The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-06-20

1t is always pleasant 10 return TO the
scenes Of ones childhood. A visit to the
haunts Of ones early life cannot fail to re-
call Incidents and to bring to mind people
who perhaps may not have been thought OF
for years. Twenty-seven years ago last
March the family OF the writer eft their old
home in Towanda, and jourueyed down
the river to Bloomsbury. The household
goods were loaded on canal boat In the
5usquehanna River, which flows just in
front of the old homestead, thence down
the North Branch canal TO their destina-
tion. The family went by stagolto Troy,
and thence by the Northern Central rail-
road TO Bloomsbury. The Lehigh Val
ley was not yet constructed, and Towands
was isolated from the outer world, 80 far
as steam travel was concerned. The near
est railroad was the Erie at Waverly, twen-
ty miles away. In those days packet
boat ran daily between Towanda and Ath-
ems, and well remember what treat 1t
was to be permitted to ride up to the first
lock, about a mile above town, and then
walk back.
The progress OF the times and the on
ward rush OF modern improvements have
robbed Towanda of one OF its greatest
beauties. The charming pool Of water
formed by the dam was pleasing to the eye,
attractive for boating and fi,hing in sum-
mer, and skating in winter. Water street
was then one Of the most desirable resi-
dence streets In town, but after the con-
struction OF the railroad and The conse-
quent abandonment of the canal, the. dam
was permitted to go to pieces, and the river
has lost all Its charms.
Towanda is about the size Of Blooms
burg. 1t is picturesquely located, much
of the town being upon side hill. There
are many,beatiful residences, and numerous
charming drives. Main street is well paw.
ed, and the town is illuminated with elec-
trio lights. Among the prominent busi-
ness industries are the Hawes Toy factory
and the boot and shoe factory of Humprey
Bros. & Tracy. At the latter place are en-
poyed about rs hands, men, boys, and
girls, and it is most interesting thing to
go through the shops and see the operation
OF making shoe, from the cutting OF the
leather in the proper shapes for soles and
uppers, through every stage TO the polish
ing of the heels. This business has grown
from small beginning. 1t is within the
recollection of the writer that the father Of
Humphrey Bros. conducted factory
where boots and shoes were made by hand
by half dozen workmen, and his estab-
lishment was looked upon as one of the
leading industries of the town. This firm
is known all through the country, and
their goods are sold everywhere.
OF course there are many other industries
in the town but we did not have time 10
visit them.
Twenty seven years has wrought many
changes, Most of the business places have
gone into new hands, and very many Of
the old homesteads that we knew in our
boyhood's days, and whose cordial hospi.
tality we have often enjoyed, have passed
into possession of strangers. One beauti'
full old mansion on the hill is now a con
vent, and another is tenement house
They were once the homes of two Of the
most prominent families Of the town, The
signs on the stores are new to us, the faces
we meet are unknown, though many oi
them may be the children OF our playmstes.
But there 10 one spot where we find
familiar names. They are engraved upor
| the, tombstones in Riverside Cemetery
A visit to this beautiful spot recalled many
| scenes aud incidents and faces that hat
been long forgotten. Here in this greer
mound lies the body of a soldier who wal
one Of the first 10 give his life for his coun
| try, in the rebellion. His shattered re
mans were brought from the battle field
| and buried with the honors OF war, tn,
first military funeral that had ever beer
held in TowandI. But all around ar,
graves about which cluster memories o
the past, enough to fill volume were l Il
write them all.
Towanda is blessed with four excellen
newspapers, the Argus, the r; ;.porter-Jomnal
the Republican, and the Rerie,o. Editor
Parsons and Turner were school mates o
the writer, when we all went to the publi
school then taught by w. 7. Davies, nov
Lieutenant Governor of the state. TIL
old school house still stands, but it is nov
used as blacksmith shop or a stable, l an
not sure which. It's place has been sup
piled by three large brick structures
where the schools under the direction o
Prof. Benedict have attained a very hig
standard of excellence.
| Though my interests now are elsewhere
among the most pleasant episodes of m
life are the occasional visits to the tow
and among the people Of my birth place.
| Il.