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Rosstown & Christian Hollow in Town of Southport

Nelda COOK Holton and Robert Masia 
cut the cake at Nelda's retirment party March 2001
Article - Town of Southport - Christian Hollow & Rosstown Notes
Township: Town of Southport, Chemung County NY
Notes from files of Nelda COOK Holton, 
Town of Southport Historian 1968-2001
Year: 2004
Submitted by Virginia WHEELER McElroy, 
Town of Southport Historian
Retyped by Cathy Knights
Formatted & published by Joyce M. Tice
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IN MEMORY OF NELDA COOK HOLTON

TOWN HISTORIAN

1968-2001

ROSSTOWN
  1. Hardy Stone quarry bought from S. Carr below Comforts: Ross quarry first.
  2. Road next to cemetery went up over Green Hill. Previous to his ____________, Lightizer Road new in Charles’s time.
  3. Miller Cemetery – new part.
  4. "Posey" George-John Comfort’s father. John ____________ Heaxt house and barn. Grandma Bailey said wonder he didn’t draw away Holes (?).
  5. Pear tree line of new cemetery.
  6. Geroge Osburn played violin for dances and lived where Dick Thayer built on old foundation. George Osburn, Jr. played violin, also.
  7. Ross had three quarries—crushed in three sizes—used gasoline engine for power. There was a shute from the crusher to the wagons.
  8. Saw mill up the rear behind John Comfort’s house. It was run by water power—Charlie and boys caught frogs in pond—had a dam—mill gone before Charlie’s time—had been a lumber pile there.
  9. Steam Mill—was carpenter & Carrier.
  10. Hardy—300 ft. of hillside from cemetery line to Jim’s.
Source: Mrs. Arthamese Denny

Date: 2 May 1959

CHRISTIAN HOLLOW NOTES—JANUARY 28, 1990

The Rosstown Store did not operate after the early 1930’s. After it ceased being used as a store, it eventually fell in.

The little cemetery near the top of the end of Christian Hollow Road (Conklin Cemetery) is gone except one marker laying on the ground inscribed with: Lucy Conklin. In earlier years—the creek by the cemetery was on the other side of this cemetery.

As You travel up the Christian Hollow Road from Route 14—on the right is a barn that originally held race horses. Also that barn nearby was a tobacco barn.

The Christian Hollow Road was partly blacktopped—dated August 16, 1927.

The railroad line from Elmira to Tioga Junction was abandoned in 1942 and the tracks were taken up; the big Trowbridge and Alder Run trestles were dismantled. Passenger service on the Tioga Division was in operation from 1876 to 1932. The freight run continued through Jackson Summit another 10 years.

CHRISTIAN HOLLOW NOTES—JULY 2, 1990

Joshua Shers lived in the Makinster house on Sitzer road and Lewis Road corner. He and wife found dead in the house. She found unconscious without recovering – died. There was a lamp burning and another had burned itself out and blackened the chimney and the furniture in disarray as if house had been searched. The mystery never solved.

Source: Per Mark Makinster July 4, 1954.

A saw mill by Floyd Seymour barn on corner Christian Hollow and Lightizer Road. Geo. Breese cut logs on Slaters (now Bill Steed’s) Fletcher Merriam, head sawyer,probably run by Bur Miller before 1897. ___ was boss of mill ____ Hams.

Seneca T. ham (called "Sink") lived on Boynton farm before Granpa Bowen.

Thomas K. Beecher’s picture hung in Rosstown School all time time Cora Lewis wheeler attended.

"Tut" Reynolds build barn at Fred Balmer’s—kept fast horses.

Ben Sitzer came in 1865 from Schoharie County to visit Macumbers—marrked Barney Macumber’s daughter. Ben spent his first night in "The Hollow" with Sluyter’s in our hose. He built a house on site of present Sitzers and it burned so he erected the one in which they now live—Hext was the carpenter.

At Left: Map of Rosstown
Above: Rosstown School corner of Christian Hollow Road & Lightizer
Dec 31, 2003 by Joyce M. Tice

ROSSTOWN NOTES—JULY 23, 2002

SOURCE: VIRGINIA MCELROY

In 1889 Rosstown was not on the map. There being the one room school house and a small cabin near the cemetery; which later was moved near the road. George Breese of Miller Hill cut the timber, west of school house. During the winter of ’88 & ’89, a sawmill cut the logs in lumber, it made a place for the children to play during noon and recess. A few years later two different mills, cut lumber from the Griswold wood, back of the school, where once was a beautiful picnic ground. During the winter months around 60 pupils attended school with the sawdust piles nearby. They kept the floors covered deep, to deaden the sound of the many boots. Come spring, the older lads quit to work on the farms.

