The Brief History of Shickshinny
Continued (page 2)
The Shickshinny Tube works were organized with Millard Tubbs, President, N.B. Crary, Vice President. In 1884, the Shickshinny Water Company was organized with the following officers: President - G.W. Search, Secretary - M.B.Hughes, Treasurer - Jesse Beadle. Silk Mills were at different times an industry of Shickshinny. I believe the last to have this industry was Mr. Kersettler.
Just below town, in the early days, was a colliery and breaker called Beach Mines, from the owner Nathan Beach of Beach Grove, Salem Township, which was diagonally across the river from the the Mocanaqua Mines.
Mocanaqua mines were also owned by Nathan Beach of Beach Grove (Mr. Beach erected and lived in the house now owned by Mr. David Rosser). Mr. Beach sold the Mocanaqua "Coal Beds" to Crary and Hart of Philadelphia (hence the early name of Hartville instead of the present one - Mocanaqua. Carey and Hart sold to the Duponts, they then to Major Charles Conyngham and Co of Wilkes Barre, they to Simpson and Watkins of Scranton and they to the Dicksons of Scranton and New York. The Mocanaqua Mines were first opened by the Duponts, which brought to Shickshinny many interesting people and skilled surveyors. Jedidiah Irish from Pottsville was one. The Brooks, relatives of the Duponts and a Thomas Teilly, a wonderful mining engineer, a most distinguished man of Philadelphia, and a warm friend always of my mother and father.
The mines on the Shickshinny side were opened by Nathan Breach. His grandson, Dr. Darwin Crary in 1840 invented the first inclined chute that had been used in the coal industry, sending the coal down from the mountains by this chute. The coal was then loaded in "Arks" on the canal for shipments to Philadelphia and elsewhere. The next one to operate these Shickshinny or Rocky Run Mines was Nathan Beach Crary in 1858. He was a grandson of Nathan Beach. Later, Mr. Crary leased to Jessie Beadle these mines for a short period. In1865, Mr. Crary sold them to Stackhouse and Weir. In 1866, they were owned by Cyrus and John Stackhouse which became under them "The Salem Coal Co", and finally ownership vested in E.S. Stackhouse, the present owner. Thus, through the years, the history of the ownership of the Shickshinny mines is briefly: 1st... Nathan Beach's mines with Dr. E. Darwin Crary and Nathan Crary operating. 2nd... Salem Coal Co (Cyrus and John Stackhouse) and 3rd... and last E.S. Stackhouse.
Another place of interest for Shickshinny, historically as well as locally, is the "Fire Tower". This is to be the second highest point in this section of Pennsylvania and has an altitude of over 900 ft above sea level. Historically, this land was sold to Nathan Beach by Robert Morris, the financier of the American Revolution. Mr. Crary's daughters sold this land some time after their father's death. Shickshinny had three bridges across the Susquehanna to Mocanaqua. In 1859, the first toll bridge, followed by the second toll bridge (both of them covered wooden ones), and now the present beautiful concrete free bridge, the product of the State and County.
The first hotel was conducted by Mr. Tubbs of Bloomsburg at a very early date in the town's history, it was located at a point wee up Union St. Through the years other hotels: Yaples, Simpsons, Stackhouse, Hooper and at the present time one conducted by Mr. Arthur Norman.
Shickshinny has always been intensely patriotic, responding with eagerness to all appeals. In the Civil War and the Great War (WW1) Shickshinny's men, women and children gave of their time, strength and means. During the World War, Martha L. Crary was appointed chairman by the Wyoming Valley Chapter Red Cross for this loyalty. The rally of all the people, even far back in the country, was most beautiful to see. The amount of work done, the zealous loyalty and devotion to duty, has been entered in the records of the organization.
Sarah W. Crary was chairman of the Liberty-loans and again the people of Shickshinny and others elsewhere, showed their patriotism and devotion to a great cause to the one in charge. Natalie Beach Crary had charge of the overseas correspondence, to put friends on this side in touch with those in the war zone. Much helpfulness was given and much appreciation of the wives and parents expressed for the location of their sons and husbands.
