John A. Roebling studied architecture, engineering, bridge and foundation construction, and hydraulics, before emigrating from Prussia in 1831. His government job of four years involved designing military roads and supervising their construction. He had also sketched suspension bridges that were … Continue reading
Town of Highland Occupations Boarding houses were the main “industry” in the area, but there were still sawmills (belonging to Harry Wormuth, John Love, and others) and bluestone quarries which needed workers. The Erie Railroad employed many men. The Barryville … Continue reading
This post is a little late in wishing Mom (a major player in the Halfway Brook Books) a Happy 90th Birthday on this site. My three siblings expertly planned what was hoped to be a surprise (and it was) weekend … Continue reading
Charles Cotesworth Pickney (C.C.P.) Eldred Dies In March 1890 Uncle C.C.P. Eldred, the brother of Mary Ann Eldred Austin, Eliza Eldred Gardner, and Maria Eldred Austin, died. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney Eldred was seven when he arrived in Lumberland with his … Continue reading
A belated Happy 100th Birthday to my (Austin) second cousin Dorothy (Dot) Hale. Dot turned 100 on December 25, 2014! Dot was born to Burt and Lillie Austin Calkin. Lillie was the only first Austin cousin of my dad Art … Continue reading
The Austin family met their neighbors the Collins family, at least by 1860. The family was from Ireland and listed as James, 58, a farmer, his wife Isabella, 56, Mary Jane, 25, Robert B., 20. Children Tom and Annie Collins … Continue reading
The Centennial Congregational Souvenir, 1799–1899, was a very helpful resource on the townspeople who lived in the 19th century in what became the Town of Highland. I thought some of my Halfway Brook readers would enjoy seeing familiar names from … Continue reading
“Uncle Willie rescued us in that big truck when our old car (the car in the garage shot, me thinks) broke down at Poor Richards bar/restaurant on Rt. 6. Going over the Hawks Nest in that big truck made me … Continue reading
In my mother’s super collection was a Lumberland Centennial booklet, which includes a list of Lumberland Town supervisors from 1798 to 1976. (Click on the image to read.) There are more familiar names in this 1840 census, including Johnston, writer … Continue reading
