Catoctin clarion., 1916-01-20
Some Ancient History.
Likely Interesting To Many
of our present citizens

of our present citizens.
The following article was brought to US
this week for publication, the same hav-
ing been published THE CLARION almost
thirty-five years ago andwhile this paper
was published by the late CharlesE E. Cas-
sell. The letter contains very interesting
facts concerning the early history Of our
town, and should be read by every young
person now residing here. The letter Is
as follows:
EDITOR CLARION:-
"DEAR SIR:-I will attempt to relate
the history of that part of my life spent
in Mechanicstown, if it will be accepta-
BILE to you.
81 came to this town April /, 1881. 1t
then numbered about three hundred in
habitants and was very business place
for it's size. After / had lived here l8
months, bought town property, and
repaired it, with view of making this
my home, and on the 28th day of March,
1888, was married to the daughter of Mr..
Jacob Weller, B. S., by the Rev. Mr..
Reinecke, who afterward became Bishop.
We at once occupied our newly repaired
home and have been living in the same
house ever since. We have had seven
children born to US in this house, five
sons and two daughters, all of whom are
living and at this time they are living in
four different States of the Union.
"We celebrated the fftieth anniversary
of our marriage on the 28th day of this
month. On this date Mrs. S. will attain
her 10th birthday, and about six months
ago attained my 18th. Mrs. S. is the
Oldest original citizen Of the place.
"At the time l became citizen of this
place, there were no churches in town,
but one in the course of building the
United Brethren in Christ. Religious
services were held in the two school
houses. When an appointment was to
be made for service, the people were in
formed of it by the blowing of tin horn,
or the little children were sent around to
publish it. Those times we had no use
for street lamps, as we now have; the
streets were lit up at night from the
doors and windows of the mechanics
shops which made them very brilliant.
Most of the male inhabitants were me-
chanics of various branches of trade. |
will name some of them as they existed
here then.
besides seven leather tanneries in the
town and immediate vicinity, there were
two blacksmith shops, one of them very
extensive, deserving rather the name of
factory, as there were edge and a vari-
ETY. of other tools manufactured. there
was tilt hammer, grndstone, polishing
wheel and turning lathe. all propelled by
water power; one wool and cloth factory,
two shoemaker shops, three tailors, three
weavers, one gunsmith, one silversmith,
two wagon and coach shops, two mill
wrights, three cabinet maker and house
carpenter shops, one saddler. one halter,
one doctor, three stone and brick masons,
two stores, three hotels, and a match
factory. The boxes contained about Is
matches and were sold for l2a cents.
During those days there was great deal
of travel through here. The old settlers
with but few exceptions passed away
ANDREW SETON.
Of the seven childred spoken of in the
above article, Mrs. NJ M. Grouse, of
Thurmont, Mrs. 7. F. Bushong, Dayton,
Ohio, and Mr.. Geo. Brook Seton, Ander-
son, Indiana, are yet living, the latter,
being in very bad health. Word has been
received here that Mr. Seton was par
alyzed Monday, January 10th, it being
the second attack.
The house bought and repaired is that
now in possession of Mrs. Chas. Walter
on z. Main street.