Jim, Thank you for posting this! What a gold mine! I do not have any relatives listed, but truly appreciate your contribution. We all do what we can to help each other, whether it is answering mail list questions, volunteering at our local Family History Centers, libraries, and historical societies, etc., etc., etc. Once again, I sincerely appreciate the time you took to share this with all of us. Harriet On Nov 15, 2007, at 9:00 AM, Jim Dolan wrote: > While doing some research at the Lackawanna Historical Society, I came > across the below article. I consider it a very significant find and > would > like to share it with the list. It was in sections and when they > made a copy > of it, I put it in my brief cased and did not check it until I got > home. I > then realized I did not have the source and I was unsure how to > reassemble > it. > > I assume it was in the Scranton Times and I would guess the time > period to > be around 1950. If anyone knows of the exact date and source please > let me > know, there maybe information important to me in the suspect areas. > > Below is my best attempt at transcribing the article. > > Jim Dolan > > South Scranton Fifty Years Ago > > Names of Men Who Were Active in Scranton’s First Manufacturing > Enterprise > and Resided in What is Now Nativity Parish. > > Scranton was the iron works of the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company, > consisting of ore mines, blast furnaces and merchant iron mill . A > majority > of the men employed to these enterprises were Irish Catholics, all > immigrants and they lived principally in what was then known far > and wide as > Shanty Hill. Perhaps the name was no misnomer, but it stuck and it > was not > till the late lamented and much beloved Rev. James A. O’Reilly > inveighed > against the use of the name that its application became unpopular. > In his > ceremony upon the occasion of the first dedication of Nativity > church. Rev. > M.E. Lynott of Kingston, who was reared in the parish, made > reference to the > locality’s old name with a spirit of love and reverence, the > feeling that > every old timer had for the name and is closely identified with the > early > Catholic history of Scranton. Good old Shanty Hill, where lived and > were > reared people, men and women, as strong and as brave , as kind and as > charitable , as honest and industrious, as pious and devoted as > ever lived > anywhere. > > In the old days, the period before “the war,” the ore used in the > blast > furnaces was dug out of the mountains that form the portion of the > valley of > Meadow Brook, at a place that still bears the name. “the ore > mines,” the > present location of the Water Company’s distributing dam. Catholics > involved in this work were Timothy Sullivan, grandfather of Mrs. > M.E. O’ > Boyle, South Scranton, and Mrs. Anthony J. Mangan, Bellevue, and > four Murphy > brothers, Daniel, Thomas, John and Denis Murphy, the latter later > becoming a > puddler. His son Thomas Murphy, lives on Hemlock St. Daniel > Mahoney, ???? > atrack foreman at No. 5 on the gravity railroad, worked at the “Ore > Mine,” > and his widow very active for her age, lives on Pittston avenue. > Mr. Hart, > father of Thomas and Celia Hart, worked at the Ore Mines. In the > old days > his son, Doc Hart, was a noted mule driver, driving a four mule > team for the > Iron Company. > > The ore was sent to the blast furnace to be converted into pig iron > and > there were three furnaces. The most important Catholic at the > ‘furnaces” was > Patrick Flynn, father of Mrs. John J. Collins of Pittston avenue, a > man so > powerful and so active that he was named ‘the Tiger.” Mr. Flynn was a > thorough master of his calling. He possessed the confidence of his > employers > and the respect of his men. He was the assistant to the > superintendent and > when the company opened new furnaces ?????? he selected Mr. Flynn > (the end > of this paragraph and the beginning of the next is blotted-out.) > > …to Oxford N.J. , another of the company’s blast furnaces where > he worked. > Michael McNally was a puddler,” so was Murtagh Kilcullen. ??? > Kilcullen is > the only survivor of his old crew and resides in South Scranton, a > regular > communicant of St. John’s church. John Richardson, and father of his > namesake, who is ??ember of T.F. Leonard Company, was a blast > furnace man. > Owen McAndrews, father of Mrs. Michael ??Garry, South Scranton, > Anthony > ??rett, Patrick Farrell, James Gallagher, David Mahon, William > Lavery ???e > blast furnace men, all stalwarts, ???le