Steam Engine & Threshing Machine Collapse Bridge

 

On August 6th 1915, A ten-ton traction engine belonging to J. A. Merrill broke through a culvert.

"The culvert that broke down, spans Indian Run on "Boyer's road" as the highway is known that leads from the Washingtonville road to Boyer's school house.

The Accident Mr. Merrill had been threshing at Robert Farnsworth's and he was on his way to Abram Hendrickson's farm. Hitched to the traction engine was the big separator, and the outfit was lumbering along at the usual moderate rate of speed. Orran Merrill, son of J. A. Merrill, who was acting as engineer, was the only one that was riding.

As they approached the bridge Mr. Merrill, the elder, walked ahead and directed his son how to steer in order to make the rather short turn necessary. A few days before on the trip up to Mr. Farnsworth's the threshing outfit had crossed the same bridge. On that occasion, however, it had been convenient to take the western side of the bridge."

"Eight to ten" men from surrounding farms, including the township supervisors, worked to removed the engine from the broken bridge.

===================

READ MORE

===================

Montour County Independence, May 3 1850

 

Stenciled on the side of a building a block away from the courthouse in Danville are the words "Montour County Independence Day, May 3 1850"

A cannon was hauled to the mountain overlooking Danville that day, fired off regularly in celebration.   After 5 long years, Danville had won, they were once again the county seat.  Even if they had to send their own resident to congress and have him make some deals to form  an entire new  county to make it happen.  

The courthouse in Danville, built in 1871

While the residents of the newly formed county celebrated, and Columbia County residents formed a committee to attempt a repeal - the rest of the Susquehanna Valley was just tired of Danville and Bloomsburg's bickering. 

"It is to be hoped the result may preserve the State from any further annoyance and loss in the prosecution of the thirty-five years contention between Danville and Bloom." - The Lewisburg Journal, May 1850

When Columbia County was established in 1813, Danville was the county seat.  Thirty two years later, in 1845, the county seat was moved to Bloomsburg.

According to the Bloomsburg newspapers, who were undoubtedly biased, this was because Danville could not raise the funds to improve their buildings.  The buildings were old, not fire proof, and in disrepair.  

"Since 1837, the buildings have grown more dilapidate and unfit for use.  There are no fire proofs to secure public documents from destruction. The court house is a brick erection nearly 40 years old.  The sheriff's house is unfit for use and the Jail is indifferent as regards to arrangements for safety and comfort."

Danville residents, at least a few prominent ones,  were not happy.  Those residents then demanded that Columbia County be divided. 

 Valentine Best, publisher of the Danville Intelligencer, was elected to State Senate, with the mission of creating a new county for Danville.  To do so involved some shady political maneuvering. 

The Northumberland County Democrat in an 1890 article summarized:

"...Senator Valentine Best, who had just taken the new county of Montour by Columbia with a coalition with the Whigs, was one of the most exciting episode of Pennsylvania politics of the day.  Best had elected himself Speaker by his own vote, united with the Whigs of the Senate, and he thus effected the division of old Columbia."  

Under "Legacy" on the Senate library page for Senator Best, it reads

" Played an important and controversial role in the formation of Montour County, especially in the area including former parts of Columbia County and the retention of Danville as the new seat of Montour. Negotiated a deal with Senate Whigs, who voted for Montour bill, in trade for key committee seats, thus his political party blackballed from the party."

In PENNSYLVANIA A HISTORY  by  GEORGE P. DONEHOO, the events are  described in detail:

With his singular mission accomplished, Best soon resigned his seat on the Senate, and returned to his newspaper in Danville. [Note - some reports of his behavior on that notorious day refer to his confusion and shaky speech.   Best died 7 years later, at age 57, and one can't help but wonder if his resignation was not merely because he had "accomplished his singular mission" but perhaps also due to health issues.]

"In his attempts to address the Senate, he shook like a reed in the wind - his words were broken and interrupted, like the accents of a man in despair, and void of the energy suitable to the occasion.  Ah, is it not to be wondered that he trembled.  He had just perpetrated a most dastardly and villainous act, by turning traitor to those who had elected him..."

The Lewisburg Journal summarized the new county:  

 "The Governor having signed the bill to divide Columbia county, this new county will organize by the election of its officers next fail. Montour county comprises Danville, Anthony, Derry, Limestone, Liberty, Mahoning, Franklin, about half of Madison and of Roaring creek, and about a third of Montour and Hemlock or the Southern half of Columbia county.

