USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania : from its first beginnings to the present time, including chapters of newly-discovered early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material. Volume III > Part 106
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Later in the same year, another brick building was erected by Benjamin Perry, at the southwest corner of Main and Northampton streets which, about the year 1880, gave place to a business structure.
The subject of business development would not be fully considered with- out reference to a project which, in the light of later events, was to cause disas- trous loss to many residents of the community. It has been stated that Philip and John P. Arndt had established a boat yard on the River Common between Market and Northampton streets. Philip Arndt, the father, had long since pass- ed to his reward. But John P. Arndt was, in the period of which we write, one of the community's most substantial merchants.
In 1807, having become a partner of John P. Robinson in the general merchandising business, he leased the hotel on River street which bore his name to Thomas H. Morgan, so as to permit his attention to be centered upon other business enterprises more of interest to his creative imagination.t One of these *For a cut of the Slocum residence and a sketch of the life of its builder, readers are referred to Vol. II, page 1117, of this History.
+The following description of the "Old Arndt Tavern" is from the pen of Miss Emily I. Alexander (hereinbefore mentioned) who wrote from memory of it in 1878, the account being published in the Il'ilkes-Barre Leader, June 27th of that year: * * * "The architecture was simple, but substantial-two stories and an attic; plenty of windows on the sides and ends. A wide porch enclosed with railing ran along the entire frout, and there were easy benches or settees against the walls beneath the windows. The whole appearance of the place betokened comfort and good cheer.
"The interior was as simple as the exterior. A wide hall ran thro the centre; the rooms were large; closets deep and dark flanked the big open fire-places, for in those days wood only was used; and plain strong furniture, principally of walnut and cherry woods, made up all the requirements of living desired by the occupants, for the people of that day were simple in their tastes. * * * It was. for those days a most comfortable and commodious tavern. Just opposite the front door-across the road-way on the edge of the river green-stood the usual tall tavern sign post, with its painted sign-board swinging in a frame, and surmounted by a martin house, modeled after the tavern, and to which the busy birds never failed yearly to come. Further over, on the edge of the river. and quite over the water, stood Arndt's store-house-an unpainted structure looking much like a mill, as at each end in the angle of the roof, a stout beam ran out hearing the blocks and tackle for raising or lowering heavy merchandise.
"The proprietors of these buildings, the Messrs. Arndt did a general and commission business, buying from the River craft, the Durham boats and arks, which at certain seasons of the year came down the river from 'York State' loaded with grain, flour, salt, cheese, potatoes, spinning wheels, etc. They also owned and ran a distillery, which was located below the tavern, and kept a hay scale. *
* Rev. Dr. Peck calls it the 'Old Red Tavern' on the River bank, then kept by James Morgan and subsequently known as the 'Old Arndt Hotel.' He has evidently confounded it with a house farther down the street, built by Capt. J. P. Schott, and often called the 'Red House', but it was a small structure uot adapted to the uses of a hotel. The brothers (sic) Arndt-John P. and Philip-came to Wilkes- Barre from Easton, Pa., at an early date and engaged in various business enterprises, becoming prosperous. Among other things, they built and launched, in 1803, a sloop of 12 tons, getting it safely to tide, but their next venture of the kind
.
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was boat building. The demand for arks in which to transport coal was yet to come. But having successfully launched the ocean bound schooner John Frank- lin from his boat yard in 1803, why could not Wilkes-Barré be made an inland ship yard where materials were cheap and labor plentiful?
It may seem a wild dream to us of the 20th century, but to the vigorous, successful John P. Arndt of the first decade of the nineteenth, it became an obsession. Concerned with practically every project for the advancement of the community, it was not a difficult task for him to secure the assistance, financial or otherwise, of those about him. This he did in the organization of the Luzerne Ship Building Company.
Unfortunately for its promoters, the "Company" was never incorporated. As a partnership, each associate was responsible for its debts. Upon Mr. Arndt, this responsibility eventually fell.
