Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-08-07
EVENING Chat

Il u
Announcement that the citizens OF
Wormleysburg, Harrisburgs just
across the river little neighbor, plan to
celebrate the centennial of the found
ing of the town next year, calls TO
mind the fact that the borough at the
bridge end and its neighbors of New
Cumberland, Shiremanstown and West
Fairview, were all laid out about the
same time. Wormleysburg, probably
because of the restricted areas upon
which 1t stands, has remained the
smallest of the West Shore boroughs
but since it assumed its borough
clothes, few years ago, 1t has been
stirring. 1t owes it's names to John
Wormley, who owned most of the
land now built UP and who was one OF
the prominent men of this section
Several members of the family have
achieved fame in the fields of medicine.
chemistry, education and theology
and they are far better known In the
big cities than they are about here
John Wormley laid out the town in
1915. About that time the Harris
burg bridge, the original "camelback,
was being completed, and the new
town began where Bridgeport, which
was the hotel and few houses at the
end of the bridge, began. 1t has al
ways been a question which was old
est-Bridgeport or Wormleysburg But
Bridgeport has passed away and
Wormleysburg is thriving. The reason
for Wormleysburg, was that place
was needed along the river right op-
posite Harrisburg, and where people
could rest on their trips from White
Hill end Camp Hill, which antedate
Harrisburg. Camp Hill was an Indian
Agency before the revolution, and
White Hill, which Is now chiefly sta
ton and name, was a settlement on
the farm of Robert Whitehill. New
Cumberland is older than Wormleys-
burg, having been laid out in 1910 by
Jacob NJ. Haldeman, and West Fair
view dates from 1915, so that 1t and
Wormleysburg can unite. West Fair
view was the site of forge over 100
years ago, but Abraham Neidigh laid
out the town about the same time that
John Wormley got busy further down
the river. Shiremanstown can be said
to date from about 1913, as the first
houses We're erected in what is now
the town in 1913 or 1914.
OF the West Shore towns however
New Cumberland has the most inter
esting history. 1t is closely identified
with the history of the Haldemar
family, prominent hereabouts before
the revolution. Tradition has it thai
the Shawnee Indians had a village al
the mouth of the Yellow Breeches
| just another clan had its village al
the mouth of the Conodoguinet. Early
Indian traders had regular trading
places there and John Harris did busi'
ness with the Indians from that Sec
ton soon after he came here 200 years
ago, while Peter Charter mentions
the place. Mr.. Haldeman had his iron
works at New Cumberland, and In
1910 laid out the town, although there
were a number of houses grouped in
the present limits of the borough
long before 1900.
Attorney Charles c. Stroh, member
of the Dauphin County Bar and one
of the principal chorister guests al
Muzzle Club banquets, observed to-day
! that he has had this on his mind fol
some days, ever since the European
war news began to black-type the
front pages of the newspapers:
Now I've noticed such expressions
as brink of war; verge of war; 'clasf
of the great armies of the world bat
tie of the nations, wars of the world,
etc, figuring quite frequently" sale
Mr.. Stroh, lin the local and metro
politan headlines, but there Is ont
other original expression that has beer
woefully neglected, it seems to me-"
And that is-?" began a listener
bleathlessly.
LET Loose the Dogs of War!
Why-eh, why has this been except
ed?" demanded the attorney.
! People who have noticed the scaf
folding erected around the flag pole or
the south wing of the State Capito
were puzzled to find out why thu
pole had to be renewed. It happens
that the pole was struck by lightning
on Sunday evening and considerabl!
damaged. The bolt struck the toI
right at the cap and for five feet tht
pole was splintered, grooves being Gu
in for the remainder of the staff. Tht
force of carpenters at the Capitol will
place a new cap and about five feet o.
pole on top of the old pole. The mer
working $50 feet in the air attracted
much attention to Capitol Hill to
| day.
The striking of this pole was ont
of the few times that the State Hous,
has been struck by lightning. Three
or four times have been recorded, oni
being in 1908 when lightning hit the
gilded figure at the top and ripped of
the gilt for several feet. Another boil
hit the part called a lantern, imme
diately below the gilded figure tive
years ago.