The following was taken from two pages of “Souvenir Program, Formal-Opening, of the New Highway, Chinchilla, PA” “PICNIC and FIELD DAY, Wednesday, September 2, 1936, sponsored by the Scranton Chamber of Commerce and the Lackawanna Motor Club and the Chinchilla Civic Association.” HISTORY OF CHINCHILLA 1790-1794: First trappers came through Notch. Parker, Clark, Tripp, and Leach. About 1800: Ephraim Leach settled near North Chinchilla. His clothes probably made of leather. Nearest mill Laurel Line station. 1800-10: Leach secures land from about city line to North Chinchilla. Place known as Leach's Flats. 1810: Leach locates tannery near Marsh's Hotel. 1818: First Methodist services at Ephraim Leach's house. 1821: Wolf drive. Many wolves, bear and deer; one panther. Ben Leach locates saw and grist mill. Reservoir of present filter plant. 1830-40: Nearest Post Office Providence, John Vaughn Post Master. Wild land sold $3 to $5 per acre. 1840-50: Construction of railroad. Fires are lighted with flint and steel. Few inhabitants have seen matches. First stoves. Fireplace lights house as candles are few. 1857: Hotel built by Henry Leach. Present residence of John Pembridge. 1860-70: Epidemic. Twenty persons dead within mile radius at one time. First kerosene lamps. 1870-80: Methodist Church built at North Chinchilla. Iron nails expensive and' buildings. framed with wooden pins. Marsh's Hotel founded. 1880-90: Post office established at Chinchilla. Name changed from Leach's Flats to Chinchilla, postmistress having a chinchilla shawl. Joe Leach grist mill built. 1890-1900: Railroad station at Chinchilla. Boyce Hotel built. Holgate's store established. Gas & Water Company buys land and closes Henry Leach-Don O'Donnell tavern. 1900-1910: The Northern Electric railroad passes through Chinchilla. Church moved to Depot Street. Burcher and Robinson plot opened and many new residents arrived. First electric lights in Chinchilla. First steam heat and bathrooms. Did any resident own auto in 1910? 1910-20: Adams plot, North Chinchilla, opened. Railroad station closed. Toll gate removed and highway becomes a county road. 1920-30 : WHEN AND BY WHOM WERE THE FOLLOWING THINGS FIRST USED IN SOUTH ABINGTON? THE PROBABLE DECADE IS GIVEN. 1800-10: Cloth instead of leather clothing for men. 1810-20: First horse team. Oxen more numerous in 1850 1820-30: First match. Matches rare until 1840-50. 1830-40: First "boughten" cloth. Homespun common 1850-60. First iron plow. 1840-50: First wood stove. First railroad train. 1850-60: First coal stove. Extravagant families might have 50 candles a year. 1860-70: First kerosene light. First mowing machine. " house heated entirely by stoves. " glass cans for preserving fruits. 1873: School House located near Floral Haven. 1880-90: Population South Abington-923. 1890-1900: First phonograph. First telephone. 1900-10: First house with plumbing. First electric light. " automobile. .' " electric street cars. 1910-20: First airplane. 1920-30. First radio. ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour