Chapter XI- Government and Other

  

Millville - The First 200 Years

 Chapter XI

Government and Other

    Local government has taken many forms for the inhabitants of the areas since 1772. Actually, the present system can be traced to the patent for the Province of Pennsylvania granted by the king to William Penn in a charter dated March 4, 1681. The Millville area was included in the boundaries of that charter.

    Penn, not being satisfied by the grant, felt morally obligated to purchase the land from the rightful owners, the Indians. Thus, by treaty, he procured the state at various intervals. The purchase in 1749 came very near the tract later purchased by John Eves.

    In 1754, a delegation from the Connecticut settlement pur­chased a large portion of land in the Wyoming valley extending to near the eastern end of the future Eves' purchase. Much of this land had been sold earlier to the Penns also. Naturally, a dispute ensued. The French and Indian War caused all of the settlers to this Wyoming area to stay only briefly. They made no permanent settlement. In 1763 the area had no white population.

    When the Penns purchased, in 1768, the immediate area as a part of a larger area the Connecticut group sent settlers to reoccupy the abandoned area. The first to arrive in the area, however, was John Eves who planned to purchase his homestead from the Pennsylvania owners. In 1770 he left the Delaware area to view the tract of land here.

    It must be remembered that the entire area was still a province of England and no federal government yet existed. This provincial government 1772 erected the County of Northumber­land. Included in this county were the counties of Columbia and Montour. It was organized on March 27, 1772, and included an area now covered by twenty‑ six counties.

    At a court session held on April 9, 1772, this area was included in a township then established and known as Wyoming. In 1786 the county of Luzerne took away part of Wyoming township and the remainder was renamed Fishingcreek township. Then in 1799, Greenwood township as it is presently constructed, although in­cluding the Millville Borough area, was taken from Fishing Creek.

    Many of the early establishments including church groups and businesses took some portion of their names from Fishing Creek Township (i.e. Fishingcreek Monthly Meeting of Friends). The official business of the community had to be conducted at the courthouse in Northumberland including the registering of deeds and the use of the courts for due process of the law. This continued until 1813 when Columbia County was formed.

    To the west and north of the settlement, including the original homestead and a large portion of the land purchased by John Eves, the political pressures were more directly felt and the creation, re-establishment, and realignments of these areas are difficult to follow without some knowledge of the area. At first, this was all included with Greenwood in the townships of Wyoming and Turbot of Northumberland County as established in 1772.

    With the struggle between the Bloomsburg and Danville interests to secure the county seat came many changes in sub­division boundaries. In 1850 the division line so reduced Madison, Hemlock, and Montour townships that a change was necessary. Thus, in 1852 Madison township as it then existed south of the community of Millville, was included in Mount Pleasant and Hem­ lock townships while the present Pine township was included in what remained of Madison.

    Finally, in 1853, the present township lines were drawn. The section northwest of Greenwood was renamed Pine. A portion on the west end of Madison was returned from Montour County, and the area which had been included in 1852 as parts of Mount Pleasant and Hemlock was returned to complete the present Madison township.

    Although amusing today, the farmer living at Sereno, attempt­ing to pay his property taxes for 1850 through 1853, could not find anyone willing to tell him to which township the amount was due much less the name of the lawful tax collector for his remittance. Fortunately, only the creation of the Borough of Millville from Greenwood township in 1892 made any additional changes after this wild 1850s trading.

    During these early years, the farmer and businessman norm­ ally dealt with only two governmental bodies. The school boards established by state law in 1844 to provide for the education of the townships' children were soon empowered to tax the residents for the support of these schools. The only other major business of township interest was the roads. Townships elected road super­ visors charged with the construction and maintenance of these vital arteries. The right to levy on the property owners for the necessary revenue was bestowed by the state early in its history. Thus, the school board and the supervisors were important leaders in the communities they served.

    A more complete history of the educational system can be found in Chapter 7.

    The road supervisors were originally elected for this one purpose only. Other matters of a self‑governing nature were minimal and little attention was given to these areas. On more than one occasion the victor of an election for road supervisor was the individual thought most able to handle a pick and shovel. Roads on a local basis were their job and they stayed with the respon­sibility.

    The major thoroughfares connecting large population centers, however, were seldom township roads. A few were authorized by the federal congress. More often the state would appropriate a sum to establish one of these roads.

    One such was the turnpike from Bloomsburg to Muncy by way of Jerseytown, Whitehall and Exchange built in 1817. The road from Berwick to Milton passed through Millville and Jersey­ town also. This former Indian trail made the community of Jersey­ town a prominent place when the stage was the best way to travel.

    The first roads in the area were Indian trails and for a hundred years after the first settlers arrived, there were times when the local residents were certain they still lived on those trails. John Eves was required to enlarge the trail to permit the wagon to move from the mouth of the Chillisquaque creek to the cabin site on Little Fishing Creek. This improved road served as the only entry into the valley until 1798. A road, following the trail, was then constructed from the West Branch of the river across the Mount Pleasant hills.

