History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 142

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 900

USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 142
USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 142
USA > Pennsylvania > Wyoming County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 142

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The first saloon was opened in August, 1832, "to prevent the use of ardent spirits by the miners," by furnishing them malt drinks.

James J. Hetherby, who came to Carbondale in May, 1842, was the first music teacher, and taught band and piano music. Kellam & Davis established the first bakery in August, 1842. S. S. Benedict first began tak- ing daguerreotypes in January, 1844, at the Mansion House. The first livery stable was established by W. W. Bronson, in 1849. W. W. Lathrop began in the news business in November, 1855. The first brick house was erected in 1866, by John Kase, on River street. P. Moffit built one on Main street about the same time. The first brick store was that of J. Alexander & Sons, built in 1867.

RAILROAD, EXPRESS AND TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICA- TIONS.

The completion of the gravity road of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, in the fall of 1829, first es. tablished communication with the outside world. The operation of the road was attended with great difficulties, arising from the breaking of the chains used on the in- clined planes. In April, 1830, tarred ropes were substi- tuted for the chains, with very desirable results. Freight was first regularly carried in 1843. This road carried no passengers for some years after its completion. Passen- ger cars were first attached to the rear of the coal "trips." Upon the return or "light " track being built cars made the round trip instead of returning by the old road. The head of each plane was raised and the foot lowered, so that cars could run down each plane by gravity, whereas horses had been used to haul the loaded cars one way and the empty ones the other. In 1860 the company had extended the road to Providence, and passenger cars be- gan to run over the road. It was extended to Scranton, and, forming a connection with the Delaware, Lackawan- na and Western, was changed to a locomotive road. The

44 [

EARLY BUSINESS PLACES OF CARBONDALE-ROADS AND MAILS.

first locomotive reached Carbondale in the latter part of September, 1870. Coal trains ran during November. Passenger travel was opened July 4th, 1871. The Jeffer- son branch of the Erie was completed during this year, passenger business beginning May 15th, 1871.

The first express company that reached Carbondale was Hope's express, which used the gravity road until its extension to Providence, when the Central express was put on the road. June Ist, 1873, the Delaware, Lacka- wanna and Western express began running to Carbondale, and J. H. Wilson has been the agent ever since. The office is on Main street. The United States Express Company has used the Jefferson branch of the Erie ever since it was completed. A. B. Durfee is agent.

The Western Union Telegraph Company leases the lines of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, and has an office near the office of the company, M. E. John- son manager. This company does nearly all the public business, although the railroad companies have tele- graph offices.

MAILS AND ROUTES.

John Knapp, now living in Old Forge township, car- ried the mail from where Scranton now is to Newburgh, N. Y., passing through the place were Carbondale now stands, before any clearing was made. For two years the people of Carbondale had to depend on a post-office six miles away, Clarkstown being the nearest established office. In August, 1829, the office at Carbondale was established, with James W. Goff postmaster. A route from Carbondale to Clarkstown was established, mails being carried twice a week. In January, 1833, there were two lines of stages passing through the place. A route was established in 1836 from Carbondale to Tunk- hannock, via Greenfield, Wallsville, Abington and Nichol- so11. Mails arrived as follows: During 1843, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday-southern, via Wilkes-Barre, 3 P. M .; New York, 10 P. M .; Owego, 7 P. M. Friday- Nicholson, via Greenfield and Abington, 9 A. M. Mails closed for the same points on the same days. The post- masters at Carbondale have been appointed as follows: James W. Goff, 1829; William Eggleston, 1833; Horatio S. Pierce, 1837; J. P. Williams, Calvin Benjamin and C. T. Pierson, 1841; Martin Curtis, 1842; F. M. Crane, 1843; H. P. Ensign, 1844; Joseph Gillispie, 1849; Anthony Grady, 1854; D. N. Lathrop, 1861; William R. Baker, 1864; Daniel Prendegrast, 1867; P. S. Joslin, 1869, who still holds the office.