 It is a narrow strip probably the smallest county in the State - but rich, and with the energy of Danville (its seat of justice) will make a respectable county. The old County Buildings will doubtless answer for a time  as well as new. 

The number of Taxables in Montour is about 2500, leaving 4100 in Columbia.

 It is to be hoped the result may preserve the State from any further annoyance and loss in the prosecution of the thirty-five years contention between Danville and Bloom." - The Lewisburg Journal, May 1850

Why is this written on this particular building?  Located across the road behind the  Courthouse, at the corner of Rooney Ave & West Friendship Alley.

Columbia county did make an attempt at repeal, but in the end, decided they were just tired of the fight.  "A wearied legislature eventually yielded its scruples, Columbia was sacrificed, and appointment passed, an adjournment effected."

The Montour County Courthouse was built in 1871. Located  at 253 Mill St., Danville,  it was designed by Charles Wetzel.  The building features quoins, brackets, arched windows and a cupola of the Italianate style.  Postcards creatively depict the building in a variety of colors, although I found no evidence that the color of the building has ever changed.

=================
READ MORE
==================

Columbia Gazette and Republican Advertiser, November 2 1813

Page 3 was one full editorial against the dividing of Northumberland County.  After reading about the 1847 "Montour County Independence", I found this page particularly interesting. It is very critical of the men of Danville and their motives - saying that there would be no stopping the split, that Danville was completely set on being the county seat.  

" The men of Dan[ville] would oppose it with fire and faggot. They have a hundred eyes as Argus had. They have blinded the people to run forward without knowing when they are going and they will not suffer them to consider where they are lead tug them. "

"They have been purchasing land about Danville at an enormous price, some as high as 100 dollars per acre. 6. Some of them have declared that, unless they were confident of having the seat of justice there, they never would have petitioned for a division. 7. Some of them have declared that, a great deal might be done, with the Commissioners appointed to fix the seat of Justice, that they could put it were they pleased, and there was no doubt but that they would fix it at Danville- "

In 1813, both Union and Columbia County were formed out of Northumberland County.  The County seat for Columbia County was indeed located in Danville, until 1845 when it was moved to Bloomsburg.

And when that happened, Danville again began a campaign to split the county, so that they could once again be the county seat.  And again, they got their way - May 3rd 1850 was "Montour County Independence Day", A new county was formed and Danville was once again the county seat of their new county.

----------------------------------------------

A CATECHISM

Unfolding the subject of dividing Northumberland County. 

Question 1. what is the chief end of the division of the County ?  Answer I. The chief end of the division of the county, is to promote the interest of the dividers. Every man for himself, is the general maxmin

 Q. 2. HON will division promote their private interest A. 2. By cutting up their lands into town lots, anti supplying them with offices—but, with the greater part, will be weeping and wailing for the loss of the chief city.

 Q. 3. What will be the consequences of division ? From 2 to 3 dollars per head of taxes, will every year do, be laid on the people to support the new county and enrich the new officers. Ten dollars per head to erect public buildings. Washington, Jerseytown, and Bloomsburg, will be  disappointed in the seat of Justice, and their inhabitants, exasperated to see it fixed at Danville, will be enraged at themselves for their folly ; while the powerful men of Danville wax fat and laugh at the gull trap in which Derry, Bloom and Catawissa have fallen. The war will press us down with heavy burdens, and many will be ruined. 

Q. 4. Why will all these people be disappointed A. 4. Because the inhabitants of each of these places are sure the county town will be where they reside. Only one place can succeed, and that will be Danville. 

1. The Danville people started the business, and they well know taw own interests. 

2. They have POT stated in their petitions that the county town shall be neat the centre, or within any distance of it. 3. Danville is upon the river, and the advantage of navigation gives its natural situation a preference. 4. They, the men of Danville have been making great exertions to obtain a turnpike from the Bear Cap to their town, and there it is to end, 5. They have been purchasing land about Danville at an enormous price, some as high as 100 dollars per acre. 6. Some of them have declared that, unless they were confident of having the seat of justice there, they never would have petitioned for a division. 7. Some of them have declared that, a great deal might be done, with the Commissioners appointed to fix the seat of Justice, that they could put it were they pleased, and there was no doubt but that they would fix it at Danville- 8 One of them declared that he could shew where the Court-house would stand, and that was opposite the end of Daniel Montgomery house, near Robert Irwins old Cellar. 9. They 

are not remarkable for public spirit, unless private interest urges them ; but they are remarkable for their zeal and activity to divide the county. 10. They are long headed, quick sighted men, possessing influence, likely to succeed in their plans and never would take so much trouble for nothing. 

Q. 3. But how can Danville he the seat of Justice when Point township is struck off, and Catawissa and Mifflin taken in? A. 5. That was a noble gull trait invented to catch clodhoppers, and carry their election and they succeeded in that too. They well know that, the legislature never will consent to bring the people of Mifflin and Catawista across the river to Washington, and leave only 5  little townships on that side to join Point and form a new county : they also know that the Legislature never will compel Turbut,  Chilisquaque and Derry, to travel across the county to Bloomsburg, and then Danville alone remains for the county town. Mifflin and Catawissa will be thrown off, and Point taken up again' in good time. Besides this, Milton and Northumberland will join Danville rather than go to Washington. 

Q. 6. Is there no meant of preventing so many people from being deceived and disappointed. A. 6. Every man is ready to believe what he wishes to be true. So all these people are sure of succeeding, although it is certain every place but one will he disappointed, therefore men blinded by interest cannot easily be awakened to danger. 

Q. 7, Suppose the people of the forks would circulate petitions stating that to prevent disputes or disappointments hereafter the law should specify some place as the scat of justice, or, that it should be within three miles of the Centre, would not this be a good plan to outwit the wise men of Dan?

 A. 7. The men of Dan would oppose it with fire and faggot. They have a hundred eyes as Argus had. They have blinded the people to run forward without knowing when they are going and they will not suffer them to consider where they are lead tug them. Moreover, by means of taking in Mifflin and Catawissa, and leaving out Point, they have a moveable centre, which they can shift about, up or down 10 or 15 miles, Thus the people of Bloomsburg, think they are in the centre, Derry believes itself in the centre, and every man sees his own farm so favorable, he is certain he will have the seat of justice at home 

-Q in the Corner. 

======================================

=======================

Best died 7 years later, in 1857, at the age of 57

The street lights were installed beginning in 1923 

Census Of Montour & Columbia Counties

December 1850

With notes on township changes over the years.

"Mr, David Evans, a Democratic member of the last legislature from Montgomery co., has published a defense of his vote for the apportionment bill in reply to Mr. Porter, of Northampton, and in speaking of Best and Montour county he says :

"Therefore, such being truly the case, it behooved the democratic members to be on the look out in time, and one feature of events was to prevent the passage of the bill erecting Montour county, which being the body and soul of the democracy and whigism of the said Speaker of the Senate, so elected by the whigs. The Montour county bill was passed at an early period in the Senate, and came into the House. At that time the said member from Northampton, proclaimed that the Montour county bill should not pass until the apportionment bill was passed and signed by the Governor. The same being considered the proper course by myself and others, and calculated so to remain : but in the course of events the member from Northampton was called to plead a case in court at Bloomsburg, from or near Danville, and on his return his tales as to tho passage of the Montour county bill were much changed, and then urged tho passage of the bill.

— Therefore, through the influence of the said member, and a few others of the democratic party who wont with the whigs, except five, who, holding views beyond that of passing such disgraceful acts as Montour county for party purposes. 

Whereas said bill could never have received more than twenty votes in the House if party measures had not made it an object of the kind. The saith Northampton member well knows that the passage of the Montour county bill left Speaker Best, of the Senate, at liberty to pay his debt of bargain and sale to the whig party, of which he could not otherwise have done

 Then it became necessary to be watchful of more than Best, and the Senate alone. The talents of the member from Northampton, as an able lawyer, is not to be doubted—but the lack of precaution and care, without forethought of mind, makes him an uncertain and doubtful leader in the democratic ranks." 

Mr. Evans no doubt acted honestly in his vote for the appropriation bill, and he is not the only member who was driven by circumstances to vote against his convictions of right.

 It was notorious at Harrisburg that Best declared if the Democrats were not satisfied with the apportionment bill as it passed, they should have a worse one. The session had been protracted until many members were threatened with indignation meetings at home if they did not pass some kind of an apportionment bill and end the session.

It was known that Best had sold himself to the whig on the apportionment bill, and no democrat had any hope in that direction.

 In the Senate then no decent bill for the Democrats could pass; and hence a vote in the House was only a choice of evils. It was with this view that Mr. Evans and a few other democrats voted for the bill. He, for example, is an honest and radical democrat, and this vote of his must therefore be taken cum grano. If every democrat has been as upright as Evans in refusing to pass the Montour bill, Best would never have acquired the influence which he exercised for mischief on the apportionment bill as it passed, but to do justice to the motives of a man honest, though he may have been mistaken" - Star Of The North, Bloomsburg, June 1850

The Cinder Buggy By Garet Garrett, A Historical Fiction Novel Set In Danville Pa

In 1923,  The Cinder Buggy, a novel based in the town of Danville Pa,  was first published in  serial form in the Saturday Evening Post.

