The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-02-14
HARVEY 7 skIRS ARCHITECT
. 1921
Built House Destroyed by Fire at
Canaan Corners-Was Old Land
mark-Sketch BY Mrs. e. T.
Ames of Waymart.

The following article was taken
from the Carbondale Leader of Feb.
18th and will be of interest to many
Wayne county people:
In the destruction by fire of the
John William property at Canaan
Corners last Thursday afternoon,
February 6, the community also sus-
tains a loss in a interesting land
mark. This house was built by Har-
vey e. Perkins who came here from
Wallingford, Conn, in 1921. The
following year, he married Charlotte
Fobes, daughter of Squire Fobes, of
Old Canaan Corners. In 1923 he
built this house and moved into it,
residing there his lifetime. In the
construction he used $4,000 feet of
panel pine lumber.
Mr.. Perkins was one of the most
skillful artificers in Wayne county.
He learned his trade in Connecticut
under the old apprentice system of
seven years.
1t is to be regretted that this old
landmark which was a fine example
of the New England colonial style of
architecture and the last one remain
ing in Canaan township of his work.
manship, should be destroyed. The
farm houses of Charles Cortright and
Henry Ames, built by him, having
also been consumed by fire. There
are a few houses yet remaining in
Waymart village notably: the hotel
and residence of Mr.. and Mrs. l.. G.
Dimock and the one occupied by his
son, George e. Perkins, all construct
ed by this old-time architect and
finished workman. The Leonard
IL =, 0Ao1 A1A
sight of the Patterson house, one
of the largest structures built by
him in our village was also Destroy
ed by fire many years ago.
1t is only recently that the old
Alex. McMullen homestead at Far
view, fine large structure erected
by Mr.. Perkins, was torn down on
account of it's obstructing the view
of the new hospital for criminal in
asne, and being an encumbrance to
the State grounds.
The type of houses of which we
are speaking, represent a far differ
ent kind of workmanship compared
| to the style of the present day. All
of the work of construction was done
| by hand, even to the doors, windows
and blinds. Too much praise cannot
| D6 given 10 the uOueSI
| ing skill of these mechanics of the
old school. Any of these structures,
with timely use of paint and occas-
ional repairs would last for centur-
| les.
1t is to be hoped that the struct-
ures remaining will escape the flames
| for each one is in way monument
| to its builder and contains in it
self enduring evidence of conscient-
ious workmanship.
His only surviving son, George e.
Perkins, is an esteemed and repre-
sentative resident of Waymart.
Harvey E. Perkins built the old
Methodist Episcopal church in
Honesdale; also the first frame
house and a hotel on the Aitken
corner in Carbondale.
1t seems fitting, at this time to
pay tribute to the father-in-law or
our subject: John Fobes, Esq, came
to this county also from Connecticut
/ in 1908 and settled at Old Canaan
Corners. He filled the office of JUS
tice of the Peace for thirty-seven
years. He owned the present Albert
Weed farm together with 500 acres
which he bought from Lord and Lady
Putnam and paid three dollars and
fifty cents per acre, in it's wild state.
Squire Fobes built one mile Of
the Belmont and Eastern turnpike
and three miles of the Milford and
Owego turnpike.