USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Bristol > A history of Bristol borough in the county of Bucks, state of Pennsylvania, anciently known as "Buckingham"; being the third oldest town and second chartered borough in Pennsylvania, from its earliest times to the present year 1911 > Part 21
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Mrs. Slack had repeatedly asserted her determination
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to discontinue her connection with the mission when she reached the age of 70 years. When the time came, how- ever, it was hard work for her to break the ties asunder, and several Sundays passed before she could say the school would close. Finally, on Sunday, June 27, 1897, the Buckley Street Mission Sunday School, after a suc- cessful existence of twenty-two years, was discontinued,
Following its close, the members decided to visit their superintendent, Mrs. Slack, on each recurring birthday, and thus keep united the ties of friendship and affection which had bound them together for so many years. This custom has been continued during the thirteen years which have intervened since the close of the school, and on the evening of January 24th, of each year, the pleasant home of Mrs. Slack, at the corner of Radcliffe and Frank- lin Streets, is the scene of a happy reunion between the aged superintendent and her scholars, and her heart is cheered as she hears the boys and girls of former years sing over again the Gospel Hymns she taught them back. in the olden days.
America Hose, Hook and Ladder Company No. 2 .- The America Hose, Hook and Ladder Company No. 2, was organized in October, 1874, and incorporated Jan- uary 12, 1875, with fifty charter members. The names of the six men, which appear upon the charter are: William H. Hall, John M. Callanan, Richard E. Shaw, Allen L. Garwood, W. Harry Wright and B. C. Foster. The first president of the company was Allen L. Garwood. On October 1, 1876, just one year after its organization, Bor- ough Council authorized the construction of a one-story frame building on land owned by the borough, at the corner of Pond and Mulberry Streets, for the use of the company, at a cost of $545. In February, 1882, the old building was torn down, and by authority of Town Coun- cil, a two-story brick building was erected at a cost of $2,940. In more recent years the company, with permis- sion of council, removed the brick building, and had erected, at its own expense, the handsome and commodi- ous stone building of today. The building cost the com- pany $10,000. The first truck owned by the company was
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built by Wilson Randall, the carriage builder on Bath; Street, in 1875, at a cost of $650. After being in constant use for about a quarter of a century, it was supplanted by the splendid apparatus which is now in the company's. possession today, and a few years later the old truck was. sold to the Yardley Fire Company. This company has always been noted for its efficiency. Several times it has participated in parades in Philadelphia and other cities, always making a fine showing. Its twenty-fifth anniversay was celebrated by a banquet in Pythian Hall in October, 1899. Besides the truck, its equipment com- prises a hose wagon and a hose carriage.
A Fruit Preserving Establishment .- Between 1875 and 1880, below Bloomsdale, and on the bank of the river, was located the extensive establishment of Nathan Hell- ings, for the preservation of fruit. The main building was eighty by fifty with thick walls, and was so constructed as to avoid the outside changes of temperature, which was maintained within at from thirty- four to thirty-six degrees, while a current of dry air passed constantly through the building, to prevent mois- ture. A large ice bed under the centre of the building cooled the atmosphere in summer. Here large quanti- ties of foreign and domestic fruits, in season, were stored for preservation. The storage capacity of the establish- ment was about 10,000 barrels. Improvements in the system of fruit preservation and the development of "cold storage," soon made the Bristol establishment im- practicable and it was closed with a total loss to the pro- prietor. Subsequently the buildings were destroyed by fire, but the old ruins can still be seen from the decks of the steamers which ply up and down the river.
Reminiscences of Bristol in 1875-1880 .- During this period Bristol was about half as large as it is today, hav- ing a population of 5,000. Joshua Peirce was developing the land above Washington Street, and the Fifth Ward was a possibility of the remote future. The Bristol Im- provement Company had been organized and Grundy's mill was the first to be erected. The Fourth Ward was
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but sparsely settled, while the Third Ward was under- going the process of development. Samuel Swain and Walter Laing had divided the land south of Swain Street into building lots, opened up Swain, Linden, Locust and Maple Streets, and through the agency of the old Home and Cottage Building Associations, were rapidly selling the land. The old Wood Street and Otter Street (Mohican Hall), school buildings, had been erected and many of the boys of that generation, from all over the town, received their elementary training within the walls of the latter building.
