Columbia County PA Archives History.....BATTLE, 1887: CHAPTER 6: History of Bloomsburg
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  HISTORY OF BLOOMSBURG
  From "The History of Columbia and Mountour Counties"
  Battle, 1887
  Chapter VI. (pages 151-184)
  
  Chapter VI
  Bloomsburg
  
      The observer, standing on the Rupert hills and looking up the valley of the northeast
  branch of the Susquehanna, beholds a scene spread out before him which rivals in quiet
  beauty the most famous landscapes in the country. There is not in the distant profile of the
  Knob mountain, nor the less regular contour of the river hills, that aspect of grandeur
  presented by elevations of greater magnitude, but their proportions, and the general
  characteristics of the valley they enclose, harmonize perfectly at that point in the eastern
  horizon where they seem to converge. The town of Berwick is scarcely distinguishable in the
  diminishing prospective. At this point, also, the river comes within range of vision,
  apparently widening in its downward progress. The one street of the village of Espy is
  clearly distinguished from its situation in a notch at the foot of the hills. Bloomsburg is
  less distinct, and presents the appearance of a terraced grove, but this impression is
  dispelled by the spires and cupolas which rise above the surrounding verdure. The hills in
  the rear have been deeply serrated in the mining of iron ore; and this, with the columns of
  smoke and vapor which ascend on either side of the town, indicates one phase of the
  industrial character of the people. The winding channel of Fishing creek, for several miles
  from its mouth, and the village of Rupert form the foreground of this landscape view. Its
  aspect as a whole cannot fail to impress the beholder favorably.
  
      It is possible that more than a century ago the first settlers looked upon this valley
  with feelings of equal pleasure as far as the effect of natural scenery was concerned. The
  primeval forest had not yet disappeared before the encroachments of advancing civilization.
  A swamp extended from Fishing creek for several miles to the east, and while this may have
  caused grave apprehensions as to the healthfulness of the region, its luxuriant vegetation
  did not mar the beauty of the landscape. A number of islands in the creek, and the waterfowl
  wont to congregate there, may have attracted attention. The ceaseless plash of the river, the
  cautious movements of the deer as they brushed through this undergrowth, the stealthy tread
  of the savage or his shrill whoop and its answering echo--such sounds as these broke the
  stillness which seemed to pervade everything. From an economic standpoint circumstances were
  not altogether favorable. The soil gave promise of great fertility, but years of labor would
  be required to bring it to a condition of tolerable productiveness with the rude implements
  of the period. The region was remote from any market for its products, and the broad channel
  of the Susquehanna was the only available highway of travel. When James McCLURE, in the year
  of 1772, looked upon this as the region of his future home, it is possible that while he
  realized its advantages, he was also cognizant of the danger of thus living at such a
  distance from the limits of civilization and in a country as yet unmarked by its influence.
  
      Some facts regarding his previous history may indicate the motives of his immigration.
  James McCLURE was of Scotch-Irish descent, and a resident of that part of Lancaster county
  then known as the Paxton district, but included since 1785 in Dauphin county. He was
  connected, by marriage, with Captain Lazarus STEWART, and with George ESPY, the proprietor
  of Espytown. It cannot be definitely determined whether he took an active part in those
  exploits which have made the "Paxton Rangers" such conspicuous characters in the colonial
  border annals, or whether he remained unmoved by those outrages which incited his neighbors
  to armed hostility in defiance of the proprietary government. That he was in active sympathy
  with his brother-in-law, Captain STEWART, when the latter espoused the defense of the
  Connecticut colony at Wyoming, seems evident from certain statements in a letter from Fort
  Augusta, by the military representative of the Penns, from which it appears, that, on
  Wednesday, May 10, 1769, James McCLURE, with several others, was encamped at the mouth of
  Fishing creek, en route for Wyoming. It is not further stated whether he reached Wyoming or
  not; but it seems probable that, for political reasons, his residence in Lancaster county
  was no longer agreeable, and that when a number of families from Paxton removed to Hanover
  township, in Wyoming, he went no farther than the mouth of Fishing creek, still, however,
  within the nominal boundaries of the "Town of Westmoreland." The tract upon which he located
  was surveyed in June, 1769, for Francis STEWART, who conferred upon it the name of
  "Beauchamp." It was patented for Mr. McCLURE, in 1772, under the name of "McCLURE's Choice,"
  and here, in a rude log cabin, James McCLURE, Jr., was born, in 1774, this being the first
  birth of a white child within the forks of the Susquehanna.
  
      The McCLUREs were not the only settlers in this part of Wyoming township for any length
  of time. In the year of their arrival, 1772, Evan OWEN and John DOAN became their neighbors.
  They came from Chester county, with the intention of forming, at the mouth of Fishing creek,
  a community in which their faith should predominate, as it subsequently did at Catawissa.
  Evan OWEN lived south of a small stream which flowed through the town of Bloomsburg, and
  near its source, John DOAN's land adjoined the McCLURE tract. Samuel BOONE, also a member of
  the Society of Friends, emigrated from Exeter township, Northampton county, in 1775, and
  secured the title to four hundred acres of land, including the farm owned by one of his
  descendants. His land comprised the "Point" between the river and the creek, and extended
  along the banks of both. From all the evidence obtainable on this subject, it would appear
  that but three other families, the CLAYTONS, COOPERS and KINNEYs, lived within the present
  limits of Bloomsburg, before the war of the revolution. Thomas CLAYTON was a Quaker from
  Chester county; KINNEY was from New Jersey; nothing is known concerning the COOPERS, except
  a tragic incident in connection with the Indian troubles. And thus, in the interval of
  comparative quiet which followed the French war, civilization was extended to this county.
  But before the settlement had experienced the first severity of the next struggle, the death
  of James McCLURE, Sr., deprived it of one of those most capable of acting in its defense. In
  abetting the schemes of Lazarus STEWERT, the apparent disloyalty to his state was a
  vigorous, but palliative, remonstrance against the vacillation of the authorities in
  providing for the defense of Paxton; as a member of the committee of safety for Wyoming
  township, in 1776, he was equally vigorous in advocating measures for the protection of the
  settlements, although in the preceding year Colonel PLUNKETT had passed up the river with an
  armed force, and repassed the McCLURE plantation in hasty retreat, after an unsuccessful
  attempt to reduce Wyoming.
  
      His family did not remain at their home long after his death. Among the victims of the
  Wyoming massacre, July 3, 1778, was Capt. Lazarus STEWART. With the assistance of friends
  his wife collected her household goods upon a raft supported by two canoes, and thus
  descended the Susquehanna with her family. Alarmed by her story of danger and desolation,
  Mrs. McCLURE collected her family and embarked in a similar craft. The reached Lancaster
  county in safety, and remained until the close of the war permitted a return to their
  respective homes. In the meantime Fort McCLURE was built, consisting of a row of palisades
  around her house, for the double purpose of protecting it and affording a safe retreat for
  the neighbors in case of emergency. It is probable that during Mrs. McCLURE's absence it was
  occupied by Major Moses Van CAMPEN, who had married her daughter. The site of the fort is now
  marked by a dwelling-house on the farm of Douglas HUGHES.
  
      An incident illustrative of certain phases of frontier life occurred during the last
  years of the war. Robert LYON, a soldier at Fort Augusta, was sent from that place to
  Wyoming with a boat load of stores. He ran his canoe aground at the mouth of Fishing creek,
  and, leaving his dog and gun in it, started on to visit his affianced bride, the daughter of
  a Mr. COOPER. His movements were observed by SHENAP, an Indian chief, and in his defense less
  condition, he was easily captured and taken to Niagra. Here he was released through the
  mediations of a British officer, who, by a singular coincidence, was his brother. The fate
  of Mr. COOPER was less fortunate. The mysterious disappearance of LYON made him an object of
  suspicion. He was arrested and placed in a canoe to be taken to Sunbury jail. A rifle
  belonging to one of the posse was dropped into the river by some accident, and he was
  accused of having thrown it overboard. In the altercation which followed, one of the men
  seized a tomahawk and buried it in his skull. He lived about twenty days, and expired in
  prison before LYON's return had established his innocence.
  
      When the peace of 1783 finally relieved the valley of the "North Branch" of the
  harassing experiences of the five preceding years, immigration was again directed to this
  county, but the lower valley of Fishing creek did not immediately receive an increase of
  population. Thomas CLAYTON removed to Catawissa, and Evan OWEN to Berwick, of which he was
  the founder. This would seem to indicate that other localities were considered preferable.
  There were still occasional additions to the community, however. About 1783 Elisha BARTON
  became a neighbor of the McCLUREs and BOONEs. He was born in Virginia in 1742, from whence
  with his father he went to New Jersey. After his marriage, in 1766, he removed to
  Northampton county, and after a second marriage, he again changed his residence, emigrating
  this time to "Shamokin," by which name a large section of country including this county was
  popularly known. He built the "white" mill, owned a large farm west of Bloomsburg, became
  justice of the peace, and was one of the most substantial citizens of this locality. Joseph
  B. LONG, a Jersey emigrant, bought OWEN's land upon his departure, and in 1795 he was
  succeeded in its possession by Ludwig EYER, a native of Northampton county. In 1801 Joseph
  HENDERSHOTT and Andrew SCHOOLEY bought a tract of several hundred acres adjoining the river
  and east of the KINNEY farm. They settled here the previous year, having previously lived at
  Belvidere, N. J. Mr. SCHOOLEY disposed of his interest to Simon WIRTMAN, a native of Germany,
  a few years afterward. Jacob WANICH also of German descent but a native of North Carolina,
  settled west of HENDERSHOTT some time prior to 1809. And at this time the present limits of
  Bloomsburg had became quite as thickly settled as any other part of the surrounding region.
  
      Apparently dissatisfied with the slow increased of population, and doubtless intending
  to give a new impetus to settlement and improvement, Ludwig EYER laid out the town of
  Bloomsburg in 1802, thus following the example of Evan OWEN at Berwick, William HUGHES at
  Catawissa, Christian KRENCHEL at Mifflinburg, and George ESPY at "Liberty." Bloomsburg, at
  the time, had no existence except in the mind of its projector, if two buildings--the
  Protestant Episcopal Church and John CHAMBERLAIN's hotel at the corner of Second street and
  MILLER's alley--may be excepted. There was also a deserted hovel with log chimney and
  clapboard roof on the south side of Second street below Market. Within few years after the
  town was laid out, George VANCE, a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian from New Jersey, built a cabin
  on the south side of Main street, the location of which was nearly identical with the
  terminus of East street at the place. Abram GROTZ removed from Easton in 1806, and built the
  house occupied by C. C. MARR, at the southeast corner of Second and Iron streets. Christopher
  KAHLER and John COLEMAN had formerly been neighbors of GROTZ in Easton, and no doubt followed
  him on the strength of his representations. The former arrived in 1807; Coleman lived for two
  years in the tumble-down log house previously mentioned, and then removed from this temporary
  habitation to a more pretentious residence on the corner of Center and Third streets. With
  seeds brought from his former home he planted an orchard, which covered the square of which
  his buildings occupied a part. In 1809 Philip MEHRLING, a native Hessian, opened a store in
  a house which adjoined the Central hotel. Daniel SNYDER, formerly a resident in the Lehigh
  valley near Allentown, removed to the village in 1810, and bought the land adjoining EYER'S
  town plat from John VANCE. And thus, by successive immigration from various parts of the
  country, Bloomsburg had become an incipient village; and in 1814 the population was
  distributed as follows: Henry WEAVER lived in a one and one-half story log house on Front
  street between Market and West; George FREY lived on the south side of the same street near
  its intersection with West; at the forks, on the south side of Second street, was a
  one-story log dwelling owned and occupied by Daniel SNYDER; Abram GROTZ conducted his
  business as a hatter at the southwest corner of Second and Iron; a frame house on the east
  side of the Central hotel was occupied by Christopher KAHLER; John CHAMBERLAIN lived in a
  frame dwelling on the site of MOYER's drug store; John HAGENBUCH's log house was situated
  opposite KAHLER's; Mrs. MOOMEY resided in a frame building at the southeast corner of Second
  and Jefferson; a log house, at the northeast corner of Center and Second, was occupied by
  ____ FISHER; John HESS lived in the one other house on the north side of Second street at
  the location of Dr. McKELVEY's residence; Caleb HOPKINS' house was on East street below
  Third, and James THORTON lived in the red building still standing on the same side of that
  street.
  
      John CHAMBERLAIN was a tavern-keeper at the time when every guest was expected to spend
  at least sixpence at the bar for the privilege of passing the night with such comforts as
  the bare floor of the public room afforded. His establishment was a two-story frame building
  at the northwest corner of Second and Center streets. Casper CHRISMAN is remembered as the
  jovial host at a less pretentious building erected in 1810, which occupied the same site as
  its modern successor, the Exchange. Conrad HESS was the proprietor of a public house on
  Second street, below Jefferson. The original predecessor of the Central hotel was a log
  building erected in 1818 by Philip HEHRLING, who lost his life by an accident in the
  progress of the work. About the year 1825, Daniel SNYDER built the "Forks" hotel. The public
  house at this period was an important social institution, not always possessing those
  attributes usually ascribed to it at the present day.
  
