown by their records at the Penn State Judging Contests an at the annual Harrisburg Farm Show Exhibits."
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Picture Rocks Vocational School
Picture Rocks had one of the first established vocational schools in Pennsylvania.
In 1945, due to WWII, Joane Gansel Campell was the only graduate at Picture Rocks.
The Center Street Foot Bridge, Picture Rocks
The Picture Rocks Volunteer Fire Company was first organized in 1909.
READ MORE
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A History of Picture Rocks, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania: celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of its founding : 1848-1948.
During World War II, 144 sons and daughters were in active service.
Nine were killed in that war. They were: Howard Clark, Roy Charles, Donald Falls, Frank Frantz, Ralph Miller, Robert Moyer, Harold Stead, Irvin Smith and Clair Taylor.
Franklin J. Krause, of Picture Rocks was incarcerated at the Andersonville Prison during the Civil War. His diary is at the East Lycoming Historical Society in Hughesville.
Gillis Wagon Co Employees
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