32 T H E JO U R N A L THE CAR ba.b /.he UOSQU ITO VALLEY CHRONICLES By Dr. Eugene P. Benin ''STRAIGI'lIT-LINE DRIVE" The Marble Quarry born of the boom in that industry. Some Sometime before 1870 the Mosquiito marble was dressedaround the quany; Valley Marble Company operated a flour- other pieces were hauled to stone cutters ishing business.Evidently the quarry yield- yardsin Williamsport or sent even f archer ed a vast amount of marble suitable for away on flan fi:eight cars from Duboistown. building. Huge blocks of choice marble Admirers of Peter Herdic, ''the poor Dutch were hauled on wagon trains, dr awn by f arm boy," planned an heroic statue of this oxen hitched single file, for use in building great man by sculptor Wagner. Tbe piece mansions and public buildings in the then was to be set up in Market Square.The thriving lumber city of Williamsporr. Im- Jay Cooke panic of 1873, however, inter- mense watering troughs, hewed from solid rupted the completion of this masterpiece pine logs, and large salt boxes were built It also ended the Mosquito Valley Mai:- at the confluence of Jack's Run and Mo- ble Company,and ThomasSmith's project- squito Creek to refresh rhe oxen during ed town of Carrara,which was to rise at their strenuoustrek to the city. Here the the sceneof the quarry and rival the mar- animals were watered and ouc-spannedfor ble city of the samename in Italy. Had the a brief l:est quarry been able to continue as it began, Sculptors set up studios on the site of Carrara might have supplanted Duboistown the quarry where they chiseled out statues as the center of population of public personalities and lumber barons

THE BLACKMARBLE QUARRY

I.from dte Seco+M Geological SwrueT ot Penni]lvalha 'rbe Geology of L)co?Ring d S //M Co /z/Zeiby Andrew Sherwoodand Franklin Platt, Harrisbui:g,1880.)

Near the east end of the valley (the Middle bench, in regular layers Mosquito valley) a /Mzf bZe Qw.iffy has from 2' to I ' thid(...... 20 0 been opened Lower bench, massiveand hard. The rock is a black limestone; quad:ies but no stone from it yer out in large blocks and takes a handsome shipped, ...... 6 polish.It is reportedhowever not to stand exposure, but splinters up on weathering. Tota.1) ..... ------. - -. 3h6 0 THE This would render it useless for any out- The dip of theserocks is north,4 de- side work, but might still leave it of value grees; the quarry is about on the crest of for inside decorations. the anciclinal,and the dip is simplythe dying gently of that anticl.hal northeast- When the quarry was examined (in ward. 1875), the works were in operation: they JOURNAL Of the above 36 feet of black marble had I gangsaw, capacity 100 tiles per diem; these riles usually 12" x 12" x much proved shelly on quarrying, and split OFTHE 1": the tiles going to Philadelphia and into pieces; a considerable parr however, the scone to Philadelphia or Washington. coming out in handsome blocks. It is reported to burn to an excellent Lycoming County Historical Society All of the marbleis darkcolored, very white lime. There are somecurious soft slightly fossiliferous, regular in bedding and and rotten layers of stone lying between works easily. The quarry face is: the firm and hard marblelayers, the VOLUME XI FALL Surface bench, in small layers, I '' to 2" underlying and overlying hard rocks being andup to 1', ...... 10' 0" perfect and unbroken so far as faced. NUMBER TWO 1975 JOU R NAL MUSEUM STAFF of the Dbec&or Andrew K. Grugan LY'CO-MINGCOUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Assis %} o Divecbor Patricia Kahle Pwblisbed Semiann ally il} WiLtial?Lspor}, PeRMs)Lvai&ia Acimimistl alive Aide Jean Laylon

Museum Office 858 West Fourth Street

Telephone (Area Code 717) 326-3326 MUSEUM VOLUNTEER STAFF BOARD OF TRUSTEES RALPH R. CRANMER A. F. BEIGHLEY Ge?lealogist Mrs. Donald M. Carson WAI.TER J. HEIM W]LHAM E. NICHOLS, JR MICHAEL LAGANA ROBERT D. SMINK Resist anon CowtmiEtee Miss June Foresman,Chairman JOHN R. SHARPLESS/ JR. CURRENT SOCIETY PRESIDENT Mrs. Stanley Bassett Miss Ethel Ertel BO.ARD OFGOVERNORS Mrs. Frederick Snell

ROBERT D. SMINK, PRESIDENT EDWARD J. DUI

1974-1976 TERM 1975-1977 TERM Gets,oral Restora} on Philip N '. Gould MRS. JOHN W. BITNEl{ MRS. NORMAN INGERSOLL MRS. JOHN LINDEMUTH SAMUEL J. DORNSIFE Cwra+oriat Departments WILLARD A. SCHELL MRS. LEWIS M. SOARS Gel%aral Cara o Andrew K. Grugan CHARLES E. NOYES, SR. SAMUEL M. LONG Arcbaeotog) James P. Bressler, Chairman Willard Schell EX OFFICIO BOARD MEMBliRS William Turnbaugh MISS ANNE PARSONS, REPRESENTATIVE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF WJLLIAMSPORT Arch.ives ctlld Rego as Miss Gladys Tozier, Chief Mrs. Richai:d P. Foresman MR. Wln,IAM EATER - PRESIDENT Mrs. John Holland THE GREATER WILLIAMSPORT COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL Miss Jean Little

DONALD M. CARSON Ai)di:ewK. Grugan HISTORICAL SOCIETY RETIRING PRESIDENT Dr. June E. Barkin SOCIETYSTAFF Francis Maneval EXECUTIVE SECRETARY AND EDITOR MIDS. KATHRYN J. CI.UTE lla%slt]

Lewis Harper VOLUMEXI FALL NUMBER TWO 1975 Textiles Mrs. Norman Ingersoll Mrs. Edith Wright Extra Copies of The Journal Seventy-Five Ccnrs Each Mrs. Leslie Painton CONTENTS Page 5 Greetings from the President's Desk 4 1975-1976 Membership Meeting Pmgram and Activities study for everyone interested in the archaeology, natural environment, and prehistory of the Lycoming County Historical Society 5 of Northeastern United States. The Imperial Motor Car Companyof Williamsport by Donald .J. Summar 6 6 The permanent and temporary exhibits at our Museutn planned and prepared Picture of the "Second Imperial" by our Director, Mr. Andrew'K. Grugan, and his assistantsand volunteers,continue Williamsport Auto a Wonder 12 [o be interesting, attractive, and informative. The Bicentennial is given special I Remember Christmas by Eva Berry Steffan 13 The Blooming Grove Colony by Margaret Young 15 emphasischr oughout our exhibits. Let us show our appreciation by frequen:t visits. Early English Settlersor] the Loyalsockby Fred M. Rogers 17 I hope to greet eachof you at future activities of our Society How Did Williamsport Get Its Name? 22 Catherirle Smith. the Munition Maker 22 Sincerely yours, Robert D. Smink. President by Katharine W. Bennett and Col. Henry W. Shoemaker The Peter Herdic Corner 26 Lycoming County The Contest 26 Historical Society Herdic Names Steam Valley 27 Photo of the Road up Steam Valley Mountain 27 € Taken in the Summer of 1923 by D. Vincent Smith Villages along the Old Williamson Trail by David 29 1975 - 1976 The Orlando Water Works by Mr. D. A. Cheney 30 MEMBERSHIPMEETING PROGRAM AND A(:TIVITIES OF THE Mosqluito Valley Chronicles by Dr. Eugene P. Benin 32 Black Marble Quarry by Andrew Sllerwood and Franklin Plate 32 LY(X)MING COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIO'l'Y COVER PICTURE Front View' of the Imperial Motor Car September18, 197), 8 p.m. Two colonand soundfilms on ColonialWilliamsburg 'The Colonial Naturalist ' and "Flower Anangements of Williamsburg. September26, 27, and 28, 1975 Society bus tour to Colonial Williamsburg. GREETINGS FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK October16, 197),8 p.m. Robert F. Elliott will speak on the history, development, and famous people of August 19, 1975 the Canton area. Ralston Historical Society members will be our guests. Dear Members: October 25, 1975 By the time you receivethis issue,our programfor 1975-76will be off to a Societybus tour to the MercerMuseum and the MoravianTile Works in good start. Appropriately for this Bicentennial year, our September act.ivities focused Doylestown, Pa on Colonial Williamsburg and included a membershipmeeting with two films and October 29, 1975 a three-day tour to the restored historic area. Benefit Concertby the United StatesMarine Band At our October16 meeting,Mr. RobertF. Elliott will presentthe colorful November20, 1975,8 p.m. history and personalities of the Ralston-Canton area. On October 25 a one-day tour Dale Bower and other Arlres family historians will present a program on Antes is planned to the Mercer Museum and Moravian Tile Works at Doylestown, Bucks Fort and the Antes family. This will be a BICENTENNIAL PROGRAM, County. presentedin conjunction with Lycoming College, in Room D-001 OF LYCOM We are very fortunate to be able to presenta concertby the United StatesMarine ING COLLEGE. Band -- the "President's Own" -- on October 29. This will be a real musical treat, December18, 1975,8 p.m. and we are asking every member [o support this benefit program enthusiastically.The Christmasmeeting will feature the Junior Music Club under the d-erectionof various committees have worked diligently, but we need the help of every member to raise the money neededto reduce our budget deficit and continue the cultural Doris Heller. Society members will recall events of past Christmases and educational sei:vicesof our Museum. January, 1976, 8 p.m. Dr. William Turnbaugh. Dade and subject to be announced Our Bicentennial emphasiscontinues with a meeting at Lycomin'g College on November20. ''Fore Antes and the Antes Family" will be presentedby Mr. Dale February19, 1976,8 p.m. Bower and other Antes historians.The Christmas program on December 18.will feature The History of blacks in Williamsport the Junior Music Club directed by Miss Doris Heller and recollections of past Christmases March24, 1976,6:30 p.m. by severalof our senior members.These programs will be followed in 1976 by others Dinner meetingat the Eldred Township Fire Hall, Warrensville.Mrs. Maurice of equal importance and interest. I urge your attendanceat)d continued support. Mook will presenther pmgram on Severin Roesen During the pasoyear three important books have been published by our Society. April 3, 1976 Reprinted editiolls of Pomeroy and Stewart's "Atlas and History of Lycoming Society bus tour to Pennsbury Manor and "A New Look at Olde Philadelph-ia County" and Meginness' "History of Lycoming Coun-ry" have been in great demand. April 15, 1976,8 p.m. Our latest publication,''Man, Lal)d and Time" by Dr. William Turnbaugh,is a valuable To be announcedlater. 6 T H E JO U R N A L 7

