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 27
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Dawning of a New Bristol .- On Monday evening, De- cember 12, 1910, the Street Committee of Town Council introduced a resolution into the session of council, pro- viding for the construction of a sewer system and a new water works, and the issue of two series of bonds, one series in the sum of $100,000, for the contruction of the new water works, and the other in the sum of $63,000 for the erection of a sewage and disposal plant. On Monday evening, January 10, 1911, the ordinance was passed by a vote of 14 to 2, and it is expected that work on both projects will begin this summer.
At the meeting of Town Council, held on Monday eve- ning, December 12, 1910, Councilman Joseph R. Grundy proposed to present to the borough the handsome sum of $25,000 in cash, to be used in making certain improve- ments to the highways approaching the site for the new railroad station, in addition to his previously announced offer to deed several acres of land surrounding the station site, to the town for park purposes. The improvements referred to are the widening of Jefferson Avenue and Beaver Dam Road, each to sixty feet, the construction of a new bridge at the crossing of Beaver Dam Road and the canal, and the proper lighting of the streets and ave- nues which will furnish the main approaches to the new station. Surely the dawning of a greater and better Bristol seems to be at hand.
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APPENDIX.
Being a Collection of Additional Items Obtained Too Late for Insertion in Their Chronological Position.
Items From Diary of C. M. Foster .- May 10, 1867 : The tide in the Delaware River was the highest since 1841. Passengers on the steamboats were taken off in small boats.
November 9, 1867: The Catholic Church, a stone build- ing which stood on the site of the present church, was burned.
May 30, 1868: The new steamboat Twilight made her first trip to Bristol, taking the place of Pilot Boy.
November 23, 1868: The old freight house on Pond Street was burned.
July 20, 1869: Wm. K. Kelly's foundry on Wood Street was burned. The wind carried the sparks up Wood Street, setting fire to the roofs of the old Wood Street school house and the old Methodist Church, now Pythian Hall. The fire, however, was quickly extinguished with buckets of water, with but little damage to either building.
November II, 1870: A locomotive boiler exploded, a part of which was carried over to the schoolyard, injuring the building.
May 9, 1873: Charles Michener was accidently struck and killed by a bat while playing baseball.
December 1I, 1874: The standpipe at the water works was raised into position and a string of American flags was hoisted to the top. On February 1, 1875, the stand- pipe was filled with water for the first time, and on Feb-
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ruary 13, the fire plug on the opposite side of the street was given its first trial.
April 12, 1875: A canal boat loaded with coal for the John A. Warner, broke her lines on account of the very low tide, and slid out into the river, striking the Warner. below the water line, breaking a hole in her iron plates and causing the water to rush into her lower cabin. The hole was temporarily stopped with cushions from the seats. The fire company was called out to help pump the water out and with the aid of the boat's engine, kept her from sinking until Philadelphia was reached, where she was hauled out on the dry dock and a patch put on the broken part. She resumed her trips next day.
September 18, 1875: The first hook and ladder truck of America Hose, Hook & Ladder Company, No. 2, was housed with appropriate ceremonies.
January 1, 1876: The Centennial was ushered in at 12 o'clock P. M., with fireworks and ringing of bells.
June 5, 1876: The new steamboat, Columbia, made her initial trip to Bristol.
September 10, 1877: A shock of earthquake was felt in Bristol.
How Otter Street Received Its Name .- Otter Street and Otter Creek derived their name from John Otter, who owned the land on the south side of the creek.
The Bristol Library .- The Bristol Library was organ- ized April 2, 1878, with Rev. Jas. H. Mason Knox, D. D., president; A. Weir Gilkeson, secretary, and Dr. G. W. Adams, treasurer. The library was opened in Washing- ton Hall, with three hundred and twenty-seven volumes, which number has since been increased to several thou- sand. The library is stationed at present in the old Pres- byterian Church building. Miss Esther Lawrence is librarian.
How Radcliffe Street was Named .- It is supposed that Radcliffe Street was originally named after a suburbal portion of Bristol, England, known as Redcliffe. The river Severn divides the heights back of the town into
·
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two parts, one of which is called "Clifton Downs," and the other, "Redcliffe." One of the highest suspension bridges in the world connects the two suburbs. It is thought that with the passing of the years, the name Radcliffe superceded that of Redcliffe, the former being a corruption of the latter.
