New Milford – The first serious wreck on the new “cut-off” of the Lackawanna Railroad occurred at New Milford at 5:30 Sunday morning.  It is thought to have been due to forgetfulness on the part of Engineer John Cronin, who in taking a siding to allow a train to pass, forgot the nearness of the derail, and the engine, followed by ten cars, toppled down the embankment.  Cronin and his fireman, Roland Eveland, of Elmira, both were caught under the locomotive and crushed to death.  Michael Ginley, of Scranton, conductor of the wrecked freight, said the train was moving at about 15 miles an hour when it took the siding.  After striking the derail it bounded along the ties for a short distance, before finally toppling over the 20-foot embankment.

Dimock – Thomas B. Williams, aged 93 years, passed away at his home in Dimock on Friday, Feb. 25th, 1916.  He had been a resident of Dimock for about 60 years, for a long time following the trade of carpenter and contractor.  Thomas was born at Ledyard, Connecticut, having been born Feb. 11, 1823.  His parents were Ephriam and Mary (Spencer) Williams.  Graduating from the Plainfield, Conn. Academy at the age of 16, he became vice principal, and for a number of years in young manhood followed teaching as a profession.  He is survived by his wife and two children, E. Almy Williams, at home and Edward B. Williams, of Meshoppen.

Rush – Oscar Devine, having sold his farm and stock to Robert Bunnell, has moved his goods to Binghamton.  ALSO At East Rush there was no preaching here Sunday, the snow being so drifted that the preacher could not run his auto. ALSO Earl Robinson brought a load of household goods through from Binghamton last Saturday.  One of his horses tired out at Rush and Guy Palmer took a horse and went to his help.  They arrived at his destination at midnight.

Clifford – N. E. Gardner is suffering from severe swellings inside his head.  His daughter, Katie, of Scranton, is caring for him. ALSO Miss Sara Rivenburg is again suffering from her old malady, stomach trouble.  She is being cared for by a trained nurse from Carbondale.

Great Bend – Philip Solar, electrician of the Erie signal system, was struck by a passenger train while on his speeder, near Red Rock, Monday morning, and was thrown from the machine and quite badly bruised.  No bones were broken, but the machine was wrecked. ALSO  The Black Horn Leather Company has installed eight sewing machines.  This will make 22 machines run by motor.  The prospects are very bright for a busy spring season.

Harford – A load of young people from this place went to Lenox, for a surprise party, Friday night, in honor of Miss Pearl Conrad.  Pearl was what you might call “taken.”  The young people had a jolly good time, reaching home in the “wee small hours.”  ALSO At Richardson’s Mills, one of our young men has sent away and got himself a fox dog.  He thinks he will get the fox soon.  Another man was here one day last week trying to track a skunk. We all wish him luck.

Montrose – The “Adamless Eves’ club” was delightfully entertained at the home of Miss Mae Smith, on Cherry street, on Saturday afternoon.  A pleasing feature of the meeting was the variety shower, which was given Miss Frances Wrighter, whose engagement to Paul S. Sprout, manager of the Globe Grocery store, was recently announced. ALSO Someone has deplored the fact—with emphasis, too, that a number of boys nine and ten years of age are allowed to stay on the streets at night until nine o’clock without a chaperone.  Boys of tender age have nothing to gain by street-gadding at night, and parents have everything to lose.

Brooklyn – Prof. Robert Breed and wife, of Geneva, N. Y., made a week-end visit to his mother’s, Mrs. E. S. P. Hine.  Prof. Breed is one of the Brooklyn boys who have gone out and made good.  He has charge of the state experimental station at Geneva.

Bridgewater Twp. – Floyd Mack, for many years one of Brooklyn’s prominent and progressive young agriculturists, is moving to the fine farm he recently purchased near Lake Montrose.  We are greatly pleased to regard Mr. Mack as one of our neighbors.