No minutes of the company have been found by the present writer, and no list of stockholders remains. It is probable that all papers, relative to the venture, were taken by Mr. Arndt, when he removed to Buffalo and later to Green Bay, Wisconsin, after being forced to part with his property in the valley, in hopes that they might prove valuable in later securing some of the unpaid subscriptions. Several meetings must have preceded that of October 21, 1809, of which the first published notice was given to subscribers in the Federalist of the day before. The notice in question is as follows:
"THE SUBSCRIBERS
"To the ship-building Company will take notice, that a meeting will be held at the House of George Taylor in Wilkesbarre, on Saturday, the 21st inst., at 2 o'clock P. M., to elect a Manager in the room of Arnold Colt* (who has removed out of the county) and to do such other business as may be deemed best for the Company." "JOHN P. ARNDT,
"Pres. of the Board."
In the same publication, dated January 19, 1810, stockholders are informed "that workmen are now employed, who are getting out timber for the purpose of commencing the work; and that $2 on each share is now due."
A third notice was published in the same paper under date of September 14, 1810. It disclosed the interesting information "that the ship is now on the stocks and the work is progressing; therefore the managers have called for the 'second installment of $3 on each share."
This notice was signed by Peleg Tracey, Treasurer; John P. Arndt, as before, being styled President.
Elisha Mack, who had been a former neighbor of many early Wilkes- Barréans at Lyme, Connecticut, and later a ship carpenter at Brooklyn, was brought on as foreman of construction, while Captain Joseph Chapman, Sr., who had commanded a ship in the West India trade, was called upon for a final inspection of the vessel and was given the honor of christening her.
Requiring two years to build, involving a very considerable sum of money, most of it borne by Mr. Arndt himself, and with hopes of the community keyed to a high pitch by the magnitude of the undertaking, it is small wonder that all else was forgotten when the completed vessel was ready to launch. It must
a vessel of 60 tons altho safely launched, in 1812, was broken at the Conawaga Falls, and a total loss. Their experience was the beginning and end of shipbuilding here. Very soon after this failure, they sold out all their interest here and moved to Green Bay, Wis., where their descendants still live.
"Thos. H. (not James) Morgan succeeded Mr. Arndt, and kept the tavern. He was a popular host and a good business man. He was followed by Maj. Orlando Porter; and shortly after he left it, going to the Phoenix-then new, the fame of the old place waned, and it finally became a simple private dwelling house."
Editor's Note :- This sign, in 1810 and for many years thereafter, bore the picture of a ship. It is frequently referred to as "The Tavern at the Sign of the Ship," just as the Fell Tavern was designated "At the Sign of the Buck."
*At this time, Arnold Colt, owing to financial reverses, had removed to Stoddardsville, and for three years kept a tavern there at one of the relay stations of the Easton and Wilkes-Barre turnpike.
PRESENT RIVER COMMON, SHOWING APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF THE ARNDT SHIPYARD, 1803-1812.
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have been an inspiring, as it was unusual sight, for those who passed along River street in the early spring of 1812, to find breasting the River Common, with its carved figure head almost reaching the present street line, and its stern-post quite to the river bank,a vessel of some sixty ton's burthen with tall masts erect, and polished spars in place; a ship that had no place beyond the heaving seven seas. Two stories of the launching are here given. Dilton Yarrington, a son of Abel Yarrington, the ferryman of early Wilkes-Barré, wrote one account many years later. It is given below:
"During the war of 1812, the great ship Luzerne was built on the river bank in front of John P. Robinson's stone house. I saw the launch. A thousand or more people were present. The war spirit was rampant at that time, and the people of our town expected that the noble Luzerne was going to assist in bringing the "Flag of Great Britain" down. A few days after the launch, a sufficient flood arose and the ship was manned and started down the river towards the ocean, but in passing the Falls of Canawaga, she ran on to the rocks and lay there till the ice in the river broke up the next spring, when she was totally destroyed.
"John P. Arndt was one of the stockholders, probably the largest one, in the vessel. Several others, including my father, had from three to five hundred dollars of the stock. There was great excitement in Luzerne County about those days. The war spirit prevailed to a great extent. There were two recruiting stations at Wilkes-Barre, and the recruiting officers were very busy for one or two years. Business of every description was brisk, and all kinds of provisions were high; wheat, two dollars and fifty cents per bushel; corn, one dollar and twenty-five cents; pork, eighteen to twenty dollars a barrel, and everything else on the line of provisions, proportionally high."
"D. YARRINGTON."
