Friday, November 28, 2008

Back to Tour

At the lower end of Franklin street lived Daniel White who had a blacksmith and wheelwright shop, and a large apple orchard. Lute Moore had a blacksmith shop between Franklin and Main (on) South Franklin street extended no farther down than South street at that time. Going up street on the left was, first, Mr. Oliver, a carpenter and builder, then M. Ehrett, then Mrs. Whitney’s, next an apple orchard, then Rev. John Dorrance with a large family of boys and girls. Mr. Dorrance was a presbyterian minister and Mrs. Dorrance was very kind to little boys. On the corner was a little one story school house where Miss Jane Miner taught three generations of children. On the right-hand side going up from South was, first, a Mr. Long, the a Mr. Dook??., a cattle driver. Next came Daddy Lynde,, a jeweler who had a sundial in his front yard. Then from their to Northampton street was a meadow lot where the boys used to chase meadow larks and hunt robelinks’ nests. Where the Presbyterian church now stands was a vacant lot. Then the Presbyterian church was where the Osterhaut library now is. Next a Mr. Miner, who was a stone mason, then a Mr. Lynch who was cashier of the old Wyoming Bank, then Volney Maxwell, a lawyer, then St. Stephen’s Episcopal church. R. B. Claxton was the rector. Mrs. Norton came next then Oristus Collins, a lawyer, then Sinton and Tracy’s corner with two little offices, next to Collins’ alley, occupied by jeweler Lynde and S. Butler as a book store. Sinton and Tracy kept a store on the corner many years and were said to be Philadelphia Quakers, who gave full measure and honest weight in everything they sold.

On the right hand side of Franklin from Northampton were the Misses Dupey, two French Indies, then G. W. Woodward’s then Steuben Butler’s, then the house L. D. Shoemaker lived many years. It was occupied by a Mr. Biddle from Philadelphia who was then identified with the rolling mill at South Wilkes-Barre. On the corner of Laning’s alley was a printing office. About this time the building on the corner where N. Butler had his hardware store so long was built by G. M. Hollenback. Continuing up Franklin street on the corner was Lamb’s drug store, then C. Gildersleeves residence, then an orchard then a little house occuoied by a Mr. Fell who was in the prothonatary’s office many years. Then Mrs. Yarrington, then Mrs. Emley. If recollection is correct Tinner Williams lived on the southwest corner. On the corner of Franklin and Market was Jacob Dennis’s hotel then Wm Woods a merchant then Dr. Laird then Dr. Wright who was most of his time in the army, then Samuel Collings, an editor who died abroadwhile Minister to Morocco. On the corner lived Andrew Beaumont who was a prominent Democratic politician and representative in those days. On the opposite corner lived a Mr. Lloyd. On the east corner lived a Mr. Leclere a French gentlemen. Across the canal and continuimg up Franklin street there were only three or four houses. Those of Harry Wilson, a blacksmith; Charley Morgan was the shoe and hardware man, and Mr. McAlpin, are all that are remembered.