     In 1856, the Pennsylvania State Legislature authorized and funded a road up the Little Fishing Creek through Millville to Laporte. This dirt trail was more welcome on its completion than most four lanes today for it opened the community to southern travel and greatly reduced the time required for business transfers.

    But most in this agricultural area found the local road from home to store or neighbor more important for their daily needs. Township roads were given top priority by the settlers. Unfortunately, only election results of more recent years are available and the accomplishments of many men chosen to accomplish this con­struction and maintenance are lost.

 

MILLVILLE BOROUGH GOVERNMENT

    Although the Millville area was the first settled in the entire county, the borough itself has not been a legal subdivision for a century. On May 5, 1890, the property owners of most land in the Millville area of Greenwood township filed a petition for a borough charter. The grand jury which received it reported favorably. In September, exceptions were filed to the petition by other residents of Greenwood.

    On May 4, 1891, these were dismissed. The objectors placed an appeal to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania which was acted on and the court found in favor of establishing the borough. The objectors had failed to continue their attempts to prevent the organization of the borough.

    When the question was finally settled, an election for borough officials held at the hotel on May 3, 1892, resulted in the following elected as the first borough officers:

Joseph W. Eves ‑ Burgess

R. J. Hess- Councilmen

J. C. Eves- Councilmen

C. W. Eckman- Councilmen

S. W. Kester- Councilmen

H. W. Kisner- Councilmen

E. T. Eves ‑Councilmen

W. M. Eves- Justice of the Peace

V. P. Eves ‑ Justice of the Peace.

    In addition to the borough officers above, the election provided for school directors for the new borough. No record of these directors has been located.

    The last election before the Millville area was divided politically from Greenwood Township was held in the Patton wagon shop during 1891. This shop was taken down in 1895.

    A basic code of laws was required for the proper adminis­tration of the newly formed borough. Thus, the council proposed a collection of twelve ordinances which were advertised and then passed during June and early July of 1892. Several were regulatory works that are used occasionally today while others would appear to be outdated.

    The more basic are Ordinances No. 1, 3, 6, and 9 relating to construction of sidewalks, fast driving, disposal of rubbish, and public nuisances respectively. Interestingly, number four prohibits the use of a stallion for breeding purposes within the borough limits, and number five permits any person finding any fowl or poultry trespassing on his or her property to kill the same, and if the owner does not claim and take it away within two hours after his own.

    Other ordinances record, in addition to a legal rule, some of the many changes in the community. Permission to the Millville Telephone Company to establish poles on the borough streets in ordinance No. 14 also fixes the year this venture was begun. Then follow the ordinances for this same authority to the Montour and Columbia Telephone Company, the Peoples Telephone Company, and finally the Bell Telephone Company. Also, the Millville and Bloomsburg Street Railway Company's permission for the right of way in 1905 is documented. Through the years a number of ordin­ances have been added as the needs of the community changed or various technologies such as the automobile replacing the horse made new rules of conduct desirable.

    The very first minute books of the borough seem to be mis­placed but starting in 1919 and later the deliberations of this body are available. From these has been compiled a list of the Presi­dents, Secretaries, and chief burgesses that served the community.

    Presidents who served were: E. T. Eves 1919; J. W. Biddle 1920‑ 22; P. L. Eves 1923‑ 25; C. L. Eves 1926‑ 29; W. C. Swartz 1930‑ 37; Paul Girton 1938‑ 71.

    Secretaries who served were: J. Stanley Eves 1919‑ 22; Eugene E. Cadman 1923‑ 24; G. W. Henrie 1925‑ 36; N. M. Welliver 1937‑ 49; Wayne Deaner 1949‑ 71.

    Burgesses who served were; R. C. Kester 1919‑ 20; Kester moved in 1920 and W. J. Eckman was appointed to fulfill his term and served in 1921 also; Burr Albertson 1922‑ 25; Albertson resigned in April 1926 and George Maust served the remainder of that term and in 1927; Charles S. Ely 1928‑ 48; Atwood Ruckle completed Ely's term and served until 1950; John Bowen 1950‑ 51; Arthur C. Henrie 1952‑ 53; Franklin Hoffman 1954‑ 57; Lester Gordner took office in January 1958 but moved out of town that same year, and there was no mayor in town until 1962 when William Laubach, Sr. took office.

    Today the Borough Council consists of the following members: C. Ray Wintersteen, President; Warn C. Pursel, Secretary; Paul Weatherill, Vince Myers, William Vial, Wayne J. Watts and Floyd Freas. Chief burgess is William Laubach.

    In August 1896 the town was surveyed by J. C. Brown and the center stone was placed that fall. The location of this stone today is unknown.

 

PARK COMMISSION

    The borough council’s interest in parks for the use of the residents is long-standing. As early as 1919 they paid F. W. Heller $25.00 for a year's use of the `grove'. This area now occupied by the Water Authority at the westernmost end of Third Street and known then as Glenwood Park or the Grove was used extensively. A band shell was constructed near the middle and many picnics of local groups filled the woods on summer weekends.

