Valley Girl Views: Local History

Showing posts with label Local History. Show all posts

Thursday, July 18, 2024

The Historic Warrior Run Church

The Historic Brick Warrior Run Church is the 3rd Warrior Run Church.

When The Valley Saw The Earth Pass Through Haley's Comet - 1910

Haleys Comet, 1910

Haley's Comet is visible every 76 years, appearing in 1910, 1986, and expected next in 2061. In 1986 the comet passed when the earth was on the opposite side of the sun, and there really wasn't much to see. In 2061, the comet will be even closer to the earth than in 1910.

The earth passed through the comets tail on May 19th 1910, however it was visible to the naked eye months earlier. This was the first approach of the comet that was photographed. A local citizen (Possibly a Lewisburg Professor) was able to view the comet in early May - his account was recorded in the Mount Caramel Daily News on May 5th 1910:

The Danville Eel Weir

The Danville Eel Weir [Eel Dam] Built in 1908 By John Tooey is still visible today

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Eel are no longer plentiful in our area. A variety of dams now prevent them from migrating. But that was not always the case - Eel were, once upon a time, plentiful, and profitable, in our river, and on our local restaurants menus.

Lopez, Pennsylvania

I found this explanation for the town's welcome sign:

" Greeting visitors and travelers is a display consisting of a welcome sign, a bench to rest and absorb the scenery, 5 bombs hitting the ground spelling out LOPEZ, an unmanned military drone, and the American flag on a pole. The sign was given by Helen and sons Gordon and Alan Papke in memory of husband and father Gordon. The rest was procured and erected by John Borick of Lopez and New Jersey. These articles were available to John and makes an attractive park display. It serves as a reminder of the record number of service persons from Lopez that were in World War II. Lopez had the highest percentage of persons in the war in the country. Just beyond the bombs is the little lake that is the home of our own “Nessy” of the lake, again provided by John Borick and just renovated by Brian McGuire." - http://lopezpa.com/

When Andrew Carnegie Helped Churches Buy Pipe Organs - Locally & Across the Nation

The pipe organ in the Lutheran Church, Watsontown Pa, is one of the more than 7,000 "Caregie Fund" pipe organs. Carnegie provided matching funds for churches across the nation, including more than 3,000 in his adopted state of Pennsylvania, to install pipe organs.

The Ice Harvests In The Central Susquehanna Valley

Ice Harvest Milton Pa

When "ice boxes" were the primary method for storing food, the annual Ice Harvest would typically last from a week to a month. Pennsylvania once ranked third in the nation for ice production, behind only Maine and New York.

Prior to 1850, smoking and drying were the primary means for preserving food. From 1860 to 1930, ice boxes became increasingly popular. By the 1930s, electric refrigerators were beginning to replace the ice boxes, although ice harvests continued throughout the valley into the early 1950s.

The King Of Bootleggers Was A Prince In Central PA

Prince David Farrington

From 1920 to 1950, central Pennsylvania was home to The King Of Bootleggers, a Robin Hood with the best hooch around. He made millions running as many as 30 illegal stills throughout the valley, and he generously gave those millions to his community - repairing churches, providing shoes and groceries to poor families, and even rebuilding an entire home for a family after it was lost in a fire.

After numerous arrests, fines, and time spent in jails an prisons, the millionaire died penniless, severely malnourished, with gangrene in his feet so severe that he had had difficulty walking in the years leading up to his death.

One federal agent reported that Farrington had everyone in Clinton and Lycoming Counties on his payroll in one way or another, and many, many, locals have stories about Prince Farrington. Here in the Valley, Farrington remains a legend, a true Prince among men.

The Widow Catherine Smith

The Legend Of The Widow Catherine Smith

A woman who helped the revolutionary cause with her boring mill, to make rifles, and then had her land & mills taken from her, even after walking barefoot to Philadelphia and back thirteen times to plead her case.

Reminiscences of Milton by J.P. Kohler - INDEX

History, Stories & Anecdotes from J. P. Kohler's Early Years In Milton 1855-1870

An Index

James Pollock Kohler, the son of Jonas & Margaret [McCloskey] Kohler, was born in Milton in 1855. Tiring of farm life at a young age, he went to New York, where he worked on the telegraph lines alongside Thomas Edison. He went on to complete law school, and he become quite successful in a variety of occupations.

Although Kohler left the Milton farm he grew up on at a young age to go to New York, he remained fond of his hometown, and was an ardent supporter of the Milton Public Library, regularly sending supplies of books to be added to the shelves there .In 1912, Kohler began subscribing to his hometown newspaper, the Miltonian, and he occasionally wrote letters to the editor. Over several years time, these letters were published as "Reminisces of Milton". The letters are a fascinating look at early Milton, with anecdotes and stories included with the history and location of industries and buildings in the town.