Around 1885 Charles H. Ross owned and operated a blacksmith shop at the head of Christian Hollow Road, what is now the Farran Farms. Later he built a shop across from the school. A Mr. Jas. Suffern of near Fassett, Pa., used to drive oxen over to be shod. They were driven in a heavy timber frame with strap and windlass to lift their feet of the ground. The school children were always interested in watching the shoes as were different from those of a horse—being a half shoe.

Around 1890 Mr. Ross built a small store. The boys used to gather there evenings and there is where the name of Rosstown originated, and today can be found on county maps. C. R. Hoss’s son, William, operated a stone quarry in the hillside above the shop. They planned to blast rocks in early morn, but one morning a rock came hurling thru the shop, breaking a man’s leg (Will Brewer) and many times fragments of rock pierced the school building roof. Later a stone crusher was installed. Stone being hauled to Elmira for street paving and building purposes. North of this quarry another was operated by Geo. McNaney, stone being used for buildings. It furnished work for neighborhood lads and later a bunch of outside laborers came. They had a boarding house nearby. Made plenty of work for the black smith as no trucks. All hauling being done by teams. For a few years, other blacksmiths helped, one being Mark Baker, now of Pine City, NY.

Mr. Ross retired from business around 1921. He was active in church work, being Supt. Of Sunday School many years. After his death at the age of 94, store was razed and today it is a quiet little place, nestling among the hills. With the same school and 4 or 5 modern homes. Telephone, electricity and improved roads. About four miles from Elmira, midway between Penna. Line and underpass on Christian Hollow Road.

Article written by Mrs. Arthamese Denny, resident of Chiristian Hollow) April 1949

The original road branches off the old South Creek Road (now Rte. 14S). The next farm was owned by George Boynton, which had two large barns, a silo, and a tobacco shed. The next farm was owned by Fred and Margaret Tillinghast Balmer, and next a small farm belonging to Grandpa and grandma Cole (LaFayette and Josephine). The next farm was George & Gertrude Merriam Bown, quite large dair farm. And then there was Arthur and Daisy Tillinghast Sharppee’s sheep farm. Mr. Shappee was a tutcher and had a slaughter house near a bond, across Christian Hollow Creek. Roy and Ethel Morrow Alexander lived on the next dairy farm, and a short distance beyond on the right side of the road, at the foot of "Sally’s Gap" William & Eda Mason Alexander had a pig farm. Then there was John comforts, the John Hams and Miss Sylvia Ham’s, Marshall land Blanche Sitzer Carpenter, and the Finley Farran’s tenant house. This was the "farming" community of "The Hollow.)

By: Mrs. Aurelia Campbell, life-long resident of Christian Hollow Road.

CHRISTIAN HOLLOW

The frame barn on land now owned by Charles Lewisis one of the earliest built in Christian Hollow. It was erected by David Macumber (Maycomber) who had come from Tioga, Pa., to work with the Carpenter and Carrier sawmill, in the 1860’s. The Macumber home was burned, but the well is still used by Otis Comfort who lives in a cottage on the site.

CCHS: Written by Arthamese Denny July 1955

The tiny family cemetery on the farm now owned by Kenneth Andrus is the burial site of two of the earliest settlers of the Christian Hollow: Joshua Conklin and his wife, Lucy. The markers are broken into several pieces each and no longer mark the actual graves. Joshua Conklin lived from April 1791 to April 1868; and his wife from March 1794 to February 1870. Her marker is inscribed:

"Sleep on dear Mother

and take thy rest

God called thee home

When He though best"

The cemetery is said to have contained the unmarked graves of several other members of the family.

CCHS: Written by Arthamese Denny July 1955

Joseph Metzger of the South Creek Road, Town of Southport. His residence and "chair factory" are on the map of 1853 and in the atlas of 1869 in the house "kitty-corner" across the road from District #8 school, on the South Creek Road. In addition to his chair making, Mr. Metzger made splint baskets of assorted sizes. He is believed to have had a son George who lived "in some City—maybe Philadelphia".

CCHS: Written by Arthamese Denny July 1956

RESIDENTS IN THE VICINITIES OF SOUTH CREEK AND CHRISTIAN HOLLOW ROADS:

William Sawdey Neil Atherton

Joseph Utter William Folmer

George Pullen J. Wilmot Lightizer

A. B. Merriam L. A. Packard

Dist. 4 Ashland and Roushy Edward Seymour

Hugh Sample John McNaney

Mrs. Mabel Decker Lisle Makinster

Frank Monnell Harvey Sitzer

Owen McNaney

Source: Taken from Pages 28 and 29 of the "Rural Index" C. 1915

CLOCK SYSTEM RURAL INDEX

And map of

CHEMUNG COUNTY 1922

CHRISTIAN HOLLOW

6-3-P George Boynton

6-3-P2 Fred Balmer

6-3-Q Lafayette Cole

6-3-S George Bowen

6-3-R Arthur Shappee

6-3-U Roy Alexander

6-4-B vacant—old Alexander house

6-4-C Fred Bailey—For Knapp house

6-4-P Charles McCann

6-4-Q L.A. Packard—between C. McCann and C. Ross—Mrs. Bailey’s (??)

6-4-R C. H. Ross

6-5-S Jacob Comfort

6-5-B2 Rosstown School—Southport #I3

6-5-B3 John Comfort

6-5-D vacant—Ham’s, across the creek

6-5-D2 vacant—Sylvie Ham Lightizer’s

6-5-G George Walker—before Marsh Carpenter, left side of road

6-5-J Marshall Carpenter

6-5-P John McNaney-Houseknecht

6-5-Q George Comfort—Tony

6-5-R A. F. Conklin

6-5-U Albert Platt—mill house (?)

6-6-C Finley B. Farren

6-6-B Albert Platt—left side across from Farren, Berg (?)

Date: 15 December 1995

From: Mrs. Arthamese Denny

Source: Clock System – Rural Index.

By: Sylvia Smith of Wellsburg, N.Y.

60 YEARS AGO

In 1889 Rosstown was not on the map. There being the one room school house and a small cabin near the cemetery; which later was moved near the road. Geo. Breese of Miller Hill cut the timber—west of school house. During the winter of ’88 & ’89 a sawmill cut the logs in lumber—it made a place for the children to play during noon and recess. A few years later two different mills, cut lumber from the Griswold wood, back of the school. Where once was a beautiful picnic ground. During the winter months around sixty (60) pupils attended school. With the sawdust piles near, they kept the floors covered deep, to deaden the sound of the many boots. Come spring, the older lads quit to work on the farms.

Around 1885 Charles H. Ross owned and operated a blacksmith Shop at the head of Christian Hollow Road. What is now "Farran Farms". Later he built a shop across from school. A Mr. Jas. Suffern of near Fassett, Pa. used to drive oxen over to be shod. They were driven in a heavy timber frame with strap and windlass to lift their feet off the ground. The school children were always interested in watching the shoes as were different from those of a horse—being a half shoe.

Around 1890 Mr. Ross built a small store. They boys used to gather there evenings and there is where the name of "Rosstown" originated, and today can be found on County map. C. H. Ross’s son, Wm. Operated a stone quarry in the hillside aboe the shop. They planned to blast rocks in early morn, but one morning a rock came hurling through the shop, breaking a man’s leg, (Will brewer) and many times fragments of rock pierced the school building roof.

ROSSTOWN SCHOOL…..SOUTHPORT NO. 13

The original schoolhouse was a log structure, which stood on the opposite side of the road, and across the creek from the present school—in the point of land between the creek and the Miller Hill Road. There may have been a frame building erected on that site, previous to the building on the present site.

For many years the schoolhouse was also used as a church. The Rev. Thomas K. Beecher came out from Elmira to conduct services and his picture hung on the wall for the entire period some of the students attended grammar school. As late as the early 1900’s, it was the schoolhouse from which the funerals of the local residents were held—sometimes with a minister from Southport Corners, or, upon occasion, Mr. Peter Swick, a local resident, conducted the services.

Until very recent years, the Christmas entertainment of the pupils of the Rosstown school was to be attended by the entire community. The festivity was always held at night and featured a large tree with lighted candles and Santa himself to distribute the gifts.

