JUNIATA, MIFFLIN & PERRY

The history of Juniata, Mifflin and Perry Counties, PA, is recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this NEW 48 Page Booklet, reprinted primarily from three hard-to-find books: the 1843 edition of Historical Collections of the State of Pennsylvania by Sherman Day, An Illustrated History of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by William Egle, M.D., and Pennsylvania, a Guide to the Keystone State, a WPA project published in 1940. The spiral-bound booklet is printed one-sided on 60# paper, with the print enlarged for easier reading. A clear vinyl sheet has been added to protect the front cover.

The Day and Egle histories cover the early development of this area, while excerpts from the WPA book, give a nostalgic glimpse from a 1940 vantage point, including interesting historical notes, especially as they relate to sightseeing possibilities. There is occasionally some duplication of material, but often with a different slant or with additional details.

Juniata County:

Communities mentioned include: Mifflintown (Mifflin); Thompsontown; Port Royal (formerly Perrysville); Tammanytown, Waterford, Waterloo, Ridgeville, Patterson, Oakland, McAllisterville (formerly Calhounsville), Mexico, Taylorsville, Peru Mills and Shade Valley.

Among the many and diverse subjects in the booklet are: First Settlers; Physical Features; the "Grey Property Case," a lengthy dispute over rich acreage in the Tuscarora Valley involving Indian captivity and fraud; the Children’s Grasshopper War; "Fabled" Precious Mines; Capt. James Paterson’s Target Practice; More Indian Massacres and Kidnappings; Area Churches; Devastating Fires; and other interesting bits of history and trivia.

ILLUSTRATIONS include: Juniata Court Huse and Soldiers Memorial.

Mifflin County:

Communities mentioned include: Lewistown, Reedsville (formerly Brown’s Hills), McVeytown (formerly Waynesburg), Newton Hamilton (formerly Muhlenberg & Hamilton), Belleville, Horrelstown, Freedom Forge, Yeagertown, Milroy, Allenville, Burnham and Alfarata.

Among the many and diverse subjects in the booklet are: Alexander Caverns and other Physical Features; Arthur Buchanan, the First Settler, and Those Who Followed; Capture of Fort Granville and the Cruel Torture of Capt. Turner; the Lead Mystery; Tales of Logan, Indian Friend of the White Man; Judge Brown and Samuel Maclay; Kishacoquillas Valley and Kishicokelas Creek; Boundary Dispute; Riot at Lewistown in 1791; the Pennsylvania Canal; Participation in War of 1812, Mexican War and the Civil War; Three Natural Disasters in less than a year; and other interesting bits of history and trivia.

ILLUSTRATIONS include View of Central Part of Lewistown, Mifflin County Court House, Lewistown Narrows, Pennsylvania Railroad (full page).

Perry County:

Communities mentioned include: New Bloomfield (Bloomfield), Millerstown, Duncannon (formerly Petersburg), Liverpool, Landisburg, Newport (formerly Reidersville), New Buffalo, Ickesburg, Andersonburg, Baskinsville, Blain and Marysville.

Among the many and diverse subjects in the booklet are: Recollections of an early pioneer; Massacre of Woolcomber, White, Campbell, Anderson families and others; Shearman's Valley(Sherman); Trespassing Settlers; New Bloomfield Academy; and other interesting bits of history and trivia.

ILLUSTRATIONS include Bloomfield, Petersburg with Duncan's Island Bridge, Perry Ccounty Courthouse at New Bloomfield, Burrough of Newport.