History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 121

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 121

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In 1761 a public road was laid out along the line of the old "Warrior's Path," across the Le- high river, thence up the Slatington hill, in a southwesterly course, parallel with the Blue Ridge. The point where it crossed Trout creek was a hundred feet south of the bridge, and ex- tended around the hill-side to the present course. But the "Warrior's Path" crossed the river at the outlet of Trout Creek, then followed the course which afterward became Factory street.

The first industry in the slate business was the "Tunnel Quarry" of Jones and Roberts north of the Kern mills about a thousand feet, opened in 1845, for the production of roofing slate; and the next was the slate factory along Trout creek, about five hundred feet south of the mills, for the production of slate mantels and slate slabs, erected in 1847, which afterward be- came the property of the Lehigh Slate Company and is now operated by Bachman Brothers. The "Tunnel Quarry" was operated until 1886.

A covered wooden bridge across the river was erected in 1854. The Lehigh Valley railroad was constructed along the river in 1856; and the same year a hotel was erected near the station. And then it was that the place was named for a time, "Liberty."

In 1862 the "Riverside" Slate quarry was opened, and in 1863 another near the river, by David Williams; and in 1865 he put up a school slate factory which was destroyed by fire in 1874 and immediately rebuilt. This is the large three- story frame building on the east side of the rail- road near the station, unoccupied for some time.

David Williams was an enterprising man and contributed much toward the development of the town, covering a period of 20 years. He was recognized as one of the most extensive

slate operators in the country and became prom- inently identified with the development of the slate industry. In 1884 his factory had reached an annual capacity of 1,300,000 school slates which found a ready market in the several states of the Union. He was burgess of the borough for four years from 1875 to 1879.

Old Buildings .- In 1807, about the time when John Kern, rebuilt the old home, he also erected a stone barn a hundred feet to the rear of it. In 1894 the western portion was removed in the opening of Diamond street; the eastern portion is still standing, and on the frame front there are two dates to show the time of erecting the barn and of the change, 1807-1894.

In 1820 George Kern erected a two-story stone dwelling house on the north side of Main street, 100 yards east of the homestead. It was used as a tavern from 1824 to 1840, then changed to a dwelling, being now owned and oc- cupied by Amandes Glose. A large stone barn was erected the same time by George Kern on the opposite side of the street, 200 feet to the east. This is still standing. It became the prop- erty of Phaon Semmel in 1857, when he changed it for business purposes.

The old two-story stone building erected by Jonas Kern in 1845 on the north side of Main street, on a lot adjoining the old homestead, and used for a time as a tavern is still standing, owned by his son, Benjamin, an inscription stone being on the front which shows also two gob- lets.

The old stone grist-mill, built by Jonas Kern, at Trout creek, in 1850, is still standing and in operation by its owner, Alfred J. Kern; and the saw-mill re-built by Jonas Kern about the same time is also standing and in operation by its owner, Alfred J. Kern.

An old two-story stone building, with cut- stone front, similar to the previous old buildings, erected by George Kern in 1853 is still in a fine state of preservation; and the slate factory, on Factory street, erected by the Lehigh Slate Com- pany in 1854 is also standing, occupied by Bach- man Brothers.

These buildings, attractive for their appear- ance, are in lower Slatington. A similar two- story stone building, with cut-stone front, on the south side of Main street, beyond South, in upper Slatington, erected by Thomas Kern in 1847, is also still standing in a fine state of preservation ; also the first two brick office build- ings erected in 1851, above-mentioned.

Discovery of Slate .- The first efforts in dig- ging for slate in this section of Pennsylvania be-

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BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON.

gan shortly after the year 1800, a charter having been granted in 1805 by the legislature to a num- ber of capitalists for the purpose of opening and working a slate-quarry along the Delaware river below the Water-Gap. After slate had been quarried there for a number of years, it was thought that this material might also be found along the mountain near the Lehigh Water-Gap. It was said by Daniel D. Jones, an old and ex- perienced early operator, that two Welshmen, William Roberts and Nelson Labar, migrated from the quarry near the Delaware Water-Gap and opened similar quarries on the east and west sides of the Lehigh river below the Gap, and that the names of other pioneers were: Owen Jones, Robert M. Jones, George Labar, Hugh L. Davis and Henry Williams.

chantable slate of their native country. Upon learning from Heimbach where it was obtained, they went to the spot, a short distance down the river, and investigated the locality. It was found on the land of John Benninger in North- ampton county and being satisfied that the ma- terial was slate, they secured a lease on the property. In the spring of 1845 they opened a quarry and embarked in the business of produc- ing roofing slate. In August following, Ben- ninger also opened a quarry.

