The Thrall Building, Williamsport Pa

 

301 West Market Street, Williamsport Pa

Formerly the Thrall Building, soon to be the new home of Jackass Brewery

As my daughter waits for the teased "roof top seating" at the new Jackass Brewery in Williamsport, I was embarrassed to say I had no idea what the building used to be.  So I set out to rectify that.  This is what I found:

Franklin Burroughs Thrall opened a wholesale grocery business in 1895, which he began in a building near where the Genetti Hotel sits today, at 202 West 4th Street.     He soon moved to a  three story brick building  at 301 West Third Street.  

Frank B. Thrall as born in 1860 in Milford Pa.  His family moved to Connecticut, before returning to Pa and settling in Hillsgrove, Sullivan County.  In 1887, Frank settled in Williamsport, Lycoming County, remaining there until 1920.

Pennsylvania Superior Court Reports

Containing Cases Adjudged in the Superior Court of Pennsylvania · Volume 17

By Pennsylvania. Superior Court · 1912

In 1905, Thrall's horse went to work without him.  

The Philadelphia Inquirer

On December 22, 1912, grocery was destroyed in a fire.

  "On a siding just inside the doors which close the entrance of the railroad to the warehouse was a big car loaded to the eves with basked beans...  with a terrific noise, the beans blew up the car and sent top and sides in every direction."

"On the southern side was a section devoted to tobacco and here boxes of plug, scrap, cigars and other smoking mixtures were piled.  In front were bales and boxes of teas. This tea burned with a very dense black smoke, and the smoke was noticed in all parts of the city"

January 1913

In January of 1913, "one of the worst wind and electrical storms " swept over Williamsport.  According to the Sun Gazette, "The worst damage in and around this city was the blowing down of parts of the east and west walls of the burned Thrall building.  Evidently the force of the wind struck the west wall squarely, ripping out a great piece, almost the length of the building and sending it crashing into the ruins, which had just been nicely cleared up. Then the wind reached the east wall and repeated the performance, throwing brick and debris into Hepburn Street.

As the east wall fell, it landed squarely on the net work of high tension wires of the Edison Electric Company, which ran close to the Building on Hepburn Street.  The wired were borne down with a terrific flash which drew hundreds of people as soon as the wind had passed.  The debris buried the wires under tons of brick and it was necessary to throw off almost all of the current in the city."

December 30, 1912 WSG

The new 4 story Thrall Building, 301 West Market Street

Thrall hired William H.C. Huffman and sons to construct a new 4 story  building in 1913. Debris from the original building was used in the construction, the some of the old bricks can be seen inside the current structure.

F.B. Thrall & Co had a booth at the Pure Foods Show held at the Armory in Williamsport, 1914.   The Sun Gazette reported: 

"Among the booths which drew the largest last night and which will probably draw largely all week is that of F.B. Thrall Wholesale Grocery Company.  Handsome young ladies within are demonstrating Kellogs grade juice, Golden Link Flour, Lyons Imperial Golden Road Coffee, and an exhibit of Beechnut Peanut butter and products.  The booth is prettily arranged."

I'm told that the chains from the pole in this photo are to remove static electricity from the trolleys.  [Note the trolley tracks in the brick paved road]  Others have said it was to warn of obstructions [perhaps the low wires] ahead.  

According to his obituary, Frank Thrall "disposed of his business interests" in Williamsport around 1920, moving to Philadelphia at that time.  

1930's aerial view, showing the wholesale grocery with the Super Service gas station across the street.

In 1944, The Williamsport Gazette and Bulletin welcomed Reeves Parvin to town, stating that they were taking over the Keystone Food business at 3rd & Hepburn.  In August of 1960, the Williamsport Wholesale Grocery Company merged with Reeves Parvin & Co.  

Some of the businesses that have been in the building over the years include: Keystone Bingo Supplies, Franks Moving and Storage, Head To Toe Salon,  Reeves Parvin Co [wholesale grocery], and Keystone Food Products.

Jackass Brewing Company is a micro brewery from Lewisburg, PA.  First opened in March of 2020 in Lewisburg, the brewery was started by home brewers Larry Winans and Skip Kratzer.   See progress on the construction at the 301 Market Street Williamsport location, on the T Ross Facebook page here

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A more detailed account of Tim Shannons brave act, when the horses were spooked at the fire.

 

More details account of the fire

1913 electrical storm

Thrall Delivery Truck Accident, 1917

Obituary, 1923

Frank Burroughs Thrall died in February of 1923. He's buried in Wildwood Cemetery, Williamsport.

The Grit 3/3/1923

Funeral services in the memory of the late Frank Thrall were conducted yesterday afternoon at the Pine Street M E Church. Mr. Thrall passed away at the home of his daughter Mrs. C E McKaig of 711 Rural Avenue. He was in his 64th year & leaves his wife & the following children: Mrs. McKaig, Mrs. Howard Ulman & Raymond S Thrall all of Williamsport, Mrs. R F Wear of Berwick & Curtis W Thrall of Philadelphia.

He had lived in Philadelphia of late & was in the oil business. He was a Mason, belonged to the Scottish Rite & the Shriners.

His death certificate lists his parents as Charles Thrall and Caroline Warner.

This 4 story building replaced a 3 story building that was completely destroyed by fire on Sunday, December 22nd, 1912 at 10am.  The fire burned until the following day. It housed F.B. Thrall & Co. Wholesale Groceries. Mr. Thrall began rebuilding  almost immediately and this 4 story building is the result. At a cost of $75,000, W.H.C. Huffman's Sons and Architect  John Huffman were awarded the contract.(American Contractor, Feb 8, 1913, p.51)

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Photos Of the Thrall Home, built in 1937

301 Upland Avenue

Home of Franklin Scott Thrall, son of Franklin Burroughs Thrall.

Frank Jr married Frances Marie Abell.

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