Source: Mrs. Arthamese Denny

Date: July 1955

ROSSTOWN; CHRISTIAN HOLLOW’S GHOST TOWN

A Ghost Town is Southport?????-----------Yes, in the area where the Lightizer and Miller Hill roads meet Christian Hollow Road.

Would you believe that it had a school, which doubled as a church with the Rev. Thomas K. Beecher of Elmira as a pastor? And, nearby, was the Rosstown cemetery.

There was a general store featuring staple groceries—such as sugar, flour, salt, molasses, vinegar; dry goods—calico and gingham by the year, men’s work shirts, trousers, mittens, boots; two-for-a-penny candy for the young ones—licorice sticks, jaw-breakers, peppermint sticks and gum drops too.

Also there was a barber and blacksmith shop, whether everything from a door hook to shoes for oxen were made to the customer’s orders.

At the foot of Miller Hill existed a stone quarry which employed a hundred workers—some of them supplied by the noted Michael Del papa of Elmira. It produced crushed stone for the paving of Pennsylvania Avenue after the plank road was removed.

This was Rosstown before it became a Ghost Town.

Written by Mrs. Aurelia Campbell

Of

Christian Hollow Road

Mrs. Campbell has been a member of our Society for several years and a very faithful worker.

Date: 17 May 1955

Above article appeared in the MAY/JUNE 1995 Newsletter OF the Southport Historical Society.

INTERESTING INFORMATION

Taken from The Chemung Historical Journal

Vol. 40, No. 4, June, 1995

Elmira, New York

April 25th The Board of Public Works will buy 4,000 tons of crushed stone from Mrs. Ross of Christian Hollow Road. It will be deposited on Elmira streets.

Source: 100 Years Ago…….compiled by Tom Byrne

From Daily Advertiser, 1895

EARLY CHRISTIAN HOLLOW

Drawing from my impressions as a young girl in the 20’s, I recall "The Hollow" was "our way of Life"; the land, through which the road meandered, was dotted with the grazing cows and sheep that provided us with our livelihood. Fields were plowed and planted with the hope that spring rains and summer showers would bring bountiful harvest in the early fall. The rusting metal and rotting rubber that now disfigures the road’s entrance belie the fact that we used to respect "the hollow" for its natural beauty and for the sustenance that its adjacent lands generously offered.

The original road branches off the old "South creek Road", now Rte. 14 South, at the Pennsylvania Railroad underpass. It was a dirt road, and in the spring it was very muddy, not yet having received an oil and stone topping until the middle ‘30’s. We crossed a plank floored, iron bridge, that led past the first farm, owned by George Boynton, which had two large barns, a silo, and a tobacco shed on the right side of the road across from the house. Mr. Boynton had a dairy as did the next farm, owned by Fred and Margaret Tillinghast Balmer; then there was a small farm belonging to Grandpa and Grandma Cole (LaFayette and Josephine). She made delicious sugar cookies for my sisters and me as our Halloween treat.

My parents, George and Gertrude Merriam Bowen, occupied the enxt, quite large dairy farm, and my Dad was a peddler of raw milk, with a horse drawn wagon, in the Town of Southport. On weekends at the age of 8-10 I was his helper. Bottled milk was distributed to most of the patrons, but bulk milk was poured from a 40 quart milk can into a "dip can" and when a smaller quantity was desired a 12 quart "dip cup" was used. I well remember one customer in particular, Mrs. Ed Lewis, who had a small pretty blue and white enameled pail, with a saucer for a cover, sitting on the porch railing. I carried the "dip cup" with milk, poured it into the pail, covered it with the saucer, and we went on our way.

To proceed on—was Arthur and Daisy Tillinghast Shappee’s sheep farm. Mr. Shappee was a butcher and had a slaughter house near a pond, across Christian Hollow Creek. Roy and Ethel Morrow Alexander livered on the next dairy farm, and a short distance beyond on the right side of the road, at the foot of "Sally’s Gap", William and Eda Mason Alexander had a pig farm.

