Back to Reminisces

Where the houses were situated and who occupied them in the years 1802 - 1806, written from memory by James A. Gordon and published in Record of the Times, Dec 23, 1873

At the end of River Street stood the residence of Rosewell Welles. It was a double house, ceiled with pine boards, and I believe was never finished in the second story. Nearly in front of Judge Welles' stood the residence of Jabez Fish, on the bank of the river. Mrs. Fish kept a school for juveniles. I was one of her pupils for a short timer. The illustrated New England Primer was our text-book. It embraced the Shorter Catechism and we were all required to commit it to memory.

A short distance above Judge Welles' stood the old red house built. in 1794, by James A. Gordon, a New York carpenter, and occupied from 1802 to 1811 or 12 by Andrew Vogel, hatter.

Turning up we come to the residence of Joseph Backenstow, a fashionable tailor from Sunbury.

The next, the hotel of John P. Arndt, and a store adjoining. Mr. Arndt was an enterprising German from Easton, and was largely engaged in the salt and plaster trade.

The next were the buildings of Lord Butler, the small one the residence of George Griffin, Esq., after his marriage with Lydia Butler. On the corner of Northampton Street was the residence and store of Lord Butler, and directly in front of the old Ferry landing.

Passing Northampton Street we come to the residence of Arnold Colt, Esq., and his father-in-law Abel Yarington. Arnold Colt was a Justice of the Peace, and somewhat of a humorist withal.

The nest house above Colt's was that of George Chahoon. He was a house carpenter from Sunbury and for many years was the leading builder in Wilkes Barre and the surrounding township. He removed to the mouth of Hunlock's Creek, where he died some 32 years old. He was a man of much enterprise and energy of character.

Crossing West Market Street on the corner where now stands the banking house of Walter Sterling, was the residence of Rozet and Doyle. Doyle was an Irishman. Rozet had a daughter, Janet, who had red hair. Janet and I went to school to Asher Miner in the old school-house on the East side of Public Square.

Rozet and Doyle gave place to the Sinton's in 1803 - 1804. The next building above was the printing office of the Luzerne Federalist, published by Charles Miner.

Next was the residence of Peleg Tracy, and further on was the residence and pottery of William Russell. His wares had not a high reputation. On one occasion he sent his apprentice, Joseph Landon, with a canoe load to Pittston. He reached Monockay Island in good order, but unfortunately was there ovetaken by a sudden shower of rain, and his wares were dissolved. Unloading the vessel of the clay he returned home and reported. Russell gave him a severe chastisement because he did not fetch back the clay, so that it might be worked over again.

At the corner of Union and Water Streets stood the old Johnson house, at this time the residence of Charles Miner; and just above, at the Western base of the redoubt, stood the slab and board cabin of Molly McGalpin. She was an Irish woman, and had two sons, Dan and George, who had enlisted in the 16th Regiment under Cromwell Pearce, and served with credit during the War of 1812. Here ends the geography of River Street.

There were as you see, but twenty residences, offices and stores from one end to the other, and that number constituted one half of the whole town. There were but 3 of these houses painted - Gordon's, at the lower end, and Arndt's, partly painted red or brown, and Lord Butler's, white, with a front yard fence also painted white.

From Union, on the east side of Main, was a house and cooper shop occupied by Oliver Helme; afterwards by the widow and family of William Wright.

Next below was the residence and blacksmith shop of Benjamin Drake, and afterwards occupied by Isaac Bowman after he left Bowman's Hill.

On the opposite side were two log houses owned by Solomon Johnson, and occupied by Mrs. Marble, the town baker, and Benj. Hillman, a stone mason. This Solomon Johnson was an eccentric character. I think if he had lived now he would be called a spiritualist. He was said to be a learned man. He had periodical trances and visions of coming events, which he gave to the world through the Luzerne Federalist. He also published some "Commentaries" upon the Bible.

Between his lot and the Public Square was a frame two story building on the site of Judge Bennett's present residence, owned by Stephen Tuttle.

These were all the houses at that time on Main Street above the Public Square.

On the north west corner of the Square was a large red house occupied by Thomas Duane as a tavern and store. He removed to Pittston in 1805. Upon the opposite corner, in 1804, was the residence and office of George Griffin.

On the north west corner on Market street was a long, one-story frame house then occupied by James Ebbert as a dwelling and watchmaker shop. There were no other dwellings that I remember on the Square at that time.

Passing around the corner we come to the residence of Joseph Wright, Esq., (on West Market Street) a good frame building, two stories high, with a small office on the corner. Ebenezer Bowman about this time purchased this house and removed from Bowman's Hill, where he had before resided.

The next dwelling towards the river was a house owned by Thomas Sambourne. It was built by J. A. Gordon, and at that time regarded as the best specimen of tasteful architecture in the town. It was never painted. Francis McShane afterwards became the owner. In 1802 a part of the building was occupied by Asher and Charles Miner as a printing office. The building was afterwards occupied by John Hancock as a hotel; the printing office being used for Post Office and bar-room for several years after.

Across Franklin Street, towards the river, was the residence of Parthenia Gordon, or as she was generally called "the widow Gordon". She was a tailoress, mantua-maker and milliner, and sometimes sold cakes and beer. She was the second daughter of Cornelius Atherton of Capouse, and the sister of Jabez Atherton who was slain in the Indian massacre, and the widow of James A. Gordon, the New York carpenter.

In 1804 there were no buildings on the south side of West Market Street from the river to the Public Square, and along the same to Main, and down Main to the old "Wyoming" Hotel.

On East Market Street, on the south side, was the old stone jail, and the residence of Enoch Ogden, a shoemaker, and William A. George, the Court Crier and High Constable.