Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-11-04
Correspondence Of tie LewbburS Chronicle.
BLocK-HoUsE DELL,
V:Sr NJ n. OK, ,Eo 7


Liberty Tp., Tioga Co., Oct. 1888.
About 3 o'clock, P. NJ, we started
again from Trout Run, with load of seven
passengers only and stouter apparatus,
animate and inanimate, to persuade US on
ward. You are aware that this is a very
billy road, one mountain requiring nearly
two miles to ascend Trout Run is pri-
mitive retreat for fish, beasts, and men
portions of it seem as though the sun could
not visit it till noon-silence profound, and
solitude almost eterual-ouly two houses
in ten or q dozen miles. But about 8 of
. starlight evening, over the remains of
10 or II inch snow almost fit fer slcighing,
We pulled up for the night.
"Block Hauss" (or log House, settle
ment, was made prominent point for
travellers, about the end of the last centu-
~, in consequence of the opening of this
route for travel by Mr.. Williamson, agent
of Sir VIM. Putney, who owned lands in
the Chemung region Of New York. A
road from the West Branch By Lycoming
Greek, Trout Run, and Tioga River, to
the Chemung. greatly facilitates travel be-
tween the West Branch and the Gcnesee
and Lake country.
The original proprietor Of the Block
House Hotel, aud the sole settler for miles
around, was named Anthonyson. He was
of Germanic origin, but more French than
German, as he was engaged in some cf the
earlier horrors of the French Revolution.
By his own accounts, he had be1n guilty
of almost every crime forbidden by laws
human and divine and very many believed
him to have not added the guilt Of false
hood to bis other enormities when boasting
of them. As his large block tenement
was the only building in this region-lo-
Gated in a small fiatt near branch of
Pine Creek-travelers were forced to seek
his hospitality, or 60 much farther or per-
haps far worse For time, be had no
provender, but charged for the use of bis
trough, and of his FIRE. There was large
vindfall Of trees near his place, into which
we're said to be blind paths, where the
cattle Of emigrants often strayed, and from
which they never strayed back. Ia the
morning, the anxious and often poor own
er would seek for his cattle, far and wide;
Day but an Their search h~saa'Ta vas III sRs,'ss
An,honyson never led them to the windfall.
They would at last, after paying land
some sum for their accommodations, pass
on to their destination, promising him
handsome compensation if he should ever
find aud lie, them know of their los. cattle.
But be never had occasion TO trouble them
with letters. Soon after, however, he
would have good luck in hunting, and his
smoke-house was fragrant with elk meat.
The horns and hide of this enormous spe-
cies Of game, he always declared we're too
heavy for him to bring in; and by some
accident they we're never found, nor were
any other hunters sharers Of his success in
elk hunting. Such is the tradition; and
men passing this route have sometimes
disappeared quite as mysteriously. "Old
Anthonyson" has also disappeared, some
say he removed to parts unknown. He
has doubtless ere this gone to his long ac
count; the county is now dotted will
small towns all around his solitary block
house; there are now nearly 400 taxablc'
in the township, Yankees and German, VIII
find q good soil with good culture; an'
the old block house itself has been raze'
to the ground, and neat and well-appoin
ted and weil-provisioned and exceedingl.
vell.kept "hostelrie" is now maintaine
upon its site by Mr. J. Fl. Woodruff.
This (Liberty) township, three mile
from this centre, was for long time til
residence of the gifted and amiable Mr'
Lydia Jane Pierson. She came from Cor
necticut when but young girl, and wit
few subsequent advantages has acquired
good reputation as writer of poetry, {
general literature, and also Of agricultur,
Her domestic privations and requirement
have been very great, and would have sui
dued almost any other person. But wit
true womanly devotion, she persevere
against every trial, and has reared fam
ly, and achieved herself reputation mo-
desirable. The farm upon which ST
lived was not remarkably fertile, but h
garden and her fruit were the admiratio
Of every visiter. Last spring, she remove
to Adrian, Michigan.
BLossBuRG, Oct. 26.
This town is the highest "point" on Il
Ticga, to which the Railroad to Corniu
(at the m,uth of the Tioga River, in Ne
York; has been built. The people are e:
ceediDgly anxious to have Road fro
here to Trout Run, but preliminary su
reys are said to pronounce it imp.actibl
The Blossburgians now look for Railroa