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.

Newspaper Snippets - 1890 and 1897

Pittsburgh Dispatch, April 20, 1890

TWO MINE ACCIDENTS

Four Men Terribly Burned by Gas Explosions Caused by Carelessness

SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH

Scranton, April 19. Two very serious accidents occurred yesterday at Connell's National Colliery here. The first occurred early in the morning, when Mine Boss Henry W. Davis and a miner named Jones went into the mines and encountered the deadly mine gas with naked lamps. An explosion immediately followed, and Davis and Jones were badly burned about the face and hands. The accident is attributed to the carelessness of the fire boss. The second accident was of a similar nature and is attributed to the carelessness of the driver boy in not closing a door behind him. It resulted in burning two men perhaps more seriously than the first. John Blackum, a miner of Minooka, was terribly burned about the head. His hair was completely burned off his head and his face so badly charred that if be recovers he will be disfigured for life. George Roberts, another miner, living at Minooka, was close to where Blackum was injured, and was severely burned about the face and had one eye burned almost from the socket. The chances are he will lose the sight of both of his eyes.

The Scranton Tribune, January 12, 1897

HIGHWAYMEN AT WORK

They held up Louis Batisky of Pittston, Near Lazy Man's Corner in Minooka Yesterday morning. Louis Batisky of Pittston, was way-laid by highwaymen in Minooka and robbed early yesterday morning. He missed the last car Sunday night and was walking home. He reached what is known as “Lazy Corner" in Minooka about 1 o'clock yesterday morning when young fellows stopped him and asked for a match. He gave it to them and resumed his journey, but before he went many feet, one of them grabbed him from behind and the other struck him repeated blows with a “billy.” He struggled with all his might to stop them from taking $15 which he carried in the inside pocket of his vest. They got his watch and snipped the buttons off his overcoat, coat and vest and tore one of the sleeves from the overcoat searching for his money. His cries awoke the residents in the vicinity and the robbers fled for fear of detection. He was brought to John J. Coyne's hotel and washed.  The top of his head was one contused wound the size of a person's hand, and it is a wonder the blows hadn't fractured his skull. One of his teeth was loosened from a blow in the mouth. He is about 50 years old and was employed in the carpenter shop of the South Steel mill until recently. He had a flask of whiskey in a pocket of his overcoat, but was not under the influence of liquor. Batisky bit the finger of one of his assailants, he says, so that an ugly wound was inflicted. This may lead to the detection of the highwaymen.

Minooka Notes - 1902

The Scranton Tribune, March 22, 1902

Two juries sealed verdicts just after the adjourning of court. One had in hand the case of D.R. Thomas against Patrick Leyden [sic]*. Mr. Thomas is a sewing machine agent. Mr. Leyden resides in Minooka. An agent of Mr. Thomas delivered a sewing machine to the Leyden residence at Mrs. Leyden's behest. It was to be left there a week on trial. When the agent went to Minooka to consummate the expected sale he found the sewing machine lying in the gutter in front of Leyden's house. It was a total wreck. Leyden admitted he threw it out, but sought to excuse his action on the ground that It was placed on his property without his consent.  Judge Kelly ruled that Leyden had no right to throw the machine out and gave the jury binding instructions to find for the plaintiff. The amount of the damage was left to the jury. L. P. Wedeman represented the plaintiff and John H. Bonner, the defendant.

FOUND DEAD IN BED

William Moran's Lifeless Body Found by His Mother in Minooka Yesterday.

William Moran, who has lived for many years in Minooka, was found dead in bed yesterday morning about 6 o'clock by his mother, who went to arouse him and who was startled to find that life had left his body. The cause of Mr. Moran's death was pronounced to be heart disease by Dr. Haggerty and Coroner Sultry, both of whom viewed the remains. The dead man was 47 years old and single. He is survived by his mother and the following sisters: Mrs. James Dunleavy and Mrs. James (Elizabeth) Gannon, of Minooka and Mrs. William McGuigan, of this city.

The funeral will be held on Monday morning. A high mass of requiem will be celebrated In St. Joseph's church, Minooka and interment will be made in St. Joseph's cemetery.

*According to census data, the only adult Patrick Lydon living in Minooka at this time lived at 3000 Cedar Avenue. He was not my relation nor did he belong to the Sharkey Lydon clan.

Contributed by Maria Montoro Edwards

1939 Basketball Team

Contributed by Gene McDonough

Newspaper Snippets - 1897 and 1900

The Scranton Tribune. June 28, 1897

MINOOKA - A large class of children were confirmed at St. Joseph’s church yesterday morning by Bishop O'Hara, of Scranton.

John Joyce has returned from the Mt. Airy Oral school (a school for the deaf) to spend his vacation with friends here.

