USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > Athens > A history of old Tioga Point and early Athens, Pennsylvania > Part 74
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James Wilson said : "We got up a dance any afternoon, would go to Sheshequin, Chemung or may be some place in town, may be dance all night and stay for breakfast." But if it were a holiday the dancing often began in the morning, lasting through the day, or early in the afternoon, as shown in the accompanying invitation ; and there are some
are respectfully selects to attend aMuch to be he id and the However Mir Ellathison our hogy hint on friday the 30 day of July sure atter Low 3g 1888.
invitations in existence timed for 1 p. m. The round dance of the pres- ent was unknown, but the old time dance, with its circles, pigeon-wings and reels, was a most healthful amusement and wonderful to see. The spinning bees, where every maiden strove to outdo her mates, and the quilting parties generally ended with a dance, the young men coming in at supper time. When framed buildings were introduced it was under-
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STRENUOUS LIFE OF THE PIONEERS
stood that all the men in the neighborhood joined in the raising bee, often a great sport, and always a contest of strength and skill. There is one instance remembered when the tired men were unable to raise a heavy beam, and the women quickly responded to the call for help. It was not unusual for the Tioga Point men to go as far as Painted Post to a raising. Halsey has well said that the progress of the frontiers rested for many years on the men who built the gristmills, the saw- mills and the roads ; the lumbermen, the weavers, the potash makers, and those who sent the rafts laden with produce down the rivers to large markets. Before the days of easy transportation local manufac- turing was a necessity, and every community had its own fulling mills as well as gristmills, its own dye shops, hat factories, etc.
There was also the chopping, logging, burning, grubbing stumps and roots and many other tasks requiring hard labor, patience and en- ergy. Let none fail to appreciate the deprivations, honest toil and energy of the pioneers.
Indeed, the struggle for existence was something impossible to un- derstand to those of the present day, who, as a lady over ninety ex- presses it, are lazy because everything is done for them. "Why," she exclaimed, "I do believe before long they'll have a machine to put the food in their mouths." Halsey only mentions the men, but what of the women, who raised large families, for whom they not only cooked and did all household tasks without conveniences, but who hatcheled the flax, carded the wool and then spun, wove, knit, handsewed every gar- ment in use by her family except footgear ? That was made by the trav- eling shoemaker, whose work, like that of all traveling artisans, men or women, was called "whipping the cat." He would come once or twice a year, the leather having been provided, and stay until the entire family were equipped with shoes, which, however, were to be worn only when occasion or necessity demanded. Many is the tale, even of families of the better class, of carrying the shoes and stockings by hand to the outskirts of the town, where they were hastily donned, and much wear saved. The tailoress, who went from house to house in the same fashion, was considered a necessity when the families were large.
As for the larger industries of the men ; the sawmills, grist mills and whisky stills, we will make extracts from a paper on the subject written by Giles M. Hoyt for the Historical Society at the request of the author :
"Of all the old time enterprises there were none that could exceed in number the distilleries. Not a town in the county but could boast of its full quota. Lo- cation mattered little, a good spring or well of water was all that was necessary, the buildings often mere hovels shingled with slabs. Within was an array of still tubs (large casks) which were partly filled with corn and rye meal, covered with water and fermented with yeast. The mash was then heated in a great caldron, the steam escaping into coils of pipe, and being condensed by cold water run in around them. The resulting liquor ran back into a vessel and was rectified by being passed through a cask filled with pulverized charcoal and gravel, leaving the completed beverage; a pure article, very different from the present ordinary whiskey of commerce."
Indeed, even when there were six whisky stills at Tioga Point, drunkenness was almost unknown, although liquor was freely used in
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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS
every household, and it was a lack of courtesy not to offer it, even to the minister. The terrific hand labor necessary in those days quickly worked off the fumes of liquor.
The first still on the Point was on Hepburn's property near the Susquehanna ; the next, George Welles'; the most pretentious in ap- pearance was Abner Murray's ; it was two stories high, the distiller hav- ing rooms above, and was surmounted by what was said to be an imi- tation of the steeple of the first meeting house in town. There were also the Satterlee's, Spalding's, Greene's and Watkins'.