Mails now arrive from Honesdale and from the south twice a day; from the north once a day, by rail, and from Dundaff once a day by stage.

When the employes of the railroad began settling in Carbondale the only road was a bridle path running along the Lackawanna river. The first road out was one leading from near the railroad, in the first ward of the city, to the Milford and Owego turnpike. This was laid out December 21st, 1828.

The Carbondale and Blakely Turnpike Company was organized in 1833. D. B. Blanchard, Alexander Dolph

and Henry Van Bergen were the first board of managers, and Joseph Benjamin treasurer.

Books were opened for subscription to the stock of the Carbondale and Lackawanna turnpike, at the Mansion House, June 30th, 1834. D. B. Blanchard, E. M. Town- send, William Eggleston, Thomas Meredith, Marshal Dimick and Raynsford Smith were the commissioners. This road leads from Carbondale to Belmont, Wayne county, following the river; proposals were advertised for May 27th, 1836, for the building of such parts as might be located.

There were only three roads leading into Carbondale in 1836. John Searle, of Pittston, held the contract of carrying the mail from Scranton to Honesdale, and upon the completion of the wagon road put on a wagon and carried passengers and freight. G. A. Whitney was the first driver.

Harvey C. Nash, agent, put a daily line of stages on the road from Carbondale to Wilkes-Barre in September, 1845, making three trips a week by the direct route and three by Harrison's Mills. L. Searle & Co. began run- ning a daily line of stages to Montrose in January, 1851, charging a fare of $1.50. The line to Wilkes. Barre after- ward passed into the hands of Bronson & Allen, who continued to run it until 1860, when they drew off from the valley route, as the railroad offered superior facilities for traveling.

BUSINESS GROWTH.

From a single log house in 1827, the place had in - creased to a village of 600 inhabitants in 1833, with six store's, one apothecary shop, one clothing store, several groceries, two hotels, two physicians, one lawyer, me- chanics of all kinds, millinery shops, and four churches. As the business of mining coal increased so did the busi- ness of all kinds. The prosperity of Carbondale has always depended on the amount of work done by the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. The mercantile appraisement of 1837 shows ten stores in the village, and the foundry of Pierson & Co. was doing a good business. The number of stores had increased to thirteen in 1845, and the name of P. Moffitt, who is still in business here, appears in the list. The business of Carbondale received a severe blow September 28th, 1850, by a disastrous fire, which broke out in the Carbondale House, kept by G. W. Thomas, and burned nearly the entire business part of the town. The space burned over extended from the parade ground to the turnpike, on Main street, and west side of Church street, including twelve stores, five dwel- lings, three hotels, one saddle and harness shop, the post- office, several offices and both newspaper establish- ments. Yet in 1855 there were 41 stores, 12 saloons, one brewery, three foundries, a marble yard and two firms do- ing brokers' business. Eighteen of the forty-one stores are assessed as dealing in liquors. There were in 1879 twenty general stores, thirteen groceries, three hardware stores, three merchant tailoring establishments, four to- bacconists, one gentlemen's furnishing goods store, two

442

HISTORY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY.

harness shops, six milliners, six meat markets, thirteen restaurants and saloons, three foundries, four furniture stores, besides planing-mills, etc.

The First National Bank was organized in November, 1864, with a capital of $110,000, all paid in, and began business January Ist, 1865. The first officers were: H. S. Pierce, president; John S. Law, vice-president; James Stott, cashier. These have remained the same with the exception of John S. Law, who has been succeeded by W. W. Bronson.