to give an account of > themselves > physically on any and every occasion. Michael Walsh known as the > “copper??ead,”who went to the war, John ??angan, John Mack, Patrick > Egan and > John Egan, brothers, Patrick living in Hyde Park. Patrick Lavelle of > Pittston avenue, still living, might be ??assed with the veterans > at the > furnaces, as he put in nearly forty years ?? service, starting in > 1866. > > As in all, even in modern manufacturing enterprises, there were, > and are, > three processes in the manufacturing of iron; the smelting of the > ore ??t > the blast furnaces, where the product is known as “pig” iron, > converting the > “pig” iron by the addition of scrap wrought iron into puddle iron. > And the > further process of converting the puddle iron, with the further > addition of > wrought scrap iron, into the finished product, merchant iron. At > the period > referred to the last product ??? to inch iron and spikes, both ?? > eing made > for the old “Washington” ?? “Gravity railroad that operated between > Hawely > and Port Griffith. Later the manufacture of iron rails ??? > ntroduced, but he > men engaged ?in puddling” will first be mentioned. ???ne desiring to > witness these old ????ations, carried on to-day much as ???? were > in those > old days a half century gone, may gratify their curiosity by a > visit to the > plant of the ??? and Nut Works in Scranton. > > Of the puddlers remembered by veterans of those days two were very > prominent, Daniel Brainard and James Ryan. Mr. Brainard rose to the > position of superintendent, amassed a ?competence, built and opened > a hotel, > which for years was a famous landmark and a great Democratic > rallying point > , the St. James Hotel on Penn avenue. James Ryan was a giant in > stature, > being six feet, three inches in height, weighing only 240 pounds ?? > rawn and > bone. He was known as “Big Jim.” He is spoken of as being the > finest man in > the world b??? sensitive when the land he cam? ??n or its people were > slighted. H? ?? given many opportunities to display his physical > qualities, > because ?? sensitiveness and he never “too ???r,” He went off to war, > can????nd and later went to the nation?? /? At Washington, where > it ???? > secured a government > > (This is a break where I’m unsure if I reassembled the article > correctly.) > > ..van were puddlers. Mr. McCourt is still alive and is the father > of Mrs. > C.P. O’Malley. Mary and Captain John McCourt who was grand marshal > of the > Holy Name demonstration last November. There were five puddlers: > Patrick, > Andrew, John, Kieran (Carey), and Charles Brazelle. Kieran being > still alive > and active. Barley Kane, brother-in-law of the Brazelles and father > of John > A. Kane, followed the same calling. Nicholas McNierny, Michael > Kenna, with > the accent on the last syllable, Michael Philbil, still living in > Orchard > street, was a puddler. Patrick Kelly, Charles Campbell and Thomas > Nealis, > his widow and daughter residing on Beech street, were puddlers. > There were > five Lanagans: James, Thomas, Michael, Patrick and David. James > Lynch and > Peter Lynch, brothers, were puddlers, the former being the father > of James > (Boney) Lynch, who was a star pitcher for the Liberty base ball > club forty > or fifty years ago. The oldest Lynch died in harness, being a gate > tender > for the Scranton Steel Company at the time of his death. Philip > and Francis > Wren, brothers, were puddlers, the former being father of Michael > Wren, Mrs. > John A. Kane and Mrs. P.W. Gallagher, Francis being the father of > Philip, > Garrett and Francis Wren, the latter motorman for the Scranton railway > Company. James Connolly, father of James Connolly, Orchard street, > was a > puddler. Thomas Burns, father of James Burns, the Laurel Line > fireman, was a > puddler, as were Patrick, Peter and James Mawn, the former having > several > survivors, John, Frank, Patrick and Cassie Mawn, Mrs. Andrew Foley > and Mrs. > Edward Duffy, residing in Nativity parish. Kate and Annie Mawn are > children > of Cornelius J. Ryan and Mrs. Barrett, was a puddler and went off > to the war > as did his brother Jerie Ryan, who was employed as a roll hand. > William > McNalley, father of Joseph McNalley, Scranton railway conductor, > Mrs. John > J. Boland and Mrs. Philip Wren was a puddler, James McDonald was > another. > Michael Walsh was a puddler. He was father of Owen, Anthony and > david Walsh > and was possessed with abnormal strength. Because of this he was > known as > “horse” Walsh. Patrick Lynch