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 IV > Part 61
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Douglass Smith was appointed to the office in 1877 and at once moved to the Music Hall building where the Sterling Hotel now stands and where the office remained during several terms until 1897 when the building was torn down to make room for the hotel.
The next postmaster was A. S. Orr, who held the office from 1881 to 1885. During this term, in 1883, the rate of postage was reduced to two cents per half ounce, and in 1885, the two cent rate was made applicable for one ounce at which it has since remained.
Joseph K. Bogert was the next postmaster and held the office from 1885 until his death in 1887, when his widow, Mary E. P. Bogert, was appointed and held the office till 1892.
L. B. Landmesser was postmaster from 1892 to 1896.
The next postmaster was E. F. Bogert, who served from June 1, 1896 to April 1, 1900, when he was removed. During his term the office moved to the Phelps building, North Main Street where it remained until the new building was ready for occupancy.
Hon. D. A. Fell was Acting Postmaster until 1900. Byron G. Hahn, 1900, appointed March 6, 1899. Col. Jacob D. Laciar, appointed Feb. 2, 1905, died June 24, 1907. E. D. Camp was Acting Postmaster until Thomas F. Heffernan was appointed, July 9, 1907. Lawrence J. Casey, appointed June 16, 1916. Wm. E. Mannear, appointed Sept. 22, 1921, reappointed Dec. 21, 1925.
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Nothing tangible resulted from this early effort nor from the favorable report of the congressional committee. During the administration of Byron G. Hahn* appointed postmaster on March 6, 1900, the project of securing a federal building was again revived. On February 25, 1901, Hon. Stanley W. Daven- port, then representative in Congress, presented the claims of Wilkes-Barre to that body in a lengthy address, largely for home consumption. Referring to this effort in a subsequent edition, a columnist in the Washington Post made the following somewhat facetious comment:
"The good people of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., ought to keep Representative Davenport in Con- gress forever. He has succeeded in filling pages and pages of the Congressional Record with the most wonderful stories of the greatness of the town.
"Mr. Davenport has stood upon the summit of the Rigi in Switzerland, upon the walls of Edinburgh Castle and on the fortress of Sterling Castle, and he has traveled through the Kil- larney Lake district, and yet he says that not one of these magnificent views can compare for a single minute with the entrancing picture of loveliness presented by the Valley of Wyoming, in which Wilkes-Barre is situated. 'Gaze with me upon the picture,' exclaims Mr. Davenport; and then he launched forth into a description of natural scenery which would make John Ruskin turn in his grave with envy. And, coming down to practical figures, Mr. Davenport says that the County of Luzerne is almost as large as the State of Rhode Island, and that Wilkes-Barre has fifty miles of sewers. From the summit of the Rigi to the fifty miles of sewers was something of a decline, but Mr. Davenport executed it with charming grace.
"The one great lack of Wilkes-Barre is a public building. After Mr. Davenport's eloquent tribute it ought to be provided with half a dozen."
But neither the eloquence of Mr. Davenport nor the importunities of his successors moved log rolling Congresses to speedy action. After exasperating delays, a budget for the new building was finally incorporated in an appropriation measure in the spring of 1902. By a contract between the Treasury Department and Cramp and Company, builders, dated July 8, 1902, a building costing $87,127 (without heat and electricity) was authorized on a lot at South Main and South streets, the selection of which required almost as much bickering as did the building enabling act.
This building was completed and occupied March 4, 1904. On September 1, of that year, post offices at Westmoor, Kingston and Dorranceton were dis- continued as was the independent office at Ashley.
Later developments in the local postal situation were furnished by Post- master Mannear as follows:
"Oct. 1, 1904, Ashley Branch of the Wilkes-Barre office was established in a building leased for ten years.
"Nov. 1, 1904, post offices at Luzerne and Edwardsville were discontinued and carriers assigned to Kingston Branch to serve the territory. Station No. 11 established in Luzerne and No. 9 in Edwardsville.
"March 1, 1906, Station 11 was abolished, and an independent station established at Luz- erne, Pa., in a building leased for ten years.
"Feb. 16, 1909 the post office at Forty Fort was discontinued and the territory served by carriers from Kingston Branch. Station No. 14 established in Forty Fort.
"Nov. 4, 1912 post offices were discontinued and city delivery extended thereto as follows:
"Coalridge, Hudson, Miners Mills, Plains and Parsons, served by Parsons Branch estab- lished Nov. 4, 1912 in leased building.