      Philip MEHRLING was the first merchant in Bloomsburg, and was a man of some wealth,
  judging by the standard of that day. A Mr. BISHOP opened a store in 1810 at the northwest
  corner of Second and Center streets. John BARTON was also a merchant about this time.
  William McKELVEY opened the largest mercantile establishment the village had yet known in
  1816, and during the sixty years following was prominently identified with the business
  interests of the place. In 1835 John MOYER, with a capital of one hundred dollars,
  inaugurated the drug business, which has steadily expanded to its present proportions. EYER
  & HEFLEY was the caption of a well known business house from 1835 to 1845. In 1843 the
  business career of I. W. HARTMAN was begun in the old Arcade building.
  
      Local manufacturers at an early period in the history of the town comprehended the shops
  of such mechanics--blacksmiths, weavers, carpenters, etc.--as formed the usual features of
  country villages at that time. Industrial enterprises of greater importance were the
  tanneries and wagon factory. Daniel SNYDER came to Bloomsburg with the express purpose of
  establishing a tannery, but found himself so seriously embarrassed financially after
  purchasing land, that he was on the point of relinquishing the idea. Fortunately for the
  prospective enterprise, Mrs. SNYDER was able to sell several pounds of butter every week;
  and taking a roll of some size he bartered it at the store for a shovel, and was thus
  enabled to begin the work of digging the vats. Philip CHRISTMAN's tannery was situated in
  front of a stone building still standing on Third street. William ROBISON was afterward
  proprietor. Sometime in the year 1816, a stranger came into the village and remained over
  night at a hotel. Strangers at this time so rarely appeared as to be regarded as objects of
  curiosity, as well as suspicion. Inquiry elicited from him the fact that he was a Yankee,
  and a wagon-maker by trade. When the landlord suggested that he should stay and make him a
  wagon he was repeatedly refused the use of such tools as were needed by the different
  carpenters of the town, so great was the prejudice against New Englanders. Finally, William
  SLOAN agreed to give him a bench. He obtained seasoned wood from fences on neighboring
  farms, and in due time the first one-horse wagon that ever appeared in Bloomsburg was driven
  through its streets by the proprietor of the inn, to whom it gave abundant satisfaction. Mr.
  SLOAN at once incorporated the manufacture of wagons with the business and established an
  industry of some importance, considering the size of the town and the extent of its
  resources. He would send salesmen with a dozen or more "dearborns" into adjoining counties,
  and thus "Eyerstaedtel" became better known as the location of this factory than from
  anything else connected with it. About the year 1832, it was proposed to begin the
  manufacture of plows, with John K. GROTZ as managing partner of this branch of the business.
  Accordingly, he made a journey to Lewistown, Mifflin county, the nearest location of a plow
  factory. The proprietors refused to sell patterns, but he bought a plow by strategy and
  started for home with his load on one of the famous dearborns. At Swiesfordtown, Union
  county, he sold the wagon. In this dilemma, he extemporized a sled by fastening the root of
  a sapling beneath the plow point, and thus traversed a distance of forty miles in one day.
  It does not appear that the plow factory prospered as Mr. GROTZ's efforts made it deserving.
  In this connection, it should be mentioned that about the year 1832 John WHITENIGHT built a
  Union canal-boat on his lot in West Bloomsburg. It was sixty-nine feet long and eight feet
  wide. It was hauled to the "deep hole" in Fishing creek, floated to Northumberland, and
  there launched in the canal. The following year, John BARTON and Isaac GREEN built a similar
  craft at the "ark" building and named it the "Water Witch." Isaac D. GULICK was master or
  captain. It was also taken to Northumberland to be entered into the canal. This seems to
  have been the extent of boat-building in Bloomsburg; but before the canal was excavated,
  grain and produce were exported by means of arks--a variety of river craft usually seventy
  feet long and sixteen feet wide--the building of which constituted an important branch of
  industry. Samuel LUDWIG and George FREY are remembered as master builders. The ark building
  was situated on Fishing creek, and the different stages of the work were as follows: The
  "stringle" was laid flat upon the ground and the bottom boards affixed thereto with wooden
  pins three-fourths of an inch in diameter. It required a force of thirty men to raise the
  bottom platform to a vertical position, when it was allowed to fall upon ground prepared for
  the purpose; the sides were secured by means of mortises, an About the year 1838 the culture
  of the silk-worm was agitated in many parts of this country. Among those who conceived the
  idea that golden possibilities could be realized were Robert CATHCART and William G. HURLEY
  of Bloomsburg. An orchard of the morus multicaulis, or Chinese mulberry was planted on the
  north side of First street. The cocoonery was reported as in active operation in 1841; and
  about this time it seems to have lapsed into desuetude.
  
      The importance of Bloomsburg as an inland town increased as the settlement of the
  surrounding region became more compact, and the efforts of its citizens were directed toward
  improving its business facilities and extending its manufacturing interests. In 1838 the
  population slightly exceeded three hundred. In the size and appearance of the houses, there
  was a marked improvement over those first erected, many of which had been replaced by more
  substantial structures of brick and stone. McKELVEY's store and dwelling at the southeast
  corner of Second and Market streets, the Forks hotel, William ROBISON's hotel, Thomas
  WITLIT's, John R. MOYER's, and Reverend George C. DRAKE's residences were built of brick.
  Market street extended from First to Third, and at either end a building fronted the open
  avenue while the Forks hotel was similarly situated with reference to Second street. It
  verily appeared as though it was meant to circumscribe the growth of the town, by thus
  closing all the streets except such as were absolutely necessary for ingress and egress. If
  productive of no other benefit, this arrangement prevented to some extent that straggling
  appearance by which country villages are wont to apologize for being such; but the time had
  arrived when Bloomsburg should pass that period of its history forever.
  
      In the year 1822 a laborer in a field on the Montour ridge noticed a peculiar color in
  the ground he was plowing. He called the attention of his employer to this, and, when
  assayed, it was found that the soil contained an appreciable proportion of iron ore. Drift
  mining was at once begun, but for some years the product was hauled to furnaces on the south
  side of the Susquehanna, thus depriving Bloomsburg of the advantage it should have derived
  from the mineral wealth in its vicinity. It was nearly twenty years before local enterprise
  realized that fact and acted upon it. June 22, 1839, "The Bloomsburg Rail-Road and Iron
  Company" was incorporated by the legislature. The leading capitalists were Joseph PAXTON,
  William McKELVEY, Edward MILLER, Thomas HAYES, Robert M. LEWIS, Ellis LEWIS, and Charles G.
  DONNELL. The country had not yet recovered from the financial stringency of 1838, and the
  furnaces were not completed until 1844. The rail-road connecting Irondale with the canal was
  the first work of this character in this country. Irondale furnaces have been supplied with
  ore from Hemlock township until recent years, when the supply has been drawn largely from
  Snyder county. The name of the company has been so changed as to exclude the word
  "Rail-Road." The management during the past third of a century has been directed by E. R.
  and Y. P. DENIKER, and the ownership of the plant continues with the original investors or
  their descendants.
  
      The discovery of ore on Montour ridge was followed by similar developments regarding the
  hills east of Fishing creek. Here, too, its existence was found out by a trivial
  circumstance. While plowing on the side of a hill deeply seamed with water-courses, Jacob
  MELICK allowed his plow to retain a uniform depth, and thus, when passing through a place
  where the surface soil had been washed away, he noticed, in the substratum, that peculiar
  color possessed by iron ore. December 27, 1852, an agreement was entered into by Mr. MELICK
  William McKELVEY and William NEAL, to erect and operate an anthracite furnace. April 1,
  1853, seventeen acres were purchased from Daniel SNYDER and Joseph W. HENDERSHOTT, and on
  the same day ground was broken for the contemplated works, which were completed and put in
  full blast, for the first time, April 14, 1854. In 1873 the firm name was changed from
  McKELVEY, NEAL & Co., to William NEAL & Sons, its present style. The furnaces have been
  continuously operated, except occasional short periods when suspended for repairs. Prior to
  January 1, 1875, the gross aggregate product was one-hundred and seventeen thousand,
  nine-hundred and sixty-eight tons--an average of one-thousand, eight-hundred and five tons
  per annum, which has been fully sustained since that time. Owing to the exhaustion of the
  ore deposits near Bloomsburg, the bloom furnaces are supplied mainly from mines in New
  Jersey. The transportation charges thus incurred are more than compensated by the advantage
  of a short transit from the anthracite coal region.
  
      While this branch of the manufacture of iron has become a permanent factor in promoting
  the growth of the town, the practicability of extending the industry in various directions
  has also been demonstrated. In 1863 Messrs. SAMPLE & TAYLOR established a machine-shop and
  foundry. In 1871 the capital was increased, facilities enlarged, and the manufacture of
  mine-cars begun by the "Columbia County Iron Manufacturing Company," successors to the
  gentlemen who established the business. The new firm became involved financially in 1873;
  the plant was sold by an assignee, and purchased by G. M. and J. K. LOCKARD, who had been
  foremen in the shops since they were first operated. In 1875 a part of their present
  quarters was first occupied, and in 1879 they became sole proprietors. In the same year a
  destructive fire destroyed a part of the works, causing a loss of many thousands of dollars.
  Within three months' time, the site of the burned buildings was occupied by others of
  improved appearance. The succeeding four years were the most profitable in the career of
  this establishment. Upward of four thousand railroad cars were built, and the volume of
  business annually exceeded a million of dollars. In 1870 S. M. HESS began the manufacture of
  car-wheels, iron fencing, etc., and still continues in this branch of industrial pursuit. In
  1875 HARMAN & HASSART inaugurated a business career which has now had an existence of more
  than one decade. The Eagle Iron Works have also become well known, through the energy of
  their proprietor, Mr. B. F. SHARPLESS.
  
      The origin of the carriage factory of M. C. SLOAN & Bro. has already been explained. The
  oldest establishment of the kind in this section of country, its management continues to
  retain that energy with which Major William SLOAN was wont to engage in everything he
  undertook.
  
      The Bloomsburg woolen mills were established in 1882 by S. A. CASWELL, M. E. CASWELL, H.
  C. CASWELL and H. C. HALFPENNY, and have been in successful operation since that time. The
  plant consists of a brick factory one-hundred and twenty-four feet by sixty-four feet,
  engine house, fourteen looms, and other apparatus of improved design. The value of the
  annual product has reached sixty-thousand dollars. The location of the mills is at the foot
  of West street, and was given as a bonus by D. J. WALLER, Sr.
  
      The Bloomsburg School Furnishing Company was incorporated July 17, 1885, "for the
  purpose of manufacturing school and church furniture, and doing general planing-mill,
  foundry and machine work." Among the projectors of this enterprise were C. W. MILLER, W. S.
  MOYER and J. C. BROWN.
  
      The Bloomsburg Planing and Cabinet Company succeeded November 1, 1886, to the plant of
  the Agricultural and Iron Works. Charles KRUG's planing-mills were first operated in 1880.
  Sashes, doors, frames, moldings, etc., constitute the product at these places.
  
      The industrial activity of Bloomsburg has resulted in great measure from the
  transportation facilities afforded by the canal and rail-roads. The former was opened in
  1831, and rapidly fulfilled the expectations of those who advocated state aid to public
  works. Its period of greatest usefulness to Bloomsburg was the decade immediately preceding
  the construction of the Lackawanna and Bloomsburg rail-road. This line of traffic was
  projected by citizens of Wilkesbarre, whose only way of reaching Philadelphia was the
  circuitous route via Scranton and New York. It was originally intended that Rupert should be
  the western terminus of the line, as the connection at this point with the Catawissa
  rail-road effected the main objects of the projectors. January 1, 1858, the first train of
  cars rolled into Bloomsburg or rather passed it, as the line of the road was then quite
  beyond the limits of the town. For several years one regular passenger train and one mixed
  train, in which freight predominated, constituted the daily traveling facilities. The way in
  which accommodations were thus limited was due in great measure to lack of enterprise on the
  part of the officials of the road. Two trains daily were advertised in 1861, three in 1871,
  and four in 1881, from which it appears that an addition of one train daily has occurred for
  every ten years in the history of the road.
  
