Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 117

Author: Stocker, Rhamanthus Menville, 1848-
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : R. T. Peck
Number of Pages: 1318

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was agitated, but not until 1869 was the project per- fected and a suitable building for the purpose com- pleted. This was located on Main Street, where Ho- gan's Opera-House now stands. The lot, about one hundred and ten feet front by two hundred feet deep, was owned by the railroad company. The company conveyed the lot to the borough under the form of a perpetual lease, on the condition that it should be used exclusively for school purposes, and that, when for such purposes it shall have been abandoned two years, it should revert to the company. In 1883 the Cook block, near by, taking fire, was destroyed, and from it

1884.3

.LIGH

LANG LO

.EW YORK

SECOND WARD GRADED SCHOOL BUILDING-SUSQUEHANNA.

In 1856 this house was abandoned and a larger and better one was erected on the opposite corner of the same streets. This was called No. 1, and here the public-school for the western part of the town was conducted until 1859. In 1851 a school building for the eastern part of the town was erected about where the parochial school building now stands. In 1855 this was sold to other parties and another one was erected on the corner of Jackson and Grand Streets, now occupied by the Osborn block. In this building, called No. 2, schools were held until 1869. As early as 1863 the question of establishing a graded school

fire was communicated to the school building and it also was soon but smouldering ruins. This was a framed building, forty by sixty, and three stories high. Inasmuch as the growing industries of the town had caused the school property to be almost entirely surrounded with stores, mills and shops, the directors concluded not to rebuild on this lot, and im- mediately entered into negotiations with the railroad company, whereby the borough might acquire, to a part of the lot, a title in fee-simple that would enable the directors to dispose of their interest for money with which they could purchase other lots better

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

adapted. The railroad company offering generous propositions that were accepted by the school direc- tors, two sites, one in each ward, were purchased, and steps were at once taken to provide Susquehanna with two brick school-buildings that should be ade- quate to the necessities of the borough and in keeping with the prosperity of the place. In 1885 the one in the Second Ward, a cut of which is portrayed in this connection, was completed and opened. This build- ing is furnished with steam apparatus for heating and ventilating, and otherwise with superior school furniture. The one in the First Ward is now in pro- cess of erection, and when it is completed one will find it difficult anywhere to find better public-school accommodations than this borough will afford.

The first board of school directors for Susquehanna was constituted as follows: H. A. Tingley, M.D., president ; A. J. Davis, Esq., secretary ; W. H. Hub- bard, treasurer ; and S. B. West, Dennis McDonald and Henry Perrine. The directors when the graded school was opened were Washington Shaeff, presi- dent; H. A. Tingley, secretary ; C. A. Miller, treas- urer; and H. P. Moody, E. G. Taylor and A. T. Back. The members of the present board are T. J. Hassett, president ; J. F. Lannon, secretary ; M. H. Eisman, treasurer; and M. Milane, C. F. Curtis and J. S. Wallace. Mr. Eisman is serving his fourth term ; Mr. Milane, his third term; Messrs. Hasset and Lannon, their second term; and Messrs. Curtis and Wallace, their first term. In 1854 the first ap- propriation from the State fund was received. It was $165.90. The last one, or for the year 1886, was $793.46. The annual reports show that the whole number of pupils in attendance in 1860 was two hundred and eighteen ; in 1880, five hundred and ninety-two.

A course of study for eleven years is prescribed. This includes, besides the common English branches, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, physiology, physics, drawing, general history, book-keeping, rhetoric, lit- erature, civil government and Latin. In 1879 the course of study prescribed for the school was first completed by a class of ten, and to the members of this class diplomas were awarded. Each year since others have graduated, so that the alumni at the pres- ent time includes sixty young men and women, many of whom are filling honorable positions in various pursuits, and in which they have already exhibited excellent ability.

Among the first employed to teach at Susquehanna were Mrs. W. C. Frith, Mary Bartlett (afterwards Mrs. J. H. Cook), Lydia V. Bryant (now Mrs. G. N. Brown), Augusta Kelsey, A. L. Ellsworth, Ellen M. Headley and Eliza Truman, and subsequently the names of W. J. Judd, M. H. Pope, U. B. Gillet, Ad- die Bradford, A. W. Larrabee and E. W. Rogers ap- pear in the recorded list. In 1869 the graded school was organized with M. L. Hawley as principal, and Carrie Wellman, Helen Peck, Martha Hayward, Helen

Page and Mary A. Nicol as teachers, and a few weeks after, Emily Bushnell was added to the faculty as as- sistant principal.

