The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-03-03
Original.
History of Columbia County.
NUMBER IX

Inc borough Ol Berwick Is an old place
1t was originally settled by Evan Owen il
1888. 1t is built Oh bluff on the right
bank of the Susquehanna, on the eastern
boundary of the county, on the very line Of
Luzerne It's twelve miles east from Blooms
burg. The Methodists, Baptists and Pres.
byterians have large congregations and COM
modious houses for public worship There
is a fine Odd Fellows hall and a large pub.
lie school house. There are three or foui
hotels and several extensive dry-goods stores
| a large foundry and car mandatory and
rolling mill are carried on by Jackson &
| Woodn.
The North Branch Canal and the Lacka-
wanna & Bloomsbury railroad pass along
the foot of the bluff upon which the town is
built 1t is the terminus of a turnpike, IA
nous in its day, passing through Bradford
| county to Newtown, in New York Here
also the Nescopeck turnpike, leading to
Mauch Chunk, terminates. There is also a
substantial bridge crossing the Susquehanna.
1t was erected by THEODORE Burr and COM
pleted in 1918, at cost of about $4,000
The length is 1860 feet 1t was carried
away by treshet in 1896. Tn 1887 it was
rebuilt at a cost of about S27 800, by Edison
and Millard
The population of Berwick is now about
one thousand,
There has always been a good deal OF
trouble to procure water and the Berwick
Water Works are the institution in the place
in which every body is interested. There is
great deal of trade and travel in and
through Berwick. The country about it is
rich and fertile, and thickly settled.
In size and importance, however, it has
not fulfilled the promise of its earlier years,
although it had and now has many intelli-
gent business men amongst its citizens. A
possible change in the location of the rail
road, putting it back of the town instead of
under the bluff, would tend to increase the
population and the borough; and the grow
ing wealth of the place is showing itself in
such blocks of buildings as Morrison T..
Jackson Esq, has lately erected for bank,
stores, offices and other much needed places
of business. The First National Bank of
Berwick is doing large and healthy and
satisfactory business.
In connection with this sketch of Ber-
wick, the steamboat disaster may be fitting
conclusion. Since III the Susquehanna
river has been, by act of Assembly, public
highway. But steamboat navigation has
been and always will be impossible, owing
20 its rapid current and shallow water, and
also because it is, as its name indicates, the
'crooked river" or more correctly, "rhe
river of the winding shore" Notwithstand-
ing the difficulties mentioned, several at
tempts have been made to plow its waters
In the year 1926 Captain Elger, in the ''Co.
dorus," proceeded as far as Binghamton, and
returned to York Haven, pronouncing against
the practicablity of the navigation of the
river.
The next attempt was by a steamboat
built at Baltimore, and named tho "Susque-
hanna," commanded by Captain Collins
She drew twenty-five inches of water, and
of course proceeded with great difficulty
But all along the river the boat was cheered
by multitudes Of people who turned out to
see, or enjoy a ride upon her decks. At
Danville Catawissa and Bloomsburg acces-
sions of excursionists were received, and all
went merry as n marriage bell.
They reached Nescopeck Falls, opposite
Berwick, on the afternoon of May Sd, 1926,
The banks were crowded with spectators,
and with full head of steam "The Susque-
hanna" made for the falls, About the mid
die of the ascent she struck rock and I'M
mediately her boiler burst with an explosion
which sent thrill of terror to all who heard
it, The passengers and crew were dead or
dyingupon deck or floating mangled or scald-
ed upon the foaming waters. Instantly the