The Historic Brick Warrior Run Church is the 3rd Warrior Run Church.
Showing posts with label Local History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Local History. Show all posts
Thursday, July 18, 2024
Sunday, May 7, 2023
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.
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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:
Sunday, July 17, 2022
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, although efforts have been made to restock them 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.
In July of 2022 Van Wagner took advantage of the low river level to host a "hike" out to the eel dam that is visible from the Danville river bridge. It was a really neat experience to stand in the old dam, or eel weir.
A photo of an eel weir "Near Selinsgrove"
How a Weir Worked, according to the Pennsylvania Angler:
"Eels and other fish are led into the weir by two 800-foot stone walls that converge on a wooden structure called the “rack,” where eels and other fish move along a series of slatted inclined planes and eventually are trapped in a wooden box
Constructed in 1908 by John Tooey
The September 3rd edition of the Danville Morning News describes the weir:
"Under the law fish baskets may be constructed only on procuring a license at the office of the county commissioners, which license g costs one dollar. The first license was taken out by John Tooey of this city. His dam with basket which is constructed near the Creek's mouth, is a most extensive affair and ten men were employed several days in its construction. The long wingwalls and the basket itself may be clearly discerned on looking westward from the river bridge.."
In September of 1907, The Danville Morning News reported that the extensive eel dams constructed above and below the bridge during low water did not pan out well, "scarcely repaying for the trouble required to construct them." Ross, a local authority on eels, explained that the high water came on a little too suddenly that year.
(Scroll down to the bottom of this post, under "read more" to see a variety of articles about the eel weirs in the area at this time)
2008 Edition Of the Danville News, also stating that the dam was built by John Tooey, "100 years ago" [1908].
I know that many want to believe the Native Americans built this, and I don't disagree that they may have had one in this area. However, I think it is unlikely that it would have survived the 1904 ice gorge. I could be wrong, I don't claim to be the expert - but this is almost certainly the dam built in 1908 by John Tooey, clearly described: "The long wingwalls and the basket itself may be clearly discerned on looking westward from the river bridge.."
No matter when exactly it was built, it's a really neat sight to see.
On March 6 1908, an Eel got into the feed pipe, shutting down the electric plant and leaving the city in darkness
Van Wagner's excellent video on the eel weir in Danville. His son has taken excellent drone photos, which show it even better than wading out into the river to see it. |  The Book Of Eels, by Patrik Svennson is an absolutely fascinating read about how much researchers have never been able to learn about eels. If you have Amazon Prime, it's free to read through the Kindle App - https://amzn.to/3Oe3V8z |
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When thinking about the river through history, remember not only the regular floods, but the incredibly destructive ice floods (1904, 1907). Although it's certainly possible to still find native artifacts in our area, I think it is unlikely that a large amount of them remain along the river banks, after all of the floods, and dredging, over the years. Of course, that's only my opinion, and I have been wrong many times - it's just something to consider when making conclusions.
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Stories Of Eel
From Our Local Newspapers
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On September 28 1887, the sheriff at Sunbury published a "Sheriff's Notice For The Enforcement Of Fish Laws"
In 1871, under an act of Pennsylvania legislature for the protection of salmon, black bass, and other food fished "newly introduced or to be introduced" into the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers, Sheriff Jacob Kramer of Sunbury, in 1887, gave notice that "all contrivances for the catching of fish, commonly called fish baskets, etc" were hereby declared as common nuisances, and he commanded that all such items be removed throughout his jurisdiction.
In the fish law, section 11, which was quoted in the notice, it included eel weirs.
Northumberland Democrat
October 27 1871
Watsontown Star, October 1883
Eel Skin Gloves
Miltonian, 1/3/1890
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The Eel In Winter
How The Market Is Supplied With These Slippery Creatures
1899
The Miltonian, 9/12/1902
Mentioning the Eel Weirs near Naticoke
Eels on the menu at Litzs
Danville News, Dec 28 1904
The "extensive eel dams constructed above and below the bridge" during low water, did not pan out well. Danville Morning News, September 18 1907
First license for eel fishing was taken out by John Tooey of Danville.
"His dam with basket is constructed near the creeks mouth, is an extensive affair and ten men were employed several days in it's construction. The long wing walls and basket itself may be clearly discerned on looking westward from the river bridge."
Danville Morning News
September 3 1908
"The eel market promises to be overstocked this season. A dam and basket has been placed in the river below the lock by a Milton party, and Watsontown parties have placed similar devices in the river at Racoon Riffles near the mouth of White Deer Creek" - Watsontown Record & Star, August 1908
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An Abundance Of Eels In Danville
September 3 1914
Danville Morning News August 1915
Best Year Yet For Eel Haul in Danville PA
In 1916, Fields Restaurant Had "Fine Eels"
Danville Morning News Jan 1 1916
August 30 1916
Danville Druggist Charles H. Leniger kept an eel as a pet in the store.
