During the Civil War there was talk about building a railroad from Port Trevorton to Mifflintown connecting the Susquehanna River with the Juniata River. Iron ore was being mined in Trevorton, PA on the east side of the Susquehanna River. Why not build a railroad - the most modern form of transportation of their day? Canals business was fading and trains were becoming a thriving business. Canals were too expensive to maintain with the frequent flooding along the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers.
By the early 1870's the idea became a plan, then a contract, then a project. How exciting! Wealthy businessmen in Selinsgrove supplied funds and dreamed of prosperous times ahead. The costly war was behind them. Times looked promising as the United States moved forward as one nation again. The Reading Railroad jumped on the band wagon and supplied additional funding for the new narrow gauge Selinsgrove-North Branch Railroad. All along the route from the Susquehanna to the Juniata River, men worked with picks and shovels to create a raised bed for the proposed railway. A bridge was built across the creek near Freeburg, PA. The work continued near the villages of Mt Pleasant Mills, Richfield, Evendale, Bunkertown, McAlisterville and on to Mifflintown. By May 1874, six miles of the railroad bed had been already graded.
One man who lived in Evendale built a large three-story-building with intentions to be able to open a hotel just in time for the opening of the new railroad. He probably dreamed of the bustle and business he would enjoy. This would surely put the tiny hamlet of Evendale on the map! A railroad station house was built in Heister Valley near Richfield, PA.
But before the railroad bed was completed, things began to go south! For one thing the wooden railroad bridge across the Susquehanna River at Port Trevorton was declared to be unsafe. The project would need to find additional funding for a new bridge across the nearly mile wide Susquehanna River. Then in October 1874 the "great fire" in Selinsgrove gutted more than 50 buildings in the heart of town and ruined several wealthy business men who were great supporters of the new railroad. This fire was a lot more devastating than the fire of 1872 in their town. The final blow came when the Reading Railroad withdrew their support.
What can I learn from the unfinished story of the railroad?
1. Jesus said, " For which of you, intending to build a tower (or a railroad- paraphrased) sitteth not down first , and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" Luke 14:28
2. Don't count your chicks before they hatch!
3. Careful planning does not guarantee success. Our course may be changed by the unexpected- fire, flood, eathquake, cancer, job loss, illness or handicap, financial loss or death can bring life-changing circumstances beyond our control.
Today you can drive through Snyder and Juniata County and see the "hump" at various places where the "stillborn railroad" was intended to rumble. The unfinished railroad stands as a monument to unfufilled dreams. Only God can write the final chapter of our unfinished stories.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
"The Green Thing"
We did not have this "Green thing" earlier in my life. Did our parents not care enough for the environment and save resources for the future generation? Fortunately, the current generation has recognized the need to conserve our resources!
Back then they returned milk bottles and soda bottles to the store. The glass bottles went back to the company to be washed, sterilized and refilled. The same bottles were used over and over. But they did not have the "green thing" in those days.
Grocery stores bagged the groceries in brown paper bags which were used for numerous things. Besides being used for storage, the brown bags were cut up to made book covers to protect school books so they could be used over and over from one year to the next. A brown paper bag was cut up to wrap a (recycled) shoe box for a parcel post package instead of buying a box at the post office. They packaged a fragile item for shipping with wadded up old newspaper to cushion it. They did not use Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. But they did not do the green thing!
They walked up stairs because they did not have an elevator or an escalator in the store. They walked to the grocery store for a small item. They did not climb into a 300 horse power machine every time they needed to go two blocks for a five pound bag of sugar. But they did not do the green thing!
Back then, they washed the baby's diaper because they did not have the throw away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy-gobbling-machine burning 220 volts. Wind and solar power really did dry their clothes back in those days -(and is still my preference)! Children wore hand-me-down clothes from their brothers and sisters, not new brand name clothes. But they did not have the green thing.
In the kitchen they used a hand egg beater or a can opener. They did not have electric gadgets to do everything for them. They had one electrical outlet per room- not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. They did not buy pretty vinyl drawer liner but used old newspapers for shelf and drawer liner. But they did not do the green thing!
