Picturesque Monroe county
.\\ v jf:i/..-'y^ -fi •^ %*■ * «.v '"% V* 5lg> _ V" >*> ^ %^ 'V •V - ♦, %. ■>• oqn v** •t-v V 5 /' ^ V * : '*+f JV % V .' ''. -- A0' ft. </V ^ ,-^v e * *• V? \ V • 0 ^ •I -7*, \° ° ^ •%. , ■^V ^ *fe o* ->>:^>< ^y, v,;iy v**v :^% : ^ #% &\ /% Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from The Library of Congress http://www.archive.org/details/picturesquemonro01evan PICTURESQUE MONROE COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA. EixuB^jSLOiisra- f=jos.p?.tic'U"LjSs.e5.l-s- STROUDSBURG, EAST STROUDSBURG, HIGHLAND DELL, DELAWARE WATER GAP, SHAWNEE, MINSI, ANALOMINK, PARKSIDE, MARSHALL'S CREEK, COOLBAUGH AND BUSHKILL, WITH HISTORICAL. SKETCH BY IDE.. J. LjOlISTTZL. rAueaoiwnH^o' •\ fAU6 3Ci897 )^0^-C Compiled and Published -nyy Stroudsburg. Pa. 3 £97. \Vkt!* NOTE. The illustrations shown herewith are from photographs taken specially for this work and are the exclusive property of the publisher. Any infringement of their use will be dealt with according to law. Copyright, 1897, by Morris Evans. The Times Publishing Company. stroudsburg, pa., printers. The Moss Engraving Company, puck building, NEW YORK. / - \0£~IC? PREFACE. It is trusted that the following pages, filled with prose and art, will in some small measure serve to answer the question, which the curious or interested person would nat- urally ask, namely, "what is the advantage of a residence, long or short, in Monroe county." We have done what we could in that direction, but painfully realize how inadequate are the means to that end. In preparing the foregoing matter we have been, in no small degree, harrassed, more or less, by a fear of saying too much, or too little ; of being too precise, or too general ; too loose in statement, or too rigidly historic. It has been our uniform aim to make our matter interesting, if not instructive, and as true to fact as possible, with the means at hand ; to glean such facts and incidents as may be worth treasuring, at least by those concerned in them directly or remotely. Art is too limited in its scope to illustrate our subject- matter as fully as originally were our aim and design. But we are, nevertheless, animated by the hope that what little we give ma}' kindle a desire in the minds of our readers for more, and thus induce them to come and see the originals for themselves, which, in that case, will speak far better things than we have been able to say. If in our attempted dalliance with the popular queen, called Science, we shall receive her smile, it, no doubt, will be grateful to our pride ; but, if otherwise, we shall still be content in the conviction that she at most, in such matters, does not speak in a well-known tongue, and is but little more than a sort of priestess, or sibyl, whose utterances re- quire a special interpreter, such as yet, has not been vouch- safed to us. With this explanation, or, if you please, apology, we launch our Sketch Book enterprise on its unsailed sea, not altogether without hope, trusting that the adverse winds of criticism will deal gently and kindly with our little Bark. /?»5J Af-y- Monroe County Court House. HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION. By DR. J. LANTZ. IT would be highly interesting to know accurately the early history of Stroudsburg and vicinit}-. Who the primitive settlers were is not known, nor can it be, with any degree of certainty. Scientists tell us that after the Glacial Period had passed, and the earth became suitable to the support of human life, that there is abundance of proof that the most primitive inhabitants of the globe were once here, and that these were followed by a more civilized race, and these by the Mound Builders, and that these remained until the Indians came and crowded them back to the far west, which eventually swallowed them in history untold, except by a few stray relics, from the character of which their age of succession, and degree of civilization, are in- ferred. And as the Indian crowded out his predecessor, and set up a new race, so is he now experiencing the process of being crowded from the face of the earth, which was once his undisputed home, through the natural working of the unerring law of Divine succession. The First Settler. — Local history, by Mr. L. W. Brod- head, makes Nicholas Depuy the first authenticated white settler in the limits of this county. He was born in France. In early life he was a Roman Catholic priest, but, after a short period, eschewed Romanism, and became a pro- nounced Huguenot, (a French Protestant of the Calvanistic type). The edict of Nantes, approved by King Henry the Fourth, of France, Ma}' 2, 1598, granted religious liberty and equality to all his subjects. This edict was repealed October 18, 1685. On account, perhaps, of the religious persecution following his change of religion, and the strong and bitter agitation for the repeal of the edict, long years before it was accomplished, Mr. Depuy took up his resi- dence in Holland, where he married a Miss Roseyand sub- sequently sailed to this country from Artois, France, ar- riving in New York in October, 1662, with his wife and three