Friendsville/Little Meadows – Dr. E. L. Handrick, after more than a half century as a practicing physician, all spent at the same location, has sold his home at Friendsville and contemplates removing to Little Meadows.  After receiving his diploma, 53 years ago, he established his office at Friendsville and during all the succeeding years has been taking good care of his many patients, scattered over the country for many miles around, necessitating long, hard drives, in all kinds of weather.  Surely a doctor’s life is no sinecure.  The doctor has scores of friends who will regret that he is to leave the town where he has lived so long.  He will have a public sale of his household goods, wagons, harnesses, etc., March 21st.  His property, at Friendsville, has been purchased by Ed. McDevitt.

Uniondale – A number of young ladies from here enjoyed a sleigh-ride to Forest City, Thursday evening.  They attended the Plaza theatre.  Charles Gibson was the driver. ALSO Glenn Bayless, Raymond Tuttle, Kenneth Cable, Fred Crandal, Charles Spoor, Frank Gibson, Elizabeth Tuttle, Irene Drake, Sarah Carpenter, May Norton and Margaret Williams, enjoyed a sleigh-ride to Forest City, Wednesday evening.

Silver Lake – Our mail carrier, James O’Day, has been unable to make his route every day on account of the heavy snow storm on Sunday.  ALSO Miss Zora Rounds, of Los Angeles, Cal., is visiting her sister, Mrs. A. B. Conklin.

South Ararat – The heavy rain this week stopped the harvesting of ice on Stalker’s pond, which the railroad company was carring [storing in a railroad car]. A large force of men was employed.  They will resume work as soon as possible.

Liberty Twp. – Two new telephones have been added to the Bell line of this place and vicinity.  Frank Ross, of Rhiney Creek, and Warren Fish, of Brookdale.  Several others are contemplating having one put in.

News Brief: The following ad appeared in the Independent Republican, Montrose: “WANTED—Men wanted on stock land and grain farm.  Good wages, steady job.  No boozers or cigarette fiends need apply.  John Marshall, Route 1, Battle Creek, Iowa.

200 Years Ago.  Centinel, March 5, 1816 – The following are two notices that appeared: Public Notice is hereby given to all persons interested in the estate of Zebdial Lathrop, late of the township of Rush, in Susquehanna County, deceased, that Abigail Lathrop and John Blasdell, administrators of the said estate, have filed in the Registrar’s Office of the said county their accounts of the administration of the estate aforesaid, and that the same will be presented to the Orphan’s Court of the said county, at Montrose, on the fifth Monday of April next for confirmation and allowance.  C. Fraser, Reg’r. Register’s Office, Montrose 20 Feb . 1816.

ALSO:  WANTED, A SMART active lad 15 years old, as an apprentice, to the Printing business.  One of good education and respectable parents.  No other need Apply. 27 Feb. 1816.

Anthony and Lynda were married for 9 years when they divorced in October 2000.  While they were married, they purchased a dog, Barney, from the local SPCA.  Prior to their divorce, the parties entered into a property settlement that included provisions relating to Barney’s future.  The Agreement provided: “Barney is [Lynda’s] property and she will have full custody.”  The Agreement contained provisions that allowed Anthony to visit Barney.  Thereafter, Lynda moved to a different county and told Anthony he could not see Barney anymore.

Anthony then filed a complaint seeking to modify the parties’ property settlement agreement to provide that the parties had shared custody of Barney.  The trial court dismissed the complaint and Anthony filed an appeal.  The question was whether Pennsylvania courts could enforce custody agreements between parties relating to dogs (or other pets).

On July 2, 2002, the Superior Court addressed this question simply and quickly: “In seeking ‘shared custody’ and a ‘visitation’ arrangement, [Anthony] appears to treat Barney, a dog, as a child.  Despite the status owners bestow on their pets, Pennsylvania law considers dogs to be personal property.  The agreement in question explicitly awarded this property to [Lynda]. . . .  As the trial court aptly noted, [Anthony] is seeking an arrangement analogous, in law, to a visitation schedule for a table or a lamp.  This result is clearly not contemplated by the [Divorce Code].”

