The SNYDER COUNTY POST History Page

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125 Years Ago - 1885
    The New Way -- It is hard to beat eggs with the ordinary appliances, but try a "Cyclone" Egg Beater at it, and the results will speak for themselves.
    A large and complete assortment of Holiday Goods very cheap at G.C. Gutelius Store in Middleburg.
    On Monday, Drs. Sampsell, Mohn and Barber, amputated the leg of John Bruner of Centre Township. The young man has been suffering from scrofula for years and the operation was performed to save his life.

100 Years Ago - 1910
    The census returns for 1910 shows a loss of 504 over the census of 1900. Ten years ago, the census figures showed 17,304 people in Snyder county while the returns for 1910 shows only 16,800.
    Mrs. Susan Swanger, McClure, was struck by a through freight train while crossing the tracks at the McClure station and instantly killed. Mrs. Swanger was 65 years of age and partially deaf.
    The phone directory of the Middlecreek Valley Telephone Co. published in the "Post" shows 124 telephones in use.
    The Kissimmee cider press made 34,892 gallons of cider this fall. Charles Bowersox brought in the largest load of apples with 38 bushels, which made 176 gallons of cider.

75 Years Ago - 1935
    The new fire truck purchased in September by Reliance Hose Company, Middleburg, arrived Wednesday forenoon. The new truck is of Ward-LaFrance equipment built on a 1936 Ford chassis.
    Dr. E.R. Kuhns, Dentist, will be at the Ideal Inn, Beavertown, every Tuesday and Friday, Telephone 15R5.
    Christmas suggestion -- A gift that lasts all year. A subscription to The Middleburg Post is $1.50 per year.

50 Years Ago - 1960
    The Middleburg Borough Council at their meeting on Monday evening gave permission to the Middleburg Lodge of L.O.O.M. to use water to flood the skating rink.
    The choir of St. Peter's Lu-theran Church, Kreamer, will present a dramatization of the Christmas story. Carl J. Musser will direct the choir.
    A loon wsa found Monday morning by John Stahl and his son on a farm near Middleburg. They captured the bird, which cannot take flight from dry land, and placed it in a pen at their home. They plan to keep the bird until they can release it in open water. It is about the size of a goose and its beak is about 5" in length.

From the Archives of
The
Middleburg Post

Snyder County's Historical Highway Markers

    From 1914 to 1933, the Pennsylvania Historical Commission, predecessor to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), installed bronze plaques to commemorate significant individuals, events, and landmarks throughout the state. These would be placed on bridges or on stone pillars along the roadside.
     However, during the 1920s and 1930s, with accelerated automobile speeds, these plaques became impossible to read from a moving vehicle. For this reason, the PHMC, created by the state legislature in 1945, developed the modern style of historical marker.
    There are eleven such markers in Snyder County commemorating people, events, and historical information on the area. For those who can't read the signs fast enough while driving by, The Snyder County Post now allows you to read the text of the markers and appreciate the information.

Albany Purchase
Dedicated: 1947
Location:US 522/US 11 & 15, 1 mile N of Selinsgrove, near Wal-Mart.
Text: The NE corner of the land deeded the Proprietors by the Six Nations in great council at Albany July 6, 1754, was 1 mile north of Penns Creek. It ran thence "North of the West as far as your Province extends."

Coxey's Army
Dedicated: 1966
Location:814 N. Market St., Selinsgrove
Text: Jacob Sechler Coxey (1854-1951), was born here. In 1894 he led a march of unemployed workers, popularly known as "Coxey's Army," on Washington. Public works programs and relief measures were asked. This focused attention on the plight of the unemployed.

Fort Augusta
Dedicated: 1947
Location: U.S. 11, 5.9 miles NW of Selinsgrove near the Northumberland Bridge
Text: Largest and most important frontier stronghold on the upper Susquehanna. Located on the opposite river bank. Built 1756-57 and in use until 1783. The site is a State shrine at which are a museum and fort model.

Lock Number Seven
Dedicated: 1946
Location: US 11/15 at Mahan-tango Creek
Text: Well preserved remains of the lock, Mahantango Creek aqueduct, and other canal operations are opposite. They were a part of the Pennsylvania Canal built 1828-31 through this section.

Penns Creek Massacre
Dedicated: 1947
Location: SR 2017, just north of Selinsgrove
Text: October 16, 1755, a band of Indians ambushed and killed, wounded, or took captive some 26 settlers of this region. The attack was just west along Penns Creek, and first to follow Braddock's defeat

Pennsylvania Canal
(Susquehanna Division
Dedicated: 1952
Location: US 11/15 at Port Trevorton
Text: At this point, highway crosses Port Trevorton Canal Basin. Coal from mines about 15 miles to the east crossed the river on the Trevorton, Mahanoy and Susquehanna Railroad bridge from 1855-70, and was transshipped here to canal boats.

Schoch Blockhouse
Dedicated: 1947
Location: US 522, at Kreamer
Text: This pioneer refuge during the Revolutionary War era was located at a spring 100 yards south. Built on Matthias Schoch's tract about 1770 and in use until 1783.

Shikellamy
Dedicated: 1947
Location: US 11, 5.4 miles north of Selinsgrove, near en-trance to Shikellamy State Park
Text: Oneida chief and overseer or vice-regent of the Six Nations asserting Iroquois dominion over conquered Delaware and other tribes. He lived at Shamokin Indian town, Sunbury, from about 1728 until his death, 1748. Said to be buried near here.

Susquehanna University
Dedicated: 1948
Located: University Ave., near 18th St., Selinsgrove
Text: Founded 1858 by the Evangelical Lutheran Church as the Missionary Institute and Susquehanna Female College. The present corporate title was adopted in 1895.

Simon Snyder
Dedicated: 1947
Location: 121 N. Market St., Selinsgrove
Text: Born 1759, on this site, Governor of Pennsylvania for three terms, 1808-17. His strong appeal for a call to arms, and defense of sound currency, during war of 1812, are noteworthy. Died in 1819 at Selinsgrove

Snyder County
Dedicated: 1982
Location: 9 W. Market St., Middleburg, at Court House
Text: Formed March 2, 1855 out of Union County. The name honors Simon Snyder (Governor, 1808-17) who made his home in Selinsgrove. The county seat of Middleburg was laid out 1800, incorporated 1864. County was scene of the Penns Creek Massacre of 1755.