The old Pennsylvania Railroad freight depot stood on the east side of the tracks, just above the passenger depot, with a frontage on Pond Street. Wm. H. P. Hall was freight agent, and occupied a frame office attached to the southern end of the building. Somewhere between it ånd the passenger station was a foot bridge, which passed over the top of the tracks, with steps leading up on . both sides. J. Merrick Brown was ticket agent at the passenger depot and also looked after the baggage de- partment, as well as the Adams' Express business. Along the race, just opposite the depot, on the west side of the tracks, was a frame house occupied by a noted character, Jack Kelly, or more commonly known as "Rabbit Eggs," and his associate "Poll Scott." Farther up towards Mul- berry Street stood a row of small houses called "Rotten Row," or "Bed Bug Row," and back of them, along the mill race stood another house or two. Along the track in front of "Bed Bug Row," were located the water tanks of the Pennsylvania Railroad. But two tracks passed through the town and the course of the railroad ran along the old roadbed just back of Otter Street. Gates had not yet been placed at the Mill Street crossing, but a flagman was on duty. Accidents frequently occurred and many men and boys were killed in attempting to steal fruit from the moving trains.
The grist mill which now stands in ruins near the cor- ner of Mill and Pond Streets was operated with water power, which produced a current in the basin below, which furnished a rendezvous for Bristol's famous her- ring. As many as fifteen dip-nets were often in use at
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one time and what a happy time it was, when a school of herring came up the basin attracted by the current. Twenty-five or thirty and sometimes fifty at a dip, was an occasional occurrence. The old saw mill was also a place of interest, with its long incline running down to the log pound in the basin below. The boys of that period found pleasure in watching the logs pulled up the incline into the mill, and then, when they were in position, through the kindness of the sawyer, Thomas Harrison, were allowed to ride forward and backward on the carrier frame, while the saw ploughed its way through the log.
On the south side of Mill Street, at the junction of the railroad and the street, stood a brick house occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sutch. Between the house and the railroad tracks was a pair of steps leading down to the tow path below. On the other side at the northwest intersection of the track and the street, Charles Osmond ran a bakery, and at the end of his property another pair of steps ran down to the towpath. When the crossing was blocked, the travel was diverted, passing down the steps, under the railroad bridge, by way of the towpath and up the steps on the other side. Adjoining the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sutch was a tin shop, the proprietor of which was Courtland Lynn. On the corner next to the race stood a blacksmith shop and its tenant may have been a man named Craven. On the other side of the railroad between the Owl Club and the canal, was a wagon road running down the hill underneath the old railroad to a canal stable situated near the overflow. One night, shortly after the borough had purchased its new Silsby steam fire engine, this stable caught fire, and in going down the hill the smoke stack struck the bridge and it broke off, so that the steamer was run that night with a barrel for a smoke stack. It proved a disastrous fire and several mules were burned to death.
The old forge was standing on the east side of the tracks near the Otter Street school building. It was in operation only a short time during this period, and some of the machinery was eventually sold to the rolling mill, which was then operated by Nevegold & Schiede. Be-
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tween the forge and the canal bridge stood two or three small houses. Modus Stroble, a sturdy type of our early German settlers, conducted a harness making establish- ment in the property now occupied by the Owl Club. William Blackwood ran a bakery at the corner of Bath and Otter Streets. Israel Tomlinson occupied the old stone house at the west corner of Bath and Otter Streets. Wilson Closson was proprietor of the Closson House.
The Bath Springs Hotel was still standing, being still in use for summer boarders. Jared Hellings was the pro- prietor. A bath house stood in the mill pond and a pavilion still remained near the famous spring. Near the creek was a bowling alley, which burned to the ground one night before the fire department could render assistance. Occasional excursions still came up on the boat, some bringing music with them.
Baseball occupied the attention of Bristol's sporting men just as it does today. The old "Athletics" played on a lot between Washington and Lafayette Streets. Later, Simon's field, opposite the Bristol Cemetery, was leased. It was here that baseball saw its greatest de- velopment. The old Keystone Club was almost invinci- ble. Mixed clubs, composed of Bristol and Burlington players struggled with the Keystone again and again for supremacy. It was during these struggles that the curved ball was brought out, which made such a revolu- tion in baseball circles. The Jerseymen brought the curved ball over from Burlington and the names of Bottle Burr, Frank Schuyler and Godie Brotherton are fresh in memory today.