      It may fairly be predicted that Bloomsburg will become a rail-road center of importance,
  second to no inland town of its size in this state. This is inferred from its geographical
  position, and from the work in rail-road construction now in progress and approaching
  completion. The reason first given is purely theoretical; the forty-first parallel of north
  latitude crosses the Susquehanna at the mouth of Fishing creek; this is approximately the
  latitude of both New York and Chicago, and if the proposed air-line route between those
  places--"The New York, Bloomsburg and Western rail-road"--should ultimately become an
  accomplished fact, Bloomsburg cannot fail to derive importance and advantage from it. When
  the Bloomsburg and Sullivan rail-road has been competed, the county seat of Columbia will
  also become its commercial metropolis. But, returning to the consideration of things as they
  now exist, the business interests of Bloomsburg have materially improved since the completion
  of the North and West Branch railway. The history of this road from its first inception in
  the mind of the Reverend D. J. WALLER, Sr., to its present condition, is directly traceable
  to the tireless energy with which he fought its battles and achieved its final success. He
  conceived the idea that a road bed of uniform grade could be constructed at the foot of the
  hill on the south bank of the Susquehanna. Simon P. CASE, a vigorous but unscrupulous man,
  had previously projected a telegraph line, merged it into a railroad, and finally, by
  deciding to tap the coal field at the Hazel region instead of at Wyoming, vacated the river
  route from Catawissa to Wilkesbarre. Mr. WALLER was one of those who had confidence in
  CASE's rail-road, if not in its projector; he wrote a charter for the North and West Branch
  Rail-Road company, and thorough the efforts of Hon. C. R. BUCKALEW, it received legislative
  sanction in May, 1871. This was but the initial step, however; ten years elapsed before the
  line was operated from Wilkesbarre to Catawissa. J. C. BROWN was chief engineer, and Samuel
  NEYHARD assistant, in directing its construction. It is provided, in the charter of this
  company, that a wagon way may be constructed in connection with its bridge over the
  Susquehanna, and that upon the payment of one-fifth its cost by the commissioners of
  Columbia county, the company shall maintain it as a free bridge for public use. There is
  every probability that this bridge will be built in the near future, and Bloomsburg will
  then realize to the full extent what advantage can be derived from competing lines of
  railway.
  
      It seems unnecessary to state that the mercantile interests of inland towns receive an
  impetus from lines of travel which bring them into more direct communication with the
  commercial centers of the country. The returns from the mercantile appraisements of May 1,
  1886, show an aggregate of seventy-one dealers, representing every branch of business
  enterprise. A similar exhibit in 1858 would not have shown one-third of this number. There
  are two financial institutions--the First National Bank and the Bloomsburg Banking Company.
  February 5, 1864, William McKELVEY, William NEAL, I. W. McKELVEY, Robert CATHCART, Robert F.
  CLARK, John K. GROTZ, George HUGHES, Lloyd PAXTON and C. R. PAXTON formed a temporary
  organization and began to transact a banking business. February 29, 1864, the Comptroller of
  the Currency issued his certificate authorizing such action; and, March 7, 1864, the bank was
  formally opened with C. R. PAXTON, president, and J. P. TUSTIN, cashier. In 1868 Charles
  CONNER and John A. FUNSTON established a broker's office in Bloomsburg, which, in March,
  1871, was merged into the Bloomsburg Banking Company, of which Mr. FUNSTON was president;
  Charles CONNER, Joseph SHARPLESS, John G. FREEZE and Wilson M. EVES were the first
  directors. It is a private corporation, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, and a
  surplus equal to fifty percent of the same. Both are prosperous and successful institutions,
  and have greatly facilitated the general business workings of the community.
  
      The Bloomsburg Board of Trade, "founded for the encouragement and protection of trade
  and commerce," numbers among its members the leading merchants and other citizens of the
  town. It was incorporated May 12, 1886, with Hon. C. R. BUCKALEW, C. G. BARKLEY, D. W.
  KITCHEN, I. W. McKELVEY and I. S. KUHN, directors.
  
      In medical circles, Bloomsburg is well known as the location of Dr. L. A. SHATTUCK's
  Rest-Cure Sanitarium. It was originally established in 1870 by Dr. A. L. TENCH, who was
  succeeded within a few years by Dr. A. L. TURNER. His experience as a surgeon in the late
  war and as superintendent of Onondaga insane asylum, rendered him exceptionally competent to
  treat nervous diseases with success. The location combines healthfulness, accessibility and
  congenial natural surroundings. Dr. SHATTUCK assumed the management in 1882, since when it
  has maintained a high character as a popular resort.
  
      As this industrial development of the county seat progressed, the population increased,
  the building area was extended, and a different political organization followed in the wake
  of changed social conditions. The town plat laid off by Ludwig EYER extended from First
  street to Third, and from West to East (Iron) street, comprising thirty-two blocks of three
  lots each. Mr. EYER was not an exact geometer, but his good judgment is seen in the location
  of the town, the width and regularity of the streets, and their distance from each other.
  About the year 1815, the Reverend Caleb HOPKINS laid out a number of lots on East street
  below Third. Although this nominal addition comprised for years no other houses than the
  reverend gentleman's residence, it was known and recognized as Hopkinsville.* [Footnote: The
  origin of the name Bloomsburg cannot so easily be explained. It is said that the name was
  suggested by certain of the old settlers who had formerly lived at Bloomsburg, N. J. Bloom
  township was formed from the western part of Briarcreek in 1797 and so named in honor of
  Samuel BLOOM, one of the county commissioners for Northumberland county at that time. It is
  said that when the name for the post-office was discussed, some of the citizens protested
  against Dyertown, not withstanding their German nationality and respect for the proprietor.
  On the occasion of a fourth of July celebration in the wood above First street, some one,
  with excellent tact, called for three cheers for Bloomsburg at the instant when patriotic
  enthusiasm was at its height. In the excitement of the moment, the name made a favorable
  impression on the popular mind. It is not a matter of vital importance, but of curious
  importance, how the name originated, and the reader can best judge which of the explanations
  given is most plausible.
  
      When the size and importance of this suburb became such as to really require a name,
  this designation was succeeded by the less complimentary one of Snaketown, for which East
  street has finally been substituted. When the canal was opened in 1831, Port Noble came into
  existence as the port of entry for Bloomsburg, and a road was made from Market street
  thither. Daniel SNYDER's addition, the south-west corner of Second and East streets, between
  Iron and Third, was made about 1837. Anticipation an influx of laborers when the Irondale
  furnaces should begin operations, D. J. WALLER, Sr., in 184_, laid off that portion of
  Bloomsburg, known as Welsh hill, from the prevailing nationality of its people, the
  northeast corner of Iron and First streets. Dr. John RAMSAY's addition adjoins this on the
  south side of First street. On the west side of the same street between Oyer and Murray
  alleys, Messrs. CATHCART and HURLEY laid out a number of lots, after the failure of their
  cocoonery. In 1857 Catharine street was opened; the location of the depot of the Lackawanna
  and Bloomsburg rail-road had determined to a great extent the direction in which Bloomsburg
  has expanded since that time. Passenger trains stopped at the Market street crossing at
  first, but when negotiations for the purchase of land proved fruitless, a temporary station
  was built at East street. If this arrangement had become permanent, Bloomsburg as then
  existing, would have virtually ceased to be the business portion of the town. This was
  averted by the prompt action of D. J. WALLER, Sr., who purchased a tract of land, and in
  1859 gave the rail-road company the site occupied by its stations. Since this time, the area
  between Fourth street and Seventh has gradually become one of the most beautiful parts of the
  town. The extension westward has been popularly known as Scott-Town, from the fact that Dr.
  David N. SCOTT was the first person who lived below the hill on Second street and still
  considered himself a resident of Bloomsburg. The addition by Messrs. RUPERT and BARTON is
  bounded by Fourth, Iron and East streets, and the canal. Upon the erection of the Normal
  School building in 1869, Second street was extended beyond the forks. Morgantown is the name
  applied to the company houses at Irondale furnace, while Rabbtown comprehends a number of
  similar structures at Bloom furnace. The population of Bloom township in 1820 was one
  thousand six hundred and twenty-six; in 1830, two thousand and eight-one; in 1840, one
  thousand seven hundred and seventy-four; in 1850, three thousand one hundred and twenty-two;
  in 1860, two thousand six hundred and sixty-eight; in 1870, three thousand three hundred and
  forty; in 1880, three thousand seven hundred and two. The apparent decrease in the decade
  ending in 1860 is explained by the fact that Scott township was not included in the census
  of that year.
  
      In view of this constant increase in population, it is matter of surprise that the
  township organization, established in 1797, and continued for seventy-three years, was not
  sooner supplanted by a form of government better adapted to a compact community. Efforts to
  secure incorporation as a borough under the act of 1834, were successively made and as
  frequently defeated. The reasons to which this may be assigned, is the situation of
  Bloomsburg within a farming region too small to constitute a separate township, and the
  great diversity of opinion as to what limits should be prescribed for the purposed borough.
  March 4, 1870, an act prepared by Hon. C. R. BUCKALEW, was passed by the legislature, in
  which the limits of the town are defined in a manner that completely obviates this
  difficulty, by the simple declaration, "that the Town of Bloomsburg shall hereafter include
  all the territory now included within the limits of Bloom township." It provides for a
  classification of real estate, based upon the situation of property in the built up or
  suburban portions of the town, or its use for exclusively agricultural purposes. The burden
  of taxation is thus distributed; farm lands are assessed at a rate equal to one-half, and
  suburban property, at a rate not exceeding two-thirds, respectively, of the highest rates of
  tax required to be assessed each year. Cumulative voting is authorized by this act, which
  thus provides in the only instance in this country, a method for securing proportional
  representations. The following is extracted from section fourth, of the act referred to, and
  sufficiently explains the distinctive features of this system of voting.
  
      In any case where more persons than one are to be chosen in said town to the same
  office, for the same time or term of service, each voter duly qualified shall be entitled to
  as many votes as the number of persons to be so chosen, and may poll his votes as follows,
  to-wit:
      First--Where two persons are to be chosen he may give one vote to each of two
  candidates, or two votes to one.
      Second--Where three persons are to be chosen, he may give one vote to each of three
  candidates, two votes to one candidate and one to another, one vote and a half to each of
  two candidates or three votes to one.
      Third--Where four persons are to be chosen, he may give one vote to each of four
  candidates, one vote and one-third to each of three, two votes to each of two, or four votes
  to one.
      Fourth--Where six persons are to be chosen, he may give one vote to each of six
  candidates, one vote and a half to each of four, two votes to each of three, three votes to
  each of two, or six votes to one.
  
      A town council, consisting of president and six members, is elected annually. A list of
  the incumbents since the organization of the town has been compiled from official sources
  and is herewith subtended:
      1870--President, Elias MENDENHALL; members, Joseph SHARPLESS, Stephen KNORR, W. B.
  KOONS, F. C. EYER, Caleb BARTON, C. G. BARKLEY.
      1871--President, Elias MENDENHALL; members, Joseph SHARPLESS, C. G. BARKLEY, Stephen
  KNORR, W. B. KOONS, F. C. EYER, John RINKER.
      1872--President, Elias MENDENHALL; members, Freas BROWN, Stephen KNORR, Caleb BARTON,
  John S. STERNER, James DENNIS, J. H. MAIZE, vice W. B. KOONS, resigned.
      1873--President, Stephen KNORR; members, Louis BERNHARD, Charles THOMAS, C. W. MILLER,
  Samuel KNORR, J. S. EVANS, John S. STERNER.
      1874--President, David LOWENBERG; members, Joseph HENDERSHOTT, P. S. HARMAN, J. K. EYER,
  Louis BERNHARD, Stephen KNORR, W. PEACOCK.
      1875--President, David LOWENBERG; members, E. R. DRINKER, G. W. STERNER, Eli JONES,
  Isaiah HAGENBUCH, W. O. HOLMES, Wellington HARTMAN, vice John CADMAN, resigned.
      1876--President, David LOWENBERG; members, Peter JONES, Isaiah HAGENBUCH, E. R. DRINKER,
  G. E. ELWELL, W. O. HOLMES, E. M. KNORR.
      1877-- President, David LOWENBERG; members, E. R. DRINKER, W. RABB, W. O. HOLMES, Peter
  JONES, G. W. CORRELL, G. E. ELWELL.
  
      1878--President, G. A. HERRING; Members, J. S. EVANS, E. R. DRINKER, W. RABB, G. E.
  ELWELL, B. F. SHARPLESS, W. O. HOLMES.
      1879--President, I. S. KUHN; members, J. S. EVANS, W. O. HOLMES, G. M. LOCKARD, B. F.
  SHARPLESS, E. R. DRINKER, W. RABB.
      1880--President, G. A. HERRING; members, W. RABB, George HASSERT, J. K. LOCKARD, I. W.
  HARTMAN, G. W. CORRELL, C. W. NEAL.
      1881-President, G. A. HERRING; members, W. RABB, George HASSERT, J. K. LOCKARD, I. W.
  HARTMAN, G. W. CORELL, C. W. NEAL.
      1882--President, G. A. HERRING; members, C. B. STERLING, W. RABB, George HASSERT, W. S.
  MOYER, L. E. WALLER, I. W. HARTMAN.
      1883--President, G. A. HERRING; members, C. B. STERLING, W. RABB, George HASSERT, I. W.
  HARTMAN, L. E. WALLER, W. S. MOYER.
      1884--President, L. B. RUPERT; members, C. B. STERLING, W. RABB, Eli JONES, C. A. MOYER,
  Isaiah HAGENBUCH, L. T. SHARPLESS.
      1885--President, L. B. RUPERT; members, C. B. STERLING. J. C. STERNER, Henry ROSENSTOCK,
  C. A. MOYER, Isaiah HAGENBUCH, L. T. SHARPLESS.
      1886--President, B. F. ZARR; members, C. B. STERLING, J. C. STERNER, Henry ROSENSTOCK,
  E. B. CLARK, L. F. CLARK, W. J. CORRELL.
  
