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.

Nescopeck High School 1928 Commencement

This program is from the 1928 Nescopeck High School Commencement Program.

The Valedictorian was my grandmother, Jennie Rough. Others taking part in the ceremony include: Rev. Beck, Freda Knorr, Lucille Schechterly, Blanche Yohey, Guy Meiss, Carl Chambers, Mae Smith, Keith Walker, William Ashworth, George Aten, Edna Bond, Ira Bull, Chas. S. Gilbert and Rev. Bettens.

Nugent - Bason - Rough Families

Obituary of Jennie Eckstrand who died July 7, 1950. Jennie's parents were William & Nancy (Boyles) Nugent. She first married George Bason. He died in 1905 after being burned while working at the AC&F factory in Berwick. Her daughter Mary Violet Bason married Jorden Rough. The newspaper article for their 50th Wedding Anniversary is below.


Jorden Ezra Rough and Mary Violet Bason were married November 18, 1908 and lived in Briggsville and Nescopeck.
Their children were: Jorden E. Rough, Jr.; Jennie I. Rough, married Derl Moore; Helen Rough, married Woodrow Creveling; and Roland Rough.
Violet lived to be 101. Both are buried at Pine Grove Cemetery, Market Street, Berwick PA.

William Moore & Fannie Kile

William H. Moore & Fannie Kile Moore

This clipping is from 1954, showing William & Fannie Moore of Berwick, PA. Their living children were Derl P. Moore and Gordon Moore. William began Moore's Ice, Coal & Water Company. His obituary is below. If you would like a larger copy please email me.

Wallace & Anna (Walton) Moore

Anna Walton Moore & Wallace W. Moore

This newspaper account of Wallace & Anna Moore's 55th Anniversary has many details about their family. They were married December 13, 1877.

Her parents were Joseph and Lavinia (Pollock) Walton, Salem twp.

The Moore farm listed in Salem twp. is along Moore's Hill Road, Berwick PA, as was Moore's Evangelical Church. The church was destroyed by arson in the 1950's, but the adjacent cemetery - Garrison's Cemetery - is still there.

Their living children were: Joseph, William, Bruce, Lemuel, Blanche and Mrs. Archie (Sophia) Bittner. Note, Wallace may have been referred to as William Wallace Moore. The great grandchild listed, David Moore, is my father.

There is a family story about Anna Walton Moore's sister, listed as Mrs. James Garcia of Albuquerque, NM, I believe she was Elizabeth Walton. James Garcia was a student at the Carlisle Indian School. He was working on the Walton farm in the summer when he met Elizabeth. They eloped and moved to Acoma, New Mexico. I have not proven this story and would welcome any additional information.

Wallace is shown in this photograph working in his field at age 85!

Briar Creek Township School, Columbia County, PA - 1896 - 1897

These two photos show both sides of a card for a one room school house in Briar Creek Township, Columbia County, PA. This one was given to student Fannie Kile (see previous posts about her and husband William Moore). The school year was 1896 - 1897 and 48 student names are listed.

The teacher, Ella J. Stackhouse, is pictured with a small photo that appears glued onto the card. School directors were: O. F. Ferris, Newman Bower, James Frease, H. S. Keck, M. H. Petty and D. H. Miller.

Student's last names include: Adams, Belford, Bower, Brobst, Canouse, Diettrich, Fowler, Harmon, Hiney, Kile, Martz, Mosteller, Shelhamer, Sitler, Stout, Wagner, and Whitmire.