USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Plymouth > Reminiscences of Plymouth, Luzerne County, Penna.; a pen picture of the old landmarks of the town; the names of old residents; the manners, customs and descriptive scenes, and incidents of its early history > Part 3
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Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
Further up the street, in the building next above Dr. Ashley's residence was the store kept for many years, first by Draper Smith, and later by Draper Smith and Peter Shupp, under the firm name of Smith and Shupp. This building has been moved back and a new front built on, and at present is occupied by Mr. H. G. Davis, the undertaker. Next above that was the large frame building of F. E. Spry, the plumber and hardware dealer, occupied at one time by Pardee and Winters in the stove and hardware business, and also as a photograph gallery by a man named Richards, who also kept an ice cream parlor and eating house. This location is now occupied by the Shawnee Supply Company, owned by Ambrose West.
The house next above this is another one of the old landmarks. A two-story frame dwelling which, in my earliest recollection, I think, was occupied by C. L. Far- num, the son-in-law of Henderson Gaylord, and later by Joseph Preston, the grandfather of Mrs. Dr. H. L. Whitney. Eli Bittenbender also lived there at one time, and its latest occupant and owner was C. A. Kuschke, who for years and until the time of his death a few years since, kept a tailoring establishment there, after which his son, Henry, established a watchmaker's shop in it. Almost directly opposite this building, where is now the D. K. Spry block, stood a frame dwelling house and the store of Henderson Gaylord, erected in 1827, and where he continued in business until 1856, when he was suc- ceeded by his son, Captain Asher, a brave officer of the 143rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, who was killed while leading his company in battle at Hatcher's Run, Virginia, and whose body was never recovered.
In the late 50's the second story of this store build- ing was used for a private school, which was taught by
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Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
E. W. Matthews, a popular teacher, who afterwards became an officer in the Union Army. I remember a vocal concert being given in that room during that period by the celebrated Hutchinson family of singers.
Near the side of this store ran a railroad for the transportation of coal from the Gaylord mine to the river. It ran along what is now Walnut Street, and down the present Gaylord Avenue, where the road bed in front of the Armory and where the present Campbell buildings are now located, was some six to eight feet higher than the natural surface of the ground. The land in that locality being swampy, and affording very good skating in the winter.
The cars on this railroad were propelled by gravity and emptied into chutes at "Gaylord's Wharf," where the coal was loaded into canal boats. This wharf was located at a point about where the new bridge starts to cross the river.
Just across this railroad, on the corner opposite the Kuschke building, and what is now Hanover Street, stood the old Dietrick tavern with its long, covered front porch, at the extreme upper end of which was a wooden pump. This was the only hotel in town for many years, and was kept by George H. Dietrick and later by John Deen. One of Mr. Dietrick's daughters became the wife of Hon. Samuel G. Turner, State Senator, and prominent coal operator.
Next adjoining the hotel above, and about on the site now occupied by the Gas and Electric Light Com- pany's office, was a small frame building which was occu- pied by William Renshaw as a tailor shop. This spot later became the site of a large frame dwelling house and tailoring establishment of James McAlarney, who
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Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
subsequently established a liquor store in it. This build- ing, together with the hotel, was destroyed by fire in 1875 or 1876.
Mr. McAlarney was one of the prominent and progressive citizens of Plymouth. He erected the large McAlarney's Hall building in which for a number of years he conducted a general store. One of his daugh- ters became the wife of Edwin Davenport.
On the opposite side of the road from this hotel was a small frame building occupied by Eli Bittenbender, who had formerly lived and kept a shoemaker's shop in the Kuschke building, and next above, on the site of Davenport's book store, was a one-story building, where Querin Krothe, a good natured old German, established the first barber shop in town. This building was after- wards converted into a drug store, conducted by Dr. C. H. Wilson. Just above this, in the building now occupied as a saloon by Andrew Fleming, was the cabinetmaker's shop of N. A. Stecker, which later was occupied by John Dennis, who kept a saloon there for a short time. Mr. Stecker was also the express agent of the L. & B. R. R., and just prior to the time of the outbreak of the war of the rebellion he did quite a thriving business selling daily newspapers, which would arrive on the evening train from New York and Philadelphia. The depot at that time was in a ramshackle old building located about in the rear of Dr. Ashley's present residence. The only subscribers for daily newspapers in the town prior to this time, were Samuel Wadhams and Henderson Gay- lord, and people would often wonder how they ever could find time to read them, and now, nearly everybody takes one, and many two, besides a magazine or two.