When the Superior Court compared Barney to a “table or a lamp,” the Court was emphasizing that equitable distribution of property in a divorce action determines which party gets what property.  There is nothing in the law that provides for “shared custody” of personal property like a lamp, table, car, house, or even a pet.  If the parties cannot agree on the division of their personal property, the Court divides it equitably between the parties – but that division does not permit the Court to award personal property to one spouse and then provide the other spouse with the right to visit with that personal property.

Other states have taken a similar approach.  Most recently, in 2014, the Supreme Court of Vermont reiterated the common law rule that pets are property.  The Court, however, noted that pets are “a special category of property.”  As in Pennsylvania, Vermont does not allow for custody and visitation of personal property, i.e., a pet.  In deciding which spouse would be awarded the family pet in divorce litigation, however, the Vermont Supreme Court directed the divorce court to consider “the welfare of the animal and the emotional connection between the animal and each spouse.”  The Vermont Supreme Court judicially created these factors and explained its reasoning to create special factors outside those provide in the divorce statute:  “These factors underlie our animal welfare laws and our case law, which recognizes the value of the bond between the animal and its owner.  Evidence concerning welfare of the animal includes evidence about its daily routine, comfort and care.  Evidence concerning the emotional connection may include testimony about the role of the animal in the lives of the spouses.”  The Vermont Supreme Court expanded the statutory factors applicable to property distribution to include considerations that are akin to custody determinations, but confirmed the rule that a dog is property that must simply be awarded to one spouse without visitation rights being provided to the other party.In 1995, a Florida appellate court considered a “custody” dispute regarding a dog, Roddy, and noted the pragmatic concerns over courts becoming involved in pet custody disputes: “Determination as to custody and visitation lead to continuing enforcement and supervision problems. . . .  Our courts are overwhelmed with the supervision of custody, visitation, and support matters related to the protection of our children.  We cannot undertake the same responsibility as to animals.”In 1981, a Texas appellate court heard a divorce case involving a dog, Bonnie Lou, and provided this powerful commentary: “Bonnie Lou is a very fortunate little dog with two humans to shower upon her attentions and genuine love frequently not received by human children from their divorced parents.  All too often children of broken homes are used by their parents to vent spite on each other or they use them as human ropes in a post-divorce tug-of-war.  In trying to hurt each other they often wreak immeasurable damage on the innocent pawns they profess to love. . . .  A dog, for all its admirable and unique qualities, is not a human being and is not treated in the law as such.  A dog is personal property, ownership of which is recognized under the law.”No matter how much we love and care about our pets – the law recognizes them as personal property.  When a marriage ends and property has to be divided, including the family pet, the Court must award the pet to one spouse or the other – no visitation rights will be included in such an order.  Of course, this does not mean that the parties cannot mutually agree to some kind of visitation schedule, but the courts cannot enforce visitation agreements for personal property.

Real men wet their pants too

Ben, 62, came into the pharmacy and motioned to the pharmacist because he wanted to speak with him privately. “Doc, I’ve known you a long time,” said Ben. “You’re the only one I can talk to this about.” Ben explained to the pharmacist that he has sudden urges to urinate and, in fact, urine starts to dribble down his pant leg. Ben was embarrassed but the pharmacist knew exactly what was happening. While far more women experience urinary in continence than men, a good chunk of the guys (over 3 million) suffer with it.

In certain men, urinary incontinence – loss of bladder control – is associated with multiple interacting factors, including conditions such as diabetes and stroke, cognitive impairment, and mobility impairment. Bladder incontinence may be caused by conditions such as age-related changes in the lower urinary tract, urinary tract infection, and conditions not directly related to the genitourinary system, such as diabetes, cancer, stroke, cognitive impairment, and mobility impairment. Despite what many think, it is not a normal sign of aging.

The pharmacist knew that Ben was in good health. He only takes a multi-vitamin and is not on any prescription medications. But he suggested that Ben should make a trip to his doctor’s office for a checkup and a chat.

When you have to urinate, the nerve signals tell the muscles in the walls of the bladder to squeeze. This forces urine out of the bladder and into the urethra. At the same time that the bladder squeezes, the urethra relaxes. This allows urine to pass through the urethra and out of the body.