 Edward Peter Garet, was born in 1878,  in Panama Illinois.  He left home as a teenager to find work as a "printers devil" (apprentice) in Cleveland Ohio.  

According to his obituary, "It was not long in becoming well known for, once he began writing, he churned out a steady stream of news stories, magazine articles, editorials for the Saturday Evening post, novels, and miscellaneous essays.  Almost all of his writings were based on economics or politics."

By 1903, Garrett, had become a well known writer for the Sun newspaper (1833–1950) in New York. In 1911, he wrote a fairly successful book, Where the Money Grows and Anatomy of the Bubble. He wrote under the name Garet Garrett - a name he then used in his everyday life, as well.

In 1916, at the age of 38, Garrett became the executive editor of the New York Tribune, after having worked as a financial writer for The New York Times, the Saturday Evening Post, and The Wall Street Journal. From 1920 to 1933, his primary focus was on writing books.

His break from newspaper work may possibly have had something to do with his domestic life at the time.  This article ran in 1918, in a variety of papers.

In the 1920's, author Garet Garrett came to Danville Pa to research the next book in his historical fiction series. Book one, the Driver, tells the story of a well-known and widely criticized entrepreneur who takes over a failing railway and turns it into a hugely successful business, and covers the panic of 1893.

The next book in the series was to be a love story set around the historic quest to perfect the manufacture of steel rails.

Historical Marker in Danville PA

To research the book, Garett stayed for several months in the town of Danville, as guest of William C. Frick .  He spent his time visiting the residents and collecting stories about the towns history, to use as a backdrop in his next novel.

The Danville Morning News

January 22 1930

A cinder buggy was a two-wheeled cart used in the iron industry to remove hot ashes or cinders from the furnaces.  The novel begins with two mill owners, one well liked, but not a great businessman, and one that is a great businessman, but not well liked.  The two become entangled in a feud over a woman, while set against the backdrop of mill life over two generations.

 According to later newspapers, Garrett stayed at the Montour House, and spent many afternoons on a rocking chair on the porch, with his old friend, local artist Benjamin Rhodes.  The Montour House was located across from the county courthouse, standing in what is today the bank parking lot. 

This would have been Garrett's view from a seat on the porch of the Montour House.  The monument at the court house had been installed just the year before, for the 1919 Welcome Home Celebration.

The Cinder Buggy book, centered on the iron and steel industries,  did not paint a pretty picture of Danville in its heyday, although locals of the time admit that Garrett did a decent study of the history of the mills and the economy of the area.

"Those familiar with Danville's history, if willing to overlook a few facts, will recognize Danville's Industry barons, the Grove brothers & Thomas Beaver.  The heroine of the story, like Abigail Geisinger, decides she must build a fine hospital for the town, but that is the only similarity between the real Mrs. Geisinger, and the Cinder Buggy's heroine."

The Miltonian

Feb 22 1923

In 1923, after The Cinder Buggy was published, the Danville Morning Press reported that Edison Ford, and Garrett may all visit Danville that summer.  

Edison did visit Danville, at the invitation of Frick, in 1922.  He stayed at the Montour House, and went to the movies in town, before going to Sunbury for Sunbury's Centennial event.   Edison's son accompanied him to Danville on that 1922 trip.

Garrett's last book, published in 1952, was titled The Wild Wheel, and was about Henry Ford.

Edison, Ford, and Henry Firestone took a months cross country trip in August of 1931, traveling through Western New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, before heading west through Detroit, and Wisconsin.  If the party made a stop in Danville at that time, I could find no mention of it.

=================================

Garet Garrett was a poplar American Journalist and Economist.  He was a relentless critic of foreign ideologies he felt were creating a European Welfare State here in the United States.

He was executive editor for the New York Tribune, An editor of the New York Times Annalist, and a financial writer with the New York Times, Evening Post, and Wall Street Journal. Garett retired from newspaper work at age 38, and devoted himself to freelance writing.  He published eight books between 1920 and 1932.

Free on Project Gutenburg

$16 in Paperback , or $3 for Kindle

The Cinder Buggy has been called an epoch novel and an unforgettable masterpiece.

Google Books says "This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.".

The book is in the public domain and can be downloaded and read for free.