"Larksville, Pringle, Swoyersville and Maltby, served by Kingston Branch.
"Courtdale, served from Luzerne Branch.
"Station No. 15 established at Maltby, No. 16 at Larksville, No. 17 at Miners Mills, No. 18 at Plains and No. 19 at Hudson, on Nov. 4, 1912.
"Dec. 11, 1927, Parsons Branch moved to North End Station, formerly Borough of Miners Mills in leased building.
"Postal receipts for the year ending Dec. 31, 1927 were $600,591.24.
"During the same year 215,752 money orders in the amount of $2,309,311.64 were issued, and money orders were cashed in the amount of $1,222,052.63."
The year 1893 was to witness the fruition of hopes of a large number of women of the community. The work of the Young Women's Christian Associ- ation elsewhere had been a subject of study on the part of a number of progressive
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women of Wilkes-Barre and in February it was decided to hold an open meeting when plans to establish a local branch were to be discussed. From a paper read by Mrs. Russel Uhl, then president of the organization, at the laying of the corner stone of the present Y. W. C. A. building on North Franklin Street, October 20, 1909, the following sketch of the early history of the organization is taken.
"On Feb. 3, 1893, at the suggestion of Mrs. H. M. Bois, chairman of the State executive committee of the Young Women's Christian Associations of Pennsylvania, a few women, repre- senting the various churches, were called together at St. Stephen's Parish building to consider the advisability of organizing an association in this city. Mrs. G. M. Reynolds was elected chair- man, and Miss Butler secretary of the meeting.
"After reading of scripture by the chairman and prayer by Dr. S. J. Coe, Mrs. Bois gave a general outline of association work, and Mrs. L. M. Gates, also of the State committee, presented its practical side. After some discussion, it was decided to organize an association. A nominating committee was appointed to propose officers for election. The following persons were proposed and elected: Dr. S. J. Coe, President; Mrs. J. R. Wright, Miss Ellen Wadhams, Miss Hattie Jones, Vice-Presidents; Miss Anna Parrish, Treasurer; Miss Grace Derr, Recording Secretary. "Twenty-six members were enrolled. At the first regular meeting of the association, a board of twelve directors were elected, the various committees appointed and ways and means discussed. For two months the association occupied two rooms on West Market street, which had been the home for several years of the Young Men's Christian Association.
"In April, the association took possession of four rooms on the second floor of the Collins Building on South Franklin Street, in one of which the lunch department was opened. At the close of the first year the membership numbered 383. More rooms becoming necessary, the entire floor was secured, and by the removal of partitions, better adapted to the use of the association. At the close of the second year, Dr. Coe feeling herself unequal to the strain upon her in connection with her profession, resigned, and Mrs. F. D. L. Wadhams was elected to fill the vacancy.
"Year by year the work grew, and the association, having become thoroughly established and recognized as one of the important institutions of the city, it seemed advisable to assume the greater authority and power of a body politic. The board, therefore, appointed a committee to make application for a charter, which was done through John D. Farnham, Esq., July 28, 1897. The decree was granted Sept. 7, 1897. The association was then reorganized under the charter by the directors named in the charter, namely: Fanny D. L. Wadhams, Cordelia L. Laciar, Mary D. Derr, Cornelia F. Wadhams, Cloe W. Stearns, Hattie Lathrop, Elizabeth Sturdevant, Georgiana Carpenter, Harriet North, Kate E. Morgan, Helen Conyngham, Mary J. Slosson, Stella R. Wright, Susan E. Doran, Rose Troxell, Bertha M. B. Buckman, Martha Bennett.
"A board of six trustees, chosen from the several churches was elected, of which in com- pliance with the requirements of the constitution, the president is one. They were as follows: Andrew Hunlock, John R. Lee, B. M. Espy, H. H. Welles, Jr., Ralph Wadhams, F. D. L. Wadhams. It was during this year that the State convention was held here.
"The work continuing to increase from year to year, the need of more room and greater facilities if the association was to grow, became so apparent, that the subject of securing a per- manent home of our own was proposed to the board meeting with hearty approval.
"The initial steps to put the project into operation were immediately taken and the work of obtaining subscriptions started. After considering other properties, the one on which the association is now located was decided upon, and purchased for $15,000. A payment of $8,000 was made, a mortgage of $7,000 given, and on the 6th of February, 1899, we became the happy possessors of a home of our own.
