The next few posts will feature family postcards or photos of the village of Eldred, New York, where my Austin and Leavenworth relatives lived. This first photo was in Great Aunt Aida Austin’s photo album and looks to be a … Continue reading
The Delaware River Gap was a large break in the Appalachian Mountains. It was one of the very scenic places viewed by timber rafters as they floated their rafts to market on the Delaware River. Postcard of Aida Austin. The … Continue reading
Panic of 1873 A series of events led up to the Panic of 1873—a severe nationwide economic depression, which lasted until 1879: • The Black Friday Panic in September, 1869, mentioned in an earlier post. • The October, 1871, Chicago … Continue reading
1872 Cartage Book of my great-grandfather. Henry Austin’s 1872 Cartage book is not very large. It lists names and supplies. One of the pages lists hoops in batches of 1,000 and the cost. Sample page: October 2, 1872 1 b … Continue reading
50 Warren St. in New York City around 1872. Photo courtesy of cousin Melva. Envelope addressed to my great-grandfather Austin who worked at 50 Warren St. in New York City. My great-grandfather, Henry Austin, started his wagon delivery or carting … Continue reading
You may have heard of the money or greenbacks created during the Civil War by the U.S. government, which were backed only by credit. After the Civil War ended, it was thought that the U.S. Government would buy back the … Continue reading
Photo of ice breaking up under the Barryville-Shohola Bridge with a middle support. Photo courtesy of M.B. Austin. One very cold morning, about the first of January 1865, three teams of horses and mules were crossing the Barryville-Shohola bridge with … Continue reading
This letter was written to Mary Ann Austin in Eldred, New York, from her niece, Addie Austin who lived in New York City. The bridge referred to is the Barryville-Shohola Bridge over the Delaware River, shown in the posts before … Continue reading
Postcard of Barryville Shohola Bridge and Lookout Mountain. Courtesy of M.B. Austin. Until 1856 there had only been a crude rope guided ferry that connected Shohola, Pennsylvania, to Barryville, New York. There became a need for a bridge with the … Continue reading
JULY 1881 Monday 18 Maria and I had a letter from Lon today. It has been so cold today that I had to put my saque on even in the middle of the day, when I was outdoors. Mother and … Continue reading