As for the saw mills, they were even more numerous. Mr. Hoyt indicates that to be due to the neglected ownership of the splendid native forests, proving a great temptation to many settlers, who fear- lessly built mills along every creek to manufacture lumber not their own. Indeed, it was commonly said that shingles being always "legal tender," if a man needed to make purchases at the store, he walked quietly back into the forest and shaved a bunch of shingles, and no one asked him whence they came.2 Mr. Hoyt thus describes the primitive saw mill :
"A small unpretentious structure, on one side of which, attached to the frame was a flume, that is a receptacle which when filled with water afforded power to drive the machinery. A wheel was placed at the bottom on the outside of the flume, made from a round log with buckets framed in a cast iron crank on one end, attached to which was a pitman rod, while the other end was made fast to the saw gate, doing away with gearing. Every revolution of the wheel produced one cut of the saw up and down. The capacity of those saws was about four thousand feet in twenty-four hours time. Farmers living in the vicinity of one of these mills, made it a point to fill up all spare time in the winter season cutting and hauling logs to the mill. That lumber when manufactured was of a superior quality, as clear and clean as a roll of modern creamery butter, and worth from five to seven dollars per thousand."
The saw mills were built on the small creeks, where the flow of water was periodical, but quickly utilized at flood times. There were three on Murray Creek, built by Noah Murray, his son, and his son-in- law Lemuel Gaylord, who was a resident from 1791 to 1816; they manufactured lumber from their own property. On Redington Creek there were eight between the river and the old J. K. Wright farm, and on Buck's Creek six or seven. East of the river Col. Franklin had a mill on Franklin Creek, Elisha Satterlee on Satterlee Creek, Thomas Park on Park Creek ; and the Tozer brothers on Tutelow Creek, and Mc- Duffee on west bank of Chemung. Steam saw mills were not introduced until 1860 or later. There were many of these mills in Smithfield town- ship on the headwaters of Buck's Creek, and on Tom Jack Creek. In de- scribing the manufacture, Mr. Hoyt neglected to say that in the primi- tive mill, when the log had passed up its length by water power, it was gigged back by the foot of the operator. The first grist mills were gen- erally built near the rivers, where water power was available the year round. Mr. Hoyt thus describes the first Morley mill :
"About one mile south of Tioga Point, on the Chemung river stood one of those old fashioned grist mills owned and operated by Alvin Morley. The machin- ery consisted of two sets of burr stones, one of which was used expressly for mak-
2 Mr. Hoyt tells of another class of men, Algerines as they were called, living in huts back in the mountains and gaining a livelihood by making shingles, axe helves, and splint brooms, bringing them into the settlements to exchange for flour, meal and meat.
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THE FIRST FIRE COMPANY
ing wheat flour, while the other was calculated for coarse grain and feed. As the grain passed from the stone it was carried to the floor above by means of an ele- vator, to a bolt which separated flour from bran and middlings; thence through spouts to the ground floor into a receptacle called the meal chest. People living in the immediate vicinity did much of their milling on horseback; two or three bags of grain were laid upon the horse's back and a boy was mounted on top of the bags, and off to the mill they went. In the absence of the boy a girl was sub- stituted. In the days referred to above, purchasing flour and meal at a grist mill or anywhere else was an unheard of occurrence."
Prince Bryant, as has been noted, had the first mill, to which John Shepard added the fulling or woolen mills and cloth dressing mills, where people sent their own yarn, as they would their grain.
Fires and Fire Companies.
The primitive fire com- pany was really a fire line. for in response to wild cries passed along the street, the citizens hasten- ed out and formed a long line from the fire to the nearest water supply, be it well, creek or river. Being supplied with all the avail- able buckets or pails, wa- ter was passed along from hand to hand and often helped to save valuable property. Next the axe and the ladder came into requisition, and the oldest citizens say there was a time when Dana F. Park and 'Squire Baird consti- tuted what may well be called the first Fire De- partment of Athens; in- THE FIRST FIRE COMPANY deed, so proud was Athens of this original company that it was photographed in somewhat recent years. It was thus described by a stranger :
"Dana is in the lead with his ladder and ax, and Baird is carrying his bucket as though it was full of milk and he had on his Sunday clothes ;- both stately, sure and determined with a "git there" expression on each face."