was known in those days as “Phadrick > Rhue,” was > a puddler and a very prominent man. He had a little farm at the top > of the > hill that later became an athletic field and was known as Lynch’s. > Grounds. > Mrs. Patrick Rafter, now living on Crown avenue, is his daughter > and Thomas > J. Rafter , prominent in all nativity … (the end of this paragraph > and the > beginning of the next is blotted-out.) > > …his brother-in-law. Thomas Kelly, father of P.J. Kelly of the > Casey &Kelly > company, and Mrs. Patrick J. McDonnell of Pittston avenue. Mr. > Kelly was of > superior attainments and later became a local magistrate. > > Anthony Flynn of Hamm Court was a puddler. Michael Farrell, brother of > Laurence Farrell, was a puddler. Patrick Nealis, “big Pat,” still > alive, and > Patrick Lavelle, “big Paddy,” were puddlers. The latter went to > California > the time of the big strike and died there, his widow, who became Mrs. > Corbett, and his two daughters reside in the Cathedral parish. > Thomas Rea, > brother of Mrs. James Cassidy, who resides in West Scranton, was a > puddler. > Patrick Brogan, still living on Prospect avenue, and Patrick and > Anthony > Langan were puddlers. Patrick Langan married Patrick Brogans > sister, and > their daughter, Mrs. Dennis Barry, resides on Prospect avenue. > Michael, > Thomas and Patrick McGuire were puddlers, their families still > residing on > Moosic street, John McGuire a well known mechanic and electrician, > is the > son of Thomas McGuire. Patrick Whelan, father of Patrick, John and > Thomas > Whelan, was a puddler. William and Andrew Foley were puddlers, the > former > still alive in Buffalo. Mrs. Andrew Foley lives at Crown Avenue and > Moosic > street, William J. Foley, Cedar avenue, and Peter J. Foley of > Moosic street > is a son of William Foley. Patrick and Sylvester McNally were > puddlers, > their father Sylvester McNally, a schoolmaster. Patrick Moran was a > puddler. > He was killed in an explosion in 1870, his surviving children being > John J. > Moran and Mrs. James Minihan. Thomas Melvin, father of the late Thomas > Melvin, proprietor of the St. Charles Hotel was a puddler, as was > Michael > Melvin, father of John Melvin of the Nealis Livery Company, Sarah, > Catherine > M. and Mary A. Melvin. Mrs. Melvin, the widow of Michael Melvin, is > vigorous > that attending Mass is a feature of her daily life. John Melvin > the “Black > Hawk,” was a puddler. August Kerrigan, Thomas Conway, William Lee, > John > Troy, John Durkin, a well known citizen, who reared a large family > were > puddlers. E.S. Durkin, Sullivan County, and P.F. Durkin, residing at > Pittston avenue and Brook street, are sons of John Durkin. Two of his > daughters became Sisters, Catherine and Anna. > > (At this point some inconsiderate, lazy, fool cut a paragraph out > of the > article.) > > …E. and Michael F. Brown, remained on the old home site, within the > shadow > of the old Nativity church. John Scott and Timothy Scott were > puddlers, a > daughter of the former being a member of the community of Sisters at > Wyoming. Owen Malia, living in the Scranton Flats, was a puddler > and a very > prominent man in day, but every member of the family is dead. > > Laurence Casey, who lived where Frables’ store now stands. James > Murphy, > Patrick Ryan and John Nealis, “black jack,” were squeezer men. > James Murphy’ > s home stood on the exact spot the nativity church now stands. His > son, > Michael Murphy alive a stalwart veteran who spends his time between > Carbondale and Scranton, a man with two homes in both of which he is > welcome. Mr. Murphy’s niece, Mrs. P.F. Connor, Carbondale. His > Scranton home > is with his nieces and nephews, on Prospect avenue, children of the > late > Alderman and Mrs. James Hannon. Mr. Hannon was a puddler in the old > days and > his brother-in-law, just referred to, followed this work at the puddle > rolls, until the introduction of the Bessemer steel process. > Patrick Ryan > was father of Mrs. John Cantwell and Michael J. Ryan, an instructor > at the > Philadelphia Oral School. Patrick Corcoran worked at the puddle > rolls and > earned the name of the “haro” in the following manner. A ground hog > was > making depredations on his property, eating his chickens and > vegetables. He > fixed a barrel as a trap. The trap worked and he is quoted as thus > addressing the captive: “Now my haro I’ve got you for eating my > cabbage,” > and the chronicles of that time say that particular groundhog did > not eat > any more cabbage. Edward, William, and