The Miners and Mechanics' Savings Bank was organiz- ed in June, 1872, with a capital stock of $50,000. The first officers were: John Jermyn, president; E. E. Hen- drick, vice-president; James R. Lathrop, cashier. The. bank has erected a fine stone building, with a vault of solid masonry, on Main street. The building is two stories high with a basement

The present officers are: John Jermyn, president; E. E. Hendrick and Alfred Pascoe, vice-presidents; C. E. Spencer, cashier; S. E. Raynor, teller.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

The Delaware and Hudson machine shop was started in a small wooden building near the site of the present building, soon after 1831. This was burned in 1845, and replaced by another wooden structure. This was burned in June, 1857, when the present stone building was erect- ed. Work began in February, 1858, under the charge of James Dickson. The machinery was run by water power till 1870, when a thirty-horse power engine was added to the works. This shop repairs all the machinery of the gravity road, cars, stationary engines, etc. About 45 men are employed. Pierce H. Butler is master mechanic, Wil- liam Johnson is foreman of the machine shop, and An- drew Wylie of the blacksmith shop. The company has also had three car shops, two having been burned. The present shop is a brick structure. The main part is 180 by 50 feet, and is used for building and repairing freight and passenger cars. There is a wing 175 by 50, used for woodwork. Cars for the gravity road are also built here. A paint shop is situated a short distance from the main shop. There is a small shop on the switch-back, and also one on the line of the Erie road, which are connected with this shop, and used for slight repairs. Axles are fin- ished in the main shop. These shops can employ 175 men, but do not employ over 75. Thomas Orchard is super- intendent of all car or repair shops, with George Egg foreman at the gravity shop, Frank Shannon of wood- work, William Boyd of the freight and passenger car shop, Patrick Powderly at the switch-back, Fred- erick Tappan at the shop on the Erie road, and Edward Blocksligg of the paint shop. The car shop uses about 2,000,000 feet of lumber per year. The Delaware and Hudson locomotive shops were erected in 1876. They do a general business in rebuild- ing and repairing the locomotives of the company, and employ about thirty men. The shop has a capacity of from twelve to fifteen locomotives per year, and the ex- penses are from $50,000 to $60,000. There are thirty-

six locomotives on the Pennsylvania division that depend upon this shop. The building is of brick, 125 by 75 feet. The engine-house has room for twenty-four locomotives. S. H. Dotterer is superintendent of the shop, with Jacob Eitel dispatcher, and John Seager foreman of shop.

Hanford & Burr erected a planing-mill near the river, at the lower end of the street, in 1861, which they oper- ated until 1865, when Mr. Burr sold to Poor & Mills, and the firm became A. O. Hanford & Co. Samuel Mills purchased the interests of the other partners in 1871, and carried on the business alone for a year. He then sold a share to N. P. Cramer and S. P. Baker. Mr. Cramer retired from the firm in October of the same year, and the firm name became Mills & Baker. F. W. Mills ob- tained an interest in the business in June, 1876 and the firm became as now. The works are employed in making sash, doors and blinds, besides doing a general business in manufactured lumber, using 250,000 feet per year. There is a thirty-five horse power engine.

Andrew Mitchell's planing-mill,above the head of plane No. I on the gravity road, was erected in 1871. Mr. Mitchell manufactures sash, blinds, doors and flooring, . besides furnishing all kinds of building material, and can use 400,000 feet of pine and 200,000 feet of other woods per annum.

The Bunnell Manufacturing Company began making agricultural implements and bed-springs in 1875, oppo- site the carriage shop of N. Moon & Brother. L. I. Bun- nell bought the establishment in April, 1879. He employs seven men.

N. Moon & Brother began the carriage and wagon business on the corner of Belmont avenue and Canaan street in 1874. They employ seven men. William Crago had a carriage shop on the corner of Church and Salem streets in 1864. He moved to the corner of River and Dundaff streets in 1869. He has erected three large vats for making cider vinegar in his shop.