children. He settled in Ulster county, N. Y. In from 1725-27 he purchased land of the Indians and removed with his family to Minisink Valley. This valley extends from the Delaware Water Gap, including both sides of the river, to Port Jervis, N. Y., and beyond. This Indian pur- chase embraced 3,000 acres on the river, about three miles above the Gap, including the islands in the river and the Shawnee region. This is said to be the oldest documentary authenticated settlement by the whites on the Pennsylvania side of Delaware river, on land now included in Monroe county. About sixty-eight years before Mr. Depuy made his purchase, the Dutch from Esopes (now Kingston, N. Y. ), worked copper, lead or silver mines on the New Jersey side of the river, nearly opposite the' Depuy purchase. But they prosecuted their business as miners, carried their product to Esopes, N. Y., over a made road, nearly ioo miles dis- The Stroud Minsion. tant. They were temporary occupants of the land. When the}- ceased to work the mines they left, leaving no settle- ment behind. Our venerable and respected townsman, Robert R. Depuy, was born in the ancestral mansion at Shawnee, November 13, 1S14, and is a direct descendant of the origi- nal settler, and fifth in descent to own the ancestral home. Dansbury was a name originally applied to the region embraced in the two boroughs, and retained that name until 1769, when Stroudsburg was founded. This County was brought into existence by an act of the Assembly entitled "An act erecting parts of Northamp- ton and Pike counties into a separate county to be called Monroe." This act was approved by Gov. Joseph Ritner, April 1, 1836. The Selection of the County Seat was left for the voters to determine. As contestants for that honor Stroudsburg, Del. Water Gap and Kellersville entered the field. To settle that question an election was held July 2, 1836, which resulted in a draw, neither place receiving a majority vote. This place received 800, the Gap 80 and Kellersville 750 votes. A second election was held on the 26th of the same month, when this place and the Gap joined forces and cast 1 132 votes for Stroudsburg, while 1062 votes were cast for Kellersville. Stroudsburg winning the prize by 70 major- ity. The question aroused great interest. The winners were greatlj' rejoiced, while the losers were deeply cha- grined. Mutual accusations of fraud were freely made. Aii allusion in after years to the manner of voting and counting the ballots cast on that occasion, usualty excited a broad smile on the faces of those who knew just how it was done. It was generally conceded at the time, that while one side cast all the honest and illegal votes it could, the other side did precisely the same thing, exceeding the other in Main Street in J 865. that particular by j ust 70 votes. That was the only difference. The Court House not being completed in season, the first court in this county was held in the upper rooms of the old Edward H. Walton house, opposite the Burnett House, on the South. That house has just been removed to make room for a more'rnodern and comely structure. THE FOUNDER OF STROUDSBURG. 8TROUDSBURG is located on land originally owned by Lynford Lardner, Daniel Brodhead, Peter LaBar and others, who are the ancestors of those bearing those names both here and in different parts of the United States. Peter was the ancestor of the noted George LaBar, who lived to be one hundred and eleven years old. Lardner sold his property to Derrick VanVleit, and Jacob Stroud subse- quently became the purchaser of it. The region em bracing this place and East Stroudsburg was at first known as Dansbury, and retained that name until 1 769, when Strouds- burg was founded by Col. Jacob Stroud. He was born at Amwell, Hunterdon Co., N. J., January 15, 1735. His father was born in Great Britain, and came to this country with his parents when but five years old. His grandfather had incurred the displeasure of King Charles the First in voting as a member of Parliament to abridge the king's de- mands. The parents of the founder placed him under the care of Nicholas Depuy, the owner of a large landed estate at Shawnee, a few miles above the Del. Water Gap, to learn farming. Mr. Depuy was the first authenticated settler in the territory embraced in Monroe county. When the founder became of age in 1756, he and three of his brothers enlisted in the Colonial English army for the period of five years. In 1757 the founder was one of a garrison at Fort William Henry, on Lake George. The garrison was over- powered by the French and Indians under Gen. Montcalm. After stipulating safety from the French Indians the garri- son surrendered. But notwithstanding this stipulation many Indians in the English command and a portion of the white soldiers were treacherously handed over to the In- dians under the French, to be killed. The founder was among those doomed to be slaughtered, but by fast running and dexterous dodging he and a few of his com- rades escaped. He was also with the English army at the tak- ing of Quebec, September 3rd, 1759, an(i was close by Gen. Wolfe, who fell Main