USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > Lykens > Lykens-Williams Valley history - directory and pictorial review. Embracing the entire Lykens and Williams Valley, in the effort to preserve the past and perpetuate the present. > Part 6
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LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY HISTORY
The Methodist Episcopal church was erected in 1871. / The Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church was erected in 1874. The Primitive Methodist Church was erected in 1876 on Broad street. The United Brethren in Christ edifice was erected a few years later then 1876. The Roman Catholic Church was erected in 1875, under the auspices of Rev. Mark O'Neill.
Since the time of its incorporation the Chief Burgesses have been-
J. W. Durbin Amos Lebo Lazarius Zerby D. F. Lebo Clark Hoff L. C. Carl Edward McNut Frank M. Shadle.
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DIRECTORY AND PICTORIAL REVIEW
Unrivaled Hosiery Mill WILLIAMSTOWN, PA.
The Most Complete Manufacturing Plant in the Valley
S. D. BAUSHER, President J. B. LESHER, Treasurer and Manager Established 1908
Bestok Underwear Co.
OFFICE, Williamstown
MILL, Tower City
MAKERS OF DEPENDABLE MERCHANDISE
S. D. BAUSHER, President J. B. LESHER, Treasurer and Manager Established 1913
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LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY HISTORY
Variety Incorporated
Dealers in Post Cards, Wall Paper, Window Shades, Sta- tionery, Kodaks, Toys, Sporting Goods and a thousand other things.
If we haven't what you want we will get it for you
STORE CORNER MARKET AND EAST STREETS WILLIAMSTOWN, PA.
ESTABLISHED 1889 WM. O. ROWE Meat Market
---
0-190 109186
Home Dressed and Manufactured Goods FRESH AND SMOKED MEATS Delivery Wagon NONE BETTER Bell Phone
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DIRECTORY AND PICTORIAL REVIEW
Ford Cars Trucks
and Fordson Tractors
Ford THE UNIVERSAL CAR
Ford Service, With genuine Ford parts, the Ford way
Complete Line of Accessories
PHILADELPHIA DIAMOND GRID BATTERY
The only battery with a quarter sawed wood separator. All makes repaired & recharged.
J. N. Snyder
Authorized Ford Sales & Service Williamstown, Pa.
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LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY HISTORY
Bell Phone
Established 1911
The Academy of Music A FAMILY THEATRE
The Home of
Motion Picture Vaudeville Musical Comedy Drama or Repertoire
"NEVER DARK HOUSE" Complete Scenery Modern Improvements Good Music
C. DONLEY, H. C. KURTZ, Proprietor Manager
Williamstown, Penna.
Trolley Stops at the Door.
Excellent Parking Facilites
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DIRECTORY AND PICTORIAL REVIEW
Established 1910
WM. D. MORGAN
CONTRACTOR
Stone, Brick and Concrete Work Cement, Sand, Lime, Brick Flagstone and Iron Fences
Our Guarantee of Quality and our Service Go with Everything We Sell
BELL TELEPHONE WILLIAMSTOWN, PA.
Magazine Subscription Agency Service and Reliability
LOWEST PRICES PROMPT AND EFFICIENT SERVICE
LANE F. RUBENDALL
MARKET STREET BELL PHONE
WILLIAMSTOWN, PA.
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LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY HISTORY
The
W illiamstown Times
The Linotype Way
Bell Telephone
Issued every Friday
R. J. SELFRIDGE, Publisher
All Kinds of JOB PRINTING Williamstown, Pa.