Diagonally across the street from the Stecker build- ing and about in the rear of the present Jacobs building,
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Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
there stood a long black house, in front of which was a large willow tree, and where formerly lived Noah Wad- hams, son of the Rev. Noah, and which later, I believe, was occupied by James Owens, his son-in-law. There was a Dr. George Wadhams, a son of Noah, who was buried in the Reynolds burying ground in 1848.
Crossing the street again, on the site now occupied by the Ely House block, was a low frame building with a long porch and in front of which was a pump. This was occupied by Andrew Shupp, who kept a saloon there, and was later remodeled and occupied by George P. Richards as a dwelling and liquor store. Up to about 1855, I do not recollect of any other buildings on either side within the space from Centre Avenue up to Elm Hill, except a small frame building on the upper side of the creek, where lived "Squire" George Brown who kept a shoe- maker's shop, and the first ice cream and oyster estab- lishment I remember in the town. This building was located about on or near the site of the present Wool- worth stores, and near this spot was formerly the house in which Colonel Ransom was captured by the Indians. The next was the Miner Nesbitt house in the rear of where George Durbin's drug store now is. This was where Robert Love lived and died. There was a large barn near this house, my earliest recollection of which was when I watched Theodore Hendershot hetcheling flax there.
About all the rest of this territory was occupied as farming lands. On the lower side of the road where the Rooney, and Moore Brothers building now stands, there was a large apple orchard. About 1862, the buildings between Centre Avenue and the Bull Run Crossing be- gan to be erected. From about where the Plymouth Na- tional Bank stands and up to the Squire Brown house,
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Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
there was a board sidewalk on the upper side of the road, which stood five or six feet above the level of the road. Just above Joseph Switzer's (now Frederick's) furniture store, was later, the book store of A. F. Levi, and the Post Office kept by his mother; and there was also a clothing store kept by Priester & Schloss close by.
What is now known as Elm Hill, when I was a boy was called "Pismire Hill." Mr. John Shonk afterwards rechristened it by the more euphonious and aristocratic name of "Ant Hill," corrupted into "Anty." It subse- quently became known as "Elm Hill," from the old elm tree which, until a few years ago occupied a conspicuous place on its brow.
There has been I think, a good deal of uncertain myth, and sentimental gush, connected with this tree. It shadowed an old black house standing a little way back from the road, on the site now occupied by the Elm Hill Congregational Church parsonage, and which I believe was known as the "Moss" or Morse house. This house was occupied by William Jenkins, familiarly known as "Major Cobus"; and for many years after that by his son also named William and who was a boat builder. About the year 1901, at which time he was upwards of 80 years of age, this man told the writer that he remembered that tree when it was a small sapling, so, if his story is cor- rect, it is quite unlikely that it could have been a whip- ping post, if there was such a thing, a hundred or more years before.
Below this house, on the site of the present blacksmith shop of Fuller Hendershot, stood for many years, a one- story frame school house and about opposite this, I re- member having seen long pine timbers elevated on tres- tles, where William Jenkins sawed out boat sides. Just above the Jenkins homestead, between where Arthur
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Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
Young recently lived, and the dwelling house and store of the late J. W. Weston, was a long row of low black buildings, three or four perhaps-and joined together, the farthest one up, occupied a short time as a store of some kind by the late J. W. Eno. Possibly it was the one at the lower end of this row which was called the Moss or Morse house above mentioned. Near the site of the present Groblewski drug store, formerly the resi- dence and butcher shop of Marx Weil, but farther back from the road, was another old house with a long porch in front where lived Achen Atwell an old time canal boat- man. All the rest of the surrounding territory here was used as farming lands.
On the hill farther up the road, on the site of the stately residence of the late John J. Shonk and now oc- cupied by his daughter, Mrs. C. W. McAlarney, was a frame dwelling house occupied I believe by Miner Ransom.
Mr. Shonk was one of the early and most prominent residents of the town, and his son Albert is now one of its leading and influential citizens.
