USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > Chambersburg > Historical sketch of Franklin County, Pennsylvania : prepared for the centennial celebration held at Chambersburg, Penn'a, July 4th, 1876, and subsequently enlarged by I. H. M'Cauley John M. Pomeroy, publisher. To which is added a valuable appendix by J. L. Suesserott, D. M. Kennedy and others, and embellished by over one hundred lithographic illustrations, drawn by W. W. Denslow > Part 22
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The hotel at present is one of the best known houses in the Cum- 29
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berland Valley and sustains a reputation second to none, among traveling men who come to Chambersburg.
DIAMOND NOTION HOUSE-J. & G. WATSON.
On April 1st, 1848, the executors of Dr. Andrew M'Dowell sold to David Oaks the property now owned by Mrs. Watson, located on the north-western side of the Diamond, Chambersburg. A two- storied brick house then stood there. Mr. Oaks only held the prop- erty three days, and on April 3d, 1848, sold it to Benjamin Trexler. For six years Mr. Trexler retained it when he, in turn, on J mary 17th, 1854, sold out to John Reasner. Mr. Reasner, on Mare >5th, 1857, sold to Alex. K. M'Clure, from whom Mrs. Charlotte Watson bought it on April 3d, 1858, and it has remained in her possession ever since. This is its connected history from the year 1848 until the present time. From whom Dr. M'Dowell bought I cannot say. The deed was not recorded, and therefore it is ahnost an impossi- bility to trace its history any further back than the year above men- tioned.
The "Diamond Notion Store" was established in 1861 by James Watson & Son on the same spot it now occupies. The assortment was not large, consisting of wall paper and notions. In January, 1864, Mr. James Watson retired, his son George having purchased his interest. Then the firm name was changed to J. & G. Watson, and thus it has been ever since. After Mr. George Watson's en- trance into business the store room was enlarged and improved by the construction of bulk windows. Just at the termination of these improvements came the raid of MCausland and its consequences. After the fire the firm, with its well known energy, opened out in a . hastily thrown together frame building on south Main street, be- tween Queen and Washington. In 1865 and the spring of 1866 the three-storied brick building now located on the ground was erected. In March or April, 1866, the firm re-occupied their old position, though in a much neater room, and better adapted to their particular line of trade. Business moved along slowly, their sales averaging from three to four thousand dollars a year. In 1867 a "New York Store," in the same style, opened out, and the Watson Brothers came before the public by means of printer's ink, and ran their sales up to thirty or forty thousand dollars per year. Since that time they have enjoyed a first rate run of enstom, both in their wholesale and retail departments.
THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF CHAMBERSBURG.
On the 9th day of June, 1868, the Presbytery of Carlisle, in accord- ance with a request of certain members of the Falling Spring Pres-
RES. OF JOHN R. ORR, MARKET SI. CHAMBG PA.
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CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH J. C . CALDWELL. PA
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CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.CHAMBERSBURG PA. J. C.CALDWELL. PASTOR
. CHAMBERSBURG PA.
.STOR
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byterian Church, appointed a committee to visit Chambersburg and inquire into the expediency of organizing a second Presbyterian church. This committee met in the Falling Spring church on the 15th day of August following, and after a careful investigation of the circumstances determined, and proceeded to organize what was at first called the Second Presbyterian Church of Chambersburg. Twenty-eight persons, twenty women and eight men. presented certificates of membership in the Falling Spring Church, and were organized into the new congregation. An election for elders was then held, which resulted in the unanimous choice of James C. Austin and James A. Reside.
The Commissioners of the county very generously, and without solicitation, offered the free use of the Court House to the new or- ganization as a place of public worship. On the morning of the 24th of August, the Church held its first religions service, when the Rev. James F. Kennedy, D. D., preached. A Sabbath School was soon put into operation, and has been continued to the present time without intermission.
After hearing several ministers as candidates, the Rev. I. N. Hays, then serving the Middle Spring Church, received and accepted n call to the pastorate of the congregation. Mr. Hays soon entered on his duties, and was formally installed by a committee of the Presbytery on the 11th day of December, 1868.
Immediately after the organization the purpose was formed to secure a permanent home for the congregation. A committee, pre- viously appointed, reported on December 12th that they had pur- chased the lot on which the Franklin Hotel had stood before the burning of the town. As soon as possible, plans for a church build- ing were seenred and adopted. A Building, Committee, consisting of James C. Anstin, James A. Reside and Col. O. N. Lull, were chosen, and proceeded at once to prepare the foundation. These men faithfully and vigorously pushed on the work. On the 25th day of May, 1869, the corner stone was laid with appropriate and solemn ceremonies.