Doubtless the first suggestion of an organized fire company was made in the Scribe of 1842 :
"Fire Company for Athens-Considering the materials of our buildings and their contiguity as well as the want of organized means to suppress fires, what say the citizens-young men especially-to effecting some kind of an organization. Shall we wait until we feel the necessity by some sweeping fire, or like wise men anticipate the evil by being prudent and prepared? FIRE! The citizens willing to consult upon measures to prevent the ravages of fire are requested to meet at C. S. Park's Thursday evening Dec. 1."
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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS
This meeting was called shortly after the old Academy was de- stroyed. But nothing came of it, as far as known, for it was not until 1855 that any action was taken. That year C. N. Shipman purchased for the protection of the Junction Iron Works a small fire engine that was on exhibition at a fair in Elmira. A fire company was at once organized among the foundry employees, and the following year it was decided to allow others to become members. Uniforms had been procured, and the laddies met and exercised with their new pet until, it is said, they all blistered their hands forcing the water through the 200 feet of rubber hose to the top of the works. Men from other shops were recruited, a hose jumper presented, and soon there was a complete borough fire company, to whom the engine was turned over. The first chief was Daniel P. Merriam, chosen, said the boys, "because he was the heaviest man in the crowd, weighing 300 pounds, and was an Old School Presbyterian, who always stood up at prayers." It is said the next move was the first firemen's ball, a great event. In the following summer a parade seemed to be a positive necessity. The Glorious Fourth was chosen, and the new Towanda fire companies were invited to attend. They came on the very first boat that ran in the new canal. According to Brick Pomeroy's Athens Gasette of July 5, 1856, it was a great day, with new uniforms, banners, bands, parades, banquet, toasts, etc. Doubtless almost as great a day as Athens ever knew. The little hand engine has since known many vicissitudes, but is proudly preserved by Protection Hose Company, and it is here reproduced. It was first used a few days after the great celebration, when it proved inadequate to save Dr. Kiff's house and the Exchange outbuildings, but it has been useful in many village fires unnecessary to be enumerated.
THE FIRST FIRE ENGINE
CHAPTER XXII
SCHOOL AND CHURCH HISTORY
School Lands-Early Schools-The Athens Academy Church Organisations-Some Early Pastors
With a true Puritan love of education, the members of the Susque- hanna Company set apart school lands in every township, to be held sacred until the increased value warranted a sale; the avails whereof should be securely invested, and interest used for maintenance of public schools in said township. These lands were under the care of a com- mittee, legally appointed by the Susquehanna Company for each town- ship. After the adjustment of titles under the Compromise law, an act was passed providing for three trustees, to be elected by the people, one new one to succeed in office every three years. The school land set off in the grant of Athens, in 1986, was between Main Street and the Susquehanna River, from Herrick to Ferry Streets, containing about 21 acres, for which in 1812 the trustees received a state patent. Besides this public plot in the second division, there was a public lot (now occu- pied by Charles Hinton ) in the first division, and one in the third divis- ion, on a part of which the school house at Greene's Landing now stands ; this was long called "the commons," in true New England fashion. There was also in the original plot of Athens village the two lots now oc- cupied by the Academy and the Museum-Library. As seen, both Lock- hart and Welles ignored these latter lots, having a street from river to river about 50 feet wide, called in the Pumpelly survey Academy Street. Of these school or public lands the first trustees, to whom the patents were granted, were John Franklin, Elisha Satterlee and John Shepard. Franklin presented the claim to the commissioners in 1810; for reasons now unknown it was not acknowledged until two years later. It has been said that Henry Welles gave the public squares, but this is an error. They were never his to give, as they were a part of Richard Caton's third.
In 1813 a meeting was held of the proprietors of the town of Athens, the object being to consider the propriety of selling the town lands. The trustees, John Franklin, Elisha Satterlee and John Shepard, had obtained patents in 1812, and they were now authorized to sell one lot to Dr. Hopkins, and to lease another of about 23 acres, location not mentioned. The money thus obtained was used for school purposes.
In 1815 the trustees called a meeting of the inhabitants of the town- ship, at which it was resolved to plot out the school lands ; a street was to be laid out along the Susquehanna, and along the north line of the land, which extended from a line east and west near Herrick Street to Ferry Street, including all between Main Street and the Susquehanna River. Four acres were to be reserved in the center, and a strip four rods wide at north line ; the remainder being divided into lots four rods wide, half
545
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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS
facing Main Street and half facing River Street. These to be sold at $50 each; $10 down, and remainder in ten yearly payments with in- terest ; easy terms, indeed. The purchaser was to "clear and fence with a good lawful fence" within one year or forfeit the lot. The principal thus obtained was to be held intact, the interest only being used for school purposes. As soon as plotted, lots were sold to the amount of $1257. The book of the trustees has no further record for nine years. Accord- ing to later deeds and titles, it is our opinion that only three sales held ; viz., that to Uriah Wilson, occupied by him and his heirs until a some- what recent date; that to Isaac Boardman, and that to Michael R. Tharp, later transferred to the late Judge Herrick. In 1824 the trustees' records show some disagreement, of which there is no knowledge except the recorded resignation of David Paine, with these words :
"I have this day resigned all authority in me vested as trustee of public lands in the township of Athens, and all authority that may be deemed vested in me by any vote or votes heretofore passed by the people at their meetings in said town. I beg leave to recommend the trust to the fostering care of the mob who sanc- tioned the recent riotous proceedings in wantonly destroying the fences and cutting away the trees around the public grounds."
It surely would be interesting to know more about this quarrel. Probably, in the light of later events, the people considered that the trustees exceeded the privileges of their office. The next difficulty is indicated below :
(Henry Welles to C. F. Welles, April 9, 1829.)
"If you were here now it would probably be beneficial to you and us; a sort of clandestine sale of the Public Square west of the Academy has been made to Guy Tozer, a cellar has been dug, and all of us are in a commotion about it. It will, if confirmed, injure your property, as well as the convenience of the public generally. If Mr. Tozer could get one of those lots of yours, it might avert a quarrel, and he would give a good price."
In June, 1829, a meeting was called to vote on the action of trustees in selling "a lot on corner of the west public square" to Guy Tozer. The sale was rejected by a vote of 58 against 23. Supposing it to be a proper transaction, Guy Tozer had already erected a house and store on his purchase. A second meeting being called August 10th,
"It was resolved unanimously that the meeting wholly and totally disap- prove of the sale by the trustees of the township, of the Public Common in the centre of the village. That the sd. common having been surveyed more than 40 years * * * and so appropriated from that time, cannot and shall not, without all proper legal resistance, be now converted to private use."
The acting trustees were removed from office and others chosen, on whom it was enjoined :
"Take prompt and efficient measures to remove all nuisances from the public square in this village on behalf of said township, which you as trustees may or can lawfully do or cause to be done, by suit or otherwise."
The outcome of this matter was that the buildings were removed, the present Canfield house being one, and the other shown in picture of Main Street. This action of the trustees and the people caused a great deal of feeling, existing until recent years.