At the close of the war, before the dismantling of Hog Island, a very interesting event took place to the interest of Shickshinny. A number of Merchant Marines ships were built and launched and given Indian names by Mrs. Woodrow Wilson. She was a descendant of Pocahontas thus her interest in Indian names . The first vessel launched was sponsored by Mr. Woodrow Wilson, the second just a year later,
The steamship "Shickshinny" was sponsored by Natalie B. Carry on August 5, 1919 - at Hog Island, PA. The Chamber of Commerce of Shickshinny felt that a daughter of one of the founders should be a sponsor. By vote, this official body, Natalie Crary, was the one chosen. Steamship Shickshinny is still on the high seas, its sponsor secures a knowledge of its goings and comings.
An interesting incident happened at Steamship Shickshinny's christening. Natalie Crary took a bottle of lovely mountain water with which to christen the boat, for we are decidedly people of temperate principal. She was instructed at Hog Island that the sailors were superstitious. They felt that the liquid must be champagne, so that was used. Now for the incident: We as a family have always been taught that our mouths must be tightly closed physically always and mentally only occasionally (just enough to relax). I erred from this accepted rule of the Crary family. As my sister gave the ship a tremendous whack with the champagne bottle (I was closer to her and looking up) I was conscious of a very pungent taste on my mouth which must have been some escaped champagne -my first and last taste.
The organization of the Visiting Nurse, its faithful officers and workers or an account of its good work can not be given justice in this brief record of the History of Shickshinny. Suffice to say that each one individually and collectively deserves every praise for her devotion and work. More the pity that the Visiting Nurse has been compelled to end its career through lack of means. Again, it should be said that Shickshinny has always had an intense love of good, love of home and love of country. May she ever be guided aright to always defend the Constitution from enemies. Gladstone in our day made expression that "the American Constitution is the greatest instrument ever".
The love of the beautiful has always been a marked characteristic of Shickshinny, whether in music, art or in the expression given in homes. May I turn a little prophetic and prophesy that this wonderful organization, the Rotary, will advance in thought in three ways that will be to the advantage of Shickshinny:
1. Some means to create a civic pride to prevent the throwing about of papers, etc. on the streets, for Shickshinny is a very beautiful place and could be made outstanding in that respect with a little care. Perhaps the school children need directing in this.
2. To remedy the making the creek, a place for refuse which during torrid weather and the drought season is a menace to the health of the community.
3. To utilize the park of two acres given to the borough by the late N.B. Crary for the benefit of the community..
This gift was accepted by council of Shickshinny but the details were not completed until after the death of Mr. Crary. The papers were lost by council and the daughters of Mr. Crary, at considerable expense to themselves, finished the transaction and succeeded in having new papers made and signed to carry out the wishes of their father. Nor many small towns have such an advantageous situation as this part with its river frontage and beautiful trees and adjoining an athletic field for sports, etc.
I will here print a direct quote from the speech in 1963: "And so in the loom of the years the pattern of life continues to take form and shape. You citizens of Shickshinny do well to celebrate this hundred and fiftieth anniversary. Those who are unconcerned about the past have but little vision. In the warp and woof of the traditional past the shuttle of the present moves back and force, weaving the pattern of the future. In the crucially fateful years that lie ahead for the Republic, God grant we do not weave a shoddy cloth but one worthy of our noble ancestors. "
In conclusion, many people at different times have spoken of the kindliness of the people of Shickshinny, their keen sympathy, helpfulness where needed, generosity and many more virtues. It is to be hoped that these ideals may continue throughout the pages of time and that our thought of God, Home and Country shall be the watchwords inscribed in all our domestic pursuits on our trade, our commerce, out politics and our pleasures!
Bibliography:
Oscar Jule Harvey -" A History of Wyoming Valley"
Sarah Wood Crary's Speech to the Rotary Club of Shickshinny in 1920's
(decendant of Nathan Beach)
150 Anniversary compilation-Wyoming Valley Historical Society
Transcribed by: Lisa Owens 1996
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