J. B. LESHER, Pres.
J. B. WHITWORTH, Secty.
A. L. PRITCHARD, Vice-Pres. W. M. GROFF, Cashier
Miners and Merchants Bank WILLIAMSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
PAYSYOU 4 %
ON YOUR SAVINGS Solicites Your Account, No Matter How Small Bank opened for Business August 17th, 1920 Total resourses March 15th, 1922, $348,000.00 WE INVITE YOU TO MAKE THIS BANK YOUR BANK
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DIRECTORY AND PICTORIAL REVIEW
Chiropractic Is the Science of Palpating Nerve Tracing and Adjusting Vertebrae for the Relief of Diseased Conditions
E VERY living tissue and cell in the body must at all times receive 100% of life force or nerve energy, to express 100% of life and function. Any tissue or cell receiving less than 100% of life force or nerve energy is comparatively thrown in a weak- ened condition or disease. This life force or nerve energy is conveyed to all tissues and cells by means of the nervous system. Any pressure on a nerve will diminish this flow of life force or nerve energy to the extent of the pressure on the nerve. These pressures occur at the exit of the nerve from the spinal column. This is invariably the cause of disease. The Chiropractor quickly corrects this cause and lets the life force or nerve energy flow to all tissues and cells which will quickly bring about a permanent cure. Call on your Chiro- practor for your ills and enjoy 100% of Health.
John W. Shipe, D. C.
CHIROPRACTOR
403 E. Market Street Williamstown, Pa.
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LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY HISTORY
Lykens Valley Light and Power Company
WILLIAMSTOWN.
Our aim is to serve all of the people, who wish to be served, all of the time.
As you grow and prosper, we grow and prosper- only we must do our growing first in order to be ready to serve you when and as you wish. The electrical growth of any community is much greater than the growth of population. Ten years ago all of your electrical wants were supplied by a plant of less than 300 KW capacity, while this same community is now being served by a modern steam turbine plant of 3,000 KW capacity. This great growth was made possible only by our faith in your ultimate conversion to the use of electicity to do many of the things you used to do by other means.
Nearly all of our factories are to-day run by elec- tricity. Seventy-five per cent of our women iron by electricity. Many wash by the same means. Some use it entirely for cooking. A great many sweep with it. Hundreds curl their hair with it. In fact, to the average family, the monthly bill for electricity represents not only the cost of light but also includes the cost of doing, easily, many of the household chores.
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AARON RALPH J. B. RALPH
Aaron Ralph & Son Everything in
HOUSE FURNISHINGS UNDERTAKER AND FUNERAL DIRECTOR Modern Equipment 518 WEST MARKET STREET WILLIAMSTOWN, PA. Bell Phone 913
Established 1888
.
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LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY HISTORY
HISTORY OF PORTER TOWNSHIP AND WILLIAMS VALLEY
Porter township, one of the richest townships in Schuyl- kill county, was named after Governor David Porter, an early governor of Pennsylvania. It was taken from lower Mahan- tongo township about 1840, and even from its birth bid well to become not only one of the most distinguished townships in Schuylkill county, but also one of which Pennsylvania may be proud.
Peter's mountain divides the township into two valleys, Williams and one known as Clarks starting just opposite the Seely log house which was situated on a bank of Wiconisco Creek, directly opposite of what is now the Tower City House. Peter's mountain in early times was a great deer hunting ground. Sportsmen came long distances annually to hunt there, and it is predieted that in time to come it will again assume its former position of being one of the most popular sporting districts in Pennsylvania, since game is being placed there annually by the state.
Porter township embraces all of Williams Valley, one of the most picturesque valleys in Pennsylvania. It derived its name from Daniel Williams and his son Enmier who took up two tracts of land in their own names as early as 1774. They also took up tracts in the names of other men, thus actually assuming possession of nearly the whole valley.
Daniel Williams, the real owner of the valley and father of Enmier, was noted for his stature, being six feet four inches in height with broad shoulders and a deep chest and having remarkably long arms and large hands. He is also said to have been mentally an extraordinay man.
Enmier Williams, the son, is reported to have lived in the valley during the Revolutionary war. His mother was the daughter of Kushwa, the chief of a large tribe of Delaware Indians.
A large portion of the land not taken up by the Williamses was taken up by James Wilson, a signer of the Declaration of
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Independence and a judge of the Supreme Court of the United States, but he sold out about 1796 to John Lewis Barde, who in turn was sold out by a sheriff to William Munson. Charle- magne Tower was the lawyer of Munson, and shortly after the latter's death the land became the property of the former. Today a large portion of it is owned and operated by the Phila- delphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company.
