Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Station, Main Depot, Reading Pa.
On June 18 1888, The Reading Times published a description of a summer trip from Reading Pa to New York, written by Pero Nixon. Below is that description.
Note - the above photo depicts the Main station at Reading. Although I can't be certain, I think Nixon most likely took the outer station, which is described as: "Reading Depot, commonly referred to as Reading outer station, was a train station in Reading, Pennsylvania, that served as a major hub between Philadelphia and Williamsport, Pennsylvania. "
SUMMER TOURISTS
STORY OF A JUNE DAY'S TRAVEL OVER THE RATTLING RAIL.
Sketches of Scenery in Berks, Schuylkill, Northumberland, Union, and Columbia Counties - Other Notes By The Way
They come! the gladsome months that bring thick leafiness to bowers.
Up, up, my heart! and walk abroad; fling cark and care aside;
Seek silent hills, or rest thyself where peaceful waters glide;
Or, underneath the shadow vast of patriarchal tree,
Scan through its leaves the cloudless sky in rapt tranquility."
Every hour during the day one may a throng of travelers gathered in the Reading railroad passenger station awaiting frequent departure of the finely appointed express trains. The first appearance heat and dust makes the summer tourist the predominating element; for the American man or woman, is proverbially known as a traveler and knows how to travel.
A favorite route leads northward to Williamsport, Wellsboro, Coming, Elmira, Watkins Glen, Geneva and Niagara Falls - all places of natural beauty and sublimity. Leaving Reading at 7 o'clock in the morning, the tourist soon passes into Berks county's richest agricultural region through Leesport, Shoemakersville, and Hamburg, the last named place noticeable for its many handsome brick buildings, half hidden in trees and shrubbery. Then comes the sequestered village of Port Clinton, nestling among the mountains.
The Schuylkill Canal
ACROSS THE BERKS LINE
Where the Schuylkill canal has its northern terminus and coal shipping station, branching eastward, following along sinuous Little Schuylkill river, a charming panorama of mountains and vales presents itself. The principal village between Port Clinton and Tamaqua is New Ringgold, in reality one of the oldest settlements Eastern Pennsylvania, consequently its title is a misnomer. Just above this point, many thousands of tons of coal dirt and culm skirt both aides of the railroad, forming high embankments. The river flows through and amongst these deposits, absorbing enough poisonous substances to destroy all animal life in waters and prevent the stocking of the stream with fish. During heavy rains the turbulent waters are greatly discolored and present an inky appearance. carrying the culm and dirt and gases down the stream for a distance of mile. Tamaqua, with its handsome passenger station and excellent dining room, is a prosperous and pleasant place, Here the Schuylkill Valley railroad completes the connecting link between the main line at Pottsville, and the Little Schuylkill railroad. The latter named road is a single track roadway and is now devoted exclusively transporting the heavy passenger and freight traffic as all coal will be sent over the Mahanoy Planes, and thence to Pottsville, where it will reach the direct line to Philadelphia. The road clings tenaciously to the hillsides until Mahanoy tunnel is entered, and after emerging, the tourist will soon realize that has now entered upon the threshold of
View Of The Mahanoy Plane
THK GREAT SCHUYLKILL COAL REGION
The characteristics of a coal producing country are numerous and varied, but ever -conspicuous coal dirt embankments and mammoth breakers with the thousands of begrimed and blackened youthful slate pickers form a picture that impresses itself indelibly. Could the tourist view the vast underground passages, teeming with thousands of busy workers, delving like mysterious beings blessed with unusual vigor and strength, the scene would become bewildering. Our train soon halts within short distance of that famous feat of engineering skill, the Mahanoy Planes. This point is probably the one where the leading and most interesting facts and points of an anthracite coal producing region can be observed in the most practicable and complete manner. The larger towns, including Shenandoah, Mahanoy City, Ashland, Grandville and others, are noted tor the large volumes of trade annually transacted by the representative business bouses.
