The Octagon House in Montandon, Pa

 
The Octagon House  of "East Lewisburg" , Northumberland County PA
"East Lewisburg" is the area between the Lewisburg bridge and the town of Montandon.  Today, that area has a Milton address.  

The house was built for John Diffenderfer, owner of the Planing Mill, sometime in the 1850s.

The Edison Battery Car That Ran From Montandon to Mifflinburg

 
This real picture postcard is labeled "First Battery Operated Car Arrives In Mifflinburg,"

The first Battery Operated Car made the trip from Montandon to Lewisburg on July 23rd, 1911.  It was the only car of it's kind at the time, so unique that a railway magnate came from Paris to Milton in April of 1912, to view it.

Montandon, Northumberland County Pennsylvania

Montandon, Pennyslvania

Sometimes referred to as "East Lewisburg" [although that is technically the area just across the bridge, before the town of Montandon beings], and one time named Cameronia

The Sand Dunes Of Montandon Pa

Geologists tell us that more than 18,000 years ago, glacial activity pushed sand down the Susquehanna River. When the river was low, the sand was picked up by the wind, and deposited across from Lewisburg, leaving a ridge of sand dunes in Montandon.

Locals to the area are well aware of the dunes, as sand mine plants have operated there for decades.  But did you know that in 1877, Captain Bly from Watsontown discovered 4 acres of high quality sand while exploring over the White Deer Mountains?

The Binns & Stewart Duel - Montandon, 1805

This sketch of the Burr/Hamilton Duel shows the procedure, with the "Seconds"  standing by.
The 1805 Duel between Binns & Stewart also followed the Duello Code, and included Seconds.

According to the Miltonian, on November 14 1805, "Last duel fought on Pennsylvania soil took place below Milton between John Binns and Samuel Stewart" 

The Miltonian however, published that fact in 1923 - not able to predict that Mahonoy City would host a duel in 1931 between Montenegrin mine workers, so the Montandon ceremony was not actually to be  the last on Pennsylvania soil after all.  In 1923 however, it had been more than 100 years since the last recorded duel in Pennsylvania, and that duel occurred in "the marsh where Montandon now stands", between a newspaper editor, and a sheriff.  It's thought to be the only duel ever held on the West Branch.  (It's also possible the Miltonian has the date wrong - the duel may have been December 14th, not November)

THE DUEL

In 1805, John Binns, who had come to America after being imprisoned for his involvement in the Irish revolution, was the editor of the Northumberland newspaper.  He published an anonymous letter, which Samuel Stewart of Lycoming County too offense to.  When Binns refused to divulge the source of the letter to Stewart, Stewart assaulted him.  Binns, an irishman,  then formally challenged Stewart, a scotsman,  to a duel.  The men conducted themselves as gentlemen, adhering to the 1755 Irish Duello Code - the 26 commandments to be followed when having a duel.

The arrangements were  carried out in a series of letters, and were delayed by a trip Stewart needed to take.  When Stewart returned to the area, Dr Priestly surmised the men's plans, and had a warrant sent for his friends arrest.  Binns avoided the constable, and to avoid the law,  the duel was moved from Sunbury to "near Derrstown", occurring in the marsh land that is today Montandon.  The Irish Duello code was followed, and Binns had an honorable secondary, Major Maclay,  who did his best to avoid the conflict.  

Stewarts secondary however, a  man by the name of Kennedy, from Derrstown [Lewisburg] was not interested in any resolution other than death.  Maclay, the son of the honorable Samuel Maclay who dined with George Washington, prevailed, and managed to broker a peaceful agreement after the first shots had been fired.

  All of the men then went to Lawshee's tavern for breakfast, and Stewart and Binns formed a friendship that would last throughout the rest of their lives and careers.  This, from all accounts, appears to have been a trend with Stewart. He was a big, strong, hot headed man who got into many, many fights - but often ended up friends with those whom he had had the dispute.  

The code of conduct for a duel was detailed, and specific.  When John Binn recounts the duel in his autobiography, it is clear that the irishmen involved were well acquainted with the Irish Duello Code, and they followed it well.  His detailed account is a fascinating read, and I have included it below.