April 1919, Sunbury Daily Item
Eyster House had eels on the menu, 15 cents a plate
John Trate caught a 7.5 lb eel below Watsontown
October 6 1921
Miltonian
The Miltonian, April 16 1931
September 25 1937
Sunbury Daily Item
September 8 1934
September 25 1937
Two Jailed In Eel Wall War
September 28 1938
Eel Clubbing By Torchlight
May 29, 1940Sunbury Daily Item
The Northumberland County Democrat, Sunbury Pa
May 14 1891
(I need to come back to this one later, when I have more time to read it properly and understand what the controversy was exactly. Eel fishermen are mentioned.)Monday, May 16, 2022
Lopez, Pennsylvania
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/
Monday, February 28, 2022
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.
Sunday, January 9, 2022
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.
Friday, August 27, 2021
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.
Born in Greensboro North Carolina on June 3rd 1889, his legal name was Prince David Farrington, son of Thomas & Betty [Williams] Farrington. He was named for Doctor Prince, the doctor who delivered him.
Prince Farrington learned his trade from his father, who operated a still on their North Carolina farm. Around 1902, a neighbor was thought to have informed on the Farrington still. Prince, at the age of 12, burnt down that neighbors barn in retaliation, resulting in the first of what would become many arrests.
After being arrested several times in North Carolina, held in both county prisons and once in the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, Farrington brought his wife and three children to Sugar Valley in Clinton County PA.
He quickly built up a network of stills and distribution route. He owned a fleet of autos and trucks, and knew everyone in the area. In 1920 however, the Volstead Act, better known as prohibition, had made his product illegal. And Farrington had many brushes with the law, serving time in a variety of prisons and jails throughout the country.
Later in life Prince was asked whether he preferred Pennsylvania or North Carolina, and Prince replied, "I like these close mouthed dutchmen."
One of Farrington's many stills, location unknown
A chemist who analyzed his liquor reported that it was superior to the average moonshine. A state liquor store manager said not only was it better than the states product, but it was cheaper too. Farrington is quoted as saying “My neighbors up in central Pennsylvania always said I could turn out the best moonshine they ever tasted.”
January 6, 1922
Federal agents knew that to locate stills, all they had to do was taste the streams. Whiskey stills needed water to operate, and were almost always located near springs. The process left a whiskey taste in the water, that could be detected downstream.
Prince Farrington learned that limestone would filter the taste from the water, so he placed his stills in areas rich in limestone. It was not enough however, and Farrington continued to be arrested for his illegal stills.
A staged "danger" photo, at a Farrington Still near McElhattan Pa .
The area near Rosencrans falls, where the reservoir today, was the location of at least one of Farrington's stills. Others were located as far north as North Bend and Jersey Mills, and as far south as Lamar and Elimsport. The Florida Fruit Farm was located right along where Route 80 runs today, between Rauchtown and Loganton. The Millbrook Playhouse in Mill Hall once housed a secret storage compartment for Farrington Booze, as did other businesses throughout the area.
At least one of his stills was recorded by a liquor control board officers as having a capacity of producing two thousand gallons every 24 hours. The going price was $1 a quart.
"During one arrest, one of the revenue officers inventorying booze called out a certain number of barrels at 50-gallon capacity. Farrington then softly drawled, "I never saw those barrels in my life, but I'll bet you $100 that they don't have no more than 40 gallons in them."
According to the July 19, 1922, edition of The Evening News in Harrisburg, enforcement agents from Williamsport raided Farrington’s farm and found “two 200-gallon stills and 52 barrels of moonshine, coloring and other materials.”
Left to right: DeWitt "Pud" Hill, Lemuel Groce, Charlie Farrington [Brother of Prince], Colonel Monte Seagraves. at one of Prince Farrington's Stills. It's thought that Farrington had more than 30 stills operating throughout the area.
On Aug. 26, 1925, The Scranton Republican reported that 38 barrels of hard cider and “other booze-making apparatus” were destroyed by members from the U.S. Marshals Office in Williamsport. The stuff was seized on the ‘Fruit Farm’ in Lycoming County. The place at which it was seized is said to be owned by Prince Farrington."
“Farrington is believed by the police officers to be the largest illicit liquor distiller in the state,” reported The Indiana, Pennsylvania, Gazette on May 26, 1926.
Photo from the James V. Brown Library Collection, showing a still in the woods.
At a still run for Prince in the Muncy hills, the product would be jarred in canning jars and stored on cellar shelving behind fabric curtains. The mash would be fed to the hogs after fermentation was complete. In another area the hooch was hidden among jars of dry cleaning fluid. Many businesses had hidden stashes of Farrington's product, but even more was buried in the ground at area farms.
"Prince was the King of Bootleggers, and made the best doggone liquor that ever came out of a copper worm. Once, during a party in South Renovo, the gang ran out of the anti-Volstead stuff, and we took a short trip with this pal. We drove out to an old baseball park, walked across it to a copse of woods. Using his flashlight, the pal soon pinpointed a small spruce tree about two feet height. We held the light while our companion pulled up the tree. Buried under it was a two gallon charred wooden keg filled with golden ambrosia. You could always tell the king's stuff because it had little tiny flecks of charcoal running through it." - D.W. Solomon
Mr. Budd Webb purchased the old Florida Fruit farm in 1965, where he later discovered rotting kegs in the woods. Many others told tales of kegs hidden underground, including Leo Taylor, who recalled seeing his first bulldozer at the Coltrane farm, where it dug a large pit. Planks were then laid down, whiskey barrels stacked on the planks, and then it was all covered with dirt and corn was planted on top.