Street. happy." This ended the founder's services in the English army, as the war was over, after about two years' soldiering. He returned to the scenes of his private life, and on April 6, 1 76 1, married Elizabeth MacDowell, a grand-daughter of Nicholas De- puy, with whom the founder had learned how to farm. Soon af- ter his marriage he engaged in t ranspor ti ng ; government sup- plies to Fort Pitt, near Pittsburg, Pa. He soon gave that enter- ,' prise up and took ' a contract with Abel Stevens, a ; prominent Phila- delphian, to car- ry provisions through the set- mortally wounded at the moment of victory, and as- sisted to carry the general behind a rock, where he lived just long enough to know that victor y was complete, and give utterance to the words " Now, God be praised, I die tied region north of this place to Shohola, a settlement on the Delaware, a few miles above Port Jervis. But soon after this his partner loaned the founder a sum of money, when he purchased 300 acres of land, about three miles from this town, on which was a grist mill, (now the present site of the Kunkletown mill,) a dwelling house and other buildings. From this time on the founder was prosperous, success at- tending his every venture, and at his death he was the pos- sessor of about 4,000 acres of land. On the 8th of July, 1776, Col. Stroud was elected a mem- ber to form the first constitution of Pennsylvania. He at- tended the first meeting July 15, 1776, held at Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia. The constitution drafted was adopted September 28, 1776. During the Revolution the founder was placed in com- mand at Fort Penn, the last remnant of which was carried away by the freshet of 1869, now the site of the Winter- mute building. In this fort he saw no service. His duty was to watch and wait. After this he served three years in the State Legislature. That service ended his public life. Col. Jacob Stroud, the founder, was of medium height and size, fair complexion, clear blue e5res, light hair, with marked features. His literary education was such as poorly equipped country schools at that time afforded. He was a natural mathematician, very ready with mental work, and possessed a wonderful memory of everything connected with figures. He was very social, free and easy in his manners and quick at repartee. He disliked intoxicating drinks and abstained from them. He died from the effects of an acci- dent, resulting in turning over his buggy and throwing him against a stump, injuring his liver and inducing a jaundiced condition, from which he died July 14, 1806, aged seventy- one years and six months. His remains were interred in the old cemetery in the eastern part of this town. The founder's posterity was very large, branches of which settled in several states of the Union. But at the end of the third genera- tion none of the name is to be found in this place or county. FORTS IN TOWN. There were two forts erected in Stroudsburg. Fort Hamil- ton, at the western end of town, was built in 1756, on land which is now the es- tate of Judge S. S. Dreher. It was erected for protection against the In- dians during German Reformed Church. the war between them and the whites from 175510 1763. Fort Perm, on the site of the present Wintermute property, near the middle of town, was built in 1776 for protection during the Revolution, and was commanded by the founder, Col. Jacob Stroud. During one of their raids on December nth, 1755, the Indians burned a grist mill, house and barn, erected near Wallace's dam, and owned by Ephraim Culver, from Connecticut, also a Moravian mission church erect- ed nearthe west end of the iron bridge spanning Brodhead's creek. Mr. Culver and his family, consisting of his wife, one son and four daughters, had merely time to make their escape. They fled towards Nazareth, and looking back from Hollinshead's Drug Store J 865. the hills, they saw their home going up in fire and smoke. - On the same day between the rivers Lehigh and Delaware, many inhabitants were massacred and dwellings laid in ashes. In East Stroudsburg, then called Danshury, resided Daniel Brodhead, the ancestor of that name in the United States, at whose house many fled for protection. His house was speedily fortified and was soon after attacked by about 200 Indians, who were repulsed by the settlers. This house rebuilt, is owned and occupied by Jesse R. Smith. The Indians were deadly set against their white neigh- bors because they believed they had over-reached them in the laud purchases, as per the "Walking" sale, etc., and re- solved to totally blot them out. The Indians unwisely concluded that they were the unconditional and absolute owners of the land on which they found themselves. No one had given the land to them, nor had they made any sacrifice for it. Providence had placed them ou their na- tive soil, just as He did the bison, the elk, the deer, or the fish on which they fed. They were Providential tenants at will, owning only a living in the land while they occupied it. The Indians had driven out a preceding race. The Divine progress of civilization had, by allowing the whites to