When Montandon Had A High School

1906-1978 

This two story brick structure was built in Montandon in 1906

A blurb in the Miltonian in 1909 stated: 1906 - New $10,000 High School Building at Montandon dedicated .    [Note that in 1869, they were raising $15,000 to build a new school - this new  High School would cost less?]

According to the genealogical and biographical record of Northumberland County by Floyd, Benjamin F. Bower hauled the first load of stone for the Montandon High School.  

A Minstrel Show at Montandon High School

The High School was built in Montandon in 1906 - according to an article written for Montandon Community Days, that is the two story brick building shown in these photos. [Full article at the bottom of this post, described the inside of the school]

1958 Open House

1958

January 1959

1959 was the last year a class graduated from Montandon High School. Thirteen students graduated that year.  The Montandon School was then consolidated into Milton Area Joint District,  for the following year.

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June 1959

Other Schools:

The Sunbury American
July 4 1868

1869

The 1870 Map of Northumberland County Appears to show the 1869 school at roughly the location of the "current" elementary school building [today, it's the T-Ross building]

The Sunbury Daily Item

June 9 1978

 In 1978 one of the Montandon schools was torn down, and the new Montandon Elementary School was built  in 1980.  An article about the school needing to be demolished made mention of additions in 1930, and 1950.

When Montandon Was, Briefly, Cameronia

The town that is now known as Montandon began as Lewisburg Junction, little more than a train station, in 1825.  It was, and still is,  frequently referred to as "East Lewisburg".  In 1861 the town was named Cameronia, and in 1867 that name was changed to Montandon.

In a list of how local towns got their names, I found this note that Montandon was named for a watch found in a well.  That's not what the Keystone marker above says..but we'd need to find the whole story about the watch to know what the connection may be.

Undated Photo of Main Street Montandon

Named Cameronia, in 1861

The Sunbury Gazette, July 1861

Cameronia  was named Cameronia in honor of the Cameron family

William Cameron was responsible, for among other public works, the contract for the cross-cut canal at Lewisburg.  Opened in October 1833, the cross cut connected Lewisburg to the canal along the east side of the Susquhanna River.  

In 1867, the local papers were full of an animated debate about the pursuit of an independent school for the town of "Cameronia"  (The article above is merely facts, not the editorial debate that ensued)

Undated photo, Main Street Montandon Pa

Why The Change To Montandon?

In April of  1867, the Northumberland Democrat reported that the citizens of Cameronia were discussing changing the name of the town, because their mail was consistently, accidentally,  being sent to a post office in Cameron County with the similar name of Cameron.

The only history I have found on Peter Montandon is listed on the sign as you enter the town.  "Named for Peter Montandon, famous Huguenot leader."  I can find no evidence that the Huguenot leader had any ties to the area.

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Read More About The History Of Montandon:

"Between the years 1828 and 1834 the ground upon which the town stands was used for a race course by the Foresman brothers, who were great horsemen. Horses were brought from adjoining counties, and the inhabitants from far and near would congregate at this place to witness the races.

In 1840, Peter Waldron, a blacksmith from Lancaster County, located a short distance to the south of the Foresman building on the Sunbury and Milton road. The next improvement was a shoemaker shop, which was established by a Mr. Colby in 1848. The first justice of the peace in the community was Thomas Pardee, who filled that office for many years.
The first effort to establish a town was made by Francis and Jeremiah Church about the time the Pennsylvania canal was completed. The plan, which is on record in the county archives at Sunbury, exhibits a town plat between the canal and river, south of the Lewisburg crosscut, with Front street, Cherry alley, Jackson street, Montgomery, Church, Sarah's, Locust, and Dusty alleys and Wilson street parallel with the canal and river, intersected by Market and Green streets. The width of market is given as seventy-five feet, of Front and Jackson as sixty feet, and of Green, fifty-five feet. One hundred sixty lots are represented as having been laid out. This effort to establish a town no doubt indicated considerable enterprise on the part of the projectors, but the place failed to materialize. Owing in all probability to the fact that the country was not so thickly settled at that time as to require an intermediate trading point between Milton and Northumberland.
Upon the completion of the Philadelphia and Erie and the Lewisburg and Tyrone railroads the attempt to found a town was repeated under more favorable auspices. Up to this time the country was a farming district exclusively, with no other industries than the blacksmith and shoemaker shops mentioned in connection with the early settlement. In l861 P. Hackenberg bought of Cameron & Wall a lot lying to the east of the railroad and south of the Lewisburg and Danville road, upon which he erected a house and established therein the first store of the place in connection with the hotel business. In the same year, through the influence of Mr. Hackenberg, the first postoffice of the town was established with himself as postmaster. It was named Cameronia in honor of the Cameron family.