      The election of the first town council expressed an almost unanimous sentiment in favor
  of internal improvement. Little effort had been directed to this object, and much had been
  misdirected. If one township supervisor attempted to correct the inherent muddy propensity
  of the streets, the conscientious scruples of his successor impelled him to immediately
  suspend road making operations on the score of retrenchment. As early as 1793, the brook was
  crossed at Second street by a pine bridge, a neighborhood affair which greatly convenienced
  people on their way to church. The first combined effort at street improvement was made in
  1813, when the town was much excited over the prospect of becoming a county seat. As if to
  emphasize its eligibility, stumps were removed and the streets generally levelled. The
  commissioners appointed to select the county town visited Milton first; after preparing
  Bloomsburg for their reception, James McCLURE, John CHAMBERLAIN, Casper CHRISMAN, and
  others, rode over to Jerseytown to meet them. Although it was years before their object was
  finally attained, their efforts were not in vain. In 1838 the hill in Second street beyond
  West was deemed too steep for travel, and the public road followed the channel of the creek
  after a circuitous descent. The Port Noble road at this time was narrow, crooked, and almost
  impassable in wet weather. After purchasing the land on either side of the road, Mr. WALLER
  straightened its course, graded it as a private enterprise, and built a bridge over the
  rail-road as one of the conditions for the location of the station at its present site.
  Market street was not fully opened until 1874, when the house of _____ WELLS below Third
  street was removed. The Forks hotel was removed in the following year, and Second street
  extended to the Normal School grounds. Center street was opened and extended from Second to
  First. The grading of East street was begun in 1872, and this work has been extended to
  every street in the town, agreeably to plans prepared by Samuel NEYHARD at the instance of
  the council. The initial effort toward establishing a fire department was made in 1868, when
  the Bloomsburg Fire Company, (known as Friendship Fire Company No. 1), was incorporated. Two
  similar organizations have since been formed. The police service was established by the town
  council in 1870.
  
      While the process of improving the general appearance of the town was in progress,
  efforts were also made to provide public conveniences of a character which had not hitherto
  been attempted. May 9, 1874 the Bloomsburg Gas Company and the Bloomsburg Water Company were
  incorporated. Gas was supplied to private houses and business places, October 28, 1874; the
  streets were lighted with gas for the first time, May 1, 1875. The water company proposed to
  secure an adequate supply from Stony brook, a small affluent of Fishing creek. Negotiations
  were opened with the municipal authorities to dispose of the franchise to them, but before
  this was effected, an act passed by the legislature, limiting the bonded indebtedness of
  boroughs, suspended this proceeding in a summary manner. August 14, 1877 a second water
  company was organized. The advantage of bringing water from such an altitude that the
  natural flow would raise it above the level of the town was strongly advised, but as no
  springs of sufficient volume and elevation are found in the immediate vicinity, a system
  proposed by Mr. Henry BIRKENBINE was adopted. The water is carried from Fishing creek into a
  well by a brick conduit. It is then pumped a distance of one-thousand, one hundred feet, into
  a reservoir, from which it is distributed through the town. The water-works were completed in
  August, 1880. A public sewer was established in 1884 by the town authorities, the trustees of
  the Normal School and the county commissioners, conjointly. The Bloomsburg Steam and Electric
  Light Company was incorporated December 7, 1885. The Birdsall-Holly system has been used, and
  may residences and stores are thus heated with economy and convenience.
  
      The extent to which industrial and commercial pursuits have been developed in
  Bloomsburg, the character and efficiency of its local government, and the degree of interest
  manifested in public improvements, combine in establishing its claim as the most progressive
  town in the lower valley of the "North Branch" of the Susquehanna. Contemporary with its
  growth in population and material wealth, it has become the educational center of this
  section of the state. There was little in its early history to indicate that it would reach
  its present prominence in this respect. George VANCE taught an English school in a log
  building on the site of the Protestant Episcopal church edifice in 1802, and about the same
  time, Ludwig EYER taught a German school in a building at the north-east corner of Second
  and Market streets. Robert FIELDS, William FERGUSON, Murray MANVILLE and Joseph WORDEN were
  among the immediate successors of these two pedagogues. On the introduction of the public
  school system, in 1842, school-houses were built in various parts of the town. Practically,
  there was no system of grading, nor any general supervision by any one. Consolidation was
  begun in 1870, when the Fifth street school building was erected at a cost of twelve
  thousand dollars, and first occupied with F. M. BATES as principal. Five years later, the
  Third street building was erected. I. E. SCHOONOVER was the first principal of the schools
  of West Bloomsburg, after it was occupied. In 1885 it was decided to place all the schools
  of the town under one superintendent, and D. A. BECKLEY was elected to that office. A
  regular course of study has been prepared, and the condition of the schools improved in
  various ways under his administration. The present (1886) board of directors is constituted
  as follows: J. J. LAWALL, president; J. C. BROWN, secretary; Stephen KRUM, Isaiah HAGENBUCH,
  William KRAMER and Henry ROSENSTOCK.
  
      The general unsatisfactory condition of the public schools led to many ventures on the
  part of teachers of more than ordinary acquirements in establishing private schools. An
  effort of this kind was made in 1839, when the building at the corner of Third and Jefferson
  streets was first occupied for school purposes.* [Footnote: Reverend D. J. WALLER's
  Presbyterian Centennial discourse.] "The standard of instruction was elevated, if judged by
  the advertisement of the first teacher, to give instruction in the Hebrew language, which
  was not extensively pursued at that early day in Bloomsburg. But the teacher's literary
  reputation dwindled, when, on perusing a copy of Shakespeare, he inquired whether this was
  the celebrated author of that name, and what were his principal works, and evinced his
  astonishment in the question, 'What, these dialogues?'" This teacher took his departure the
  same year (1839); and, by the efforts of the citizens, Mr. C. P. WALLER, a graduate of
  Williams college and subsequently a president judge in this state, was induced to come to
  Bloomsburg to found an academy. He remained two years, and left it in a flourishing
  condition. The far-reaching results of this effort may be traced in all the subsequent
  educational history of the town. The existence of the academy for some years after this was
  merely nominal. Teachers in the public schools during the winter months opened subscription
  schools in vacation. Joel E. BRADLEY, one of the most successful teachers who ever made
  teaching a profession, restored, to some extent, the high character and advanced standard of
  the course of study prepared by Mr. WALLER. About the year 1854, B. F. EATON opened a
  classical school in the Primitive Methodist church building (afterward purchased by the
  parish of St. Colomba's church). It was continued the following year with such success that
  its friends began to consider measures for making it a permanent institution. Reverend D. J.
  WALLER, prepared a charter, and William ROBINSON and others circulated it; after obtaining
  the signatures of A. J. SLOAN, M. COFFMAN, E. MENDENHALL, A. J. EVANS, William McKELVEY, J.
  J. BROWER, B. F. HARTMAN, S. H. MILLER, J. M. CHAMBERLIN, Philip UNANGST, Jesse G. CLARK, A.
  WITMAN, Michael HENDERSON, J. G. FREEZE, Levi L. TATE, Peter BILLMEYER, W. C. SLOAN, Jonathan
  MOSTELLER, A. J. FRISK, E. B. BIDLEMAN, Robert F. CLARK, A. M. RUPERT, R. B. MENAGH, W. J.
  BIDLEMAN, Robert CATHCART, A. C. MENSCH and H. C. HOOVER, it was submitted to the court, and
  confirmed at the September term, 1856. It provided for establishing and maintaining a school,
  to be known as the "Bloomsburg Literary Institute," and the object of the corporation was
  defined to be "the promotion of education both in the ordinary and higher branches of
  English literature and science, and in the ancient and modern languages." Under the articles
  of incorporation, Reverend D. J. WALLER, William ROBISON, Leonard B. RUPERT, William SNYDER,
  Elisha C. BARTON, William GOODRICH, D. J. WALLER, Joseph SHARPLESS, John K. GROTZ and I. W.
  HARTMAN were constituted a board of trustees. Mr. EATON's school was continued in the
  building it formerly occupied for several years, when it was discontinued. It was
  subsequently opened in the old academy building, and there conducted with fair success by
  ____ LOWREY, D. A. BECKLEY, Henry RINKER and others. There was no connected succession of
  teachers, nor does it appear that the board of trustees exercised control over the
  management of its affairs. As a consequence, the character of the school depended altogether
  upon the attainments and ability of the teachers, in some of whom executive ability was not a
  characteristic, so that the prospects of the so-called "Literary Institute" were not always
  encouraging.
  
      Fortunately for the educational interests of this county, a new actor appeared upon the
  scene, when the condition of affairs seemed to have reached the lowest ebb. This man was
  Henry CARVER, a native of New York state, a self educated teacher, whose power of exerting
  an unconscious influence over the minds of those with whom he came in contact, was
  phenomenal. After serving as principal of an academy in his native state, in which capacity
  he evinced marked ability, he was placed in charge of the preparatory department of the
  University of California, and here his faculty for organizing was again manifest. He
  returned to his home in Binghampton, New York, and while making a pleasure tour through the
  valley of the "North Branch," stopped for several days at Bloomsburg, impressed with the
  beauty of its natural environments. He made some inquiries regarding the general condition
  of the schools, and was introduced to Reverends D. J. WALLER and J. R. DIMUR, Messrs. I. W.
  HARTMAN, D. A. BECKLEY, and others, who, after learning his character and profession,
  persuaded him to prolong his stay, and open a school. Its success surpassed anything in his
  previous career, or in the school history of Bloomsburg. After continuing this school two
  years, Mr. CARVER declined to remain any longer unless better accommodations were provided
  than the academy building then occupied. There was a general feeling of confidence in his
  methods, and measures for securing adequate facilities for the unrestricted growth of the
  school were vigorously agitated; and, that the movement might properly crystalize, the
  charter of the "Literary Institute" was revived, May 2, 1866. William SNYDER, John K. GROTZ,
  L. B. RUPERT, I. W. HARTMAN and D. J. WALLER met at the latter's study in the capacity of
  trustees, under the articles incorporating the Institute, and reorganized, with the election
  of D. J. WALLER as president; I. W. HARTMAN as secretary; John G. FREEZE, Robert F. CLARK and
  William NEAL as trustees, to fill vacancies caused by removals of an equal number of the
  original board. At the second meeting, two days later, a committee was appointed to attend
  to the financial necessities of the undertaking, and another to secure a location for the
  contemplated building. The efforts of the finance committee were seconded by Mr. CARVER with
  characteristic energy. This all important part of the work progressed to such an extent,
  that, June 16, 1866, a meeting of the stockholders was held in the court-house to decided
  the question of location. After some discussion, the consideration of this subject was
  postponed until the 22nd instant. On assembling in pursuance of adjournment, various
  portions of the town were suggested as most eligible for the site of the contemplated
  structure. When the matter was put to a vote, it was found that the sentiment in favor of
  the location proposed by William SNYDER was almost unanimous. This was finally accepted in
  August, 1866, on the assurance that the owners of the Forks hotel would, at no distant time,
  remove it, and extend Second street to the front of the Institute grounds. It was formally
  resolved, the preceding July, to procure specifications and plans, and contract for the
  erection of a building at a cost not exceeding fifteen thousand dollars. This sum was
  six-fold larger than any one except Mr. CARVER had ever thought of expending. The cost of
  the building and its furniture aggregated about twenty-four thousand dollars. Under ordinary
  circumstances the project would have collapsed, but the unremitting exertions of Mr. CARVER
  were equal to the emergency. His faith in its ultimate success never faltered, and was amply
  justified, when, on Thursday, April 4, 1867, the completed* [Footnote: Properly speaking, it
  was not completed until the following year, when a bell, weighing two thousand one hundred
  and seventy-one pounds, was secured through the efforts of D. J. WALLER, Jr., G. E. ELWELL
  and Charles UNANGST, who were then pupils.] structure was dedicated to the cause and
  purposes of education. The state of the weather was f The initial step in organizing a corps
  of instructors for the Institute was made May 25, 1866, when Prof. Henry CARVER was elected
  principal by the board of trustees. The first faculty was constituted as follows: Henry
  CARVER, professor of civil engineering, intellectual and moral philosophy; Sarah A. CARVER,
  preceptress, teacher of French, botany, and ornamental branches; Isaac O. BEST, A. B.,
  professor of ancient languages; Martin D. KNEELAND, teacher of mathematics and English
  branches; Alice M. CARVER, teacher of music; Jennie BRUCE, in charge of the primary
  department. Two courses of study were arranged, in one of which scientific studies
  predominated, while the classics were represented to an equal extent in the other. It was
  proposed that four years should be ample time to complete either. There was also a
  commercial department, and the first catalogue, issued for the school year 1867-68, makes
  mention of the fact that lessons would be given in sewing. The liberal ideas of the
  principal were manifest throughout. The number of pupils in attendance and the general
  results of the school for this first term were fairly satisfactory. It ceased to be merely a
  local institution, and became well known in other sections of the state, and even beyond its
  limits. To those who were interested in educational matters the success of the Institute was
  truly gratifying.
  