come on their heels, simply ordered the Indians to "move- on" to make room for a superior civilization. The infe- rior must yield to the superior, the weak to the strong. The impotent and unworthy cannot be masters. In the very nature of things the world over this is an absolute law. Were it otherwise, progress would cease and civilization 10 speedily run into decay. Those who put their shoulder against the wheel of Divine progress will be ground to powder. But this law the poor Indians could not compre- hend. They fought against a pow- er and influence the3r could not master, and lost all. The Wyoming Massacre oc- curred July 3, 1778. Four hundred British and Tories and seven hun- dred Indians attacked about three hundred settlers composed mostly of old men and boys, and utterly defeated them and drove them into Forty-Fort, after over two-thirds of their number had fallen, the In- dians and Tories slaughtering all the wounded and prisoners. And on surrendering the next day the stip- ulated safety was not observed. A few by good luck or dexterity es- caped. The inhuman slaughter made one hundred and fifty widows and six hundred orphans. Terror filled all that region. Stroudsburg being a more pro- tected place, man}- sought refuge here and in a few da3^s after, were received at Fort Penn, in command of the founder, with all the kindness and sympathy of human nature made kin by a common fear and suffering- OUR CLIMATE. The climate of this place and re- gion included in Monroe county, is strong and bracing. The atmosphere in its best condition seems surcharg- ed with electric oxygen , called ozone, which is so peculiarly invigorating to jaded and prostrated nerves. The rays of the sun are strong. We have neither sluggish streams nor decaying swamps to generate malaria. Our streams, large and small, are rapid, and being fed with spring water, are cool and refresh- . ing. The succession of mountain ranges on the east more or less purify the eastern winds, and rob them in a great degree of their peculiarly depressing and enervat- ing effects on both the sick and well. Our dry and porous soil is a ready absorbent of all malarial breeding germs, and therefore fever and ague cases are of the most rare production in all this region. Hence Monroe county is a Mecca to persons who have contracted that disease elsewhere. We have our due share of storms and changing temperature, and cloudy days, and thunders and lightnings, but with the advantage of less humidity than usual in other places not favored with the strong sunshine and invigorat- ing breezes. Our nights are, with few exceptions, cool and refreshing. It is true that in July and August, we occasionally peculiar healing principle. Our mountains for hay fever and asthma, and the hills, valleys and plains for consump- tion, nervous exhaustion and other debilitating troubles. From Little to Great.— About sixty-five years ago the Delaware Water Gap, Highland Dell, Stroudsburg and pos- sibly a few other places, began to accommodate a few sum- mer boarders. Neither the capacity of the houses nor pre- have a few nights and mornings that are more or less foggy, but they are more a source of amusing novely than harm, for the strong morning sun rays soon dissipate the fog, and dry and purify the atmosphere again. Our valleys, hills and mountains from the Delaware Water Gap to Mount Pocono, have in modified form some The Flood of 1869. paration to meet the demands of that patronage was great, yet it was satisfactory and kindly appreciated. It was the introduction of a new era. At the height of a most favora- ble season at that time, perhaps less than a hundred board- ers could be found within the borders of our entire county. But from a small beginning this clientage has grown to be great. In the midst of an average season at this date, thousands can be found enjoying themselves in best possi- ble way in our multitude of well-kept and healthy retreats. All classes of boarders can be' accommodated within the limits of our county. We have the best and the lowest rates, the finest equipped houses in the land, as well as the more Main Street in 1865. plain and humble, all supplying good, wholesome food and rendering kind attention. Above Ocean Level. — The following table of ocean levels is gleaned from state geological survey published in 1878, and other sources: Portland, 291 feet; Delaware Water Gap (R. R. bed), 319 feet; Water Gap House, 610; Top of mountain (Gap), 1479 feet; Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg, 425 feet ; Spragueville, 490; Henryville, 596 ; Cresco, ion ; Mount Pocono (Forks), 1932; PoconoSum- mit, 1990; Tobyhanna Mills, 1964; Moscow, 1558; Dun- ning's, 1400; Greenville, 1185; Scranton, 743. STROUDSBURG. Scenery. — The beauty of Monroe county scenery is proverbial. The distant views from high points are almost unequaled. The waving valleys and climbing hills, with distant mountains for background, interspersed with green growing crops or ripening harvests, dotted here and there with farm homes, present a most enrapturing effect on the refined mind. The finest painting by a most skillful artist would