On Sabbath, December 12th, 1869, just one year after the purchase of the lot, the congregation met for the first time in the new lecture room, to worship and praise the Lord, at which time the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered. The membership had by this time increased to the number of seventy.
Early in 1870 the work of completing the large audience room was undertaken. In 1874 it was finished and was dedicated to the service of Almighty God on Thursday, the twenty-first of Septem- ber.
The Rev. Mr. Hays labored as pastor of the church till May 24th, 1875, when he preached his farewell sermon, and soon started for his newly-adopted home in Junction City, Kansas.
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The church was without a pastor for a period of about three months, when the Rev. J. C. Caldwell, then of the Lycoming Church, of Williamsport, Pa., was called. He entered on his duties on the 13th of September, 1875, and was installed as pastor on the 23d day of October following.
The church is now in a very prosperous condition ; has but a com- paratively small debt, and owns property worth about fifty thousand dollars. It has a membership of about two hundred in number and is steadily growing.
COL. WINGER'S RESIDENCE-GREENCASTLE.
This house, located on the Square in Greencastle, was built in the year 1812, by Mr. John M'Lanahan, and was at that time considered a fine mansion property. Fashions change, however, and the resi- dence so stylish in those days is now pointed out as a good, old- fashioned house. It is the oldest mercantile stand in the town, and has always been held in high esteem as a first-class business location.
The "Farmer's Bank of Greencastle" occupied a portion of the house previous to 1818. The part allotted to trade is now occupied by a general store, the "Valley Echo" printing establishment, bar- ber shops and law offices. It has belonged to its present owner, Col. Benjamin Franklin Winger, for several years.
MARBLE YARD-S. P. SHULL, PROPRIETOR.
Prior to the year 1822 the thoroughfare now called Market street, in Chambersburg, had but few buildings built along its westward course. At the corner of the Diamond, where the Central church is, stood the old hostelry known from Philadelphia to Pitts- burg as the "Green Tree Tavern." Westward there was a small weatherboarded honse and the hotel stable between Main street and the alley. From the alley to the Conococheague there was a ravine, its western side sloping to the creek. Of the history of the marble yard property the writer has been able to gather but little. The first mention found in the deed records reveals the fact that the Court of Common Pleas confirmed a sale made by Sheriff J. M. Maclay to Alexander M'Donald. of Baltimore, of the lot upon which the marble yard is now loewed, in the year 1822. By the death of M'Donald the property passed into the hands of a Robert Lemmon, whom M'Donald had ap- pointed a trustee of this land. On December 27th, 1850, Wm. . M'Lellan, Esq., became the owner, through a deed given by Lemmon and the other trustees. Mr. M'Lellan only held it three years, and on August 13th, 1853, sold the part known as the "King Marble Yard" property to James King. There was a two-storied
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brick dwelling house and a frame shop on the land at the time of the fire, and they were both burned. After the fire some time elapsed before Mr. King rebuilt. A three-storied, rough-cast brick house now stands on the property, together with a two-storied frame work-shop. After being proprietor for ahnost a generation, Mr. King traded with Mr. James R. Brewster, of Newville, for some property near Fannettsburgh. On March 6th, 1874, Mr. Brewster took possession and held it until 1877. After Mr. King's departure Mr. Samuel P. Shull rented the shop and carried on the marble cutting. Succeeding in the trade better than he expected, Mr. Shull, on March 24th, 1877, purchased the lot from Mr. Brewster, together with the dwelling house to the west of the marble yard. An experienced marble worker, Mr. Shull is kept constantly busy supplying memorial stones and monuments for the little hillocks which are consequent to the growth of the village of 1777 into a large and beautiful town a century after. During the war of the rebellion, those noble men, the Home Guards, heard that Stewart was coming on a raid. Just opposite Mr. Shull's yard they con- structed a barricade of sand bags. Down New England hill the rebels came, but the barricade belched no deadly fire in their faces. The guards had skedaddled and the sand bags were disgusted.
HON. W. S. STENGER'S RESIDENCE.
