Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-11-30

SUSBURy,-The editor of tho Danville Infeiii-
goneer recently paid our town a visit, and thus
speaks of it in the last issue Of his paper t
"Whie stopping for few hours in Sunbury, a
few days since, embraced the occasion TO take a
stroll through the town and examine its most stri-
king features Sunbury is an ancient settlement.
1t was, we believe laid out under the direction Of
the Penn family, under the Proprietary grant, as
one of the "Manor towns" 1t is finely situated,
just below the confluence of the North and West
branches of the Susquehanna, and at the outlet Of
the Shamokin valley. So finely situated the place
should have increased rapidly in size and popula-
ton. But 1t failed to keep pace with its sister
| towns if we except the "ancient seat of Northum
berland." In fact for many years the town seemed
TO have chronic disposition to stand sti if not to
retrograde. But since the opening of the Northern
Central Railroad, and the opening of the coal fields
in the Shamokin valley, it has received an impetus
that is sure in the future, to make Sunbury one OF
the most prosperous towns In the interior OF the
State. AT the present time it needs considerable
shaping up 10 come under the name of II handsome
place, make it very attractive in appearance. 1t
is spread too much territory, giving it srag-
Cling look and the main street or commons, face
tiously, doubt, dubbed by the residents "squarc
is wide that it dwarfs in appearance, the houses
built on either side of it. If this space was fenced
in and laid out in grass plots and planted with
shrubbcry it would not only bcautify the locality
but do away that dwarfsh appearance of the houses
alluded to. Among other Improvements noticed
n new Hail. built by the Masonic fraternity also n
splendid looking building erected at out Of the
way place the river. 10 be used both as bank
and as place of residence of the President of the
institution. We did not have access to the interior
of this building, but judging from the exterior, it
must be eaborately finished. This building, for
beauty of outline, architectural proportion, and
chasc ornamcntation, we think, cannot well be sur
passed But that which principally attracts the eye
of the stranger is the new Court House. This mas
sive strusture faces Market Square and is of impo
sing appearance when viewed from the front, or
with the eye directed toward the north west angle.
The county offices located in the basement Of the
building, and alongside of them roomy fire proof
chambers, wherein are securely kept the Public
Records. Above these is the Court room, of ample
dimensions with lofty ccling. The Judges
Bench is surmountcd with n crimson canopy and the
upper pnrt of the windows drapcd with the same
kind of material that which hangs the Judges
seat. The Bar have plenty of room for their accom-
modation, while the lobby and gallery of sufi-
cient capacity to seat any ordinary number Of per-
sons that may attend Court About the time this
Court House was being built, VIC frequently heard
denunciation from the tax payers of that county, at
the uselessness of building new Court House.
Now that is built but few can be found who would
. bo willing to exchange it for the old one, even
though it might possibly put few dollars in their
pockets.
There are other features about Sunbury worthy
of mention, particularly that part called Cake 5
Addition where the Pha & Erie r. Il. Go. have
built their shops. We had not the time to pay it Il
visit ~