be no comparison. Some of our most experi- enced and cultivated travellers, who have in their trips abroad taken in the beauties of Europe, have repeatedly said that this county affords some of the finest and most entrancing landscapes they ever saw. The distant views from the heights around the Water Gap, from Transue's Knob, from Mount Pocono, and the heights about Stroudsburg, are so perfect and pleasing that they scarcely admit of comparison. But no description, however cunning, can give any true conception of their real worth and beauty. They must be seen to be appreciated. Stroudsburg, the capital of Monroe county, in its early history was bounded on three sides by three creeks, but 13 latterly its bounds have jumped itsPocono and McMichael's creeks limits, and is now located on and embracing, on the south and west, both of these streams, with Brodhead's creek for its limit on the extreme east. The Pocono empty- ing into McMichael's on the south and the latter joining Brodhead's creek on the east. Each of these streams has its source in spring water, and is fed by springlets, making unusually pure and cool water. Stroudsburg has a wide reputation for general beauty. Many persons who have gone through the east and west and have seen many of the most beautiful towns and cities of this country, have very frequently remarked that while they had seen many very beautiful cities and towns, they had, nevertheless, seen none that pleased them so well, in a general way, as Stroudsburg, and none so homelike, and in which they would rather live. Our Broad Streets, well paved walks and beautifully shaded streets are indeed most inviting in the hot, burning days of summer. Forty-Five Years Ago this place had but five or six brick buildings within its borders, and these were of the most commonplace type. But since that time hundreds have been erected, and also hundreds of neatly constructed frame buildings, many with modern improvements, neat and artistic in general appearance. Now almost all the old buildings have either been torn down or built over on the modernized plan. All our churches have been rebuilt, and four new churches added, all presenting an attractive style of architecture. These in connection with our new Court House, Stroudsburg National Bank building, the Singmas- ter-Collins residence, and those of Messrs. Geo. L. Adams, George G. Tillotson, Thos. Kitson, Dr. J. H. Shull, the Keller, Miller and Marsh buildings, the Angle Ruster building, the Ma- sonic Hall, Hollins- head's block, Public School buildings, large hotels and scores of other beautiful homes and structures, mark a style of architectural taste and skill that would do credit to any large place. Our walks, most thoroughly paved and shaded, make walking an easy task, if not pleas- ure, and tolerable in almost any kind of weather. Rents are com- paratively'low and First Presbyterian Church. 14 .general living expenses unusually cheap. Meat, vegetables, butter, milk, eggs, &c, of the best quality, also fruit, both foreign and domestic, as well as seasonable luxuries, of . ever}r sort, are ever at our doors at most reasonable rates. Our Water Company furnishes good soft water from spring sources, which, b\- filtration, can be made a most prime article for all manner of purposes. The Original Four-in-Hand. Tornadoes are not known here. The distant moun- tains at the south and north-west, with the assistance of the near by hills, shield this place effectually frcm destructive storms and winds. Floods have on two occasions excited great interest. On June 2, 1862, we were visited by a freshet that was remark- ably destructive. A large grist mill, large cabinet store, John Boy's residence next to the M. E. Church, and the fronts of several stores and residences on the west side of Main Street, also a foundry, and several hundred lineal feet of our streets were washed away, making a public and pri- vate loss of perhaps not less than $75,000. But within a few months after the disaster, the streets were replaced, a new mill erected on the old site, and the other buildings were restored in due season. But most remarkable to say, on October 4, 1869, we were again visited by a freshet, which in character and loss, was almost an exact repetition of the former one, seven years before. The second loss was alone due to inadequate protection against extraordinarj' high water. This led to the calling into use of the best practical engineering skill that could be procured, in order to insure absolute safety against freshets of any magnitude that Pocono and McMich- ael's creeks had the power to get up. To this end the ex- posed part of the town was thoroughly and strongly cribbed and filled with stone and faced with plank, at the most ex- posed point. This was to be followed, in after years, when the cribbing and planking began to give way, with a heavy stone sloped wall. That wall has been put in. This last protection has been several times severely tested by remark- ably high water, but at no point was it found wanting. Our town can now be said to be absolutely freshest-proof. Our Stores, and especially our large ones, are