History of Minooka by J. J. Powell (Circa 1932)

Minooka is a town excellently located for a residential district. It is about nine hundred feet above sea level and ten minutes drive from the center of the City of Scranton.

The inhabitants of Minooka are not troubled with smoke, ashes, dust, or the noise of railroad trains, or nauseous vapors which are so detrimental to many of the residential sections of the County of Lackawanna.

While we have the conveniences of and easy access to three steam railroads, yet the town is so located that we have none of the noises and smoke incident to their operation. In addition, we have the convenience of a ten-minute street railway service.

Like many other mining communities and as was the custom in the early history of mining, it adopted the name of its earliest mine operators and was known successively as Needham’s Patch, Davis’ Patch, Coary Hollow and Glen Newman, and finally Minooka.

How Minooka Got Its Name

An English captain named Carr owned and operated a mine in the vicinity of what is now the National Colliery of the Glen Alden Coal Company, and all of that section of the 20^th Ward, adjoining Minooka was originally known as Carr’s Patch. He had a niece who was very fond of an Indian maiden with the quaint name of Minooka, and she prevailed upon Captain Carr and the early settlers to call the community after her friend, the Indian maiden, hence the name Minooka.

The first dwelling built in Minooka was located upon Birney Avenue on the land now owned and occupied by Patrick Higgins, grocer. It was a large wooden structure and did not have a single nail in its entire construction. Wooden pegs being used throughout.

Many of the present residents remember the building but the name of the person or persons who owned and built it is always the subject of debate. As the story goes, it was built as a center for a group of peddlers (or merchants of the road) and used by them for many years. The first authentic owner was Joseph Nulkie, recently of Taylor.

The first Tavern stood upon the plot on Birney Avenue now owned by Jeremiah McCarthy, and was conducted by James Whitley and known as Whitley’s Red Tavern.

Memories of Minooka by Shamus Corbett and Sharkey Lydon

St. Pat’s Day – A Bit Early by Tom Fox

The Philadelphia Inquirer

(Probably from the 1970s)

St Patrick’s Day was celebrated a little early this year by a small circle of Scranton Irish. Shamus Corbett, the most decorated state trooper in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and his pal John (Sharkey) Lydon, an Irish tenor with sky-blue eyes and an insatiable thirst for fine Irish whisky, invited me up to Scranton for this year’s big St. Patrick’s Day Dinner at the Casey Hotel.

“Gov. Thornburgh’s coming,” Shamus Corbett said with a touch of awe. “He’s going to be the main speaker.”

The Scranton Irish are survivors. They worked like hell for Bob Casey, the Scranton attorney, for governor last year. And when a Republican WASP from Allegheny County won the office and all the power that goes with it, damned if they didn’t invite the WASP to be the principal speaker at the big St. Patrick’s day dinner.

Born in Lifeboats

But it figures. The Irish were born in the lifeboats. “There never was any downfield blocking for the Irish. It was all elbows and knees, but that’s how the Irish learned to survive. That’s why the Irish are such masters of American politics.

“Shall I tell the governor to expect you at the dinner?” Shamus Corbett asked.

I said I couldn’t make it. The dinner’s this Saturday night and I’m committed to spend the evening at Joe Hindsley’s saloon, The Fiddler’s Green, out in King of Prussia. It’s the only place to be on St. Patty’s night around here.”

“Well, then,” Shamus Corbett said, “we’ll celebrate a little early. We’ll have a party for Jim Crowley. He’s one of the original Four Horsemen of Notre Dame. We’ll hoist a few to Jim.”

So I drove up to Scranton with Bob Herdelin in his big, fancy Rolls Royce, and Shamus Corbett had a real cork-popper for Jim Crowley at Preno’s, one of Scranton’s finest watering holes.

There was a lot of belting and singing and a whole lot of outrageous Irish stories, all set in the old coal mining town of Minooka (now Scranton’s 24^th Ward) where Shamus Corbett was born.

A Cruel Town

“Minooka was a cruel town in a way,” said Shamus Corbett’s brother, Jakey, a car dealer. “The nicknames for some people were brutal. The ugliest man in Minooka was known as ‘Stop-the-Clock’ O’Hara. Oh, in some ways it was a mean, cruel place.”

Reap v. Farrell

The Scranton Tribune - May 20, 1899

REAP WAS UNGRATEFUL.
Given a "Lift" and Then Made Off
with the Horse.

The police were looking high and low last night for Patrick Reap of Minooka, who is wanted to answer for downright cussed meanness. The courts may dub it horse stealing. It was that, but that wasn't the worst of it. It wasn't so much what he stole as the nasty way he stole it.

Reap was trudging towards his home in Minooka when overtaken by Patrick Farrell, of 134 Apple street, Dunmore, who was driving towards the South Side. Reap asked him for a "lift" and Farrell readily accorded it to him. Well down toward the end of Pittston avenue, Farrell made a stop, but bade Reap keep his seat and he would drive him on some distance further towards his destination.

Farrell went inside in a store and remained a few minutes when he came out his horse and carriage and Reap were missing. This was at 5 o'clock. At midnight he was still looking for his missing turnout.

A report reached police headquarters late in the night that Reap had been seen driving through Minooka in the early evening with two girls. At 3 o'clock this morning word was received that Reap had been captured at Avoca by Chief of Police Conboy.  The two girls were not with him at that time.