Incontinence in males can happen for many reasons: If your bladder squeezes at the wrong time, or if it squeezes too hard, urine may leak out. If the muscles around the urethra are damaged or weak, urine can leak out even if you don't have a problem with your bladder squeezing at the wrong time. If your bladder doesn't empty when it should, you are left with too much urine in the bladder. If the bladder gets too full, urine will leak out when you don't want it to. If something is blocking your urethra, urine can build up in the bladder. This can cause leaking.

Assuming you have no medical conditions that warrant extreme measures, there are ways to avoid the awkwardness. First, there are men’s urinary guards which absorb moisture and odor. They vary in price but you can get a box of 100 for about $50. Yes, you can buy them on the Internet if you want to be discreet. They are comfortable and unnoticeable. They are not  diapers.

Try using behavioral techniques such as bladder training. Start by going to the bathroom to pee every 30 minutes, whether you feel the urge or not. As you get into the rhythm, gradually – over days or weeks – expand the time between bathroom breaks. Eventually, you may be able to space breaks by 3 to 4 hours and the urges in between may decrease.  Caffeine and alcohol can contribute to male incontinence so watch what and how much you drink. Spicy foods can sometimes be the culprit. Ask your pharmacist whether any of your medications are interacting to cause the dribbling.

In men, Kegel muscle exercises can help boost the strength of pelvic muscles that help the bladder to hold urine. Kegels are easy to work into a daily routine. Start by finding the right muscles – the ones you'd use to stop yourself from passing gas. Then just tense, hold, and release. Slowly build up until you're doing 3 or 4 sets of 10 each day. You can do them lying, standing, or even sitting at your desk. You can even do them in the checkout line at the market while thumbing through the National Enquirer.

Ben felt much better after talking to the pharmacist and will talk to his doctor about the problem in case it is caused by something more serious.

Ron Gasbarro, PharmD is a registered pharmacist, medical writer, and principal at Rx-Press.com. Write him with any ideas or comments at ron@rx-press.com.

We are ruled by idiots, thieves, sociopaths, and psychopaths who collectively want to destroy us INTENTIONALLY.  If “We the People” are to have any opportunity for a return to liberty and prosperity, then our only course is to disempower the Federal Leviathan, the greatest problem we now confront.  But too many of our countrymen have been bought-off.  For relatively trivial considerations our present is mortgaged and our very future imperiled.

A critic called me this last weekend and made the statement, “You are pandering to the masses.” He followed with the question, “Are you writing some kind of a manifesto?” I had never really thought of writing a manifesto; I’m not sure if he meant that question as a complaint or a compliment.  But I assured him, as I assure all of my Gentle Readers, everything I write in this column I truly believe. If I did not believe it, I would not have written it. For the record, if I were “pandering” I would merely be in the business of sugar-coating illusions, soothing sheeple with the false conceptions and pap, as so much of the media pass off in their drivel of Orwellian double-speak. You, my Readers, are free to judge.  Thirty columns have preceded this column and I stand behind each and every one of them. The overarching theme is that our nation is facing terminal breakdown. A hard landing is ahead for all, but less so for those who are semi-prepared (awake).

Those who are interested in raising their consciousness and taking positive action may find some solace in their preparation. Others, having no understanding or interest, are free to ignore or mock this column as they please. Being awake is not for everyone.  Ours is a culture which offers ample opportunity for trivialities, illusions, leisure, and distractions. No one is required to be awake while the current illusion endures. If you’re old enough and fortunate enough, you just may be able to get by without ever dealing with Reality.

Now let’s review for the benefit of the confused or for Gentle Readers who have missed several of my previous columns. Our Constitution is our framework for governance. It’s a reasonably straight-forward document that any adult with average comprehension can read in an hour or less. Among its provisions are Articles detailing what the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches are empowered to do. It has a detailed provision for amending the document, if such changes are needed. Its first 10 Amendments are known as the Bill of Rights, and they detail what the Federal Government CANNOT do, so as to restrain the Federal Government from becoming an instrument of tyranny. These prohibitions were extended to the States at the conclusion of the Civil War to further protect individual rights.

