Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-12-12
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the present time, not because we suppose them
ignorant Of the history Of the place. but merely
to contrast the past with the present state oi
things-to compare the solitude ofths forest tha,
once fssned over the surrounding country. with
the present business like air and busy hum OF
life that on all sides meet the eye. The follow.
ing we have collected from authentic sources,
In 1922 the house known a. the White Horse
tavern. was kept by Mr. John Pott, as a watering
place for the stages on the Sunbury road. Two
years Afterwards only. hve scattered honses were
to be found in fhs vicinity The ina.x Of mi.
ners and eapitalists, may be attributed 10 the
completion Of the Schuylkill navigation. in 1928,
BY which the old method Of carrying coal to mar.
ket 10 wagons. was entirely superseded and the
more expeditions conveyance o! canal boats a.
dopted.
Coal was known to abound in the county. 80
early a. 1890. but being entirely difTeren, from
the btuminous. the kind in common use among
blaeksmths, and being hard Of ignition it was
| deemed Of little use,-until about the year 17e5,
when blacksmith named whetstone. brough, it
into notice. by using il in his smi,bery. This
induced others TO search for coal, and when fourd
TO use il for fuel; but the difficulty was so crea,
that II was for awhile abandoned
About the year 1900. a Mr.. William Morris
procured some coal and took il to Philadelphia
but was unable to bring il into use From that
period until the year 1905. no other attempts
were made to nsei il. Shortly afterwards, in cut.
ting the tail race for the Valley Forge, On the
Sehuylkili. seam Of coal was found, which in.
dueee man BY the name of David Berlin, in the
neghborhood, to make trial Of IN he succeed.
ed, and from that period it began to be more and
more used, and is now almost entirely the only
article used a. . fuel. The final suecen in in.
Producing il into general use, formed an impor.
tant era in the history Of Pottsville. The canal
which was subsequently projected and compile.
ted, instead Of conveying the lumber Of sehuyl.
kill county, as was originally intended, was en-.
tirely snonopoli1ed by the coal trade-ths town
Of Pottsville was laid out, or rather several
towns, for each prominent adventurer had his a.
yosite loration.
We now have in our vicinity, Port Carbon,
Mount Carbon, Patterson, Middi.port, New Phi.
ladelphia, and Tuscerora, which were laid out
about the year 1928.
MrkEasviLLE 10 beautifully situated 4 miles
N. w. Of Pottsville, in = valley through which
meanders the western branch of the Srhnylkill
II contaias Touring mills. steam saw mills. foun.
drys, car manufacturer, three Or four neat rhGr-
shes, and about 5000 Inhabitants -, ,..
On the western branch of the Schuylkill. about
two miles west OF Mnersvill~, 10 the little vii
lags Of LEwELLYS, settled chiefly by hardy
we'shmen, as its name plainly indicates
On the same braneh. about three miles above
Minersville, is q little miners hamlet caiied
Coal CAsrLE. a, .st 1s-t t5tfais 5s#
New CASTLE. on the Sunbnry turnpike, WAS
laid out about the time the coal trade eomrt,en.
ced. The houses are substantially built Of stone.
It is thriving place.
ScauYLxiLL Hawk. 10 situated on the left
bank Of the river, four miles below potssvilie,
and Immediately below the junction Of the West
| Branch. II now contains some three Or fou,
churches, schools, 4 weigh lock for canal bo.t.
grist and saw mills, and two bridges across the
schaylkill, and 10 very Aourishing piaee---,he
population may be estimated al about 1900.
T.x.ou. wa. laid ON, in isao bv IN. s.h,vi.
kin Goa, and Navigation comn,nv on N. I'M.
sebuvlkiIl river. II mile. below il, inoe,i0n
with the main strean and IS miles east or Potts.
willie. II i, smart, active place. with som. ten
or dozen stores, several taverns, two churches.
ca. and coach rn.uufsr,ory and abou. 500 mia
bi.ants. who are an industrious and en,erprising
neonls ..H- rHI