A birds-eye view of Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, taken about 1899. The photograph was featured as part of an article titled “History of Lykens,” that appeared in a special Souvenir Edition of the Lykens Standard, March 13, 1908.
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HISTORY OF LYKENS
The land where Lykens and Wiconisco now stand was owned by James Way of Chester County, who died in 1826, before receiving a patent therefor from the State. His executor, George Pearce, obtained a patent for the land February 2, 1826, and after having that with other tracts surveyed by Isaac Ferree and his son Joel B. Ferree, the lots were put up at public sale at the brick mill (the old Good Mill at Loyalton), and sold, the conditions being that at least $25 must be in hand paid, as soon as the sale was made.
The tract of 67 acres on which the borough of Lykens stands was struck down to Jane Ferree and Rachel Ferree for $19.90. The sale really was to their father, Isaac Ferree, but for prudential reasons he ordered the this tract to be made in the names of his daughters, Jane Ferree and Rachel Ferree. Isaac Ferree formerly owned a considerable amount of land in this section, and operated a powder mill. , the products of which he sold to his customers. He brought the saltpeter from Philadelphia by teams. Joel B. Ferree and his sisters subsequently laid out a town on this tract, named it Lykenstown, and the two sisters sold the lots for $11 each. They were all numbered and drawn and paid for. Upon these lots log houses were built by William Zerbe, Isaac Ferree, Martin Blum, Jacob Staley, Kate Bordner, Benjamin Drum, John Shehan and Patrick Martin, south of the railroad. The first log house, however, was built by Joel Ferree, in the lower part of the borough, in April, 1832, the stone-work of which was done by Richard Nolen. This was the extent of Lykens in 1832.
In 1803, Simon Gratz recovered a judgment for a small amount against Isaac Ferree, and kept it alive by successive writs of scire facias. In 1835 said judgment was issued upon, and the land sold as belonging to Isaac Ferree, the court holding, in the legal contest that followed, that his daughters only held the property in trust for him; therefore the purchaser, Simon Gratz, purchasing at Sheriff’s sale the interest of Isaac Ferree, it is presumed, received a good title. After the death of Simon Gratz, the land was conveyed to William Hawkins, who the same day sold it to Jacob M. Haldeman and Thomas Elder, July 8, 1847, which gave him an undisputed title. He then caused it immediately to be laid out in lots a second time, as they now are, by Daniel Hoffman, in 1848. The first purchasers, under the Ferree sisters, all lost their lots, with the exception of those whose deeds were recorded at a certain date.
Lykens became an incorporated borough in September, 1871. The burgesses since that time have been:
- Hon. Moses R. Young, 1871-1873
- L. Katzenberg, 1873-1875
- Charles Wolcott, 1875-1875
- John E. Nace, 1876-1877
- Charles Wolcott, 1878-1880
- W. S. Young, 1880 (resigned August 2, 1880)
- Riley Bressler, 1880-1882
- S. H. Barrett, 1882-1883
- Henry Feindt, 1883-1885
- F. S. Douden, 1885-1886
- Henry Feindt, 1886-1887
- F. J. Douden, 1887-1891
- W. S. Young, 1891-1897
- Jacob Trout, 1897-1900
- H. F. Bueck, 1900-1903
- Jacob Trout, 1903-1906
- N. E. Snyder, 1906-3 years
It is not the purpose of this writer to delve into the history of Lykens and Wiconisco, but rather to give a short concise idea of what these places are today – their commercial and manufacturing resources, opportunities and advantages, their schools, churches, lodges and general advantages; to show by pen and picture the character, facilities and energy of its businesses and professional people and to illustrate by the success men by so many men and women in the various walks of commercial activity that the opportunities for the profitable investment of capital in certain lines of industry is here without doubt and in abundance.
LYKENS
Lykens is located in the northeastern section of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, on the Lykens Valley Branch of the Susquehanna Division, Pennsylvania Railroad, 42 miles distant from Harrisburg. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad also enters the borough on the east. Lykens is the western terminus of the great anthracite coal region, and from here comes the celebrated Lykens Valley red ash coal, the best mined in the world and commanding a higher market price than any other.
There are two collieries, employing 1200 men and from $20,000 to $25,000 is paid out in wages by the coal company every two weeks.
One good, sound banking institution flourishes here with fat deposits and active loans, and there is the fullest and complete confidence in its officers and board of directors. A statistical article of the institution will be found elsewhere.
Lykens is justly proud of its public school system, which will compare favorably with the best in the State, its graduates being admitted to Dickinson, Lehigh and other colleges of a similar grade. The high school is on the approved list. There are 13 teachers and about 552 scholars enrolled. Prof. W. M. Yeingst is principal and much credit is due him for his untiring efforts in bringing the schools up to their present high state of efficiency. The Catholics also have a first-class parochial school
Lykens, with a population of about 3000, has several excellent hotels, providing accommodations to permanent and transient guests. There is one weekly newspaper, Standard; a well-equipped volunteer fire department; two long distance telephone companies; two express and two telegraph companies. All the leading fraternal organizations are represented and the religious denominations having houses of worship are Roman Catholics, Episcopal, Methodist, Reformed, Lutheran, Congregational, Evangelical and United Brethren.
Few places in the State can boast a petter quality of pure water, and the pressure is sufficient to keep insurance rates low.
The municipal government of Lykens borough is based on strict ideas of economy, consistent with safe and secure progress. While the spirit of the people is decidedly in favor of every measure to make taxation low, at the same time all real public improvements are well supported. At the present time, N. E. Snyder is burgess; Henry Keiser, borough clerk; F. J. Douden and William Higgins, assessors; and J. J. Nutt, collector. The Council men are: Dr. M. D. Lehr; Ambrose Bopp; John F. Myers; Daniel S. Matter; Henry Bowman; and H. F. Bueck. The school board is composed of Dr. J. N. Baker; J. H. Eby; H. E. Sheesley; C. A. Hoff; V. W. Barrett; and J. A. Bogar.
Within the last few years quite a number of new manufacturing concerns have been located here, all of which have good buildings, thoroughly equipped box factory, one machine shop and foundry, a brush factory, a brewery, two cement block industries, and a large feed mill. The principal industries are spoken of further on.
For the most part, the citizens of Lykens are thoroughly progressive and a business men’s association has been organized for the sole idea of securing new industries. The brough enjoys exceptional shipping facilities, cheap fuel on the ground and plenty of available labor. Manufacturers looking for a place to locate will find it to their advantage to look in this direction for a profitable field. Correspondence is solicited by the Business Men’s Association and every possible effort will be exerted to make local conditions suitable for those interested.
WICONISCO
Wiconisco is about one half mile distant from Lykens and about the same in population. It is connected with Lykens by trolley and since the fire has made considerable progress in the erection of modern brick buildings. It has a fine school, four churches, a large knitting mill, and dye works, several hotels, telegraph, express and telephone conveniences, and is so near Lykens as to make its advantages and facilities almost identical with it. Both towns are lighted by electricity by the one company and one company furnishes the water supply.
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Following will be found a series of articles on the leading institutions, manufacturing concerns and prominent business and professional men. This collection of citizens has been secured by personal solicitation and are those who are always found identified with progressive measures the real boomers of the two towns. Unlike most places, both Lykens and Wiconisco have quite a few business men who are “knockers,” and never see any good in a project which makes them put their hands in their pockets. To those whose names appear below our thanks are extended, as their support has made possible and edition of this character.
(Signed) Ellis & Towsend.
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Note: Other items from this special edition of the Lykens Standard, March 13, 1908, will be presented in future blog posts.
Article and photo obtained through Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.