Contributed by Maria Edwards

Woodrow Wilson School and Groundbreaking for Kennedy School

Woodrow Wilson School, Minooka

No. 7 D. G. Farragut School
2230 Prospect Avenue
Demolished in 1962

Groundbreaking for JFK School
March 17, 1964

JFK School

Contributed by Tricia LaFrance

Hurricane Diane 1955 Inundates Scranton

On August 10, 1955, a cyclonic circulation was noted northeast of the Leeward Islands with tropical storm force winds. On August 17, Diane struck near Wilmington, North Carolina. Floods in New England led to Diane becoming the first hurricane with $1 billion in damages with about 200 people losing their lives in the flood from Pennsylvania through New England. At a creek near Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, fifty people drowned when they were unable to escape the rising water. Compounding the problem was the fact that Diane was, and still remains, the wettest tropical cyclone on record for the Northeast.

Contributed by Tricia LaFrance

Obituary of Professor Anthony F. O'Boyle - MInooka Schoolmaster

Death of Professor Anthony O’Boyle - A Native of Keel, Achill

Saturday, May 10, 1913

Scranton Mourns the loss of one of its most foremost citizens

A schoolmaster that gave it the spirit that made it great

Gave up the chance to become famed at sea to go to the help of his native land

A tribute from one of his many schoolboys

Scranton, PA. - April 19 – Today at noon, all that was mortal of the late Professor A.F. O’Boyle was laid to rest by the side of the ashes of his wife who preceded him nine years ago in Cathedral Cemetery.

Anthony F. O'Boyle

Sixty-three years ago there was born in the little town of Keel, Achill, a boy, and as he grew, he evinced a desire for the sea, and as a youth, his one great ambition was to be a navigator. That boy was A.F. O’Boyle, whose funeral so many of us attended this morning. The boy was sent to the Dublin University where he pursued his study in navigation and was graduated for that position. But while in Dublin and, indeed, as he advanced in life, the young man came to the conclusion that it was nobler to serve the people than the Government that enslaved them. As Emmet and other Irishman of heroic blood drifted, so did young O’Boyle.

The man, qualified to navigate the high seas for England, became a Fenian, and he went back to the town of Achill to teach and spread the cause of the Irish patriots. In this town, young O’Boyle taught school and spread Fenianism. In 1867 he came to this country with his gospel and found a position as a public school teacher in Minooka.

The young Irish school teacher was not long in this country until he made his influence felt and became a factor. He was of fine physique, of warm, red blood with an intellect that was quick and sharp, and tongue well attuned to the King’s English. Nature fortified the young man in many ways. He could stand among men and express himself. There was elegance in his attire, in his speech, and in his manner. For thirteen or fourteen years before he came, Minooka was a small mining town with little opportunity for educating the young. The teacher that now and then came to the school was just an ordinary sort of fellow with nothing strong or potent in his character. Professor O’Boyle was a different kind of teacher—something new to the town. He had a vitality that made itself manifest. He possessed a vigor that was forceful. He had a spirit—now called ginger. He was a dynamo of mental, physical and of patriotic energy. He had a manliness that stood out boldly and cowered before no self-constituted authority.

Wedding of Jennie Loughney to James Timlin

7 Jun 1901

Rev. Father McHale, of Pittston, officiated yesterday morning at the marriage of Miss Jennie Loughney, of this city, to James Timlin, of Taylor, at St Joseph’s church Minooka. The bridesmaid was Miss Kathryn O’Malley and the groom was attended by his brother George. The Bride wore steel-colored silk, with white trimming, and Miss O’Malley was attired in white organdie. After a reception at the bride’s home, Mr. and Mrs. Timlin left the city on their wedding tour.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026355/1901-06-27/ed-1/seq-3/;words=James+l.oughney+Timlin+Loughney?date1=1836&date2=1922&searchType=advanced&lccn=sn84026355&proxdistance=5&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=james+timlin&andtext=loughney&dateFilterType=yearRange&index=0

The Scranton Tribune., June 27, 1901, Page 2, Image 2

St. Joseph's church, Minooka, was the scene of a very pretty wedding at 10 30 a. m yesterday morning, when Mr. James F. Timlin, one of our most popular young men, and Miss Mary J. Loughney were united in marriage by the Rev. Mr. McHale, of Pittston. The bride and her attendant, Miss Sadie O'Malley, were handsomely attired and presented a most charming appeal -mice. The groomsman was Thomas McLaughlin, of Avoca. After the ceremony congratulations were extended the newly wedded couple, and later they repaired to the bride's home where a wedding dinner was served Mr. and Mrs. Timlin departed for the Pan-American exposition and other places of interest.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026355/1901-06-27/ed-1/seq-2/

Contributed by John Loughney

Entertainment for Ancient Order of Hibernians

The Scranton tribune., March 12, 1898, Morning, 

The program for the entertainment of Division No. 2C, Ancient Order of Hibernians, for St. Patrick's night at Manley hall as follows: Piano solo, Miss Rose Farrell; solo, P. J. Quinn, Minooka; solo, Miss Jennie Loughney, Minooka; recitation, U. AA. Dillon; violin solo, Miss May Murphy; solo, Miss Mamie Niland, Green Ridge; solo, Thomas McDonald; recitation and club swinging, Essie Burke; solo, Edward Scott; solo, Edward Kelley, South Side; duet, Misses Sarah Keeney, Margaret McNulty, Minooka; recitation, Miss Ella Dougherty; buck and wing dancing, John Kelley, Dickson; solo, Miss Sadie Dougherty; solo, John J. McDonald; solo, J, L. Fitzsimmons; violin solo, John Kelley, Dickson; solo, Harry Yeager, of Yeager and mix minstrels; recitation In Irish, R. I. Scott.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026355/1898-03-12/ed-1/seq-8/;words=MINOOKA+Loughney?date1=1836&date2=1922&searchType=advanced&lccn=sn84026355&proxdistance=5&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=loughney&andtext=minooka&dateFilterType=yearRange&index=15, Page 8, Image 8