    When the Greenwood Seminary Company constructed the Community Hall in 1915, the open lawn around became a natural park. Various groups added improvements to the surrounding lot and a fine facility took shape. At one time clay was hauled to finish a fine tennis court at the site of the original school buildings. Later it was moved. The Women's Civic Club added a macadam surface on the two courts. At that same time a high curbing was placed completely around the court area designed to provide an ice skating rink in winter.

    The fire company which had taken up sponsorship of the carnivals from the Legion added several permanent buildings for carnival use to the grounds. Today they have five stands.

    The Community Hall had served as a public meeting facility for many years and had been used by the school as an auditorium and a classroom on several occasions but by 1965 it stood idle and decaying. Several local people felt that it might have a more useful purpose and approached the council with a hope of restoring the building to its former importance in the community. E. Eugene Eves and Elizabeth Eves Thomson, as descendants of the original organizers had accumulated a majority control in the Greenwood Seminary Company and made a gift of the property to the Millville Borough for recreational purposes.

    The council then appointed a Park Commission consisting of Marvin Poust, Marie Reece, Ralph Titman, Helen Gordner and Dean Girton. This group, after a year's search, determined that no significant interest existed in the structure and it would never be self-supporting. Charles Karns removed the building during the summer of 1966. Since then the commission has coordinated the development of a most valuable community asset.

     The local service clubs have given unsparingly of their time and money to improve the park. The Women's Civic Club repaved the tennis courts in 1966. The Los Amigos constructed an outdoor basketball court at the site of the clay tennis court and the Junior Women donated a substantial quantity of new playground equipment. Many other groups also added markedly to the facilities. Today both the tennis courts and the basketball court are lit in evenings to extend their usefulness.

    A summer park festival is held each August by the commission using many of the carnival facilities of the fire company to raise the necessary revenue to carry on a program and maintain the park. No tax money has been used since the commission was organized. This success could only be possible because everyone in the area has helped in some way. The local clubs have given endless hours to make it prosper.

     Members of the Park Commission today are Jack Lewis, Mrs. Esther Derr, Mrs. J. M. (Eilene) Reece, George Fought, and Dean Girton.

 

SWIMMING POOL

     One addition to the park most desired by all was a swimming pool. A large number of township residents were equally interested. The pool became a top priority.

    More than ten years earlier the Los Amigos Club had studied the feasibility of a pool for the area but found that the costs were beyond them. They updated the project twice after that and were very determined to complete the original plan.

    A program of matching funds passed the legislature in 1969 making money available for local recreational projects and this was reviewed with state representatives. The law required that only governmental bodies could apply for these grants. This forced the Park Commission to take the project on by itself if it was to be completed.

    The borough council completed the necessary approvals only to learn that the state desired participation by additional groups. The supporters of a pool that resided in the adjoining townships then approached the township supervisors in Greenwood, Madison, and Pine and secured their endorsement.

     A new organization was now required. A formal group to construct the pool and apply for the state grant was needed. Therefore, on February 2, 1969, at a joint meeting of the three townships and the borough, a pool commission comprised of two appointees from each area was established. It was titled the Little Fishing Creek Area Swimming Pool Commission.

    Original members of the commission were Mrs. Joseph Hopewell, Donald Aurand, Jay Fleck, Chris Wolff, Olen Eves, Bert Gordner, Marvin Poust and Dean Girton.

    Today this 5,610 square foot Junior Olympic swimming pool with its accompanying wading pool, filter building, and large bathhouse is completed on the north end of the park. The construction costs were $149,297 and the state has provided a grant of $74,648 toward these costs. A large portion of the construction price, over $47,000 to date, has been donated by area individuals and organizations. Again no local taxes were used to complete this very large project.

    Memorial Day 1971 finished the years of effort that had been needed to bring the pool to its final completion. The politicians spoke, the band played, but more important the local youngsters swam that day.

    Today this organization is guided by these members of the commission: Robert Gordner, Jerry Abraczinskas, Mrs. Joseph Hopewell, Donald Aurand, Marvin Poust, Jay Fleck, Chris Wolff, and Dean Girton.

 

WATER AUTHORITY

     Larry's Spring provided the domestic water supply for John Eves at the first dwelling and springs continued to supply other households as the community grew. Home sites were chosen with careful consideration as to the availability of water; a spring was the best and easiest supply.

    But springs were not always at the right place nor were they numerous enough to permit unlimited expansion of the settlement. Thus, hand-dug wells were next used to increase the available water supply. Even now a number of the shallow holes provide individual homes with water.

    As the population became more concentrated, that age-old enemy of man typhoid fever appeared in Millville. The water supply was naturally the first suspect. Tests of several area springs and wells showed contamination and these were closed. Others that were safe now were used beyond capacity to compensate for the loss of those closed.

    Considerable concern was expressed throughout the community that a new source of water had not been made available. Several local men determined that an opportunity existed in this shortage for a business venture. They formed the Millville Water Company which was chartered on April 5, 1898, having an initial capital of $16,000. The original investors included William Masters, Ellis Eves, J. J. Robbins, H. G. Frederick, and C. W. Miller.