The first foundry in Carbondale was established in 1833. Alanson Reed, a Methodist preacher, and Abiran Gurney were proprietors. It was on Church and Foundry streets and was principally occupied in casting wheels for the Delaware and Hudson cars. Reed & Gurney dis- solved partnership February 14th, 1834, and the firm be- came Eggleston & Reed, William Eggleston having pur- chased an interest. The foundry was burned February 6th, 1835, and rebuilt in ten days. The loss was $2,000. By the retirement of Mr. Reed the firm became Eggles- ton & Wilbur in June, 1836. They sold to Pierson & Co. in August; 1837, and the foundry was called "Lu- zerne County Stove Foundry." A ten-horse-power en- gine and three lathes were put in in September, 1843, and the establishment advertised to do general casting. By the death of Samuel T. Hopkins, one of the firm, July 2nd, 1847, the firm name was changed to Pierson & Benjamin. Mr. Pierson retired April Ist, 1850, and J. Benjamin & Co. carried on the business until April 3d, 1873, when the firm became J. B. Van Bergen & Co. This firm removed the establishment to its present loca- tion near Dundaff street, where they have erected brick

OFFICE

BLACK

SMITH SHOP

STORE AND

车

FOUNDRY

VAN BERGEN & CO.P

ESTABLISHED A. 1833

VAN BERGEN AND CO., - FOUNDRY AND MACHINE WORKS, CARBONDALE, PA.

Lackawanna Co

RESIDENCE AND GROUNDS OF E. E. HENDRICK, HENDRICK AVENUE , CARBONDALE , PA. Lackawanna Co.

443

MANUFACTORIES AND SCHOOLS OF CARBONDALE.

buildings. They have a fine brick store connected with it.

Peter Campbell built the Union Stove Foundry about 1842. Soon afterward he entered into partnership with John Aitkin, and they operated the foundry, casting wheels, stoves and plows, until 1859, when they sold to David Lister. He sold to Samuel Lister and Frederick T. Gelder July 22nd, 1865. Frederick T. Gelder has owned the establishment since September Ist, 1865. The foundry is at the upper end of River street. It now casts wheels and mining machinery, stoves and plows.

John Simpson erected a stove foundry on Seventh street, west of the river, in 1843 or 1844. He sold to J. Stuart & Co. in November, 1856. R. V. Muir, the part- ner, withdrew in a short time, and Mr. Stuart carried on the business until October 14th, 1865, when A. Mitchell became interested with him, under the name of J. Stuart & Co. William Lindsay bought the interest of Mr. Mitchell and Patrick Early bought out Mr. Stuart, and the foundry began running under the firm of Lindsav & Earley October 14th, 1869. This firm still owns the es- tablishment. A grist-mill was run in connection with the foundry by Mr. Simpson. The boiler of the "Stour- bridge Lion", the first locomotive engine ever run in America, was used to drive the engines of this establish- ment for several years. The boiler, which was made of plates five-eighths of an inch thick, with only two flues, of an oval form, about eight inches by twelve inches, now lies by the side of the building. It has been run up to 250 pounds of steam. Lindsay & Earley replaced it with a ten-horse engine of modern make. They employ seven men.

The Weston mill was built in 1857, by Griswold, Wurts & Co., for the purpose of grinding fine coal to make black paint. This enterprise failing, they sold to the present owners in 1859. This is the only flouring mill in the city or vicinity.

E. E. Hendricks first began the business of oil refining on the line of the gravity road. In 1876 he removed his refinery to its present location, on the west side of the river below the Delaware and Hudson depot, where the works were put up on a more extensive plan. They have a capacity of 1,000 barrels per day, and employ 32 men here and four men at the old place on the gravity road. All kinds of burning and lubricating oils are made here. John Herbert is the foreman.

The only saw-mill now in operation in the city is that of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, above the shops and on the Lackawanna river. Steam from the locomotive works is used when there is not water enough to run the mill. This mill cuts 3,000,000 feet of lum- ber per annum. The company uses twice that amount at this place. E. M. Peck has charge of the lumber de- partment of the company. The Hollenback mill was built in 1850, on the hill near Highland avenue. Dilton Yarrington took charge of the mill April 7th, 1851. The mill burned in 1862, and was rebuilt at once. Mr. Yar- rington afterward bought the mill, and it was run by D. Yarrington & Son. It was burned in 1876.

