Home of scientist Joseph Priestly!

NORTHUMBERLAND &
MONTOUR COUNTIES

ILLUSTRATED BOOKLET

The history of Northumberland and Montour Counties in Pennsylvania, is recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this NEW 38 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 communities mentioned include: Centralia, Danville, Exchange, Fisher’s Ferry, Georgetown, Herndon, Kulpmount, Limestoneville, Mausdale, McCunesville, McEwensville, Milton (formerly Milltown), Mooresburg, Mt. Carmel, Northumberland, Paxinos, Shamokin, Snyderstown, Sunbury, Washingtonville, Watsonburg, Weigh Scales, and White Hall.

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.

Among the many and diverse subjects in the booklet are: First Settlers; Physical Features; Transportation Improvements; Chief Shikellimus, father of Logan and friend of the missionaries, Rev. David Brainerd, Count Zinzendorf, Bishop Johannes Von Watteville and other missionaries; Madame Montour; Indian atrocities; the Committee of Safety of Northumberland during the Revolutionary War; the Shamokin Coal and Iron Co.; Dr. Joseph Priestley, the distinguished scientist and philosopher; Recollections of the venerable Mrs. Grant and of an early French visitor to the area; Fort Augusta; the Capture of and Freeland’s Fort; Doctor Plunkett’s Expedition; Whiskey Rebellion incident; Duel in 1805; Captain Daniel Montgomery and family; Iron Foundries in Danville; State Hospital for the Insane; Coal Dredging in the Susquehanna; Thomas Edison’s light plant in Sunbury; Pathetic legend of John Penn and Mary Cox; Coal Bootlegging, snake pie, “a wife worth having;” and other interesting bits of history and trivia.

ILLUSTRATIONS include Public Square in Sunbury; Distant View of Northumberland; Churches in Milton; On the Susquehanna, above Milton; the Susquehanna Junction at Northumberland (full page); Montour Court House in Danville; and the State Hospital for the Insane, Danville.

Paying by check?
click here