    With this equity, they built a reservoir at the east end of town on the hilltop off Main Street, constructed a pumphouse along the creek near the present western end of Third Street, enclosed a spring (in the woods across from the pumphouse) after first digging out the area around to create a catch basin, and connected this basin and pumphouse with the reservoir. Water mains placed in the borough streets and connected to the supply line between the pumphouse and the reservoir which also served as a distribution main.

    This supply of clean water and the sewer system installed in the ensuing years substantially reduced the fever death rate for a period. Another outbreak in the early twenties precipitated a water scare but when a carrier was found at a local eating establishment, the good reputation the system had enjoyed was restored.

    As the water table in the area dropped, the company had to find additional sources of water. A `spring' at the dam on the creek was tapped and a pump from this `spring' then deposited water into the holding basin. This `spring' provided large quantities for the community. Still, it was not sufficient during the dry summer months. A deeper well was drilled near the additional collection basins that had been constructed in the woods at the present site of the new pumping station.

    Changes in the state regulations were made through the years that were met by the company but in 1960, new regulations were again implemented that made a large investment necessary if the system was to continue in use. The stockholders decided to offer the business to the borough if they would be interested.

     To maintain this vitally important service for the community, an authority was created by the council. This body, appointed by the council, purchased the system from the corporation on January 11, 1961 and floated a bond issue for the improvements that were made.

    A new pumphouse with two electric pumps, a settling basin and water treatment equipment, replaced the old diesel engine housed in the old building where a portion of the Girton Manufacturing Company facilities now stand. This new house was built where the collection basin had been and was connected by eight inlet feeder pipes that were buried in the woods and field of the watershed.

    A new fill line was installed from the pumping station to the reservoir by a nearly direct route across the north side of town at about Fifth Street. The line was required because the state prohibited the common use of a line as fill line and distribution network.

    Today the Authority is served by Ralph Gordner, Luther Bitler, Donald Farr, Jack Ruckle and Betty Shafer as members, and employs Clarence Taylor, Jr. as the manager with Tyler Watts as his assistant.

 

SEWER

    The authority also has served as the vehicle for another town's improvement. Its ability to borrow long‑term, low‑cost money made the sewer system more easily financed.

    The town's involvement in the sewer business began soon after the borough's creation. In 1899 a portion of the town was provided with a central collection line that emptied into the tail race of the grist mill at the north end of the creamery property. Then an addition was added in 1901.

    Later the council approached the state for additional aid to add to the collection system but the state withheld its resources claiming that the extra line would be undesirable for the drinking water taken from the creek at Bloomsburg. One of the council members in those early twenties pointed out the fact that the state was not familiar with the problem as Bloomsburg took their water from the other Fishing Creek. The council secretary was appointed to correct the misconception. Some problems apparently still existed however, as the next large addition was not made until a decade later when the W.P.A. added the `project' out behind the homes on the west side of State Street to the Grange and then on north up State Street.

    Following the Second World War a new drive on the part of the state to clean the waterways was made. In 1948 the council was notified that a substantial system of treatment was required by the borough.

    An engineer was hired and plans prepared for this facility. When the cost estimates showed a $230,000 cost the venture was abandoned. This cost was nearly a third of the assessed value of the community.

    By 1967 a new program of cost-sharing had been instituted by the state and a new effort to finance a system was made.

    Greater success met this endeavor and on August 14, 1969 the collection system was turned into the new treatment plant located on the west side of the railroad, south of the Millville Lumber Products plant. The Authority's employees also man this installation.

 

BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION

 

    From time to time it has been necessary for the council to appoint short-term planning groups. The latest of these was the Bicentennial Commission.

    In 1969 the history of our community was examined to determine the nearest exact date which should be used to celebrate the two-hundredth year of settlement. A commission was selected and officers were elected: Jack Ruckle and Dean Girton ‑  co­ chairmen; Earl Eves ‑  Treasurer; Mrs. Ethel Henrie ‑  Secretary; J. Marion Reece, E. Eugene Eves, Mrs. Helen Gordner, Mrs. Elsa Everett and Blaine Eves ‑  members. Each area organization had a representative that took part at the commission meetings and helped make the decisions.

It was decided to hold the celebration in conjunction with the fireman's annual carnival. A special antique car parade and cen­tennial parade were arranged with Senator Preston B. Davis, Congressman Danial J. Flood, Representative Kent Shelhamer, and many other dignitaries taking part.

A beard contest was planned and men who did not grow a beard risked being placed in the stockade by one of the `special' constables in town that week. A pageant written by William Van Horn depicting early local history and portrayed by many area residents was presented throughout the week. Also slated for the week was an antique show featuring items of interest collected within the local territory. An old fashion box social followed by a round and square dance was a much-anticipated event to start the July happenings. In keeping with the religious movement which John Eves brought with him to Millville, a community service was planned by the local ministerial  in which all denominations of the area came together for worship and hymn singing.