Michael Corcoran, Mrs. > Anthony Hale > and Mrs. Rowan of Bellevue are descendants of this sturdy pioneer. > > William Jordan, father of the late Hon. Martin Jordan, was neighbor to > Patrick Corcoran and they had the same job, cross shifting each > other. They > were residents of neighboring counties back home, the one in Mayo > and the > other in Sligo. Mr. Jordan was a candidate for a local office and had > opposition. He expected the support of his neighbor, Mr. Corcoran, > without > asking for it, but the latter voted for the man from his own county in > Ireland. Meeting Mr. Corcoran the next day, and persons familiar > with the > geography of Ireland, will appreciate the depth of the remark, Mr. > Jordan is > quoted as saying to his neighbor, Mr. Corcoran: “Patrick the river > Moy do?? > make a distinct ??????????????.” > > “Heating was easier and better paid than puddling, but the men > doing this > work all come from Wales and they were in control. Our people became > heaters helpers and gradually came into authority, taking charge of > the > heating furnaces to a large extent. William Caffrey, father of > Mrs. John > ??ck, Jessup, Mrs. Martin O’Connor and Mary Caffrey, Scranton, was > the first > man to break into the calling. Mr. Caffrey’s ability set him higher > and > before his death he was superintendent in the steel rail mill. The > writer > remembers an interesting episode in which Mr. Caffrey figured, > proving that > a persons ancestry does count. I was 18 years old , weighed one > hundred and > eighteen pounds and was new to the job “dragging chain” in the rail > mill. It > was my first turn on the night shift and Mr. Caffrey came up to me. > “What’s > your name he asked. “Gollegher,” I replied pronouncing the name as > my father > did, with the good old Irish fl????id, “What’s your father’s name > was the > next question. “Patrick Gollegher,” I replied. Patrick Gollegher > the ash > man?” he further queried and when I answered this in the ?????? ye > he paid > my father a tribute by putting me on the shoulder, saying in his > bluff, > hearty manner, “you’re all right.” > > John Keenan, father of Hugh J, Keenan, the hotel man, was a heater, > so was > Thomas Gannon, father of Thomas Martin Gannon. James Cawley, still > living on > Pittston avenue and Hemlock street, was a heater. James O’Brien, > who lived > in the Petersburg section, was a heater, as was John Dougherty, who > lived in > Scranton Flats. Michael Holland was > A heater, Mrs. Holland, his widow, still lives in her old home > across the > street from Nativity church. Derby Melvin, who later engaged in the > wholesale liquor business on Linden street, near the Cathedral was > a heater, > as was Martin Rouse, now in Pittsburg. Thomas Butler, father of > H.J. Butler, > County Commissioner, Mrs. P.J. Kelly and Ka???? Was a heater. John > McAndrew, known as “bow o’diamonds,” because he was a glazer and > put his > ???? time repairing broken windows, was a heater. So was John Ha?????? > Father of Mrs. J.J. McDonald, Mrs. Hugh Caffrey and James J. ????? > rington, > was a heater. The ???????rney and John Dowd were ??????? and both were > killed in the ?????? of 1870. Mr. Tiera???? ?????, Michael Tierney, > of South > Webster avenue. John Dowd was the father of Mrs. Cornelius Thomas > McDonough. > Darby Cowley was a heater, as was James Jordan, brother to William > Jordan, > previously referred to. John Duffy, father of John Duffy, chief > electrician > for the Scranton Railway Company, was a heater. > > Rolling was another process that required much skill. Matthew Snow and > Florence McCarthy were boss “rollers.” Mr. Snow’s children in > Scranton are > Sister Philomena, I.H.M., Mrs. Joseph Nolan and Mary Snow. Florence > McCarthy > was father of Rev. D. W. McCarthy, Sister Alphonsus, Mary and John > McCarthy. > James Fennessy, father of Mrs. Joseph McNally, Mrs. John Brazelle > and Mrs. > Thomas Quinn, was a roller, as were William Connery. Martin McCann, > Patrick > Martin and Michael Farrell, Thomas Rafferty and Jere Ryan, the > latter going > to war. Daniel Conway, his widow and daughter, residing on Crown > avenue, was > a roll hand. Hugh Durfkin was a roller, so was John Nolan, who > later became > boss roller in the stel rail mill. Thomas and John Nolan are sons > of John > Nolan. Michael Tighe was a roll hand, his son Michael Tighe Jr., is a > talented singer and dancer, who came to Scranton several times with > theatrical companies, his stage name being Bobby Mack. Daniel > Hayes, the > father of James J. Hayes, the insurance