An amusing incident occurred during this period of baseball history. The laws of the game were changed so that the pitcher in throwing a ball must keep his arm below his hip. One of the pitchers of the Bristol team was Mr. Dickie, who was a local manufacturer. He violated the rule so often, that the umpire was obliged to warn him, saying: "Get your hand down, Mr. Dickie!" This expression seemed to make a humorous impression upon the youthful minds and it became a by-word. Wherever Mr. Dickie went he heard this expression. The small boys would meet his carriage at the Mill Street
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crossing and follow it down Otter Street to the ball grounds, shouting at the top of their voices: "Get your hand down, Mr. Dickie !"
It was during this period that Patchem Flynn, who afterward became a pitcher for the local team, learned to pitch a curved ball. John Tyrol, Vivian Potts and many other boys of this period became adepts in the same line, and soon the curved ball became a feature in local ama- teur as well as professional baseball circles. The ball field was subsequently removed to the Fourth Ward, where, on one occasion, "Billy Downing," the pitcher of the local team, while at the bat, was struck in the temple by an inshoot, knocking him senseless, and putting an end to his baseball aspirations, for he played little after that occasion. Mr. Downing is still living and conducts a flour and feed business on Mill Street.
The circuses of these days traveled in wagons on the road, and what fun it was for the boys to arise early in the morning and meet the wagons at Otter Creek bridge. The bridge was a weak structure and the elephants were taken down the bank and waded across the creek. The tent wagons always arrived first. Later in the morning the circus proper would arrive. Stopping on South Otter Street they would form in line and parade through the town to the lot on which the tents had been erected. On one occasion, the band wagon was drawn by forty horses, driven by one man. It was considered a wonderful feat, and was talked over in the town for many days after- ward. The circuses of this period seemed better than they are today, because the clown was a more important part of the show. Perhaps many of our readers will re- member McGinley's Circus and Cole's Circus, both of which made yearly visits to the town. Dan Gardiner was the greatest leaper that Bristol people have ever seen and the number of horses, camels and elephants he could leap over, at the same time turning a double somersault in the air, was wonderful to behold.
The temperance question was agitating the minds of the people and outdoor meetings were held in the old grove, which was situated on Pond Street above De Witt's greenhouses. An orator named William A. Lafferty was
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prominent in the temperance work. One evening a hotel keeper signed the pledge and the next day the liquor from his hotel was poured out on the hill adjoining Dr. Pur- sell's drug store. Meetings were also held in Cabeen's Hall. A strong branch of the Catholic T. A. B. Society was in existence and temperance meetings were frequently held in St. Mark's Roman Catholic Church, which were largely attended.
Bunker Hill rose out of the marsh in majestic splendor. It was situated just back of the old forge, and a remnant of it exists today. At one time it was thought a paper mill would be erected thereon. A well was sunk, but for some reason the work was abandoned. Later, when the Pennsylvania Railroad changed its roadbed to its present location, Bunker Hill was purchased and the earth used for the road's embankment. For several years a man named Fiddle and his wife, lived on the side of the hill in an old canal boat. He dealt in rags, bones and old iron and kept a large flock of geese. Mrs. Fiddle was quick tempered and would often get a gun and make the boys run, when she could stand their conduct no longer. On the south side of the hill, there was a favorite spot where the boys liked to bathe, and in winter time the north side made a delightful coasting ground. When the ice on the marsh was in good condition, the impetus secured from the ride down the hill would carry the coast- ers half way across to the overflow. One night, after the canal boat home had been vacated by its occupants, it was set on fire. A snow storm was raging at the time and it made a beautiful sight. In fact, such a vivid im- pression did it make upon the memories of those who lived at this period, that today, whenever they indulge in reminiscences, the Bunker Hill fire is always mentioned.