On the next lot above the Shonk homestead is yet standing, a two-story frame dwelling where lived a man named Olewine who moved out West many years ago. This house was afterwards for a number of years, the residence of Dr. C. H. Wilson. A few yards beyond this house many years ago, was the blacksmith shop of Hiram Culver, who lived in the house near by and which later became the residence for many years of the late J. W. Eno.
The next house above this, and one of the old land- marks, was the homestead of Jacob Gould, the ancestor of the family of that name. It stood on an eminence about opposite the No. 11 Breaker of the L. & W. Coal
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Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
Co., and on the lower side of the road, and near where the breaker is, was a large barn and on the same lot I think, was an apple orchard.
"Sammy" Gould used to live in this house, but later removed to Beech Grove near Berwick. He was a very jovial and rather witty personage, and when on his re- turn home from visits to Plymouth, used to cause much vexation to the conductors on the L. & B. R. R. by pull- ing the bell rope and causing the train to stop opposite his residence, which was some distance away from the station.
CHAPTER V.
Coal Street-Oliver Davenport-Edwin Davenport-Christopher Garrahan - Patrick Cullen - Phoebe Pringle - Carpenter Rinus-French's Grist Mill-John Smith-"Aunt" Charry Clark-The French Tunnel-Francis J. Smith-Calathum- pian Serenades-The Horse Fiddle-The "Big Coal Bed"- William Dennis-Richard Egbertson-Robt. Davenport- Samuel Vanloon-Benj. and Fuller Reynolds-Calvin and Samuel Wadhams-Manny Wharram-Benj. Pringle-Sam'l Lewis-Sam'l Harrison.
R ETURNING now to the lower end of town, and go- ing up Coal Street, the first house on the right hand side of the road, was that of Oliver Davenport. This house is yet standing and was occupied by him until the time of his death a good many years ago.
Mr. Davenport was one of the town's prosperous and respected farmers. One of his sons, Edwin, late presi- dent of the First National Bank, who died in 1913, was the father of former Congressman Hon. Stanley W. and of Andrew Livingston, a prominent merchant of Ply- mouth and Luzerne; another son, Dr. Fuller, was a member of the U. P. crew which contested with the
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Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
famous Henley crew in a regatta on the river Thames a few years ago. Between this house and the main road there was formerly an apple orchard in which was a tree of luscious "Sugar Sweets" which in early summer was the strong point of attraction for the boys of the neighborhood.
Just above the house, on Coal Street, stood the barn, and a little beyond, is a white house where formerly lived Christopher Garrahan a well known and respected citizen. This house later became the property and resi- dence of his son-in-law, Dennison Pringle. Across the creek on the left hand side of the road further up, and extending down near the grove, was a long double dwell- ing house which at an earlier day was occupied by Chris- topher Garrahan on the one side, and Patrick Cullen on the other. In the latter house there would occasionally be held on Sundays, services of the Catholic religion. This house was afterwards occupied by Carpenter Rinus. At the lower end of this row and just in the grove, was the residence of Mrs. Phoebe Pringle. She was a tailoress and used to make all of our juvenile clothes, and I recall her process of fitting the garments; the rude adjustment of position of the patient model, pertinent to her pinning and basting operations was truly a trying ordeal. One of her daughters married Freeman Polk, a long time re- spected citizen of Plymouth.
A little further up the road beyond this row of houses was a small dwelling, the residence of Freeman Samis, and across the creek still further up stood the big red grist mill of my father.
This mill was first built to be run by water power supplied from a dam, or reservoir just above, but was afterwards converted into a steam mill. The sulphur water from the mines above soon played havoc with the
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Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
machinery and it was finally abandoned. This mill build- ing was, until quite recent years used as tenement dwell- ings but now stands in ruins.
"The mill wheel has fallen to pieces, Ben Bolt, The rafters have tumbled in,
And a quiet that crawls 'round the wall as you pass, Takes the place of the olden din."
On an elevation just above the mill and beside the old dam, was the residence of George Seiple the miller, who was succeeded by a Mr. Fisher, and a few yards to the southeast yet stands the homestead of my other step- grandfather, John Smith, the brother of Abijah and who were the pioneer coal operators of the Wyoming Valley. In front, and around this house in its spacious yard, were numerous black cherry and other fruit trees, and on the north side was a thrifty apple orchard and a good spring of water. Later this house was occupied by Charity ("Aunt Charry") Clark, as clever an old soul as ever lived. She had three sons, George, William, and Burr, and they afterwards removed to Ohio. More recently this house was owned and occupied by David Levi, a re- spected citizen of Plymouth and at one time prominent coal operator.