Reminiscences of Milton by J.P. Kohler - Swimming Holes

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 July 14th 1921 talks about the Swimming Holes in Milton, in the 1860s. It mentions the Bijou movie theater, swimming at Bakers Meadow, the "waterfalls" created by the gristmill, swimming around the logs in the canal ponds, rumors of an alligator, eels, and sand on the island, and much detail about the canal. It's another completely charming read.

When the Soldiers Were Welcomed Home in 1919

In 1919, throughout the valley, nearly every small town held a celebration to welcome home their soldiers. Here's a look at the celebrations in each town:

(Note - I have folders full of photos and newspaper articles that I am working through in order by date of the celebration. As with so many things on this blog, this is a work in progress)

Berwick

July 3

Berwick's Welcome Home Arch at the corner of Front and Market Street collapsed on Friday afternoon, around 2pm, breaking away the supporting pillars and carrying with it to the ground trolley and electric wires.

Fortunately, at that time of day the were few people in the square, "attractions having drawn them elsewhere" and no one was injured.

Danville

Four Day Celebration Beginning August 31

Church services were to be held as normal, followed by special memorial services in "each house of worship" at 3pm.

On Monday, Labor Day, there was an Industrial Parade at 2pm, and the river carnival was to open at 8pm.

From 9-12 there was to be dancing at the Armory "for the entertainment of the soldier boys."

There were were to be band concerts at different points in town.

The District Convention of the Knights Of the Golden Eagle was to be held that day as well, and they would hold their parade in conjunction with the Industrial parade.

On Tuesday there was to be another parade, consisting of fraternal orders, firemen, and civic bodies, at 2pm

On Wednesday there was to be a military parade, at the end of which, the Memorial Tablet was to be unveiled.

Afterwards a dinner was served to the soldiers, and in the evening a mardi gras, or carnival, was held on Mill street.

Lewisburg

June 18 1919

Lock Haven

Welcome Home the Clinton County Boys serving in the 28th Division and 305th Ambulance Company

"the occasion of the greatest celebration in the history of the city, and a welcome that the boys will never forget."

A memorial arch was erected on Main street, and "in the great parade, no autos were allowed."

A reviewing stand was to be erected, and wives and mothers of soldiers were given seats of honor.

Milton

July 23

Every wheel of industry was to stop for the day, and every business house to close.

The boys were to be given service medals, and a big parade.

Approximately 300 boys "rallied to the colors from this district"

Northumberland

Selinsgrove

Wednesday June 11.

"The streets are ablaze with color and natives of the town are pouring in to be on hand for the big time."

The demonstration was to be the main feature of Susquehanna University's commencement week.

The program for the welcome home parade included a big banquet for the men in uniform from 11 to 1, followed by the parade, which was to line up at 2pm.

The parade ended at public square with speeches and medals.

The were to be at least 2,500 persons in line. The ammunition train company, Students Army Training Corps members, two ambulance units and individual soldiers who went out from Selinsgrove were to participate in the demonstration.

Snyder County

September 27, Bean Soup Day

The Red Cross arranged a special program to honor the veterans, and a special address was to be given.

Two band were engaged for the day, and special trains ran from Sunbury for the event.

Sunbury

May 24 1919

See Photos from the Sunbury Parade Here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/05/when-sunbury-welcomed-soliders-home-may.html

"to show the appreciation of the community for every man who donned the khaki whether he wears the coveted croix de Guerre os if listed as a member of the student Army Training Corps. Chief Burgess Clement declared a half holiday, and industries and businesses closed early. The butcher shops, ice cream parlors, and grocery stores however, were to remain open until 6pm.

The firemen were asked not to parade, as "they would detract from the showing off of various industries" The firemen would only use drawn apparatus for the parade.

The Salvation Army held a street carnival, where tickets were sold and drawn for one person to win a ford touring car.