The same season, these Welshmen went to the west side of the river to extend their re- searches, but they decided that there was no slate in that vicinity: "Kern's Mill" or "Kerns- port," as it was then called.

However, a short time afterward, slate was

VIEW OF LEHIGH GAP.

But, in 1828, before the latter explorations, a party of gentlemen from Baltimore, Md., had opened a quarry in Whitehall township, west of Laury's Station, about ten miles from the Lehigh Water-Gap; and in 1831, some of these gen- tlemen, accompanied by Robert McDowell, had discovered slate material on the farm of John Benninger, near the Lehigh Water-Gap, but the quarry was abandoned after having been worked for several years because a better quality came to be discovered elsewhere in that vicinity.

It appears that William Roberts and Nelson Labar in 1844 while journeying a-foot from Eas- ton toward Mauch Chunk, on the old stage route along the Lehigh river, noticed at one of their resting-places (which was opposite the present site of Slatington) some pieces of stone leaning against the barn of Peter Heimbach, and they recognized a close resemblance to the mer-

discovered there by Owen Jones on the prop- erty of Jonas Kern. He and William Roberts then secured a lease for fifteen years and opened a quarry in the hill-side east of the road leading to Welshtown which came to be known as the "Tunnel Quarry."

This first written lease was as follows:

"Articles of agreement made and concluded upon this thirtieth day of August, 1845, between Jonas Kern, of the township of Heidelberg, in the county of Lehigh, state of Pennsylvania, and Owen Jones and William Roberts of the same place,-Term of 15 years, for the 'making a quarry of slate-stone to make slate shingles,' to pay to the said Jonas Kern, Miller, twenty-eight cents for each and every ton of slate shingles.' Jonas Kern to have the right to have as many of the large slate that could not be used for

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

shingles ..... 'And further, the aforesaid parties agree that if the said Jonas Kern, Miller, has a mind to begin to quarrey himself, he can't take nobody to him as a partner excepting Owen Jones or William Roberts; therefore nobody has no Right to Commence to make a quarey on the aforesaid lands but Owen Jones and William Roberts or Jonas Kern, Miller, himself, with the aforesaid Owen Jones and William Roberts.' (Signed) "Jonas Kern. "Owen Jones. "William Roberts.

"Witness at signing, "George Rex."

The efforts mentioned led to the execution of a second lease in 1847 on other land of Mr. Kern by several enterprising men, Robert Mc- Dowell, John Williams, Samuel Taylor and James M. Porter, who formed a partnership under the name of McDowell & Company for the purpose of quarrying slate, besides conducting a general store; and they developed what came to be known as the Douglass and Washington quarries. Thomas Craig afterward united with this partnership, and their efforts proving success- ful they purchased the property.

The mercantile business of the firm mentioned was carried on for several years until 1851 in the William Kern building on Main Street, at Dia- mond, which had been enlarged by Jonas Kern for that purpose; then they started another store in upper Slatington, on the northwest corner of Main and Dowell streets. (This Dowell street was named after Robert McDowell.) Jonas Kern conducted a store in the enlarged building of 1847 for ten years and his son, Benjamin, for upwards of thirty years, ( the latter having erect- ed the American Hotel opposite in 1869.)

Owen Jones having established his business interests here, went to Wales and brought his family. He followed slate operations at Slat- ington for many years; then removed to Daniels- ville, in Northampton county, three miles north- east of Slatington, where he was accidentally killed by the fall of a derrick. He had started the first school-slate factory in 1847 with Mr. Rob- erts. Mr. McDowell, who became interested with them, was one of the leading slate operators and dealers; also a prominent merchant as well as one of the most influential citizens in the development of the town.