. How St. James' P. E. Church Extended the Boundaries of Its Land .- Although it has been generally understood, that Anthony Burton gave to the St. James' P. E. Church the ground embraced within its present boundaries, G. Morris Dorrance is authority for the statement that the part donated to the church by Burton only comprised a strip through the present grounds, upon which the church edifice now stands. The various extensions to the land were purchased by the church, as the deeds in Mr. Dor- rance's possession show. At one time it appears to have been the intention of the church to purchase all the land between Wood and Cedar Streets, up as far as Franklin Street, but lack of funds prevented the consummation of the plan. In 1856 the Baptist burial ground in the rear of the present church building was bought and annexed.
More About the de Onis Marriage by Proxy .- During the fashionable watering place period, mention is made of the marriage by proxy of the eldest daughter of Don de Onis, the Spanish Minister, to a Spanish army officer. From the columns of the Bucks County Gazette the fol- lowing additional information has been obtained :
. "The time of the wedding had been fixed to take place at her home here on a set date. About the time the pros- pective groom was to leave Spain to fulfill his engage- ment, the government ordered his regiment on duty in active service and he could not be present. Then oc- curred the strangest wedding ceremony ever performed. It was done by proxy. The like had never been witnessed in this country. The bride's father represented his in- tended son-in-law and she was represented by his sister in Spain. The marriage took place at high twelve in both countries. Father Hogan, of the Catholic Church in Phil- adelphia, performed the ceremony in Bristol."
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""It was a grand affair and never before were so many grenadiers of Spanish blood in Bristol at one time. Feast- ing and dancing were kept up till a late hour in the eve- ning. The affair caused much criticism among the ladies in Bristol. Some thought such a marriage would not be legal."
Description of the First Episcopal Church .- A descrip- tion of the first Episcopal Church, erected in 1712, as given by G. Morris Dorrance, is as follows :
"The building that Burton, Rowland, the De Norman- «dies and others erected was one story high and was com-
FIRST ST. JAMES' P. E. CHURCH.
posed of brick and stone. The nave of the church con- tained but ten pews. In the walls on either side were two small windows. In the chancel were a communion table, a communion set purchased by the Commissioners of Queen Anne's Bounty and on which were wrought the coat of arms of Anne, and a reading desk. The pulpit was in the rear and underneath it stood the chair of the 'clarke.' The first pew, directly under the reading desk,
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was reserved by the grant to the use of Anthony Burton and his heirs and assigns forever. A small spire rose above the nave. In 1739 it was by the vestry 'agreed that ye present church wardens build at the back of ye church between ye north windows, a vestry room eleven feet wide and sixteen feet back, one story high, and ye walls of brick and to build a chimney in the north end and all other conveniences that they may think necessary and to repair ye church windows and shutters and such other things that are needful to be done.' "
The Beginning of the Public School System .- The "Act" creating the public school system of Pennsylvania, passed the Legislature in 1834. The first board of school. directors in Bristol, elected under this act, was in 1835- and the first public school building was erected on Wood. Street in 1837.
A Whale in the Delaware .- In the old records it is: recorded by Phineas Pemberton, that in 1688 a whale was. seen in the Delaware river as far up as the falls.
"Weston" Passes Through Bristol .- From an old citi- zen we learn that "Weston," the renowned "walker," passed through Bristol in 1861, while on his way to Washington, D. C., to witness the inauguration of Presi- dent Lincoln. He stopped for a brief period at the Rail- road House, then kept by William Early. When he re- sumed his journey he was met at the canal bridge by Jos- eph Tomlinson, a well-known resident of Bristol, who was noted for his speed as a walker. Down Otter Street the pair went at a rapid pace, side by side, but when the buttonwood trees at the sand hole were reached, Weston turned to Tomlinson and said : "Well, old man, you are a pretty good walker, but I've got to leave you," whereupon he made a spurt and to the great surprise and mortifica- tion of Tomlinson, was soon far in the lead. Tomlinson stopped at the Otter Creek bridge. "Uncle" Josie Tom- linson is remembered today by many of our citizens, and if. "Weston" could surpass him in speed as a walker, all agree that he must have been far above the average.