South and a little west of the old Seely log house there was erected a saw mill about 1837, now totally destroyed. Di- rectly west there was erected a large stone grist-mill known as "Thompson's Mill," Alexander Thompson being the owner of nearly all the land on which our present Sheridan is built. From that time on many more saw-mills were erected and the more ambitious settlers proceeded to clear the land. This great work was begun by George Boreott, an Indian who commenced the work of clearing on the land now owned by George Schwalm, At the death of Borcott, the work was taken up by later set- tlers. Some of the earlier saw-mills were located on land now occupied by the following: John Heim, Geo. Schwalm, George Reiner, Theodore Updegrave, Charles Schaeffer and Henry Bohr. The timber was converted into lumber and that which was not used for building purposes was taken to Tremont and exchanged for store goods and finally sent to Philadelphia. A powder mill was constructed on the farm which was owned and occupied by the late Walter Brown. A tannery was erected on land now occupied by Wmn. Reedy and also one on land now occupied by John Reinhardt.
About 1842, on the site of the residence of Henry Row, where John Miller now resides in Reinerton there was erected a house and barn of considerable dimensions and the first post office and store were located there. It was known as Bearmont post office and store until 1869, when it was abandoned as such and Joliett on top of the mountain. Johnstown and Tower City post offices took its place. Up to this time the inhabitants of the township had to go to Pinegrove and later to Tremont for the eatables which they could not produce at home. Much of the traveling was done on foot.
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LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY HISTORY
After the formation of the township the following named persons were leading characters :-
George Reiner, who lived in what is known as the Half-way House at Muir now occupied by John Eisenacher.
Jacob Miller, who occupied the home east of Muir, now owned by N. C. Nelson.
Peter Miller, who lived in one of the first houses west of what is now Good Spring.
John Hand who resided in the house south of Orwin which one of his descendants Joseph Hand now occupies.
Paul Kessler, a distinguished person from Clarks Valley, now living at Orwin.
Valentine Achternacht, who resided in the house west of Sheridan, now occupied by Jehn Sneesavage and known as the "stone hotel."
Levi Fehler, who occupied the home in Reinerton, where John Miller now resides, and
Alexander Thompson, the original proprietor of all the land on which our present Sheridan is located.
Shortly after the Seely came into the valley there was a man living on Stony mountain ealled the "pirate." He was a man of great stature with a heavy beard and apparently his nickname befitted him. He claimed to have been sent by Thomas O'Brien of Reading to take possession in the name of Chamber- lain, O'Brien and Co., and built a log cabin on the side of the mountain, afterwards occupied by the Sponsler family, but which is now totally destroyed. This was the second house at the foot of Stony mountain, the first one being occupied by Mr. Philip Miller. This log cabin was given by George Hawk to George Wagner, about the year 1862, for entering the service of the north in the Civil war, as substitute for the former, who had been drafted into the service. Mr. Wagner returned, but was so severely wounded that he died in a few years. This is one of the .many examples which shows the brotherly love of the early settlers.
The first house in the township was built by Daniel Green of Reading on the top of Broad mountain. He converted it into a tavern, but becoming disgusted with his own venture sold
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DIRECTORY AND PICTORIAL REVIEW
out to a man named Bartsche, who in turn sold out to JJoseph Keffer. From that time on it was called the Keffer Tavern Stand, and from it our present Keffers derived its name. It became a rendezvous for drafted men during the war of 1812, the saw-mill back of the tavern being their main retreat.
Up to this time there were only two school houses in the township, one above Orwin and the other near our present Greenwood cemetery, but each one had its own difficulties to contend with and for a time education in the township pro- gressed very slowly. Now there are eight school houses in the township, each furnished with a very efficient faculty and hav- ing the right to apply to the school board of directors when there is a deficiency in supplies or anything else. The land on which the first public school house was erected was given by John Hand, the father of Williams Valley, as he was called, who was noted for his sterling integrity and his belief in free public edu- cation. On this land, which is now part of Tower City a log building was erected, intended for a Lutheran church. but also used as a school house for a short time. This was also the first church in the township. It was destroyed by boys about 1878.
At this time there were only five houses in Orwin, five in · Tower City and scarcely more than fifty scattered thruout the township. There were seventy-four voters in the township and only one election poll, which was located at the Half-way House, Muir now occupied by John Eisenacher. There were three hotels in the township and only one store. The first house built by Charlemagne Tower was named the Tower City House. It is now occupied by Morris Updegrave.
Up to 1870 there was no doetor living in the township. Some of the first practitioners were Drs. E. F. Philips, S. De- Veny, and R. B. Wilson. One of the first practicing attorneys was J. Wallace McCool.
The oldest burying ground is at Orwin. It was donated by Peter Miller. The earliest settlers who died before a regular burying ground was established are buried at various places ou the farms. Mrs. George Miller, said to be the first white person
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LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY HISTORY
buried in the valley, lies on the Lebo farm now owned by George Schwalm, about one rod north of the publie road and six rods from the line fenee between the two farms.
Coal mining and agriculture are the principal industries. The so-called eoal fever broke out in the anthracite regions be- tween the years 1820 and 1830. Several well known citizens of Pennsylvania embarked in the enterprise, but learned that "all that glitters is not gold."
Ebeneezer Seely and his son John T. of New York, built the old Seely log house between Williams and Clarks Valleys and started what is now known as the "Red Shale Tunnel." They were unable to carry out their project owing to the laek of funds, so they also failed to open up the eoal industry. Fin- ally parties from Harrisburg obtained a charter in the name of the Williams Valley Railroad and Mining Co., and they were the first to successfully carry on the eoal industry.
The opening of the coal mines was the principal reason why Porter township was so rapidly settled. A certain early settler, Wendall Houtz by name, visited this section on horse- back and upon view determined to settle. He ereeted the house east of Muir, which was known as the hotel at the forks. It was destroyed by fire some years ago, but was rebuilt and is now oeeupied by John Batdorf. Mr. Houtz made his home there not because the land was more fertile than at any other place, but because there was a constant stream of water flowing by.
John Hand, the father of Williams Valley, also built his home about one-half mile south of Orwin for the same reason. For similar reasons the first houses were so widely separated. These houses were now connected by roads, in the construction of which they followed the Indian trails, which furnishes suffi- eient reason for the roads not being straight since Indians al- ways travelled in crooked paths.
To-day the houses are not so widely separated, the many more roads are being kept in repair, education is improving, the coal industry is progressing and Porter township has become one of the most prominent townships in Schuylkill county and also in Pennsylvania.
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DIRECTORY AND PICTORIAL REVIEW
CHARLEMANGE TOWER
Founder and Builder of Tower City.
HISTORY OF TOWER CITY
There are many people in this valley who have even at- tained middle or old age who knows very little of the early history of Tower City. This may not be true of every individual, but it can safely be assumed to be true of many.
The foundation of the town came from the disclosure of the coal mines which were developed by Benjamin Kaufman. Wieoniseo, who was in the mercantile business, Colonel E. G. Savage, who was in the foundry business at Lykens and James Savage who was a practical miner.
The famous Brookside mines were developed in 1867. . 1 railroad was constructed from Tremont to Brookside to con- vey this coal to market.
After various financial difficulties the owners discovered one of the finest deposits of anthracite coal in the world.
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LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY HISTORY
Scene on Grand Avenue, taken many years ago.
Scene on Grand Avenue
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DIRECTORY AND PICTORIAL REVIEW
Elias Kaufman, formerly of Llewellyn, built the first breaker at this opening, and served afterwards as outside super- intendent until 1885.
The former owner sold this colliery to the Repelier, Gordon & Co., who operated it for a few years. They in turn sold it to the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company who own it to this day.
