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Tag Archives: Pennsylvania

AS I WANDERED #19 DANVILLE

28 Tuesday Jan 2014

Posted by Waldo "Wally" Tomosky in AS I WANDERED

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Canal System, Gomer Thomas, Hanging Rock, moose, Pennsylvania, Scranton, Susquehanna River, Waldorf Phillips

Danville Hanging Rock

What a great view.

They call this “Hanging Rock.”  I wonder why.

It is in Danville, Pennsylvania.

However, the area between the river and the cliff is a little narrow for a roadway, a railroad and a canal.

I met the man who took this picture. He said it is going to be placed in the United States Library of Congress.

I hope so.

The hanging rock may puzzle some but I have seen this type thing happen before. It is the “natural progression of progress” – – – if I may use that phrase.

First the rivers were used by rafters to ship produce from rural areas to places like Baltimore and Philadelphia.

It happened on the Susquehanna River, which by the way is the river in the picture, and on the Delaware River – – – just to name two.

Then the canal systems were built. What better place to get water from than the small streams that ran into the rivers. Besides – – – it was already surveyed by God and deemed to be the most level place to build a canal.

Right on their tails were the railroads. So the railroads had to build next to the canals. They did not want to go uphill and downhill either. But there were existing roads in those locations.

So the railroad companies had to blast new roadways for the carriages. And they were not about to go the extra mile. So they blasted just enough for the carriages to pass.

Oh yes – – – how did I get here in Danville, Pennsylvania?

It was Jim McFee again. His relatives had come here from Ireland and built the canals. Some of them stayed in the area to work in the iron works.

See that fellow in the wagon? He is hauling iron ore down to the iron works.

It is that factory down there in the valley.

Danville Iron Works

So Jim’s Uncle Eppy – – – from Henryville – – – sent him this map.  He wanted to show Jim how he was supposed to use the river and the canal system to get to Danville to visit his relatives.

Danville Map

See how the canal followed the Susquehanna River from New York all the way to Northumberland?

Danville is only fifteen miles from Northumberland. Uncle Eppy made it look a little closer to Scranton. Maybe he was trying to make the trip look a little easier than it was.

Anyway, we made the trip to Nanticoke by raft, then hopped on a canal boat just to see what that was all about. The canal boat took us right to the boat basin in downtown Danville.

Danville Downtown Canal

We had a good time downtown. There were a lot of pretty girls there. I think I will return by myself some day.

Oh – – – I almost forgot to tell you. Guess who I met while I was standing on the bridge going over the canal. Give up?  Gomer Thomas!

Yes – – – that Gomer Thomas. I wanted to meet Waldorf Phillips but Gomer told me he had another engagement in Baltimore.

Danville Music Sheet

It wasn’t a big trip. You can take the river or a railroad to get to Baltimore. Gomer gave me this fancy cover page – –  – and the following second page of his and Waldorf’s music.

Danville Music Lyrics

He must have been thrilled that I recognized him right off.

I had seen a woodcut of him on the Opera House in Scranton. It was a very good likeness.

Gomer took us to see the new bridge that they had just built across the Susquehanna River.

Danville New Bridge

We left Danville and headed back to Scranton after a day or two. Jim had sort of a falling out with his relatives. They sure were not any Uncle Eppy or Aunt Polly.


On the canal ride back we saw a moose in the woods – – –

Danville Moose

– – – and several beautiful waterfalls.

Danville Waterfalls

It was a nice trip back but Jim was very moody.

With good reason.

As I Wander Introduction 2

©W. Tomosky♠

AS I WANDERED #8 ASHER BROWN DURAND

17 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by Waldo "Wally" Tomosky in AS I WANDERED

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

American Scenery, art, Asher Brown Durand, Engraving, Kindered Spirits, Maplewood, New Jersey, Painting, Pennsylvania, Scranton, The Beeches, The Hunter, The Trysting Tree

That damn Bogdan Yelcovich is at it again. This time trying to get me interested in art.