John Smith was a man of positive and decisive char- acter. It was said of him that at one time he was elected or appointed to the office of tax collector contrary to his wishes, and that in retaliation for the honor conferred, he served notice on the people that on a certain date he would call for the taxes and would brook no delay in the payment. Probably neither before nor since, was a tax duplicate settled up more speedily.
Just across the creek from the old mill, there is the evidence of a tunnel under the hill which my father had driven for some distance and I well remember my labori-
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Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
ous efforts in lugging the drills of "Hank" and Munn Massaker from there up to Gabriel's shop to be sharp- ened, and then back again. Close to the entrance to this tunnel, in a little frame house lived the family of Free- man Lamoreaux. The driving of this tunnel was aban- doned and the one some distance further up was opened, near where the L. & W. B. Coal Company's engine house now stands. In this tunnel Edward Crowell was killed by a fall of rock.
On the hill to the left, just above this first tunnel, and near the site of the old Washington head house and plane, and the entrance to the classic precincts of bed bug row, stands what remains of the once beautiful home of Francis J. Smith. This place was laid out in beautiful terraces and was a very attractive spot. He moved to Ohio where some of his descendants still reside. Mr. John J. Shonk at one time lived in this house. Just op- posite, across the creek and at the head of the old dam was another quite large dwelling house but I don't re- member who lived there.
Further up the creek on the right hand side were sev- eral small houses where lived Zeph. Barber and Mrs. Partington and Munn Massaker. On the left side of the road, and just above the engine house before mentioned, was a small house occupied by a man I think, named Aaron Young, who was killed in a fist fight while parti- cipating in a Calathumpian serenade given to Ira Daven- port in celebration of his marriage. This house was at one time occupied by Fred Myers, father of the late Robert Myers.
In reference to these Calathumpian serenades, honors which it was not uncommon to tender to newly married couples,-one of the principal musical instruments of the band was the "horse fiddle," which I believe is now a
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Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
forgotten instrument of melody. Its construction con- sisted of an open topped dry goods box with a well ros- ined board or rail for a bow, and when vigorously wielded across the top of the box would send forth notes of melody both horrible and terrible.
Continuing on, a little further up to the extreme end of the road was the "Big Coal Bed" which was opened by the Smith brothers about the year 1807. Here are several enormous openings or caverns in the side of the mountain, where we boys used to go to get soft pieces of stones or slate to make slate pencils. Through one of these large openings which are now almost completely closed with fallen rocks and debris, teams would enter, the driver, with lamp in hand, leading the horses far in to the breast, or place where the miners were at work, where the team would be turned and the wagon loaded and then driven to the river bank, the coal to be loaded into canal boats. I have often ridden into this mine in the wagons and watched the operations, my father being the operator of the mine.
Coming back down the road, about half way to the old mill, is a bridge leading to a road which runs past the school house on "Temperance Hill." Turning abruptly to the left, on the right hand side of the road- way was the residence of Henry Massaker, and then came a stone house, the residence of William Dennis, an old and respected resident, who gave the locality the name it now bears. A little beyond, was another stone building, the residence of Richard Egbertson where he lived for many years and where afterwards resided his son Henderson, who was a painter. Richard Egbertson was a stone mason and plasterer by trade, and withal, I used to think a very wonderful fisherman. He could sta- tion himself on the river bank where no one else would
THE BIG COAL BED
Permission of the Rotograph Co.
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Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
think of fishing, cast in his lines, and invariably catch a big string of large fish. The manner of plastering a house in those days, before plastering laths were in- vented, was to tack a thin board on the ceiling or side of the room to be plastered, and then with a hatchet and wooden wedge, make interstices in the board to receive and hold the plaster. Evidences of this method may still be found in the old buildings.