Bristol in these days, had two brass bands and a drum corps. The latter was first organized in connection with H. Clay Beatty Post No. 73, G. A. R., and met weekly for practice in Henry Rue's carpenter shop on Otter Street. The T. A. B. Band met in the upper store of the building adjoining Harry Vanhorn's (A. Petty) black- smith shop on the same street. The Washington Band, which was one of the very best bands the town ever had,
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was organized in about 1879, in the room in Washington Hall, now occupied by H. Clay Beatty Post, G. A. R., but then used by a social organization called the Washing- ton Assembly. Later the band met in the upper story of the hose house of the Bristol Hosiery Mills' Fire Brigade, on Buckley Street. This building was afterward moved to the corner of the Beaver Dam Road and Buckley Street, and turned into a residence. The services of the Washington Band were in great demand, and during the Garfield-Hancock campaign it filled several important en- gagements. The band was under the leadership of John Cotshott, who was a cornet player of rare ability. Among the surviving members are Alexander Watson, Joshua Townsend, Patrick Morris and Thomas Keating. The band was in existence about ten years.
A review of the business places on Mill Street will probably prove interesting reading to many. Jacob Mc- Brien conducted a harness making shop where McIl- vaine's bottling establishment now stands. William Terneson was the proprietor of a shoe store at the corner of Mill and Pond Streets. John Bostwick's photograph gallery was in the building now occupied by Jacob Win- ders. Cabeen and Beatty ran a store on the opposite cor- ner and the hall in the second story, then known as Cabeen's Hall, was in the zenith of its popularity. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thumb, Commodore Nut, Professor Wey- man the magician, and Blind Tom, have all performed on its platform. On one occasion a traveling mesmerist came to town and gave a series of exhibitions in the hall. He was a clever performer and took his subjects from the audience, putting them through all sorts of laughable stunts. The exhibitions, however, raised a howl of pro- test, but nevertheless the hall was packed every night. Uncle Amos Lippincott conducted a tobacco shop, sand- witched in between H. S. Rue's residence and Ruby's five and ten cent store. John H. Wood was in business where Harry Smith now is, at the corner of Mill and Wood Streets. The lot on the southeast corner was un- occupied and was a rendezvous for every traveling show that came along. It was here in a side show, where many Bristol people first saw the fantoscope, sword swallow-
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ing, feats in magic and ventriloquism. Traveling medi- cine men also occupied the lot and during the summer there was hardly a night when some "faker" was not per- forming upon it. The boys of this period will recall Johnnie Steen, the bootblack man, who was perhaps the foremost among them. Old Mr. Pennington kept a store în Joseph Vansant's property next to "The Bristol." Louis Hoguet was a druggist, having been succeeded in later years by E. C. Erthal. Nathan Tyler's clothing store stood on the site where the Family Theatre now stands. Over in front of the Bristol House, now occupied by Charles Rommell, stood a high flag pole, owned by the borough, and when the new steam fire engine was purchased by Fire Company No. I, the firemen used to test it by trying to throw a stream over the top of the pole. The postoffice was on Mill Street, next to Tyler's clothing store and Jessie Miers was postmaster. Dr. Howard Pursell conducted a drug store, as he does today, at the corner of Mill and Cedar Streets.
John McOwen kept a shoe store in the building now occupied by Kidd's dining room. Charles Woolman occupied an old building which stood on the site of Weis- blatt's store. Rogers Brothers operated the Bristol Mills. In an old building adjoining Cabeen & Beatty (Bell), William Broadnax was in business and the Louderbough sisters conducted a store on the opposite side of the street. Samuel Scott occupied the store now owned by William Girton, and W. H. P. Hall lived in the dwelling now occu- pied by W. M. Downing. Hibbs Goforth kept a store next door in a building later occupied by George L. Horn as a residence, and Wm. Blackwood had removed from the corner of Mill and Otter Streets to the building next door. On the other side of the street, in the dwelling now occupied by H. S. Rue, his father, Samuel Rue, re- sided and conducted the undertaking business. Charles Douglass was in the tin business where the Chinese laundry now is, and next door a store was kept by a Mrs. Gear. H. G. Peters was in the drug business in the Allen building, where Wollard's shoe store is located, and George Allen was in business in the store now run by Johnson Brothers. Joseph Foster conducted a jewelry