"Some changes in the building being necessary to adapt it to the purpose of the association, and not then being in a financial condition to undertake them, it was decided to rent it for a year or two, but so great was the need of it, that before the close of that year, through generous sub- scriptions from members of the board and others the amount necessary to make the changes and repairs, and for the furnishing, amounting to about $3,000 was raised. On April 23, 1900, the home was opened for occupancy, offering to wage earning women and girls a safe and homelike boarding place, and meeting all the then requirements of the work, save one, there was not a suitable room for a gymnasium. Later a room elsewhere was rented.
"On Jan. 23, 1905, the president announced to the board that the amount of the mortgage, $7,000 was raised, and tendered her resignation after ten years of service.
"Mrs. H. C. Davis was elected president. The department plan of work as advised by the American committee was adopted. Four vice presidents were elected as heads of departments, Miss Margaret Williams having charge of the religious department, Mrs. F. W. Wheaton of the business department, Mrs. Lawrence Jones of the educational and Mrs. Edward Welles of the social department. The board was enlarged to twenty-four members, exclusive of the officers, this larger division of the work relieving in a great measure the close supervision of the president. "At the close of the year Mrs. Davis resigned on account of removal from the city, and Miss Williams occupied the chair for the next two years, resigning on account of ill health, Mrs. Russell Uhl occupying the chair at the present time.
"At the regular board meeting held March 27, 1905, a building committee was appointed, consisting of six members of the board and a number of gentlemen, including the trustees. After a full discussion of the needs of the Association, this committee reported in favor of erecting new buildings provided it could be done without incurring debt.
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"From this committee a sub-committee was formed for the consideration of ways and means, with Judge F. W. Wheaton, as chairman; also a plans committee to consider what were the re- quirements in buildings for this purpose; to draw up the preliminary plans, and decide upon the finished plans presented by the architects. Two buildings, an administration building, and a dormitory, connected by a bowling alley were decided upon.
"How thoroughly these committees realized the great responsibility entrusted to them; how faithfully they have discharged the duties of their position, these buildings which are being erected as a result of their labors testify. Words can confer no greater honor.
"We cannot close this too brief history without voicing the regret that we could not enter more fully into that which has made this association what, under God's blessing, it is. As we stand here under the shadow of these beautiful buildings, and glance backward to its beginning; as we read the unwritten record of its years, our hearts swell with unspeakable gratitude as we exclaim, "What hath God wrought."
Coincident with the ideas expressed along other lines that citizens of the community should establish organizations for themselves instead of depending upon other communities to furnish the desired services, was a well planned endeavor on the part of the Masonic fraternity of Wilkes-Barre to secure from the Imperial Council a char- ter for a temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine.
Lu Lu Temple of Philadelphia had extended jurisdiction over practically the whole district of eastern Pennsylvania and to that organization belonged most of those in the Wyoming Valley who were Shriners.
The local membership lacked in neither initiative nor ambition. An initiation of a large class of candidates from the Wilkes-Barre dis- trict was planned for the IREM TEMPLE, A. A. O. M. S. Spring of 1892 and a degree team, including all important officers of the Philadelphia body, was asked to come to Wilkes-Barre and supervise the ceremonies. This they did on May 11, 1892. Local Shriners on the arrangement committee were Henry C. Reichard, John Laning, Ben. F. Dilley, Stephen B. Vaughn, William C. Allan and E. F. Bogert.
Forming a procession at the Lehigh Valley station and headed by Alex- ander's band, the visiting delegation was escorted to the Wyoming Valley Hotel. Then followed an entertainment not on the usual program of today-a steamboat ride from the Market Street wharf to Nanticoke and return. Later in the eve- ning, an initiation session was held in Loomis Hall on North Main Street, some twenty-seven novitiates, including many prominent men of the community, being received into the order. In the Fall of 1893, after considerable preliminary work had been done, a petition for a local temple was framed to the Imperial Council only to be turned down by the Denver convention of the Shrine in June of the year following.
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Undaunted, local members strengthened their arguments and made prep- arations to send a delegation to the 1895 session of the Imperial Council at Nan- tasket Beach, Massachusetts. Upon considering the amplified claims of the local petitioners, the Imperial Council created Irem Temple by decree of Sep- tember 3, 1895 and appointed J. Ridgway Wright of Wilkes-Barre its first potentate.