Contributed by John Loughney

Reception for Ladies Auxiliary of St. Aloysius Society

The Scranton Tribune, May 26, 1897, Morning,
Avoca

One of the prettiest and most sociable events of the season was the May reception given by the members of the Ladies Auxiliary, St. Aloysius society, in the Sarsfleld Opera house on Friday evening. The pretty auditorium was gayly bedecked with flowers and plants and the costumes of the ladles blended in harmony with the delicate colorings of the surroundings. The members of the organization left nothing undone to make the affair a grand success. John Buckley acted as chairman and made a few opening remarks, after which the following programme was rendered: Vocal solo Anthony Ryder; solo, Miss Lizzie Hines; recitation, Miss Mame Murphy, Archbald; duet, Misses Loughney and Fitzhenry, Minooka; recitation, William Jennings. Supper was immediately served in the club rooms, during which time the Columbian orchestra led the merry dancers on the upper floor.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026355/1897-05-26/ed-1/seq-10/,  Page 10, Image 10

The Scranton Tribune., October 20, 1899, Morning,

A very pleasant surprise party was tendered to Miss Nellie Loughney last evening at her home on Main Street. Miss Loughney is one of the most popular you ladies in the town and Minooka swell society was out in force celebrate the event.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026355/1899-10-20/ed-1/seq-8/;words=MINOOKA+Loughney?date1=1836&date2=1922&searchType=advanced&lccn=sn84026355&proxdistance=5&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=loughney&andtext=minooka&dateFilterType=yearRange&index=4, Page 8, Image 8

Contributed by John Loughney

Social for Benefit of Minooka Baseball Club

The Scranton Tribune, January 26, 1897, Page 7, Image 7

MINOOKA.

The much heralded entertainment and social for the benefit of the Minooka baseball club will take place tomorrow evening at the Father Mathew hall, and it is expected the patrons of the game will assist the boys to make the affair a success. The following program will rendered: Opening selection, Professor T. R. Davis; vocal solo, Miss Mary J. Loughney; duet, Misses Hart and Curran; vocal solo, Miss Agnes Coyne, comic song, T F. Walsh; recitation, Miss Celia Dunleavy, sentimental songs, Patrick Burke, vocal solo, Miss Jennie Burke; song and dance, Messrs. McDonald and McCann, comic recitation, William Jennings, vocal solo. Miss Katie Donahue; vocal solo, Miss Winifred Melvin; duet, Misses Barrett and Kenny; vocal solo, Miss Lizzie Cooke, vocal solo, David McDonald, vocal solo, Miss May Cooke, comic song, L T. Ketrick, duet, Messrs. Daniel and William Jones; selections, Mr. M. J. Coyne; topical songs, Con. Carbon, of Wilkes-Bane. Admission 23 cents.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026355/1897-01-26/ed-1/seq-7/;words=MINOOKA+Loughney?date1=1836&date2=1922&searchType=advanced&lccn=sn84026355&proxdistance=5&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=loughney&andtext=minooka&dateFilterType=yearRange&index=9

Contributed by John Loughney

Obituary of Thomas Loughney, Minooka Pioneer

Minooka, October 26, 1908

Thomas Loughney, one of pioneer residents of Minooka, died at 11:30 yesterday after a three week illness [of walking pneumonia]. The deceased was able to be about his home and his many friends, while knowing of his illness, did not think his condition serious. Mr. Loughney was born in Ireland, and came to this country when a young man and for forty-five years has been a resident of Minooka. For the past two years, or since he abandoned the mines, where he worked as a miner for many years, he had been a street foreman under the street commissioners. He is survived by his wife and the following children: Mrs John Murrin of West Scranton; John and Patrick. The funeral will take place Monday morning with a requiem mass in St. Joseph's church, at nine o'clock. interment in St Joseph's cemetery. 

Contributed by John Loughney

Olive O'Neill Webb Corbett (1920-2012)

Olive O'Neill Webb Corbett died Monday, April 9, 2012, in Murrieta, Calif. Olive was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1920, grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and lived primarily in Meridian from 1942 through 2009, having moved there after her marriage to James L. "Skeeter" Webb.

Olive felt blessed to have grown up in a sports family; her father, Steve O'Neill was in the major leagues for more than 40 years and her husband, Skeeter, for 12 years, including playing shortstop for the 1945 Detroit Tigers World Series champions, a team managed by her father. James J. "Shamus" Corbett, Olive's second husband, was twice the heavyweight boxing champion of the Marine Corps during World War II and later became the most decorated state trooper in the history of the Pennsylvania State Police.

Minooka Fire Hose Company No. 1

Contributed by Maria Montoro Edwards

Woodrow Wilson School, MInooka, 1960

First Grade at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School.