Mr. Hawley, as principal, conducted the school in 1869-72; A. W. Cooper, 1872-74; W. T. Dunmore, a few months ; and W. Fuller, the remaining part of the year 1874-75; and C. T. Thorpe, from 1875 to the present time. Associated with Mr. Thorpe now are Mary A. Nicol, assistant principal, and Martha Hay- ward, Alice G. Clark, Alice Moylan, Johanna Zorn, Belle Councilman, Agnes Kelly and Carrie Brady, teachers.

Mr. Hawley was born in Franklin, Delaware County, N. Y., in 1833. He came to Susquehanna County in 1849, entered Harford Academy, in which he pursued his studies a few terms, and afterwards taught district schools at Jackson Corners and Bridge- water. He then read law and was admitted to the bar at Cortland, N. Y. He returned to Susquehanna County, however, and took charge of the school at New Milford, thence he went to Gibson and opened a private normal school, which he conducted three years.

He subsequently edited the Binghamton Standard and Daily Times. In 1881 he was appointed superin- tendent of the schools at Gloucester, Mass., where he is still engaged. A. W. Cooper, after resigning his position in the Susquehanna school, entered the min- istry, uniting with the Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in this Conference he still retains his membership. W. T. Dunmore ac- cepted an appointment as superintendent of schools in Hornellsville, and is now a lawyer in Utica, N. Y. Mr. Fuller entered college after leaving Susquehanna, and upon his graduation heagain engaged in teaching as a college professor.

CHARLES T. THORPE, principal of the graded schools of Susquehanna borough for the past thirteen years, was born in Sheffield, Berkshire County, Mass., March 15, 1840. His parents, Colonel Oreb A. and Lydia M. (Loomis) Thorpe, removed to Otsego County, N. Y., in 1846, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Colonel Thorpe commanded a regiment of the Massachusetts State Militia, and was the son of Titus Thorpe, who served in the War of 1812. Lydia M. Loomis was the daughter of Moses Loomis, an early surveyor for the States of Pennsylvania and Maryland. Charles T. Thorpe was educated in the public schools of Otsego County and under private instruction. He began teaching at the age of seven- teen, and for eight winter terms successfully conducted the school at Otego, in Otsego County. In 1865 he was elected a justice of the peace at Otego, and served one term of four years, during which time he was elected associate judge of Otsego County, and served for one term of two years. He was granted a State certificate by the superintendent of public instruction, and, in 1870, resumed school work, and taught for three years more at Otego, and, in 1874,

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was principal at the graded school at New Milford. In 1875 he was chosen principal of the graded schools of Susquehanna borough, where he has gained an en- viable reputation as an educator, a thorough discipli- narian, and as a man of high moral and Christian sentiment. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since sixteen years of age, a super- intendent of Sunday-school for ten years, and a leader of the choir for eighteen years. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum and Knights of Honor at Sus- quehanna, in which societies he has held official place. Mr. Thorpe married, in 1861, Marilla, daughter of Stratton Osborn, of Morris, Otsego County.

Miss Brady, one year. Misses Nicol, Hayward, Clark and Moylan hold permanent certificates, and Miss Zorn has a professional certificate.

Before the graded school was established there were several private schools in Susquehanna, two of which should be mentioned as having been especially note- worthy, namely : Miss De Witt's and one conducted by Mr. Wall and his successor, Mr. McCormick.

Miss Emeline De Witt was born near Binghamton, N. Y .; was graduated with highest honors from Miss White's private school, of that city, and after her graduation immediately began her career as a school- teacher, which she continued in the vicinity of her

B.J.Thorpe

Miss Nicol was first employed as teacher in the primary department when the graded school was or- ganized, in 1869. For the past eleven years she has been assistant-principal. Thus for the past eighteen years she has been connected with this school. Miss Hayward taught in Susquehanna one year before the graded school was organized, and from year to year, without intermission, embracing a period of nineteen years, she has since been re-elected. Miss Clark has been connected with the school fourteen years ; Miss Moylan, eleven years; Miss Zorn, eight years; Miss Councilman, four years; Miss Kelly, three years; and

native place until 1856. So successful has she been as to establish a reputation quite beyond a merely lo- cal one. At the urgent solicitation of Messrs. J. B. Gregg and Samuel Falkenbury she was induced to come to Susquehanna. The railroad company, through Mr. Gregg's agency, fitted up the rooms under the li- brary and reading-rooms, in what was called the boarding-house, and gave Miss De Witt the free use of them. At this place she conducted her school un- til 1863, when it became necessary to take this build- ing away, as the new shops were to occupy the ground on which it stood. Miss De Witt now concluded to