Chambersburgh, in olden times, was a noisy, bustling post town on the through route between Philadelphia and Pittsburg. Lines of stages lumbered out daily for Baltimore and the two cities above mentioned. About the year 1815 the Harrisburg and Chambersburg turnpike company came into existence, and the present piked tho- roughfare was taken in charge. The stages from Harrisburg did not get into Chambersburg until they came to the Falling Spring church. To the North of the church edifice, as late as 1841, there were only . the following named houses built: Mr. W. S. Chambers' stone resi- dence stood, as it were, in thecountry. Following the turnpike, the frame house owned by Mr. John Trostle was then a new house. At the Point stood an old log tavern, which has, since that time, been modernized and changed to a dwelling house. Beyond the Point was a hill, which has been removed; going still northward, the frame house on this side of the school house was built, and that neighborhood was slightly swampy. The old gate-house, kept by Mrs. Shiyock, stood across the road, at the line between Mr. C. H. Taylor's and Rev. J. A. Crawford's residences. Here was quite a hill, which, under the direction of J. Allison Eyster, was removed. Mr. Eyster bought the property at sheriff's sale, April Ist, 1861. It was then partially a field and partially a garden for the gate-house keeper. In accordance with ideas of improvement, Mr. Eyster pro-
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cured the removal of the gate-house to a situation one mile further north, and set a force of men at work blasting and digging down the hill. After the fire of 1864 he began to build the present building. The residence is a handsome two-storied frame house, built in with brick, and presents an attractive appearance from the street. It contains in the front building, down stairs, four rooms, up stairs, nine rooms; in the rear part there is one room on the first floor and three up stairs, one of which is a bath room. On December 9th, 1871, Mr. J. A. Eyster conveyed to W. B. Brown, M. D., who estab- lished a Water Cure establishment. This project was unsuccessful, and the house was rented out. Hon. W. S. Stenger, on September 4th, 1875, purchased from Dr. Brown, and now owns it. Well loca- ted, with very pretty front and side lawns, it is one of the most af- tractive homes in our town.
THE MASSACRE OF SCHOOL CHILDREN AND THEIR TEACHER IN 1764.
[The following sketch, though not pertaining to the drawings, is of a historical character. I am indebted to Mr. S. H. Eby, of Greencastle, for it .- D. M. K.]
In compliance with a request made by you, I shall endeavor to furnish a brief history of the foul murder of a teacher and all his pupils, with one exception, which was perpetrated by the Indians, on the morning of the 26th of July, 1764. The region in which this brutal murder was committed was then in Cumberland county, (now Franklin), about three miles north of Greencastle, and ten miles south-west of Chambersburg. Enoch Brown was the school- master of the settlement. He is said to have been a man of liberal culture, particularly noted and respected for his truthfulness, integ- rity and christian character, in short, he was an exemplary teacher of his day. On the morning above named, he proceeded as usual to the log school house, which was a structure of the rudest character, opened it, and doubtless performed the various duties attendant upon the teacher to put things generally in readiness for the open- ing of the school. Tradition says that on the above named day the children were generally loath to go to school, even those that were particularly fond of going at other times, disliked very much to start on that morning. One boy, after leaving home, decided he would not go to school, but loiter in the woods, and hence he escaped the sad fate which befel his schoolmates. One by one the boys and girls eame dropping in with dinner basket in hand, little thinking that this would be their last day of school. When the hour for opening school had arrived, they were told by the teacher to take their respective places in the room ; the roll being called only ten responded to their names, eight boysand two girls. The school had
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been much larger in the early part of the summer, but the warm weather and seasonal duties had very much decreased the number of scholars. I have not been able to ascertain the names of all the scholars, but have learned from a reliable source that no two were from the same family, so that there were ten families from the settlement represented in this school. Eben Taylor, a lad about 15 years old, was said to have been the largest boy, George Dunstan was some- what younger than Taylor, and Archie M'Cullough, the boy who survived his injuries, was the youngest child of the school. The names of the two girls were Ruth Hart and Ruth Hale. The ac- count given by A. M'Cullough is, that when the master and schol- ars met at the school house, two of the scholars informed him that on their way to school they had seen in the bushes what they sup- posed to be Indians. But the teacher, being a man of courage, at- tributed this