passengerroadster of the "semi-moing'' type, After the test run, plans for the pro- had been designed by C. P. Van Feds, ma- duction of the Imperial were announced.In nager of the Exchange and reportedly a December,1906, Harry A. Bubb had stat- French automobile expert. Seven machin- ed d)at plans for manufacturing the car ists and carriage builders were put to work would not be made until there had been a on the pmtotype. The effort of the Bubb thorough test of its merits, and had gone ],# bi:others [o develop a car of their own in on to say: late 1906 may have resulted from their 'If the demand for the new auto failure to receive an adequate allormenr of mobile is not too great, a large foi:ce new cms for the 1907 season. For example, of menwill bepur to workin the rhe White Motor Company had alloted the consci:uccion shop of the present gar- Exchange lust eight automobiles for 1907, age. This establishment will be utili- and five of them had been contractedfor zed until the success of the roadster by mid-Decemberof 1906.(4) is demonstmted. Then. if the business warrants, a company will be organized ]'he prototype automobile, in chassis and a kctory built.' form, was given its initial test on April 2, 1907, at which time it was given its In April, 1907, an optimistic production :'tIlE ''$$C6 P :]A{F'£R]AI.,#:,V:II'If O& Nt; RU BI,£ Seal\ $=300 schedule of about two hundred cars for official name -- the IMPERIAL ROAD- STER. The Imperial was said to have the year was announced. (6) reachedsixty miles per hour during the test A separate firm, the Williamsport Engin- THE IM.AERIAL MOTOR CAR COMPANY OF WILLIAM.SPORT run. A newspaperreport had much to say eering Company, had been organized in about the car's silent running. The vehic- early 1907 to provide capital for construc- By Donald J. Summer le's outs(finding feature was its so-called t-ion of the prototype. Harry C. Bubb, young- double-drop frame, in which both side er brother of N. Burrows Bubb and sole frame members were curved downward be- proprietor of George Bubb & Sons,whole- The events which preceded the organi- were also associated with the firm. In late hind the front axle andcurved back up just sale grocers, was pi:esident of rhe firm, and zation of the Imperial Motor Car Company November the Exchange secured agencies forward of the i:ear axle. This arrangement Harry A. Bulb was vice-president and trea- in 1907 had their beginning in October, for the Reo and W:hire automobilesfor lowered the center of gravity dramatically surer.The buildingat W'estThird and 1905, when N. Burrows Bulb, a prominent north central Pennsylvania.(2) without reducing road clearance, and per- Locust must have been crowded thad spring, businessman in Williamsport, announced By March, 1906, the garage was open mitted the gear box to be placed so that for in addition to the activities of the plans [o construct an automobile garage and doing a brisk businessin new and stmight-line drive from the engine to Williamsport Automobile Exchangeand the in the city. Bubb, who was general mana- used automobiles. In addition to the Reo rhe rear axle was possiblewhen the car Wlilliamsporc Engineering Company, Wil- ger of the Hermance Chemical and Onto and the White, the Exchange had become was loaded. The Imperial was given a low liam D. Hammill rented space there for Chemical firms, stared char the rising pop- agent for Premier. The first shipment of rakish look by the combination of double- the Electric Vehicle Garage. (7) ularity of the automobile made his garage Premiers arrived in Williamsport in lace drop frame: 106 inch wheelbase,36 inch During the summer of 1907 plans for a necessityfor Williamsponr.He hadpur- March. In early April the Exchange had wheels, and open raceabouc body with bar- the organization of an adequately capital- chased the property of Sides Brothers at three Reo automobiles,two Reo delivery ely visible straightdashboard. The frame Ehe southwest corner of West Third and extended far forward of.the radiator in the ized company to manuf acture the Imperial Locust Streetsand had hired W. H. C. wagons, three Premiers, and one White were formulated by rhe Bubbs and touring car in stock.This mnge of makes French pattern. other interested businessmen. The Imperial Huffman's Sons to build the garage, which gave che company wide market coverage. The car was powered by a four-cylinder prototype was publicized with daily runs was to be a two-story brick structure 115 Ihe Reo was offered in modelspriced from and numerous road l:ests in the vicinity feel deepwith an 80-ft. frontageon West $650 for the runaboutto $1250 for the engine of 35 horsepower.The cylinders, cast in pairs, had a bore and stroke of 4 1/4 of Williamsport. For some reason the car Third Street. (1) touring car or 1000-pound delivery wagon; was not enteredin the first annual Wil- the air-cooledPremier was priced from x 4 7/8 inches.The engine was of die In early November, 1905, the Williams- company's own design and was apparently liamsporc Hill Climb, held on Vallamont $1250for the runaboutto $2250 for the Hill on July 13, 1907. Had:y A. Bulb port Automobile Exchange, with $10,000 touring car; and the rather luxurious 'White constructed in their shop with locally-made drovea White Steamerinstead of the capital, was organized under Pennsylvania castings. Drive was through a Brown-Lipe laws to deal in automobiles. Incorporators steamer was priced ac $2800 for the tour- clutch and sliding gear uansmissionwith Imperial. A good showing by the Imperial ing car. (3) could have given impetus to the plans for were two of Bubb's sons,Harry A. Bubb three forward speeds and reverse to a its manufacture.The absence of theIm- EtndNathan B. Bubb, Jr., who had arranged As the sale of new cars proceeded during driveshaft. Other: specifications included che [o rent the garage from their father. Harry 1906, the Bubb brothers began making\ use of double-actingband brakes on Me perial, therefore, makes claims for its pow- was named president of the firm, and plans for the manufacture of automobiles. rear wheels,Timken roller bearings through- ers somewhat suspect. (8) Nathan was named secretary and treasurer. Construction of a prototype automobile was out -the automobile, and Goodrich clincher In any event, plans were completed, and Their brothers George, James, and Albers started in late October. The vehicle, a two- tires on the artillery wheels. (5) on August 6, 1907, six Williamsporc men 8 THE JO U R N A L 9 made appl-ications for a charter for the Im- With the organizationof the Imperial transmission, Brown-Lupe Gear Company; On October 21 the company opened its perial Motor Car Company, which was capi- Motor Car Company,efforts to initiate pro- carburetor, Mayer Carburetor Company; ra- factory to the public to display the 1908 talized at $50,000 in )00 shares of $100 duction of the Imperial roadster moved diator, Fedders Manufacturing W'oaks; muf- Imperial. One of the five cars completed each par value. The incorporators, with the forward at a heightened tempo. Sets of fler, Hinsey Manuf acturing Company; by -that time was demonstrated on sese number of shares purchased by each, were: drawings and patterns were completed; ma- frame, Parish Manuf accusing Company; 'third Street. The fo]]owing day a]] five N. Burrows Bubb (50 shares); Harry A. terials were ordered, and special tools and springs, Lycoming Spring (bmpany; Steer- cars were shipped to New York City for Bubb (50 shares); Garrett Cochran (25 dies were madefor the parts to be f abri- ing gear, Gemmer Manufacturing Com- rhe automobile show. (20) At the show shares); EbenezerB. Campbell (25 shares); caredin the Imperial factory. The Imperial pany; tires, Firestone Tire Company; lamps, the "extreme quietness and even running of Henry D. Brown (50 shares);and Fred P. company Cook over the assets of both the Post & Lester (:company; wheels, Imperial the motor" caused much f avorable com Brand (I share). The company's charter Williamsport Engineering Company and Wheel Company; dashboard, Acme Veneer ment. Apparently the MilwaukeeMotor

wasapproved on August28, 1907.(9) Of rhe Williamspor't Automobile Exchange, and { Company; and steel, Sweets Steel Company Company turned out an excellent product. the incorporators other than the Bubb's, reacquii:ed the space formerly rented to the Bodies were initially supplied by the Safe- Various trade journals explained the dou- Brown was president of the Williamsport Electric Vehicle Garage. (13) During ty Buggy Company, Lancasterand later by ble-drop frame and straight-line drive at Water Companyand the Citizens Water & Septemberthe first five 1908 Imperials the Reading Metal Body Company, Flea- length. An advertising campaign by the Gas Company, and general manager of the were rushed to completion for the auto- wood. The Imperial catalog, presumably Imperial company in 7'#e Z#F07#obf/e was Williamsport Gas Engine Company; Coch- mobile show which was to be held in New printed for distribution during 1908, des- starred with the issue which previewed che ran was managerof the Williamsporc Wire York City in lace October. (14) cribed the body as a "special design made Grand Central Palace Show. Imperial's slo- Rope Company; Campbell was a wealthy of aluminum." Since the Safely Buggy gan in all advertisements was ''The Car The automobile which was put into pro- with the Straight-Line Drive." The car was lumberman: and Brand was che former sales duction by the Impei:ial company was cal- Company made only wooden bodies and manager of the Aurocar Company, Ard- closedlate in 1907,i-t is probable that only offeredfor salein two modelson the led the ''Second Imperial." As with the same chassis -- the runabout with folding more, Pa. (lO) 1907 prototype, the most widely advertised the five vehicles completed in October, 1907, had wooden bodies, and that all sub- rumble seat for $2,)00, and the roadster Officers of the Hew company were Gai:- features were the double-drop frame and with four individualseats for $2,650.(21) straight-line drive. The double-drop frame sequent vehicles had aluminum bodies. ( 16) feet Cochran,president; Hedi:y D. Brown, After the New York Automobile Show. treasurer; Harry A. Bulb, secretary; and was original with the Imperial and had not appeared previously in any automobile In mid-September the Imperial company three of the cars were shipped to Philadel F. P. Brand, vice-pi:esidenr and general was admitted to membership in the Ameri- phia foi- the automobile show held there manager. In addition to the officers, the chassis, either domestic or foreign. The chas- can Motor Car Manufacturers Association. board of directors included N. Burrows sis had a 108 inch wheelbase.two inches in m.id-November. During the Philadelphia longer than that of the prototype.The which had been organized in 1905 to fight Automobile Show the Imperial Company Bubb, E. B. Campbell, Frank C. Bowman, the lau suits of the Association of Licensed appointed Bei:r Segal agent for the car in and Harry C. Bulb. Brand had been sales axles: of special design, were made for Im- perial by the Long Arm SystemCompany Automobile Manufacturers, owners of the that city. After the show there, two roadsters manager of Autocar for oven:-cwo years, and Cleveland.The rear axle was of the full- spurious Seiden Patent. The Imperial com- and one chassis were shipped to Chicago prior to that had been Chicago agent for pany joined the A.M.C.M.A.just in time and exhibited at the Chicago Automobile Apperson. One of his first acESat Imperial floating type and semi-elliptic springs were fitted front and rear. to securespace at the New York Aucomo Show, which opened at the Coliseum on was to hire Williams 1. Glasby to be sup- bile Show, which opened October 24 in the Wabash Avenue on November 30. It is erinrendenr of works. Glasby had previous- The four cylinder water-cooledengine of ly workedfor Ae AurocarCompany and Grand Central Palace. ( 17) General Mana not known whether the Imperial company 35 horsepower,built by the Milwaukee Mo- ger Brand made arrangementsfor a New appointed a Chicago agency. (22) the Royal Motor: Car Company, Cleveland, tor Company, was slightly larger than that and had been superintendent of the f actory York City sales agency [o take half of the In spite of all the activity pi:omocing of rhe prototype, with bore and stroke of Imperial company's 1908 pi:oduction. The of the Dmgon Automobile Company, Phila- rhe sale of Imperial au-tomobiles, produc- 4 1/2 x 5 1/4 inches.Dual ignition by Williamspor-r Board of Trade rashly pre- delphia. (11) tion was moving slowly in the Williams- Eisemann magneto and storage battery dicted that one hundred cars would be built port factory.The ''Panicof 1907" had were used to insure reliability. The clutch, and marketedby the following spi:ing. ( 18) caused an extensive breakdown of credit Employeesin the Imperial factory includ- a metal-to-metalfloating-ring type with ed foreman Harry Rants; machinists Wm. cork inserts, drove through a selective trans- which lasted into 1908. Many banks could DeHaven and Harry Stevenson; assemblers mission of four forward speeds and reverse The first of the 190:8Imperials was com- not make cash payments, and many others Benjamin Sarbo, Ward Mitchelltree, Charles [o the drive shaft. Bom externalcontracting pleted in early October. By char time the could make only limited payments.(23) J. Heilhecker, and Waller E. Shaefer;paint- 1907 Imperial had covered moi:e than 4,500 In such a situation it was difficult for a er G. Wood Stohler; blacksmithHarry Hall and internal expandingbrakes were fit- trouble-free miles and had built up interest ted. Controls included pedals for the clutch company such as Imperial to finance pro- opener;and office worker Ida M. Dalton. and internal brake shoes. and side levers in the new company. Hall:y A. Bibb drove duction by che use of bank loans.In ad- Rantz was well qualified to be shop fore- for the gear change and the external emer- the car to Lancasterduring Septemberin dition, it is doubtful char many Imperials man. In 1903 he had been foreman of the record time without stopping the engine. were sold until the spring of 1908, except L Maxwell Manufacturing Company,Wal- gency brakes. The steering wheel was on for sales made at the automobile shows the right in the standard practice of thad The 1907 car was apparently recited from nut Streep, which man)I.factured bicycles, test runs after the first 1908 model was period. (15) Winger motoring at that tilde was only carriages, and automobiles to order, and had completed. On a Lest run on October 12, for the very hearty; the Imperial with its afterwards been proprietor of an automo- Paris from suppliers, in addition to those che new Imperial went over the bank on open semi-racingbody was completelyun- bile garageat 341 West Third Srreec.(12) already mentioned, included: clutch and Cogan Road, buc wasn't damaged. ( 19) suitable for such motoring. 10 T H E JO U R N A L 11