Ironically, Prince Farrington's daughter Gladys won the Women's Temperance Unions Annual temperance essay contest when she was in high school. There are many other humorous stories, including that Mary Coira, friend of the Farrington's, served her whiskey laced meatloaf at a temperance meeting held by her neighbors. Another story tells of Prince sending his son, known as Whitey, to deliver whiskey to an event in Harrisburg. When Whitey pulled onto highway 15, he had a state police motorcycle escort all the way to the Pennsylvania State Police Annual Picnic, where the whiskey was to be served.
Boomtown on the Susquehanna describes Farrington as "The Robin Hood Bootlegger"
"A generous man, he donated to churches and needy families, earning the nickname "Robin Hood of the farmers". At Christmas time, Farrington distributed jugs of illegal liquor to his drinking neighbors, while presenting hams to the neighborhood teetotalers. Local legends regarding his generosity include funding the re-roofing of a church in Antes Fort, the complete rebuilding and refurnishing of a poor family’s home in Sugar Valley after a fire, donations of bananas to local school children during the depression, and even regular distribution of his own whisky to the area’s ill for medicinal purposes.
As Guy Graybill wrote in Prohibitions Prince, "Farrington had no time for keeping track of money. If he wasn't going to obey the tax laws, why keep cumbersome financial records? " For most of his life, Prince had more money than he needed.
When prohibition ended in 1933, but to make and sell whiskey legally, there were a list of requirements that Farrington was not willing to meet, including divulging his recipe. His legal troubles continued, as government agents now arrested him for tax evasion.
From 1937-1939 Farrington was Prisoner #5784 at the Northeastern Penitentiary in Lewisburg. In 1938, when Prince was hoping for parole, 30 gentlemen from the Williamsport and Jersey Shore submitted letters attesting to his good character. The letters came from businessmen, government officials, a deputy sheriff, and a sheriff. In total, Prohibitions Prince by Graybill records a total of 19 incidents between 1905 and 1952, where Prince was either fined, charged, or jailed. Charges over the years ranged from arson, possession of an illegal substance, water pollution, & violation of the Internal Revenue Code (tax evasion).
When released in 1939, the former millionaire was "penniless". He is quoted as saying he wished they'd make alcohol illegal again, so that a man could once again make a decent living.
Federal and state agents raided his property in Bald Eagle Twp, Clinton Co, on August 27 1946. They confiscated a $10,000 still, five tons of molasses, 2,400 pounds of fermented mash and 125 gallons of whiskey.
By 1951, “Farrington was nabbed in a tent near Apopka in Central Florida last month, suffering from arthritis and diabetes, both feet ravaged by gangrene and living from hand to mouth on odd jobs” - The Sun Gazette, April 4 1951
Farrington had suffered from diabetes for years, and even when his clothing was new and sharp, he was known to cut his shoes to accommodate his feet, which had been deformed by the disease.
He was fined $1,300 and sentenced to three years in jail, but he was paroled a year later. In 1956 Farrington's daughter brought him to Williamsport where he was hospitalized. He died on June 15th at age 67, from cirrhosis of the liver.
" Mattie" - Martha Farrington, wife of Prince
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THE FLORIDA FRUIT FARM
in Sugar Valley Pennsylvania
in Sugar Valley Pennsylvania
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William Purman, born in Milheim Pa, spent time in Florida after the civil war. He was admitted to the bar in Florida in 1868, and practiced there for some time, before returning to his hometown in 1878. Once home, he pursued an agricultural career, and bought farmland in Sugar Valley. He had a vision for a great plantation style farm, which he named The Florida Fruit Farm.
Purman planted thousand of trees, including more than half a dozen apple varieties. The Lock Haven Express, in 1912, called it the largest apple orchard in the state.
Purman moved to Massachusetts in 1883, and the farm changed ownership several times, before Prince Farrington purchased it as his family home.
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Prince Farrington's Moonshine Stash House, Nippenose Valley, June 2023
One of Prince Farrington's "Stash Sites" was up for auction Saturday, July 29th 2023
See Michael Kinneys Photos here:
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In the 1980s, Williamsport Held A Prince Farrington Race
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Lycoming County is hosting a Prince Farrington Bootlegger tour in 2021. Find out more here:
Here Van Wagner sing about Prince Farrington on Youtube here:
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July 1922
1922
Sept. 8 1927
Jan 17 1929
1935
April 1935
March 27 1936
March 1936
March 1936
March 1936
march 1936
March 1936
April 1936
1937
1939
1941
1944
Aug 28 1946
Sept 1946
Flyer sent out for Prince Farrington
1948
June 1949
1950
1951
March 15 1951
1952
Died June 14 1956
June 1956
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