There is no way – – – not for me – – – not with gunpowder and fishing worm guts under my fingernails.

Look what he is showing me today. Can you believe it?

Asher Brown Scribners

So I tell him “Nice, Bogdan, but what am I supposed to do with a pretty magazine cover?

He responds “It isn’t the cover I want you to look at; it is what is inside.”

Well I gave in and told him I would look at his foolish magazine.

He opened it up and showed me this.

Asher Brown Picture

“Asher Brown Durand? What would I know about Asher Brown Durand?” I asked Bogdan.

He answered “Once I show you I don’t think you will ever forget him.”

“Take me to him then” I demanded.

“OK” Bogdan said; “Next week we will bum a ride on the train to Maplewood, New Jersey.”

So Bogdan took me to Asher’s home.

Mr. Durand was kind enough to show me the following artwork.

AMERICAN SCENERY

AMERICAN SCENERY

THE TRYSTING TREE

THE TRYSTING TREE

KINDERED SPIRITS  -  1849

KINDERED SPIRITS – 1849

THE HUNTER  -  1846

THE HUNTER – 1846

THE BEECHES  - 1845

THE BEECHES – 1845

Bogdan was right. I don’t think I will ever forget Asher Brown Durand.

Not only was he a great artist but he was also as humble as apple pie. I asked Bogdan if he knew why such a great artist was so humble. Bogdan said that Asher had grown up with a large number of brothers and sisters; that may have had something to do with it.

~

Durand was born in New Jersey. His father was a watchmaker and a silversmith.

He served an apprenticeship in engraving. The owner of the firm offered him a partnership. Asher accepted and managed the firm’s New York branch.

He helped organize the National Academy of Design were he served the organization as president for a number of years.

His interest shifted from engraving to oil painting. He spent summers sketching in the Catskills, Adirondacks, and New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

~

As I said before, that Bogdan Yelcovich sure knew things – – – and famous people.

I began to wonder if I really knew who this Bogdan Yelcovich really was.

As I Wander Introduction 2

©W. Tomosky♠

AS I WANDERED #7 COUNTRY ROADS

16 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by Waldo "Wally" Tomosky in AS I WANDERED

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

dug road, for whom the bell tolls, mind over matter, Pennsylvania, philosophy, roads, Scranton, stillwater road

 

I have no idea why. So don’t ask me.

I love country roads; especially if there is no one else on them. Maybe it is the solitude.

Solitude may have been my downfall. I was supposed to be in charge of a bunch of people. It was like the complaint department in a dry-goods store – – – but one hundred times that. It was a new enterprise in the Industrial Revolution.

So every time I had a chance at solitude – – – I took it. And they caught me. So through MUTUAL AGREEMENT, I departed.

They sent me to one of those head-measurers before I left the organization; “Phrenologyist” I think they called him.

Grey Matter

He told me I should be farming in dirt instead of working in industry; “Dichotomies of the Mind” was what he called my condition. But still – – – I loved solitude and country roads.

Such as this one that lead to nowhere.
Road to nowhere

Or the following one which mimed my turbulent thoughts – – – without resolution.

Road to dreaming

Or sometimes a decision was necessary; in which case I would sit by the side of the road until an answer came to me.

Road to decision

And then every once in a while an entrance to a farmstead would yield someone to talk to – – – even if it was a horse or a cow.

Anyhow – – – they seemed to understand me better.

Road to friendship

So there – – – I have confessed. But still there remains  – – – the Stillwater road.

Stillwater Road
As I Wander Introduction 2

©W. Tomosky♠

AS I WANDERED #6 SPRINGFIELD ARMORY

15 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by Waldo "Wally" Tomosky in AS I WANDERED

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

gunsmith, J. Albright Jr., Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Long Rifle, Rifle, rifled barrels, Scranton, Springfield Armory

Boy oh boy, does that Bugdon Yelcovich know everything? I am beginning to wonder about him.