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Leasy's Point a Noted Place .- Leasy's Point, men- tioned in the early part of this history, was situated on the New Jersey side, at the junction of Assiscunk Creek and the Delaware River, and was a noted place. In 1668, Governor Carteret granted permission to Peter Jegou to take up land there on condition that he would settle and erect a house of entertainment for travelers. This he agreed to do, and at the point he opened the first tavern on the river, a famous hostelry in its day. When Gov- ernor Lovelace visited the Delaware in 1672, it will be remembered that Captain Garland was sent forward to Jegou's house to make arrangements for his accommoda- tion, and persons were appointed to meet him there. The governor crossed at this point. George Fox, who visited the Delaware the same year, likewise crossed at Leasy's Point into Pennsylvania and thence continued on to the lower settlements. The house was subsequently called Point House, to which Governor Burnet opened one of his vistas from Burlington Island.
More About the Willis (Buckley) House .- In Davis' History of Bucks County, we find that the old "Willis House," which stood on Radcliffe Street where Halzell's and Nesbit's houses now stand, was once owned by Ennion Williams, a thrifty cooper and baker, and a leader in Falls Meeting, who married Mary Hugg in 1725. It is related of him that while in possession of the Willis House, he set some men at work to dig the foundation for an addition to the dwelling. Hearing the pick of one of them strike a hard substance that did not sound like a stone, he threw the laborers some change and told them to get something to drink. When they returned they saw the print of an iron pot in the earth. He said he had changed his mind about building, and discharged them. After this he rapidly grew wealthy. He subsequently built the front portion to the Willis House, putting in the west end the letters and figures, "E. W., 1735," in blue brick . This house was afterward in the Buckley family, and was used as a bake house for the Continental soldiers while encamped here during the Revolutionary War. It was also to this house that Lafayette was taken after being wounded at the battle of Brandywine.
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Showing Dates of Ward Divisions .- Bristol was di- vided into three wards in 1878. In 1890 the Third Ward was sub-divided and the Fourth Ward was formed from the division above the mill race. The Second Ward was sub-divided in 1905, thus bringing into existence a new ward known as the Fifth, which embraced the land above Lafayette Street to Adam's Hollow Creek, and bounded on the east by the Delaware River and on the west by the canal.
Bristol's Oldest Manufacturer .- Of that coterie of men, who, following the period of the Civil War, aided in the industrial development of Bristol, Ex-Burgess Thomas B. Harkins, is the only one residing here today. Joshua Peirce, to whom Bristol owes much as its industrial pioneer, is now a resident of Tacoma, Washington. Charles E. Scheide is in New York. William H. Grundy, Charles Peirce, James M. Slack, Thomas Hughes, Sam- uel Appleton, Frederick Nevegold, Joeph Sherman, Fran- cis Fenimore and William Wilson are all deceased. Mr. Harkins started in the foundry business in Bristol in 1871, and is presenting to his friends, this year, 1911, a neat souvenir nickle plated horseshoe, in celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the beginning of his business career.
Bristol's Oldest Citizens .- William H. Booz, of Cedar Street is the oldest native born citizen residing in Bristol, having been born in 1828, and with the exception of one year, has resided here his whole lifetime. Mrs. Margaret Stetler, who resides with her niece, Mrs. Joel Sooy, on Wood Street, is the oldest person in Bristol, being in the ninety-sixth year of her age.
A Reference to the Vanzant Family .- Many persons have noticed the old willow trees, which stand near the lock tender's house in the rear of the Bristol Mills, now occupied by Howard Sigafoos, but never dreamed that an interesting piece of history was attached thereto. Back in the early forties of the last century, this house was occupied by the late Abel Vanzant, who was a bank boss
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and also had charge of the lock. When his first son, who is now our well-known citizen, Joseph H. Vanzant, was born, the happy father planted a willow tree in honor of the event. Upon the birth of each succeeding child, the father planted another tree, so that the trees which now stand are living reminders of the children of Abel Vanzant.
Mrs. Mary Vanzant, the wife of Abel Vanzant, was a sister to School Director William Booz. Over her grave in the Bristol Cemetery, on a beautiful monument erected by her son, Joseph H. Vanzant, is this very in- teresting inscription :
"When General Marquis de Lafayette, America's zeal- ous supporter and the esteemed friend of General George Washington, passed through Bristol, September 4, 1824, on his second tour of the United State, the deceased was one of the flower girls who helped to decorate the triumphal arch, under which the general passed, upon his entrance into the town at the old hollow bridge, Rad- cliffe Street."