Tower City Hotel built by Charlemange Tower, founder of the town.
They made extensive improvements which necessitated them to make a division comprising the Brookside district, which is now in charge of Joseph Maguire.
After the opening of the coal mines it became necessary to establish a town to house the employees.
About seventy-five years ago a geological survey was made thru this section of the state. A young man by the name of Samuel Kaufman, Minersville was a member of the engineer corps of the party. They sank a test hole at Keffers and found evidenees of a very fine deposit of anthracite coal.
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LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY HISTORY
Scene on Grand Avenue
Scene on Grand Avenue
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DIRECTORY AND PICTORIAL REVIEW'
Scene on Grand Avenue
1
Tower City, P.
View on Grand Avenue
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LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY HISTORY
Mr. Kanfman while in this vicinity had occasion to go to Pottsville. While there he met a young acquaintance of his,
Scene on Grand Avenue
Scene on Grand Avenue
Charlemagne Tower. He told his friend that if he possessed any money, or ever got any, he should buy all the lands he could purchase in the Williams Valley, as the mountains in that sec-
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DIRECTORY AND £ PICTORIAL REVIEW
tion, without a doubt, contained one of the finest deposits of anthracite coal to be found anywhere. Mr. Tower, not having any funds at the time, did not pay any attention to the sug- gestion.
During the Civil war, this young lawyer, thru his natural shrewdness, succeeded in accumulating a fair sum of money. Naturally looking for a place to invest his money, his thoughts drifted back to the suggestion of young Kaufman.
Public School Building, Tower City
During his investigation of local conditions he found the valley sparsely populated. Those people who did reside there had purchased land for farming purposes and were compelled to purchase a certain amount of mountain land which had prac- tieally no value to them.
Mr. Tower succeeded in getting a man by the name of William Yohe, who then resided near Valley View to act as his agent. Mr. Yohe had the confidence of the local people and so they approved of anything he said or did.
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LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY HISTORY
Thru Mr. Tower's financial shrewdness and Mr. Yohe's influence, so the story goes, he purchased the Brookside moun- tain land in which the valuable coal deposit was located as low as $4. per aere.
It was largely thru Mr. Tower's influence that the rail- road was built and the mines developed. After purchasing the land he decided to build a town and name it Tower City.
Tower City, na
Scene on Grand Avenue
In order to control the territory on which the town was to be located he purchased the John Dietrich farm on which Orwin, then called Johnstown was located. He also purchased all the land from Bearmont to the Sulphur Creek, the dividing line between Sheridan and the borough, with the exception of the Henry Rowe farm at Reinertown, now owned by Albert Ste- phens.
The idea was to have the main part of the town where Reinertown is now located. The cellar was dug and all arrange-
DIRECTORY AND PICTORIAL REVIEW
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Tower City Reservoir
Scene on Grand Avenue
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LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY HISTORY
ments made for a large building or hotel to be erected on the vacant lot owned by John Mease and be known as the Tower City House.
A misunderstanding arose between Mr. Tower's repre- sentative and Mr. Row. In view of this misunderstanding Mr. Row refused to sell his farm to Mr. Tower.
Scene of the wreck on the Williams Valley Railroad abcve Tower City, two lives lost.
In order not to give Mr. Row the benefit of his improve- ments, Mr. Tower ordered the abandoning of the building at the above mentioned place and decided to locate the Tower City House a mile west of that point, where the building is now located and which placed the town in that section of the val- ley. This place was then a swamp and perhaps one of the most undesirable places in the valley for such an undertaking.
One of the old land marks of Tower City is the Seeley Tun- nel north of the United Brethern Church.
Before the opening of the coal mines some enterprising parties conceived the idea of building a railroad from Dauphin to Ashland, Pa. The railroad was to extend from Dauphin, thru Clark's Valley, and thru the Brookside mountain, by way of the Seeley Tunnel, to Ashland.
