PALAWREN-L Archives

From: Stephen Fisher <>
Subject: A bit of history on Eastbrook , PA
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 22:21:31 -0600

Recently picked up my genealogy work again. Following is taken from a
handwritten document held by Dennis Best, Newcastle PA. I photocopied
it during a trip to PA several years ago. Believe the document was the
result of an interview with Louisa Black concerning the Best Farm near
Eastbrook, PA, originally owned by my Fisher ancestors and later passed
to the Blacks. Do not know when it was written but by my records Sarah
Louisa (Fisher) Black was born in 1863 and died in the 1930s or 1940s.
In transcribing the document, I have tried to be faithful to the
spelling, capitalization and punctuation of the original document.
Happy to provide a scan of the document to anyone interested. Will also
submit to the Mercer and Lawrence Genweb sites for posterity.

Stephen Fisher

-----

Denny and Carol's Farm In Newcastle, Lawrence Co., Pa.

Following notes written by Louisa Fisher Black daughter of R. R. R.
Fisher and wife

She and her husband adopted young boy - Charley Black (not true name)

This pertains to Eastbrook written by Louisa Black

Apparently town first named Rifle Range Station, then was Skidmoore,
later it was changed to Eastbrook Station. S. A. Black brought mail
from train to Eastbrook Station in two wheel cart.

At Lakewood, there was a distiller.

Where the defense building stands was a Joe Car Buggy and Wagon Shop.

John Ruby had a blacksmith Shop on the farm of Dave De Salvo. Hinkson,
Harry and Jim had a machine shop and cider mill located on the Dave
Desalvo Dam No. 2.

Sam Patterson had grist mill and weighing scales and before thate Abe
Fisher had a 5 story Flour Mill which burned. Then they built a Two
story Mill on the same ground. This mill was operated by water power.
Water came from the Hettenbough and North Branch. Water ran through a
wooden turbin where East Brook school stands. Tannery was located east
of the school. At one time New Castle Water Co. got drinking water the
year of 1912 Dinsmore Store and the Cleggs (?) Woolen Mill where McKees
Store was a Post Office. Back of Methodist was a Woolen Mill Hutchison
back of Fire Department was a dam which operated Crowls Foundry. John
Ruby operated a Blacksmith Shop where Downy is. Al Young had a
blacksmith shope above the Fire Hall on the left.

On Wayne Patterson farm was a dam and (an) up and down saw mill was
operated there by Noah Byler. Across from the Downy Shop was a Cabinet
Shop. We have chairs and a table that were made there.

(pg 2) Best Farm

Water in the Kitchen from well in cellar. Piston Pump in cellar pumps
water from Pumps near Summer House.

Charley Black's dad dug out this spring by hand which holds about
three tubs of water. Charley Black then put in tile and pumps.

The creek by the house is fed by a spring boiling out by the big Oak
Tree.

Noah Byler Built the home The Grandad had oxen and cut logs from farm
and took them where the U. P. Church is to a saw mill.

A door went out to the back of the house where cement is.

Charley Black tells that the family had Butlers and maids and a dumb
waiter was in the floor of the Living Room. The downstairs bedroom was
a kitchen. The living room was where the kitchen now is. This may not
be correct as Mr. Black seemed a little confused. A library was where
the wagon wheel light is. The middle room was the dining room.

Joe Chambers, Jim Chambers father, was a mason. For half a beef he
built the wall to the house. Mr. Black told of 125 apple and peach
trees. A Peach orchard by the corn crib and a melon garden there also.
Charley Black says he built the corn crib and shed.

There are no nails in the door to the Living Room and Dining Room.

Little building in back was a summer house and wash house carrying
water from hand pump in back.

Charley says he built Clover Leaf Garage in 1919.

His dad gave him a 1924 Hudson and then he bought a 1928 Hudson.

Charley built the Spring House 1930. They had a milk business.

(pg 3) The heavy timber was all from the farm. All the doors are
handmade. Charley made all the fence and cement caps on posts.

Charley said a canal was built at farm line for water for mill.

Told us to look for logs below the cemetery also a Big Rock by
cemetery is from the foundation of the dam.

About Cemetery -

Tombstones and fence put up in World War I. He said Abe Fisher weighed
400 pounds and he is buried there. He had two girls - Galveston, Texas
and La. These girls come back and asked his uncle to build fence.

The Old Fisher Home was below School. Now Johns. At one time there was
a 100 ft steam heated chicken house there.

Charley Black says he kept is coin collection in Coal House and that
the back of the Coal House is made of Chestnut.

Fishers married into Waddingtons.

He told of having DAR and police to dig for caskets for some reason.
The found three with doors. These were opened and beards and nails were
long, but wind and air disintegrated them.

Robert Richard Roberts Fisher and wife had two girls and one boy -
Emma, Scott, Louise (?) The last was his adoptive mother. 

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