1960

Contributed by Tina Taticchi Ortega

School Ma'ams May Go Out on Strike 1906

THE EVENING NEWS - NORTH TONAWANDA - March 26, 1906

Wilkes-Barre, Pa., March 26 – The school teachers of Minooka, near here, following announcement that owing to the present lack of funds the force of teachers will have to be reduced next school year, threaten to strike if such action is ordered.

.

They say that for the past three years the school term has been shortened to eight months; that teachers have been kept waiting six months for their wages, and that if the proper officials attended to their duties there would be no occasion for financial stringency.

In view of this they give public notice that they will not return to their positions next year until they are assured of a minimum term of nine months and regular payment of salaries; nor will they permit a reduction in the number or wages of teachers. 

Contributed by Maria Montoro Edwards

Aid Girl Stikers (at Silk Mill) 1910

The New York Call

“Devoted to the Interests of Working People”

January 5, 1910

Aid Girl Strikers

Scranton, Pa., Central Labor Union Takes Decisive Action

Scranton, Pa., Jan. 4 – Daniel Hartnett, a member of the advisory board of the Silk Workers’ Union, announced at the last meeting of the Central Labor Union that the girls at the Simpson mill, Minooka, were fourteen weeks on strike, and so far as he knew, there was no [action] made on either side to effect a settlement.

Hartnett made a strong plea for funds to aid the strikers. He said that many of them were feeling acutely in the effects of their prolonged idleness, but that they were determined to remain out until the two demands that they have made of throwers of the mill were conceded.

It was stated by some of the delegates of the Minooka local that there were only four girls at work in the mill. It was also stated that when the strike was settled some thirty of the girls who were formerly working in the mill will not be permitted to return to work, owing to the fact that they have not reached the age limit fixed by the new factory law.

After some discussion of the situation a motion was made and adopted that the following delegates be instructed to help the girls obtain funds from the various locals in and around Scranton: John T. Dempsey of the Miners’ Union; P.M. Moffitt, of the Saddlers’ Union; Joseph Hodgkins, of the Miners’ Union; Michael Kane, of the Teamsters’ Union; P.J. Keegan, of the Street Car Men’s Union, and William La Fontaine, of the Molders’ Union.


Contributed by Maria Montoro Edwards

Poem to Festus Higgins by Eugene Carney

By Maria Montoro Edwards

The following poem was in my Aunt Winifred Philbin Rader’s scrapbook. It is an original typed copy probably given to Winifred’s mother, and Festus Higgins’ sister, Winifred Higgins Philbin. In the fourth stanza is the following, “He’s quietly, gently resting, With a pal that he loved so”. I wonder if the author is referring to James Connolly who is listed as “mascot” on the famous Minooka Blues team photo.  James “Francis” Connolly was the first World War I death for Minooka and for whom the legion is named. Festus Higggins was a promising pitcher until he was hit by a fast pitched ball in 1908 against a team from Carbondale, and his career was cut short. He continued to play in minor leagues following the injury but was never the same. My grandmother, Dolores Philbin McDonough remembered her father, Patrick Philbin taking Festus to a mental hospital of sorts. He had seizures following the injury.  The funeral was in the family home of Patrick and Mary Mulkerin Higgins on Pittston Avenue and the funeral mass was at St. Joseph’s Church. Honorary pall bearers were the O’Neill brothers, Chick Shorten, and Mike McNally.  Attached by paperclip to the poem was a scapula with scalloped edges and “J” and “M”.

This Poem Is Dedicated In Loving Remembrance Of Festus Higgins. One Who In Life Taught Me Much.

“Memories”

Years ago there was a dreamer.

            Hoping, waiting day by day,

With a heart that was never yearning

            For in big league games to play.

He had youth and strong ambitions,

            Hoping someday to win fame,

As a pitcher in the majors,

            Playing in a baseball game.

Joe Walsh and His Class

Coal Mine Fire - 1875

Auburn Morning News - Official Paper of the County - Monday, Oct. 4, 1875

A Burning Coal Mine

A RAGING FIRE IN A VEIN OF ANTHRACITE – THE NATIONAL MINE NEAR SCRANTON THREATENED BY FLAMES – WORKMEN COMBATING THE ELEMENT DAY AND NIGHT

Scranton, Pa., Sept 26, 1875

The sensation of knowing that beneath ones’ own house, at a depth of about 100 feet, a fierce fire is raging fed by acres of anthracite and bidding defiance to all human efforts employed to extinguish it, it is not calculated to excite emotions of the most tranquil nature, and yet this is the precise position of the people of Minooka, a mining suburb of Scranton, for more than a week past.

About two weeks ago a clump of straggling brushwood, on the side of a ravine some eight feet in depth caught fire, and exhausted itself in the flames. The fact did not attract attention at the time, as the burning of the clump of brushwood was nothing uncommon in that vicinity. A branch railroad connecting with a coal breaker runs along the brink of the ravine at the point where the brushwood burned, and the employees of the coal train were somewhat surprised to see smoke emanating from the embankment without an indication of fire being present. A few days later smoke was observed escaping from a crevice in the rising ground about one hundred feet north of the ravine, at night a red glare of light was visible where the coal fire caught from the burning brushwood. The news soon spread in the vicinity and the fact the “vein” of coal in the National Mine was on fire created considerable alarm. The attention of Mr. William Connell, one of the proprietors of the mine living at Scranton, was called to the circumstance, and he, at once realizing the threatening character of the conflagration  sent a force of one hundred men to extinguish it, working in gangs of fifty, day and night.