      The first year of active work was not yet completed, however, when a change in the
  character of the school was agitated. Hon. James P. WICHERSHAM, state superintendent of
  common schools, passed Bloomsburg by rail shortly after the building was finished, and was
  favorably impressed with its conspicuous situation and symmetrical proportions. The idea of
  erecting additional buildings and converting the Institute into a state normal school seems
  to have occurred to him at once. He presented the matter to the board of trustees. At a
  meeting of that body, March 9, 1868, it was "Resolved, that the trustees of the Bloomsburg
  Literary Institute agreed to establish in connection with the same, a state normal school,
  under the act of assembly of the 2nd of May, 1857, and to procure the grounds and put up the
  necessary buildings as soon as the sum of seventy thousand dollars is subscribed by
  responsible persons, agreeably to the foregoing propositions." At this and subsequent
  meetings, plans and estimates for the proposed building were presented and discussed. A
  soliciting committee was also appointed; but from the meagre results realized through its
  efforts, it was evident that the project did not receive the co-operation of the entire body
  of citizens. That the views of all might be considered, a public meeting was held in the
  court-house, April 18, 1868. Reverend D. J. WALLER was called to the chair. It was found
  that the opposition or indifference resulted from a misconception of the position taken by
  the trustees; but when it was explained to the satisfaction of all that the proposed change
  would not effect the academic character of the school, and thus contract its local
  advantages, and that its influence would be extended in the manner suggested, the meeting
  became as enthusiastic as it had previously been reluctant. This is sufficiently indicated
  by the following minute, which appears as part of its proceedings: "Resolved, that the
  trustees of the Bloomsburg Literary Institute be earnestly requested to purchase the
  necessary grounds and proceed to make an agreement to carry forward the enterprise of
  erecting the building required; that the plans submitted by Prof. CARVER be recommended to
  the trustees for adoption; that it be recommended to let the building to Prof. CARVER at his
  estimate of thirty-six thousand dollars." This was submitted to the board of trustees the
  same day, and on the strength of the financial support thus assured, Hon. Leonard B. RUPERT,
  Peter BILLMEYER and F. C. EYER were constituted a building committee and empowered to
  contract for the erecting of the building with Mr. CARVER at his bid of thirty-six thousand
  dollars. Subsequently, Hon. William E. ELWELL and William NEAL became members of the
  building committee instead of the last two named.
  
      June 25, 1868, the corner-stone of the state normal school building was laid. The
  exercises were preceded by an address in Institute hall by Hon. C. L. WARD. The audience
  then proceeded to that part of the grounds where the foundation walls of the building formed
  the exterior angle of its two wings, and where the stone was to be placed. The exercises
  began with prayer by Reverend D. J. WALLER, after which John W. GEARY, governor of the
  state, placed the corner-stone in position, depositing within it documents relating to the
  history of the school, its charter, with the names of the trustees, the faculty and
  students, and of the state school board, contemporary issues of the local newspapers, a copy
  of the Bible, and specimens of currency, after which he delivered an address. Hon. William E.
  ELWELL spoke in behalf of the board of trustees, and Hon. Leonard B. RUPERT read a history of
  the Institute. Governor GEARY placed the plans and specifications in the hands of Professor
  CARVER, and the latter, in accepting, promised to complete the work he thus assumed as
  rapidly as possible. Hon. James P. WICKERSHAM addressed a large audience that evening on the
  general aspect of educational effort, particularly as directed in the preparation of teachers
  for teaching, which he emphasized as the central object in the normal school idea.
  
      Mr. CARVER pushed the work he had undertaken with his usual energy and the building was
  finished within nine months from the date upon which the corner stone was laid. It remained
  for the state authorities to formally recognize the Institute as a state normal school.
  February 8, 1869, the board of trustees, through its president, Hon. Leonard B. RUPERT, and
  secretary, Col. John G. FREEZE, signified its desire that a committee should be appointed
  agreeably to the act of 1857, to consider the claims of their institution for the
  recognition as a state normal school. The following named gentlemen constituted this
  committee: Hon. James P. WICHERSHAM, ex officio, Hon. Wilmer WORTHINGTON, Hon. James C.
  BROWN, Hon. George D. JACKSON, Hon. Henry W. HOYT; the superintendents of schools in the
  counties composing the district were notified, and Friday, February 19, was appointed as the
  day for the examination. The committee met on the day appointed; examined the charter, deeds,
  organization, methods of instruction--everything pertaining to the character of the school,
  and embodied its conclusion in the following report:
  
      BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, February 19, 1869
      WHEREAS, The "Bloomsburg Literary Institute," having made the formal application to the
  Department of Common Schools for the appointment of a committee to examine its provisions of
  "An Act to provide for the due training of teachers for the Common Schools of the State,"
  approved the 20th day of May, 1857; and
      WHEREAS, The undersigned, being duly appointed and authorized under said act, and having
  personally, and at the same time, on Friday, the 19th day of February, 1869, visited and
  carefully inspected said Institute, and made a careful examination thereof of its by-laws,
  rules and regulations, and its general arrangements and facilities for instructing, and
  having found them to be substantially such as the law requires:
      RESOLVED, That the "Bloomsburg Literary Institute" is, in our opinion, entitled to other
  institutions of like character in this Commonwealth.
      Wilmer WORTHINGTON, Chairman
      J. P. WICKERSHAM, Secretary
      George D. JACKSON
      James C. BROWN
      Henry M. HOYT
      C. G. BARKLEY, sup't. Columbia county
      C. V. GUNDY, sup't. Union county
      William HENRY, sup't. Montour county
  
      The legal existence of the "Bloomsburg State Normal School of the Sixth District," dates
  from the anniversary of this report, February 19, 1869, although the proclamation from the
  department of public instruction was not promulgated until three days later.
  
      In his report for this year (1869), Mr. WICKERSHAM states that the estimated value of
  the buildings and grounds was one hundred thousand dollars, and that the general equipments
  of the school were superior to those of any similar institutions in the state. While this
  was no doubt true, the troubles that immediately followed threatened to compel a suspension
  of the school. Mr. CARVER's health was seriously impaired by his multiplied duties as
  principal, contractor and business manager. His departure from Bloomsburg, in 1871, was
  quite unexpected to the trustees, who were thus obliged to assume his liabilities in order
  to save the property. At one time they personally obligated themselves for an amount
  exceeding twenty thousand dollars. Meetings were held every night for several months
  consecutively, and the whole board was resolved into a ways and means committee. Every
  circumstance seemed discouraging. Every element of opposition that had ever existed seemed
  to assert itself. And when finally the crisis seemed to have passed, the boarding hall was
  destroyed by fire, September 4, 1875. Monday, September 6, a meeting of the citizens was
  held in the court-house; Reverend J. P. TUSTIN presided. Hon. William E. ELWELL stated the
  object of the meeting. It was a critical period in the history of Bloomsburg. There were
  those who favored the application of the thirty thousand dollars of insurance, to the
  improvement of the property that remained, and an organization from which the normal school
  idea should be excluded; Reverend D. J. WALLER was called upon to express his views. He did
  so with the force and vigor which the importance of the occasion demanded. He stated that it
  was not possible that the school could experience greater reverses and misfortunes than had
  already befallen it; that even under such a combination of unfavorable
  circumstances-financial embarrassments, unfortunate selection of principals, or the
  existence of a vacancy in that department--the results had been only such as might be
  expected in the incipient stages of an educational enterprise; that the inducements which
  prompted their first effort were still operative, but as the opportunity was greater, so was
  their responsibility; that it required but the influence of that energy which the supreme
  importance of the hour should inspire to raise, Phoenix-like, a new building of larger
  proportions from the ashes of the old; and that the time would come when a thousand students
  would be assembled on the hill for the purpose of securing an education. These remarks had
  the desired effect. It was unanimously decided to rebuild. Temporary accommodations were
  provided for the students. October 30, 1875, the cornerstone of the new building was laid.
  The work of construction progressed rapidly, and on Wednesday, April 26, 1876, the building
  was opened for students. It has a front of one hundred and sixty-two feet and an extension
  of seventy-five feet. Its predecessor was L shaped, with a front of one hundred and twelve
  feet in each direction.
  
      While the financial stringency of this period was a most perplexing problem, it did not
  monopolize the attention of the trustees. Their constant inability to provide for the
  support of teachers necessitated frequent changes in the constitution of the faculty. There
  were ten instructors at the opening of the first annual term of the Normal School, and their
  respective departments were as follows: Henry CARVER, A. M., Principal-- Mental and Moral
  Science, Theory and Practice of Teaching; Sarah A. CARVER, Preceptress--French, Botany, and
  Ornamental Branches; Isaac O. BEST, A. M.--Ancient Languages; J. W. FERREE, A.
  M.--Mathematics and Practical Astronomy; Reverend David C. JOHN, A. M.--Chemistry, Natural
  Philosophy and Physiology; F. M. BATES, Superintendent of Model School Department, History,
  Geography, and Bookkeeping; James C. BROWN, Assistant in Mathematics; Alice M. CARVER,
  Instrumental Music; Hattie L. BEST, Vocal Music; Julia M. GUEST, Assistant in the Model
  School. When Professor CARVER's sudden illness, at the opening of the second term, left the
  institution without a principal, the duties of the position devolved upon James C. BROWN.
  His efforts and Professor FERREE's co-operation prevented the school from disbanding, and at
  length it successfully passed through the most critical period of its history. At his own
  request, Mr. Brown was relieved, December 20, 1871. At Mr. WICKERSHAM's suggestion, C. G.
  BARKLEY assumed the principalship, and continued in that capacity until March 27, 1872, when
  Reverend John HEWITT was elected in his stead. He was succeeded at the commencement of 1873
  by L. T. GRISWOLD, A. M., M. D. Concerning his administration it need only be stated that
  the financial management was such as to limit the expenses of the school to its income, or
  vice versa. In the judgment of the trustees it was thought best the change should be made,
  however, and for the school year of 1877-78 an entirely different faculty was elected, with
  the single exception of Professor FERREE, who retained his position as instructor in Higher
  Mathematics. The present faculty is constituted as follows: Reverend D. J. WALLER, Jr., Ph.
  D., Principal--Mental and Moral Science; J. W. FERREE, A. M.--Natural Sciences; H. A.
  CURRAN, A. M.--Ancient and Modern Languages; William NOTTLING, A. M.--Rhetoric, Theory and
  Practice of Teaching; G. E. WILBUR, A. M.,--Higher Mathematics and History; I. W.
  NILES--Music; F. H. JENKINS--Grammar and Composition; Miss Enola B. GUIE, M. E.--Physical
  Culture and Elocution; J. G. COPE, M. E.--Mathematics and Geography; Miss Dora A. NILES,
  Drawing and Painting; E. GERTRUDE LA SHELLE, M. E.--Model School; Miss Sarah M.
  HARVEY--Assistant in Model School; I. H. WINTER, B. E.--Geography and History. That the
  change in 1877 was judicious seems evident from the fact that the four professors, whose
  names appear in order from the head of this list, have been continuously connected with the
  school since that time.
  
      More than four hundred pupils were in attendance during the term of 1885-86. During the
  existence of the schools, four thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight pupils were enrolled
  prior to July, 1886; four hundred and nineteen have graduated in that time, and twenty-five
  were prepared for college and received since 1877. These facts need no comment.
  
      The present principal is a native of Bloomsburg, and a graduate of LaFayette College,
  with which he was also connected as a teacher. He is a gentleman of extensive and varied
  attainments, of natural aptitude for teaching, of rare executive ability, and fine social
  qualities. His administration has been eminently satisfactory. The patronage of the school
  has increased to a great extent the character of the public schools of a large section of
  country.
  