Birds Eye-View of Tower City
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LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY HISTORY
Scene of wreck on Williams Valley Railroad
Scene of wreck on Williams Valley Railroad
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DIRECTORY AND PICTORIAL REVIEW
The tunnel was driven for quite a distance when the funds became exhausted and the undertaking was abandoned.
There was from twelve to fifteen miles of road bed graded at the west end of Clarks Valley. Experienced miners say that if this tunnel had been driven thru the mountain they would have discovered all the coal measures which have since been found in this district. The expenses of preparing the coal would have been less than at present because they would then be on a water level which would avoid the expense of pumping.
The eastern approach to the town which followed a crooked Indian trail along the south side of the valley was not satis- factory, so Mr. Tower decided to build a publie road from Kef- fers to Tower City. He built what is now known as the state road at his own expense. The cost is said to have been over $100,000.
Mr. Tower wished Porter township to take over the road and pay for the upkeep of same. A number of the larger tax payers objected to this obligation on their part.
Mr. Tower's experience as a lawyer, and his financial stand- ing gave him an advantage over the local people. He succeeded in having a bill passed by the Legislature at Harrisburg which compelled Porter township to take over the road and compensate him for all money expended.
Until 1893 Tower City was a part of Porter township. At which time a majority of the people decided to be incorpor- ated into a borough. Since then the town has steadily been im- proving until to-day Tower City is one of the most progressive towns in the valley as well as in the county.
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LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY HISTORY
SURPLUS $75,000.00
CAPITAL $50,000.00 The Tower City National Bank TOWER CITY, PA. ORGANIZED FEBRUARY 1902
-
SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES FOR RENT Accounts of individuals and firms solicited Interest paid on time deposits and Christmas Saving Club Accounts Every accommodation consistent with good banking extended OFFICERS C. M. KAUFMAN, President W. F. KNECHT, Vice-President A. D. LEWIS, Cashier
DIRECTORS
I. A. Evans J. B. Watkins W. N. Snyder
R. W. Daub W. J. Powell W. F. Knecht
A. A. Unger Jno. Pfeiffer B. W. Fees H. A. Evans G. W. Dreibelbis C. M. Kaufman Fred J. Douden Isaac Mossop
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DIRECTORY AND PICTORIAL REVIEW
Do You Get Your HOME PAPER ? West Schuylkill Herald
Published Every Friday at TOWER CITY, PA.
By the Year, $1.50
Single Copies, .03
W. F. KNECHT EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
FURNITURE Victrolas and Records Pianos and Music H. S. SNYDER & CO.
Bell Phone 7-14 207 E. Grand Avenue
TOWER CITY, PA.
The Midway General Store "Quality and Service" our Motto
We carry a full and complete line of Groceries, Dry Goods, Notions and Miner's Supplies.
WILLIAM D. KEEN, PROPRIETOR DAYTON, PA.
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LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY HISTORY
"GAME AND FISH
PAST AND PRESENT IN THE LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY."
By
V. W. Barrett,
Lykens, Pa.
My personal knowledge of the Game and Fish con- ditions in The Lykens-Will- iams Valley 'dates back to 1875. At which time I be- gan to successfully hunt and fish. Wiconisco Creek teemed with fish; suckers, eels, cat-fish and pike were in abundance, while at the mouth of the several clear water tributaries many fine trout were caught and occasionally in the main stream. Many fishermen went up the Bear creek where ex- cellent chub-fishing could be had. But for a number of years past the sulphur water and culm from the coal mines on the north side has about rid this stream of fish life. Rattling Creek which empties into the Wiconisco just below Lykens Boro is a clear, clean mountain-brook and in it you could always find trout, suckers and eels. Both east and west branches of this stream have plenty of trout in them, but never seem to grow more than 8 to 10 inches long. (has been stocked a num- ber of times). But from Lykens reservoir to the mouth of the stream many "good ones" have been caught. I personally know of a brown trout 19 inches long caught in the above water during the summer of 1918. The mountains which bound this
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