The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-07-20
JOHN OF LANCAS TER
Describes Visit to 0rangeviIIe. Columbia
County.

The following interesting account
is taken from the Eoening Neaos, of
Williamsport
Six miles north of Bloomsburg, Co
lumbia county, Pa, in the fertile val |
ley of Fishingcreek, lies the little vii
lage of Orangeville. 1t is reached by
the Bloomsburg & Sullivan Railroad,
which runs from the county seat to
Jamison City Connection is made |
at Orangeville with the Central Penn
sylvania and Western Railroad, which
runs from Watsontown, distance of
2o miles. The name, Orangeville,
was given to the settlement by emf
grants from Orange county, New
York, and Orange, New Jersey. Fish
ingcreek valley is noted for its beau.
ty and the production of luxuriant
crops and the thrift of its farmers is
evidenced by their we'll kept fields,
handsome homes, and large and well
filled barns. The village, which con-
tains about 500 inhabitants, although
not Incorporated, is recognized as the
capitol OF Orange township. Adven-
turers, history informs us, drifted into
this lovely valley as early as 1880, but
it was not until 1922 that the town
was laid out by Clemuel G.. Ricketts,.
He was a man OF taste and culture
and gave to the little village of his
founding some prominence by the
of Of tray
the east. He was also the father of
Col. w. w. Ricketts,, who entered the
army in 1861, and came home in
1862, and died at his fathers house
here in the 26th year of his age and
of Colonel r. Bruce Ricketts,, who
greatly distinguished himself as COM
mander of the famous battery bearing
his name at the battle Of Gettysburg.
The run of 90 miles across the
q intry, from Watsontown to Orange
Vile, is of more than ordinary inter
est at this season of the year. Sew
eral villages are passed, the most in
teresting of which is Millville, situated
on Little Flshingcreek. A settlement
was made here as early as I774 by
John Ewes, a Quaker, from Delaware.
He bought I,2oo acres of land, pay
therefore bI45. The day after the
battle of Wyoming, in 1878, he left
with his family and did not return un-
I'll after the close of the revolution.
He is the ancestor OF the numerous
Ewes family. A Friends meeting
house was built here as early as 1875;
and Greenwood Seminary was found
ed in 1852, and incorporated in 1861.
Millville is now pretty village of be-
tween 500 and Coo inhabitants, and
is a place of considerable industrial
activity.
The party making this journey
across the country was composed oi
7. M. M. Gernerd, the we'll known
antiquarian, of Muncy, the writer ant
w. Field Shay, Esq, of Watsontown
Mr.. Shay, to be exact, had charge o
the party, and as he was familiar witt
the country, pointed out every place
of note. The railroad was. opened il
1886. Mr.. Shay was one of the act
i've parties engaged IN securing tn
right of way, and much talk and per
suasion, and few lawsuits, were in
volved before the shril whistle of tn
locomotive awoke the echoes OF tn
Fishingcreek hills. The road ha
struggled along, gaining strength fror
year to year, and is now doing fairl
good business. Mr.. S. B. Haupt i
the manager, with c. d. Berger a
superintendent. The Offices are a
Watsontown. In making this &c
mile run you start in Northumberlan
county, pass through the northern pal
of Montour, and finally land in Co
umbla. While near Turbotville tn
train skins along the edge of that MAJ
nihcent section of country SWAMI
and cuts through the rocky Fishing
creek hills.
Orangevile has churches, stores,
few small industries, and one or tw
hotels Being SO near Bloomsbur
the county seat, it is naturally With
the shadow of that place, which is Il
logical objective point for trade
we'll as justice. Bloomsbury state
men, however, are seldom seen in Il
village. This is remarkable, when Il
beauty, fertility and historic associ
tions of this magnificent valley a
considered BY rail it is only abo
90 miles to Jamison City, and Il
prosperous village of Benton is abo
six miles up the stream.
Like nearly all rural towns, Orane
vile has an oracle. His name