Thomas Joyce Killed in Train Accident - 1886

PITTSTON GAZETTE-MARCH 19, 1886
Mr. Thomas Joice [sic], a prominent resident of Minooka, while on his way home Thursday the 11th of March, 1886, was struck by an Engine on the Reading Road and thrown under the wheels, cutting off his head and mangling his body fearfully. He leaves a wife and family. His home is at the lower end of Minooka, at a place called Joiceville, which was so named after the deceased, he being the first to locate there.

Contributed by Barbara Fuess Ciancichi

Martin Philbin Burned with Vitriol

BURNED WITH VITRIOL

Martin Philbin and William Connery, of Minooka, Suffer From Pranks of a Mischief Maker

Scranton Tribune

Martin Philbin, of Minooka, a minor, was yesterday taken to the Lackawanna hospital with both of his feet terribly burned as the result of vitriol having been pouted upon them. He claims this was done while he was asleep in the Grand Central hotel, on Lackawanna avenue. William Connery, a friend of his, also had vitriol poured on his feet. Connery, however, was not as badly injured as Philbin. Dr. William Haggerty Dr. J, J. Walsh were in attendance on the men, and yesterday decided, that in view of the extent of Philbin's injuries, it was best for him to be sent to the hospital. The story of the affair told to a Tribune man by Connery, was as follows: 

"It was on Friday evening, February 2, that Philbin and I came down to town to see William Kelly, a friend of ours, off as he was going to New York. The train left at 12' o'clock, and as it was too late to get a train car for Minooka, we went into the Grand Central hotel and lay down in the room back of the barroom, and went to sleep. We had been that way for about half an hour when Philbin suddenly woke up with a start feeling terrible burning in his feet. Just as he woke up he saw a fellow with a bottle pouring its contents on me. "As soon as the chap saw Philbin was awake he bolted out of the room and didn’t see any more of him. We got up and Philbin saw that the fluid had pierced right through his shoes, cracking them as though with fire. We made things pretty lively for a while and then managed to walk down to Dr. Quinn's on Pittston avenue, where we received temporary relief." Mr. Durkin, proprietor of the Grand Central, last night said that he was not present on the evening in question but had thoroughly investigated the case. His bartender he says, utterly denies the story and gives this version of the case:

The two men had been in the place about 2 o'clock, after seeing their friend leave the city, they went out of the hotel and then came back a short while later, raising a great fuss and saying that they had been burned while there. Mr. Durkin is very much annoyed that any such occurrence should even be said to have taken place in his hotel.

Philbin rested easily last night at the hospital, though his feet are terribly Injured, the burns extending half way up the ankles.

Contributed by Maria Montoro Edwards

Poem in Memory of Festus Higgins

Poem written by Patrick Higgins in honor of Festus Higgins and his scapula.

Festus Higgins' Obituary - 1924: Festus Higgins, aged thirty-one-years, well known professional ball player and son of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Higgins of Burney Avenue, Minooka, died this morning at 4 o'clock from hemorrhages from which he had suffered the past few years.

The death of the former ball player can be attributed to an accident on the diamonds at Carbonale, sixteen years ago, when the Minooka boy was struck on the side of the head by a pitched ball while doing mound duty for the Carbondale team. Following the accident Festus, then a boy in knee trousers, underwent two operations in hopes of relieving what surgeons thought to be a pressure on the brain. He never fully recovered and frequently suffered from weak spells that affected his work as a pitcher in later years.

Patrick Higgins, Minooka merchant through his brother-in-law, Michael G. Cusick, yesterday forwarded a check for $3000 to Rev. Peter Cusick, Buffalo, NY, the income of which is to be used perpetually help defray expenses of worthy young men desirous of studying for the Catholic priesthood. The scholarship endowment is in memory of the late Festus Higgins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Higgins, the well known baseball player who died a few weeks ago. Mr. Higgins, senior, made no condition for the endowed scholarship except that it be used to help out young men who feel an urge to enter the priesthood but who may be deterred because of lack of funds to meet expenses at school. He was prompted in making the gift from a knowledge of his son's interest in young men seeking to improve their education. Festus Higgins, during the years he played professional baseball, was a model as to both speech and conduct. He never uttered a profane or foul word. He refrained from all gambling or questionable means of entertainment. A devout Catholic, he approached the sacraments frequently. 

Farewell to Festus Higgins

Back in Minooka, that beloved spot just south of the city line, men, women and children bowed their heads in sorrow and prayer today as Festus Higgins, a native son and baseball star, was lowered to rest in St. Joseph's cemetery. All the honors that Minooka, the home of the famous O'Neill brothers, Charlie Shorten, of the Cincinnati Reds; Mike McNally, of the Yankees, and other celebrated diamond performers were bestowed upon Higgins. As the large funeral moved from the Higgins home on Birney avenue to the church and cemetery, there were many who recalled the boyhood days of "Festy" Higgins. They saw him sprout into a dazzling sandlotee like most of the Minooka boys fifteen years ago. Higgins became a wonderful pitcher. He starred for the Minooka Blues He moved up higher in the ranks and took his pace among the professionals. (This last paragraph is damaged) Minooka's basemen who would someday ….. ring honor to his luck by a pitched ball one day years ago. ….He recovered in time and again .....baseball men .... he seemed to be as good as new when the injury came back and threw him off his game by the blow of so many years ago caused the ... alone today in mourning her diamond ... 