The Separation of Powers among the three branches of the Federal Government was a purposeful design so that each branch might jealously guard its assigned powers, and fend off attacks from tyrants who might wish to encroach upon or usurp powers not rightfully theirs. Likewise, the Division of Powers between the Federal Government and the States was purposeful to keep tyrants at bay. All those powers not assigned to the Federal Government or delegated to the States were reserved to We the People.

It is very clear and simple what the Constitution says. Not! Its words have been so twisted and construed that in “modern” logic it can be taken to mean exactly the opposite. Rights once taken for granted are now wholly violated or discarded, while rights never contemplated are invented and enforced under penumbrae and emanations dwelling in the minds of misanthropes ensconced on the Supreme Court.

So what happened? As early as the 1880’s a new political movement, “Progressivism” began to infiltrate both political parties. Republican President Teddy Roosevelt (1901-1909) pushed the first big-government agenda colored by progressivism. But it was one of his successors, Democrat Woodrow Wilson, who unmoored our Federal Government from its firm Constitutional basis. Under his disastrously evil progressive leadership the American people were saddled with the Federal Reserve System (1913), Progressive Income Tax (1913), and (alcohol) Prohibition (1920). It was also Wilson who dragged America into WWI (1917)--the defining event which led directly to the Great Depression (1929) and WWII (1941).

Progressive President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) demonetized gold as circulating money and perfected Progressive President Herbert Hoover’s initial attempts to institute a command and control economy. FDR’s alphabet soup of new Federal agencies and unprecedented intervention into every facet of American domestic life were part and parcel of his “New Deal.” Under FDR the United States was essentially converted from a Capitalist to a Socialist nation. (No public announcement was necessary; the “form” was retained while the “substance” was transmuted.) By 1942 government regulations, backed by a Supreme Court ruling in Wickard v. Filburn, made it illegal for a farmer to grow food on his own land without Federal permission, even if the crops were exclusively for consumption by his own family, and in no way related to inter-state commerce.

Liberal Democrat (Progressive) President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Coinage Act of 1965 which brought about the mintage of base-metal coinage (cupronickel “Johnson Slugs”) to circulate in tandem with silver coinage. The American people, however, were no fools. They immediately recognized silver coins as being REAL money, and in accord with the economics principle known as Gresham’s Law, hoarded the valuable coins, while leaving only the Johnson Slugs to circulate.

Non-conservative President Richard M. Nixon took the United States off the International Gold Standard (Bretton Woods Agreement of 1944) so that American currency, irredeemable for gold since 1933, became just as irredeemable in our dealings with foreign countries.  Nixon’s “temporary” suspension of dollar redemption on August 15, 1971 has never been lifted.  Every attempt to return the world to a firm financial footing, i.e., to a prosperity not based upon illusory faith-based claims, has failed.

America is broke!  Dead broke! And so is most of the rest of the world. There is not one single country which bases its monetary system on real tangible wealth. The fact that no country uses precious metals for its money makes possible every profligate and (ultimately) unsustainable program for welfare and warfare spending. Every country’s central bank, and most especially our Federal Reserve, has been goosing the world’s economies since 1971. They did it by extending credit, by making debt-serfs of all who would willingly (or even unwillingly) participate. The Federal Reserve has kept the Fed Funds Rate near zero for seven long years in an attempt to stimulate activity. But that policy has been a complete failure.

European central banks have dropped their interest rates into negative territory, as has the Bank of Japan, and as our Federal Reserve now contemplates. Negative interest rates are a sign that we are, indeed, reaching the Endgame. Negative interest rates are a confiscation of wealth. No capitalistic activity happens (legally) when negative interest rates are ingrained into the carcass of our socialist/cronyistic economy.  Under negative interest rates what passes as economic activity is really political activity. I say that because (legal) exchanges of goods and services can only occur under the regulation and taxation of government, and with its explicit permission.