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

accept a desirable and lucrative position in the schools of Hudson City, N. J., where she followed teaching until she married. She then removed with her hus- band to Colorado, where she died in 1881. Miss De Witt was an excellent scholar in Latin, French and German, which she taught iu her school; a fine elo- cutionist and rhetorician ; quite skillful in the fine arts, and very much interested in literature. Among those who were so highly favored as to receive in- structions from her are Mary A. Nicol, Alice G. Clark, Mrs. M. B. Wright, Clara Falkenbury, Flora Tingley, A. H. Falkenbury, John S. Wallace, Theo- dore Springsteen, Jr., and George Donahue.

Thomas Wall was born in Ireland, a graduate of the national school system of his native land, and came to America in 1856, locating at Susquehanna. He soon after opened a school about where the Catho- lic. parsonage now stands, which he conducted until about 1861, when he was succeeded by Mr. Dunn, who, however, remained but a short time, and was followed by James McCormick. Messrs. Wall and McCormick were devoted Catholics, and in their schools the doctrines of that Church were taught, in addition to the course of study designed for intellectual improvement. Mr. Wall was a man of pronounced views and characteristics ; consequently, strict in dis- cipline, analytic in teaching and persistent in effort. He especially appreciated mathematics ; and that he was eminently successful in making good mathemati- cians of his pupils is well attested by the marked ability of a number of business men now in Susque- hanna who attended his school. Upon leaving Sus- quehanna he went to Australia, where for about six years he conducted a school for the government. He then purchased a large tract of land in Australia, to the cultivation of which he has since given his atten- tion. Among those who attended his school in Sus- quehanna are Thomas McDonald, John Ahearn, John Buckley, John P. Lannon, Thomas P. Lannon, M. M. Riley, John Reilly, W. J. Murphy,-superintendent of the Buffalo Division of the New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad,-Dennis Maloney, of New York.

Mr. McCormick was born in Ireland and received his education in the national schools. He came to Susquehanna in 1863, and finding an opportunity in this school to engage in an occupation that he had chosen to follow, he took the place that Mr. Wall a few months before had occupied, and for nearly ten years Mr. McCormick at this place performed the du- ties of a teacher with commendable zeal and energy. He then went to Chicago, Ill., where he engaged as book-keeper in a wholesale store, a business that he has since followed. Robert M. Lannon then took charge of the school until 1876, when it became neces- sary to remove the building, as the church had deter- mined on erecting a parsonage on the ground it occu- pied. Among the members of Mr. McCormick's school were J. F. Lannon, R. M. Lanuon, T. J. Has-

sett, James McKinney, John O'Connell, John J. Wil- liams, Joseph Williams, James F. Curtis.

LAUREL HILL ACADEMY .- In 1857 the Catholic Church bought of John B. Scoville a number of acres of land and the buildings thereon, known as the Way House, and converted the same into a convent. This place is pleasantly located on the southeastern border of the town, on the old Harmony road. The prospect from this point is most beautiful and enchanting, with the Canawacta, Starrucca and Cascade Valleys uniting with the winding Susquehanna on the right; the Ouaquagua Mountains in front; while almost the en- tire town, the Drinker Creek Valley and again the bending Susquehanna for many miles may be seen on the left. This academy has fulfilled a very important inission at Susquehanna for these many years. It has accommodations for about one hundred and fifty pu- pils. Besides the usual branches taught in schools, music, painting, drawing, needle-work, etc., are pur- sued. The place is the home of about eight or ten Sisters of the Immaculate Heart, who have the care of the property as well as the charge of the school.

About 1874 the church also purchased the property where the parochial school is located, near the par- sonage, and the building thereon formerly occupied as a dwelling was converted into a school, which has since been conducted by the Sisters in connection with the academy. At the parochial school the names of about two hundred pupils are enrolled. The Mothers Superior who have been appointed to super- intend the convent and schools are Mothers The- resa, De Chautal, Anastasia, Xavier, Benedict and Boniface.

