1893 - Electricity Comes To Berwick !

This is a handbill that I found in an old book bought at an auction in the 1970's.

The Berwick Electric Light Company canvassed residents in 1893 to see if they wanted to install incandescent lights in their homes or businesses. The cost for the first "lamp" in a home was 75 cents per month, not a small cost in 1893. Home installation at $1 to $4 per "lamp" was extra.

Gideon Michael of Foundryville had a generator in his posession, in the 1960's, that he said was made by Thomas Edison and was used to first power electricity in Berwick. He kept it under a tarp in a lean-to attached to his workshop building. I don't know if the story is true or not. But I was there when a man in a business suit and 'official looking' car came and identified himself as being with the Smithsonian Institution....

1949 - Woodin Mansion Fire Photo

This photo shows the ruins of the Woodin Mansion, Berwick, after it burned to the ground.

See previous post for the newspaper article describing the fire and giving some history of this mansion on "The Heights".

1949 Talgo Train - ACF Plant, Berwick

This newspaper clipping is dated 1949 and shows the "Talgo Train" build at Berwick's ACF Plant for the Spanish government.

1904 Susquehanna River Flood at Berwick

These photos are dated February 9, 1904 by Eli B. Lundy, Berwick, and show the Susquehanna River at flood stage at Berwick. The view appears to be looking east at Nescopeck and the second photo shows part of the covered bridge floating away.

1926 - Berwick - Anna (Fritz) Wells Obituary

Anna Fritz was born on February 15, 1835 in Berwick to Mr. & Mrs. George Fritz.

Her husband, George Wells, was deceased and she had one surviving son, Harvey T. Wells.

1966 - Berwick - Mr. & Mrs. John Church 50th Wedding Anniversary

The Church's resided in Berwick, PA.

1949 - Woodin Mansion Burns on Berwick Heights

The Woodin mansion burned to the ground on December 27, 1949 as detailed in this old newspaper article. The mansion was located on "The Heights", an area on top of one of the hills outside of Berwick. Eckhart J. Eshleman was the owner at the time of the fire but the original home was completed in 1893 for a son of the AC&F founder Woodin.

Neighbors at the time of the fire are listed as Foster Smith and Raymond Seigel. The Smiths continued to live there until at least the 1970's.