On September 21, of the same year, the successful petitioners organized in the office of Frank Deitrick, city clerk, and selected the Elks Lodge room, then on South Franklin Street as a temporary place of meeting. Here the temple was formally constituted October 15, 1895, with seventy-one charter members. A rapid growth of membership necessitated larger quarters for the temple and April 20, 1898, two floors of the G. A. R. Memorial Building on South Main street were leased pending the completion of the splendid edifice on North Franklin street which was to become famous throughout the jurisdiction of North America as the most ornate, commodious and best appointed Shrine building of the country.
Events leading up to the construction of Irem Temple parallel those of other large undertakings of the community. There were those of an increasing membership who favored the idea of a magnificent building and others who thought the venture too ambitious.
FRANK DIETRICK
Largely through the influence and indomitable energies of Frank Dietrick,* who succeeded J. Ridgeway Wright as potentate, the corner stone of the present building was laid amidst unusual ceremonies November 27, 1907. The following account of these exercises is taken from the Philadelphia Press of the day follow- ing:
"Bishop Ethelbert Talbot, of South Bethlehem, at midnight to-night laid the corner stone of the handsome temple to be erected by Irem Temple, Knights of the Mystic Shrine, of this city. The impressive ceremony was witnessed by eighteen hundred members of the Temple from various parts of northeastern Pennsylvania, while the novelty of the occasion attracted a large number of sightseers. The Temple is only the second in this country to be erected for the special purpose of the Shriners, the other being in Philadelphia.
"The whole affair was one of the most important in the Masonic history of this portion of the State, and preparations have been under wa y for some time. A special ritual was prepared by Oscar J. Harvey, of this city, master of ceremonies for the occasion. The building, when erected, will have cost about $150,000.
"This afternoon and evening were spent in the entertainment of visiting Shriners who came to assist in the ceremony, and at eleven-thirty to-night the parade was arranged and started for the site of the new building. In carriages were officials who conducted the ceremonies, Bishop
*OFFICIAL DIVAN, IREM TEMPLE, 1927.
Henry W. Merritt Jacob P. Breidinger John R. Hessel
Illustrious Potentate Illustrious Chief Rabban Illustrious Assistant Rabban . Illustrious High Priest and Prophet Illustrious Oriental Guide Illustrious Treasurer Illustrious Recorder
Daniel S. Davies Luther M. Kniffen
Butler O. Bower
Mont. W. Waters
REPRESENTATIVES TO IMPERIAL COUNCIL
Jerome W. Leverich George E. Woodring Robert R. Harvey E. Foster Heller
Fred J. Weckesser (1927)
TRUSTEES Charles W. Laycock (1928) Wm. J. Kear (1929).
PAST POTENTATES
Robert R. Harvey (1914-1919)
*J. Ridgway Wright (1895-97) *Frank Deitrick (1898-1910) *J. C. Bell (1911-1913)
E. Foster IIeller (1920-1923) Jerome W. Leverich (1924-1925) Henry W. Merritt (1925-1927)
*Deceased.
lIarold Norwood Rust was elected Potentate, 1928.
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Talbot, Rev. Stewart U. Mittman, chaplain of Lehigh University; Rev. Dr. Albert E. Piper, of this city; Oscar J. Harvey, alchemist, of Irem Temple and master of ceremonies; Potentate Frank Deitrich, of Irem Temple; potentate William E. Richardson, of Zembo Temple, Harris - burg; Chief Rabban W. L. Raeder, of Irem Temple, and Recorder Rev. Alexander J. Kerr, D. D., of Irem Temple.
"Then marched one hundred new members who had been initiated at a ceremonial session earlier in the evening. They were followed by five hundred nobles of the Temple clad in long black gowns and wearing fezes and big black masks, while several hundred other members, wear- ing street dress and fezes, brought up the rear.
"Bishop Talbot was the chief figure in the corner stone laying, the responses being inade by the local officers. A feature was the singing of an ode, composed by Mr. Harvey, and rendered by the Temple chorus.
"The address for the occasion was delivered by Bishop Talbot and contained many elo- quent references to the good done by Shriners the country over and to the credit due Irem Temple for undertaking the erection of a building which would always stand as a monument to the Temple enterprise.
"Rev. Stewart U. Mittman, of South Bethlehem, delivered the benediction, and the paraders returned to the Shrine Hall.
"During the afternoon the visiting members were well entertained. At the Shrine Hall a luncheon was served from six to eight and after that there was a vaudeville entertainment until eleven. At five o'clock in the afternoon Oscar J. Harvey, master of ceremonies for the occasion, entertained at dinner in the Sterling Hotel, Bishop Talbot and eighteen other clergymen of this city and vicinity, members of the Temple.
