Linda, I'd like to read that article about Samuel F. Wheary in the Mt. Carmel Daily News - how did you find it? I'd known he had a tobacco business, then later a motorcycle franchise, and still later a machine shop in an alley between Maple & Oak and between 3rd. & 4th Sts. He was quite mechanical and his name is in the Ford museum in Michigan for his work with autos. I'd heard he invented the rotary engine, but certainly didn't patent it, if that was true! Also, I remember years ago an article sent to my mother by an older aunt which was a reprint of a 1903 Mt. Carmel newspaper article showing a photo of my grandfather, the same Samuel Weary driving the very first automobile in Mt. Carmel - not his, he was just a driver we think. We had the article for many years, but it has been lost by this time - unfortunate none of us were interested in genealogy back then. Sam Weary was just a young man when he helped Edison with the Mt. Carmel lighting, just a worker, I'd be surprised if his name showed up anywhere connected with that endeavor. Sam Weary also was quite good at furniture making - all done in Mission Oak style. I have a plant stand he made right here in the room I'm in now. Unfortunately, the larger pieces he made, desk, buffet, dining table were sold when the Mt. Carmel house was disbanded almost sixty years ago. Many thanks for sharing this information with me. Elida of South Carolina ----- Original Message ----- From: Linda Koharski <linkoharski@chilitech.net> To: <PANORTHU-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, June 19, 2005 9:54 AM Subject: Re: [PANORTHU-L] Northumberland County - Tourism > > So I wonder when Mt. Carmel had its street lights installed and > > operating? > > > Elida and interested others, > According to: > Souvenir Art Edition, The Mt. Carmel Daily News in the year 1896. > "Mt. Carmel has had Electric Light since Jan 22, 1894. Mt.. Carmel has the > distinction of being the first town in the world to be lighted exclusively > by electricity. Up till the time the Electric lights were first turned on, > Mt. Carmel streets were in darkness as there was no gas or other > illumination of a public nature. The Edison Illuminating Co. of Mt. Carmel > was incorporated November 17, 1883, with a paid up capital stock of $15,000. > The plant was then located near the corner of Fourth and Maple streets, but > in November , 1890,the capital was increased to $25,000 and the plant was > moved to the present (1896) location at the foot of Oak St." > The article lists officers but does not mention the name of Wheary in this > article. > Samuel F. Wheary article and picture recounting his success in retail > tobacco, cigar, and confectionery business established about 1895. > Joseph B. Young article and picture are on the same page detailing his drug > store located at Oak and Second St. > I have seen these names recounted here before. > I hope this is of some interest and help. > Linda > >