They did not fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the grass in the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power.They exercised by working so they did not need to drive to the health club or use a treadmill that operates on electricity. But they did not do the green thing!
They drank from the water faucet or a fountain when they were thirsty. They did not use a plastic cup or bottle every time they wanted a drink of water. They refilled writing pens with ink instead of throwing the old pen away and buying a new one. They replaced razor blades instead of throwing the old razor away just because the razor was dull. But they did not do the green thing!
Back then people walked, took the bike or bus to school instead of turning their Mom into a 24-hour-taxi service. They did not need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles away in order to find the nearest burger joint. But they did not do the green thing!
Isn't it sad how wasteful our parents were just because they did not do the green thing?
Back then they returned milk bottles and soda bottles to the store. The glass bottles went back to the company to be washed, sterilized and refilled. The same bottles were used over and over. But they did not have the "green thing" in those days.
Grocery stores bagged the groceries in brown paper bags which were used for numerous things. Besides being used for storage, the brown bags were cut up to made book covers to protect school books so they could be used over and over from one year to the next. A brown paper bag was cut up to wrap a (recycled) shoe box for a parcel post package instead of buying a box at the post office. They packaged a fragile item for shipping with wadded up old newspaper to cushion it. They did not use Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. But they did not do the green thing!
They walked up stairs because they did not have an elevator or an escalator in the store. They walked to the grocery store for a small item. They did not climb into a 300 horse power machine every time they needed to go two blocks for a five pound bag of sugar. But they did not do the green thing!
Back then, they washed the baby's diaper because they did not have the throw away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy-gobbling-machine burning 220 volts. Wind and solar power really did dry their clothes back in those days -(and is still my preference)! Children wore hand-me-down clothes from their brothers and sisters, not new brand name clothes. But they did not have the green thing.
In the kitchen they used a hand egg beater or a can opener. They did not have electric gadgets to do everything for them. They had one electrical outlet per room- not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. They did not buy pretty vinyl drawer liner but used old newspapers for shelf and drawer liner. But they did not do the green thing!
They did not fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the grass in the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power.They exercised by working so they did not need to drive to the health club or use a treadmill that operates on electricity. But they did not do the green thing!
They drank from the water faucet or a fountain when they were thirsty. They did not use a plastic cup or bottle every time they wanted a drink of water. They refilled writing pens with ink instead of throwing the old pen away and buying a new one. They replaced razor blades instead of throwing the old razor away just because the razor was dull. But they did not do the green thing!
Back then people walked, took the bike or bus to school instead of turning their Mom into a 24-hour-taxi service. They did not need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles away in order to find the nearest burger joint. But they did not do the green thing!
Isn't it sad how wasteful our parents were just because they did not do the green thing?
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Friends are a blessing!
In the photo you will also see a historian friend, John L. Ruth and his wife, Roma. Our young friend was pleased to have all of us on one picture!
Our world has been broadened and we are privileged to have the blessing of old friends and new friends, close neighbors and friends from afar!
Family ties...
Recently my family had a mini-reunion at my sister's house. These photos are part of the day's activities. My brother, Merle was in the area with his wife Edith and daughter Bethanie. That was a good reason to get together!
I remember as my mother and her siblings aged, they would pose for a picture when her brother Frank visited from Phoenix, AZ. They did not know when it would be the last time- neither do we.
Yours truly has now out-lived both of our parents and the others are on my heels....
Left to right: Marvin & Betty Ann, Leroy & Romaine, Lester & Martha, Merle & Edith, Carol.
I am privileged to be related to this lovely bunch of people!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Two 2012 graduations and two to go!
May 17, 2012
Congratulations to our grandson, Benjamin Stoltzfus
on his graduation from Shady Grove Christian School!
(Or is it a flashback of Jonathan's graduation in 1988?)
Ben receives the important document from Simon Bender!
All the way from K-12!
Ben's mother, aunts and sisters helped decorate the table.
It was so "Ben" with pines, nature art & photography, animal skins and turkey feathers.
