The War Relic Trains

In April and May of 1919, there were 24 War Relic Trains touring the continental United States.  

These popular rolling museums brought the material culture of military training camps and French battlefields to Americans where they lived: as a war loan official observed, “carrying the war into the homes and the hearts of the people as it never had been brought them before.”

Two Days On A Raft At Sea in A Hurricane - William Ruhl of Mifflinburg

 
Mifflinburg Boy Survives Ships Sinking

On Sept 13 1944, during WWII,  William Reuben Ruhl  of Mifflinburg was aboard the The CGC Jackson  when it and sister ship CGC Bedloe ran smack into a category 4 hurricane during a recovery mission of an American Liberty Ship hit by a torpedo.  

USCGC Jackson

When A Local Boy Navigated The Plane That Dropped The Atomic Bomb

What do Joe Lockhard from Williamsport, Ted VanKirk from Northumberland, the Ordinance Project in Allenwood,  and J. Robert Oppenheimer all have in common?  The bombing of Hiroshima.  

When Tanks Were Made In Berwick

 

1,000th Tank Parade, August 2nd 1941, Berwick PA

During World War II the American Car & Foundry in Berwick was transformed into a facility to build tanks for the War.

"Not in the great automobile city of Detroit, nor in the steel center of Pittsburgh, but here in the small Pennsylvania community of 14,000 today are being built the tanks for America's mechanized forces.  For Berwick is now the "Tank Center Of The U.S.A." " - June 1941, Central Press newspaper article.

 By the end of the war years it's claimed that Berwick built more than 15,000 Stuart tanks and earned Berwick a place on Hitler's list of places in the US that he wanted to bomb. 

The Stuart Tank Musuem, Berwick Pa

The Stuart Tank Museum in Berwick 

The museum  honors the 9,135 American Car & Foundry workers from 177 Municipalities throughout northeastern Pennsylvania who built 15,224 Light Tanks in the AC&F plant at Berwick during World War II.

The 1,000th Tank Parade, Berwick 1941

 
1,000th Tank Parade, August 2nd 1941, Berwick PA

On August 2nd 1941, 6,000 workers and 26 bands were assembled in a parade in Berwick,  to deliver combat tank No. 1,000 to the United States Army.

Roll Of Honor - Students Of Milton High School Who Gave Their Life In World War II

 
This tablet, hanging in Milton High School, commemorates the 30  students who gave their lives in World War II.

James W. Wagner
Joseph F. Showers
Joseph W. Crawford
Charles A. Gava
Clyde Bennet JR
Harry Albeck
James W. Beatty
Harold E. Wirth
Fancis J. Wise
William Bennet
Howard Herald
Dale K. O. Franquet
Donwlad T. Granger
Donald Martin
William H. Hulsizer
William E. Hottenstein
Richard L. Ammerman
Donald C. Murray
Charles Yost
Paul P. Harpster Jr
Emmanual Botto
Earl Keiser
Donal D. Snyder
Paul E. Platt
Edward Tinch
Durrell Frymire
Olan D. Ransk
William M. Freidman
Paul Zimmerman
Rowland Kelly

Calhoun's 48th Field Artillery Band, Northumberland Pa

Calhoun's 48th Field Artillery Band arrived home on February 15th 1919

They were first unit recruited in Central Pennsylvania to return from Military Service.  The band, which had been transferred more frequently than any volunteer military organization in the state, had a membership of 33, most from Northumberland, with a few musicians coming from Danville, Sunbury, and Bloomsburg.

Nearly 1500 people crowded the station platform at Northumberland, to welcome the bandsmen home. The band had been recruited in September of 1917.  It was under the leadership of First Lieutenant Edward S. Calhoun of Northumberland.

Letter Home From The Mexican War, Milton

 

On October 8th 1847, The Miltonian ran a copy of a letter written  on August 31 1847, by Dr Edward D. Hammond, a surgeon in the Mexican War.  He wrote:

"Although not connected with the army in any military capacity, my position affords me an opportunity of seeing and knowing most of the events that pass around me, and as I am the solitary representative of Milton, so far as I know, I feel it my duty to communicate the movements of this column of the arm, conscious at the same time that it will be no news by the time it reaches you, in the tardy course of the mails." [See entire letter below]

 The Mexican War was a war between the United States and Mexico (April 1846–February 1848) stemming from the United States’ annexation of Texas in 1845 and from a dispute over whether Texas ended at the Nueces River (Mexican claim) or the Rio Grande (U.S. claim). 

Dr Edward Decataur Hammond was the son of General Robert Hammond, "one of the most distinguished citizens who ever lived in Milton.  General Hammond died on a ship on his way home from Vera Cruz, June 27th 1847.

Thomas Hammond, another son of General Hammond, brother to E.D., also lost his life in the Mexican War.

General Robert Hanna Hammond was born in April 1791 in Milton Pa.  He married Elizabeth Clark.  They had 7 children: Lt. Thomas Clark Hammond [died in Mexican War], Edward Decataur Hammond [author of letter], Oscar Hammond, Washington Hammond, David Steitz Hammond, Lafayette Hammond, and Catherine Hammond.

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In his death notice in 1856, the Danville Intelligencer said that Dr Hammond was with General Scott in the Mexican Campaign, and occupied responsible positions under Scott.  He was subsequently Post Master at San Francisco, and held other responsible trusts.  He was highly respected in California.  Dr Hammond was 34 years old at the time of his death.