      Bloomsburg has been a prolific field for the organization of secret societies. Whenever
  a movement of this character has been inaugurated it has eventually secured a representation
  here. Many of the organizations thus affected have succumbed to the absorbing character of
  these stronger rivals, thus presenting in the rise and growth of social institutions an
  illustration of the principle of the "survival of the fittest." The Masonic order alone has
  increased in numbers and influence with the added years of its existence. The first
  regularly organized Masonic body in this county, rising Sun Lodge, No. 100, was instituted
  June 16, 1804, by Israel ISRAEL, R. W. G. M., and George A. BAKER, G. S., of the R. W. G.
  Lodge of Pennsylvania. The first officers of Lodge, No. 100, were Christian BROBST, W. M.,
  William PARKS, S. W., and John CURLEE, J. W. The intense opposition to masonry resulted in
  disbanding "Rising Sun" Lodge about the year 1830. The efforts thus relinquished were
  renewed in 1852, when Washington Lodge, No. 265, F. and A. M., was chartered, with William
  SLOAN, W. M., Jacob MELICK, S. W., and Christian F. KNAPP, J. W. The officers for 1885-86
  were as follows: Robert R. LITTLE, W. M., John APPLEMAN, S. W., George W. BARTCH, J. W. a
  complete list of the Past Masters of this Lodge is herewith presented: C. F. KNAPP, F. C.
  HARRISON, M. D., J. A. DeMOYER, Agib RICKETTS, John PENMAN, D. A. BECKLEY, R. H. RINGLER, C.
  W. MILLER, J. C. RUTTER, M. D., Rev. John THOMAS, S. NEYHARD, W. O. HOLMES, Rev. John HEWITT,
  A. C. SMITH, J. V. LOGAN, W. W. BARRETT, Theo F. HAYMAN, I. HAGENBUCH, P. E. KNAPP, W. T.
  CALLAN, C. K. FRANCIS, D. W. CONNER, V. N. SHAFFER, P. S. HARMAN.
  
      The charter of Bloomsburg Chapter, No. 218, R. A. M., was granted July 28, 1868. The
  officers named therein are as follows: D. A. BECKLEY, H. P.; Paleman JOHN, J. B. ROBISON, E.
  P. LUTZ, and C. F. KNAPP.
  
      Mount Moriah Council, No. 10, R. S. EX. & S. M., was originally organized under a
  dispensation granted December 27, 1857, but was chartered June 14, 1864, with J. A. DeMOYER,
  T. I. G. M.; C. F. KNAPP, D. I. G. M.; J. B. McKELVEY, P. C. W.; Jacob MELICK, M. E., and E.
  F. LUTZ, Recorder. The following named individuals have been T. I. G. Masters: C. F. KNAPP,
  P. M. P. G. M.; J. A. DeMOYER; F. C. HARRISON, M. D.; E. P. LUTZ; H. S. GOODWIN, P. G. P. C.
  W.; D. LOWENBERG, D. A. BECKLEY, A. J. FRICK, C. L. STOWELL, P. E. KNAPP, G. W. REIFSNYDER,
  C. K. FRANCIS, W. W. BARRETT, W. J. SCOTT, John THOMAS.
  
      Crusade Commandery, No. 12, K. T., was formed by virtue of a dispensation granted March
  15, 1856, and received a charter June 8, 1864. The original officers of this body were as
  follows: Christian F. KNAPP, C.; J. B. McKELVEY, G.; F. C. HARRISON, C. G.; J. A. DeMOYER,
  P.; Jacob MELICK, T.; E. P. LUTZ, R.; C. BITTENBENDER, S. W.; George S. GILBERT, J. W.;
  Lewis ENKE, S. B.; F. H. G. THORNTON, W.
  
      Orient Conclave, No. 2, K. of R., C. of R. & C., was chartered February 16, 1871, with
  C. F. KNAPP, SOV.; Charles P. EARLY, F. V. R., and G. T. WHEELER, Secretary.
  
      The "Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, in the valley of Bloomsburg, Pa.," consists of four
  distinct bodies, numbering a total membership of seven hundred. Bloomsburg is one of four
  places in this state where the Scottish Rite has been introduced, and this fact, with its
  large numerical representations, sufficiently indicates the energy and enterprise of the
  Masonic fraternity at this place.
  
      Enoch Grand Lodge of Perfection, 14 (degree), was instituted October 8, 1865, and
  chartered May 19, 1866, with the following members: C. F. KNAPP, George SHORKLEY, John
  VALLERCHAMP, Paleman JOHN, C. C. SHORKLEY, E. W. M. LOWE, F. G. HARRISON, B. M. ELLIS, J. R.
  DIMM, C. BITTENBENDER, E. P. LUTZ and John PENMAN.
  
      Zerubbabel Council of 16 (degree), was instituted and chartered on the same dates,
  respectively. Its original membership consisted of John VALALERCHAMP, E. P. LUTZ, C. F.
  KNAPP, Paleman JOHN, E. W. M. LOWE, S. G. VANGILDER, John THOMAS, J. R. DIMM, John
  VANDERSLICE and John PENMAN.
  
      Evergreen S. Chapter of Rose-Croix de H. R. D. M., 18 (degree), was chartered May 19,
  1866, with the following named officers: C. F. KNAPP, John VALLERCHAMP, J. R. DIMM, Paleman
  JOHN, S. G. VANGILDER, C. C. SHORKLEY, E. P. LUTZ and John PENMAN.
  
      Caldwell S. Consistory, S. P. R. S., 32 (degree), was chartered May 19, 1867. The
  following individuals were among the first members of this body: John VALLERCHAMP, Paleman
  JOHN, C. F. KNAPP, C. C. SHORKLEY and George SHORKLEY.
  
      Van Camp Lodge, No. 140, I. O. O. F. was chartered November 17, 1845, with Andrew D.
  COOL, N. G.; Ephraim ARMSTRONG, V. G.; Edward KEIFER, S.; Henry WEBB, A. S.; and George W.
  ABBOTT, Treasurer. Among the other members at this time were Anthony FOSTER and Robert
  CATHCART. The latter died in Danville, in 1879, and was the last surviving charter member.
  
      Bloomsburg council, No. 146, O. U. A. M., was chartered July 16, 1868, with the
  following members: Henry F. BODINE, Tobias HENRY, Harman KLINE, H. J. EVANS, M. S.
  HOUSEKNECHT, M. M. SNYDER, A. S. CROSSLEY, Robert ROANE, James M. THORTON, Frederick
  GILMORE, George NICHOLAS, I. K. MILLER, J. S. JACOBY, Edward SEARLES, William THOMAS, Joseph
  CHRISTMAN, M. M. JOHNSON, J. S. EVANS, I. HAGENBUCH, P. WELSH, J. SCHULTZ, Henry SHUTT, W. M.
  FURMAN, John CULP, George MOYER and C. W. MILLER.
  
      Bloomsburg Council, No. 957, Royal Arcanum, was organized by H. E. W. CAMPBELL, D. G. R.
  of this state, February 26, 1886, with the following persons as officers: I. W. WILLITTS, G.
  A. CLARK, Thomas E. GEDDIS, D. A. BECKLEY, C. H. CAMPBELL, John F. PEACOCK, F. D. DNETLER,
  L. F. SHARPLESS, C. S. FURMAN, S. F. PEACOCK. G. M. QUICK, WILLIAM REBER, W. H. BROOKS, and
  C. W. MILLER.
  
      A number of flourishing church organizations attest the religious character and
  activities of the people at any period of the history of the town. The parish of Saint
  Paul's Protestant Episcopal church is the oldest religious organization in Bloomsburg. Its
  existence dates from 1793, when Elisha BARTON appeared in the diocesan convention at
  Philadelphia as the representative of certain members of the church in Fishingcreek
  township, who had formed themselves into a congregation. The object of his mission was to
  present a request for the appointment of a rector; and in the minutes of the convention of
  the following year, the name of Reverend Caleb HOPKINS appears as missionary in a field
  which embraced all the territory within the forks of the Susquehanna--among other points,
  Saint Paul's church at Bloomsburg. About this time there was erected "on the west side of
  the grate road leading from Esq. BARTON's to Berwick" a house for worship, the outward
  appearance of which suggested the workmanship of no artisan save nature herself in the
  unhewn logs which still retained that massive rotundity developed through years of exposure
  to wind and rain and sunshine. Its interior was scarcely less striking. There was neither
  fireplace, stove nor chimney. A charcoal fire burned on a rude grating before the chancel.
  The minister's face was either illuminated by the fitful flames or completely obscured by
  the ascending smoke, which found such outlet as the crevices in the roof or the chinks
  between the logs afforded. Upon the wall there was a constant play of fantastic forms, the
  shadowy outlines of rude benches and their occupants. young people sneezed, while their
  parents and grand-parents seemed to experience no unpleasantness from the fumes of this
  primitive heating apparatus. The congregation assembled from all directions, and engaged in
  the service with that interest usually manifested when such occurrences were only
  occasional. Before mounting their horses for the homeward journey, current topics were
  discussed, and the social spirit of the worshippers expressed in hearty hand-shaking and
  kindly inquiries for absent ones. Churches at the present day are undoubtedly far in advance
  of their predecessors of a century ago in many respects; but nothing has been gained in
  losing that simplicity which invariably characterized religious services at that period.
  
      The Reverend Mr. HOPKINS officiated in this church at irregular intervals until 1805,
  when he resigned, August 4, 1806; at the conclusion of service, he was called to become
  stated minister. He was offered an annual salary of one hundred dollars and the use of a
  glebe about to be erected by the Saint Paul and Saint Gabriel (Sugarloaf) congregations. He
  signified his acceptance, and entered upon the duties of the rectorship, October 1, 1806.
  From this time his field of labor was restricted to the churches at Bloomsburg, Jerseytown
  and Sugarloaf, and Saint Paul's congregation enjoyed greater frequency and regularity of
  religious services. Mr. HOPKINS resided in that part of Bloomsburg properly known as
  Hopkinsville, until 1819, when his incumbency as rector ceased. The Reverend -- SNOWDEN
  succeeded him in 1820. The erection of a new church was vigorously agitated about this time,
  and Mr. SNOWDEN took measures to have the parish incorporated as a protection to its
  financial interests. An act of the legislature under date of April 5, 1824, created the
  church a corporate body, with Daniel PURSEL, Battis APPLEMAN, Littleton TOWNSEND, Isaac
  GREEN, Robert GREEN, Philip APPELMAN, Elias BIDLEMAN, Peter MELICK and John BARTON, wardens
  and vestry. The Reverend -- ELDRED succeeded Mr. SNOWDEN in 1825, and was the last rector
  who officiated in the old church. It was replaced in 1827 by a frame structure with greater
  pretensions to architectural beauty, which was used as a place for worship during the ten
  years following. July 13, 1837, the corner-stone of the third building on this site was
  laid. This was one of the few brick structures in the town at that time, and one of the
  finest churches in this section of the country. The next effort at church building was made
  in 1868, when legislative action was secured for the disinterment and removal of the dead
  from that part of the burial ground at the corner of second and Iron streets, upon which it
  was proposed to build. The acre of ground upon which the church and rectory are situated was
  secured by Elisha BARTON, John TREMBLY and Edmund CRAWFORD, the vestry, in 1795, from Joseph
  LONG. The amount paid was five shillings. The site of the log church was nearly identical
  with that of the rectory. The remaining portion of the inclosure was used as a cemetery;
  hence the legislation and disinterment agreeably to its provisions. The corner-stone of the
  fourth and present church edifice was laid in September, 1868. The first service in the
  completed structure was held on Sunday, October 28, 1870. Ten years were required to
  liquidate the debt of eight thousand dollars that then remained. Tuesday, June 28, 1881, the
  dedication occurred. There were present on this occasion Reverends T. H. CULLEN and J.
  HEWITT, former rectors; J. C. E. DODSON, G. H. KIRKLAND, J. M. PECK, G. GREGSON, and Bishop
  HOWE. The certificate of the rector and vestry was read by E. R. DRINKER, senior warden.
  Bishop HOWE conducted the service. Reverend T. H. CULLEN pronounced the sentence of
  consecration. The ceremonies throughout were of an interesting and appropriate character. In
  1850 the parish came into possession of a house on East street, by the will of Elizabeth
  EMMITT. The proceeds of its sale were applied to the purchase of a pastoral residence on
  First street. The brick rectory contiguous to the church was built in 1883, and occupied by
  the Reverend L. ZAHNER in that year. After completing a pastorate of ten years, he resigned
  in September, 1886. The vestry has elected Reverend William C. LEVERETT to fill the vacancy
  thus existing, and he has signified his acceptance.
  
      Saint Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran church has been known by that name since its
  incorporation, December 3, 1856, although known as Saint Paul's during the first fifty years
  of its history. During this period, the congregation worshipped in a church building at the
  corner of First and Center streets. This structure was built in 1808, and jointly owned by
  the Reformed and Lutheran churches. It was nearly square, with wide galleries on three sides
  and high, "wine-glass" pulpit on the fourth side. Its seating capacity was about five
  hundred, of which number as many people would be upstairs as down, when the house was
  crowded. After some years, its exterior was weather-boarded and painted white, and this
  improvement seemed to give it a new lease of life in the affections of the community. It was
  finally removed in 1861, but the two congregations still retain their joint ownership of the
  cemetery of which its site forms a part. This burial ground comprises about one acre, and
  was purchased for eighty dollars from Ludwig EYER, who was a member of this church.
  
      Reverend Frederick PLITT is the first pastor of whom mention is made in the records,
  although the fact that Reverend -- FREDERITZE was here as early as 1800 and preached in the
  Episcopal church building, seems well authenticated. March 13, 1808, the church adopted a
  constitution of fourteen articles, signed by Mr. PLITT, as pastor, John DEITTERICK and
  Bernard LILLY, elders and trustees, and Bernard STETLER, deacon. The records were made
  exclusively in German until 1833, and part in that language for some time afterward. Public
  worship was conducted in German until 1835; from that time until 1851, this language was
  used alternately--with the English. The transition was finally completed in 1851, under the
  ministry of Mr. WEAVER.
  