most thoroughly kept. Everything that is sold in the cities, that 15 our citizens are interested in, is kept here on sale, or can at the quickest possible time be procured, and at city shopping rates, or less. There is therefore but little use in spending time and money in going to our large cities to do shopping. Centre Street. For educational purposes we have a most efficient and successful public school, and the State Normal close by. We have many churches representing nearly all faiths. Our municipal government is well administered, assessed valuation low, and taxes moderate. We therefore risk lit- tle in saying, that Stroudsburg is one of the cheapest, health- iest, pleasantest, as well as best places to live in, that can be found in the country. OUR SCHOOLS. The first school house for the benefit of Stroudsburg and vicinity was built on Keever's Hill in about 1780, above William H. Owen's residence, a few hundred yards west of the car shops of the N. Y. Sus. and Western Railroad, on the road towards the Wind Gap. It was a log structure. Its first teacher was a Mr. Curtis. The second school house was a stone structure built on Green street in about 1S00, on a lot next to the Orthodox Friends' Meeting house. The first teachers were Nathaniel Waters, a Mr. Gum- mere, a brother of the author of the work on surveying, Wm. McVough, Dr. Herring, a Mr. Hubbard, and The third school was incorporated by act of the Legislature, March 28, 1814, as "Stroudsburg Academy." The State appropriated $400 towards the cost a Miss Alice Welding. 16 of construction, and the balance was subscribed by the citi- zens of this place and vicinity. It was a two-story stone building, erected at the rear of Dr. Shull's residence, on Green street. The house was used for school purposes during the week, and on Sunday it was occupied for church purposes. The Presbyterian, the Methodist and the Bap- tist congregations making use of the building for public worship until they could otherwise better accommodate themselves. The use of the building, it is said, was given the above-named congregations in consideration of liberal subscriptions towards the cost of the construction of the academy, which was completed in 1816. Among its teach- ers later on we find the names of Joseph Shepherd, Rev. J. B. Hyndshaw, Rev. Frederick Knighton and Ira B. Newman. Three teachers deserve mention in this sketch, who taught select schools at later dates in the old stone academy, reaching over a long number of years and succeeding each other in the order named, and who are kindly remembered by a long list of pupils, namely, Miss Margaretta S. Miller, Mrs. Elizabeth Malven Ridgway, and Mrs. Charlotte Miller Burson. The fourth school for the benefit of this place was in- corporated by act of the Legislature as the "Stroudsburg French Seminary," March 4, 1839. The State appropriated $2,000 towards the cost of constructing the building, the citizens raising the balance. This building was erected without delay, and occupied for school purposes until 1884. This was the old academy on the hill, which has been re- modeled into a neat and elegant dwelling-house, and is now owned and occupied as such, by Cicero Gearhart, Esq. Among the principals who taught in the old academy, we note the names of Lewis D. Vail, Esq., James Carr, Jr., Rev. James E. Miller, Stephen Holmes, Esq., Jerre Frutchey, D. S. Lee, Esq., Robt. Foresman, Dr. Frederick Knighton, who taught in the old stone academy 38 years before ; B. F. Morey, now editor of the Monroe Democrat, and Will H. Ramsey, who is still principal of our public school. In 1884 the new and beautiful public school building was completed and occupied. The graded schools were concentrated in that build- ing. The structure con- tained eight large school rooms. School was opened with a registry of 394 pupils. But want of sufficient room was readily seen to be not far off. In September, 1893, a new building was COni- Methodist Episcopal Church. 17 Residence of Stogdell Stokes, 1865. pleted in the rear of the first one, of the same size and form. Our completed school buildings now contain sixteen large rooms, two class-rooms and one large book-room. The school has now all the modern improvements, and is a large, commodious and fine structure, costing, fully equipped, 'a little over $40,000. The occupancy of the new school house led to a thorough and entire revision of the course of study to be pursued. It was arranged so that at the com- pletion of the course the students should be subjected to a systematic and rigid examination. Yearly commencement exercises were to be held and diplomas granted to those de- serving them. Since then the course of study broadened from year to year, so that now, without neglecting the branches that are necessary for a practical business educa- tion, students can be and are prepared for immediate en- trance upon the general course in college. The graduates now number fifty-four. Last year added fourteen to the almuni, the largest number in any of the past six j^ears. During the last year 659 pupils were enrolled, the greatest of any year in the school's