Incorporation .- A petition was presented to the Court of Quarter Sessions of Lehigh county at April Term, 1864, praying for the incorpora- tion of the town of Slatington into a borough, the boundary lines to be as follows:

"Beginning at a white-oak tree on the west bank of the Lehigh River, 48 perches south of the L. V. R. R. bridge across Trout Creek, thence through lands of D. & E. Remaly, Jacob Remaly, R. Mc- Dowell and D. D. Jones, S. 75° W, 240 perches to a stone; thence through lands of said McDowell, Jones, John Remaly, Lehigh Slate Co. and Thomas Kern, N. 13º W. 130 perches to a stone; thence through lands of Henry Kuntz, Benjamin Kern, Elias Kern, Williams and Hall, N. 77º E, 268 perches to the east bank of the Lehigh River; thence down the River 132 perches to the place of beginning."

The necessary proceedings were instituted and a decree of incorporation was made Sept. 7, 1864. The first election was held at the public house of Charles Peters (now Neff House) in November, when the following officials were elected :

Burgess, Robert McDowell.

Council, Henry Kuntz, Charles Peters, Jonas Hoffman, Henry Handwerk, Abraham Person.

The early meetings of town council were held in the office of the Lehigh Slate Company, and afterward in the Morey Building and Armory Hall until a town-hall was established at the southwest corner of Third and Church streets, in 1889. One of the first subjects to receive its consideration was "the little corner-house" on Main street and Center alley for a "lock-up," and the employment of Henry Handwerk to fit it up for that purpose.

The first building in upper Slatington was a two-story stone dwelling erected by John Re- maly in 1849, and connected with his large farm. It is still standing on the west side of Main street beyond South.

The borough was surveyed by A. J. Hau- man during the winter of 1865-66 for the pur- pose of establishing the lines and grades of the streets, and a map which he prepared was ap- proved in March, 1866.

The upper town had been regularly laid out in 1851 by Daniel D. Jones and Robert Mc- Dowell and lots had been sold by them. Then there were only several buildings in the place; by 1860 the population had increased to 500, and by 1869 to 2,000.

Mr. Jones erected the second house in the up- per section on the northwest corner of Main and Dowell streets, and suggested the name which it bears. He became the first postmaster in 1851, and the third burgess in 1867; and the third house was the two-story brick building op- posite, next to the Slatington National Bank, occupied by the Carbon Slate Company.

The first store in Upper Slatington was started by McDowell and Company in 1851, in the Jones building and here they had their slate office.

The persons of the town who are generally

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BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON.

recognized as most prominent in its foundation and rapid development were:

Robert McDowell.

David McKenna. D. D. Roper.

Henry Kuntz. Samuel Caskie.

Borough Map .- In 1904, George T. Op- linger (the town surveyor for fourteen years), prepared a superior and comprehensive map of the borough which included all the particulars of the place worthy of mention.

The boundary lines show the following courses and distances : S. 77° W. 6,000 feet ; N. 13' W. 3,800 feet; N. 77° E. 4,030 feet; N. 13° W. 500 feet ; N. 77° E. 2,000 feet; thence along the west bank of the Lehigh river, 4,409 feet; and enclose an area of nearly 540 acres. These ex- tended the limits of the borough, and were es- tablished according to the ordinance of June 18, 1890.

The borough was divided into three wards in 1904, as follows :

First Ward .- All the territory north and west of Franklin street, Fairview Avenue and Trout creek. Second Ward-All south of Franklin street.

Third Ward-All east of Trout creek and Fair- view avenue.

The borough is divided naturally into three sections : one, north of Trout creek ; another, east of Fairview avenue; and the third, south of Trout creek.

The Williams Island lies in the western por- tion of the river at the foot of Main street. It is a narrow strip of land, about 1,000 feet long, almost entirely included within the borough lim- its. It is owned by the David Williams estate.

The elevation of the borough at the L. V. R. R. station above sea level is 365.7 feet; from there to Trout creek, about 1,000 feet; the in- cline is gradual, but thence to the southern lim- it it is rather steep, reaching an elevation of 600 feet.

The first (Remaly) reservoir, 20 by 40 feet, is located in the 2nd ward, on Main street, near the southern limit. The tract contains I acre, 157 perches.

WATER-WORKS.

Remaly Springs .- John and George Remaly owned a farm which lay to the south of the town of Slatington, and on it there was a strong spring of water. In 1853 they laid wooden pipes from this spring to the town and supplied sev- eral families with water until 1859, when they leased the system to Moses Kuntz for five years at an annual rental of $85, to facilitate collec- tion of rents. In 1861, Daniel D. Jones bought

the farm, and shortly afterward, Kuntz sur- rendered his lease. Jones then transferred the reservoir together with the pipes laid and the privileges secured to the Slatington Water Com- pany.