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Robert Hanna Hammond was born in Milton, Northumberland County, Pa., April 28, 1791; attended the academies at Milton; engaged in mercantile pursuits; member of the State militia, with the rank of brigadier general; enlisted in the United States Army as a lieutenant in 1817; resigned and returned to Milton, Pa.; was register and recorder of Northumberland County; postmaster of Milton 1833-1837; elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Congresses (March 4, 1837-March 3, 1841); reentered the Army and was commissioned paymaster during the Mexican War; was wounded and ordered home on sick leave; died at sea before reaching port on June 2, 1847; interment in Milton Cemetery, Milton, Pa.

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Sons Of Veterans Encampments, Milton Pa

Sons Of Veterans Reserves, Milton Pa

The Sons Of Veterans Of the Civil War Encampments were held in Milton in 1884, 1905, and 1909.  

Sons Of Veterans was a fraternal organization of men whose fathers had served in the Civil War  The organization still exists today.

S. of V. Tents at Milton

In 1905 Miltonian reported that 200 tents had been secured by Senator Godcharles, and that a great portion of the reserved were provided with their own tents.  In 1905 the tents were set up at the Milton Fairgrounds.

A Ribbon from the 1905 Encampment

Post card photo of the patriotic parade of Sons Of Veterans Encampment in Milton Pa, 1909.  The Banner reads "Pastime Theatre"

This form appeared in the paper in 1905, looking for households willing to provide food and lodging for the encampment.

S. of V. Drum Corps, at Camp at Milton 1905

 "A sad accident occurred on Wednesday afternoon at the ceremonies attending the reception of General R. M. J: Reed, of Philadelphia. Earle Edinger a member of Battery A, Sons of Veterans, of Easton, lost his right hand by the premature explosion of the charge in a cannon while a salute was being fired. He was taken to the Williamsport hospital where the amputation was made. John Price, also a member of the battery, sustained a fractured arm."  - 1905

On June 28th 1909, there was a Old Home Week and Sons of the Veterans Encampment opened in Milton. I think this is most likely a photo from that event.

As for where this was, today, you'd be looking at the post office and the Elks building. In 1909/10, this was Schaffers Furniture & Undertaking, and to the right, the Chamberlain Home. Schaeffers later became the Family Theater [and bus stop]. The Chamberlain Home later became the Elks.

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1905 Encampment Souvenir Booklet

Milton, Pa

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Twenty Fifth Annual Encampment, S of V Div. Of Pennsylvania

June 14-16 1905

I found a copy of this at Worthpoint  - the scans are not great, but so far, it's the best I have found.  Many of the images from these pages have also been made into postcards, or made from photos,  which I have used in place of the poor scans, when possible.  The pages shown are more of a promo piece for the town, than of the event itself.

Opera House, Ritters Machine Works, W.A. Imabody's building

Milton Opera House

47 s. front Milton

W. A. Imabody's Undertaking Service

Ritters Machine Shops 

The building Imabody's Undertaker Service was in

Also Charles Hause Plumbing, and Central Bar 

Ritters Machine Shop, Later The Dakin Knitting Mill Building

Past Presidents L.A.S. No 31

Wildun Scott Cigar Agent

Past Presidents L.A.S. No 31

Wildun Scott, agent for Jesse Frysinger Jrs Fine Cigars

Past Captains Camp 121

Henry Wison Post Veterans, Memorial Day 1905

Camp 121 S. of V. Drum Corps

Henry Wilson Post Veterans, Memorial Day 1905

Camp 121 S. of V. Drum Corps

American Car & Foundry

Birds Eye View American Car Foundry

Lumber yard, Erecting shop, Foundry Machine Shop

American Car Foundry

American Car Foundry

With Executives 

West branch Novelty

West Branch Novelty, Arch St

Hackenberg Wholesale, Queensware Glassware

Railroad Stations

Cadwallader Bock [Milton Real Estate Sign]

Interior Roats China Store

Schreyers Store Company General Department Store

About the Booklet

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1908 Encampment Souvenir Postcard, Williamsport PA

The Encampment, which was held every year, was held in these West Branch Towns:

1884, 1905, 1909 - Milton

1886- Shamokin

1888, 1908, 1936, 1970, 1978, 1989, 2004, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2022 - Williamsport

1914 - Sunbury

A Souvenir Booklet was also published in 1909

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Find More Of Milton's History Here
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/milton-pa.html

And An Index To All Of My History Tidbits Here:
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/milton-pa.html
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READ MORE

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The Miltonian, 1905

1905, June 14 - Earle Edinger of Easton lost his hand in a premature canon explosion during the 25th Annual Sons Of Veterans encampment being held at Milton Pa.

Sons of Veterans' Encampment

" The 23th annual encampment of Pennsylvania Division, Sons of Veterans, was held at Milton -last week, and proved a very successful affair, Over G80 delegates were present. About 1100 of the Reserves were encamped and regular military discipline was maintained throughout A parade came off on Thursday afternoon. Next year's encampment will be held In York.

 The following officers were elected: Commander, John Bowes, Jr., of Philadelphia; Senior Vice Commander, G. Q. Davis, of Braddock; Junior Vice Commander, William J. Croli, of York; Division Council, Lewis P. Hutchinson,, of Scranton, M. S. Kane, of Shamokin, and T; M. Ruch, of Hellertown.

 A sad accident occurred on Wednesday afternoon at the ceremonies attending the reception of General R. M. J: Reed, of Philadelphia. Earle Edinger a member of Battery A, Sons of Veterans, of Easton, lost his right hand by the premature explosion of the charge in a cannon while a salute was being fired. He was taken to the Williamsport 'hospital where the amputation was made. John Price, also a member of the battery, sustained a fractured arm." - Various Newspapers