CHURCHES .- The Catholic Church of Susquehanna had its origin at Lanesboro' in 1847. At that time all of this part of the county was embraced in Silver Lake parish, with Very Rev. John V. O'Reilly as pastor. In the beginning of the year Father O'Reilly frequently visited this locality and celebrated Mass at several private houses, namely,-Dennis McDon- ald's, Henry Williams' and John Larkin's. Stephen Maroney, now living in Susquehanna, but then a young man in the employ of the railroad company, assisted in serving Mass at those places. A little later in the year a church was erected. It was two stories high, the upper part being used for a school, and stood on the upper side of the road, nearly oppo- site the present site of the graded school building in Lanesboro'. In 1858 this building was taken down, moved to Susquehanna, put up again where the parsonage now stands, and until about 1876 used for school purposes. At the latter date it was again taken down, as the new brick parsonage was to occupy the ground where it stood. Yet, before this building was removed from Lanesboro' a framed church was erected at Susquehanna in 1853. This church would seat about eight hundred people; but in a few years the congregation was altogether too large for its accommodations ; hence, after due consideration, in

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1872, it was deemed expedient by the pastor that another building should be erected,-one having a capacity adequate to the needs of the congregation, and so substantial as to endure for centuries, and in architecture and finish consonant with the dignity of the church. This structure was begun in 1875. The corner-stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies by Bishop O'Hara, on Sunday, June 3, 1876, and Sunday, November 7, 1880, the edifice was com- pleted and opened for service. The cost of the building was $42,000. The gentlemen performing the responsible duties of building committee were Rev. John Slattery, Thomas McDonald, John C. Kane and Morris Prendergast. The first church at

SUSQUEHANNA CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Lanesboro' was dedicated by Father O'Reilly un -. der a special dispensation from Bishop Newman ; the framed church at Susquehanna by Bishop Newman ; and the present brick building by Bishop O'Hara.

In 1853, when the church was built at Susque- hanna, a new parish was created, called the Susque- hanna parish. This was taken from the Silver Lake parish, and embraced Great Bend, New Milford and Nicholson. About 1872 Great Bend, New Milford and Nicholson were set off and Starrucca was an- nexed. From the origin of the church at this place until 1868, this parish was in the Philadelphia dio- cese, and since that date it has been in the Scranton diocese.

Pastors : Very Reverend John V. O'Reilly, 1847-73 ; Rev. John Slattery, 1873-85; Rev. P. F. Broderick, from 1885 to the present time.

VERY REV. JOHN VINCENT O'REILLY, better known as "Father" O'Reilly, was born in Drum-

halry, County of Longford, Ireland, October 20, 1796. Little is known of his early history before coming to America, further than that he received a classical education preparatory to his entering the ministry. The date of his coming is also unknown, but in 1830 he was ordained a priest of the Catholic Church, at Philadelphia, by the Right Reverend Bishop Kendrick. He was soon afterwards assigned to missionary work in Northern Pennsylvania and Southern New York, and labored diligently and zeal- ously for his church and people in this field for sev- eral years, making long journeys on horseback in the performance of his pastoral duties. He estab- lished churches in different parts of this and adjoining counties ; among others the church at St. Joseph's, in Choconut ; was pastor of many, and exercised a supervision over all within his jurisdiction, to- gether with the societies of the church which he established. In 1847 a church was erected at Lanes- boro', where he officiated as pastor; but in 1853 he organized a society at Susquehanna, which included the one at Lanesboro', and when the church was com- pleted the one at Lanesboro' was discontinued. He still had general supervision of the churches in the county, but from this time until his death he made Susquehanna his home. About this time he was ap- pointed by Bishop Newman, of Philadelphia, vicar- general of the diocese. Soon afterwards he erected a Catholic college in Choconut, known as St. Joseph's College, of which he was appointed president, and Rev. Father Fitzsimmons, vice-president. He also built the convent at St. Joseph's, which was under the supervision of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart.

About 1860 he purchased and fitted up for the purpose what is known as the Laurel Hill Academy, at Susquelianna, which is under the supervision of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart. Shortly after- wards he erected the churches at Great Bend, New Milford and Nicholson, and attended them as pastor. He obtained from the Erie Railroad Company a grant of six acres of land, and converted it into the ceme- tery known as Laurel Hill Cemetery, at Susque- hanna. On the 4th day of October, 1873, upon re- turning from Great Bend, where he had been to attend to some matters connected with his official duties, after alighting from the train at Susque- hanna, he was struck by a passing locomotive and instantly killed. He was still an active and robust man for his age, with, apparently, many years of usefulness before him. He had already made ar- rangements, and was perfecting plans for the erection of a new church at Susquehanna, and the funds for the same he had partly collected. His funeral was attended by a large concourse of people, and was one of the most imposing ever witnessed in this section of the country. He was greatly beloved by his peo- ple, and he had the esteem and respect of all who knew him. He was, in fact, the representative