      Mr. PLITT's name appears at the head of a list of thirty-eight communicants under date
  of May 1, 1808. From 1809 to 1816, Reverend J. Frederick ENGEL served the congregation as
  pastor. At the communion of April 23, 1815, the names of fifty-seven persons appear upon the
  records. Reverend Peter KESSLER followed him and remained until 1829. Reverend Jeremiah
  SCHINDEL was pastor from 1830 to 1837, and Reverend William J. EYER from 1837 to 1845. The
  latter was assisted during part of this time by Reverend Charles WITMER, who preached quite
  frequently at Bloomsburg. Reverend Monroe J. ALLEN assumed the pastorate from 1845 to 1847,
  when Mr. EYER again became pastor. Reverend Philip WEAVER succeeded him in 1851, but
  resigned two years later. His immediate successor was Reverend E. A. SHARRETS. The church
  building on Market street, since occupied by the congregation, was erected during this
  pastorate. Jacob EYER was the leading spirit in this enterprise, in which he was ably
  assisted by David STROUP and John K. GROTZ, the other members of the building committee. The
  building of so large and substantial a church edifice at this time speaks highly of the faith
  and liberalty of the people. It was dedicated September 20, 1857. In the autumn of the
  following year, the East Pennsylvania Synod convened at Bloomsburg, numbering among its
  members many of the most eminent Lutheran divines in this country. Reverend J. R. DIMM, D.
  D., was pastor from 1859 to 1867. During his ministry the remaining indebtedness on the
  church building was paid, and the finances of the congregation further improved to such an
  extent that Bloomsburg was constituted a separate pastorate. Previous to this time it had
  received pastoral care in common with neighboring congregations. Reverend B. F. ALLEMAN, D.
  D., was pastor from 1867 to 1872, Reverend J. R. WILLIAMS from 1872 to 1875, Reverend J.
  McCRON, D. D., from 1875 to 1878, Reverend O. D. S. MARCLAY from 1878 to his death in 1881,
  and Reverend F. P. MANHAST, the present incumbent, since June 1, 1881. Several thousand
  dollars have been expended within the past five years upon chancel and pulpit furniture,
  repairs to the church property, and a pipe-organ. And thus, under the leadership of an able
  ministry, devoted and efficient church councilmen and Sunday-school superintendents, the
  congregation has steadily developed to its present strength of three hundred and twenty-five
  communicant members. A marked degree of interest and activity is manifested in sunday-school
  work, while several organizations of a benevolent and charitable character are well
  sustained.
  
      As nearly as can be ascertained, the Reverend John W. INGOLD was the first Reformed
  minister who preached in Bloomsburg. Among the German immigrants, this body of Christians
  was numerously represented. The services were held in the Episcopal church building
  mentioned above. On one occasion, a large congregation had assembled outside the church,
  when they were summarily denied admittance. Upon the arrival of Mr. INGOLD, he was requested
  to announce preaching in four weeks at a school-house to be built about two miles distant on
  Little Fishing creek. Not a tree had yet been felled nor any preparation made for the
  contemplated building, but it was completed within the specified time, and Mr. INGOLD
  preached agreeably to appointment. The burial ground, in the rear of the site of this
  school-house, is still pointed out, and here repose many of the first settlers of this
  region in unmarked graves.
  
      The Reverend John Deitterich ADAMS succeeded Mr. INGOLD about 1807, upon the death of
  the latter. It was decided to co-operate with the Lutherans in building a house of worship
  more convenient to Bloomsburg. The Reverend Jacob DIEFFENBACH preached the sermon at the
  dedication of this church. April 1, 1815, he received a call to become pastor at Bloomsburg.
  He accepted, and removed his family and household goods from Lynville, Lehigh county, to
  Espy, where a parsonage had been prepared for his use. His field of labor embraced
  Bloomsburg, Briarcreek, Mifflinville, Muncy, Nescopeck, Wapwallopen, Shamokin, Catawissa,
  and several minor points. He was a man of considerable intelligence, and exerted a degree of
  influence not usually possessed by clergymen at this period. He died of consumption April 13,
  1825, but in the decade of his residence in Columbia county, he laid the foundations of all
  the Reformed churches within its limits. His immediate successor, the Reverend LAROSH,
  served the different congregations for two years, when he fell a victim to malarial fever,
  then unusually virulent and prevalent. The Reverend Richard FISHER, of Catawissa, preached
  at Bloomsburg occasionally for a short period, but Reverend Daniel S. TOBIAS, who entered
  upon the pastorate, in 1828, and remained in charge until 1851, was the next regular pastor.
  He was assisted during part of this time by Reverend Henry FUNK, who preached in English to
  the five churches which constituted the Bloomsburg charge. Mr. FUNK resigned in 1854 and was
  succeeded the following year by Reverend William GOODRICH. During his ministry the
  exclusively Reformed church building at the corner of Iron and Third streets was erected. He
  resigned in 1866, and in the same year a call was extended to Reverend L. C. SHEIP. He
  accepted, and the charge was reduced to two congregations, which it numbers at present.
  Reverend F. J. MOHR became pastor in 1868 and added several other churches to his charge. In
  the space of three years he traveled more than four thousand miles; but finding this labor
  greater than his strength, he resigned in 1871. Reverend T. F. HOFFMIER was pastor from
  March, 1872, to June 1, 1876; Reverend G. D. GURLEY, from 1876 to 1878; Reverend Walter E.
  KREPBS, from May 3, 1878, to 1883, during which time the appearance to the church building
  and the finances of the congregation were much improved. Reverend O. H. STRUNCK assumed the
  pastorate in August, 1885. His work was quietly pursued, but was eminently satisfactory. In
  February, 1883, a unanimous call was extended to Reverend S. R. BREIDENBAUGH then pastor at
  Berlin, Somerset county, Pa. He accepted and was installed on the evening of April 25, 1885,
  by a committee of classes consisting of Reverends J. S. PETERS, G. B. DEEHANT, and A. HANTZ.
  A debt, incurred in the purchase of a parsonage, has been paid during Mr. BREIDENBAUGH's
  incumbency. This church is connected with the East Susquehanna session of the Synod of the
  United States. Both bodies have met here--the former quite frequently, the latter on the
  occasion of its annual convention, in October, 1873.
  
      The Presbyterian element of the population of Bloomsburg and vicinity was originally
  connected with the old Fishingcreek church, the organization of which is still sustained in
  Center township. This church is mentioned in 1789 in the records of Carlisle Presbytery.
  Reverends HENRY, BRYSON, PORTER JUDD, CONDIT, ANDREWS and GRAY, were successively sent to
  missionate in the valley of the Susquehanna and undoubtedly numbered among their hearers, at
  the Fishing creek church, the McCLUREs, KINNEYs, SLOANs, PURSELs, and others, who afterward
  formed the membership of the Bloomsburg church. Reverend Asa DUNHAM, a native of Middlesex
  county, N. J., and a revolutionary soldier, became a resident of the Fishing creek valley in
  1798, and preached in the barn of Elias FURMAN, between Bloomsburg and Espy. The fact that
  public worship was thus held in the vicinity of the incipient village of Bloomsburg, and
  also at the Briarcreek church, would seem to indicate an increasing number of Presbyterians
  at the former place. Their religious privileges were convenient only through the courtesy of
  the German people or the Episcopalians, while their growing numbers emphasized the importance
  of a separate organization, and the building of a house of worship for their own use.
  Accordingly the Presbyterian church of Bloomsburg was organized in 1817, with James McCLURE,
  Paul LEIDY and Peter PURSEL, as elders. The congregation united with the Briarcreek and
  Shamokin churches, in extending a call to the Reverend Samuel HENDERSON, whose services
  should be divided equally among them. This call was made December 6, 1817 but the Bloomsburg
  congregation had already taken measures to provide their quota for his support. His energy
  was further manifested in the purchase of a lot at the west end of Third street for a
  cemetery and building site. It was decided that the church building should be two stories
  high, with galleries on three sides, and that its dimensions should be thirty-six and forty
  feet. After the foundation had been laid, a controversy arose as to whether the entrance
  should be from the rear, agreeably to the custom of the neighborhood, or from that end of
  the building next the street. The more modern ideas prevailed, although a change was
  required in the work already done. While this structure was in course of erection, the
  trustees united in an agreement with the officers of the Episcopal church for the use of
  their church building. An instance in which the announcements of the two clergymen
  conflicted has thus been described: "When a communion service had been appointed, and the
  Rev. J. B. PATTERSON had been published to preach on Saturday preceding, the Rev. Caleb
  HOPKINS, the founder and rector of the church, wrote a note to Mr. HENDERSON, announcing
  that he wished to occupy the pulpit on that afternoon. The notice reached Mr. HENDERSON, on
  his coming to town, to meet his congregation, who were already gathering. Finding Mr.
  HOPKINS in the little pulpit, which would hold but one, he ascended the steps and asked
  permission to publish a notice, which, being courteously granted, he announced that those
  who wished to hear the Rev. Mr. PATTERSON, would repair to the German church on the hill.
  The whole congregation left. As the last were passing out Mr. HOPKINS said, despairingly,
  'Well, if ye will go, ye may.'"
  
      Mr. HENDERSON continued to preach at Bloomsburg until 1824, when he was succeeded by the
  Reverend John NIBLOCK. Reverends James LEWERS, ____ CROSBY, Mathew B. PATTERSON, Robert
  BRYSON, and ____ IRVIN successively assumed the pastorate, but found no encouragement to
  remain any length of time. The Reverend John P. HUDSON's connection with the Bloomsburg
  congregation began in December, 1832, when he became stated supply and subsequently regular
  pastor, until his resignation in 1838. The vacancy that ensued was temporarily supplied by
  Reverends ____ TOBEY and Daniel M. BARBER, but the latter had established a flourishing
  boarding school for young ladies at Washingtonville and declined to relinquish it, although
  importuned to do so. At the instance of Reverend D. M. HALLIDAY, of Danville, D. J. WALLER,
  a licentiate of New Castle Presbytery, had preached once in Bloomsburg, in the summer of
  1837; he was now invited to make his residence in the town and take charge of a pastorate
  embracing the whole of Columbia county, with several preaching points beyond its limits. The
  call was tendered and accepted in the autumn of 1838, and May 1, 1839, the pastor was
  ordained and installed. The pastoral relations thus established continued through
  thirty-three years. What was then included in one pastorate has now been formed into five or
  six. Mr. WALLER's reminiscences would fill a volume. His house was the recognized stopping
  place for traveling clergymen, book agents, agents of benevolent societies, and other
  travelers of a miscellaneous character. He relates that that hospitality attained such
  proportions that occasionally more guests and conveyances left his house in the morning than
  left the hotel; and when the village landlord erected a new sign-board in hopes of thus
  emphasizing his claims upon the traveling public, some wags procured the old one and
  elevated it in a conspicuous place before the pastor's dwelling.
  
      Upon the removal of the seat of justice to Bloomsburg in 1845, the future prospects of
  the town were supposed to be improved to such an extent as to require the erection of a new
  church building. The question of location was one of importance, and the different views
  entertained were widely different, and, unfortunately, equally pronounced. That the energies
  of the congregation might be concentrated on the erection of the church, and thus diverted
  from the consideration of this delicate subject, the pastor secured financial aid from
  friends abroad and purchased the lot on Market street which is the present location of the
  church edifice. The plans for its erection were prepared by Napoleon Le BRUN. Its cost was
  about three thousand dollars. The last sermon in the Third street church building was
  delivered on the last Sabbath of August, 1848. The new structure was dedicated on the
  following Wednesday, on which occasion the pastor was assisted by the Reverend W. R. SMITH.
  
      Mr. WALLER tendered his resignation in 1871; it was accepted and the relation terminated
  by the Presbytery. After an interval of one year, the Reverend Stuart MITCHELL, D. D., was
  installed as his successor, October 17, 1872. a parsonage was erected in 1880 on the lot
  formerly occupied by the old church. The subject of building a new church has been under
  consideration for some time, and a fund for this object has been accruing during this
  period. The erection of a more commodious church edifice certainly cannot be long delayed.
  