The really big kick-off was a dinner served by the Grange in May. Attorney Dale A. Derr, a one-time resident of Millville, used "The Heritage of Millville" as his topic for the evening address. Mrs. Rosalie Mitton presented a program of events through the years with the aid of songs being sung by the audience and a skit by the Cadette Girl Scouts. A local men's chorus entertained with songs from the past. 150 paperweights, replicas of the stone marker at the original Eves' home site, were presented to the guests that evening.

Having served its purpose, the Commission disbanded within the year.

 MILLVILLE POST OFFICE

     Millville has been very fortunate from its early history to have a postal service. As early as 1753 the English government had established a postal system in the colonies along the coast. Known as the `penny post', this mail was carried by horse and rider from community to community and left at a central home or business. When the Continental Congress met in 1775, it appointed Benjamin Franklin as Postmaster General. He expanded the system into the interior following the war. Berwick became the first area community to have a post office. It opened in 1797 and by 1806 a route of the pony mail came to Danville from Sunbury.

     In 1833 the town of Millville was granted a post office. The town had been named in 1827 and Millville was used as the address for the new office.

    David Eves was appointed the first postmaster and opened the office in the store operated by David and his partner Andrew Eves on the lot where Delbert Pennypacker's house now stands. Andrew followed David as the second postmaster.

  James Masters served from 1842 until 1849 when George Masters was appointed to the post. Then William Masters followed until 1886. During this period (in 1857) George built the brick store, now Gordner's, and moved the post office there.

   Mail was brought from Berwick once a week on the Shickshinny to Jerseytown route which had been established as early as 1815. Delivery was increased to twice weekly later.

    Umphrey Parker and his son had started a stage line after purchasing the hotel and in 1879 were given the mail contract for this Bloomsburg to Sereno service. The twice-weekly run was then increased to a daily delivery by this line.

     With the completion of the Wilkes Barre and Western Railroad in 1887, the mail was transferred to that equipment. The station master, Nelson Dutt, saw to the receiving and transferred the bags to a wheelbarrow for the final leg from the station to the post office. This wheelbarrow was operated by several individuals including Townsend Shoemaker and John Kester. Orville Johnson was the first mail clerk on this train.

     When the rail line was extended to Orangeville in 1891, mail was then delivered to Greenwood on this train. The line ran near the present Robert Musgrave farm. From there it was carried to the post office in Elmer Parker's store.

    In 1896 the rural free delivery program was tested. In 1904 it was extended to many additional areas. This program had strong Grange support. Thus, A. P. Young of town, the first Master of the local group who had achieved a certain reputation for achieving difficult things, arranged to provide the Millville office with the first rural free delivery route (R.F.D.) in Columbia County.

    Edward R. Eves was the first carrier on this Route 1 of the R.F.D. from 1900 to 1903. During 1903 two additional routes were added to the office. The carriers for these routes were James T. Lawton and Joseph Kitchen for Routes 2 and 3 respectively.

In 1908 Joseph Kitchen retired and Perry L. Eves took his route while Arthur Eves who had taken Ed Eves' route upon his retirement also retired in 1909 and R. Rea Lawton took R.F.D. # 1.

A consolidation was made in 1935 leaving only two routes with R. Rea Lawton on R. D. #1 and George Wright was hired for Route 2.

The post office building was changed several times in these years. From the Masters' store it was moved to a small building located at the approximate site of Dean Evans' ice dispenser. Then to the Union Hall. From there some say it was located temporarily in the hotel, but in any case, it was housed in the new bank building after its construction in 1914.

The bank expanded its operation and forced the post office to seek new quarters in the former Frank Ludwig implement store on the site of the present bank parking lot. This move was made during 1947.

The post office operations were also expanding during these years and several men have served as guides during the changes. Subsequent postmasters following William Masters were Uriah P. McHenry, Ellis Eves, D. F. Herring, William C. Eves, Joseph (Joe) C. Eves, Joseph S. Cole and Dr. John W. Biddle.

In August 1935 Jay C. Watts was appointed Postmaster following a period of service as acting head. Following Jay's death in June 1949, his son Donald J. Watts followed and was appointed July 7, 1950 to his father's former post.

In addition to Don, the office is also serviced today by Leonard E. Leighow, James R. Stair, J Fred Lawton with Frank B. Zarr as custodian. The rural routes are manned by William J. Beitz and Paul H. Rider.

These R.F.D. routes have had few changes since 1935. Rea Lawton retired in April 1945 and Horace Gingles took his route when Horace retired, Paul Rider took Route 2. George Wright who changed to Route 1 when Lawton left was replaced by Bill Beitz.

The mail was changed from train delivery when daily service on the road to Millville was discontinued and a car was used to bring the mail from Bloomsburg. Robert (Bunk) and Maynard Smith had this contract for many years and was followed by Frank Smith and Frank Breece before LaBar Trucking Company of Berwick was awarded the contract.