There were talent shows at the court house, and a "big show" on the lawn adjoining the Elks home, with "a production that would not have been misplaced in the New York Hippodrome"

See Photos here:

The Daily Item Ran an 8 page supplement, featuring those who served in the war. See it here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/07/1919-sunbury-victory-welcome-home.html

Watsontown

July 4 -5

West Milton

September 12

Williamsport

June 18 1919

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For More Local History & Stories:
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html

Saturday, May 1, 2021

May Day - When The First Of May Was A Holiday

May Day In Sunbury, 1962

"There was a time when the coming of May Day brought a rush of poetry to the head. There was a time when May Day was celebrated by delivering baskets of flowers to the home of friends..." Shamokin News Dispatch, May 1940

On This Day In Local History - May

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

In the early 1920's, the Miltonian newspaper ran a weekly page of Historical Notes, with history listed by day. It's one of my favorite things to read, and many of the articles on this blog have come from those blurbs. This is my version of those 1920's pages, in a month format rather than a daily one. (They typically post daily on my facebook page, when I remember to schedule them to do so)

For a Time Line By Year, go here:
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2019/12/a-time-line-of-history-in-central.html

For an index of history posts by Subject & Town, go here:
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html

On This Day In Local History - April

On This Day In Local History, April

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

For a Time Line By Year, go here:
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2019/12/a-time-line-of-history-in-central.html

When Circus Elephants Visited The Valley

Circus Parade, Williamsport Pa

A Time Line Of The Molly Maguire Story

A Time Line Of Events Relating To The Molly Maguires in The Anthracite Region of Pennsylvania, including the murders, trials, and executions, and some of the laws and events that may have inspired those events.

I have spent a decent amount of time trying to understand all of the Molly Maguire years, but I admit that I am FAR from an expert. I've listened to those who say that the Molly's were evil thugs, and I've listened to those who say that it was all a set up - that those with the money and power would do or say anything to shut down the strikers and save their fortunes.

All this time later, I can't tell you which version is true. I can tell you that when the opinions are that strongly divided, the truth is often somewhere in the middle.

This is the time line that I used for myself, to help me get a better grasp on the history, and the story of The Molly Maguires.

Fort Augusta

Fort Augusta, Sunbury PA - An Overview

Friendly Indians, at a conference on February 22 1756, expressed themselves to Governor Morris:

"We strongly advice you to build a fort at Shamokin, and we entreat you to not delay in so doing. it will strengthen your interests very much to have a strong house there"- The Miltonian, 1912

Below, find assorted illustrations, postcards, histories, stories, and newspaper articles regarding Fort Augusta.

A General Overview Of Fort Augusta, The Largest Provincial Fort In America

Today, Shamokin is a city to the east of Sunbury, known for it's coal mining activities. But in 1756, Shamokin was the area of Sunbury, including "Shamokin Island", which today is Shikellamy State Park.

"From 1718 until the start of the French and Indian War Shamokin was the largest Indian town and trading center in Pennsylvania. On July 8, 1736 it was described as having eight huts beside the Susquehanna with scattered settlements extending over seven to eight hundred acres between the river and the mountain.." https://www.departments.bucknell.edu/environmental_center/sunbury/website/FortAugustaHistory.shtml

Construction of Fort Augusta began in July of 1756, under the leadership of Col. William Clapham. Clapham was called away for other duties, with Col. James Burd taking over, completing the project the following year.

The fort was built in a square design, 204 feet on a side, with bastions at each corner and a double palisade surrounding it. The outer walls and the fort itself protected nearly a six hundred (600) foot long stretch of the riverbank. The main structure enclosed seven buildings including the commander's quarters, officer's quarters, three enlisted barracks and a powder magazine. The buildings were of log construction except for the magazine which was constructed underground of stone with a brick ceiling. The fortification included at least twelve cannon, possibly fifteen, two swivel guns; and seven blunderbusses in its armament. For a more detailed description: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/01/fort-augusta-as-described-in-1871-in.html

Fort Augusta was built to serve three grand purposes:

To be a barrier against the encroachments of the French of Western Pennsylvania, who then claimed all of our lands west of the Susquehanna River as part of their province of Canada

To give the friendly Indians on the northwest branches of our river a convenient place for trade, where they could easily bring their deer, bear, and other wild animal skins and the like to exchange them for flour, blankets and such other thins as needed or desired, and so save themselves the time and trouble of going down to Fort Harris, Lancaster, or Philadelphia for such purpose

To Afford all of our white settlers in these parts of Pennsylvania a strong and easily reachable place of safety in times of great danger from hostile Indians. 1

Fort Augusta was the largest provincial fort in America, with an ideal location at the confluence of the river making it both assessable, and formidable. "Fort Augusta, built in 1756, was then, and for years afterwards, the largest and most costly regular fort that we had in Pennsylvania -built at the expense of Pennsylvania, for Fort Pitt, a much larger fort at Pittsburgh, was built at the expense of the British Crown."

"The fort is now almost finished and a fine one it is. We want a good large flag to grace it.