At this time the north side of the Lewisburg and Danville road belonged to the John Caul estate, and that to the south to Edward and Benjamin Hummel. In 1865 Lewis O. Hunner purchased a portion of the John Caul estate lying on tire east side of the Philadelphia and Erie railroad. In the same year the land belonging to Edward and Benjamin Hummel was purchased by John A. J. and Robert M. Cummings. Under the joint auspices of Messrs. Cummings and Hunner a town plat was surveyed in March, 1866, by David Rockefeller. The streets running east and west beginning at the northern extremity of the plat are Center, Main, the Lewisburg and Danville road, Cummings, and Chillisquaque. Those intersecting these and running north and south are Railroad and Northumberland, Railroad being the farther west. There were two houses here at that time. The first, built by Edward and Benjamin Hummel for use as a farm house, was purchased by John A. J. and Robert M. Cummings with the land they bought in 1865, and stands in relation to the above mentioned plan on the south side of Main near Railroad street. The second house erected is the hotel built by P. Hackenberg in 1861 on the southeast corner of Main and Railroad streets. In 1865 this building came into the possession of C. E. Hartman, who extended it to its present size and continued the hotel business for some time. This house has been used for the accommodation of the public since 1861, and is the only hotel in the town. The first house built after the survey of the town plat was that erected by Dr. N. C. Purdy, on the north side of Main street mid-way between Railroad and Northumberland streets.
Owing to the inconvenience caused by mail and express matter addressed to Cameronia going to Cameron county, the postoffice designation was changed to Montandon in 1867 through the influence of John A. J. and Robert M. Cummings, the name being suggested by the former. Circumstances have not favored the rapid expansion of the town, but by gradual growth it has attained a population of three hundred fifty, with three stores, one hotel, two churches, and shops of the various mechanics. " Bells History Of Northumberland County

Lewisburg Junction - The Railroad Stop That Became Montandon Pa

In 1826, the town that is now Montandon was simply a stop on the railroad, known as Lewisburg Junction, with a few homes nearby.  (One of those homes became the Montandon Hotel. ) The area was often referred to as East Lewisburg, until  1861 when it was briefly named Cameronia, in honor of William Cameron, before being named Montandon in 1867.

But it began as a railroad station.

The Lewisburg Journal

January 21 1870

Passengers used to take a train to Lewisburg station, then disembark and take a stage coach across to the borough of Lewisburg.

In 1869, General Grant Passed Through Lewisburg Junction
"Gen. Grant passed Lewisburg junction southward bound, Tuesday evening.  The train was going at the General's favorite gait, about a mile a minute.  He was seen and recognized by some of our citizens. He held a watch in his hand and was evidently timing the train." Lewisburg Chronicle 20 Aug 1869

On Nov 3 1871 the Lewisburg Chronicle reported:
"The other day a 'safe family horse' belonging to Mr H. A. Koonce of East Buffalo ran away, and damaged a buggy.  He went through the bridge without stopping for such trifles as a toll, and was stopped at Lewisburg Junction.  He apparently wanted to make a certain train, but was ignominiously overtaken and returned."  

Wreck of the Buffalo Express, Montandon

January 3rd 1908

According to the Times Leader article, the Pennsylvania R.R. express headed from Buffalo to Philadelphia, wrecked at Montandon, with more than a dozen passengers being injured.

The express was approaching Montandon on time, when a light locomotive "crossed from a sidling to the main track".  The engineer of the Express was so close that he was unable to bring the heavy train to a stop, and it crashed into the shifting engine.