The receipts of the local office have grown through the years and today it is rated as a Class 2 office as a result of the volume mailed from this location.

The present office, a fine brick structure built on the north­ east corner of the square, was opened on April 27, 1969. The office contains a separate lockbox area permitting after-hours pickup and an enlarged window area for service.

The building is owned by Thomas and Grace Hunter and leased to the Post Office Service. The area formerly was the Methias Wolff building and the Dr. J. W. Biddle facility.

 

COURTS AND ENFORCEMENT    

    With the Crown Government several months away in England and the Penn authority days travel to the southeast, the first settlers were truly on the frontier. No speedy recourse was available and law enforcement was non‑ existent.

After the Continental Congress established the army it was used variously for fighting the British, fighting the Indians, and even an occasional conflict with the settlers sympathetic to the British. Forts in the area were built at various times before the Eves settlement and many were added during the war. None, however, were closer than several hours ride by horse. Thus, the soldiers were of little value particularly in domestic matters. When conditions were completely intolerable, a man could move to the fort and a few did make this move.

When the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was chartered, provisions for a local court were made for each township. In 1799 when Greenwood was partitioned, a more accessible agent was available through the Justice of the Peace.

These men and women that served the area over the years in the capacity of Justice of the Peace assured the residents of a speedy hearing by a local contemporary. A long honor roll could be drawn listing those that have given their time to provide this service.

In 1968 a constitutional amendment provided for the estab­lishment of District Magistrates to replace the Justice system. The selling points for this change included a full‑time judge and a person schooled in his duties. The terms of expiring Justices will all have terminated by January 1974 and an institution will have passed.

Millville was chosen as the location of one of the District seats created by the new legislation. The location of the Magistrate in the community has important ramifications. Most importantly, it still permits the speed trial guaranteed to each citizen and secondly, the surrounding area residents including Benton and Orangeville travel to Millville to utilize this service and by this action raise the prestige of the community.

Delbert Pennypacker was elected at the fall 1969 election to serve as the District Magistrate for this district for a term of six years beginning January 1970. His offices are located in the south half of the street floor of the John Shuman building next to the bank. It includes a small hearing room at the rear, a private office for the magistrate, and a reception area at the front of the structure.

The district justice has contacts with many law enforcement officers. The state police and sheriff's office have numerous oc­casions to use his offices, but the local town police force is more important to the borough residents. Clarence Taylor, Jr. heads this local group as Police Chief and is assisted by Tyler Watts. John Litterer and Darwin Strauser assist on special assignments and during fire emergencies the fire police unit numbering fifteen members are available for duty.

 

FIRE COMPANY

     The first records found indicating that there was a fire company in Millville are minutes of a meeting held July 30, 1890. The account begins: "According to the announcement a few active members met to further organize a Hook and Ladder Company." This leads us to believe there was a fire defense prior to the first organizational meeting in 1890.

    The first officers were: Foreman, C. R. Henrie; First Fore­ man, G. W. Henrie; Second Foreman, S. W. Cole; Secretary, Boyd Trescott; Treasurer, Grant Johnson; Directors, M. W. Shoemaker, H. W. Kisner, J. W. Bogart.

    "Friendship Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1 of Millville, Pa." became the official title of the organization. By-laws of Watsontown Hook and Ladder Company were adopted until Mill­ville's were completed.

    A committee of five was appointed to solicit funds ‑  C. R. Henrie, J. F. Lemons, Sherman Cole, Charles W. Eckman and J. B. Eves. A plan of systematic solicitation was soon developed. That, plus the $1.00 initiation dues and the ten cents per month dues for each member, plus their biggest asset of all ‑  $227.00 realized from their first festival, permitted the company to order its first hook and ladder truck and two dozen new buckets. Checks in the amount of $485.68 for the truck and $14.32 for freight were drawn on November 16, 1890.

    At the end of the first year, there was a total membership of twenty-seven. Section 8 of the bylaws defined the members' duties as: "It shall be the duty of members to attend all meetings of the Company, to obey all the rules thereof and in going to and returning from a fire the drag rope shall be their position."

    Section 9 reads in part: “On an alarm of fire all members shall repair immediately to the house and assist in conveying the apparatus to the place of fire and locating the same agreeable to the orders of the officers in command and do all in their power, under the direction of the officers, in staying the conflagration and preserving life and property. When the fire is extinguished, or in case the alarm is false, to aid in returning the apparatus to the house when the roll shall be called and they shall be liberty to depart…”

    A street parade was held every year in which each active member was to participate fully equipped. Exercises in fire drill were held once a month during the summer.

    Uniforms were purchased by the company for each member. They wore cream-colored flannel shirts, belt, tie, hats, gloves and dark pants for the many parades they were invited to.

    To raise money, the entertainment committee put on a play, "Yankee Detective", with admissions of twenty and twenty-five cents in the Union Hall. All but one member attended (on motion, he was fined 50c for not attending). The play was so well received, it was decided to repeat it and a profit of $61.50 was realized.

