Zane Grey’s House in Lackawaxen

by Louise Smith Posted on June 25, 2012
The home of author Zane Grey on the Delaware River near Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania. Photo: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division: Historic American Buildings Survey; Jet Lowe, photographer, 1988.

Zane Grey’s first Western, The Heritage of the Desert, written in 1910, became a best seller. By 1915 Zane Grey had 15 books on a variety of subjects, including baseball, westerns, fishing, and outdoor adventure.
—wikipedia.org; nps.gov/upde.

Zane and Dolly Roth Grey lived near the Roebling Bridge at Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania. Zane had met his future wife Lina (Dolly) Roth, at the Delaware House in Lackawaxen where Zane and his brother Romer liked to hike and fish.

In 1904 Zane had left his New York City dental practice to become a professional writer. With the help of Dolly, Zane bought 3 acres with a house and barn in Pennsylvania from the Holberts for $1,425.

(Federick and Mary Holbert had bought the 3-acre farm in 1898 for $300 from the Canal which was closing.) The land was just south of the junction of the Delaware and Lackawaxen Rivers, and north of the Roebling Bridge—some 5 miles west of Shohola.

Zane and Polly’s drafty Holbert farmhouse was next to the house and property of Zane’s brother Romer. In 1914 Romer Grey and his wife deeded their house to Zane’s wife, Dolly Grey, for a dollar. Continue reading →

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Ferncliff Lodge

by Louise Smith Posted on June 15, 2012
Jackson Myers Ferncliff Lodge. Postcard courtesy of Chuck M.

Jennie Crawford mentioned Jack Myers moving into his new home in her letter of April 24, 1904. Perhaps it was his boarding house called Ferncliff Lodge. [Ferncliff would be owned by Guido Bischoff around 1920. Later it would be owned by Andy Gugle (spelling?)]

Ferncliff Lodge is 110 miles from New York City, via Erie Railroad to Shohola Station, and a conveyance to Ferncliff which is located on ridge of mountain, surrounded by pine clad hills, between Eldred and Highland Lake—15 minutes walk to either place. House has 10 rooms, 120 feet of piazza, fine well of water, and as to the table, we try to give perfect satisfaction.

Terms: Rooms occupied singly, $10 per week; two or more in room, $7.00; transients, $1.50 per day. Ferncliff conveyances will meet any train on notification. Fare, 50 cents each person. Baggage charged for according to bulk and weight.

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Anna Leavenworth’s Class

by Louise Smith Posted on June 14, 2012

Anna Leavenworth. Photo courtesy of Cynthia.

Anna Leavenworth was my great aunt.

Anna taught in Yulan, Town of Highland, NY, at one time. This is her class in Eldred, Town of Highland, sometime before 1906. It includes the future Mrs. J.C. Penney, Caroline Autenrieth.

The Autenrieths owned what was originally the Parker House in Eldred. By 1910 it was owned by the Straub family.

Students of Anna Leavenworth in Eldred, NY. Photo courtesy of Chuck M.

Row 1: Alfred Eldred, Charles Ort, Charles Rundle, Jamie Parker, Clarence Wormuth, Ernest Horton, Emerson McBride. Row 2: Hattie Schroeder, Stella Boyd, Martha Rundle, Lila Myers, Claudia McBride, Maude Horton, Caroline Autenrieth, Mildred Myers, Mildred Rundle. Row 3: Fred Stewart, Hazel Sergeant, Bertha Eldred, Emily Parker, George Eldred, Sherman McBride. Row 4: Herman Schroeder, Mabel Furver, Mabel Boyd, Minnie Sergeant, Christina Leavenworth, Earl Owen. Anna Leavenworth, Teacher.

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Joseph Maier writes Montgomery Ward

by Louise Smith Posted on June 14, 2012

Joseph Maier ordered some supplies from Montgomery Ward & Co. in 1903, as his house had burned down and he was rebuilding and refurnishing it. At the end of November, Mr. Maier wrote the company with a concern.

Aaron Montgomery Ward, the originator of ordering goods by mail, had worked as a traveling salesman in rural areas for several years. Mr. Ward thought he could lower costs by cutting out the middle man and started his mail order business in 1872. Rural customers ordered by mail from a wide variety of merchandise and picked them up at the nearest train station.

Ward’s catalog, known as the Wish Book, offered 10,000 items in 1883. Richard W. Sears offered some serious competition with his first general catalog in 1896. In 1875 Ward had offered a policy of “satisfaction guaranteed or your money back.”—wikipedia.org.

That could be the reason for the letters that Joseph Maier wrote to the Montgomery Ward & Co. in 1903–4.

Joseph Maier, Eldred, to Montgomery Ward & Co., Chicago, Ill.
November 27, 1903
Order no. 19344
Dear Sirs:
I write you these few lines to let you know that the goods arrived safe, with the exception of the Sewing Machine which has not yet arrived at this writing; also the crank to the grindstone was not with the frame. Either you failed to pack same with frame or it got lost on the R.R.

Am very sorry it happened. I also want to remark to you that the freight charged on the grindstone and frame and saw and one box was $1.13 which I think is too much. If you think it is too much, I wish you would try to look this matter up and besides I will have some freight to pay on the machine which will make goods come rather high.

I intend to give you another order later on. By looking into this matter for me you will oblige me very much. Truly yours, Joseph Maier

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Orchard Terrace

by Louise Smith Posted on June 10, 2012
Orchard Terrace, home of Abel Sprague and Maria Hankins Myers. The Congregational Church is on the left, hidden by trees. Photo courtesy of Chuck M.

In the following letter, Jennie Crandall mentions Cleta (Myers) Horton, the daughter of Abel and Maria Hankins Myers. The Abel Myers’ family lived at their Orchard Terrace boarding house on the hill near the Congregational Church in Eldred.

Orchard Terrace became the school which my father attended at least for high school from 1926 to 1930.

Jennie Crawford, Eldred, to Lillie Austin, Bethel
April 24, 1904
Dear Lillie,
I was at Middletown, Otisville, and to Port Jervis. I went to see Lottie Scott and Aunt Matt. They were all well. I saw no one but Aunt Matt. Milt was downtown and Uncle John is laying flagstone up in Germantown.

We have the sitting room cleaned. Aunt Maud Crawford has been operated upon. She is in Christ’s Hospital Jersey City. The tumor weighed 16 pounds. She is in a very critical condition.

Edna Beufve and Mr. Deale were over two weeks ago tonight. Bertha Wilson has been to the city and has had the measles along with her visit.

Cleta Horton went up to Lackawaxen and came home sick with the measles.

Alex Wait is home. You know he intended to learn stenography when he left.
Continue reading →

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Eldred’s north corner about 1904

by Louise Smith Posted on June 7, 2012
Eldred Corner around 1904. Postcard courtesy of Christene M.

The building on the left is currently called The Corner in Eldred. It may be of interest that (thanks to Lou Monteleone), Echo Hill and Mountain Grove is available there.

The building second on left (in the background) was the home of Charles W. Wilson and his second wife Elizabeth Hoatson Clark Wilson.

The center building was the store of William H. Wilson (brother of Charles).

On the right was the original Parker House that Autenrieth’s owned until Fridolin and Juliana Straub bought it.

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