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store on the opposite corner and next door, in the build- ing now used as an office by the Bristol Gas Light Com- pany, a hardware store was run by a Mr. Thomas, who was the father of Jessie O. Thomas. Mrs. J. M. Brown was in business next door and next door to Mrs. Brown's, Charles Ahlee conducted a candy store. Mr. Gear had a shoe store in the little building later used by the Bristol Courier and next door was the residence and adjoining thereto the butcher shop of Hazel Hibbs. On the oppo- site side of the street, in the McMullen building, a Mrs. Hamilton kept a store. Frank N. Booz kept a lamp store where Mr. Roper lives, and ran an oil route. John M. Callanan kept a toy store and news agency where Whit- aker's shoe store now is. On the other side Brown's millinery store was a popular place, and in the adjoining building, Harry Bradfield conducted a music store. Next door but one, in the "Ark" building, a store was run by a Mrs. Jewitt. Jesse Jackson kept a candy store where Claud Harris is now in business, and Richard Trudgen was in the furniture business next door, where the news agency is now established. Dr. E. J. Groom occupied his residence next door, and down the hill, back of Dr. Pursell's drug store, was a keg factory, operated by Joseph Wood. This building was destroyed by fire. Mrs. McCorkle kept a millinery store on the east corner of Mill and Cedar Streets and Joseph Kinsey ran the hard- ware store where the Wright Brothers now conduct their business. Thomas Barnard was proprietor of the tin shop now owned by L. J. Bevan. The Railroad House was conducted by W. H. H. Fine. Of all the business or professional men, who were located on Mill Street, three decades ago, only three remain in business today.
The men of this period, in addition to those already mentioned, who occupied prominent places in the life of the borough were: Joshua Peirce, William H. Grundy, Charles E. Schiede, Charles W. Peirce, Joseph Peirce, William Kinsey, John S. Brelsford, James Foster, Joseph Foster, James Brudon, J. G. Krichbaum, Wilson Randall, Squire James Lyndell, J. Wesley Wright, James Wright, Charles E. Scott, William Bailey, Dr. W. T. Potts, Henry M. Wright, W. H. P. Hall, Allan L. Garwood, Edmund Lawrence, Ellwood Doron, Michael Dougherty, Wm. H.
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Booz, R. W. Holt, T. B. Harkins, Joseph Sherman, Sym- ington Phillips, James M. Slack, Charles York, Jonathan Wright, A. L. Packer, Charles Wollard and Morton A. Walmsley.
The Clark Insulated Wire Company .- About the year 1878, Henry A. Clark came to Bristol, and purchasing a piece of land in the northern part of the town, facing on Beaver Dam Road, erected a building and began the manufacture of grossamer cloth. Mr. Clark was a chem- ist of unusual ability and his new enterprise met with success from the beginning. His plant was known far and wide as the Bristol Rubberoid Works. In his chemical experiments, Mr. Clark discovered a method of insulating wire, and needing additional capital in his business, organ- ized a corporation known as the Clark Insulated Wire Company. Lack of harmony among the stockholders, however, soon caused Mr. Clark to withdraw, and taking the secret of manufacture with him, the company soon failed. Mr. Clark was a man of pleasing personality, and enjoyed a wide circle of friends, who deeply regretted his removal from the town.
Washington Street School House .- On June 26, 1878, there was an interesting event in Bristol at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when there was a procession of school children, led by their teachers, from the Wood Street school to the corner of Washington and Pond Streets, where the corner stone of the new school building was laid with appropriate ceremonies.
Professor Krichbaum, standing near the corner of the building, announced the opening ceremony; a prayer by Rev. Dr. Cunningham, of the Bristol M. E. Church, after which the school sang a selection : "Live and Learn," and Dr. Cunningham delivered a short address. After a song by the secondary school, Professor Krichbaum announced the contents of the copper box about to be deposited in the corner stone to be as follows: Names of the officers of the United States government, names of the State officers and of the Borough Council and Borough officers, names of the School Board and ministers of the different churches, names of the directors of the Farmers' National Bank, copies of the latest issues of the Bucks County
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Gazette, Bristol Observer, Bucks County Intelligencer and Doylestown Democrat and some old coins and frac- tional currency.
The box was then deposited, after a few remarks by Professor Krichbaum.
At a meeting of the Public School Board, held May 10, 1877, it was decided to build a new school house in the upper end of the town, on a lot recently purchased of Ellwood Doron, at a price of $1,600, and a committee composed of John W. Bailey, W. H. Hall and Dr. John
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