Despite a growing need to advertise the on Hillside Avenuein Jamaica,New York. pony was useless; no more than $23,500 $1,480. Automobiles sold in 1909 by the car through victories in competition, no A privately entered car owned by H. H. worth of Imperial frock was outwanding. receiver included one to K. Knochle on Imperials appeared in "tout:ing runs" Ol: Tied'will appearedin three events in The companycontinued to declineuntil January 27 for $998.75; the Impei:ial No. 1 hill climbs until mid-1908. Plant foreman class for "Gasoline Cars costing $2,001 to ( 1907 model) to Elmer Eck on March 5 for September 4, 1908, when N. Burrows Bubb Harry Rantz drove an Imperial roadster: $3;0GO," competing against such makes as $500; one to E. J. Whalen on March 13 petitioned the Lycoming County Court to [o W'ilkes-Barreon May 29. His car was Corbin, Pennsylvania, PuIJman, Pope-Hart- for $1,460; three cars to Geoi:geT. Lip- one of eight driven there by members of ford, Ford six-cylinder,and Midland.In appoint a receiver. At char time, company pencort of Atlantic City on April 12 for the Williamsport Automobile Club. The rhe one-kilometer run the Imperial driven assets of $22,000 included five coinpieted Imperial automobiles, $10,000; eight auto- $3,808.75;one to W. W. Rushedon April club members attended the Giants Despair by Wally Owen, finished sixth in a time mobilesunder construction.$6.000= ac 23 for $1:562;and the Impei:ialHill Hill Climb on Memorial Day. The Im- of 0:42 minutes,beating only the Ford Climbing Car to N. Burrows Bubb on May counts receivable, $3,000; and inventory, perial was displayed at the hill climb, but six. In the one-mile run the car. now driv- 25 for $1,390. $3,000. The liabilities, exclusive of capital did not compete. (24) en by J. B. Owen, finished in a time of stock, amounted to $26,269, including the The receivers'sale was held at the fac- 1:08-1/5 minutes, or 52.8 miles per hour, Imperials were entered in two auto overdue notes. Thomas D. Boone. book- tory on June 16, 1909,and the remaining to place seventh ahead of the Midland, keeper for the Williamsport Wire Rope meets in early June, one in Williamsport which had not competed in the kilometer assess were offered 'to the highest bidder. and the other in .jamacia,New York. Har- run. Finally, in the rwo-mile run, with Company, was appointed receiver by Judge One completed automobile was sold to John ry Rantz was named to drive a company- Hart of the LycomingCounty Court of S. Melick for $1,650. Two Milwaukee en- Wally Owen once more at the wheel, the Common Pleas and directed to continue the owned Imperial and F. P. Brand'sper- Imperial posted a time of 2:58 minutes, gines in stock went for $180 to W. C. Mc- sonal Imperial in two events each at or 44.5 miles per hour, to finish lose in business and complete the cars under way. Kinkle and $150 to Amos A. Mertz. One the secondannual Williamspoi:t Hill Climb class, 23 seconds slower than the seventh- (29) completedcar was not sold that day and held on Saturday, June 6. Brand, who was was finally purchased by receiver Boone on chairman of the racing and hiH climbing place Midland. (27) The Imperial Motor Car Company owed N. Burrows Bulb f or cars sold and deliver- August 20 for $775. (32) The sale of committee of the Williamsport Automo- eleven cars can be accountedfor, so pre- It is not known if many Impei:ids wei:e ed, ren-t on rhe factory for the months of bile Club, saw his car damagedin practice sold in the New York City area,but cer- sumably the other [xxo listed as assets in February through August, 1908, a Dore for when it went off Vallamont Mountain tainly the car's distnal showing at the Ja- September, 1908, were so incomplete that $539, and money loaned to the company in Drive at the hairpin curve on June 4. Al- maica Speed Trials did nothing to advance they were broken up for parts. With the though neither Rantz nor his riding mech- it in that area.At least three cars were sold Ehesum of $2,043. According to Bubb's peti- sale of the car to T. D. Boone, the history tion; the affairs of the company had been anic were reported injured, they did not In Philadelphia, one through rhe Bergdoll of the ];nperial Motor Car Company came 'unsatisfactorily conducted" foi: more than competeon June6. (25) Motor Car Company and two through Leon to an end. Today the former factory is a year and had ''not i:exultedin a profit [o occupied by Van Campen Motors, Inc., a On Hill Climb Day, Harry Stevensonwas G. Dodge. In the Williamsporr area, sales during 1908 were made to CharlesT the stockholders."The launchingof the Dodge dealership. rhe designateddriver of both Imperial en- company just before winter set in, the fin- tries. He first drove Brand's hastily repair- Brown, Mrs. Mccormick, Virgil A. Hook, ancial panic, and the company'sfailure to How many Imperials were built? Twenty- ed car in a free-for-all limited to members Guy D. Adams, J. C. Fulmer, Leon King, secureadequate working capital contributed four can be accounted for, including one of the Williamsporc Automobile Club and C. LaRueMunson. Elmer Shaffer.and C. V 1907 model, twelve 1908 models, and ten Henderson. to its eventual demise. In addition, capital finished a poor second in a dme of 2:16 may have been used unwisely to develop blew cars sold after the receivership be- minutes, more than 20 secondsslower chan Even though a number of cars were sold, ZLlocally-mai)ufaccured engine. Castings for gan. Perhapstwice thad many were built, rhe first-place Overland of C. P. Brock- with some marketed in New York and Phil- Ehe Imperial Motor Car Company was in two incomplete engines were in the factory way. In the undamaged company car, he serious rroubJe by rhe summer of 1908. at the time of the receivership.(30) Tbe adelphia. An appmximace figure of fif ty competed in a free-foi:-all for fully-equipped castings were not for Milwaukee Motor traits for total production may be accepted shock cars and finished a more creditable S-ow production had caused manufacturing until the exact number is discovered. costs to rise above revenue from sales. Loans Company engines, and may have been sup second in a time of 2:05-4/5 minutes, just servedonly to keep the companygoing plied by rhe Lycoming Foundry & Machine NOTES 8 seconds slower than the Stevens-Duryea without rectifying the situation. A note Company, organized in Williamsporc in of H. J. Carlton.After the car wasstrip- Williamsport Sun, October 6, 1905; William.s- tor $3,500 from the Mckean Chemica.I early 1908.This firm later madethe fam- ped to racing trim; Stevenson enter:ed the port Board of Trade, ''What William.sport Companywas issuedApril 14, 1908, and ous Lycoming engine. (31) Imperial did Did in 1908. final event and made his best mn in a Motor World, November 9, 1905, page 318; renewed June 15, 1908. On the same day, owe Lycoming Foundry & Machine for time of 1:53-2/5 minutes, just 1-4/5 sec- Horseless Age, Novem.ber 22, 1905 E. B. Campbell loanedthe company $4,220 castings received in mid- 1908. vVilliamsport Gazette & Bulletin. March 22, onds slower than the first-place Matheson 1906; April 14, 1906 on a noltedue September15. Additional Receiver Boone hired several Imperial Williamsport Sun. December31, 1906;Wil- of C. A. Ward. The Williamsport Hill liamsport Gazette & Bulletin, December 18, Climb ended as a moderate successfor the funds for production came from a note for employees to complete the cars in rhe fac- 1906 $4,120 issued by the Ono Chemical Com- tory; :rhe cars were then to be sold for Horseless Age. October 30, 1907, page 638; Imperial, which fin-ished second three times pany on June 30, 1908, and a note for vVilliamsport Gazette & Bulletin. April 3, and posted the second-besttime for the whatever price they would bring. Boone t907; Cycle and Automobile Trade Jour- S5,000 issued by the First National Bank no!, November, 1907,page 87-A entire meet. (26) purchased parts on a cash basis to make Wiliiamsport Sun, December31, 1906;Wil- of Williamsport on July 3, 1908. (28) By completion of the chassis under construc- liannsport Gazette & Bulletin, April 3, 1907. An Imperial roadster was soundly defeat- Boyd's Directory of Williamsport for 1907; mat came,investors apparently felt thad put- tion possible. One completed car was sold General and Personal History of Lycoming ed at the JamaicaSpeed Trials held June 5 ting additional funds into the Imperial Com- to Leon G. Dodge on October2, 1908, for County, Pennsylvania,Emerson Collins and 13 12 T H E JO U R N A L

John \V. Jordan. Editors. New York, Lewis 16. Equity Docket 3-S-1908. A Wonderful Speeder for hill climbing and absolutely easy riding Publishing Con)pany, 1906, page 142. 17. Horseless Age, September 18, 1907, page over the mountainous Pennsylvania roads. 8. Williamsport Gazette & Bulletin, October 12, 375 In the test, the car developed a wonderful 1907; July 15. 1907. 18. vVilliamsport Gazette & Bulletin. Septem.ber The car is so constructedthat the center of 9 Bureau of Corporations,Secretary of State's 7 and IO. 1907. capacity for speed, answering to {he opera- Office. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Har- 19. Ibid., October 12, 1907; Williamsport Sun, tor's touch like a thing of life. It is designed gravity will be in the centerof the car, a risburg. Charter File. Volume 103,page 12 October 14. 1907. point striven for but not reached by many 10 20. to run at sixty milesan hour,but if the Boyd's Directory of 'Williamsport for 1908; Williamsport Sun. October 21, 1907. of the manuf accusers. The car was designed Williamsport Sun. October 21, 1907 21 New York Times, October 20. 1907:Novein- tescogo to showanything, this will not be 11 Williamsporl Gazette and Bulletin, October 3, 1907; Automobile. October, 1907, page by C. P. A. Van Feds, a Fi:inch automo- 3. 1907. 121; MOTOR. November, 1907, page 78. the limit to the car's capacity for eating up 12 22. Williamsport Sun, November 11, 1907; Motor $ bile expert, and it took six months to build. Williamsport Sun. December 12, 1906; June space. The car has three speeds forward and I and 8, 1908;Lycoming County (Pa.) Court Age, December 5, 1907, page 18 Van Feds can feel proud of the success of Common Pleas sitting in Equity, Number 23. Andres. A. Piatt. ''Substitutes for Cash in reverse.It is surprisingwhat a little amount of Tuesday's rest. The f actory is getting three of September Term, 1908, Nathan the Panic of 1907,"Quarterly Journal of of noise the machinery made even when Burrows Bubb vs Imperial Motor Car Com.- Economics, August, 1908, page 497. S rapidly in shape to turn out these cars, pany, docket volume 2 and page 572. Here- 24 Williamsport Sun. May 29, 1908. the car was running at a high rate ot after referred to as ''Equity Docket 3-S-1908." 25. Ibid.. June 1. 1908:June 5. 1908 and it is expected that in the neighbor:hood 13. Williamsport Gazette & Bulletin, October 26. Ibid., June 8. 1908. speed. of 200 of them will be manufactured each 12. 19(n. 27. New York Times, June 6. 1908;Automobile. 14. Cycle and AutomobileTrade Journal, Dec June 11. 1908, page 293. Will Be Named the Imperial year. ember, 1907,pages 58, 60, 62; Auto'mobile 28. Equity Docke;t 3-S-1908 September 26, 1907 page 441 29. Williamsport Sun. September 4, 1908. The Imperial roadster,as it will be cal- (NOTE: Pictures of the Imperial cars are 15. Cycle and AutomobileTrade Journal, Dec- 30. Equity Docket 3-S-1908 t.hiough the courtesy of Mr. Charles Van ember, 1907,page 62; MOTOR, November, 31. What Williamsport Did in 1908.'' led, is strictly a gentleman'smachine, built Campen, Jr.) 1907, page 78. 32. Equity Docket 3-S-1908.