    A fire alarm bell was erected on a derrick in June 1891 with a total expense of $60.83. One year later the town was divided into four districts. Alarms were to be followed by 1, 2, 3, or 4 taps designating the area of the fire. A continuous alarm was for a general alarm. Cards were placed in business locations showing the district number and alarm rings for that area.

    As early as August 1892 the company paid the $2.00 dues to the State Firemen's Association and elected M. W. Shoemaker as Millville's representative. Some excerpts from the Record of Fires are as follows:

"The company did good work but the building was destroyed."

"False alarm. W. E. Johnson saw the reflection from the sun shining on Milton Eves house on the hill west of town and had an alarm given. The Company turned out, but concluded the fire was too far away."

"About 7:00 in the morning the alarm sounded. In five minutes the truck was on the road to the fire . . . It was thought the house could not be saved but the company did good work; the extinguishers did effective work."

"…..the truck was hitched to Frank Wilson's wagon."

"…..the alarm was sounded but had not stopped ringing when the word came that the fire was out. The fire was in John Kisner's (deaf Jack's) smokehouse. It burned nearly all the roof off and scorched the meat a little."

"Those not belonging to the company took right a hold, there was a quick response to the call."

    September 21, 1891, was the date of the first recorded fire. There was an average of two recorded fires per year. Perhaps this was the reason there were no regularly scheduled meetings between 1900 and 1903. In November 1903 a special meeting was held in V. P. Eves' hall to select committees to see the young men of town in view of raising the membership to fifty and a committee to test the hoses and water plugs.

    In March 1904 a lot was leased on the rear of Francis M. Eves' property for five years at $10.00 per year. The Borough had a building erected, paid six months' rent, and agreed to light the street lamp. The Borough also secured Union Hall for the Fire Company's use.

    Money did not seem to be a problem for the Company. Dues were dispensed with in 1893. Yearly festivals were held and subscriptions were solicited if a special item was needed such as the street lamp at the new equipment building. In 1905 a loan of $60 was made to the Citizen's Band.

    There was one meeting reported in 1906. It was decided to purchase another hose cart; the Citizen's Band note of $60 was paid; Fire Company would assume half the deficiency remaining unpaid for the dinner shed in Glenwood Grove providing the Citizen's Band also assume one-half.

    The one meeting held in 1907 was called special by the Chief Engineer to have the new hose cart inspected and approved. The price of the hose cart was $40.50.

    There are no records of an organized fire company for the next thirty years. It is remembered, however, the equipment was kept in first-rate condition, and when the fire bell rang there was always a turnout of men to convey the hose carts to the fires and to efficiently man the equipment.

    The present Millville Community Fire Company was established in 1937. Serving on a committee to enroll members were: Grant Johnson, Chairman; Jesse Houghton of Pine Summit; Roland Lawton of Iola; Dr. J. W. Gordner of Jerseytown; Harry McHenry of Rohrsburg; George Russel, Jesse Pennington, Maynard Artman and Herman Robbins of Millville. Within a week there were 132 members signed up.

    Elected officers on April 20, 19337, included John W. Farron, President; Vincent Myers, Vice President; Wallace W. Eves, Re­ cording Secretary; Garvin Geyer, Financial Secretary; J. C. Derr, Treasurer; Herman Robbins, Fire Chief; George Russel, First Assistant; Trustees ‑  A. J. Hummel, J. M. Reece, M. 0. Artman, John W. Eves, and Grant Johnson; Bylaws Committee ‑  Jay Watts, Ralph Gordner, and C. Edgar Watts.

    That same year a used pumper was secured from a Mount Carmel company. The pumper was kept underneath the apartments (now Don Aurand and LeRoy Diehl's) on the back lot of Maynard Artman's funeral home (now Adam Rarig residence). Meetings were held above Ellis Eves and Brothers Store. The first firehouse was purchased in 1940 from Jesse Masters for the sum of $2600.

    The Buffalo was purchased new in 1945 with the assistance of a $1000 donation from the First National Bank of Millville. For the past ten years, the Buffalo has been used only as a second truck in case of two fires at one time. Enough new equipment is now available and it has been decided to sell the Buffalo.

    In as much as the company serves a rural area and this means a water problem in many instances, it secured a 1,550-gallon tank truck in the early fifties. There was a need for a truck that could handle more water. Therefore, in 1971 an FWD tank truck that could handle more water as well as be utilized as a pumper was purchased and used in addition to the original tank truck.

    The establishment of an Ambulance Association was organized in 1954. Through the gift of an ambulance by Maus Eyer, the project was started. Frank Bartlow, Jr., who served in various positions in the Fire Company and was active in the starting of the Columbia County Firemen's Association and annual fire school, was instrumental in organizing the Association.

    The Association holds an annual membership drive in November and memberships have steadily been rising and currently total 2000.

    Through the years it has been alert in providing adequate equipment. In 1971 a first aid snowmobile sled was purchased to use when weather prohibited the effective use of the ambulance. A new ambulance was obtained in 1969 with the very latest devices.