The marble business was first started in Carbondale by Lewis Morton, in 1849. His yard was in the rear of Pascoe & Scurry's store. He sold his business to Wil liam H. Richmond and A. L. Hunt in 1851, who con- tinued in business together until 1857, when Mr. Hunt bought out Mr. Richmond and removed the business to the present place, on Salem street, where he has been in business ever since. C. P. Jadwin started in the business, in a small way, in 1859, and soon sold to H. B. Jadwin, . who only kept up the business about three months.

Richard Howarth & Brothers began brewing about 1840, in a building which stood on the site of the resi- dence of John Nealon, on Church street. They were burned out in 1849, and bought a carpenter shop of An- gus Cameron, farther up the street, and turned it into a brewery. The place was idle about six months, and was then sold to John Nealon, who began brewing in April, 1859. He has made several additions to the buildings. The brewery was employed in making ale until 1877, since which time only lager beer has been brewed. The works have a capacity of 150 barrels per week. About half the malt is made here. There was a brewery on Main and Eighth streets from 1837 to 1841, carried on by Mr. Birdsall.

SCHOOLS.

In 1831, and for some years after, there were no side- walks and but two streets in the place. But in this year we find two new school buildings erected between the sites of the Presbyterian and Methodist churches. They contained one room each. Their teachers were Messrs. Evarts and B. G. Root.

In 1837 a third school, for advanced pupils, was located on the lot where the English Baptist church now stands. It was the first school of a graded character in the place, and its teacher was S. S. Benedict. After quitting the profession of teacher he assumed that of editor, in which business he has been ever since successfully engaged. Successively he filled the offices of justice of the peace, member of the Legislature, select council, notary public and school director, the latter from 1848 to 1854 and from 1860 to 1880. The services he rendered to the cause of education during those years can hardly be overestimated. Some of his former pupils are as fol- lows: Thomas Dickson, president of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company; J. N. Wilson, M. D .; John S. Law, president of the Miners' Bank, Wilkes-Barre; David G. Smith, machinist and patentee; Edward Jones, coal operator; O. H. Jadwin, wholesale druggist, New York; S. E. Raynor, teller in the Miners' and Me- chanics' Bank; Edward and Alexander Hodgdon; Henry L. Marvin, John S. Farnhamn, Charles and George McAlpine and Richard Antony.

In 1837 we find Amzi Wilson, J. W. Burnham and Bonaparte Baker acting as school directors. A fourth school was organized in 1838, having John Walsh for teacher. Mr. Walsh enjoyed the reputation of being an excellent teacher, being specially strong as a mathe- matician. In 1840 another school was added to the

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444

HISTORY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY.

number. From this date to 1851 the teachers were as follows:

A. M. Jeffords, Jolin R. Fordham, Phillips Wilson, Miss Adams, Miss E. Harvey, Miss M. Smith, Miss Eliza Grosvener, Jeremiah O'Mara, Miss Russel, Miss Dart, Miss Mary Vannan, Miss Harriet Jackson, P. C. Grit- man, H. C. Ensign, Miss E. Hubbard, George Perkins, Martin Canavan, Miss Flynt, Miss Meachim, Miss Sarah M. Shafer, Miss Mary Farrer, Alon- zo Richardson and Jolin Kelly.

Mr. Kelly has taught from 1849 to the present, except- ing a term of service, during the Rebellion, in the United States navy. During the period of ten years just men- tioned the prominent school officers were Nathan Jack- son, Patrick Moffitt, R. W. Graves, H. P. Ensign, John R. Fordham, S. S. Benedict, Anthony Miles, Daniel Scurry and William Brennan.

