Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-12-19


1t must be of more than passing inter-
to the people of Freeland and vicinity to
know what changes have taken place
in this neighborhood within less than an
ordinaray lifetime, and this fact induces
the writer to beg from you sufficient
space to give brief history of the rise
and progress of our flourishing borough
and its suburbs.
1t is unnecessary to say that fifty years
ago this neighborhood was almost in
that state in which the hand of the Crea-
tor left it, and where now we hear the
whistle of the locomotive and the rattle
of the railroad car, the silence was
broken only by the song of the bird or
the howl of the beasts. Where now the
broad street is, and stately building
stands, there was then only the lofty
pine and the sturdy oak. 1t is true that
there was some signs of the work of
man, but they were scattered, insignifi-
cant, and had been abandoned almost
entirely.
The records of Luzerne county show
that on the twenty y-ninth day of May,
1912, (now half century past), Joseph
Birkbeck bought from Joseph p. Leclerc
tract of land known as the Edward
Lynch tract and containing about four
hundred acres. From this period we
may begin to calculate the story of our
town.
Joseph Birkbeck was then a resident
Of Hazleton and was one of the first skill
led miners who came into this region.
The year previous, lS41, while spending
some time hunting in the then trackless
forest between Butler valley and White
Haven, he noticed that certain part of
it was well wooded, had plenty of water,
and apparently good soil.
Being anxious to quit working in the
mines he sought the owner and finally
purchased it, as before stated, paying for
it in silver. This land is the site of
Freeland, Woodside and South Heber-
ton.
To demonstrate the difference between
then and now it may not be amiss to say
that WilkesBarre was a two days jour
ney from Hazleton, while two hours
now conveniently covers the distance.
At that time the only buildings on the
tract consisted of a small log hut which
stood in the present park, near the old
spring. This was built by man named
John r. Dean and was used by him and
others as the headquarters of shinge
camp. There was also a small hut built
by man named Parks, who made bust
i'NSo VI ii'piS ouSoi, anu
who squatted here, as the northern part
of the tract was heavily timbered with
sugar naples. A small clearing of less
than two acres had also been made,
which extended from about the Birk-
beck brick building down to Washington
street.
In September, 1S42, Joseph Birkbeck
removed with his family from Hazleton
to his recently purchased land and be-
gan the erection of a log house near the
spot where the present old Birkbeck
house stands. This was an undertaking
different from building house today,
as the trees were growing around the
proposed home when the work was
started, and instead of a carload of saw
ed lumber to start with, it was necessary
to cut down the growing trees and start,
as it were, from q state of nature.
Teams to haul the logs were obtained
from the mining firm of Pardee, Miner
q Hunt, who were then working the
mines at Hazleton. The farmers of But
Ter valley, with their characteristic good
nature, turned out in great force and
helped to raise the building, which was
the first permanent dwelling ever erect
ed on the tract.
In order to understand the undertak-
ing of Mr.. Birkbeck in thus becoming a
pioneer, / may mention that from his
place to Hazleton there lived only one
family, the Fisher family, near Harleigh,
and the only neighbors were Hannah
KEEPER, two miles east, and the Krom-
mes family, at the head of Butler valley,
about the same distance west. Travel
lers and visitors were like angels visits
flew and far between"
The swift deer, the savage cstamount,
and the growing bear were seen far
more frequently than the human being.
During the winter of 1912 Birkbeck cut
down trees, split rails and in the spring
of 1S43 began clearing his land in
earnest.
About four hundred yards southwest
of the Birkbeck homestead Jacob Smith
built a house, but afterwards built an
other on top of the hill where he bought
a large tract (about thirty acres) from
Birkbeck. James Blair built near
where the Woodside breaker afterwards
stood, and Aaron Howey built on the
old White Haven and Butler valley
road.
These were the original settlers and a
very quiet time they had until the Jeddo
saw mill started and the Council Ridge
works began; but for long years after
wards this neighborhood retained its
almost primitive condition.
Aaron Howey began the sale of lots in
South Heberton about 1865, and though
several lots were sold and some houses
erected, it was not until 1870 that the
commencement of anything like the
present settlement really began.
In August, 1870, August Donop pur
chased from Joseph Birkbeck tract o
land which extended from the presen
Front street to the northern line of the
borough, and from Pine and Washing
ton streets on the east to the borough
line on the west. This he laid out il
borough lots and began the sale thereof
The public road from Drifton to King
er's store passed along the eastern bound
ary of this tract and through the lands o.
Joseph Birkbeck on the south.
Joseph Birkbeck began to sell lot
south of the Donop tract and the tow
soon began to assume something like it
present appearance. In 1876 borough