and real estate broker, > was a roll > hand. > > Dennis Mack, John Sullivan and Michael Farrell weighed the two inch, a > particular job, that required some skill, strength and knowledge. John > Loftus was a time keeper. F.A. Beamish, Mr. Loftus’ son-in-law, > worked at > the puddle rolls. John Manley, still living on Prospect avenue and > Beech > street, aged 80 years, was a roll hand at the rail mill rolls. Later > becoming one of the best rail inspectors that ever worked for the > company. > Patrick Whelan and Henry Allen were rail str Laurence Casey, who > lived where > Frables’ store now stands. James Murphy straightners, a heavy > hundred pound > sledge, being used for the purpose. Thomas Roche was a rail > straightener. He > later embarked in the liuvert business and owned a fast horse > called “Wild > Warrior.” > > > Florence Sullivan, , father of Mrs. Edward Maloney, and Kate > Sullivan, and > James Clare were “pilers,” getting the cold iron ready for the > heaters, who > converted it into blooms, for the rolls, where it was converted > into rolls, > where it was converted into rails. Thomas Walsh ran the > > (This is the another break were I’m not sure I assembled it right.) > > …rail mill buggy and later became a breaker boss, later he was > watch man for > the Scranton Steel Company, his daughter, Anna E, Bridget and Ellen > Walsh > now living at Pittston avenue and Pear street. Charles Gallagher, > who lived > above the chutes??? ??? and Thomas Byron father of Mrs. Frank > Reilley and > Ella Byron were “hot bed” men. > > John Finnegan was boss Ashman, he children are: Mrs. Peter Farrell, > Mrs. > John Garvey, and Daniel Finnegan. James Quinnan, father of James P. > Quinnan, > esq., and policeman James Quinnan, and Thomas Clare, father of Mrs. > Thomas O > ’Brien and Mrs. John Mawn, were foreman and so was James Connory, > father of > Thomas M., Mary F. and Hannah T. Connory, of Mulberry street in the > Cathedral parish. Patrick Leonard, brother of T.F. Leonard, the big > hardware > merchant, was a blacksmith. Laurence Gallagher was a machinist. > James Mullen > was a rail straighener, who was a butcher by trade, later following > that > trade. His survivors are John J. and Joseph Mullen and Mrs. John F. > Kelly. > John McAndrew worked in the rail mill and for his political > loyalty, he was > known as the “old democrat.” His son, John J. McAndrew, possessing his > father’s characteristics, is a well know citizen of Jessup. He was > catcher > for the old time Liberty base ball club and “Jacheen” was a dandy. > > Patrick Ryan was a blacksmith. He was the father of D.S. Ryan, the > druggist. > Peter Rafferty and Daniel Lucy were fireman at the boilers. Mrs. Henry > Savannah is adaughter of the latter. Thomas Collins was a > blacksmith. Mrs. > Anthony Flynn is his daughter. Thomas Shea was a blacksmith, his > brother, > John Shea was a wheel wright, another brother Michael Shea, being a > roll > hand. Captain John Shea, of the Scranton Fire Department, is a son of > Michael Shea. Mary and Kate Shea being daughters. John S. Coleman, > father of > E.J. Coleman, master mechanic at the Hotel Casey, was a blacksmith > helper, > who later became a puddler. > > Stalwart men who did the laborious work of carrying and loading > rails were > Roger Grimes and Mall Carrier Richard J. Grimes. The elder Grimes also > worked at the hot saws. Others were Owen Sweeney, still living and his > brother Morgan Sweeney. The Scranton Railway agent, is a son of > Owen. Other > men were Daniel Lundy, father of Mrs. William Hopkins, Mrs. James > Halpin and > Mrs. Thomas Mangan. Mr. Lundy being also a rail straightener. John > Morrison, > father of Rev. J.J. Morrison. John McNally, father of William McNally. > Patrick Regan father of John and Peter Regan.; John Nealis, “big > Jack,” > Anthony Hughes, “Tony,” John Hope and Patrick Davitt. > > Thomas Burke, father of Motorman John Burke, was an oil carrier. > George > Houston, father of Mrs. John Kelly, worked in all parts of the > mill, being > the handyman of that day. > > Editors Note: The above information was gathered from several > sources, some > of the men spoke of being eighty years of age, residents of > Scranton for > periods of time from sixty to seventy years. It is believed to be > accurate > in every particular. Readers will favor us if they point out > omissions or > inaccuracies. Corrections will be made with pleasure. > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PALACKAW- > request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message