I REMEMBERCHRISTMAS WI LLIAMSPORT AUTO A WONDER Was Built by the Automobile Exchange By Eva Berry Steffan ( December 4, 1890 December:27, 1974) (from the Giza//e azzd Bz/Z/erf , Williamsport, Pa. Apr il 3, 1907.) We lived orl a small f arm in central sofa, nor couch [o lie upon in the downstairs The First Gentleman'sRoadster Has Just Looks Like a Racer Pennsylvania. W'e were nor poor by the rooms.Up the winding stairs we went to our room; and .to bed. Of coup:se we could Been Turned out for the Local Contractors, In appearance,the car has the low rakish living standards in that area seventy years ago. We had warm clocking, plenty of bed- lie on the big wood-chest lid, if we wanted and in a Test Given on TuesdayAfter:noon look of the BarneyOldfield racer. This is the Machine [)eveloped Wonderful Speed covers. The smokehouse was full of meat [o do that. It stood behind the kitchen due to the long wheel base of 104 inches, and the cellar full of fruits and vegetables. stove where it was always wmm. A hand- and Made PracticallyNo Noise at AIJ. -- rhe 36-inch wheels,and the peculiar:con- a Brief Description: Luge scone cracks stood along the cello made quilt and a chair cushion made a nice structionof the frame, which drops six wall, filled with sauerkraut, grapeleaf pick- bedon the lid of the woodchestor on inches in the center, making the operator s inches in the center, making the operator's led tomatoes, and bi:med cucumbers. Jellies, Ehe great Boston rocker. The first gentleman's:lemon's roadster manufac-manufac- seat lower than on most cars of the same tured by the Williamsportlliamsport Automobile Ex- wheel base..base.The frame of the machine ex- I? applebutter, and canned fruits lined the I must have been lying on the woodchest pantry shelves. Stone clocks of good rich bed much of the time during that Christ change was givenn a road -test Tuesday af- tends f ar forward of the radiator,i:ad:iator, being milk sat on the cold cellar floor. With such ternoon and fromm the sacisfsatisfactory perfor- patterned after the best types of French mas week. It was an earache and sore thmat abundance,no one was poor. mance of the car throughout,throughout, it will eclipse cars. The wheels are 36 inches in diamecei:,diameter. : thatI will alwaysremember. I can still which reduces vibration from obstacles to any auto in this section in appearance, Christmas was a special day for mother. smell the turpentineand hot lard with speed, and noiseless operation. One of the a minimum. Goodrich clincher tires are She had six childrerl before her twenty- which mother annointed my throat and chief things about the new car that will used. The engine, placed under the franc chest before pinning the warm woolen rag sixth birthday.Although we had a parlor around my neck. IT meant more wony and appeal to motorists is the almost absolute hood, is four cylinders, cast in pairs. The (it's the living room now), it was not elimination of noise, an objectionable fea- size of cylinder is 4 1/4 x 4 7/8, and they used in winter because the little black coal work for mother.whose health f oiled after: ture on most machines.In the test, the will develop 35 horse power. The car the birth of baby number six in October. stove with the isinglass in the door was set Whena neighborcame to call,one look chassis of the car was in evidence only is shaft-driven, and the gear used is the up in the living room. (lc's the f amply to allow the testing expert easy accessto Brown-Lipe Sliding Gear transmission. The room now.) Fire was built in the coal at the baby and she exclaimed,"Well, well, all panESfor adjustment while under speed. ramais two and a half revolutionsof the stoveol] weekends.We lived in the family your young'un has the 'take-off'l" Af ter In the cases of most cars. more noise is engine fly wheel to one of the rear wheels. room for m'o whole days insteadof the adjusting her glasses she continued, "l'll heard when the body is off, so judging from Ample brake power:is given by the two powwow if you want." Maher didn't big warm kitchen. How wonderful it was :'want." and before the first robin came the the small amount of mckee kicked up by hand brakes operating on both rear wheels. to watch those little blue magic flames the big powerful engine in the roadster, The Timken roller bearings are used dancingall over rhe rop of rhe coal fired baby was on ,the way to bouncing mbust there will be hardly any noise at all when throughout the machine. health due to the new patent cannedmilk the body is fitted on If one becameill, there was no cot, no thad Grandmother brought from the city. 14 THE JO U R N A L 15

Several days before Christmas, father took whimpering and unhappy on that won- bucket full of oysters. On Christmas morn- did not eat oysters,but I liked the broth, his axe and wadedthe snowto the hillside derful, glorious, snowy Christmas morning. ing, a big kettle of oyster stew was on the all creamy rich and golden yellow with where he selected a huge hemlock tree. On the very top-mostbranch hung that kitchen stove, Steamingand ready for break- butler. And wham I really liked most and What if ic did havea barespot on one beautiful red glass ball that came all the fast when father came in from doing the enjoyed were the little round oyster crack- side? Who could see the bare spec when way from Germanys 1,[was given to mother barn chores. Mother ladled out the oyster ers swimming in itl the tree would be standing near the wall at a Christmasentertainment when she was stew into deep soup plates. In the center in the corner of the room? The big hemlock Oyster crackers still caste like Christmas a very small child. It was a treasure to of the table stood that big glassdish full ? morning to me, even if I eat them on the tree stoodon the back porch until the of little round buoton-shaped oyster clad(- afternoon before Christmas. when father cherish. There were a few other f ancy col Fourth of July. Dred glass balls and several feet of- tinsel ers. As she began to ladle out rhe oyster fashioned a kind of platform holder for it. rope. Coloredclear toys, big striped candy stew, she would ask, "Do you eat oysters? tNLrs. Clarence Biernlan, Mrs. Steffan:s Everything was ready to set up the uee She never could remember who did. or who daagbter, tells as that ibis stoTT is o+l when little brothers and sisters came from sticks, popcorn balls, red apples, and other little treasures saved from many Christ- didn't, like the oystersin the stew.The tile in tbe D.A.R. Library Matzwscrip}i)e school a mile and a half away, walking mases were tied to the branches. But best face that someone might not eat oysters par ment.) mademe decideforever and ever that I through the deep snow. The cree was of all were those sugar cookies -- seal:s, broughtinto the roomand secup in a crimpy circles, animals, and little people -- corner. The popcorn sti:ings that the girls w,airing to be eaten. There were no be- had been making for days and days, along ribboned packagesunder the tree and no THE BLOOMING GROVECOLONY with rhe paper chains cut and made from mysterious boxes wrapped in fancy bright rhe margins of newspapers and passed with paper. The girls received surprise gifts of By Margaret Young flour and water paste, were hung on every clothing and a handkerchief. My brothers branch. The woodsy smell perfi;med the received mittens and a slate. I received a room. Father said that Santa Claus would little doll with a chinahead. Everyone l:e- The Winesaps bent the orchard bough The Ulmers and the Staigers knew finish the trimming job before morning. too. He did! ceived an orange, a precious Christmas nov- [n days gone by, as they do now; The Kiesses, Biehls, and Burghardts, elty to us. When father came into the And in September'sfields, untilled, Then there were Gross and Waltz and Earlier in the week father hitched the room, he said, ''What happened to all the The wild blue cornflowersstan:ed the hill. Scheel. cookies?" He had helped Santa, and he And Wendel Harmon who closed the deal. mule team to the bobsled and made a uip The cattle browse with heads bent down liked cookies. Sure enough, all of the cook- to the city. Just a little last-minute And munch the windfalls on the ground. Though this group came in eighteen-four, ies and some candy from the lower branches Harmon had come the year befoi:e. shopping before the real winter set in! On Besidethe road, the Dunkard church, his return at dusk.he drove the team as had disappeared.Jane, rhe watch dog, had The young folks.like to hear them tell near to the back door as possiblewhere not been sent to the barn that night. She Irs girdersin the fertile earth, enjoyed Christmas, tool Provides the basic rule and plan: How grown-ups (boys and girls as well) mother helped him unload and carry the Belief in God and fellowman.-- Set out on foot acrossthe hills most beautiful couch into rhe sitting l:oom. For me; rhe bess was yet [o come. Fmm Beyond the shining Schuylkill -- some secret place came a small shoe box A simple creed, devoid of shire, Two hundredmiles by IndianTrails, It was upholstered with [an carpet-like A great respect for human libel material. 'lbe raised head was as hard as Chatmother placed in my hands. When my Paso rowling oaks and saplings frail, the carved oak trimming that decorated hot shaking fingers opened it, I found wrap- Its logs were foray feet in length the rop of the high backs "This is for you ped in tissuepaper the most beautiful pair Through green cathedrals, rimmed with rock, Worked out by hand, of unmatched strength; From Muncy's hills to Loyalsock. to lie on becauseyou are sick at Chrin- of shoes trac I had ever seen -- shining Twelve feet in height and thirty wide mas," father said. I could hardly wait for black buttons and patent leather dips, but- Before they reached Sheshequin path ronholes and all seams stitched with white With walls all chunked and daubed inside. They had to cross the Great Swamp'sgrass the warm bedcoverand pillow that mother Its benches, backless, made to please silk thread; How beautiful they weren I can Through dark, steep canyons and ravines, wasbringing from the sparebed. I lay my This hardy race, who scoffed at ease. throbbing head on that cold, hard, torture see them yer. And water:f alls and raging streams. contraption. It was agonyl How could such Mother helped me [o put on my long un- Opposed [o war which kills and maims, The tortuous course, ascending, steep, a pretty thing make me feel so much worse They chose to wear il prisoner's chains. The surest foot could scarcelykeep. Chan the woodbox bed? derwear and my long black stockings so char I could wear my beautiful dew shoes. When freed at last, they crossedthe sea Then from the brow of QuakerHill, The shoeswere sizestoo smalll "No. no To find religious liberty. Christmasmorning beganas usual with They thought they saw rhe Rhineland, still not" I wailed asmother tried to comfortme ]'hey had to walk a month or more Well worth the hardship and the cold father getting up before the winter dawn And sailed at last, fmm Holland's shore. in order to get the house warm before the by saying mar father would go to the city The panoramathat unrolled. little ones were awake. and to have all the soon and ger some bigger shoes for me. I would have none of her comfort. and I held For more than fifty anxious days, With crushing toil, in summer's hehe barn chores finished before breakfast. But my beautifulshoes in my lap along wiki With fervent prayers and hymns of praise, They felled the giant forest trees, soon the whole family was swarming around They passed the time, exchanging views But as they grubbed and hauled and burned the orange and rhe china head doll all day. the little black coalstoveand the big Christ- Of what Baptism they should use Profited by what they'd learned, mas -tree. The sick baby in her cradle, and Among omer items that father: brought The Brethren chose immersion three; Then scratched the earth and scattered rye I in the Boston rocker were rhe only ones home from his shopping trip was a gallon Howe'er they chose, each choice was fleet To harvest later and "put by. 16 T H E JO U R N A L 17

Before the time the first snow fell His mortal flesh long since interred EARLY ENGLISH SETTLERS ON THE LOYALSOCK A long log hut was built as well. Beneath the useful, healing herb, These were the long November days Though alien in social worth, By Fred M. Rogers Enveloped in a purplish haze, He lent his skills to deathand birth. When oaks alone their leaves retained. It would have been too bad for him (A continuation of the speechreported in Volume Vll, No. 2 And rattled in the freezingrain. If they had any healthier beens of the Historical Journal.)

Inside. the dim and shadowed dark, The banker of rhe little group, The pungent smell of hick'ry bark. ( Incense, exacting, and astute) '\ Religions Lite tended from Sheshequin, Bradford County, to Muncy, Lycoming County. The church All life held dear uas in this room Though Wendel Harmon freely lent, The early settlers of the Loyalsock were .r records at Forksville parsonage contain nel- Where crackling flames dispersed the gloom. His interestrate wasfive per cent; thorough-going Christians as a general thing And children cried. as children will, When payment failed on interest due, ly atl of the f emily names of the early and believed in church organization and settlers. Then, soothed and comforted, grew still. The principal demanded, too. union. Most of the settlers were Metho- Robust. content. the womenfolk dists and Baptists, but we find Episcopa- The Methodists held services at Camp- An irate debtor, forced [o pay, lians, Lutherans: and Unitarians. bellsville and Hillsgmve in the early days, Shared with the men the tiresome yoke Discharged his debt one summer day: in the homes of the people and the school- From seed to harvest, worked the flax, Three bushel bags of pennies bore I'he Friends church in Elkland township Performed the break and cackle tasks. house. Charles Mullen erected a building And dumpedthem out upon the floor. was organized in 1805, it being constructed at his own expenseat Eldredsville,which Then forced indoors by winter's chill, I loaned you bills, not such as than out of logs of] land formerly owned by M. C. Mercer.James Eckmyd, David Tho- was used for religious and educational gath- The gentler arcs became their skill. And Hannon madehim cart them back! erings. mas, Jesse Haines, Ezra Haines, and Joel As spin wheels droned their varied tunes At end of Doctor baller's prayer Mccarty were the active spirits in building The Wesleyan Methodist Church and the In rhythm, with the beat of looms, Their reverent voices filled the air. rhe church. The Friends, or Quakers, were Methodist ProtestantChurch were organized They deftly fashioned with their hands This Christian man, if needs, could speak numerousin ElklandTownship in the in the district later. Their records contain A slender thread of flaxen strands; In Hebrew, Latin, French, or Greek early days and they bui-It good substantial the names of the descendantsof the early And linen twined with wool became When spirits didn't need a jog, churches in .the township as the section be- settlers came more settled. The cloth of linsey-woolseyfamed He served the group as pedagogue. The pioneer Samuel Rogers, a Baptist Early Schools With samplers, mothers taught the scan As life improved, with time to learn, camefrom England;and from the minutes Of what would lead to sewing art The various teachers took their turn. of the Northumberland Baptist Association In 1816 Mrs. Sarah Huckell conveyed Soon smocking fell within their scope, ExacEingl Cruell Used the rode we learn that the "Forks of the Loyalsock half an acre of land to Samuel Rogers, And f agog: featherstitch, and rope -- And some less-Spartanstudents sobbed. Particular Baptist Church" was organized Powell Bird, and William King, trustees Then quilting bees: che best by f ar; With desks arranged to face the wall, in 1822. Of the ten original memberson for the Loyalsock school. The settlers cele- They pieced the "nine-patch" and the Start They traced with quill a shaky scrawl. rhe recordsof the church at Forks. six bore bratedthe fourth of Ju'ly in 1816 by having a "bee" for clearingthe land for the school- Far from remembered friends and home, rhe name of Rogers. Their meetings were From spelling class to Psalms they went, held in the homesof the settlersand in house.The schoolhousewas built and school Now pioneering on her own, Then puzzled over Testaments. schoolhouses. opened in December, 1816, John Warbur- The homesick bride with loving touch And next the Bible class they'd meet -- ton being the first school teacher. This Caressed the textured, homespun stuff. That made the basic course complete. The Methodist church organization had was the first building erected in Sullivan She missed the old -- she loved the new -- Those who could help at harvest time sent its preached:sinto rhe LoyalsockValley County for school purposes- And thanked her God for freedom, too. Thankfully welcomed Ehe short schooltime. in 1798; and when the first settlers ari:ived in Elkland township in 1800, the Methodist In 1840 the settlersof the northernparr Complete with medical degree Their orchardsthrive, as in the past, church was on hand to look after the spir- of Forks Township built a hewed-log school- From Bei:lin University, Blossom, and fruit of an effort so vast. itual welfare of the sect:lets. house on the Thomas Streby f arm. Roads Old Doctor Adams cured their ills: Spread out below, on every hand, were cut through the woods to che school- Prescribed, as well as made, their pills. Th: fertile fields enrich the land. The Loyalsock Circuit of the Northum- house, which was also used for church ser- berland District of the Baltimore Confer- Eccentric to the last degree, Th- timber stops, and at our feed vices. After the school laws of the state went He "ruled '' the grateful families. A field of copper-colored wheatl ence of the Methodist Episcopal Chul:ch into effect in 1851, the townships were was established in 1798. The diurch was divided into districts and other schoolses- thoroughly organized in 1843, a parsonage tablished under the new law His swinging gait and stomping cane The smoky blue of mountain range -- An awesomelegend soon became bun-r at Forksville, and several preaching The miracle of constant change The children from Forks and Elkland His Van Dyke beard and steel blue eyes, Th: air is filled with scents of flowers points established in Elkland aid Foi:In No soft'nanglent to his disguise That follow after summer showers. townships, the people worshipping in Townships attended the school ar Forks. A schoolhousesand their homes. The records school was organized at Eldredsville, using And if they spied upon his house. And proud descendants homeward rove of the churchshow, that the district ex- He'd yell, in Dutch, "Gehc Naus To picnic in ''The Blooming Grove"l rhe Charles Mullen building as a school- 18 T HE JO U R N A L 19 house,and the first teacherwas Miss Zilpha Foz£t&d Strange Tasks He then went back to his tl:ee and climbed rays of the sun when they were passing. to his rest, wherehe wasasked to give up Mason. This school was opened after 1825. The forestswere extremely hard to The pigeons had then: roosts and nesting rhe hot roast. Although it burned his paws, places near Forksville, and the early set- W'e can form someopinion of rhe diffi- corlEendwith as the mighty virgin trees he snucktightly to the pork and won his din- tlers went to the rooscsin rhe night and culties the boys and girls faced to ger an were heavy to handle in every way, and the ner caught young pigeons in bagsful for food. education in those pioneer days when I settlers were not accustomed ,to lumbering They cameyear after year to their mist- reit you that the writer's grandfatherhad and contending against such odds as were Berzr IP'ezz£ro W'4f ing and nestingplaces, which were well but six days' schooling in his lifetime, and found in the mighty f crestsof the Loyal known to the settlers. he lived [o be able to read, write, and figure sock. Most of the early settlers were from He grew to be a very large bear.My well. manufacturing centersof England and were uncle sold him to Captain Meicalf, of Du- The deed: wei:e a gi:ear source of food accustomedto lives entirely different from shore,who took him with him into the f or the early settlers,and there were mighty what thev were compelledto face when army and the war of 1863.The bear ren- Laing Ca Mit ons hunters in those days who dependedon the they reachedthe rugged cold wildernessof dered great serviceto his comradesby way old flintlock rifle mostly to bring down the The early setclei:sof the Loyalsock were rhe Loyalsock. of bringing pigs, calves; jowls, ecc., into game. Among the greer hunters of the early camp when they were ready to make camp accustomedto many home comforts in Eng- The panther,wolf, and bobcatwere a days were Charlesand George C. Bii:d, land which cher did not enjoy in the settle- for the night. The soldiers appreciatedthis John Warren, John Bown, Henry Huckell, constant menace [o the settled:s, and many service by always giving the bear his share and Wheeler Green. John Bown told my ment, and their equipment of every kind nanow escapeswere related by the settlers. was very scant and crude. of the feast, and the bear understood all father that he quit counting the deer he had such moves of the soldiers. He afforded killed whenhe reachedfour hundred.Nei- It is related that Grandmother Rogers The cooking was done in fireplaces; the was going into the cellar of the old log warmth for the soldiers during the cold ther Mr. Bown nor Henry Huckell knew baking in iron bake-kettles, or in stone house.her home in Forksville. when look- night, and went through the Rebellion with- which man had killed the greaternumber out a scratch. bake-ovens.Johnny cake was baked in long ing up she saw a large rattlesnake watching of deer in his hunting days. handled frying pans. The fires were her from out of che wall. She hastily called After the war, he was takento Phila- Wild turkeys often came about the produced with steel, cline and punk. Pine one of the family, and the snake was killed. knots and splints and tallow candleswere delphia where he was kept alive for some cleanings and were a valuable food for the years and grew to be the largest black bear settlers. used for lights. The sweeping was done with When a young woman, she escapedfrom splint brooms.Girls and boys were barefoot ever known. When he died of old age, his being carried off by a large panther. Her life skin was mounted and placed in the mu- The Loyalsockhills and valleys were, and most of the year and wol:e coonskin and was savedby her husband,who came along seum, and could be seen for some years are now, the homesof the i:attlesnake.the woven straw hats. Browned grains and nuts about the time the panther was preparing after the war. were used for coffee. to attack her. She had heard a loud call. as blacksnake, and the copperhead, which if someone u'ere in distress. and went The fishing auld the streamswere fine were and are a menaceto any community. My grandfather related to me an incident In brief, nearly everything was done dif- through the woods along a trail towards in the early days, and men who have fished ferently from what it is done now. Even relating to snakes char is most interesting the field where grandfather was felling trees. all over the United States scare that the and instructive. the spinning wheel and weaving machine On her way to learn if he were hurt, she met Loyalsockwas rhe finest trout steam they were run by the mothers. him andtold him whatshe had heard. He had ever known. The many fish stories Irl .the early days ratrlers were Striking The hunters had to contend with those then askedher to give a loud call, which she going the rounds are 'way too big for me horsesand cattle, and the settlerswere old flintlock rifles, which often put them gave, and immediately the panther which [o tell in this company: but some of those in dangerof losing their lives. A party of was secreted in the woods nearby, answered specklers would make line snap or reel sing into too close quarrel:s with the panther men was organized to look for the den and and wolf and bear. her and she was then assuredthat it was a and your eyesstick ou-t "like knots on a endeavor to exterminate them. They found panther. The John Warren hounds were se- Free," for they would measlue two good the den. On using their guns to kill the The men trained for the militia service cured and Cookthe trail of the panther. They strong feet by the rule. We have some of snakes,-they stirred up such an odor that once each month so as to be ready for their drovehim into a treenear Hillsgrove late in them still. The Loyalsock should still be they had to leave the den and vicinity after country's call at a moment's warning. the night, wherehe was shot by one of the rhe great trout stream of the nation that killing a large number of the snakes as they Grandfather Rogers was a lieutenant of the settlers.When measured.he was found to it once was, but something is wrong wiki were bunning themselveson the rocks near- militia. be elevenfeet from the tip of his noseto the bait at Harrisburgand Washingtonfor by. The men went to the den again in rhe tip of his tail. we cannot get (he Loyalsock's share of the cold weather and found a great ball of All equipment for farming, lumbering, fry to stock the streams as they should be snakes, which contained rattlesnakes, black- and manufacturingpurposes was scant and Grandfather's folks kept travelers, and stocked snakes,and copperheads.They killed several crude. The mills depended on waterpower my uncle Isaac Rogers owned a cub bear hundred of chem, many of chemon the in- alone for their operation. One day when the table was all set for Wild Pigeons side of the ball being very lively and ready dinner under the old apple trees i.n the ro fight for their lives The distances and rugged roads, to any yard and grandmother had gone to call the Wild pigeons inhabited the woods in place where the common necessitiesof life peopleto dinner,the cub camefrom his great numbers. The writer can remember The rattlesnakeand the blacksnakeale could be secured, were enough [o rry the creeafter breakinghis chain, went to the seeing great flocks of Chemflying over the enemies in the summer season and bed- stoutest heart, bur still riney persevei:ed. table, and helped himself to cheroast pork. valley at Forksville so as to shut out the fellows in the winter 20 T H E JO U R N A L 21