      The first Methodist service in Bloomsburg was conducted by Reverend Geo. LANE, a former
  member of the Genesee Conference, who was obliged, in consequence of lost health, to engage
  in business in Berwick. He preached in the Episcopal church, during a vacancy in the
  rectorship of the parish. This was probably in the year 1829. In the autumn of 1831, while
  William PRETTYMAN and Wesley HOWE were stationed at Berwick, Reverend Alem BRITTAIN visited
  Light Street and found it necessary to remain, although the presiding elder insisted that he
  should return to his circuit in Center county. At Mr. PRETTYMAN's suggestion, Mr. HOWE
  exchanged work with Mr. BRITTAIN. It had meanwhile been publicly announced that regular
  religious services would be held at Bloomsburg, and on a Sunday evening in October, 1831,
  Mr. BRITTAIN preached to a large audience in the school-house. This was the first sermon
  delivered in Bloomsburg, after it had become a regular appointment. A class was formed in
  1832 and consisted of Dr. Harman GEARHART, William PAUL, Jesse SHANNON, Deliah (CREVELING)
  BARTON, and others. Preaching at that time was held in a school-house, at the corner of
  Second and Iron streets. Subsequently, William PAUL's carpenter-ship on Market street,
  between First and Second, became the place of meeting. In 1835, a frame church building was
  erected on Third street; this was replaced in 1857 by the brick structure that now marks its
  site. It was dedicated in December, 1857, by Bishop Levi SCOTT. Its appearance, both
  internally and externally, has been improved at various times since. An extensive revival
  was held at the dedication of the church in 1857, during the pastorate of Rev. George
  WARREN, and again in 1869, under the leadership of Reverend J. A. MELICK.
  
      The Primitive Methodist and Welsh Wesleyans were represented in Bloomsburg by strong
  congregations during the first prosperity of the iron industry. The African Methodist church
  seems to have become a permanent organization. A building site on First street was purchased
  in 1868, and a frame church building erected thereon. It is the place of worship of a
  flourishing organization.
  
      It has been thought proper in this connection to present the names of all the Methodist
  clergymen who have preached in Bloomsburg or the surrounding country, by conference
  appointment. This section was embraced in Northumberland circuit from 1791 to 1831, with the
  exception of the years 1799 and 1800, when it was included in Wyoming; Berwick circuit
  comprehended this territory during the fifteen years following; Bloomsburg circuit in 1847,
  and Bloomsburg station in 1862. Having thus summarized the changes in the ecclesiastical
  map, the list of ministers is herewith subtended: 1791 Richard PARROTT, Lewis BROWNING;
  1792, James CAMPBELL, William COLBERT; 1793, James CAMPBELL, James PAYNTER; 1794, R. MANLY,
  J. BRODHEAD; 1795, James WARD, Stephen TIMMONS; 1796, John SEWARD, R. SNEATH; 1797, John
  LACKEY, D. HIGBY; 1798, J. LACKEY, J. LEACH; 1799, J. MOORE, B. BIDLACK, D. STEVENS; 1800,
  E. CHAME=BERS, E. LARKINS, A. SMITH; 1801, J. DUNHAM, G. CARPENTER; 1802, Anning OWENS, J.
  ATKINS; 1803, D. RYAN, J. RIDGWAY; 1804, T. ADAMS, G. DRAPER; 1805, C. FRYE, J. SAUNDERS;
  1806, Robert BURCH, John SWARTZWELDER; 1807, Nicholas Joel SMITH; 1808, Thomas CURREN, John
  RHODES; 1809, Timothy LEE, Loring GRANT; 1810, Abraham DAWSON, Isaac PUFFER; 1811, B. G.
  PADDOCK, J. H. BAKER, R. LANNING; 1812, George THOMAS, Ebenezer DOOLITTLE; 1813, Joseph
  KINKEAD, I. CHAMBERLAIN; 1814, John HAZZARD, Abraham DAWSON; 1815, AR. M. EVERTS, I. COOK;
  1816, John THOMAS, Alpheus DAVIS; 1817, Benjamin BIDLACK, Peter BAKER; 1818, Gideon LANNING,
  Abraham DAWSON; 1819, John RHODES, Darius WILLIAMS; 1820, John RHODES, Israel COOK; 1821,
  Marmaduke PEARCE, J. THOMAS; 1822, John THOMAS, Mordecai BARRY; 1823, J. R. SHEPHERD, M.
  BARRY; 1824, R. CADDEN, F. MACURTENY, R. BOND; 1825, R. CADDEN, R. BOND; 1826, John THOMAS,
  George HILDT; 1827, John THOMAS, David SHAVER; 1828, Charles KALBFUS, William JAMES, 1829,
  James W. DONAHAY, Josiah FORREST; 1830, James W. DONAHAY, A. A. ESKRIDGE; 1831, William
  PRETTYMAN, Wesley HOWE; 1832, William PRETTYMAN, Oliver EGE; 1833, Marmaduke PEARCE, Alem
  BRITTAIN; 1834-35, J. RHODES, J. H. YOUNG; 1836, J. SANKS, George GUYER; 1838, Charles
  KALBFUS, J. HALL; 1839, Charles KALBFUS, Penfield DOLL; 1840, James EWING, William R. MILLS;
  1841, James EWING, W. F. D. CLEMM; 1842, Thomas TANEYHILL, Joseph A. ROSS; 1843, Thomas
  TANEYHILL, Thomas BOWMAN; 1844, Francis N. MILLS, W. L. SPOTTSWOOD; 1845, John BOWEN, W. F.
  PENTZ; 1846, John BOWEN, J. W. BULL; 1847, S. L. M. COUSER, J. TURNER; 1848, G. H. DAY, J.
  W. ELLIOTT; 1849, John W. GERE, P. E., G. H. DAY; 1850, J. S. LEE, E. H. WARING; 1851, J. S.
  LEE, T. M. GOODFELLOW; 1852, Thomas TANEYHILL, W. E. BUCKINGHAM; 1853, Thomas TANEYHILL, J.
  A. De MOYER; 1854, J. A. ROSS, A. W. GUYER; 1855, J. MOREHEAD, F. M. SLUSSER; 1856, George
  WARREN, S. BARNES; 1857, George WARREN, N. W. COLBURN; 1858-59, J. GUYER, T. SHERLOCK; 1860,
  F. GEARHART, A. R. RILEY; 1862-63, D. C. JOHN; 1864-66, R. E. WILSON; 1867, J. A. PRICE;
  1868-69, J. A. MELIK, 1870-71, B. H. CREVER: 1872-73, N. S. BUCKIGHAM; 1874-75, J. H.
  McGARRAH; 1876, J. S. McMURRAY; 1877-78, M. L. SMYSER; 1879-80, E. H. YOCUM; 1881-82, John
  DONAHUE; 1883-85, D. S. MONROE, D. D.; 1886, F. B. RIDDLE.
  
      The first efforts to establish the Baptist faith in Bloomsburg were made in 1840 by the
  Reverend J. Green MILES, who preached in the Methodist church building in April or May of
  that year. He was then in charge of the Little Muncy, or Madison church. He was given the
  use of the union meeting house, and preached, in all, six sermons. The next minister of this
  denomination was Reverend William S. HALL, of Berwick. In January, 1843, he preached two
  sermons and baptized John SNYDER in Fishing creek. This was the first baptism in Bloomsburg
  agreeably to the doctrine and practice of the Baptist church. Subsequently, Reverend Joseph
  B. MORRIS preached several times in the "Smoketown" school-house. At a still later
  perlod[sic], and after the erection of the Welsh Baptist church, Reverend A. D. NICHOLS
  visited the town and preached several sermons. No continued and regular services were held
  in Bloomsburg until 1858, when Reverend J. R. SHANAFELTS, of Berwick, began to preach once
  in three weeks in the court hall. He delivered his first sermon October 3, 1858. In less
  than a year from this time a house of worship was dedicated. It is a neat and substantial
  frame structure, and required a greater degree of liberality than would now be required. It
  was dedicated July 11, 1859, Reverends Joseph KELLY and A. F. SHANAFELTS preaching on that
  occasion. The church was organized with Martin C. WOODWARD, deacon; John SNYDER, clerk;
  Daniel BREECE, treasurer, and nineteen members, of whom Martin C. WOODWARD, Sarah J.
  WOODWARD, Isaac TYLER, Susan TYLER, Harriet ROAN and Lena FIDLER were received by letters
  from the Danville church; Sarah A. PHILIPS, by letter from the Madison church; John SNYDER,
  in a similar manner from the Berwick church; Richard EDWARD and Martha EDWARD by letter from
  England; Daniel BREECE, Robert ROAN, Elizabeth CADMAN and Maria LOGAN, on experience;
  Margaret DERR, Mary A. BREECE, Lucy COSPER, Mary N. POWELL and Mahala BRITTAIN, by baptism.
  The organization thus effected was constituted a Baptist church by an ecclesiastical
  council, composed of the following clergymen, representatives of eleven different churches:
  S. H. MIRICK, A. J. HAY, O. L. HALL, E. M. ALDEN and A. J. KELLY.
  
      Mr. SHANAFELTS resigned after a three years' ministry. He was succeeded by Reverend J.
  G. PENNY, who remained one year. Reverend G. W. SCOTT took charge January 12, 1863, and
  resigned in March, 1865. Reverend J. P. TUSTIN became pastor March 15, 1865, and continued
  in that capacity for fifteen years. Reverend C. Wilson SMITH took charge in the spring of
  1882, and remained one year and six months. He was succeeded, in 1884, by Reverend D. J. R.
  STRAYER. Since his resignation in the autumn of 1885, Mr. TUSTIN has again become pastor,
  and continues in that capacity at this time (1886). Since the organization of this church
  two hundred and nine persons have been received into membership by baptism, fifty-six by
  letter and twenty-six by experience--a total of two hundred and ninety-one. During the same
  period a loss of thirty-two has been caused by death, of thirty-seven by expulsion, of
  sixty-eight by erasure, and of fifty-four by letter-a total of one hundred and ninety-one.
  From a comparison of these figures it appears that the present numerical strength of this
  church is one hundred members.
  
      The first religious service was held while the canal excavations were in progress, by
  Reverend Father FITZ-PATRICK, of Milton. His successor at that place, Father FITZ SIMMONS,
  held mass on several occasions, in 1844, for the population attracted to Bloomsburg during
  the construction of Irondale Furnace. Services were held regularly several times a month at
  the house of Michael CASEY, on Iron street, below the hill and across from the culvert. Many
  of the workmen attended, and if they had remained permanently in the town, a strong
  organization might have been effected. After they left the town services were held at
  irregular intervals by the priests stationed at Pottsville, Shamokin, Sunbury, and Danville.
  Among this number were Fathers SHERDON, MURRAY, McGINNIS, SMITH, and NOONAN, from Sunbury,
  and SCHLEUTER, from Danville. Under their ministrations, a congregation was gradually
  collected. The need of a permanent place for public worship became apparent with every
  addition to its membership. The purchase of a stone structure on Third street, between Iron
  and Center, formerly occupied by the Primitive Methodists, were successfully negotiated. It
  was rebuilt in 1874, and the pastoral residence adjoining was purchased in 1883. Fathers
  O'BRIEN, REILLY, CLARKE and McCANN have been resident pastors. The parish of St. Columba's
  church also embraces several other points in this county where the Roman Catholic faith is
  represented by members, but not by regularly organized churches.
  
      The success of the Evangelical Association in extending its borders is largely due to
  the spirit of its leadership in advancing into new territory, establishing missions, and
  taking up new appointments. In March, 1873, the Central Pennsylvania Conference of this body
  decided to occupy Bloomsburg as a mission, attach to it several points in the vicinity, and
  place the whole under the pastoral care of the Reverend R. C. BOWERSOX. Six years previous,
  in the winter of 1867, the Reverend U. W. HARRIS held the first service of this church in
  Bloomsburg, in the "Port Noble" school-house. A class was formed with George RISHEL, leader.
  Among its members were Joseph GARRISON, Henry GARRISON, George RISHEL, Elijah STROHM, ____
  HOUSEKNECHT and Tobias HENRY. Public worship was held regularly, but the necessity of moving
  from one place to another greatly hindered the growth of the society. A lot of ground was
  purchased in 1873 for a building site; December 12, 1880, Bishop Thomas BOWMAN dedicated the
  brick structure erected thereon, and the congregation for the first time worshiped in their
  own house. The following ministers have sustained pastoral relations with the Bloomsburg
  mission: 1873-74, R. C. BOWERSOX; 1875-76, J. N. IRVINE; 1877, A. W. SHEUBERGER and J. S.
  HERTZ; 1878-79, G. W. HUNTER; 1879-80, L. K. HARRIS; 1880-81, S. E. DAVIS; 1882-84, S. P.
  REMER; 1885-, H. W. BUCK.
  
      The Columbia county Sunday School Association is an organization which includes all
  evangelical sunday schools. It is auxiliary to the State and International Sunday School
  Association. It is the purpose of this organization to encourage weak schools and to
  organize schools where needed. It has been organized eighteen years and holds conventions
  annually in various parts of the county, at which time its officers are elected. The work of
  organizing an association in each township and borough auxiliary to the county association
  has progressed until but four remain unorganized.
  
      At the time when Bloomsburg is best described as a country village, the burial ground of
  each congregation was in the rear of its church building. This arrangement continued until
  Rosemont Cemetery was incorporated. Messrs. D. J. WALLER, Jacob EYER, Joel RUDEROW and the
  clergy of the town were the leaders in this movement. Subsequently, the different
  denominational burial grounds have ceased to be used for that purpose, and except in the
  case of the German cemetery, the remains of those buried there have been disinterred and
  removed to Rosemont.