Funeral of Festus Higgins Attended by Many People

Requiem For Former Star of Diamond is Sung in St Joseph’s Church, Minooka

The funeral of Festus Higgins of Minooka, a young man who was popular as a baseball player and had rapidly advanced into the profession when illness overtook him, was held this morning from the family home. It was very largely attended, hundreds of persons gathering at the deceased's hometown to pay the last tribute of respect to the younger man who was so well regarded and beloved in the community and in a wide circle of friends. There was also a splendid tribute of love in the many beautiful floral pieces among them a special contribution from his former associates on the Minooka Blues ball club. Among those attending the funeral were members of the Holy Name Society, of the Minooka Baseball Association and of the Young Men's Institute. 

From the home the funeral proceeded to St Joseph's church, where a solemn high mass of requiem was celebrated by the pastor P.E. Lavelle, the deacon being Rev. John Kelly, subdeacon, Rev. Joseph Golden of Troy, Pa.., and master of ceremonies, Rev. John O'Neill. Mrs. P.J. McNeals and Miss Helen O'Neill were the soloists during the service. They sang "Jesus I Come to Thee," an Ave Maria, and "Beautiful Land on High." interment was in St. Joseph's cemetery, the services being conducted by Rev. Father Lavelle. The flower carriers were Joseph Schofield, William Gallagher, Patrick Mulherin, Gerald Philbin, Donald McCrea, Peter Grogan, Francis Grogan and Joseph O'Hora. The honorary pall bearers were former baseball associates, Steve O'Neill, Michael McNally, Charles Shorten, Ted Walsh, Jack Connors and Gerald Langan. The active pallbearers were Thomas Joyce, Thomas Fitzhenry, John Mulherin, Edward Burke, Patrick Gallagher and Leo O'Malley.

Contributed by Maria Montoro Edwards

Irish Names in the 1870 Census

The 1870 Census contained 130 pages. They were broken down by post offices: Hyde Park, Old Forge, and Lackawanna. The names below are from Lackawanna only. By this time, some prominent families had arrived including, Judge, Powell, Higgins, Philbin, Toole, Cusick, Ryan, Connelly, and Egan, among others. 

Art

Barrett, Bern, Best, Bohan, Boland, Boyce, Boyle, Brown, Buckley, Burke

Carrigan, Cawley, Chalk, Conaboy, Conley (Connolly), Connell, Conner, Cotter, Coyle, Coyne, Cusick, Crane, Cummings

Delacey, Dempsey, Dolan, Driscoll Duffy

Egan

Farley, Flannery, Fitzhenry, Flynn

Gallagher, Garity, Gibbons

Higgins, Hughes

Jordan, Joyce, Judge

Kane, Kelly, Keegan, Kilcoyne

Lally, Laffy, Langan, Lavelle, Lowry, Lydon

Mackin, Magnan, Mahady, Mahan, Maloney, Manley, Marley, McAndrew, McCray, McCue, McDermot, McDonla (McDonough), McDonnell, McKenzie, McNamara, McNelty, McTighe, Megan, Mulderig, Mulhern, Mullen, Murphy, Murray

Nallin

O’Hara

Philbin, Powell

Quinn

Rafferty, Reagan, Reed, Reilly, Rolen, Ryan

Sheridan, Shorten

Timlin, Toole, Tooly

Varley

Walsh

The dwelling houses were to be numbered in the order of visitation. This is interesting because the census jumps from Hyde Park to Lackawanna to Old Forge and back to Hyde Park, Lackawanna, and Old Forge at least three times. I would really like to retrace this route!

About 1870 United States Federal Census (taken from ancestry.com)

Enumerators of the 1870 census were instructed to record the names of every person in the household. Enumerators were asked to include the following categories in the census: name; age at last birthday (if a child was under one year of age, months of age were to be stated as fractions, such as 1/12); sex; color; profession; occupation or trade of every male and female; value of real estate; place of birth; whether mother and father were of foreign birth; whether born or married within the year and the month; those who could not read; those who could not write; whether deaf, dumb, blind, or insane or "idiotic". No relationships were shown between members of a household. The categories allowed Congress to determine persons residing in the United States for collection of taxes and the appropriation of seats in the House of Representatives.

The United States was the first country to call for a regularly held census. The Constitution required that a census of all "Persons...excluding Indians not taxed" be performed to determine the collection of taxes and the appropriation of seats in the House of Representatives. The first nine censuses from 1790-1870 were organized under the United States Federal Court system. Each district was assigned a U.S. marshal who hired other marshals to administer the census. Governors were responsible for enumeration in territories.

The official enumeration day of the 1870 census was 1 June 1870. All questions asked were supposed to refer to that date. 

1860 Census of Lackawanna Township

As noted below, Lackawanna Township was much larger in area in 1860. Although their numbers were few, some notable Irish names in Minooka history had arrived by the time of the 1860 census.

Lawrence Duhigg 28 - Miner (His son, William, would be killed at Mud Run in 1888. They first settled in Pleasant Valley (Avoca), but had moved to Scranton by the time of the railroad accident.)

Mary Ryan 27 - Domestic to Joseph Muclow, Teamster

Bridget Marley 17 - Domestic to the Phinney family. Phinney was a miner. I believe Bridgit married Michael Judge, who was killed in the Meadowbrook Tunnel in 1877. They were the parents of Stephen, Martin P., Maria, John, Thomas, Michael, and Peter. Maria married Festus Mulkerin, who was also killed at Mud Run. Martin married Sarah Murray. They were the owner of Judge's "Hotel" beginning in 1894.

