The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-25
TOWN TOPICS.

TIL" proposed removal or destruction
oi two old buildings of carbondale. the
Lindsay 4 Early foundry ana the OLD
rink on South Main street, the former
q landmark of the town. recalls the
history of both Of these places. which
is of interest and which you can hear
discussed here and there about town.
The Tribune has related the history
of the Lindsay & Early plant. which.
giving way to the march of progress.
is about to be dsinantled. 1t was in
the sos. long before Carbondale be-
came Il city. when the little log cabin.
the tirsi house in Carbondale. was only
"A few years old. that the Lindsay Il
early foundry was first built. 1t was
used first as a grist mill and later
converted into Il stove foundry. The
spirit of competition was not rife in
the prosperous days of this concern.
ana there was no need of extensive
improvements or even additions.
So, today the buildings which are
now disinteeratng and falling into
ruins, are almost the same as the%
We're Il half century or more ago. The
work of demolishing what remains OF
the old plant will be a light task. for
or late months. the greatest watch
fulncss had to be employed the nights
the cupola was fired. as the Gecaying
tin,bers of the foundry building were
like tindcr and the least overheatng
meant q blaze. During the summer
months the hose companies We're called
out at regular intervals to stay the
flames that threatened an end to the
,lH 1n n,lp ri. l,rf
ready to end the last chapter of lis
history.
An important historical incident OF
interest linked With the old foundry is
the use OF the boiler of the first loco
motive run in America. the "Stonr-
bridge lion" which made its initial "Trip
between HOnesdalc and carbondale.
stuart Il MITCHELL the former the
father Of city Solicitor Stuart. the lat.
ter. Andrew Mitchell who survives
and is Il prominent resident of Carbon
dale. We're the predecessors of Lind
say Il EARLY. They acquired possess
sion of the old boiler after tho famous
locomotive was abandoned and dis
nantled 1t did service. for some time.
hut when Mr.. Early came INTO the
firm the boiler was found to be inade-
uuatc and it was replaced. AT present
it is IN Washington. in the Smithson-
ian institute, as IA loaned exhibit. il
still being owned by Lindsay 4 EARLY.
The old rink. which will soon dis
appear, was erected about fifteen years
ago, when the roller skating craze Was
at its height. The whole country was
swept by this fad. and its devotees
could be counted by the thousands
carbondale was among the places thus
afflicted, and to meet the popular de-
mand the rink Was built.
1t wasn't but Il few years until Skat-
ing began to be abused as L pastime
and was attended by numerous evils.
This caused 1t to he banished as n
pleasure, with denunciations of all
sorts hcaped upon IL. The big rink
here, though i, was probably protitabln
while the craze had hold of the people,
proved as big an elephant on the hands
of the owners as did the Tackawanna.
ana Arcadian rinks in Scranton, the
former of which is now an immense
wagon and blaclsmithing shop: the
latter, II botlling works.
AT this time. the rink began it's
changeful career. Amusements OF
various SORTS followed in the wake Of
roller skating Foot races. walking
matches and other athletic contests
We're introduced, but the ventures We're
not nearly so successful as hoped for.
This lead 10 til" abandonment of the
hall ov rink part of the building, save
for its occupancy by an athletic club.
composed of young men of the town.
showed sporting tendencies.
Th" owners, 10 rccoup themselves,
| altered the front of the building, ar
| ranged tor several small stores, but