history. Thus showing our school to be in the height of its prosperity. Stroudsburg has best of reason to be proud of its Public School. Its thorough teaching is said to be not excelled by any institu- tion of the kind in the State. We have it from best author- ity that our graduates who enter the State Normal stand head and shoulders above those prepared at other like in- stitutions, and about the same is said of those who enter college. The teaching seems to be thorough and eminently practical. Besides having one of the best Public Schools in the State, we have the State Normal School less than a mile from our eastern Borough limit. OUR BUSINESS INTERESTS. Our business interests and enterprises are on the in- crease and have been growing rapidly for the past several years. We have two National Banks, a Building and Loan Association, a large Woolen Mill, Tannery and Split Leather Factory, two Lumber Mills, three Cabinet and Furniture Stores, a Coal Yard, two Flouring Mills, Foundry, twro 18 Depots, two Wagon Factories, Steam Laundry, N. Y. S. & W. Railroad Shops; a Water Compan}-, Large Electric Light Plant, Gas Plant, six Cigar Factories; Telegraph, Long and Short Distance Telephones reaching all points; four large Drug Stores, three Millinery Stores, two large Jewelry Stores, a Carpet Store; twenty-five other stores, which rep- resent all varieties of trade, including dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hats and caps, carpets, &c; three Clothing Stores, a large Newspaper, Stationery and Variety Store, five large Hotels, three Saloons; Music Stores and Sewing Machine establishments; two Bakeries, two Ice Cream es- tablishments, a Wall Paper Store, a new Carpet Factory just budding into usefulness; three newspaper offices issu- ing three Weekly papers and one Daily ; a steam street car communicating with all the trains on the D. L. & W. Rail- road. On our western border we have the celebrated Tan- ite Emery Wheel Factory. These industries and enter- prises afford steady employment to hundreds of persons of both sexes. Our railroad facilities, remarkable water power and conveniences, are most favorable to manufacturing en- terprises, and must, in the near future, be still more utilized. OUR RAILROAD CONVENIENCES. In May, 1856, the Delaware, Lackawanna and West- ern Railroad was completed from New York city by way of Stroudsburg and Scranton to Buffalo. That event inaugu- rated a radical revolution in the way of travelling. It utterly dethroned the old stage king, which had ruled with undisputed sway so long. Its reign had an eventful his- tory, recording many pleasures and pains. Many grieved at its downfall. But it had fully served out its time, and the law of the fittest and best had decreed that it should go and it went. After an interval of 26 years the New York, Susquehanna and Western Rail- road was completed to this place in Sep- tember, 1882. After another interval of eleven years this road was extended to Wilkesbarre, 65 miles northwest of this place. These _ two railroads give Stroudsburg connec- tion with all places reached by railroads. The excursion and trip-rates afford cheap travel to New York and Philadelphia and other points. Distances From Stroudsburg Via D. L. & W. — New York city, 95 miles; Philadelphia, 115 miles; Newark, N. J., 88 miles ; Trenton, N. J., 80 miles ; Easton, 31 miles; St. John's Lutheran Church. 19 Stroudsburg Naticnal Bant. Dover, 54 miles ; Hackettstown, 35 miles ; Washington, 25 miles ; Manunka Chunk, 14 miles; Portland, 9 miles; Del. Water Gap, 4 miles; Spragueville, 4 miles ; Henryville, 8 miles; Cresco, 13 miles; Mount Pocono, 18 miles; Pocono Summit, 21 miles; Tobyhanna, 26 miles ; Gouldsboro, 32 miles ; Moscow, 39 miles ; Scranton, 53 miles; Great Bend, 101 miles; Binghamton, 115 miles; Buffalo, 318 miles. Distance Via N. Y. S. & W. R. R .— Bartonsville, 6 miles ; Reeders, 10 miles; Tannersville, 14 miles; Stauffer's, 28 miles; Lehigh, 36 miles; Yatesville, 53 miles; Wilkesbarre, 65 miles. TWO CHURCHES AND TWO GRIST MILLS. The first two churches, and the first two grist mills, in the bounds of what is now Monroe county, may be of a little interest to some of our readers. The first church in the county was built a little above Shawnee, near the Weaver farm, in 1742. It was erected by a Reformed Dutch organization, and the structure was of logs. The second church in the county was built by Daniel Brodhead in 1743, and donated to the Moravian Indian Mission. It was called "Dansbury Mission," and though used for the pur- pose intended, it was not dedicated until May 19, 1753. This building was also made of logs. The church was formally or- ganized in 1747, and consisted of eighteen persons, namely, Daniel and Esther Brodhead, John and Catherine Hillman, Joseph and Hellen Haines, Edward and Catherine Holly, Francis and Rebecca Jones, William and Mary Clark, John and Hanna Mi- chael, George and Mary Satathe, Daniel Roberts and John Baker. 