Shamokin 1884
A PROSPEROUS MINING TOWN
Shamokin, situated in Northumberland county, is an example of a busy and prosperous mining town. The best evidence of its growth and progress are the many new houses recently completed or in the process of construction. The business of the Reading Railroad Company has assumed such proportions that it has been compelled to construct an additional track from Shamokin, southward, for a distance of ten miles. The grading is almost completed and the track will be laid this month, From this point onward to West Milton, the route passes through an interesting region. The roadway is first - class and the swiftly moving train attests its excellence and safety. Having entered a rich agricultural country, the waving grain and well - laden fruit trees give grateful relief and contrast to the several hours spent 'midst coal mines and their attendant sights. The majestic Susquehanna soon hoves in sight with beautiful Sunbury at our right elbow. After a brief stop, the train crosses the magnificent fourteen span truss bridge across the river into Snyder county. With accelerated speed, the train flies along the river bank and soon the dome of famed Buckwell [Bucknell] University, at Lewisburg, appears to view. The train passes through the lovely college campus, and stops at a handsome station. Onward, West Milton is soon reached where the old Catawissa route connects with passengers from Danville and Catawissa. The journey continues along the waters of the historic Susquehanna, with our train oft mirrored in its placid bosom. The logs scattered along or floating in the stream indicate that we are approaching the lumbering region. At Northumberland the West Branch and North Branch of the river converge. At the West side of our train, a mountain - 100 feet high, with is perpendicular walls of stone, all combine to form a picture not easily described.
Halls Station
THE COUNTRY NORTH OF LEWISBURG.
Passing north of Lewisburg, occasional green capped mountains add to the interest of seeing the many fine farms, prolific orchards, neat villages and prosperous - looking homesteads. The gently undulating country with its blooming gardens, fruitful orchards and waving grainfields, shimmered by the June breezes, all combine to perfect the pastoral scene of beauty and contentment. At Halls station, the Reading Railroad connects for the picturesque Eagles Mere, a resort that is rapidly gaining prominence as a delightful summer resort. Picture Rocks, another station along the branch railway, with its curious hieroglyphics of the Red Men, is a field replete with interest to the archaeologist. At Montoursville, the active scenes incident to a lumber shipping point attract attention. After crossing a long trestle the
Early Courthouse, Williamsport PA
BUSY CITY OF W I LI.I AMSPORT
with a population of 20,000 is reached. Its lumber trade exceeds that of any other place in Pennsylvania, and gives employment to many people. Millions of dollars are invested in the lumber and furniture manufacturing business. The private residences are situated along miles of well graded and tree - environed streets, attesting the wealth and social progress of the city. A magnificent and ornate court house and post office will be erected here by the United States government this year. From this handsome city, the writer steps aboard the cars of the Fall Brook Coal Company's railway, and continues the northward journey for the glories and beauties of Seneca Lake and Watkins Glen, New York
PERO NIXON
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To see a full size version of this 1884 Railroad map, where you can zoom in an out to read it more clearly, go here:
The opening lines of this article are from a poem by William Motherwell :
“They come! the merry summer months”
William Motherwell (1797–1835)
THEY come! the merry summer months of beauty, song, and flowers;
They come! the gladsome months that bring thick leafiness to bowers.
Up, up, my heart! and walk abroad; fling cark and care aside;
Seek silent hills, or rest thyself where peaceful waters glide;
Or, underneath the shadow vast of patriarchal tree, 5
Scan through its leaves the cloudless sky in rapt tranquillity.
The grass is soft, its velvet touch is grateful to the hand;
And, like the kiss of maiden love, the breeze is sweet and bland;
The daisy and the buttercup are nodding courteously;
It stirs their blood with kindest love, to bless and welcome thee;
And mark how with thine own thin locks—they now are silvery gray—
That blissful breeze is wantoning, and whispering, “Be gay!”
There is no cloud that sails along the ocean of yon sky
But hath its own winged mariners to give it melody;
Thou seest their glittering fans outspread, all gleaming like red gold;
And hark! with shrill pipe musical, their merry course they hold.
God bless them all, those little ones, who, far above this earth,
Can make a scoff of its mean joys, and vent a nobler mirth.
But soft! mine ear upcaught a sound,—from yonder wood it came!
The spirit of the dim green glade did breathe his own glad name;—
Yes, it is he! the hermit bird, that, apart from all his kind,
Slow spells his beads monotonous to the soft western wind;
Cuckoo! Cuckoo! he sings again,—his notes are void of art;
But simplest strains do soonest sound the deep founts of the heart.
Good Lord! it is a gracious boon for thought-crazed wight like me,
To smell again the summer flowers beneath this summer tree!
To suck once more in every breath their little souls away,
And feed my fancy with fond dreams of youth’s bright summer day,
When, rushing forth like untamed colt, the reckless, truant boy
Wandered through greenwoods all day long, a mighty heart of joy!
I ’m sadder now,—I have had cause; but O, I ’m proud to think
That each pure joy-fount, loved of yore, I yet delight to drink;—
Leaf, blossom, blade, hill, valley, stream, the calm, unclouded sky.
Still mingle music with my dreams, as in the days gone by.
When summer’s loveliness and light fall round me dark and cold,
I ’ll bear indeed life’s heaviest curse,—a heart that hath waxed old!
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