About 1870 the Water Company secured the right to take water from the spring of Paul Kern about three-quarters of a mile on the hill to the southwest and laid an iron pipe line around the knoll to the small reservoir on Main street in order to increase the supply of water.

Dorward Springs .- The water-supply from the Remaly and Kern springs becoming too small and unreliable for the rapidly increasing borough a number of public-spirited citizens, in- cluding David D. Roper, David McKenna, John D. Emack, Samuel Caskie, David Williams, Robert H. Dolby, and Lewis C. Smith, purchased from Phaon Dorward, a tract of hill-land in Washington township, along the Welshtown road about one mile and a half northwest from Slatington, contain- ing about 23 acres on which there was a large supply of superior spring water, and this they granted and sold to the borough with the express stipulation that it should forever be used as a supply for its inhabitants and for domestic pur- poses, otherwise it should revert to the grantors, the proposition having first been approved at a public election. This was in 1883, and immed- iate steps were taken to impound the water and convey it by gravity in pipe-lines to the borough, by means of a public loan. Two large reser- voirs were constructed with cement interior (one then and the other in 1891), and placed under cover, one having a capacity of 240,000 gallons and the other of 260,000 gallons; and two iron mains were laid along the Welshtown road to the borough, one from each reservoir. Since then this source has afforded an abundant supply of the best water; and the Remaly and Kern supply was discontinued. The elevation is nearly fifty feet higher than the Remaly supply was.

In 1880, Oscar Neff and his father, Edward B. Neff, obtained control of the Slatington Water Company, a private corporation, and they continued to supply the town from the springs mentioned until the fall of 1883, when they sold the plant established with all rights and privileges to the borough.

Two public places were established for the convenience of the people and passing teams, one at the Remaly House (now Neff House), and the other at the southwest corner of Main and Dowell streets, until about 1883, when they were discontinued.

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Public Lighting .- The lighting of the streets was done by means of kerosense lamps located by the borough authorities, at all the prominent points of the town and these were maintained until the substitution of electric light.

In 1886, Frederick Horlacher erected a steam power plant on Dowell street, west of Main, to supply the community with light and power and set up the necessary poles and wires for this pur- pose. He furnished the light for two years; then joined Joel Neff, Frederick Welz, Eldred D. Peters, and others in organizing the Citizens' Electric, Light, Heat, and Power Company, and conveyed the plant to this company which op- erated it for two years when it was removed to Walnutport along the canal to reduce the cost of production by securing waterpower from the canal. After conducting the plant there for ten

distance north of Main street, with a gasometer holding 25,000 feet, and mains were laid throughout the town covering altogether two miles; and it has been in operation until the present time. Joseph Richards has been the treasurer from the beginning. The patrons num- ber 300.

Bridges .- There are three iron bridges in the borough which span Trout creek, two being county bridges. One is on Main street, east of 2d. It was first reported to the Court in 1814 by viewers with a favorable recommendation, but it was not built until 1826. It was con- structed of stone, and continued in use until 1869 when an iron bridge was put there in its place to carry heavier burdens than had theretofore been taken over it; but this, too, had to be

VIEW OF LOWER MAIN STREET.

years it was leased to the Slatington Electric Company which was controlled by Hugh Cril- ly, who had constructed the trolley line from Allentown to Slatington, and the last-named company supplied the light until 1906; then the Lehigh Valley Transit Company, having pur- chased the trolley line, also became the owner of the light company, and since then, under con- tract with the borough, has supplied the town. The large arc lights were introduced at the street intersections in 1902.

Gas .- The Slatington Gas Company was started in 1904, as an incorporated body with a capital of $35,000, by Joseph Richards, Robert G. Pierce, and James L. Foote, of the borough, and a number of interested parties at Allentown. A plant was erected along Trout creek a short

removed in 1901 because the violent puffing of smoking engines passing to and fro underneath caused the beams to show signs of weakness and decay, and a more imposing structure was sub- stituted. The parts of the removed bridge were conveyed by teams thirteen miles to a point on the Ontelaunee creek near the Berks county line and used in the construction of a new bridge on the public road from New Tripoli to Kempton. This bridge in Slatington is about 300 feet long, with an elevation of 30 feet above the creek.

The second was erected in 1898 on Walnut street and is also about 300 feet long.