Continuing along, past a few smaller houses, and less expansive lots was the little settlement of Rosstown. This was comprised of a grocery and general merchandise store—operated by "Uncle Charlie" and "Aunt Phoebe Culver Ross". Mr. Ross was a blacksmith, and prior to my time, had the facility for shoeing oxen. There was a stone quarry, which, at one time, supplied crushed stone for building streets in Elmira, five or six houses, the Rosstown School, Southport District 13, with its hitching shed, that was erected in the very early 1900’s by the Ladies Aid Society of the church, Services for which were held in the school. The preacher was none other than the famous Rev. Thomas K. Beecher of Elmira’s Park Church.

Onward past the John Comforts, the John Hams and Miss Sylvia Ham’s, there stood another dairy farm belonging to Marshall and Blanche Sitzer Carpenter. Then came "Tony George" Comforts. He and Mrs. Comfort had a dairy and made butter which they peddled about the area. A short distance beyond was the Jake Comforts and down across the creek behind their house was a private cemetery.

On up the road, on the left, was Finley Farren’s tenant house across from which was the Farran’s large dairy farm.

Just above Farran’s, a road to the right led to a swamp where men cut mud—that was drawn in wagons to the "Mud Mill" on the South Creek Road. This was processed and used as a filter for Elmira’s city water.

This was the farming community in "The Hollow"—now considered to be zoned as residential with restrictions limiting the nearly extinct operations as a farmer..

No, of course, we can’t go back—things change and we must adopt. However, may we question the wisdom of community leaders who are willing to allow the ravaging of natural beauty in exchange for a few tax dollars? But anyway, once you cross our little bridge and start up "the Hollow", your eyes are treated to one of the most idyllic scenes in Chemung County. When there is a mist, it remnds you of "Brigadoon".

Written by Mrs. Aurelia Campbell

Of

The Christian Hollow Road

Mrs. Campbell has been a member of our Society

for several years and is a faithful worker.

Date: 25 May 1994

Appeared in the May/June issue of the Southport Historical Society newsletter 1944.

October 23, 1987

John Mulligan of 819 Clairmont Avenue, Elmira, NY—telephone: 733-5833 states in doing research for the Southside Baptist Church—he found reference to Baptist Services held in the building at the corner of the Lightizer Road and Christian Hollow Raod. This same building was the Rosstown schoolhouse before the consolidation of Southport with the Elmira City School District—July 1957. It is possible also that Baptist Services were held at a church in Bulkhead; however, this has never been proven.

Nelda Holton

Town Historian

MAP – 1953

William E. Baker

Publisher (Philadelphia)

From Actual Survey By:

Samuel M. Rea & A. V. Tremble

CHRISTIAN HOLLOW ROAD

House just across the bridge on the right hand side—no name.

House left hand side—(Ray Cole’s shed)—no name.

Fenton S.S. Mill—left side

House—no name (Stadelmaier)

L. Albertson—(Fred Balmer)

E.S. Smith—(Bowen)

House—no name (Miller)

E. Camp (?)—(side of old house across from Wieberg)

House—no name (site of old Alexander [Marie Sutton house])

S. Sly—right hand side (Ford Knapp, now Wieberg)

S. Carr—Sawmill—(approximate site of Lynn Comfort)

V.M. Fitzsimmons—Heaxt (behind Gillett)

SCHOOL HOUSE—between the creek and the Lightizer Road.

E. Miller—right side, across the creek (Hagler)

Briggs—just above Sheehe’s pond.

W. e. Mapes—Thayer (Gammel)

A. VanWormer—right side.

V.M. Fitzsimmons—Kenneth Andrus.

J. Conklin—left side, approximately across from Marian Comfort’s barn.

J. Comfort—right side, site of Farren Farms.

J.McCann

And—in the field

  1. Conklin
Source: Mrs. Arthemese Denny

Date: Circa 1960

Retyped by: Nelda Holton--Southport Town Historian—May 5, 1991

CLOCK SYSTEM RURAL INDEX

And map of

CHEMUNG COUNTY

1922

6-3-F George Boynton

6-3-F2 Fred Balmer

6-3-Q Lafayette Cole

6-3-S George Bowen

6-3-R Arthur Shappee

6-3-U Roy Alexander

6-4-B Vacant—old Alexander house

6-4-C Fred Bailey—Ford Knapp house

6-4-P Charles McCann

6-4-Q L. Packard—between C. McCann and C. Ross—Mrs. Bailey’s (?)