In 1836 it was decided to cut up what remained of the upper lot and offer it for sale; the borough having been erected, a division of the
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THE FIRST SCHOOLS
funds and the remaining lands seemed necessary. In 1837 a committee was appointed to make such a division, an act having now empowered the trustees to convey by deed any school lands except the Public Square in Athens borough. The report of this committee, after recommending how the debt on the Academy should be paid, suggested that the fund from sale of lands, also the lands remaining after sale, should be divided between the borough and township; the interest from the fund to be used for benefit of district schools. The whole recommendations of this committee were unanimously accepted. The township fund reached the sum of $3000, and has been kept intact, the interest being annually paid to the school treasurer. We are indebted for these facts to the Walker Ms., the writer adding that the management of the township fund "completely carried out the injunctions of our forefathers."*
Schools of Athens .- The first school in Athens was no doubt the one which Chester Stephens attended (according to his "Recollec- tions") in 1789. The teacher was Jared Root, who was one of the very first settlers of Athens, living on lot No. 1, just north of the Presby- terian Church. Chester Stephens says "Root taught in an old log cooper shop" (on the lot just north of the present Museum-Library). It may have been the house built by the Indians or by John Harris some years earlier. Z. F. Walker says Root's school was opened in the house of Samuel Hepburn, and that later the first school house was built on lot No. 35 ; now a part of the C. S. Maurice property. Mrs. Perkins says the first school house in the township was built on the school lot, about where the present high school building stands. No authority being given by either writer, the matter is undetermined. Benedict Satterlee, who had been a teacher at Wyoming, taught in the new school house in 1791. The second public school house of Athens was built at an early date on the west side of Main Street, on the second lot above the present Presbyterian Church. Nothing is known of the building of this school, but the land may have been given by Henry Welles. Public or district school was kept here from 1830 to 1840. The building was then re- moved to Elmira Street, near Bridge Street, and was long known as "the old red school house." It is still standing, having been converted into a dwelling house. In 1841 a public school house was built where the high school now stands ; a small one-story building, in use until 1884, always called "the district school house." The first township school houses were in order as follows : One at Milltown, built probably about 1790 ; first teachers, Daniel and Elias Satterlee, brothers of Benedict and Col. Elisha. This was burned about 1808, but soon rebuilt by the generosity of Josiah Crocker ; and also used for church purposes for many years. The next township school was built east of the river, on the farm of Col. Franklin, at a very early date (it is said 1792), rebuilt in 1815, and again in 1878; but still known as "the Franklin school
* Much sentiment was created in recent years when the borough fund was turned over with the Academy for graded school purposes to the borough school directors without giving the township its pro rata share of at least the fund.
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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS
house." The next was built, near 1800, on the commons near Greene's Eddy :
"It was a log house and the seats for all the small children were of split logs or slabs with wooden legs. Being hewn by hand these benches were very uncomfortable for the children, but woe betide them if they were restless, for the teacher stood at one end with a long gad and struck every one at once."
So related of Noah Murray, Jr., by Matilda Watkins, who attended in 1822. The first building was on the high ground now occupied by the Plummer homestead. The later building, long known as "the White Schoolhouse," is still in use for school and church purposes, located a few rods north of the original. Isaac Morley 3rd was the earliest known teacher. The Toodleytown school house, located as at present, was the next erected, probably about 1800. It is said there was a very early one near Spanish Hill, but there is no definite record of location or date.
Athens Academy .- Originally it was intended to reprint here the history of the Academy, compiled by one of its teachers, Mrs. Lydia Carner Park, and published in 1797 as a souvenir of the Centennial cele- bration. But so much of additional interest has been found, that it seems best to cull a more concise account from Mrs. Park's narrative.
The high-minded New Englanders were not long satisfied with the crude methods and accommodations of their early schools ; and in spite of many vicissitudes and uncertainties, boldly decided to erect an acad- emy. This may have been the thought of the settlers from Plainfield, Conn., long the home of a famous academy, or the suggestion of the Paine brothers, always zealous for the advancement of the little village. At any rate, a meeting was called at Matthewson's Red Tavern February 11, 1797, at which the following preamble, also the usual resolutions, were adopted ; later transcribed by Guy Maxwell in a book of record still in existence in our Museum :
Preamble. "Whereas, It is the earnest wish of many of the inhabitants of this town that a public building should be erected, to be occupied for the accommo- dation of an Academy, or Seminary of learning for the instruction of youth, and also to be occasionally occupied as a place of Public Worship or other public pur- poses ; and whereas, the erecting of such a building on Tioga Point, and making other public improvements would not only be of great use and convenience to the inhabitants, but would also have a tendency to advance the value of land and other property in the neighborhood of this place. The subscribers to this agreement do, therefore, mutually covenant and agree to form themselves into an association for the purpose aforesaid ; to be subject to the following regulations."
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