The third is a small structure spanning the narrow ravine near the outlet of the creek into the river. It was erected by the borough.

In 1854, a bridge was constructed across the Lehigh river to connect Slatington and Walnut-

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BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON.

port and facilitate travel and traffic from Lehigh county into Northampton county and vice versa by way of these two towns. It was a covered wooden structure erected by the Slatington Bridge Co., a stock company, and toll was charged until 1893 when it was purchased by the joint action of the two counties. In 1911 a new iron bridge was erected in its place.

Railroads .- The first railroad communica- tion was secured in 1856 by the construction of the Lehigh Valley R. R. along the western bank of the Lehigh river, and the next was by the con- struction of the Central Railroad of New Jersey along the eastern bank through Walnutport, which is on the opposite side.

The third railroad was constructed in 1870 by the Lehigh Valley R. R. Co. as a branch to Slatedale along Trout creek for the purpose of reaching several slate operations and transporting roofing slate, slate slabs, etc., to its main line. This improvement was secured at the solicitation of the slate operators.

In 1874 the Berks County R. R. was con- structed from Reading to the Western terminus of the Branch Railroad mentioned ; which opened direct travel and traffic from Slatington to Wil- mington by way of Reading. The name of this railroad was subsequently changed to Schuyl- kill and Lehigh, and became the property of the Philadelphia and Reading R. R. Co.

In 1900 a trolley line was constructed from Allentown by way of Schnecksville to Slatington by Hugh Crilly, who transferred it to the Lehigh Valley Transit Co. in 1906; and since 1900 di- rect communication has been carried on between the places mentioned. It enters the borough on Main street and follows it from Kern's Grove to Railroad street at the L. V. R. R. station. A high-tension power plant, in a one-story brick building, was established in 1907 by the Transit Co. along the line at the southern extremity of the borough.

In 1911 the Lehigh & New England R. R. Co. extended a branch from Danielsville around Walnutport to the Lehigh Valley R. R., a short distance below Slatington, crossing the river on its own iron bridge and reaching the borough from the "Junction" on the L. V. R. R. track. It maintains a separate office but its trains ar- rive at and depart from the L. V. R. R. station. The local agent has been Alexander Everett.

Postoffice .- Previous to the year 1851 the nearest postoffice to Slatington was at "Craig's Store" in the Lehigh Gap, and there all its mail matters were delivered and received ; but by that time its business interests had developed to such an extent that the department at Washington

showed an inclination to establish an office for the accommodation of the people and the name "Waverly" was suggested. This name, however, was not allowed because an office under this name had already been established in Pennsylvania ; thereupon the name Slatington was selected and approved.

At that time the mail passed this point on the railroad daily from Philadelphia to Mauch Chunk, arriving at 10 o'clock p. m. and depart- ing at 2 o'clock the next morning on its way re- turning to Philadelphia. The total receipts for the first year were less than $50 and half was paid to the postmaster for his services. The re- ceipts had increased so much within thirty years that the office became a presidential appointment.

The following incumbents served the office :

D. D. Jones, 1851-52.

Robert McDowell, 1852-61.

Moses Kuntz, 1861-69.

Dr. H. O. Wilson, 1869-79.

L. C. Smith, 1879-85.

David Lutz, 1885-89; 1897-1903. John R. Roberts, 1889-93.

Albert Bachman, 1893-97.

Wallace W. Morgan, 1903-07.

Samuel J. Evans, 1907-14.

In 1910, upon the town council having estab- lished a system of numbering the houses, the P. O. department introduced the free delivery of mail throughout the borough with three carriers and twenty-three boxes.

On July 31, 1911 the Postal Savings Bank was opened in the Slatington office.

Since 1903 the postoffice has been located in the Berlin building, on Main street, at the angle.

Newspapers .- The history of the newspapers of Slatington will be found in the chapter on newspapers which embraces all the newspapers and publications of Lehigh county. Those in the borough are Slatington News, Slatington Her- ald, The Slatington Star.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Slatington, No. I .- The subject of protecting the community against fire did not receive any serious, practical consideration until the Slating- ton Hose Co., No. I, was instituted Aug. 5, 1885, and then a carriage and hose were sup- plied; and in 1890 a steamer and hook and lad- der truck. Its apparatus is located in the town hall, and there the company holds its meetings. Its membership is 130.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 121

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1158

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158