1850 Census of Lackawanna Township

In 1850, Lackawanna Township was much larger than Minooka proper and consisted mostly of farms, but the Irish were dribbling in.

Bridgit Dempsey 10 - living with Eleazar and Martha Atherton - Farmer
(I doubt she was actually 10, and she was undoubtedly a servant. The Atherton family had a long history in Lackawanna Township.)

Matthew Heffron 22, Daniel and Ellen Heffron - Laborer on a farm

Thomas Milligan - Farmer

Lackawanna Township Election Results 1897

In Lackawanna Township, Frank Toole, Republican, and P.J. Quinn, Democrat, were elected supervisors, and John J. Coyne, Democrat, tax collector. The vote in full follows:

East District:

Justice of the Peace, J.T. Sutcliff 4, M.W. Loftus 8

School director: Charles Snyder 5, William Thomas 5, Thomas F. Coyne 8, Patrick Higgins 1, Patrick Foley 1

Treasurer: J.S. Davis 5, Thomas Lydon 19

Supervisor: W.H. Fern 12, Frank Toole 2, Patrick J. Quinn 7, George Janes 18

Tax collector: S.J. Hinds 2, John J. Coyne 16, .P. Judge 2

Auditor: David Davis 5, Charles Gallagher 4, James Mangan 9, Patrick Duggan 8

Township clerk: T.D. Marchall 5, Henry Casey 10

Judge of election: Daniel J. Evans 9, John Hildebrand 8

Inspector of election: William J. Williams 6, Joseph Durkin19

Assessor of voters: David R. Marks 5, John McManus 13

South District:

School director: Thomas F. Coyne 218, Patrick Higgins 69, Patrick Foley 27, William Thomas 62, Charles S. Snyder 3

Treasurer: Thomas Lydon 205, J.S. Davis 26, Thomas Farrell 29

Supervisor: Patrick Quinn 239, George Janes 25, Frank Toole 189, William H. Fern 18, Patrick Lydon 6

Tax collector: John J. Coyne 214, M.P.Judge 101, S.J.Hinds 2

Auditor: James Mangan 109, Patrick Duggan 133, Charles Gallagher 152, David Davis 13, James Mangan 25

Township clerk: Henry Casey 174, T.D. Marshcall 17

Judge of election: Patrick McDonnell 108

Inspector of election: John Joyce 156, John Cusick 45, Albert Morgan 8

Assessor of voters: John T. Holleran 65, John Walsh 101

Southwest District:

Justice of the peace: J.H. Sutcliffe 41, M.W. Loftus 128

School director: Charles S. Snyder 27, William Thomas 56, Thomas F. Coyne 47, Patrick Higgins 20, Patrick Foley 84

Treasurer: J.S. Davis 79, Thomas Lydon 86, Thomas Farrell 11

Supervisor: W.H. Fern 25, Frank Toole 121, Patrick J. Quinn 191, George Janes 43, Patrick Lydon 18

Tax collector: S. J. Hings 18, John J. Coyne 128, M.P. Judge 74

Auditor: David Davis 31, Charles Gallagher 69, James Mangan 123, Patrick Duggan 78

Township clerk: T.D. Marscall 46, Henry Casey 139

Judge of election: Michael Flynn 50, William Martin 160

Inspector of election: G.A. Anderson 63, William Kirlin 129

Assessor of voters: James E. Jones 63, Patrick Connolly 117

West District:

Tax collector: John J. Coyne 94, S.J. Hinds 153, M.P. Judge 98

Supervisor: P.J. Quinn 139, Frank Toole 154, George Janes 119, William Fern 169

School director: T.F. Coyne 107, Charles S. Snyder 179, William Thomas 124, Patrick Higgins 47, Patric Foley 106

Township clerk: Henry Casey 118, Thomas Maschall 171

Auditor: James Mangan 104, Patrick Duggan 128, Charles Gallager 103

Treasurer: Thomas Lydon 94, Isaac Davis 194

Justice of the peace: M.W. Loftus 124, J.H. Sutcliffe 225

My great grandfather, Thomas Lydon, was elected the treasurer of Lackawanna Township in 1897. He was killed in a roof fall in the Lawrence Shaft in Taylor in December of that same year.

Contributed by Mary Lydon Simonsen

Rocky Glen - Memories

by Dr. Joe Lydon (1922-2011) 

My father told me that in the early days, Mr. Frothingham, who owned Rocky Glen, had a small zoo there, made up mostly of monkeys. Remember how monkeys bite sharply on any proffered nuts? Mickey Rafter (from Minooka) always carried a few blasting caps for them. When they bit down, my father said, the cage was “full of paws and jaws” as they exploded. Boys are boys!

When I was a kid, we would sneak in with the crowds of orphans on “Orphans’ Day.” Not that we fooled anybody. I remember the man with the megaphone directing the various orphanage groups: “The orphans from St. Patrick’s’ at this table! The orphans from St. Nicholas’ at the next table! etc. And the orphans from Minooka and Greenwood at this table!!!' Nice man.

Swimming at Rocky Glen: Not near the regular beach-bathhouses. (None of us owned an item so civilized as a bathing suit!) We just went back to the end of the lake to the “Star,” our favorite BAB (bare-ass beach). Nobody ever drowned there. (They would have been “drown-ded.”)

The lake was formed by a run-off of some old collieries. The water had such a high sulfuric content, you dared not open your eyes under water.