On the 25th one of the soldiers was coming here from Harris's Express, and fifteen miles from the fort was murdered and scalped, the party that went to escort Capt. Lloyd found and buried him.

Last Sunday morning one of our people who attended the cattle went to the spring about a half a mile from the fort, and while he was drinking was shot and afterwards scalped and tomahawked. There was immediately a party send in quest of them, but could not come up with them. Chagray says he is satisfy'd they were Delawares" - From a letter to Governor Morris, 1756

More about How Bloody Springs In Sunbury Got It's Name:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/12/how-bloody-springs-got-its-name-in.html

"During the French and Indian War in 1757–1758, several hundred French and Indian troops traveled the Great Shamokin Path in an effort to destroy Fort Augusta, the main stronghold of the English at the junction of the East and West branches of the Susquehanna River. This army was gathered from the French posts at Duquesne, Kittanning, Venango and Le Boeuf and assembled at the mouth of Anderson Creek. They constructed crude boats, rafts and bateau for passage down the Susquehanna River for the proposed attack. They dragged along with them two small brass cannon, but after reconnoitering, found the distance too great for the guns to shoot from the hill opposite the fort. The defense at Fort Augusta was strong enough to resist attack by storming or by siege, and the French attack was abandoned. A British defeat at Fort Augusta may have altered the history of the course of the French and Indian War."

McCreight, M.I. (1939). "Memory Sketches of Du Bois, Pennsylvania: A History". Du Bois History. p. 69.

The Fort, which was constructed as part of the British defense against the raids of the French and Indians, was named for the mother of King George III - Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. In 1764, the land of the area, including where the fort stood, was given to the officers of Bouquet’s expedition as a reward for their services.

"There is advice that the French and Indians at Ohio threatened a grand Attack on Fort Augusta at Shamokin, in Revenge for the Destruction of Kittanning by Col. Armstrong" - The Pennsylvania Gazette, October 21 1756

1763

By September of 1763, a new flag and flag post had been placed at Fort Augusta. On October 1st the fort had a garrison of 100 men, 12 cannon, two swivels and seven blunderbuses.

More men continued to arrive, with garrison numbering 430 by October 12.

"On November 25, Burd and his officers wrote a letter to Governor John Penn congratulating him upon his safe arrival at the Province, and also advised him to stock the garrison at Fort Augusta. Smallpox has again broken out at the fort, and Burd was preparing for an expedition against the enemy. Governor John Penn however, reduced the garrison at Fort Augusta to strengthen the one at Hunters Fort near Harrisburg. Colonel Burd protested. The year 1763 drew to a close with a heavy snow." - Yesteryears Column in the Selinsgrove Times Tribune

1778-1789 - The Great Runaway

"And now as to Fort Augusta and its useless condition in 1778 and 1779, I have to say as follows: Fort Augusta, built in 1756, was then, and for years afterwards, the largest and most costly regular fort that we had in Pennsylvania -built at the expense of Pennsylvania, for Fort Pitt, a much larger fort at Pittsburgh, was built at the expense of the British Crown.

Col. Samuel Hunter, of Sunbury, ordered our West Branch settlers of 1778 and 1779 [The Great Runaway, and the Little Runaway] to come down to Fort Augusta, we can see that there was, apparently, a good reason for that command; but when our settlers, after arriving at Sunbury did not stop there, but hurried on down the river, ti made us wonder at it, and in reading the histories we had of it ask ourselves the moving questions: hy didn't our said settlers and our soldiers of Forts Muncy, Antes, Horn and Reed stop there at Sunbury? Why didn't they go to Fort Augusta, whose size and strength and ample supplies of soldiers, cannon, swivels, blunderbusses, small fire arms and ammunition and clothing would most certainly not only have made them safe, but also able to withstand a siege and battel against and overcome any enemy that dared to come there without canon and cannon too, or more than common size? But the histories that we have had, even now have, gave us and now give us no answers at all to these perplexing questions, and so left us in the dark on these important points. But it is now known to a certainty that our Fort Augusta in 1778 and 1779 had none of the supplies just mentioned, and was entirely empty, and was in a perfectly useless condition to afford the desired safety and protection to our runaway settlers and soldiers of said years; and therefore our runaway people acted wisely in hurrying on down the river and below Fort Harris. "

Wolfinger goes on to explain that he searched in vain for answers, until he came to the original records, the Colonial Records of Pennsylvania. In the 9th volume he finally found a "clear and satisfactory answer".