The Cinder Buggy was published in 1923 by E.P. Dutton

There were three books in the series: The Driver , The Cinder Buggy,  & Satan's Bushel 

===============

READ MORE

=============

=================

For More Local History & Stories In Danville

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/08/danville-pennsylvania.html

For More Local History & Stories from other local towns:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html

=======================

This Revolutionary War Era Log Home Has Been Hiding In Plain Sight in Washingtonville

In Washingtonville this week, a  two story log cabin thought to be more than 200 years old was discovered hiding inside the old bar and apartments at 1014 Water Street.

Could this be the old fort?  J. H. Battle, in his 1887 History of Columbia and Montour Counties wrote,   "There is some dispute now as to where the old fort or bloc-house stood.  Some think it stood in the valley just across the creek from the borough, while others contend it stood just back of front street, between Church and Water Streets."

The old bar, once known as KCs Corner, also contained apartments.  Most recently it was used for storage. The building  stood on the corner of Front and Water streets, but had been condemned and was being torn down by Fares Farhat General Construction  this month.  No one knew a 200 year old log cabin hid inside. 

According to the towns mayor, Tyler Dombroski, the borough knew there were some beams in the back of the old bar room that they wanted to salvage and use for something in the town park, but it wasn't until the contractor started peeling back the additions that the two story cabin was revealed.

The wide beams were cut by ax, and appear to be hickory.  The building is thought to be more than 200 years old, although no date, nor clear history,  has been established at this time

For now, the demolition has temporarily ceased while the borough decides what to do next.

The borough does not own the property, so they cannot choose to simply leave the building stand where it is.Originally the plan was  to knock the structure down,  grade the area and plant it in grass, and then place a lien on the property to recoup the grant money the borough  is spending on the demolition.  

Now the borough is  looking into options to have the cabin torn down carefully, with each board numbered, and rebuilt elsewhere in the borough.  Amish contractor John Lapp will present an option this week, but money will be an issue.The borough plans to ask the Montour commissioners to use the Community Development block grant funds. $72,000 was originally allotted for the demolition, but the demolition bid came in at less than half that cost.  Still, even that may not cover the cost to move the structure properly, and there is  not yet a plan for where he building would be moved.

A similar, but smaller, structure, built about 1790, was moved and saved in Northumberland Pa - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/02/theres-log-cabin-in-northumberland-that.html

The History Of Columbia And Montour Counties, written in 1887 by J.H. Battle, tells us that Washingtonville  is one of the oldest townships and settlements in the county.   The earliest settler in the territory was Mr Brittain.  Other early settlers included Jacob Shultz, in about 1791, and Matthew Calvin, who built the old wood frame mill.  Joseph Hutchinson also settled near Washingtonville "at an early day."

Battle also tells us that " Brady's Fort   (generally printed in the State histories as "Boyle's Fort") was erected toward   the latter part of the Revolutionary war. It was named after the two brothers   Col. Sam. and Hugh Brady, who were prominent soldiers in the war for  independence. "  

Battle further states, "There is some dispute now as to where the old fort or bloc-house stood.  Some think it stood in the valley just across the creek from the borough, while others contend it stood just back of front street, between Church and Water Streets."

An 1860 Map Of Washingtonville 

Identifying the building as McCoy & Son Store

==================

Progress, as of March 31, 2020

======================

The New Bosley Cabin At The Montour Delong Fairgrounds

Photos taken during the 2022 construction

"The original two story cabin with hickory beams and hand wrought iron nails was discovered in 2022, when a condemned building was demolished in Washingtonville. A bar and hotel had been built around the cabin structure, hiding it in plain sight.
It's believed that the structure was built in the 1780s, although its exact history is not yet certain."

 
The Montour Delong Fair Association purchased the building for $1. It was taken apart piece by piece, with each board numbered, and stored at the fairgrounds. At this years fair, a team from DoLittle Construction constructed the cabin during the fair week.

The original structure was two stories tall, but some of the logs were unable to be salvaged. As a result, the cabin was reassembled as a one-story building.

The building will be used as s a museum at the fairgrounds ,housing exhibits appropriate to the region in the late 1700s.

The project was funded by a $70,000 state grant, $25,000 from the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau, approximately $25,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. An additional $10,000 was raised locally, some of those funds being raised by t-shirt sales at last years fair.

Events Scheduled at the cabin during the The Montour Delong Fair, 2023

=======================

See A large album of photos of the Log Home In Washingtonville here:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/fieldsofheatherblog/photos/?tab=album&album_id=3335748059774652

Read more about the fort at Bosley's Mill here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-fort-at-bosleys-mills-bradys-fort.html

==============