Grandpa Landis did the shopping for the small cedar chest gift.
May 30, 2012
Congratulations to our granddaughter, Andrea!
Andrea receiving her CNA certificate from SUN Tech
She will graduate from Midd-West High School at Mifflinburg on June 8, 2012
Happy graduate!
Ready for the next chapter of life- with a luggage set to pack for college!
Inhalation therapy is her next goal to achieve!
And next week Brittany will graduate from high school too!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Historic moments
Last evening we attended the first Mennonite service in the former St. Boniface church in Wilkes-Barre, PA. We have not heard a new name for the church yet.
For about twenty years, members from our congregation have been holding services by request in the home of a young family in that city. Within the past year, several individuals have received salvation from Jesus Christ through that work. Our congregation felt it was time to look for a church building to begin holding regular services. A large donation toward a property confirmed that God wants us to move forward. Settlement was made on this property last week.
It was just in time for the scheduled program of the youth chorus from Union Valley and Lakeland Mennonite Churches. A church in Wilkes-Barre was John Weaver's vision for a long time. It was very fitting that the theme of the program was "Heaven" since John went to his eternal home before his vision became a reality.
Some of the former members of the St Boniface came to the service last evening. The next door neighbor asked for a few minutes to publicly express her appreciation for what God is doing. She is thrilled to see the property being used as a house of worship.
Some people have asked, "Why Wilkes-Barre?" We know the city does not have a good reputation- and that is precisely the reason we believe God wants a church there to proclaim the message of salvation. Jesus did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance!
People came in buses, vans, cars and pickup trucks to fill up this auditorium.
The ascoustics are wonderful!
The attached rectory could be made into several apartments for staff, VS'ers, a pastor family or whatever. There are so many possibilities for this property.
The two story school building has more possibilities!
And I did not get a photo of the other building- the nun's house.
We had a supper/snack in the school basement.
This place is about 1.5 hours from Mifflinburg, Union Valley, Lebanon Co. Liverpool and Haycock.
We expect to make many more trips to Wilkes-Barre in the years ahead.
You are welcome to join us!
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Truth Never Dies
I discovered this poem while organizing folders at the Historical Center today...and was blessed by it. God's Word is truth- forever!
Truth never dies, The ages come and go;
The mountains wear away, the stars retire.
Destruction lays earth's mighty cities low;
And empires, states and dynasties expire;
But caught and handed onward by the wise,
Truth never dies.
Though unreceived and scoffed at through the years,
Though made the butt of ridicule and jest;
Though held aloft for mockery and jeers,
Denied by those of transient power possessed,
Insulted by the indolence of lies,
Truth never dies.
Truth answers not, it does not take offense;
But with a mighty silence bides its time,
As some great cliff that brave the elements,
And lifts through all the storms its head sublime,
It ever stands, uplifted by the wise,
And never dies.
The lips of ridicule dissolve in dust;
The sophist's arguments, the gibes are still;
God working through the all-compelling Must,
Has broken those who dare combat His will;
As firm and patient as Gibraltar stands,
So truth unwearied, waits the era blest,
When men shall turn to it in great surprise,
Truth never dies.
Truth never dies, The ages come and go;
The mountains wear away, the stars retire.
Destruction lays earth's mighty cities low;
And empires, states and dynasties expire;
But caught and handed onward by the wise,
Truth never dies.
Though unreceived and scoffed at through the years,
Though made the butt of ridicule and jest;
Though held aloft for mockery and jeers,
Denied by those of transient power possessed,
Insulted by the indolence of lies,
Truth never dies.
Truth answers not, it does not take offense;
But with a mighty silence bides its time,
As some great cliff that brave the elements,
And lifts through all the storms its head sublime,
It ever stands, uplifted by the wise,
And never dies.
The lips of ridicule dissolve in dust;
The sophist's arguments, the gibes are still;
God working through the all-compelling Must,
Has broken those who dare combat His will;
As firm and patient as Gibraltar stands,
So truth unwearied, waits the era blest,
When men shall turn to it in great surprise,
Truth never dies.
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