The second account, which survived in the files of the Gleaner, of April 17, 1812, is as follows:
"THE LAUNCH"
"Last Friday (April 10, 1812) was the day on which the launch of the vessel on the stocks in this Port, was announced. A scene so extraordinary, two hundred miles from the tide waters of the river, raised the curiosity of every one. The old sailors and the inhabitants of the seaboard, whom the vicissitudes of fortune had settled in this sylvan retreat, and to whom such scenes had once been familiar, felt all the interest so naturally excited by events that call up early and interesting recollections. The novelty to those who had never witnessed such a view, excited their curiosity to the highest degree. The importance of the experiment too, did not fail to augment the general solicitude, for on its success, depended the important consideration, whether the timber of our mountains could be profitably employed in shipbuilding, and our country be benefited by the increase of business, which such a pursuit would naturally produce.
"On the Sunday preceding the interesting day, a beautiful new pair of colours were displayed from her stern, according to immemorial usage, as a token that in the course of the week she should be launched.
"From Monday to Friday all was bustle and activity. Early on Friday, people began to gather from all parts of the country.
"The cannon on the bank, at noon gave notice that everything was in preparation. A little after 2, repeated discharges announced that all was ready. The bank of the river far above and below the vessel was lined with persons of both sexes, and it was not among the least gratifications of the day to observe the smile of pleasure, mingled with anxiety for the success of the launch, which was evident on every countenance. A little after 3 the increased bustle and noise around the vessel, and the sound of sledges and axes, gave the interesting notice that they were knocking away the blocks. The vessel was built on the bank of the river one hundred feet from the water, and fifteen feet perpendicular height above it, so that she had considerable distance to move. "She measures between 50 and 60 tons. Her colours were flying from her stern, and near thirty persons were on board.
"The after block was knocked away-every eye was fixed-all was anxiety, but she did not move. The men on board all gathered near her bow, and then run in a body to the stern. She started-moving for half a minute slowly-the velocity increased and she slid most gracefully into her destined element, amid the shouts of thousands.
"As she met the water, Capt. Chapman christened her in the usual style, 'The Luzerne, of Wilkes-Barre.'
"Nothing could be more beautiful,-every spectator was amply gratified."
The fate of the "Luzerne" was, in a measure, the fate of John P. Arndt. The vessel was anchored for some two weeks in front of the shipyard, awaiting a more propitious stage of water before venturing forth. On May 2nd, river conditions seemed ripe for the voyage, and once again cannon boomed as the anchor was weighed. Very little use of her sails could be made during the journey, nor could the vessel be poled, as was the case with smaller craft. After several
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narrow escapes from going aground on ledges and reefs, the vessel piled up on the rocks of the "Falls of Conawago", near Middletown. The receding waters of summer left her high and dry there, but some hope remained with her owners of floating her when the river again became bank full in the fall. In this they were disappointed. The ice came before an expected fall freshet, and by spring no trace of the vessel remained.
Mention is made, in the Yarrington narrative of the launching, that the ship ways stood "opposite the stone house of John P. Robinson."*
This was the first stone residence and one of the first stone buildings of the community. Its construction was begun in 1803 and finished in the following spring. Its builder was to become one of the community's leading merchants, first identifying himself with the affairs of John P. Arndt and later with the Hollenback interests.
In 1804, it can be mentioned in passing, that Luzerne County lost the first of an enormous acreage, from which four counties were later to be erected. By an Act passed April 2nd of that year, a strip of territory was detached from Luzerne, and annexed to Lycoming County, westward of a line "Beginning at
VIEW ON SOUTH RIVER STREET, NEAR NORTHAMPTON STREET, ABOUT 1861. Showing the Lord Butler, Jonathan J. Slocum, and John P. Robinson houses.
*Under the caption "Another Landmark Going" the Record, August 11, 1896, published the following relative to the Robinson house:
"One of the oldest stone houses in Wilkes-Barre, known as the Dr. Mayer residence ou South River Street, next to the residence of John N. Conyngham, is being torn down to make room for an addition to the Conyngham lawn and possibly for a new house some day. The house was built in 1803 by John P. Robinson and at that time was considered a fine residence, beiog one of two houses ou the river front. the other heing the residence of Jacob Cist.