Earliest Settlement in Bucks County .- General Davis in his history of Bucks County claims that about 1624-25 the West India Company established a trading house on a small island, called "Vurhulsten Island," after William Vurhulst, director of New Netherlands, near the west shore of the Delaware, just below Trenton Falls, and located upon it three or four families of French Walloons. The post was broken up about 1627, and the Walloons returned to New York, but a small vessel was retained in the river to keep up the fur trade. The island was oppo- site Morrisville, and the settlement upon it was undoubt- edly the earliest in this county and state.
Showing the Origin of the African M. E. Church .- John Price, the well-known barber on Otter Street, in a historical sketch, written several years ago, claims that the Bristol African M. E. Church was organized by Rev. George Longstreth, in the house of Sister Harriet Ward, which house stood between the old mill race and the railroad, north of the Mill Street crossing. Services were
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held here regularly for some time, until the congrega- tion outgrew the accommodations, when the meetings were transferred to the old cooper shop at the foot of Wood Street. About this time (1847), Rev. James Ross became the pastor of the little flock and his work was very successful. The church on Pond Street was dedi- cated by Bishop Brown, and at the same time placed in the Philadelphia District. Subsequently Bristol and Bensalem become one charge. The church removed to its present quarters in 1883, under the pastorate of Rev. Cuff. Bishop Brown also dedicated this new edifice.
Conductor William Bailey and "Bailey's Line."-Back in the days when railroading was in its infancy, there came a man to Bristol, to work in the provision and clothing store of Cone & Tyler, whose name was Wil- liam Bailey. So closely did Bailey become associated with this period of the town's history, that this work would be incomplete without some reference to his name. After a time he found employment with the railroad, and became the conductor of the "early and late" accommoda- tion line, running between Trenton and Philadelphia. This train, tried as an experiment, soon proved a success. Such an arrangement being long needed, the traveling public generally expressed their thanks and commended the company for the favor. The train was known as "Bailey's Line." Some "wag" composed the following verses and dedicated them to Conductor Bailey :
Long have I known our Yankee friend, Who now is often heard Cry "all aboard," then "go ahead," "This, this train's the early bird."
He's always in a pleasant mood, Nor does he trouble dread; But strives to please his passengers, Who like the "go ahead."
The people who may ride with him Need never fear delays, Because as soon as time is up, "Tis "go ahead," he says.
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Although two mornings in each week, His train is somewhat late; But even then he "goes ahead," In spite of all the freight.
The company did very well In making such selection; For socially, friend Bailey has, A very wide connection.
"He is a man whom I do like," Are words which I hear daily; And then because he "goes ahead," There's many go with Bailey.
Not only is he much beloved, By mankind not a few; But he is held in high esteem By many ladies, too.
"How handy is this early train," The masses do exclaim, And with Conductor Bailey, There's no room to complain.
National Rivers and Harbors Committee Visits Bristol. -Saturday, June 3, 1911, was a "big" day in the history of Bristol. It was known that the Rivers and Harbors Committee of the Federal Congress would pass down the river in the afternoon, on their trip from New York to Philadelphia via of the Delaware and Raritan Canal and the Delaware River, for the purpose of viewing the sec- tion through which the proposed ship canal should be constructed, which, with the deepening of the Delaware River, will connect New York and Philadelphia. Through the efforts of "The Daily Courier," the committee agreed to stop at Bristol a short time, to permit the town to show its respect and interest in the deeper waterways project. The "M. S. Quay," which carried the Congres- sional Committee, tied up at the Market Street wharf, where a committee of citizens went on board. Assembly- man Franklin Gilkeson addressed the committee and his welcome was responded to by Congressman Stephen M. Sparkman, of Florida, chairman of the committee. It was not expected that the various members of the com- mittee would speak, but to the surprise of all, Congress-
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man G. Hampton Moore, who had planned the trip, turned to the large crowd gathered on the wharf, and after explaining to them the meaning of the trip, said he felt it was only fair that they should meet the members of the committee. Addresses were then made by the fol- lowing Congressmen, members of the Rivers and Har- bors Committee : Judge Geo. W. Taylor, of Alabama ; Chas. G. Edwards, of Georgia ; J. Edwin Ellerbe, of South Carolina ; Daniel A. Driscoll, of New York; W. E. Hum- phreys, of Washington; Michael Donohoe, of Philadel- phia. An address was also made by Joseph E. Ramsdell, president of the National River and Harbors Congress. When the "Quay" left the wharf, it was escorted down the river for a short distance by the boats of the Anchor Yacht Club. The houses along the river were decorated with flags in honor of the occasion, and when the "Quay" came in sight of Bristol, the whistles on all the mills be- gan to blow. The demonstration, informal though it was, made a profound impression upon the members of the Congressional Committee.