report to the timidity of the children, as such rumors had frequently, on former occasions, been in circulation on the fron- tier when no Indians were near. Shortly after the opening exer- eises of the school, a noise at the door attracted the attention of the teacher, when it was thrown open, and to his astonishment three Indians stood upon its threshold. Knowing that there was no means of escape, and hoping to spare the lives of the children, he instantly stepped to the door, and in imploring tones besought them to kill him, to torture him, or to dispose of him as they deemed proper, but to spare the lives of the innocent children. One of the Indians replied, that in order to avoid detection they would be ne- cessitated to kill the children also, and instantly one of the three Indians sprang through the door, and fiercely attacked the teacher with a wooden mallet. . The teacher had nothing with which to de fend himself but his hands; these were soon disabled or broken, after which a few severe blows about the head felled him to the floor in a dying condition. During the time the savage was brutally murdering Mr. Brown, the children were almost frantic, running to and fro through the house, and possibly some of them would have, made their escape into the undergrowth which surrounded the house, but for the two Indians who remained on the outside to guard the door and give timely notice to the wretch within in case they were discovered. One by one the little urchins were stricken down by furious blows from the heavy mallet of the Indian, until all but little Archie were stretched upon the floor, dead or dying. As no time was to be lost, the savage monster went hurriedly from one to another tearing off their scalps. Little Archie, who had thus far avoided discovery, was concealed behind some wilted boughs, which previously had been placed in the great chimney, from which place of concealment he could see the horrible slaugh- ter of his schoolmates. The Indians, now supposing their work completed, were about leaving the school house, when one of them,
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looking back, observed Archie secreted in the chimney corner, and rushing upon him, dealt him a single but fearful blow, and tearing off his scalp, left him for dead. Some hours after this bloody trag- edy had been committed, one of the settlers happened to come in the vicinity of the school house, and observing the unusual quiet- ness about the house at that hour of the day, it being about noon, his curiosity led him to the door, when behold ! the horrible scene was presented to him. Ten lifeless bodies stretched upon the floor, weltering in their own blood, and little Archie, who was not dead, but blind from the blow he had received, moaning and crawling about among his dead companions, smoothing his hands over their faces, and running his fingers through their hair, as if trying to distinguish one from another by the touch. Archie M'Cullough recovered from his injuries and lived to an old age, but his mind was never quite right again. A few days after this dreadful massa- cre the whole neighborhood gathered to participate in the funeral obsequies. The teacher and scholars were all buried in the same grave, being put into a large, rudely-constructed box, with their clothing on, as they were found after being murdered.
THE MONTGOMERY HOUSE-W. H. M'KINLEY, PROPRIETOR.
Directly across the alley from the National House, on north Main street, Chambersburg, stands the Montgomery House. When Nicholas Snider bought the National House property he also bought this one, and in course of time it came into the hands of Jacob Sni- der, who in March, 1794, sold to his brother, Jeremiah Snider, father of our townsman, Mr. Nicholas Snider, to whom the writer is under obligations for many historical facts otherwise unattainable. Jere- miah Snider had been keeping a hotel on west Queen street, oppo- site the property now occupied by H. Sierer & Co., called the Harp and Crown. On the newly acquired land he built a three-story brick tavern stand, brick back building, briek stable, one-story stone blacksmith shop on the corner of the alley, and other buildings. The hotel was known as "The Eagle," and had a large spread eagle for a sign. In 1823 Mr. Nicholas Snider was informed by his father that he might have the stone blacksmith shop, and in consequence of the gift Mr. Snider added another story to the shop and convert- ed it into a dwelling house. David Snider followed Jeremiah Sni- der as landlord of the Eagle. Though of the same name they were not related. John Aughinbaugh was landlord for a year or two previous to 1833, when Jeremiah Snider, of Bedford, rented the house.
In 1836 Mr. Nicholas Snider became "mine host." The same year the Cumberland Valley railroad was opened for trade, and the first train which came through had on board all the volunteers from the Carlisle barracks, who were entertained by Mr. Snider. Mr.
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MONTGOMERY HOUSE, CHAMBERSBURG. PA.
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RES. OF MELCHI SNIVELY. STORE & RES.OF FRED'K B. SNIVELY, SHADY GROVE.
TWO EWES, COTSWOLD & BUCK, OXFORDDOWN.