Not only do negative interest rates shut off the oxygen to organic economies, but they destroy every last vestige of pension plans and reasonable rates of return on investments. Any investment providing a high rate of return is speculative, at the very least. Negative interest rates are an inversion of reality. Only suffering and the destruction of capital can be their result. Under such conditions collapse is inevitable. The only question one might have, is, “How soon will arrive the day appointed for destruction?”

What is the bottom line here? Economic activity is dying. In just the month of January 2016 the Baltic Dry Index (measuring the transport of dry goods on ships world-wide) fell on 22 days, hitting 20 new all-time lows since the index was created in 1986.  On one day, January 8, just in the Atlantic between the United States and Europe, not a single ship was at sea. Every ship was tied up in port, for the first time--ever!

We have been without sound (constitutional) money since at least August 15, 1971. Our Constitution, like constitutional money, has been incrementally disabled and replaced by substitutes which have only form (similitude), but no substance, and no power. What passes as our present debt-based monetary system is a stinking corpse, much like the completely corrupt Federal Government that voters are NOW repudiating in polls and polling places.

One last thing; to my friend accusing me of pandering to the masses, I said, “I do no such thing.” My column is written to a very narrow segment of the population, the Remnant who will arouse themselves to proactively take steps to prepare for what is already on the horizon, as well as that just over the horizon. He who has ears, let him hear.

Chapter 2 - “We need a bridge”

After Moses Comstock settled in present day Lanesborough (town name shortened later), others soon followed.

Lumbering was the first inducement to the early settlers.

Towering forests stretched as far as the eye could see, settlers drifted in slowly.  Accessibility to the rivers and streams was rough, trails were being forged slowly.

The climate here is very extreme, from very cold winters to sometimes very warm and dry summers which can destroy crops and food supply for the long winter months.

Recently, when I was looking at a temperature of -20 degrees on my back deck the thought occurred to me that the hardships of just weather, not counting all the other hardships they had to endure, must have been very trying for them to deal with. As we all know, sometimes those deep freezes can last for long periods of time.  Most people my age and older have seen horrendous winter conditions, with struggling and overworked furnaces trying to keep up a decent temperature in our homes.  Everything froze up for months on end surely made our ancestors hearty individuals.  Hunting and trapping were a must to survive, within ax to chop open a water supply, probably near creeks that ran fast with swift currents.  Replenishing supplies probably involved a multi-mile trek to established towns in the area that had established rail lines.  Deposit, NY was an important hub that the New York and Erie Railroad made their way to in the early 1840’s. The thought of a rail line in the Susquehanna area was an exciting and welcoming prospect for those already here; obviously a supply line would be much closer and easier to access.

Originally the NY and Erie Railroad preferred to run the rail line ending up in Honesdale, PA and then onward to Scranton, but pressure from loggers’ associations along the Delaware River pushed that plan right off the drawing board.

The New York and Erie Railroad also had the vision to see an opportunity for great wealth and opportunity for their railroad; the country was heading west.  New York City to the Great Lakes (Buffalo, NY) was the goal they envisioned and in 1831 the die was cast to accomplish this goal.  Initial surveying, when the exact route was still in doubt was started in 1834 out of Deposit, NY and redone again in 1841 when the railroad had a better idea where to go. The railroad initially preferred the route to go over a mountain near Windsor, NY and then into Binghamton and to avoid Pennsylvania altogether.  Pushback was strong to keep the railroad out of Pennsylvania but lobbyists even at this time did not want the Erie to ruin their lumber business along the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers.

Finally an agreement was arranged, especially after realizing the crossing of that mountain range across Windsor to get to Binghamton was nearly impossible for that time in history.

Routes for the railroad are easier to build and maintain when they run along the rivers, generally a little flat along the river edges but going through mountains was much more difficult. Our mountains here in Susquehanna are quite impressive and high but once you get down around the Great Bend area, especially along the river, they begin to taper down in size.  Driving to Binghamton on present day Route 11, you will notice how relatively hill free it is, not to say there are not mountains on the sides and in the distance but not so impressive as our mountains in town here in Susquehanna. Once you leave Montrose going west, you really start to notice the terrain change.  This flat area along Route 11 would help put the City of Binghamton and surrounding areas on the map, not to mention there are two rivers running through that City.  The City of Binghamton would be a major stop for the line, eventually headed to Lake Erie and Buffalo, NY, and so would Susquehanna Depot.