From 1850 to 1860 the number of schools increased to seven, the principal teachers of which were Bernard McTighe, Henry B. Jadwin, jr., P. J. White, Paulinus A. Lewis, C. C. Jadwin, John Joseph Purtell, Alfred Dart, jr., Martin J. Byrne and L. E. Judd. The first two were elected directors in 1858. Mr. McTighe served until 1874, and Mr. Jadwin until 1869. Another director worthy of notice was Honorable Lewis Pughe, now a prominent merchant of Scranton.

In 1860 a graded building was erected in the second ward, on Salem street. The schools of the building were divided into four departments: Primary, intermediate, grammar and high. The first principal was A. J. Wells. The grades and classifications made by him have been closely adhered to by his successors. Among the princi- pals of the high school who have achieved success in teaching are W. H. Parsons, H. D. Cable, Charles L. Wheeler, D. G. Allen (superintendent in Wayne county) and Edwin Francis. In addition to the common branches, algebra, geometry, bookkeeping, philosophy, rhetoric and Latin have been taught in the "high school."

Down to 1869 all the other schools remained ungraded. Each room was about 30 feet long and 24 feet wide, with a height of 8 feet from floor to ceiling. Around the walls, supported on standards, projected pine boards covered with hieroglyphics of successive generations of whittlers. The pupils sat facing the wall. The main floor was covered with rows of long benches, many of which were without back-rests. From 80 to 120 pupils, in all stages of mental progress from the alphabet to geometry, were in attendance. The class for recitations stood in a line, closing up the passage which led to the door, and the seats vacated by one class were made to serve the class which preceded in recitation. In this way the teacher managed to accommodate a greater number of pupils than there were seats. A terrestrial globe, a set of outline maps and alphabetical cards were provided for each school before the close of this period. Text books were becoming uniform throughout the district. The teacher's institute had become instructive and entertain- ing, and a decided improvement in school classification was apparent.

In 1869 a one-story frame building was erected on Main street, in the fourth ward. It contained two rooms. This was enlarged in 1876 by an additional story in

height, and now contains four rooms, three of which are well furnished. In 1870 a school-room was completed in the fourth ward, on Brooklyn street. The vestibule, though illy adapted to the purpose, has been used ever since as a school-room. In 1871 a primary school build- ing was erected on Cemetery street, in the first ward, which in 1875 was made two stories high, containing four rooms. In 1872 a frame building, two stories high, containing four spacious rooms, was erected on Laurel hill, in the second ward. In 1874 two new school- houses, each two stories in height and having two large rooms were completed on Salem street, in the second ward, and another on Powderly road, in the fourth ward. In 1874 a private school was organized by a few gentlemen who were desirous of giving their sons an academic course. Twelve students attend. In Septem- ber, 1876, Sisters of the Order of the Immaculate Heart founded a convent in the first ward, between Hendrick avenue and Salem street. There are three school rooms in the building, and four Sisters are teaching. Besides the common branches, drawing and music are taught. The average daily attendance of these schools is about 100 pupils. Two private schools of primary grade, with 40 pupils, are taught in the first ward.

In September, 1876, a graded course of study for the public schools was adopted. General history, astronomy and drawing were added to the curriculum of the high school.

The following classification shows the number of teachers in each department, and the number in attend- ance during the year, according to the school report of 1877. The high school had at the close of the year one male and one female teacher; the average daily attend- ance, was 39. In the grammar department the number of teachers was 3; average daily attendance, 138. Inter- mediate department-teachers, 5; average daily attend- ance, 277. Primary department-teachers, 10; average daily attendance, 637. Total average monthly enrollment of pupils, 1,305; total average daily attendance, 1,091. If to this we add the attendance at private schools, we shall have an average monthly enrolment of 1,482, and an average daily attendance of 1,243.

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History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 142

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York Publication date: 1880 Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co. Number of Pages: 900

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 900