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Nicholas Snider was succeeded by his brother, Geo. W., about the year 1838, and he kept the hotel until September, 1844. James Montgomery, father of Dr. John Montgomery, rented from Mr. Jeremiah Snider in September, 1844. From April, 1846, to April, 1847, Thomas Gray was the proprietor, who was followed by Mr. Mont- gomery again. In 1848 Mr. Snider died, and Mr. Montgomery, on March 29th, 1848, became the owner, purchasing from the adminis- trators of Jeremiah Snider. In 1856 the building was leased to Charles Gibbs, who only remained one year, to be followed by Mr. Montgomery once more. From this period until his death, Mr. Montgomery continued running the business. After his death his widow, Mrs. Margaretta Montgomery, was the proprietress, until the invasion and fire of July 30th, 1864. Immediately after the fire the present building, four-storied brick, having its offices, read- ing room, dining room, etc., on the first floor, the parlor on the second, and the remainder of the house devoted to bed rooms, of which there are forty-two, was erected. The northern part of the honse was, and is, ocenpied by Dr. Montgomery as a private resi- dence. Mrs. M. Montgomery continued the business until 1866 or 1867, when Mr. W. C. M'Nulty leased the property. In September, 1868, Daniel Miller went into the house, but shortly after sold his lease to Ephraim S. Shank. This lease expired September 21st, 1871, when Elliott & Shenafield, afterwards Elliott & M'Call, kept until April, 1875. Since that time it has been under the manage- ment of Win. H. M'Kinley, who has lively competition with his rival across the alley.
CROWELL- & CO'S SHOPS-GREENCASTLE.
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[The following sketch from the pen of J. M. Cooper, Esq., in the Chambersburg Valley Spirit of August 15th, 1877, gives the full his- tory of the Willoughby Grain Drill Works, at Greencastle, Pa. ]
"We spent a day in the fine old town of Greencastle lately, and put in most of the time looking through the establishment of J. B. Crowell & Co., which we found to be a hive of industry, and which we think it worth while to write the history of.
Bradley and Chappel started a Foundry on South Carlisle street, in Greencastle, in 1845, and J. B. Crowell bought out Chappel in 1850. The business was conducted by Bradley & Crowell from this date till 1857, when Franklin Keller was admitted to the firm. In this year the manufacture of Grain Drills and Hay Rakes was ad- ded to the ordinary business of the Foundry. This establishment was burned down in 1861, when a temporary structure was erected, in which the business was carried on.
In 1860, the Rev. Mr. Emerson, at that time pastor of the Pres- byterian church at Greencastle, in connection with General Detrich
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and Wm. H. Davison, started a Steam Saw Mill and Sash, Door and Blind Factory. In 1861, James C. Austin bought out Messrs. Emerson and Detrich, and he and Mr. Davison conducted the saw- mill and sash factory till the succeeding year.
Bradley, Crowell and Keller dissolved partnership near the close of 1861, and in 1862 Mr. Crowell bought out Mr. Austin and entered into partnership with Mr. Davison, adding the Grain Drill and Hay Rake manufacture to the business previously done by Austin & Da- vison. In 1870 the firm of Crowell & Davison was dissolved, and W. H. Davison's half interest was purchased by J. B. Crowell and Jacob Deardorff, the latter having been in the employment of the old firm as clerk. In 1874 Joseph E. Crowell, of Ohio, a nephew of J. B. Crowell, purchased of him a quarter interest, the firm name making no change, but has continued siuce 1870 under the title of J. B. Crowell & Co.
The present establishment is the result of a union of the two con- cerny whose history we have briefly given.
The Works, which were of wood and quite extensive, were de- stroyed by fire in 1875. Fortunately the Patterns had shortly before been removed to a building constructed for their reception and were saved from the general wreck. Temporary buildings were put up, in which the work was carried on without serious interruption, and preparations made for rebuilding on a more extensive scale than ever.
The new buildings, which are of briek, were finished some time ago and are now fully occupied. The main shop is nearly square- 60 by 66 feet-three stories high, with a metallic roof, surmounted with an observatory, from which a magnificent view of the town and country and distant mountains is obtained The foundry and machine shops are in a building 90 by 50 feet in extent. The cupola is outside of the walls of the foundry, a capital arrangement for keeping the foundry clean and free from heat, and the fires of the sinith shops are blown by the same steam machinery that supplies the blast to the foundry. The boiler and engine are in a building detached from the rest, in the construction of which every possible precaution against fire has been taken.
The ground, covered by buildings and piled up with lumber, com- prises about two acres. Crowell & Co. supply themselves with all the lumber they use except the pine. Their hickory, oak and wal- but lumber comes from land owned or leased by them in their own section, and is cut on their own mill.
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