Now that they are heading into Pennsylvania and avoiding the Windsor route, the next 9 miles from Gulf Summit to Susquehanna were the most difficult and most expensive nine miles ever built in the United States up to that time.  The first obstacle was the carving of a road-bed through the glen of rocks at Gulf Summit, N.Y. Not far from this undertaking came the Cascade Valley, 184 feet deep and 250 feet wide, over the Cascade Creek. Many of us know this area by its nickname of “Devil’s Punch Bowl”.  Finally, the greatest engineering feat of all, the building of the Starrucca Viaduct right over the Starrucca Creek. Attempts were made and failed for this latter obstacle and finally an engineer named James Kirkwood, a Scotchman was the man destined to succeed, and by so doing he gained great prestige in the engineering world. This led to his becoming General Superintendent of the Erie, in 1849.

Imagine filling in the Starrucca Creek valley as an alternative to a bridge/viaduct; it was studied and determined it would cost more to fill it in than to build the bridge.

Workers were needed now and Irish, Italian and others were flooding into Ellis Island and the Erie Headquarters was not far away on the New Jersey side.  A total of over 800 men were needed; the newly arrived immigrants must have been so excited to be offered a job as soon as they got off the boat.  Local farmers also joined the work force.  These immigrants are likely relatives of many of the present day inhabitants of our area, many landing permanent jobs after the completion of the bridge and shops in building of the shops at nearby Susquehanna Depot.  My great-great-grandparents on my mother’s side were Irish immigrants who worked for the Erie, but there is no indication that they worked on the viaduct.  I don’t imagine they allowed wives and children to go along with the workers, perhaps they were looking for single guys, young and strong only. I am not sure, it is pretty vague as to how it all came about.  Perhaps some women were allowed to assist with cooking, laundry and care of the hurt or injured.

Getting anybody to the Starrucca Valley was a very difficult task.  Like an interstate highway being built, some sections are very easy to forge over and around obstacles; the railroad had many gaps in the route to Buffalo, NY.  The line from Binghamton to Susquehanna was not completed until just after the Viaduct was completed.  Between Lackawaxen, PA and Deposit, NY here and there was the best you could do. Otherwise hauled by wagon and moved by horse the supplies that, provisions for the workers.  A tent city was established near the viaduct.  What better place than next to the Starrucca Creek.  That nice field is still there today and on the other side where Soop’s Grove used to be. Perhaps other tents were strewn about across from where the present day Boro Building is now.  Somehow somebody managed to gather the workforce, and the means to build one of the most magnificent architectural structures ever.  It is May, 1948 and digging the holes for foundation for the arches is about to begin. There was also another little problem.  The immigrants from different countries didn’t get along with each other; lots of fights, knockdown, dragged out type brawling. More than likely the ethnic difficulties segregated the “tent city”, with one group in one area and other groups in other areas. Where they got that energy to quarrel is beyond me; they worked 12 hours a day.

Coming next Chapter (3) – Stone quarries and building the bridge.

This picture, from about 1872, depicts the gorge at Cascade Creek, a huge obstacle for the railroad heading south into Pennsylvania, a couple miles north of the Starrucca Viaduct and just south of Gulf Summit, NY. They tried a wooden structure. later steel reinforced and later a decision to fill in the gorge was made, a drainage "cave" still exists for drainage along what is commonly known as the "Devil's Punch Bowl".

Lumber made bridges were common for the early days of the Erie. This picture, from about 1860 is approximately the same as area the present day steel bridges just below the Oakland Dam.  The rail line from Binghamton to Susquehanna was completed soon after the completion of the Starrucca Viaduct.  Fires were the cause for bridge structure changes in later years, including these.

Early 1850's, one of the earliest known pictures.  Notice the young man sitting on a log and Pickett fences on the almost bare mountain behind the viaduct.