The house remained a part of the Robinson estate for sixty years and was sold to Dr. Mayer about 1868 for $6.000. After Dr. Mayer's death it was sold to the Laning estate aud a few years ago to Mrs. W. L. Conyngham for $25,000 John P. Robinson, the builder, came to Wilkes-Barre from Susquehanna County in 1800 and married a daughter of Col. Zehulon Butler. When the turnpike was completed from Easton to this city over the Pocono mountain Mr. Robinson and John P. Arndt kept the leading hotel io Wilkes-Barre, the site being that now occupied by the Darling residence ou South River street."
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the east side of the east branch of Susquehanna, on the line between Pennsyl- vania and New York, at such place, that from thence a due south line will strike the north-eastern corner of Clavarack Township; thence by the line of the same township, about a south-west course, crossing the said east branch, to the north- west corner of the said township; thence by the south-west side of the same, to the southwest corner thereof, and from thence by a due west line to the line now separating the counties of Luzerne and Lycoming."
The year 1808, on the other hand, witnessed the addition of a strip of land, formerly a part of Northumberland, to Luzerne County. In this transaction, the act of March 28, 1808, provided "That all that part of Northumberland County, lying northeast of a straight line from the mouth of Nescopeck Creek, to the northwest corner of Berks County, shall be, and the same is hereby, annexed to Luzerne County."
While neither of these transactions was of much importance from a terri- torial standpoint, an echo of the Susquehanna land controversies can be dis- cerned in the earlier transfer. It was a gerrymandering move, legislature making it merely for the purpose of forcing Col. John Franklin and some of his associates to become residents of Lycoming, rather than of Luzerne County, in hopes of preventing Colonel Franklin from being re-elected to the State Legislature. In this object, as has been stated, the legislature was defeated and Colonel Franklin came again to fight his battles on the legislative floor as a resident of a new district.
The later transfer of territory was, as can be seen from early State maps, merely a measure to straighten out unusually crooked lines between counties.
To those accustomed to the ornate setting of the present Court House, on grounds that were a part of the north River Common, the following ordinance of the borough council, passed August 15, 1809, may be of interest:
"An act to establish a public LUMBER YARD in the Borough of Wilkesbarre.
"Sec. 1st. Be it ordained by the authority of the Town Council of the Borough of Wilkes- barre, That the lot of ground on the bank of the river between Union street and the upper line of the Borough, be, and the same is hereby appropriated for a LUMBER YARD, and all persons are authorized to place their lumber thereon free of expence, on condition of piling it in such a manner as to leave a road along the bank of the river, seventy-five feet wide.
"JESSE FELL, Presdt." "Attest:
"PELEG TRACY, Clerk."
To students of latter day public finances in particular, the County Treasurer's statement for the year 1807, may prove something of a revelation. Notwithstanding the then area of the county, and taking into consideration the fact that payment was being made in that year on several building projects, the total expenses of county government aggregated only a little over $19,000. Total election expenses were only $311. Fees of jurymen aggregated only $800. There was paid for wolf bounties $480, and panthers were so numerous that $104 had been paid for their scalps. Red foxes were numerous. The County Treasurer's compensation was $767, while the Commissioners (Benjamin Dor- rance, Elisha Harding and Hosea Tiffany) earned sums ranging from $145 to $225. The entire cost of making the assessments in the large and scattered county of that day, was only $530. Bridges and roads cost $1,925; expense of main- taining jail (there was only one prisoner) was only $420, and Supervisors' expenses for roads were only about $5,000, this being the largest item of all.
As outlying townships of the county became more thickly settled, frequent complaints reached the Court and Commissioners that, owing to the limited
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number of voting places prescribed, the franchise could be exercised by voters in many localities only by travelling considerable distances. At the fall session of Court in 1809, eight new districts were added to the twelve then in'existence and the Sheriff in his proclamation for elections that year, named the following twenty districts where voters could assemble:
1. Townships of Nescopeck and Salem.
2. Townships of Wilkesbarre, Hanover and Newport. (Polling place- court house at Wilkesbarre.)
3. Townships of Plymouth, Kingston and Bedford.
5. Townships of Pittston and Providence.
6. Townships of Exeter and Northmoreland.
7. Tunkhannock.
8. Braintrim.
9. Wyalusing.
10. Wysox.
11. Townships of Towanday and Canton
12. Orwell.
13. Harford.
14. Abbington.
15. Bridgewater.
16. Townships of Willingborough, Lawsville, and New Milford.
17. Clifford.
18. Rush.
19. Nicholson.
20. Sugar-Loaf.
In January, 1810, the Luzerne County Agricultural Society was first organized, in the court house at Wilkes-Barré. Jesse Fell, Esq., was chosen chairman, and Dr. R. H. Rose, Secretary of the meeting. A constitution was adopted, and the following officers were chosen for the year: Jesse Fell, Esq., President; Matthias Hollenback, Esq., Vice President; Thomas Dyer, Esq., Treas- urer; Peleg Tracy, Recording Secretary, and Dr. Rose and Jacob Cist, Corres- ponding Secretaries. The preamble to the constitution declared the object of the society to be "for the improvement and advancement of agriculture, by intro- ducing improved breeds of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, and the best grain, such as wheat, rye, corn, &c., and the improvement of the soil by lime and manure."
The prominent and efficient actors in this movement were Dr. Rose and Jacob Cist, Esq., possessing, perhaps, a greater share of scientific agricultural information than any other two men in the county.
No proceedings of the Society have been preserved, other than a report made in 1811, on nineteen specimens of cloth, presented by Mr. Ingham, all of which were pronounced creditable. The pieces particularly noticed, were wronght by Miss Luckey, Raphael Stone, R. Ingham, A. Stevens, N. Stevens and Jos. Ingham.
There is preserved also a list of premiums proposed in 1824, as follows :
For the best field of wheat, less than 30 acres, $5; for the best field of corn and rye, $5; for the best field of oats or buckwheat, less than 30 acres, $3; for the best acre of potatoes, $3; for the best half-acre of flax, $4; for the best quarter-acre of rutabaga turnips and tobacco, each $3; best ram, $3; best ewe, $3; best bull, $5; best cow, $5; best piece of woolen cloth, $5; second best, $3; best piece of flannel, $4; best piece of domestic carpet, $4; best piece of linen, one yard wide, $3; best quality of cheese, less than 100 pounds, $5; best sample of butter, not less than 20 pounds, $3; best made plow, $5; best quantity of stone fence, not less than 25 rods, $5; for a bushel of the best apples or peaches, $1.50; for the best watermelon, 50 cents.
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"For the best essay on the Hessian fly, and preventing its ravages, there was offered a premium of $5; for the best essay on the various species of curculio, and the mode of destroying them, $5; for the best essay on agriculture or manufactures, $5.
Celebrations of the 4th of July, 1810, were heightened by talk of war with Great Britain, which President Jefferson and his advisors were attempting to avert, by every argument at their command. In that year, both the Consti-
ANDREW JACKSON.
tutional-Republicans, as former Federalists were then known, and Democrats, the title now assumed by followers of Jefferson, held imposing rallies. Stories of the two gatherings lose none of their interest by being taken from the files of the press, and may serve to enlighten the reader as to customs in vogue at
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Wilkes-Barré more than a century ago. The oft consulted Federalist furnishes the following account:
"The anniversary of American Independence was celebrated by the Federal and Consti- tutional Republicans of Wilkesbarre and its vicinity, in a style worthy of the occasion.
"The dawning of the day was hailed by 13 discharges of cannon. Precisely at 12 o'clock the signal Gun convened the citizens on the Bank of the River. General Lord Butler was chosen President of the day, and Charles Miner, Esq., Vice President. A procession was then formed, and marched to the Meeting House in the following order:
"1. Martial Music.
"2. The Committee of Arrangement.
"3. The American Flag.
"4. The Young men, two and two.
"5. The elder citizens.
"6. The President and Vice President.
"7. The Orator of the Day, and Clergymen.
"At the door of the Meeting-House, the procession halted and facing in, opened to the right and left, and entered in inverted order. The exercises were opened by singing. The introductory prayer was then made by the Rev. Mr. Thayer. An Oration was then delivered by Mr. Garrick Mallery.
"We will not do injustice to this elegant production, by endeavoring to give an idea of its excellence. The public will undoubtedly have an opportunity to peruse it from the Press. But we may venture to say, that it is one of these productions that will be read hereafter with delight, among the first specimens of American eloquence. * ** *
"The procession returned in the same order to a Bower on the Bank, prepared for the occas- ion, where an excellent dinner was provided by Mr. Arndt. After dinner, TOASTS were drank, accompanied by discharges of cannon.
"Every eye beamed with patriotism-Every heart swelled with joy.
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