Both locomotives were completely disabled.  A combination car, day coach, and Pullman sleeper were also severely damaged.  The passengers from those cars were transferred to other coaches, and the wrecked cars were cut out.

The train was delayed for four hours. 

May 31 1915

The safe at the Pennsylvania Railroad station at Montandon was blown open by robbers.

Tickets & Stops:

In 1869 the ticket office was moved to Lewisburg

But the trains continued to stop at Lewisburg Junction (today, Montandon) as well.

The article notes that "Tickets to Lewisburg are good to the borough, not to the junction only as before."

July 15, 1899

The Daily Item 
February 13 1939

Train Service Ended in Montandon in 1939

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January 3rd 1908

When Montandon Had A Hotel (And It May Have Been A Speakeasy too!)

Built before 1860, the hotel primarily served the railroad men and travelers, and was rumored to be a speakeasy during prohibition.  It had a vareity of owners over the years, and was sometimes known as Hotel Wenzel (for the Wenzels who owned it for more than 45 years) and  Pete & Rae's Iron Hat (When Pete and Rae Eisenworth owned it in the late 1950 50's and 60's).  In 1974 the owners at that time changed the name back to the Montandon Hotel.  The building was destroyed in fire that was determined to be arson in 1977, and stood as a fire damaged eyesore for two years before Mr. Sheets purchased the property and had it razed, making the area a parking lot.

The Hotel was one of the first buildings in Montandon, built when the town was known as Lewisburg Junction.  It was located right beside the railroad tracks, near the train station.  

The railroad transported good which were unloaded from canal boats in the cross-cut canal in Lewisburg.  It also transported passengers, who  took could take a stagecoach to Lewisburg once they disembarked here.

The hotel, which changed ownership numerous times over the years,  had  a bar and three dining rooms on the main floor.  The second floor originally had 12 rooms, but Eisenhuth converted those into two apartments in the late 1950s when he owned the establishment.   It was Eisenhuth who believed the hotel had been a speakeasy during prohibition.

In November of 1977, the hotel caught fire.  No one was inside at the time, the residents were on a hunting trip.  The cause of the fire was ruled as arson, but it does not appear anyone was ever arrested for the crime.

The fire damaged building stood empty for two years.  After the township filed a lawsuit against the owners, citing them for not razing the building, Dale Sheets, who owned the home on the other side of the tracks, purchased the structure. 

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The Rishel Covered Bridge

40.96638, -76.82694

The Rishel Covered Bridge, Spanning Chilisquaque Creek, near Montandon PA

Sometimes referred to by the older name of the "Giffen Bridge"

Postcard incorrectly labeling the bridge as the Nations Oldest Bridge

"Bridge Number Two, built in 1812 by James More - co-founder of Bucknell University - is considered the oldest existing covered bridge in the nation.  Blanketed here by new fallen snow, the ancient structure serenely belies its importance as a reminder of our heritage.  This bridge, a 94 foot single span Burr Truss, is located 1 mile off Route 45 east of Montandon Pa."

In 1981 a few locals attempted to have the Rishel Covered Bridge featured on a postage stamp, as the oldest covered bridge in the nation.  In doing so, they found that although the  original bridge was built in this location at 1812, that  bridge had been destroyed in the flood of 1828.  

County records show the bridge that stands here now was actually a replacement bridge, built in approximately 1830. In 1981 the Rishel bridge was closed for a complete rehabilitation.  Some of the wood for the project came from the Mifflinburg elementary school that had been torn down the same year.  The sign on the refurbished bridge shows the corrected date of 1830.

Dec 5 1959

This newspaper clipping is dated 1982.  The Daily Item was still reporting that the RIshel Covered Bridge, sometimes called the Moore-Rishel Bridge, was the oldest bridge.  The Hassenplug Covered Bridge in Mifflinburg, built in 1825, is older than the Rishel bridge, and is one of the oldest bridges in the country.

The view under the Rishel Covered Bridge

Shells line the sides of the creek bed.

 

2008 Water Damage

 2019 - the water damaged boards are missing.

The stone wall leading to the bridge

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An Index Of Covered Bridges In Our Area

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-covered-bridges-index.html