More Reminiscences of By-Gone Days .- Back in 1840- 50, when the canal trade was at its height, a large store was kept near the lock back of the Bristol Mills, by the Allen Brothers. In the year 1850 it was destroyed by fire, the loss being heavy. Below the Allen store was another, which was operated by Josiah Dilks. Isaac Winder, the father of our well-known townsman, Jacob M. Winder, was a clerk in this store. Back of the prop- erty on Mill Street, now occupied by Dr. C. E. King, along the canal basin, was a store kept by John Aber- nethy. He dealt in old iron and being the only one in that business, the boatmen all knew him and used to call him "Rowby," as a nickname. In an old house at the foot of Mill Street, John Scull opened an oyster saloon. Opposite to Scull's saloon on the site now occu- pied by Phillip Winter's boat house, was a stone dwelling occupied by Joshua Osmond. At the foot of his yard would often lay fifty or more canal boats loaded with coal awaiting orders. One day a well-known young man with several companions, was playing a game of cards on one
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"of the canal boats. A row occurred and when the young man's body was found next day, from marks upon his head, he was supposed to have been murdered by being struck by some hard instrument. Great excitement pre- vailed throughout the town. Several arrests were made, but no incriminating evidence could be found and the matter remains a mystery to this day.
Above Wood Street, along the basin, stood two cooper shops, one of which was operated by William and Robert Sanderson. One of the old cooper shops is still standing, being occupied as a storehouse by Wm. M. Downing. The other cooper shop was used for some time by the colored people, as a place of worship. When their quar- terly meeting time arrived, the colored brethren and sis- ters from all the surrounding country-side would flock into Bristol, and their jubilee hymns could be heard for squares away. Hundreds of the white brethren were also attracted and when the collection hats were passed around, the ministers would give the white brethren to understand that nothing but silver would be accepted. As a result, the offerings were some times exceedingly large. It was in these meetings that the Bristol African Methodist Church enjoyed a period of rapid development. The only living colored person in Bristol today, who was identified with those meetings in the old cooper shop, is Mrs. Henry Blake, the aged servant, now in the employ of Emil Erthal, the Mill Street druggist.
A few recollections of Mill Street during this period may prove interesting reading. The old brick mansion on the south side, near the railroad crossing, now occupied by Maria Barton, was then tenanted by Joseph Warner and later by Jesse W. Knight, and still later by Ellwood Doron. Where Jacob M. Winder now conducts a bot- tling establishment at the corner of Mill and Pond Streets, was a vacant lot used as a chicken yard by a Mr. Louder- bough, who lived in the adjoining residence. Aunt Patty Cooper lived for a time in the house next to Mr. Louder- bough and the house now used as a tin store by William Girton, was occupied by Robert Hall, a well-known tailor of that day. Mr. Hall's youngest son, Samuel, was mur- dered at New Brunswick, where he was employed in a 24
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store, by another boy, who stabbed him in the heart. The boy was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Wmn. Sanderson, who conducted the cooper shop previ- ously referred to, occupied the store property now used by W. M. Downing and the house adjoining, now the home of Mr. Downing, was occupied by Gilbert Tomlin- son, one of Bristol's well-known and respected citizens. Mr. Tomlinson had two sons, Thomas and Collin, and a monument marks the spot where the remains of the former lie buried in St. James' churchyard. Mr. Tom- linson conducted a coal wharf and his offices were in the vicinity of the water works. In the property now occu- pied by Robert Pearson, lived a man named William Bray, who was a dealer in stoves and had his workshop in the cellar. Next door, where Geo. L. Horn resided for many years, was a bakery conducted by George Vanzant. This was one of the first bakeries in the town and its proprietor built up a large business. Mr. Vanzant had five sons, all of whom are dead. His grandson, Jos. H. Vanzant, is the only surviving member of the Vanzant family.
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