    There are thirty volunteer drivers all of whom have had first aid instructions. The Association works in cooperation with Radio Communications in Bloomsburg and an alert system has been set up so there is a driver available at any hour day or night. For years Albertson's service station has served as a contact for anyone in need of an ambulance and if necessary, one of the Albertson brothers would be available if the driver on call needed a replacement.

    September 21, 1968, put an end to many long months of hard work to achieve a building that would adequately fulfill the needs of a continually expanding fire company and the community it serves.

    J. C. Fought, who has served as both President and Fire Chief of the Company, was chairman of the building committee. Working with him were Max Bardo, Robert Doucette, Robert E. Eves, Wayne Watts, Harry Watts and Larry Mills. Under the direction of this committee, the old fire hall was removed and because of its central location, the new building was constructed on the same site. The original $36,000 debt was paid off in four years while the company continued its efficient service.

    Valuable assistance has been given the Fire Company by the Fire Company Auxiliary. Organized in 1957, this group of women has supported the company in all its money-raising projects and make possible the firemen's annual dues-paying dinner. 1972 President is Carol Trivelpiece.

    With Cleatus Farr as Chairman, Sally Bartlow, as treasurer, and Minerva Karns, President, the women had an important role in the completion of the new fire hall. They volunteered to finish and equip the kitchen at a total cost of $3,000. They also accepted the additional responsibility of soliciting furnishings for the meeting room.

    One of the outstanding local carnivals of the entire region is that of the Millville Fire Company. This was started in the early years of the Company and for a time after World War II was co-sponsored jointly by the firemen and the Legion. Now it is again the promotion of the fire company.

    Maynard Robbins was a Charter member and held many offices in the early years of the company. He was best known for his operation of the carnival popcorn stand. He made this stand into a real profit-maker. He was known as a planner and he used many of his business ideas for the good of the Company.

    An attraction, which delights youngsters, and brings back memories to oldsters, is the ever-popular merry-go-round. Cleon Greenly and Maynard Robbins transported the entire assemblage to Millville from Columbia Park in 1939 when the Millville Community Park purchased the ride for a reported $500. The carousel is approximately seventy years old and for many years people of Millville enjoyed riding it at Columbia Park.

    Greenly and Elmer Fetzer began operating it at the carnival, but the longest tenure on that score belongs to Robert E. Eves who has been working `inside' for thirty years. Bob's son, Ronnie, and his wife, Eloise, have been helping with the sale and collection of tickets for many years.

    It was reported that the machine ran on steam at one time, but when it was first brought to Millville, it was powered by a Model T motor on skids. It had to be cranked to get is started. In the late 1940s, an international motor was purchased.

    Frank Bartlow, Sr. designed the present enclosure which has been a real boon to the machine. Otherwise, it probably would not be existing today. The enclosure cost the Company only $2500 because of the savings which Bartlow was able to realize through his own design.

    The well-known brass rings were formerly used, but they have long since passed from the scene.

    The oldest procession in the area is the Independence Day Parade which was started in 1890 and has been held continuously since that time except for 1951 when Main Street was being reconstructed. This parade is a key feature during carnival week. Every year it becomes larger and hundreds are attracted to this small town to help celebrate the Fourth of July with a full day of the carnival, pony pulls, baseball games, and horse shows.

    Children ‑pets‑ toys, this combination which makes up the second parade during carnival week always proves a success. Prizes are awarded for the best entries and all participants are given free merry-go-round rides and the chance to win a new bicycle. The Fire Company is also responsible for the annual Halloween parade.

    The only way to end eight days of hard work from people of all ages; from all four areas; from all walks of life; working for one goal, is with the finest display of fireworks in Pennsylvania. Millville is host to hundreds of spectators every year for its final performance of another successful carnival.

    The carnival is the only money-raising project the Fire Company holds during the year. With an approximate income of $10,000 realized yearly, the company purchases new equipment and maintains the old equipment, the fire hall, and its buildings on the park grounds. The money given to the company by the borough in 1971 was donated to the community swimming pool.

    As early as 1903 Millville firemen realized the importance of getting young men interested in the organization. Today there is a Junior firemen unit that consists of young men from Explorer Post No. 58. William Bartholomew, John Correll, and Blaine Eyer have acted as advisors since the program was developed in 1970. Officers of the fire company for 1972 are Max Bardo, President; Harry Watts, Vice‑ President; Millard Ludwig, Recording Secretary; Buddy Eyer, Financial Secretary; Donald Whitner, Treasurer; Jon Rider, Fire Chief; Larry Mills, First Assistant Chief; William Bartholomew, Second Assistant Chief. Trustees J. C. Fought, Darwin Frey, Frank Bartlow, Jr., Harry Watts, and Delbert Pennypacker.

    The equipment has changed; the men have changed, but the foremost objective of the Fire Company remains the same as it did in 1890 ‑  "the extinguishment of fires and the protection of life and property."

Additions and corrections made for this Second Edition. DBG

Second Edition- Copyright Dean B. Girton Dec. 30, 2022