Yesterday we were talking about the best rifles to hunt deer and squirrels with. The Pennsylvania Long Rifle was the most discussed.

Penn Long RIfle

It is a beautifully made rife. Originated in Lancaster County but Bethlehem has a competing model.
Other Penn Rifles
Today Bogdan handed me an old newsprint magazine.
This is what it said about the armory in Springfield, Massachusetts. 
They make the Springfield Rifled Musket.
Springfield armory and blacksmith shop

Springfield armory and other shops
This Harper’s Magazine had much more to say than these few woodcuts show. Maybe we can talk more about it sometime in the future.

Bogdan Yelcovich and I entered into a long “discussion” about which was better; the Pennsylvania Long Rifle or the Springfield “rifled” musket. 

Bogdan invited me to the next Pennsylvania Militia target exercise. He was right. The Springfield Rifled Military Rifle was more accurate – – – consistently.

As I Wander Introduction 2

©W. Tomosky♠

AS I WANDERED #5 RAILROAD STATIONS

14 Tuesday Jan 2014

Posted by Waldo "Wally" Tomosky in AS I WANDERED

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

Bronx, Mount Vernon, Newark, Old Railroad Station, Pennsylvania, Scranton, Tenefly

 

I know, I know, I know. Too much railroad stuff. Please be patient we will get to other things. Then again – – – what would you expect of a guy who rides the rails?

All I have in mind today is to show you some of the unique railroad stations that I have passed by. That’s it, nice and simple.
Bronx RR Station Brookhaven, Conn RR STA Neward Mary RR St Tenefly NJ RR StaMt Vernon Ohio Sta 2

Winters End RR STa
As I Wander Introduction 2

©W. Tomosky♠

AS I WANDERED #4 GRAVITY RAILROADS

13 Monday Jan 2014

Posted by Waldo "Wally" Tomosky in AS I WANDERED

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

D&H, Hawley, Hudson River, Katskill, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Coal Company, Scranton, Shawgunk

Gravity Railroad

So there I was, working as a railroad detective (not much detecting – – – more like nabbing hobos and bums hanging around the tracks) in Scranton. It was a far cry from my life of the tenements in New York City. New York may have been the calling card for immigrants but it turned out to be the death of many of them.

So far I had seen the magnificent rail yards and how they worked; the precise queuing up of tankers and coal hoppers and passenger cars and extra engines. The yardmasters were geniuses far ahead of their times.

Then I heard about the Starucca Viaduct and bummed a ride to Susquehanna, Pennsylvania just to see that magnificent structure. It really was one of the wonders of the world.

Everyone had tales of this and that. It was Bugdon Yelcovich who told me about the glacial pothole in Archibald. I could not believe it until I saw it with my own eyes.

And now everyone is wondering about the gravity railroads and how much longer they have before the canals wipe them out.

These gravity railroads run on a few different principals.

For example the simple ones carry cars loaded with coal down from the heights of a mountain. They are connected by cable to empty ones at the bottom of the mountain. The weight of the loaded cars pull the empty ones back up to the top. Then the empty ones are loaded and down they go.

The other gravity railroads have steam engines mounted to bedrock. They pull the loaded cars up the mountains. Then gravity pulls them down the other side. Cables, once again, keep everything under control.

There are short hauls and long hauls. The longer ones take the coal to a canal that runs from Hawley, Pennsylvania to the Hudson River. That one is owned by the Pennsylvania Coal Company. The shorter run is owned by the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Company and meets the canal at its beginning in Honesdale.

The canal which runs between the Katskill and Shawgunk Mountains is owned by the D&H. It empties into the Hudson River at Kingston, New York. The coal is then floated down to New York City for all those immigrants to keep their homes warm.

Bugdon Yelcovich gave me this map so I could show you more clearly than I am able to put into words. He even circled the gravity railroads near Scranton so that I could see it better.