"The building designed especially for the use of the Shriners is Arabic in design with four minarets, one at each corner. It will be three stories high and the ground space it covers is 80x180 feet. It is to be handsomely and appropriately furnished. In the basement will be two banquet- ing halls, one seating 1250 people and the other about 250.
"The main auditorium will have seating capacity downstairs of 575 and in the gallery of 800, while there is an ample stage. The third floor will be fitted out for a hall and lodge room."
Irem Temple has, from its dedication, the year following, been one of the show places of Wyoming Valley and a community center of wide importance in providing accommodations for social, musical and fraternal activities, as well as a building in which large conventions can be entertained amid beautiful and attractive surroundings. The acoustic properties of the main auditorium have been pronounced by some of the world's best known musicians, the most perfect of any building in the country. With its rich furnishings, the completed structure cost approximately $350,000.
In 1908 an Austin pipe organ was installed in the temple by Robert R. Harvey, as a memorial to his father Col. William J. Harvey, an early member of the organization.
In 1922, Irem Temple, under the leadership of Leo W. Long, decided upon the purchase of the Andrew F. Derr country estate near West Dallas as a site for a Country Club. This property was subsequently acquired, the handsome country house remodeled as a club house, a scenic golf course laid out and many other accommodations for the temple's membership were provided by using the more than two hundred acres of land purchased. As was the case with the temple building itself, the course of the progressive element of the body in ad- vocating a country club which is unique in Shrinedom, has been fully justified and the club, with its excellent facilities for healthful recreation has gained nation-wide fame. The report of Mont W. Waters, recorder of the Temple for the year 1927 indicated a living membership of 7,215, assets of more than three-quarters of a million dollars and gross income of one hundred forty thousand dollars for the year, thus making Irem one of the outstanding Shirines of the country in point of activities, membership and resources.
Two events of more than local import held attention through the Wyoming Valley in the early months of 1898. First was the Lattimer trial at Wilkes- Barre; the second a declaration of war against Spain.
The winter of 1896-1897 had been an open one; slackness in work around the mines resulting. Natural dissatisfaction with such conditions resulted, to
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be further intensified when operators of the Hazleton district asked for certain readjustments in wages until more promising markets were in prospect. Some of the men accepted terms of the operators. Others, dominated largely by leaders of the foreign element, protested. Early in September 1897, trouble resulted at Yorktown, McAdoo, Silver Brook, Jeansville, Crystal Ridge, West Hazleton, Lattimer and other mining operations. Sheriff James Martin of Luzerne County was appealed to by operators and men alike who desired to continue operations On September 8, word reached the Sheriff that the dissatisfied element had taken possession of the settlement at Beaver Meadow and had shut down the breaker there. Successful in this instance, and with their numbers greatly augmented by others from neighboring mining committees, leaders of the strikers began a march on other breakers in the district with apparent intent to stop operations there. On the way to West Hazleton, the Sheriff and a small posse discovered the marching body and went out to meet its leaders. A proclamation was read to them and the marchers soon afterward disbanded. Next day, however, a still larger body of marchers stormed the Cranberry breaker. This gathering was broken up by the Sheriff and posse by a show of force, but without bloodshed. On the 10th, Sheriff Martin, with his posse increased in number, failed to halt by peaceful means a mob apparently bound toward Lattimer. He then moved his deputies toward that point and again went out to meet the approaching marchers when, as was shown at the trial, he was set upon by leaders of the body and beaten. Someone, his identity was never established, at this point gave an order to fire. The consequences of that order broke the spirit of the mob, but at the cost of nineteen killed and thirty-eight wounded.
Excitement, as a result of this violence spread over the entire anthracite district, and popular feeling against the Sheriff and his deputies ran high as a general opinion at first prevailed that officers of the County had exceeded their authority under the circumstances. At a subsequent session of the grand jury, Sheriff Martin and sixty-seven others, including deputies, officials of coal com- panies and individual citizens were indicted for murder. The trial which began on February 2, 1898, naturally attracted national attention. Perhaps no trial ever held in the county summoned an array of better known counsel. For the Commonwealth appeared District Attorney T. R. Martin, Attorneys James Scarlet, John McGahren and John Garman. The defense was represented by Attorneys George R. Urquhart, C. W. Cline, George Troutman, J. B. Woodward, George S. Ferris, F. W. Wheaton, John T. Lenahan and Henry W. Palmer.
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