"It appears from these records that our Pennsylvania people were sorely oppressed with the heavy taxes of that day that they had to pay year after year, and that the keeping of a large body of soldiers at Fort Augusta had been very expensive." After Bouquet secured a general treaty of peace with the Delaware, Seneca, and Shawnee Indians, the people of Pennsylvania demanded the withdrawal of of the Fort Augusta soldiers, as they were no longer necessary and "too expensive to be kept there in idleness".

In February of 1765, the legislature sent Governor John Penn a message "to lose no time in removing the cannon and other military stores from Fort Augusta and disband it's garrison, in order to ease the public of that burden, whenever it can be done in safely and prudence". Colonial Record v9 p246

It was apparently deemed "safe and prudent" by September of that year, as that is when the order to evacuate the fort occurred. 1

Colonel Samuel Hunter continued to reside in the Commandant’s Quarters, which had become his property. His descendants continued to live there until 1848 when the log house burned. The present Hunter House was completed in 1852 by the Colonel’s grandson, Captain Samuel Hunter.

Hunter House 1909

In 1920 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania purchased the land on whic

h the well and powder magazine are located and, in 1931, acquired the larger tract, which included the Hunter House. Together they form the Fort Augusta property, which is now owned by and used as the headquarters of the Northumberland County Historical Society, Inc.

Fort Augusta As

Described in the 1871

Williamsport Bulletin

A Postcard Tour Of

Hunter House

Through the Decades

Was There A Tunnel At

Fort Augusta?

How Bloody Springs

Got Its Name

Where The Forts Once Stood

The 12 Forts Between Sunbury & Lock Haven

The viewing gazebo is across from Fort Augusta

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Saturday, January 23, 2021

The Freeland County Proposal Of 1850 - When Milton & Watsontown almost left North'd County

Freeland County, as proposed in 1850, and mapped in 1855

If an 1850 proposal had gone differently, I'd be writing this post from my home in Freeland County Pa.

On January 17th 1850, an effort was made to form a new county out of the upper end of Northumberland parts of others, to be known as Freeland County

Unfortunately, the Pennsylvania Legislature, having recently created Montour County, decided not to create yet another county. "Watsonburg" and the surrounding areas, instead were to remain as part of Northumberland County.

The matter was being discussed in the papers in 1849.

In 1850, the citizens of Northumberland County lying between" the northern range of Montour ridge and the outlet of Chilisquaque creek and our county's boundary line on the Muncy Hills" were in favor of a new county, to be called "Freeland County".

February 1850

That same year, a large portion of the people of Columbia County had petitions before the state legislature asking for a new county to be formed. On May 3 1850, those petitions were granted, and Montour County was formed.

Sign Still Stenciled on a Building Near The Courthouse in Danville Pa.

Montour County Independence Day May 3 1850

The people of Northern Northumberland County petitioned the same legislature for their new county, to be called Freeland. The petitions for Freeland County was drawn by J.F. Wolfinger Esq, or Milton. In February 1850, the bill was sent to Senator Robert M. Frick. The petition was reported to be "warmly received" and signed by numerous citizens of Milton, Lewisburg, and other parts of the proposed county.

An article in the Chronicle in April 1850 makes it clear that not everyone was in favor of the proposal.

Col Silfer, for one, was firmly opposed. "But as a citizen of Old Union, whose territory was to be unceremoniously carved up for the 'gods and little fishes' of Freeland, we must say that we are glad the Col. has the firmness and good faith to adhere to the written, published, pledge he gave on this subject las fall. All of the townships of this county, except two, are resolutely opposed to a division"

Note that the above article ran in the same newspaper that 5 years later took "considerable pains and expense to draw, lithograph, and color the accompanying diagram of the counties - Union, Snyder, and Northumberland - as they would be with the five upper districts of the latter county "re-annexed" to the first". See the Diagram below:

On October 5 1855, both the Lewisburg Chronicle and West Branch Farmer [a Milton Newspaper] published a "map of Union County as it would be with the addition of the upper end of Northumberland County", "showing every clearly to the eye that Freeland County would form a good sized and neatly shaped county, without doing any injury to the surrounding counties."

According to the 1855 article in the [Milton] West Branch Farmer, and Lewisburg Chronicle:

"A glance at the Map will show that the proposed arrangement would leave the three counties of proper shape, nearly equal in size, and homogeneous in business interest as they would be in population.

Union would then be one large valley both side of the river, bounded on three sides by mountains, and could easily spare New Berlin & Jackson if they desired, to Snyder County; and the restoration of the original county line would add a handsome township to the North."

The legislature refused to "grand the thing prayed for", and since that, "no effort has been made to have any changed to our old county lines of Northumberland and Union.", according to an 1888 historian.

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