Scams, Scoundrels and Posionous Gnats!
TIOGA & POTTER COUNTIES,
PENNSYLVANIA
ILLUSTRATED BOOKLET
The
history of Tioga and Potter Counties of PA, is recalled through a mixture
of colorful tales and factual data in this NEW 36 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 Tioga communities mentioned include: Arnot, Blossburg,
Covington, Delmar, Elkland, Fallbrook, Firmantown, Knoxville, Lawrenceville,
Leolyn, Liberty, Mainsburg (Mainsville), Mansfield, Mixtown, Roaring Branch,
Tioga (Willarsburg), Valley View, Wellsborough, Westfield (Priestville).
The Potter communities
mentioned include: Coudersport, Galeton, Lewisville, Oleona, Roulette, and
Sweden Valley.
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.
Among the many and diverse subjects in the booklet are: County
terrain and geological traits; Early Settlers; Stories of the Blockhouse Road;
Anthony - Half Dutch, Half French, All Scoundrel; Boom and Depression of
Covington; Double Life and Suicide of J.G. Boyd or is it Henry Seymour; Oregon
Hill, An early land scam; Pine Creek Gorge Grand Canyon of PA; Generousity
of John Keating; Recollections of Old Timers; Poisonous Gnats; Grinding Corn
with an Indian Samp Mortar; Transporting Five on a Horse; Violinist Ole Borneman
Bull's Unsuccessful Colony of Norwegians and Danes; the Hurricane of 1834;
the Devastating Flood at Austin Dam; the Coudersport Ice Mine and other interesting
bits of history and trivia.
ILLUSTRATIONS include Central
Part of Wellsborough; Hotel, Depot, and Coal Mine at Blossburg; View of the
Borough of Knoxville, Cowanesque Valley; Episcopal Church at Mansfield; The
Coal Schutes at Arnot; Methodist Church at Mansfield; Northern View of Fall
Brook from the Centre; Early method of Pounding Corn; Potter County Court
House.