20 Stroudsburg High School. The Indian Queen Hotel. The church was located close to the west or Strouds- burg end of Brodhead's Creek iron bridge. It was burned by the Indians December n, 1755, after which the Mission was abandoned. Through a just fear of the Indians the missionary, John Paj-ne, had made good his escape to Brodhead's mansion, at East Stroudsburg, now the Jesse R. Smith property. The first grist mill erected in the present bounds of Monre count}*, was built by Nicholas Depuy, at Shawnee, in about 1735. The second grist mill was erected in Stroudsburg in 1753, by Ephraim Cullver, from Connecti- cut, on land purchased from Daniel Brodhead. The mill was erected a few yards below Wm. Wallace's mill dam, and was burned with Cullver's house and other buildings, December 11, 1755, the same day of the battle with the In- dians at the Brodhead fortified mansion, at East Strouds- burg. The Cullvers did not realize their danger in time to S2ek safety in the Brodhead mansion, with the other neigh- boring settlers. They were therefore forced to make their escape from the south of this place, and from the hills saw their mill and home in smoke and blaze. They sought shel- ter from the Indian's frenzied wrath, at the Moravian settle- ment at Nazareth, and subsequently became members of that society, and finally made Bethlehem their permanent home. The burning of the Mission church, Cullver's mill, home, and other buildings, made the site of Stroudsburg desolate. ORIGIN OF THE DELAWARE WATER GAP. The Gap is a stupendous wonder. How it happened to be a gap, has never been fully answered. How the water forced itself through that tremendous stone wall, is difficult to comprehend. But the water is guilt}* of that act of vio- lence. There can be no question about that. For the water has it, needed it, and took possession of it. But the ques- tion recurs, how ? Did it originate in the Ice Period, when the Delaware Valley and hills, and all other vallej's and hills reaching to the Rocky Mountains, and not limited by them, were filled mountains high with ice and snow ? Did it not occur at the end of that period when the increasing warmth of the sun's rays reducing that vast volume of ice to water, which naturally flowing to the south over the lowest point in the mountain, and being fed by an almost inexhaustible source soon became a mighty torrent, the momentum of which, canying with it the loosened rocks, and thus under- mining the larger and more solid rocks, which broke off from their gravity, or were broken and ploughed out by the immense pressure of the water and ice ? Did it occur thus, or from a fault or crack in the mountain ? The hardshell geologist, with all the assurance of posi- tive knowledge, asserts that the Glacial Period had nothing to do with the formation of the Gap, and that it had its ori- gin in a fault or crack in the mountain, caused by a con- traction of the interior of the earth in the process of cooling from its fluid state, "just as the skin of an apple forms into 23 wrinkles, as the apple shrinks, so the crust of the earth forms into ridges and mountains as its interior contracts." That the "origin of the Water Gap was a small crack, made when the mountain was being upraised, which crack has been gradually enlarged by atmospheric agencies till it be- came a gap." "That it widened and deepened by the same slow causes that have removed all the coal beds from this region. Lewis 071 the origin of the Gap. Notwithstanding this statement, is it not far more ra- tional to ascribe the formation of the Del. Water Gap, and all the other similar gaps, to the glacial or Ice Period ? The general appearance of the Gap does not by any means sug- gest that it was formed by gradual and slow erosion of the rocks. On the contrary, everything indicates a most stu- pendous agitation. The broken rocks in and about the Gap do violence to Prof. Lewis' gradual formation theory. And then how could the "gradual erosion" theory have ploughed out "the 10,000 feet of strata, including the coal beds ?" To do that did it not require the same violence that broke the mountain wall ? In our quandary, the Ice Period comes to our relief. It has been estimated by its friends, that the ice was piled over 2,000 feet in depth on the earth's surface with a pressure to the square foot of over 60 tons. At the winding up of the Ice Period, when the sun began to as- sume its appointed prerogative, it converted this vast mass of ice and snow into water, which in its frantic, gigantic rush to the south and sea, furnishes the power necessary to carry away the mountain at its lowest and weakest point, and to plough out the 10,000 feet of strata, including our coal, beds, as Prof. Lewis says was done ? If the mountain had the fault or crack, as the Prof, says it had, may not that very fact have furnished the opportunity for the inesti- mable pressure of the ice and water to do their work at that point ? Is not an affirmative answer due ? The mountains were not broken in the Luzerne and other coal regious, and the ice and water passing off more gently, saved their coal beds, while ours were lost from the grinding pressure of the glaciers, and plunging and surging of a powerful tor- rent of incalculable power, carrying everything with it in its mighty rush to the south and sea. 