About
May 20th, 2007
In 2015, the community of Watsontown will come to the 100th anniversary of Old Home Week. Back then, it seemed that a number of civic minded individuals felt the need to remember those who just a brief forty-eight years earlier incorporated Watsontown into a borough in the county of Northumberland located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It has been a number of years since I moved from my hometown of Watsontown and think fondly of times in my youth and young adulthood growing up in a small community. While visiting, I noticed photos in a number of local establishments that originated from Old Home Week or from the Silver Anniversary Edition of the Watsontown Record and Star published back in 1907. It seems there is still the sense of spirit wanting to remember the good things of years gone by and the wealth of memories that this community continues to hold dear.
It is also a time to lift up the myriad of gifts that this community has shared beyond the boundaries that have encompassed Watsontown. Lumber, furniture, and brick industries have contributed to the financial acumen of our community. Local merchants, restaurants, and banks have contributed to the commercial success of our community. Numerous fraternal organizations and clubs have contributed to the civic mindedness of our community. Burgesses, police officers and volunteer fire fighters have added to the structure and orderliness of local government. Churches and various societies have heightened our awareness of something larger than the individual self or even individual community and to be grateful and generous in efforts to reach out to others in the name of that which is beyond our reach.
My endeavor here is to build on the foundations of preceding histories that have been published duly footnoted and to bring the annals of time to the current date. Perhaps some future generation will take this work and add to it and that this will become part of a continued story for generations to share as our community flourishes and grows to new potential and fame.
September 2nd, 2007 at 11:19 am
This is a fabulous undertaking!!
Thanks, Jim!
chris wolfe
Comment by James Robison: Thanks for the affirmations, Chris - it is truly an exciting topic to me as I find out more and more interesting “stuff” about the ol’ home town. Any constructive suggestions would be welcomed.
September 6th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
Do you have anything on the “Watsontown Table and Furniture Co.” incorporated 1893? I have a cabinet from them.
Comment by James Robison: The company you are inquiring about was established in February 1893 by William Follmer, J.C. Fowler, T.G. Caldwell, G.W. Rombach, G.W. Hess, S.O. Comly, J.E. Kramer, William McCoy, Josiah Stewart, Robert Johnson, James Perry, J.P. Russell, John McCoy, and C.B. McLain. In April of that same year it was incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania, with an authorized capitalization of $20,000 of which $14,000 only was paid in. The organization was completed by the election of the following officers: William Follmer, president; J.C. Fowler, secretary; T.G. Caldwell, treasurer; J.P. Russell, superintendent; and C.B. McLain, foreman. The company bought a plot of ground adjoining the Pennsylvania Rail Road and in 1893 built a three story brick factory with basement along with a boiler and engine house attached. The plant was put in operation in August with twenty-five employees.
More information will be forthcoming as we get to the industry of the community but until then you can find a little more on page 16 of The Record and Star’s Silver Anniversary Edition, 1907.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
I lived in Watsontown during the early years of WWII and am attempting to research the history of Watsontown at that time. I am writing a personal experience account of Watsontown’s wartime history. It is a pleasure to find your work in progress. Good luckwith this enormous and important project.
September 23rd, 2007 at 7:09 pm
Re: Paula Dodson; I have a table and chair set from Watsontown Table and Furn. Any info would be helpful. By the way my mom was born Martha Dodson.
December 14th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
What was the year of the picture of ben franklin and the paper store and trailways stop. It is now Levans news but about 40 years ago ( give or take) it was Kline’s News stand and owned by my grandmother Mae Kline. Great wealth of information on this site, the most I have ever seen!
December 14th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
My mom answered one question I had. The yellow car in the pic is my grams, Sy Ames is the man standing in front of it.
January 6th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Just discovered a label on the bottom of an old student desk/table, which was in the posession of my father (now deceased) for Watsontown Table and Furniture Company, Founded 1893. Thanks for the Watsontown History.
It seems obvious that if the piece I have is a student desk, that this company may have mass manufactured (so to speak) many of these items. Do you know if institutional furnishings was a primary business of this company?Thanks again, Jake
May 8th, 2008 at 9:27 am
I also have a piece of furniture from the Watsontown company. I would love to hear more about it’s origins.
Marlene
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
I have recently relocated to Lewisburg, but my branch of the Watson family is from the Snow Shoe, PA area. Does anyone know if there is a connection between that branch of the family and John Watson?
Thanks.
Brion