6-4-R C. H. Ross

6-5-B Jacob Comfort

6-5-B2 Rosstown School – Southport #13

6-5-B3 John Comfort

6-5-D Vacant—Ham’s, across the creek

6-5-D2 Vacant—Sylvia Ham Lightizer’s

6-5-G George Walker—before Marsh Carpenter, left side of road

6-5-J Marsh Carpenter

6-5-P John McNaney—Houseknecht

6-5-Q George Comfort—Tony

6-5-R A. F. Conklin

6-5-U Albert Platt—mill house (?)

6-3-C Tinley Farren

6-3-E Albert Flatt—left side across from Warren, Berg (?)

ROSSTOWN

MATT RICHARDSON………………………January 4, 1939
 
 

William Ross, of Troy, Pa., well along in his 70’s called in the office on the day before New Years. Mr. Ross is a former blacksmith of Southport who has returned to a farm near Alba, Pa. Mr. Ross spent the holidays with his sons, Charles Ross of Spaulding Bakeries and Wm. Ross, Jr., of Kennedy Valve. One of Mr. Ross’s cronies is Art (?) Wilmot Knapp, 2 years older than the Troy resident and over his school teacher. It seems when Mr. Ross was a young man, he opened to a business career. He applied to an Elmira merchant and made a favorable impression except his penmanship—Mr. Ross agrees his hand writing looked like the marks of a fallen ___________ SO IT WAS suggested he take a little more schooling and return later. To brush upon penmanship young Ross chose a counting school on Doty Hill near where his grandfather lived. The teacher pursued there was Elmira’s present day and William E. Knapp.

Source: Mrs. Sylvia Smith

Comfort Hill Road

Wellsburgh, NY

Date: 11 June 1993

CELO A. SHEIVE

Cleo A. Shieve, 82, of Millerton RR1 died Thursday, September 17, 1992, at Broad Acres Nursing Home (in Wellsboro, Pa) [typist].

Preceding her n death were her husband, Merton Sheive, and daughter, Marjorie Sheive.

Surviving are three daughters and sons-in-law, Leah and Donald Jennings of Millerton, Jacqueline and Arnold Jerzak of Pine City, New York, and Patricia Sheive of Wilkes-Barre; a son and daughter-in-law, Lester and Sharon Sheive of Lawrenceville; an seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; several nieces and one nephew.

Friends called at the Olthof Funeral Home, Elmira, N>Y> on Saturday, September 19th and Sunday, September 20th.

Services were held there on Sunday, September 20th with the Rev. Douglas Hodge officiating.

Burial was made in Job’s Corners Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

Source: Wellsboro Gazette (Wellsboro, Penna.)

Date: 23 September 1992

Notation: Mrs. Sheive spent her early childhood in Christian Hollow area. Source

for this information: Mrs. Ruth Gallo of Lowman, NY. She was the last

of the Sitzer Family who originally lived in Christian Hollow.

BORADCAST SEPTEMBER 13, 1957; WENY, EDNA BARTLETT

Edna: Christian Hollow…………..

Clark: Leaving Elmira on Route 14, on the way to Fassett, PA turn off to the right as you approach the bidge over the Penna. Railroad tracks, a quarter mile or so beyond B8ulkhead. A short distance beyond the turn you cross a bridge over South Creek. The highways runs slightly southwest for a mile or so, then turns south into the rather narrow valley known as Christian Hollow. It was proposed at one time to change the name to "The Fells" or "South Dalles", but the project did not seem to catch on. The valley continues to, or near the Penna. Border.

Edna: Rosstown……………………

Clark: Along the center of the valley there was once a quiet little hamlet known as Rosstown. It was quite a place with school, a store blacksmith shop, lumber and grist mills with those famous mill dams and big water wheels for producing power. It was named for Charlie Ross, the village blacksmith, who was born in Essen on the Rhine in Germany. One parent was Scotch and the other German.

Source: Mrs. Arthamese Denny

Typed: 15 July 1992

By: Nelda C. Holton – Southport Town Historian.

CHRISTIAN HOLLOW

The so-called "Tamerack Swamp" behind the barn on Finley Farren’s upper place, is said to be a natural underground lake—and slightly overgrown with swamp grass and huckleberry bushes. A Mr. Oldroyd said his mother used to tell the story that when they went huckle-berrying, she would as a girl, would jump up and down on the brush and the surrounding brush would move also. Mr. Oldroyd said that the miller who at that time owned the place—was always going to drive a pipe into the underground lake to provide running water to his farm.

