The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-05-09
AN HISTORIC TOWN.
A 8aronial Hall, an Indian Fort, and Other
Ancient Buildings Among the Attractions.

On the aoth of April last bust.
ness engagement called the writer to
Johnstown, New York. Leaving
Bloomsburg at Io:4S in the morning
that place was reached after a ride OF
twelve hours, and by changing cars at
Scranton, Blnghamton, Utica, and
Fonda. 1t was after 10 o'clock at
night when the brakeman called out
81 "Johnstown," and with one fellow
passenger we started to walk towards
the business center, there being no
vehicles of any kind in sight. Arriv-
ing at what was said to be the best
hotel in the town, we found Its name
to be the "Sir William Johnson" and
after getting good nights rest, in a
very comfortable room, we made
some inquiries next morning about
why the hotel was so named, and the
question opened up a subject on
which every resident of Johnstown
likes to talk. Sir William Johnson
is the real thing up there. He was
"it' when he was alive. Just along
side of the hotel is an old brick
building with cupola on top, and a
marble slab on the wall which states
that it was built in 1872. 1t was
erected by Sir William, and he pre-
sided there as dispenser of Justice.
Since his time the voices of Alex.
ander Hamilton, Aaron Burr and
other eminent men were heard in a
professional capacity. 1t is SAID to
be the Oldest court house in the Uni
ted States, and is very well preserved.
Near this is the site of the first free
school in New York, established by
Sir William in 1864. There is an old
Masonic lodge building erected in
1894, and an old academy built in
1898. A Jail built In 1872 still
stands, and is yet used as the Fulton
county prison. 1t was both a civil
and military prison during the Revo-
lutlonary war. we got in, but had
no difficulty in getting out, using the
door as means of egress. Any pris-
oner would find that it is Just as i'm
possible to break out of this venerable
old prison, as it would be to get out
OF modern fortress. 1t has its dark
cells, rings and chains on the floor.
and triple CRATES at the windows. 1t
is excel.ently preserved, and as neat
as PIN. Some piles of cannon balls
are placed on the lawn in front, and
our curiosity led us to ask some ques-
tlons about them, but this would not
be interesting to all of our readers.
They were not interesting to us after
We found they were not relics of the
past, but just ordinary, plain, every
day cannon balls.
One of the places of greatest inter-
est Is Johnson Hall, built iu 1862 by
Sir William. 1t is said to be the only
Baronlal mansion now standing in this
country. A stone fort about forty
feet square Still stands near the Hall.
There were originally two of them.
Thursday is visitors day, but through
the kindness of Mr.. w. w. Wood
who lives in the Hall, we were per-
mltted TO enter and were very court
eously shown through the building.
The front door opens into a wide re.
ceptlon hall, on one side of which is
a large apartment now used as a par
lor. On the other side are living
rooms. Up stairs is the chamber
where in 1866 was instituted St. Pat.
rlcks Lodge, F. & A. NJ, of which
Sir William was the Master. On the
mahogany stair rail are marks made
by the tomahawk of the Indian Chief
Brant, from top to bottom, about a
loot apart. A circular presented us
says:
"As to what moved Brant to these
acts of vandalism, there are conflict
ing traditions; one is that he left the
marks for sign to the Indians not
20 bum the house; and another that.
assembled IN the upper hall with
rlendly Indians, and hearing of the
of a company OF militia, he
eft in haste and rage, inficting the