Damn eyes – – – I am going to have to get glasses pretty soon.

Gravity Railroad Map

Bugdon Yelcovich – – – he knew things.

 

As I Wander Introduction 2

©W. Tomosky♠

AS I WANDERED #3 THE ARCHIBALD POTHOLE

12 Sunday Jan 2014

Posted by Waldo "Wally" Tomosky in AS I WANDERED

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

archibald, eynon, Mayfield, Pennsylvania, pothole, Scranton

Archibald Pothole

I had been in the Scranton, Pennsylvania area less than a year and had already seen several advancements in coal mining. There are all sorts of machinery that they use to extract the coal from this good earth. Maybe we can talk about that some day.

I was lucky to have hopped off the train in Scranton while I was on my wanderings out of New York City. Lucky for two reasons; first – – – I found a job right away as a railroad dick, and second – – – there were so many things to see out here in the hinterlands of the United States.

This picture shows another miracle. Not a manmade one like the Starucca Viaduct but one made by God or whoever is running the show here on earth.

This is a pothole made during the ice age. It is thirty-eight feet deep and forty feet wide. The story is that melting glacial water ran over this land and picked up stones. The stones found a depression and the water made an eddy in it. Over years and years of doing this the stones and water bored a hole in the bedrock.

But when man appeared on this area of earth the pothole was hidden. It had filled up with all those rocks, stones and water. Earth eventually covered most of it and trees grew. The natural bowl filled with water – – – never to be seen again; until – – – – –

The coal mines, as I said before, were going strong. Some fellows drilled a hole at the head of the mine they were working. They set off some dynamite. Instead of coal they were surprised to be chased up the mine shaft by water, rocks boulders and dead tree trunks.

They had blown a hole right into the bottom of the glacial pothole.

Well, it was not hidden any longer. It emptied all of its contents out into that mine shaft.

Everyone is claiming the pothole. The towns of Archibald, Mayfield and Eynon are all trying to lay claim to its fame. I guess whoever is collecting taxes on that land is going to own bragging rights. But then that raises another question. Who is paying the taxes? The owner of the surface or the owner of the mine?

Ah, politics. Aren’t they great?

As I Wander Introduction 2

©W. Tomosky♠

FISHERMEN: # 31 Pine Creek

22 Sunday Dec 2013

Posted by Waldo "Wally" Tomosky in FISHERMEN

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

Canyon, Delaware, fishing, Grand Canyon of the East, New York, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pine Creek

31 Pine Creek

 Oh – – – I am sure,

there is a Pine Creek,

in every state and every country,

and probably in every language – if my guess is right.

~

However – – – this one is in the territory,

that William Penn established,

after befriending the Lenapes.

~

Old Bill was a very peaceful man,

and that peacefulness remains,

in the streams and rivers,

until this very day.

 ~

Pine Creek Canyon is 1,400 feet deep,

and almost one mile wide,

the creek though,

is much,

smaller.

 ~

And the trout enjoy the shadows,

that the cliffs throw over,

the cool water.

~

That man enjoys fishing there,

because it is remote,

and fishermen,

are scarce.

~

Poor old Billy Penn,

probably never got to see,

this beautiful and remote canyon,

because he was too busy attempting,

to keep the English, Dutch and Swedish,

part of the commonwealth that he had founded.

~

They departed his company,

and founded the commonwealth of Delaware,

Billy formed the City of Brotherly Love with other Quakers.

~

Old Bill – – – if he is looking down,

on his city at this very moment,

is probably wondering – – – ,

“Where has the love gone?”

~

And those English, Dutch and Swedes,

never realized that they could have belonged,

to the beautiful state that holds Pine Creek within,

its wide borders and hemlock forests full of deer and fish.

 ~

And they probably missed the headwaters,

of the beautiful streams and rivers,

that join together to form,

the Delaware River,

both branches,

in New York.

~

 

 

© Copy written for what I will never know.

Credit to DARVILLS

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