Indians on tbe Lo)alsace cutting and marketing their lumber and Rogersalso has the old dye kettle that was formationcan be securedfrom the men logs. used in the Rogers brothers' factory at For- who found them. The locality has been The Indians often passed through the ksville. He has the old family clock, which is visited recently by one of the men who hills and valleys of the Loyalsock near the About the only way the settlerscould nearly one hundred years old. Its works found the utensils in company with other settlementsin the early days. gar their lumberto marketwas by the are made mostly of wood and are worn so men interested in Indian i:elics, but they i.oyalsock. In order to get the lumber Eheclock does not keep time. There is were unable to find any of them. Moses The Sullivan Trail went through near down this streamto the river, they had to no doubt but what there are many antiques Rogers found some Indian pots under the Lincoln Falls. and it was over this trail that saw and raft it either in the log or cut into and relics in the homes of the Loyalsock rocks near the old grisrmill at Forksville, the Indians passed from rhe north to the lumber. Rafting was expensive and dan and its tributaries, but they are kept very which he turned over to a man fmm south branches of the SusquehannaRiver gerous,and it was found that there was closely utader cover for reasonsI have not Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in the early days. in their moves against the white man in little profit in the lumberingaf ter checost been able to learn. These pons wei:e made fmm clay. war times. was estimated. But the English were after money,and they were willing to pay well The Indians often related stories of what My grandfather loved the Indians and for it in good hard labor and their pm- they had found in the Loyalsock country Valleyot Begat) always fed and sheltered them on their ducts. and its tributaries. They spoke of how they The valley of the Loyalsock is unsur- trips -through the Loyalsock country. He got leadfor their rifle bulletsabout wo The marketsfor the lumber and logs passed for its beautiful scenery. Natui:e ne;er suffered any injury or trouble from miles below Forksville.and there is evi- has done a lot for the valley, and you them. were the large towns along the west dence of their work while digging for the branch of the SusquehannaRiver -- Sun- cannot possibly excel nature's work. The lead in the locali-tyat this time. Loyalsock gor its full shad:eof her hand- The wi:iter stood watching his gmndfath- bury, Harrisburg, Marietta, and omer work, which must be seen to be appre- points. er lay the schoolhousewall whena big Silver Mine Legend ciated. Travelers who have journeyed the Indian chief came up to him, smiled, got The lumber mei:chantstook advantageof world over take the ti:ip along the Loyal- out his pipe, pur rob;cco into his pipe, and An old Indianrelated to someof his the settlersand often got the lumber from sock, and they do not tire of the scenery placed ii into grandfather's mouth. He then them for less than the cost of cutting, friends on the Inyalsock that he could take for it changes almost every minute. The lighted the tobacco with his flint. After them to a silver deposit where they could rafting, drawing, and counting. The writer great body of sightseers have not, as yeE, grandfather had taken a pull on the pipe, ger silver in quantities sufficient to fur- hit the Loyalsock Trail in any numbers, the Indian took the pipe from his mouth has heard his grandfather slate that he had nish their horses with shoes instead of sold lumber at points along uhe river f or but some day it will be on the map @nd and placed it into his on'n mouth. He dlree dollars a thousand feet after he had using irons. He passedthrough the Loyal- labeled as ''The Trip Worthwhile." Many smoked and talked with grandfather, who drawn it fr om the water, piled and counted sock section.with a bag which he said con- travelers of the future days will wonder askedthe Indian if he wantedany grain. it. It took great courage and stamina to tained silver ore. and offered to show He said he did, and grandfaEhei:gave him why they havenot heardof, and seen,the carry on and go forward in those good old some of his friends where he got the ore. beautiful Inyalsock Valley. his keysto the granary.He went and strenuous early days, without a doubt They feared-to take the trip, and the loca- filled his rattlesnakebelt with wheat;then tion of the ore is still a mystery. We of the Loyalsock shill live in a vast came back and Stepped close to grand- The several gristmills I have mentioned, wilderness. If anyone doubts {he state- father, and pressedhis lips to grandfather's that were locatedon the Loyalsockand its The William Molyneux homestead flags ment, it can easilybe proved,for you can forehead, ar;d bade him goodbye. He said tributaries, were well patronized by the near Millview are, and were, called the enter the woods at Bear Creek, Lycoming he was going down the 'Sock and early settlers of the surrounding section, Injun Meadows." The Indians are said County, and tmvel the woods to Kitchen down the Big River to Harrisburg to see and they were a blessing ta them in every to have made salt from the waters of a Creek. which is but a short distance from some friends of another tribe way spring on che flats. Ai:rowheads,flints, Wilkes-Barre. It is all woods. with but clay and stonevessels, and utensilsfor few clear-ingsor buildings to be seen We can hardly believe char the materials grinding grain in the vessels by hand earty Indastrbes which were used in rhe Rogers brothers along the way. If this is not a wilderness have been found in great profusion in and for these days, whet:e can we find one Most of the settlers depended on farm woolen factor:yat Forksville could be about the Loyalsock section. Quite a large nearby? brought fmm Philadelphia to Forksville, crops foi: food on which they subsisted; collection of Indian utensils, made of clay, manufactured, and returned on wagons to were found by lumbermen in the rocks The early English settlers must have alta;ough the woods and streams abounded the markersand a profit realized,but it loved scenery, solitude, and service, or with game .and fish in abulldance. on lands on rhe Loyalsockbelow Ringdale, was done. The Rogers brothers prospered in Sullivan County. A number of the uten- [hev never would have settled and remained and must have had considerable business Lumbering was carried on under very sils were taken -to the camp arid were about to rear their families in such a wilderness great difficulties by rhe early setElei:s.How- ability. the camp for some timed buc, on inquiry as the upper Loyalsock. ever. a number of sawmills were built on as to where they might be found, no h- the Loyalsockand its tributaries,and the Antlqwes, Relics, Legends + industry was pushedforward while the farms were being cleared. I have mentioned John W. Rogers has the old dough the different mills and factoriesin my pa- trough that was usedin the early pioneer per and will therefore, deal with the con- days by his grandparents and parents, and ditions that confrontedthe pioneerswhile which is in good state of preservation. Mr. 22 T HE JO U R N A L 23

HOW DID WILLIAMSPORTGET ITS NAME? her greatest help marched away to Boston. tier and the militiamen who patrolled rhe The pioneer mother then cad:ied on alone. valley were stationed at Fort Menningei:. Manpower was scarce on the fmntier, buE In 1779 a second incursion of Indians and 'rhe descendants of Michael Ross have William Winter: was born of British the Widow Smith succeeded in operating Tories was made in the valley, and rhe fort long claimed that rhe city was named for parents on the Island of Man on March her mills, providing for her family, and and the mills were burned.After that. his son William. Michael Ross owned 28, 1728, and came [o this country with putting moneyby to repaythe heavydebt when soldiers were in the vicinity of White all the land on which Williamsport now his brother John, who was a sea captain. incuned in building the mills. Later she Deer, they were quartered in the widow's stands. He first went to Virginia where in 1747 erecteda hemp mill. house. In a dispatch dared September 18, he married Ann Boone, of the f emily of 1780. General Potter wrote. "I marched the Bur the descendantsof Judge William Daniel Boone and Captain Haxxkins Other recruiting officers followed Captain remainder, consisting of 170 men, up the Hepburn believe that the city was named Boone. In 1752 he went to BeaksCounty, Lowdon in the valley, and the W'esc after him. He owned a great deal of land West Branch to Fort Swartz (about a mile Pa., and purchasedmuch land. In 1756 he Bran(h was soon depleted of its young above Milton). I then went to Colonel and was very influential in the formulation was chosen inspector to help rhe sheriff men. With the patriotic youth went the Kelly, who lay at rhe mouth of White of Lycoming County. of Beaks County, William Boone. He ser- best flintlocks, and soon there was left Deer Creek with eighty men." This was ved in the War of Revolution and was Now a letter which has beenlong bur- far the defenseof the frontier only old in the Widow Smith's house. ied in the files has been found that shows disinherited by his parents for taking the men and boys and an inadequatesupply of arms. The chairman of the Committee In 1783 Catherine Smith returned to a third claimant to the name of Williams- oath of allegiance to our country. The first court of Lycoming County was held at his of Safely held a general review of the re- view the ruins wrought by war. The pio- port. William Winner owned a great deal neers urged her to rebuild the grist and of land where Williamsport is now loca- laome. He died in WiJliamsport on June maining arms and found many in need 29, 1794.Much of this information hasbeen of repairs. Small gunbarrels used for shoot- sawmills. buc the widow of Peter Smith had ted. He divided this land among his sons, taken from the third series of Pennsylvania lost her enthusiasm.Trouble and bad luck and the part thad went to his son William ing game needed to be bored larger to had a small settlement on it which was Archives and from Meginness. carry bullets with more deadly effect. Again had disheartenedher. Her son John, who had marched away so gallantry with the called "William's Part." His descendants Mr. J. KennethWinter, a descendantof rhe ingenious Catherine Smith came to the rescue.This time sheerected a boring mill, first volunteers. had been killed in action. claim that the name was later changedto the Winter family, now lives in Berkley which was the only munition plane in To bring order out of the chaoson her prop- Williamsport.This is just family tradition Springs, West Virginia. He has collected northeastern Pennsylvania during the Revo- erly would cost f ar more than she posses- and they have no records to substantiate the much materialon Lincoln, and frequently lution. She served militiamen from remote sed. But her formed: neighbor:s insisted, and claim, but it sounds reasonable lectures on that subject. Reed's Fort on the site of pi:event flock once mol:e the Widow Smith arose to the Haven to Potter's Fore at the head of emergency. She managed the rebuilding Penn's Valley. It has been claimed than of the grist and sawmillswith much diffi- gunbarrels from Catherine Smith's mill wei:e culty, but scarcelywere chef in operation CATHERINESMITH, THE MUNITION MAKER sent to isolated settlers as far as -rhepresent when ejectmentswere bmught against hei: Renovo. Rifles were also prepared for the by Messrs. Claypoole and Morris who Continental army. claimeda pi:ior right to the land. As fre- (From ''Storiesof the West Branch Valley'' by Katharine W. Bennet. quently happened,the land office had given This articlewas printed in 7'#e Szrw,April 27, 1928.) The mills were such a valuable asset to several warrants for the same tract, and the frontier and the causeof freedomthat rhe Claypoole and Mortis patent bore the early in the spring of 1778 a small stock- earlier date. When the first volunteers left the valley mill was neededon this parr of the fi:ontier aded stronghold, called Fort Menningei:, with Captain Lowdon, none watched with as there was none nearer than that of Jacob was built for their pi:otection.The fort The Widow Smith petitioned the legis a prouder yet more troubled heart than Freeland on Warrior Run. The pioneers was situated about eighty mds from the lature, and prominent citizens of Northum- Catherine Smith of W'hite Deer. For with who were pouring into White Deer Valley river on the north bank of White Deer berland County (such as William Bly:the and Charles Gillespie) and the well-known the company marched her mainstay and and settling on rhe east side of the West Creek. The sconecottage, with chemills foi eldest son, John Smith. Two years before Branch wanted a mill nearer home. soldiers, Colonel John Kelly and General bases,formed rhe apex of an irregular ti:i- James Potter, interceded in her behalf. Un- (1773) her husband, Peter Smith, had died angle. leaving no means of support of her- Catherine Smith was penniless, but not der the circumstances,the legislaturecould self and family but three hundred acres unresourceful. Realizing the need of the In the summer of 1778 the inhabitants grant no relief. The widow had no means of unclearedland at the mouth of White infant settlements,and the necessityof of the valley fled before an invading force to support ac'lions at law, but she is said Deer Creek. providing a livelihood for herself and of Tories and Indians,and W'idow Smith's [o have walked to Philadelphia and back children, she succeeded in borrowing mon- mills were abandoned.Where the patriotic thirteen times (160 miles eachway) in an Orl this plantation was a comfortable ey for the erection of both a grist and effort to effect a compromise.In spiteof scone cottage in which Catherine Smith woman and her family found refuge in sawmill. After a year of laying founda- the troublous years tha-r followed is not rhe justice of her claims and the efforts of lived with her ten children.At the mouth tions and felling u'ees and peeling bark, known. her friends, the case was decided against of the creek was an excellent mill site. she had both mills in opemtion.In a feu hcr. In 1801 she gave up possession of the On it the Widow Smith was urged by her short weeks came the first call for volun- After the upper West Branch was de- property that she had laboredso hard to neighbors [o build a mill. A good grist- teers,and her sturdy son who had been serted,the widow'smills were the fran. improve. 24 T HE JO U R N A L 25

It has been said that this enterprising tea service, but accord slight mention to Daniel Caldwell'sbarn. Like the bones of watching, dark-eyed type as her mother and patriotic woman died in poverty. Her CatherineSmith becauseshe was poor, Mary Ludwig, the bonesof Widow Smith had been in youth, with the proud coroner stone cottage, with a modern addition, is friendless, and beaten down in everything were disturbed . . and identified . . by features,she was a head taller than the still standing.Until recentlythe foundation she tried. rhe projecting teeth of the skull old lady. She won the hearts of the sus- of her second mill served as the foundation ceptible legislators. . . It was asserted char 'It was the State Geographic Board, 'Catherine Smith on her visits to her one of the Claypools, a man of forty-five, of a modern flouting mill. A few weeks sons expressed no regrets at the patriotic ago fire again visited the White Deer mills, about 1924, that first honored Widow wished to become the husband of Cassan- andthe buildings were burned to the Smith, famous heroine of the plain people; serviceswhich she renderedfreely during di:a Smith. For this he would quash the ground. by naming the noble culmination of Nit- rhe revolution. 'l would do it over again,' firm's claims and restore the property. tany Mountain,which looks don,n on the she would say in PennsylvaniaDutch, and The lonely twenty-two year old girl was spot where she passed her most eventful then draw a whiff of the mild and frag- willing to marry him, in order to see her and memorable days, 'Catherine's Crown rant. or 'secret'. Indian tobaccoin her small T#e IP'f//f miporr S//z of October 19 mother made happy. Bur the std:n old and October 26. 1934. carried an article This aptly chosen and strangely unique brown porcelain mother's pipe, and add, Roman matron refused this patrician al title was suggested by J. Herbert Walker, Bread cast upon the wagers will always nance for her daughter and the return about "Catherine Smith, Forgotten Woman come back. Patriot of the Revolution" in its NOW then editor of the Lewisburg .Journal. Cath- of her properly by any 'lef t-handed bar- AND THEN column. The article was writ- erine's Crown is one of the vei:y few moun gain', as she called it, and continued to thins in Pennsylvanianamed f or a woman 'Catherine Smith walked thirteen times ten by Col. Henry W'. Shoemaker.We have fight her petition on to its final ingloi:- To namethis mountain after Catherine [o Philadelphia and return during the ious end copied excerpts from mis article to add Smith was a well-deservedtribute, yet the progress of her claim. She would receive [o our story. old frontier woman who died in poverty, a citation to appear on a certain date, and 'Though she was poor and obscure and It was at the mouth of McElhattan and whose grave was rifled, gained little getting there find it had been postponed. had few educational advantages,and not Run that Widow Smith establishedher by i't. She traveled barefoot, carrying her shoes at all the type [o adorn snobbish history's two sons,Michael and Philip, aboDE1772 and stockings,which she put on at the pages,she deservesa place among the sears Catherine Smith was probably born in the city limits, being always neat and interes- of the mighty, right beside the greatest (in a flouring mill) it is interesting Palatinate, bur was brought [o Lancaster ted in the personal appearance.On one af women of the land. And if a Hall of Fame to node the astounding enterprise and County at an early age. Of her large fam- her first trips to Philadelphia, she was is ever set up for women, her bust crowned energy of Catherine Smith, a poor widow ily, her sons Michael and Philip remained accompanied by her beautiful daughter with laurel. should be in the front rank. with ten children, establishing her sons 'Cass', or Cassandra. who created a sensa- in business. while she carried on trade with at McElhatran Run, William went west, typical of her relentless pursuit of right- the Indians. Peter, Jr., was killed by Indians the same tion when she entered IndependenceHalt eousness,her lofty ideals, and heroic efforts year as his mother's mill at White Deer where the hearings took place. Of the same in the causeof freedom.' Prior to the establishmentof the mill was burned by the redman, probably at at the mouth of McElhattan Run, Cath- the time of the massacreat GerhardFree- erine Smith and her husband Peter Smith, land's fort in 1779 had run a trading post on the Great Island, 'According to her descendants, she re- having come there about 1768. A descen- turned to LancasterCounty (in the summer dant of Catherine Smith . . told me that of 1778) with someof her family, visiting Peter and Catherine, the pioneers, were the Hartley Hall, Lycoming County, Pa. strong. In 1782 che fort was rebuil-t of stone around among relatives, and did not come by Hessians. persons who first bought the Great Island up the rivet: again until late in 1783 September 9, 1895 from the Indians. About 1773: after her 'Mrs. Dyce thus described Widow Cath- ( Signed) "Y. W. Hall" husband'sdeath. she sold it to William Dear Sir and Madam, erine Smith, the patriot woman: 'She was Dunn . After the sale to Dunn. which held to be good looking in her day, yet What I can find now about the old fort showeda profit, Widow Smithset up her she was very stnall, not over five leer My earliest recollection of being a mem- sons in the milling business at McElhattan tall. Her hair was coarse..and stiff. and Fort Munch,built 1778 by Col. (after- ber of the Lycoming County Historical Run . It was about then that Widow black. and cut short like a man's. She had wards Gen.) Hartley, in command of Society is at the age of six - 60 years ago. troops employed against the Indians. T:he Smith decided to go down the river [o the a Romannose, projecting teeth, too many My parents,Mr. and Mrs. Chai:lesW'ood mouth of White Deer Creek, where her bastions were built of fascines and clay, the Hill. wouldtake their five childrento the for her upper Jaw was the cause, yet her husbandhad a claim for 300 acres,her curtains furnished with stockades. It had meetings at the James V. Brown Library lips were small and she never forgot how a 4 lb. cannon: mounted, and four swivel mind filled with variousenterprises. Too to smile. Her black eyes wore a pleasant in 1915. The meetings were in the base- much historical mention cannot be accord- guns. The garrison in 1778 was 200 men, ment of the Library. We sac on srraighc expression.She was active and wiry, and Capt. Andrew Walton in command. In ed to this mostremarkable pioneer wo- always planning something for the welfare chairswith our feeddangling in the air -- I ]779 the garrison was I captain, 2 subal- man, who was treated with injustice in of her family. It was for her children, know thadthey did not reachthe floor. her lifetime and ruled off history'spages never for herself, she worked so hard.' [erns, 4 sergeants, 60 rank and file. Apr. after her death Peoplego into rhap- 27, 1779, 13 men were killed of (the) gar- Respectfully, sodies over Lydia Hollingsworth Wallis 'CatherineSmith was buried in the an rison. May 15, 1779,Gen. Hand arr'd with Gertrude Hellman Hill. and her sunken gardens and her solid silver cienr settler'sgraveyard at the corner of 100 men. In 1780 the garrison was 40 - 50 Regent,D. A. R. 26 T HE JO U R N A L 27

THE PETER H ERDIC CORNER Every businessman, every laboring man, I go for labor for the laborer, money and will reap benefits from the expenditure trade for the trader. business for the of a few thousanddollars, while everyprop- laxiuyerand "throw physic to the dogs. The Contest he is desirous to dispose of that it may erty holder will find his propertyof more S. G. MORRISON be improved,while manyof thosewho value, and his faxes lessened,for increasing The election, [o rake place to-day, will the value of landed property throughout doubtless be contested with more vigor oppose Mr. Hei:dic also hold a great deal Williamsporr, May 20, 1868. of property throughout the city, paying the city. and earnestnessthan any former election buclittle or no tax becauseit is not im- ~Editof's Note -- EvidelzELy Petal in the history of our young city, and upon Now. then. what is our interest? is Heroic an to M.avonin Ma], 1868, rhe result will very much depend our proved, but which is held and will be held for advance of price, to be made by taxing the only questionto be answered,if our against Willem F. Logan and was de- future prosperity. This contest is purely the improved property of our city. political principles are not involved, if feated. Refer }o tbe secalzdparagf Pb local, no political issue whatever is involv- our personal friendships or prejudices do of page29, VolumeX, No. 2, ot tbe ed, and therefore every voter should lay Now, the true policy is doubtlessthis, not control.what but our interests.indi His£ov&ca}ow#nal. Peter's sega M ] aside his political prejudices and look rhe anticipate revenue by borrowing money to vidually and collectively, should determine toi' ?nz.ayer{n Oc+aber, 1869, was true issue square in the face, and after be paid years after these vacant city lots our action. s,'..esse,E.) fully surveying the whole ground and shall be built upon, thereby extending and pondering rhe policy to be pursued by the increasing the bases of taxation, and there- one party and the omer, if successful,go by lessen our taxes instead of increasing [o the polls and deposit his vote free from them year after year gradually to maintain party trammels. this selfish and blind policy we have been HERD I C NAMED STEAM VALLEY I need but refer my fellow citizens to the pursuing; and if these selfish men will not fact char each party have combined in their put their vacantlots in marketat fair (from the Sw/z-Gaze//e of January 13 1923 ) prices,so they may becomeimproved and respective tickets, democrats, conservativ es and radicals, as proof that this is not bear their shareof taxation, then, I say, Interesting Information for "Get-Acquainted'' Tourists a political contest,buc a purely local ques- lec Mr. HEROIC have a chance to bring his lands into marker, than they may be tion, and thereforeventure to give my improved and contribute to the wealth of views upon Ehe policy to be pursued by the one party or the other permitted to our city, and divide the burdenof taxation control the affair:s of the city. with the olderimproved section of our city Dr. Logan is the candidate of the neg- ative and do nothing element of our city. Who doesnot know that hundreds of His administrationfor the past year as thousandsof dollars are now investedin well as his present position and profession unimprovedcity lots, that pay but a nom- clearly define him as a do nothing candi- inal [ax, and most of these vacant city date for Mayor; and his more prominent lots are held at from two to five thousand and leading supporters are men of wealth, dollars, and if built upon would be assessed and men who have becomewealthy by and pay their shareof tax, but now are the advance of pmpei:cy, but who now only taxed at one dollar imagine that their property cannot grow It must be concededby all trac the im- any more in value, and therefore oppose provement of streets, lanes and alleys are aJI improvement, because,as they suppose, neededand is of first considerationwith they are not to be benefited,which is a all who pmpose building in new parts very gross mistake, as we propose to show. of a town or city; gooddrainage is indis- M}. HERDIC is, as all know, a young pensablein order to dry and clean streets, enterprising, energetic man, who has proved while the public health,prosperity and himself by his wonderful success,to be as business very much depend upon the con- practical as he is energetic and enterprising; dition of the streets and avenues. 'Tis an and who will deny that to his enterprise and old 4xZzfm, "If a man wants to make mon- energy must be referred, in a very great ey he must go where money is spent; and degree, the prosperity and growth of our if we will venturenothing we will win young city. 'Tis true, he is the holder of nothing." Every dollar expendedin im- a large landed property, which now bear, provements in our city, benefits the whole, but lightly, the burdens of taxation, because not only by presentuse and increaseof it is comparatively unimproved, but which business but in future valuation. ROAD FOLLOWSOLD TRAIL 28 T H E JO U R N A L 29