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Catholic of this section, and his faithful and un- tiring labors for more than forty years in the estab- lishing and building up of the church of his faith have borne ample fruit. While sectarian in his belief, he was non-sectarian in his efforts for the benefit of mankind and the moral good of the community. For this he knew no sect or creed, and he worked hand- in-hand with the representatives of other Christian churches in pursuance of this purpose. Susque- hanna, among whose people he had lived so long, felt deeply his loss, and his death removed from the Catholic Church one of the ablest and most zealous

FATHER O'REILLY. +

members of its priesthood. He was laid to rest in the Laurel Hill Cemetery, in the circular plot reserved for the remains of members of the priesthood, and a beautiful and expensive monument of Italian marble, erected by the contributions of members of his flock, with material aid from the leading business men of Susquehanna, marks his last resting-place.

REV. JOHN SLATTERY was born in Tipperary, Ire- land, in 1842, and died at Susquehanna, Pa., in May, 1887. At fourteen years of age he entered a Jesuit school at Limerick, and completed his classical stud- ies at Castle College, in Dublin, He came to Amer- ica in 1863 and entered a theological college in Phil- adelphia. He was ordained in 1867, and appointed curate to Rev. M. F. Martin, of St. James' Church, West Philadelphia. Qualities of inherent zeal and executive ability of more than ordinary character at once in him became manifest; therefore, in about six months thereafter, he was appointed pastor of St. Joseph's parish, in this county. This parish then included the churches at Montrose and Silver Lake. During his five years' pastorate on this charge he built a church at Silver Lake and a parsonage at St. Joseph's. In 1873 he was appointed pastor of this church, to succeed Father O'Reilly, deceased. This appointment carried with it unusual significance, from the fact that his predecessor had been so suc-

cessful and popular in the administration of the affairs of the church. But the important work so successfully achieved by Father Slattery at this place during the next few years abundantly attested the wisdom of the bishop in making the appointment. The house in which services were held when he came here was neither large enough, nor in other respects suitable. The society was also without a parsonage. Hence he immediately perfected the practical and efficient systems inaugurated by Father O'Reilly be- fore his death, whereby a better place in which to worship might be provided. He also at once took steps to erect a suitable parsonage. With remarkable energy and perseverance these projects were carried out to the satisfaction of his parishioners and the unfeigned pleasure of himself. These buildings are not only ornaments to the town, but in all probability they will stand for generations as monuments com- memorating the name and merits of Father Slattery. In all other respects he was a model pastor, beloved by his people and highly respected by the entire community. About five years before his death the germs of disease made themselves manifest in a slightly impaired condition of his health. But in the lapse of time that followed, the disease-consump- tion-became more and more defiant, until it was evi- dent that he must resign his work to one better able to perform it. Whereupon, in 1885, Father P. H. Broderick was appointed to succeed him. However, Father Slattery remained in the parsonage he built until his death. His funeral was attended by thirty- five priests and a very large concourse of people. All of the business places in town were closed, and in the schools Solemn High Mass was celebrated, fol- lowed by an eloquent and impressive eulogium by Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Hara. of this diocese.

REV. P. F. BRODERICK was born in Archbald, Pa., in 1856. He pursued his studies so diligently at the public schools of Archbald, and under private in- structors in the classics, that, entering St. Charles' College, of Ellicott's City, in 1872, he was able to graduate therefrom in two years. In 1874 he entered St. Charles' Theological Seminary, at Overbrook, near Philadelphia, Pa., from which he graduated in June, 1879, and was ordained. He celebrated his first Mass at Archbald June 29, 1879, and the next month he was appointed to his first mission, at Dunmore, Pa. That mission included six places where services were held, between Moscow and the Delaware Water-Gap, and these places he regularly visited and at them celebrated Mass. In December, 1882, he was trans- ferred to St. Peter's Cathedral, Scranton, Pa. In 1883 he spent a number of months at Susquehanna, while Father Slattery was in Europe for his health, and in July, 1885, Father Slattery being no longer able to administer to the church at this place, Father Broderick was transferred from Scranton to Susque- hanna, and appointed its pastor. Father Broderick is a man of very pleasing address, a fluent speaker,

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 117

Author: Stocker, Rhamanthus Menville, 1848- Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : R. T. Peck Number of Pages: 1318

Author: Stocker, Rhamanthus Menville, 1848-
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : R. T. Peck
Number of Pages: 1318