Passing on, beyond the school house was a row of red houses, story and a half high, where lived George Puterbaugh and Wesley Lewis. Some distance further on, on the corner of Davenport Street and Shawnee Ave- nue, stood the mansion house, with its spacious grounds and towering elms of Robert Davenport one of the earl- iest residents of Plymouth. He was the father of Samuel Davenport. A little beyond was the two-story dwelling with the wide porch in front, of Samuel Vanloon, a pros- perous farmer and one time County Sheriff. He had a large family of boys, of whom not one I believe are now living. Beyond this, stood his barns and sheds, and then came those of Benjamin Reynolds another old time and prominent resident. Mr. Reynolds' residence was on the upper side of the road, where afterwards his son J. Fuller, lived for many years. The present structure re- places the original building, which burned down some time during the early 50s, and within recent years was the residence of Oscar Lance. The widow of Mr. Fuller Reynolds, a very amiable woman, died quite recently at a very advanced age, in Scranton, where some of their children now reside and occupy positions of prominence.
Still further on, on the corner of Academy Street and Shawnee Avenue, stood the old colonial mansion house, with its broad piazza and spacious hallways, of Calvin Wadhams, a pioneer resident of Plymouth and which for
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Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
many years was the residence of his son Samuel, the father of Elijah. The large lot laid out in terraces, and planted with ample shade and ornamental trees and shrubs, extended down to the creek. On the side and near the kitchen was the wash house, and next to the road was an ice house, and on the opposite corner stood the car- riage house. On the upper side stood a number of barns, sheds and store houses for grain, etc. Mr. Wadhams was a prosperous farmer, and both he and his son, were for many years prominent and influential men of the town, Elijah being at one time a member of the State Senate.
Some twenty or more years ago, the Plymouth Plan- ing Mill Company reshingled this house, and it was found that the old shingles had been nailed on with hand forged nails. In early days, houses were built to last, and this one, although it has been changed in appearance and altered to suit the requirements of tenants, is appar- ently in as good condition as ever. A little farther to the east was the story and a half house, which for many years was the residence of Emanuel Wharram, Mr. Wadhams' English farmer. He had a large family and moved to Ohio a good many years ago and where some of his descendants yet reside.
Up on the hill from the Wadhams house and I be- lieve somewhere in the vicinity of the present Shawnee Cemetery, was the residence of Benjamin Pringle another old Plymouth resident. He had two daughters, one named Martha, and the other, Bertha or Berthia. Not far from the location of this house was the residence of Samuel Lewis, an old resident, and where later lived Samuel Harrison whose daughter married Clayton Young.
THE OLD ACADEMY
CHAPTER VI.
Early Religious Services-The Old Academy-Lorenzo Dow- Great Religious Revival-Revs. Miles and Snowden-Pres- byterians-A Personal Episode and Erection of a Church- First Church Edifice-Christian Church-Early Ministers of -Early Schools and Teachers-The Bachelor's Club-Their Rules and Proceedings-Benj. Parke-Other Teachers- Corporal Punishment-The Old Lecture Room School House -The Spelling School.
T HE first church building to be erected in Plymouth was undoubtedly the old Academy. Prior to its erection, Col. Wright in his history of Plymouth says, that religious services were held in private houses. I have already mentioned where the few Catholics in the town sometimes held their services in the house of Pat- rick Cullen, and I have been told that John Madden taught the Catholic children their catechism in his house next to the Turner store.
The Old Academy-now transformed into dwell- ings-was erected, probably by common contributions, some time in the beginning of the Nineteenth Cen- tury. The entrance was by high stone steps facing Academy street, and leading to a wide vestibule, on either side of which were stairs leading to the second story which was fitted up with high backed benches for pews, which extended on each side from the centre aisle to the wall. In the centre of the aisle were several wooden columns to support the ceiling, the columns ex- tending the length of the aisle, at the eastern end of which was the high pulpit with a ballustred stairway of some eight or ten steps on the side ascending into it. In front of, and a few feet distant from the pulpit, on a raised platform was a picket fence enclosing perhaps two thirds the space in front. At short intervals along the walls hung the sconces or candle holders, which at even-
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Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
ing services the members of the congregation were ex- pected to supply with tallow candles. I remember of having attended some of those meetings with my mother who would take with her, her quota of illuminating ma- terial. The collection bags, or pockets of black velvet, were attached to the ends of long red poles whereby the toll gatherers would be enabled to collect pennies from the sinners seated on the farthest ends of the benches.
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