Some Sundays in summer were designated as days for the various nationalities. Believe it or not, “Irish Day” was very tame. The great days were Italian or Polish days! The joint really jumped—as did a parachutist who always came down in the safety of the lake. I remember one who used three chutes sequentially: red, white and blue.

Fire on Loughney's Property - 1906

The Scranton Times - Minooka, July 5, 1906

The people of Minooka should take warning from yesterday’s narrow escape of a conflagration that for a time threatened to wipe out a thickly populated section of the town. About 1:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon fire broke out in a barn in the rear of Loughney’s property, facing on Murphy’s court. By the time it was discovered the building was a seething mass of flames. There was no running water to be had other than that furnished by a garden hose from a very weak pressure, and for a time it looked as though the Fourth in Minooka would be marked by a destructive fire in which several families would be made homeless.

Fortunately hundreds of men were in the neighborhood at the time and all flocked to the scene and began a heroic battle against the raging fire which leaped from the burning barn and began to lick up the residence of Michael Flynn. That was where the work of the willing hands counted, as they succeeded, with the aid of a bucket brigade, to extinguish the fire in the Flynn residence and thus choked off the flames. Had the Flynn residence got beyond control of the workers nothing could be done to save the residence of Thomas Coyne, on the other side, with the chances in favor of the fire king engulfing Coyne’s hotel in its path and taking in the entire block of Main Street.

A fire alarm was turned in at the city line box, and No. 5 company of South Scranton responded, but by this time the bucket brigade had thwarted the efforts of the raging elements of fire and the company, with Chief Ferber, who so kindly volunteered to come to the rescue, returned to Scranton. The origin of the fire, it is thought was a lighted firecracker, which found its way into the barn. Minooka is badly in need of fire protection, and it behooves the residents of this town to try and do something towards organizing a company.

Contributed by Maria Montoro Edwards

Sometime after 1906

Could have used this at the
Lougney fire

Traditions of Omey Island - 1860

Traditions of Omey Island 

Duffy's Hibernian Magazine - December 1860

Many of the early settlers of Minooka were from Omey Island, including Mulkerin, Powell, Flaherty, Flynn, and Toole. Later emigrants included Faherty, Lacy, and King. Omey Island (Irish: Iomaidh) is a tidal island situated near Claddaghduff on the western edge of Connemara in County Galway. From the mainland, the island is inconspicuous and almost hidden. At low tide, it is possible to drive or walk across a large sandy strand to the island. At high tide, the water is deep enough to cover a car. It's a stunning landscape with sand-dunes and rolling hills, a lake, boulders, grass, flowers, cows, rabbits, and cemeteries. Little has changed on Omey from the time the article below appeared in Duffy's Hibernian Magazine. When the article was published in December 1860, Mary Mulkerin had already emigrated to Minooka (Lackawanna Township) and had married Patrick Powell. Mary's sister, Ann, who would marry Patrick Ryan, was living with the Ruanes on Birney Avenue. Their brother, John Mulkerin, would emigrate in 1862. When John was killed in a mine accident in 1867, his widow, Bridgit Flaherty, married Anthony Cusick.

"If the tourist, who contemplates a journey through the majestic scenery which intervenes between the towns of Clifden and Westport, consent to leave the high-road after crossing the bridge of Streamstown, about a mile and a half from the former place, and turn with us in a due westerly direction, we will undertake to conduct him along one of not the least interesting bye-ways of the wild region of West Connaught. The road lies for about two miles by the northern shore of the narrow channel or inlet known as Streasmstown bay, which indeed in some places is scarcely a hundred yards across, and is frequently enclosed among rugged and blackened rocks of huge dimensions. We pass the old church-yard of Tempul Athdearg, or the church of the Red-ford; and a little further on, the ruins of the old house or castle at Doon, which stands on our side of the inlet, while on the other side of the water are the ruins of the ancient church of Kill, covered with ivy. This inlet was once a famous resort of smugglers, and a good story is told of a contrivance by which they succeeded, on a certain occasion, in escaping from the crew of a revenue cruiser who pursued them in boats; a number of spade-handles having been so placed as to resemble a formidable array of muskets projecting from a steep bank, and the king’s people being induced by these “threatening” preparations to make a rapid retreat to their vessel.

Funeral Notice for Patrick Gallagher

Scranton Tribune - May 10, 1900

The funeral of the late Patrick Gallagher took place yesterday morning from his late home on Stafford street at 9:30 o'clock. For some time before the funeral started a very large number of friends and relatives assembled at the home of the deceased to pay their respects to the remains which reposed in a beautiful couch casket in the front parlor of the house surrounded by the sorrowful mother and her five fatherless children, the oldest a girl of 11 years. At 9:15 the casket was closed and the funeral cortege moved to St. Joseph's church where a high mass was celebrated by Rev. W. A. Gorman. Interment was made in Minooka Catholic cemetery. The Young Man's Institute of the South Side, Division No. 9, Ancient Order of Hibernians, and the Knights of Maccabee. of which organizations the deceased was a member, attended in a body. The pallbearers were: W.J. Burke, M.P. Judge, James O'Donnell, William Daniels, Ed Hammer and John Courtney.

Widow: Ellen

Children: Lucy 11, James 10, Patrick 8, Mary 5, Helen 1

Lived on Stafford Street (Cedar Avenue) between Bridgit and Richard Walsh and Owen Kanavy.