___________

Wind blew over John Hams mail wagon going up Green Hill. When the wagon "tipped" it threw John out and the mule fell down. Pete did not even try to get himself up—just laid there and "hee-hawed".

Source: Mrs. Arthamese Denny as told to her by a Mr. Walker Oldroyd

From Gillett, Pa.

Date: Unknown (but probably around 1950’s)

CHRISTIAN HOLLOW

"Lafe" and Mable Cole built the house in which Ken lives now. The original big house was on the opposite side of the road—it burned when Daisy was a baby. Mable was papering and had pictures etc, packed in trunks in the barn. This is the barn that blew down.

Old "Lafe" Cole lived in the Seymour house sometime or other, I think.

"Lafe", Sr. lived in the Andrew Lewis house on the corner of the Lightizer Road when it burned. There was a rain storm, old "Lafe" had gone to town—the house is said to have been struck by lightning but no one else in the neighborhood saw any lightning or heard thunder. The Coles family bought what was to beomce the Blitz House.

The Reynolds property was the frank Davis (later the Updyke) place between Willis Lightizer and David McCann. There was not a house there as long as "Erv" can remember; the barn stood under the pine tree by the present house. ___(sic) and Willia bought the barn and used its lumber to construct a new house and a hog pen.

Source: Mrs. Arthamese Denny with conversation with a man named "Erv".

Date: December 1958.

CHRISTIAN HOLLOW

There was an old blacksmith shop on the Kelly place—that was where Lant Lewis got his tools. The Kelly farm, when they bought it in 1844, had a log barn and a board and batten house.

Norm Lewis’s barn had old ox yokes, etc.

Gerald Seymour house built by Lafayette Cole-Daisy’s father.

When they set off a blast in the quarry—a rock fell off the slide and went through the roof of the blacksmith shop. It hit Will Brewer, who was n the shop and broke his leg. Mother remembers Will Brewer as a lone-legged man who lived up in the field from Ed. Congdon’s. Uncle Bills says his leg was cut off by a car wheels when the later worked on street cars.

Blitz—Cole—Shaw house built before Miller—Golden—Shappee—Waters—Wood—the Shappee house was patterned after the Shaw, other says, but she doesn’t know who built either one. On the other side of the questions—the Shappee house had Witch doors with small brass knobs.

Darious Ham lived on the Robbins place 12 years altogether—six one time and six another. The kids had sings in the trees on the bank behind Grace’s house. There were butternut trees by the Dave Stryker house.

Flood took out bridges—Will Ross and George McNaney rebuilt the road as they had teams, etc. Sylvia’s father was road commissioner at the time.

Carr lived in a house near the site of Leman Comfort. Ed. Cross held tent meetings there.

A Mr. Hart experimented with his paint in the old Carpenter & Carrier Mill but is not remembered as having operated the Mill. "Doc" Kinsman operated it, probably after John McNaney, who ran it for a time—immediately following the death of Mr. Carrier. Under Mr. McNaney’s operation, the Mill supplied lumber to E.J. Harris whose business was the ancestor of the present Harris, McHenry, and Baker Company.

Mr. Har’s paint Mill was the predecessor of the present Minchar Company, manufacturers of water filter, owned and operated until his death by the late William Alexander of West Church Street, Elmira. The Mill colloquially termed the "Mud Mill", began its career as Mr. Hart’s paint mill. The basis of his paint and also of the water filter was later developed by/from boggy mud obtained from a swamp on the summit of the Green Hill range. This mud was brought to the mill as late as the "teens" of the 20th century. The bog is to be reached by turning right on the State Line road at the head of Christian Hollow Road and continuing to the top of the hill. There at the point of three converging roads, the bog lays between the road going to Roaring Run and the one coming to a dead end at the Conklin Farm.

Source: Mrs. Arthamese Denny

Date: Circa 1960’s

Typed from Mrs. Denn’ys Notes: 27 May 1992 by Mrs. Nelda C. Holton

Southport Town Historian

Bradford County PA
Chemung County NY
Tioga County PA

Published On Tri-Counties Site On 04 NOV 2004
By Joyce M. Tice
Email: Joyce M. Tice

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