By Lynn Reichen
For The Daily Item
August 25, 2008 12:30 am
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Editor’s note: “Once upon a time in ...” is a new Monday feature provided by the historical societies in Union, Snyder, Montour and Northumberland counties. The columns will focus on people, places and objects of historical significance in those counties.
In September 1681, William Penn sent several men, known as commissioners, to lay out a “great town” in the land he had been granted by King Charles II. The town was to be known as the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia.
Penn arrived there in October 1682. The Indians, who were persuaded to sell to William Penn, occupied the country around Philadelphia. The first three counties that were laid out in “Penn’s Woods” were Philadelphia, Bucks, and Chester.
Forty-seven years went by until the fourth county, Lancaster, was laid out. In 1772, Northumberland County was formed. From Northumberland, came Columbia County.
The main reason for the demand of smaller counties was the distance to be traveled in reaching the county seats. Danville was founded on Nov. 26, 1774, by William Montgomery who owned 180 acres of land on the right bank of the north branch of the Susquehanna River. Danville — first named Montgomery’s Landing then Dan’s Town after William Montgomery’s son Daniel — was laid out in 1792 and incorporated as a borough in February 1849 and was the choice for the county seat. It reigned as such from 1813 until 1846, much to the protests of residents in the far eastern part of the county.
The construction of public buildings in Bloomsburg began and in November 1847, the records were removed to the new courthouse and the first session of court was held there in January 1848.
Danvillians were not happy losing the status of being the county seat and with the leadership of Col. Valentine Best, a state senator from Danville and a newspaperman, Montour County was established on May 3, 1850 from the western part of Columbia County.
At 131 square miles, it is the smallest county in the commonwealth.
Montour County was named for an Indian woman named Madame Montour who was a friend, helper and interpreter to the white settlers of Pennsylvania.
In 1792, Gen. William Montgomery built his home at the corner of Bloom and Mill streets. Descendants of the Montgomery family lived in the home until 1940 when it was bought by the Montour County Commissioners. The home has become the Montgomery House Museum and is maintained by the volunteers of the Montour County Historical Society. Their mission is to preserve local history, and to continue the collection of local historical artifacts. The first home in Danville is nowe home to historical items from the Montgomery family, the iron mills, Abigail Geisinger and many Montour Co. artifacts. The MCHS also maintains the Mooresburg Schoolhouse in Mooresburg and is in the process of forming a Mining and Manufacturing museum in the old Y.M.C.A. gym on Ferry Street in Danville.
The Montgomery House is open Memorial Day through Labor Day on Sundays 2- 4 p.m. and by appointment by calling 275-0383 or 275-7875. The Mooresburg Schoolhouse is open for the day the first Sunday in October and by appointment by calling 275-3690. Sources: excerpts from “History of Montour County 1760-1969” by Fred W. Diehl copyright 1969; “My Danville, Where the Bright Waters Meet” by Arthur Toye Foulke, 1969; and the “Pennsylvania Almanac,” copyright 1997)
-- Lynn Reichen is president of the Montour County Historical Society
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