Highway Now Concrete Paved trail. And ane of the best views can be neat little signs, such as 'Elbow Hollow, [n an issue of the Gaze//e aM B ZZe/f# for had of the mountain peaks fmm there. Brinker Hollow,' 'Miller's Hill,' 'Boyer's March 14, 1810, he advertised for sale Was OpenedOriginally by W'illiamson Looking back towards Trout Run one can Hlill,' 'Lover's Lane,' 'Beehive Mountain, over his own name 'a valuable farm on in 1792 see the new concrete road winding in and Reeder's Hollow Watering Tmugh,' and which he lives, situated on Lycoming Creek, out, but guessas you will, you can't figure many others 12 miles from Williamsport, containing 260 How the picturesque spot, Steam Val- out how you got up there. It's a mountain acres,between thirty and foi:ty of which The SteamValley post office was es- are cleared, with six acres of meadow, a l-ey, came by i-ts name, thru Peter H.erdic puzzle. When you motor out that way tablishedin 1872, and Henry Yoder was and come to this signboard,slop your car, thriving young orchard of apple trees, and and the Weeds;how the road thru the its first postmaster mountainswas opened up originally in gecout and Carrya while, and look about a nice peach orchard. A square log house 1792 by CharlesWilliamson and was known you enjoy the old orchard at -the side and kitchen, a good log barn, one of the Built by Charles Williamson (and is still known) as "The Williamson of .the road and the old slump fences, bestmill seatson LycomingCreek, on Trail"; how one may view "a mountain reminders of the long ago. They will take 'Die old road which you will pass over which there is a grist mill. In a word, the puzzle" and at the same time enjoy some you back to rhe days of the old pioneers. on -rhe 'Get-Acquainted Ti:ip ' was cut thru place is fit for almost any public business, of the finest mountain scenery in the United View the mountain ranges; look closely in 1792 by CharlesWilliamson and his as the Great Road (Williamson) leading States -- these are some of the things told and see how many deer you can count in men, on the way to GeneseeCounty, New [o the SCaLeof New York passesthru it. in the accompanying news articles by "Da- the nenby woods maybe a bear, or a York. At chattime he establisheda depot vid of Happy Valley," who- was "among few pheasantsand quail, and let the birds for provisions where the town of Trout The Signboard Party those present" when Charles H. Eldon sing for you. Take a big breath of fresh Run. now stands.By hard work, camping, air -- it's free. It's God's country -- Steam Those who accompanied Mr. Eldon on erected his much appreciated signboard at breaking up and working by slow s&lges, Wednesdayafternoon and took pai:t in the Steam Valley last Wednesday. Valley is. they succeeded in getting thru to what is now Blossburg.What has beenknown for unique ceremoniesof placing rhe signboard on top of Steam Valley Hill were Jacob PeterHerdic Did it a hundred and thirty years as the 'Block For "Get-Acquainted" Tourists Koch, who was state superintendent on House,' just across the Tioga County line, :How did Steam Valley get its name? Ehe construction of this new i:oad. Clifford David has gathered some interesting was built by Williamson as the first depot, In this valley, 'way back there, the Weeds after leavingTrout Run Landon, and 'David' of H.apps Valley.' facts which ''get-acquainted" tourists will and Peter Herdic erected ;the first 'steam do well [o readbefore joining the pilgrim- age to Wellsboi:o tomorrow. David writes mill ' in this country, and from that day A G.& B.Adin1810 [o this it has been Steam Valley. Peter On Wednesday afternoon last Chas. Herdic located there in 1846 and man- 'James Kyle was one of the first see- H. Eldon placed a neat signboard on the ufactured shingles. The fii:sE year he cleared ders along the old Williamson Trail. and SusquehannaTrail, out on the top of $740, and after he accumulated about made valuable improvements on his fai:m Steam Valley Hill,' with the following in- $2,500 he purchased a farm of 154 acres scription on it on Lycoming Creek and erected thereon a modest little house. In after years he came STEAM VALLEY to Williamspoi:t when this town had only 1,700 inhabitants. And he was one of the VILLAGESALONG THE OLD WILLIAM.SON TRAIL 1710 feet above sea level 1036 feet above Trout Run greatest hustlers and boosters the city has ever had. He gave Williamsport a start, BYDAVID 1182 feet above WilliamsporE and someof you other fellows are keeping ("David of Happy Valley '' was in reality Charles Logue.) Williainsport 528 feet above sea level it going. When you go up SteamValley 21 miles to Williamsporc W'ednesday on the 'Get-Acquainted Trip, (Presented and erected by Charles H. don't fail to look for the 'new signboard.' Just a shore distance above Newberg:y on from Colemarl's, ran the plant a shore Eldon, Williamsport, Pa.) Stop,get out and look down over the che SusquehannaTrail you will see a new time. Samuel Bayington then became les- valley far below. 'Twill pay you. church. It is called Heshbon. 'Way back see and operated it up to 1865, when The signboard is neatly painted and in 1825 Isaac Mckinney and his son, Wil- it was so badly damaged by the great flood liam, established a forge on this spot. In of that year that it never was repaired. varnished, made of the very bess lumber Road of Many Springs obtainable, and weather-proofed. It is pla- 1835 they built a furnace, and in 1841 The writer has spent considerable spat:e ced on a big open suecch, where all passing 'This ald road. Williamson Trail. was a rolling mill. Imn ore was brought from lime trying to find tracesof the old foun- by q4n see it. The direction to Williamspoi:t known in the pioneer days as the road of Center County by boats [o Jaysburg (now dations of this once busy industry, buc. all is plainly marked with a big red arrow. many springs.There was the One Mile Newberry) where it was unloaded and have disappeared Spring, the Two Mile Spring, the 'l-thee hauled to the furnace. Stoves were made View rhe Mountain Peaks Mile Spring, and so on. The writer would at the furnace for several years. Finally An Indian Village like to seethe beautiful roadway kept clear the founders failed and the creditors un- Steam Valley Hill is on one of the high- of advertising signs -- and would like [o dertookto run the plant, but the experiment A lirEle farther up Lycoining Creek est (if not the highest) points on the see the springs and hollows marked with did not prove successful. William Thomas, where Hepburnville now stands, we are 30 T H E JO U R N A L 31 told, in history, thad when the whites first Works. The plane was erected in 1840 On October 5, 1886, the City Council were valuable factors in the growth and entered the valley of Lycoming Creek they by Gervin B. Manley, Warren Edward, granted to A. A. Parker and his associates development of the community. found an Indian Village of some nice. and Charles G. Hellman. At first it con- a franchise to construct. maintain. and opel:ace a water works within the munici- In the late 1880'sand early 1890'sthe It was called Eeltown. It is occasionally sisted of bur one puddling furnace, one picture changed.The Florida Land Boom pality. mentioned in the Colonial Records by hearing furnace, six nail machines, and one faded away, the great yellow fever scare parties pursuing hostile Indians, but it train of rolls for makingbar iron. In The Orlando Water Company was in- kept people out ot Florida, and finally the does not clearly appear why it should have 1844 hlr. Manley retired, and the firm be- series ot freezes of 1893-1895 came. had such a peculiar name. Tradition says came C. G. Heylman and Brothel:. In corpomtedas of October20, 1886,with thad Newhaleeka.who traded the Great 1852 the former died, when the fii:m was A. A Parker, George W. Lentz, and Peter In 1888 Peter Herdic died. and in 1890 Island to William Dunn about 1769 foi: a Herdic as the incoi:poratoi:s. Actual con- reorganized with E. G. as chief. In 1853 structionbegan on March 18, 1887,and a receivership took over the plane which rifle and a keg of whiskey, once dwelt there, J. W. Heylmandisposed of his interestto now included 13 and one-half miles of and there was a cluster of cabins about his rhe original installationwas completedon H. D. Heylman, when the firm continued May 17, 1887.The constructorwas the wafer mains. The anesEedgrowth of the wigwam. It is alleged that there was good to 1857. Edward G. Heylman then pur- communityand the lack ot adequatere- fishing in the creek at that placeand that chased the interest of all the heirs and StandardLand Company,Limited, and was sources brought financial pmblems. The eels abounded. which caused the whites under rhe personal supervision of i«Ir. Her- became sole proprietor. In 1861 the works dic bondholders toi:eclosed the property and to name it Eeltown. The SheshequinPath were enlarged and their capacity incl:eas- burned it over to a new corporation, The debauchedfrom the hills through a ravine ed. The great flood of 186) did them The incorporators and their financial Orlando Water and SewerageCompany, its near this Indian village, and it was likely serious damage, but they were repaid:ed backerswere from Huntingdon and Wil- chargerbeing dated June 6, 1892. Mr. J. A. a place of some note with the aborigines. itnd put in operation again. Various liamsport, Pa. Beebei:, President of the First National Bank changes now took place, when on March of Williamsporr, i:epresenting the bond- Among the early settlers on the creek 1, 1876, Peres: Herdic became interested.+ The original plant consisted of: holders, was President; and Mr. J. M. Chen- may be mentioned James Thomson. He When he failed, they passed into the hands 2 Horizontal Return Flu Steam Boi- ey, an Orlando attorney, became Secretary- was there as daily as 1784. About 1820 of Han. R. J. C. Walker, who operated lers Treasurer and Managing Director:. Later:, he opened a hotel a mile below Cogan them for a short time. l William P. Beebei: succeeded his f athei: Station, which he conducted many yeah:s. 1,000,000 GPD Duplex i:eciprocat- Samuel Reed built a house on the site of The few little homesyou now seeleft ing steam pump in both of these positions, a relationship standing at Powys are all that are leff of 1 - 12 ft. by 125 ft. Steel Standpipe which continued until 1922 when the planes Hepburnville, about 1800, which stood were sold to the city of Orlando. until 1874. It n,as the only house then a once busy and -thriving industrial village. 7 miles of cast iron water mains 140 Customer Services betweenWilliamsporr and Trout Run. In #Another business to be added [o the linc To complete the early history: in 1900 1805he taughtschool at whatis now commencingon page20 of the LCHIS 50 Fire Hydrants the Orlando Water and Light Company Cogan Station, and it is said that he was was incorporated to -rake over the water JOURNAL Vol. X, No.2. The source of water was Lake Highland, the first teacher in the new township. plant and to build the elecri:icplant; to (E ofs Note -- Owr readers are ve at that time well outsidethe city limits of build an ice f actory .in 1903; and to ac- Years ago, where the village of Powys minded of tbe very tilde article o+l Orlando. In 1889. additional water mains quire the local gas plant in 1905. But thad now stands, (the site) was called "Cres- Tbe Williamson Raga;' b] Charles were laid to serve most of the well-settled is another story. cent." Here were locatedthe ''big" nail G. Webb, which c4pemed in tbe areas of OrlaLldo with a safe domestic sup- works of the old days, the CrescentIron JOURNAL Vo}. 1, No. 10.) ply and fire protection.The plant and ser- (Mr. D. A. Cheney,86, is President vices at once became a major factor in of the Orange County Historical So promoting the welfare, health, and growth ciety, Orlando, Florida. Foi: the past of Orlando. six or mole months he has headed a TH E ORLANDO WATER WORKS campaign to raise $200,000 foi: the A documentrelating to the quality of construction of a new museum for the Orlando water is dated June 28, 1888, By Mr. D. A. Cheney and entitled "A Scientific Examination of Orange County. In 1892, his father, John M. Cheney,then a yourlg attor- the Water Supplyof the City of Orlando, ney, was employed by the First Nat- Orlando was incorporated in 1875 as Water supply and fire protection were Florida." it is signed by N. Robinson, Pm- a village by a popular election in which early problems. Existing sources, mostly fessor of Natural Science,Rollins College, ional Bank of Williamspoi:t (Trus- 23 citizens cast their votes. In 1885 the tee for the bondholders) to take over shallow,open, and driven wells, were sub- and later ScareGeologist of Florida; and city of Orlando received a charter by ac- ject to soil pollution; and the health and it states, "The water examined was taken the operation of the wager company. tion of the legislatureof rhe skate of welfare of the community were concel:n- from a rap at Lawrence'sPharmacy and Mr. D. A. (heney has some records Florida. ed. There also was the matter of fire pro- far surpassesthat which most cities re- of those early years.) jection, which at that time was available ceive." The statement adds, "In absolute The Florida Land Boom of 1885 brought only by hand-pampers and hose reels draw- purity and freedom fmm all injurious or rapid growth and development [o this ing water from rhe local lakes and special area, largely based on citrus culture and a contaminating substances, the Orlando large open wells and cisrerns in the busi- walteris among chevery bessin the known tourist interest in this section of central ness districts. Florida. world." Such reports given wide publicity 32 T H E JO U R N A L THE CAR ba.b /.he UOSQU ITO VALLEY CHRON ICLE'S By Dr. Eugene P. Benin ''SI'RAIGI'lIT-LINE DR.IVE"

The Marble Quarry born of the boom in that industry. Some Sometime before 1870 the Mosquiito marble was dressedaround the quarry; Valley Mai:ble Company operated a flour- other pieces were hauled to stone cutters' ishing business.Evidently the quarry yield- yardsin Williamsportor sent even f archer ed a vast amount of marble suitable for away on flat freight cars from Duboistown building. Huge blocks of choice marble Admirers of Peter Herdic, ''rhe poor Dutch were hauled on wagon trains, drawn by farm boy," planned an heroic statue of this oxen hitched single file, for use in building great man by sculptor Wagner. The piece mansions and public buildings in the then was to be set up in Market Square.Tbe thriving lumber city of Will-iamsporr Im- Jay Cooke panic of 1873, however, inter- mense watering troughs, hewed from solid rupted the completion of this masterpiece. pine logs, and large salt boxes were built It also ended the Mosquito Valley Mar- at the confluence of Jack's Run and Mo- ble Company, and Thomas Smith's project- squito Creek to refresh the oxen during ed town of Canard,which was to rise at meir strenuoustrek to the city. Here the the sceneof the quarryand rival the mar- animals were watered and out-spanned for ble city of the same name in Italy. Had the a brief rest. quarry been able to continue as it began, Sculptors set up studios on the site of Canara might have supplanted Duboistown the quarry where they chiseled out statues as the center of population of public personalities and lumber barons

THE BLACKMARBLE QUARRY (.nom the SecolMGeological Swrve] ot PeunsTlualzia-- I'be Geologyot Llcoming /d S ZZ 4 Co iel by Andrew Sherwood and Franklin Platt, Harrisburg, 1880.)

Near the east end of the valley (the Middle bench, in regular layers Mosquito valley) a /Mar&Ze zraffy has from 2' to I ' (hick...... 20 0 been opened Lower bench. massive and hard. The rock is a black limestone; quarries buE no stone from it yet shipped, ...... 6 out in luge blocks and takes a handsome polish.It is reportedhowever not to stand exposure, but splinters up on weathering. Total) .....---''----- '-.-----..--- -. 3(r 0 THE This would render: it useless for any out- Thedip of theserocks is north,4 de- side work, buc might still leave it of value grees; the quarry is Zhou-ton the crest of for inside decorations. the anticlinal,and the dip is simplythe dying gently of that anticl.hal norrheast- When the quarry was examined (in wud. 1875), the works were in operation: they JOURNAL had I gangsaw,capacity 100 tiles per Of the above 36 feet of black marble diem; these tiles usually 12" x 12" x much proved shelly on quarrying, and split OFTHE into pieces; a considerable part however, 1": the tiles going to Philadelphia and the stone to Philadelphia or Washington. coming out in handsome blocks. It is reported to bum to an excellent Lycoming County Historical Society All of the marble is dark colored, very white lime. There are some curious soft slightly fossiliferous, regular in bedding and and ruben layers of stone lying between works easily. The quarry face is the firm and hard marblelayers, the VOLUME XI FALL Surface bench, in small layers, 1" to 2' underlying and overlying hard rocks being andup to 1', ...... 10' 0" perfect and unbroken so far as faced. NUMBER TWO 1975