Patrick Powell is home from Stroudsburg Normal school on his annual summer vacation.

A little excitement was caused in lower Carr's Patch yesterday afternoon by a burning henery. It appears the owner was fumigating the coop by means of Fire and the flames spread and ignited the shanty which caused an uproar among some of the residents who formed a bucket brigade and extinguished the blaze.

The Scranton Tribune, August 23, 1900

MINOOKA - Mr. and Mrs. P. Higgins, or Main street, attended the funeral of Miss Winifred Hart, at Avondale, yesterday.

The St. Monica's Ladies' I. C. B. U. will hold a regular meeting this evening.

Messrs. M. P. Judge and Joseph Langan, who have been spending their vacation in the country near Lake Lodore during the past week, have returned home.

Rev. Thomas Rea is out of town for a week.

Mrs. Mary Thornton, of Hastings-on-Hudson, N Y, is visiting friends in Minooka.

Martin, the 8 year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Donovan, of West Minooka, died yesterday after a brief illness. The funeral will take place this afternoon at 3 o'clock.

Connell Park was the scene of a large picnic yesterday, when the Minooka Hose company held their first annual outing. The beautiful grove was thronged all day with pleasure-seekers and last night large crowds journeyed that way. Cusick's orchestra furnished music for dancing and the Minooka band discoursed music at the opposite end of the grove.

Teachers Hired - 1898

Lackawanna Township School Board 
Selects Those for Ensuing Term - 1898

The Lackawanna township school board met in monthly session at No. 1 school, Minooka, last evening and hired teachers for the ensuing term. No change was made in the salaries. Professor Joseph Mulderig of the Continental school has taken up his residence in New York. He did not apply, and the vacancy thus caused was filled by appointment of Miss Annie M. Brown of Minooka. Miss Annie King of Minooka was appointed general substitute. The directors present were John McCrindle, Thomas R. Lovering, Thomas King, Thomas F. Coyne and William Thomas. Dennie O'Lenahan was absent.

The teachers hired were:

No. 1 - Thomas P. Joyce, principal; Celia Nallin, intermediate; Mamie Gibbons, Mamie Langan, Mamie Egan, Mamie Coyne and Katherine Jeffers.

No. 2 - Thomas J. Coyne, principal, Jennie Loughney, intermediate; Annie Fitzhenry, primary.

Boxing at Taylor

Scranton Tribune April 17, 1897


Boxing at Taylor
Stephen Judge and Michael Kane Lightweights, Will Meet Tonight

A large crowd of sports from Scranton and vicinity will attend tonight's boxing tournament at Taylor, to be given under the management of the Columbian Athletic association. The star event of the evening will be Michael Kane of Minooka and Stephen Judge of Scranton, a brother of James Judge, the city's undefeated lightweight.

Kane and Judge will box at catch weights. They were matched to meet several weeks ago, but there arose a dispute about conditions and the event was postponed. Since then there has existed quite a little feeling between the men and a lively bout will be the result.

The introductory mills(?) will be as follows: Louis Weibel of Taylor and John Abplanalp of Old Forge, eight rounds at 115 pounds. James Jackson of Old Forge and "Dick" Quinn, colored, brother of the famous "Scaldy Bill" Quinn of Williamsport, six rounds at ??? pounds. John Powell and Thomas Lydon of Taylor four rounds at 125 pounds.

Weber's rink will be the scene of the turney. The ring officials will be Michael Beatty of Wilkes-Barre, referee; A.C. Rose of Scranton, timekeeper; and Larry Kettrick of Scranton, announcer. The first even will be called at 9 o'clock sharp.

Death of Thomas Kearney was Accidental

Scranton Tribune - June 21, 1898

Death Was Accidental
Jury in the Thomas Kearney Case So Decided

Dr. Walter M. Reedy, acting as deputy coroner, conducted an inquest at the office of Coroner Longstreet in the case of Thomas Kearney, the 8-year-old boy of Minooka, who was drowned in a cave last Thursday.

The verdict was to the effect that death was accidental. John Kane, William Holleran, Patrick Coyne, Michael Lydon, John Coyne, and Justice of the Peace, M.J. O'Neill, all of Minooka, comprised the jury.

Newspaper Sketch - Seeing the Troops Off to WWI

Top Row Left to Right: John Moran was some Uncle Sam. Leo Gibbons parade horse couldn't resist dancing to the music of the Taylor Band.

Second Row: Charles Murray ...day Night - Went to see Attorney Powell, and inside of 40 thousand people in line, draft boys a royal (picture missing). Joe Coyne recited "Uncle Sam in Minooka." It was great. Pat McLane is ready to go.

Third Row: Marty O'Malley and James Duffy getting the glad hand along the line. Tillie Devers and the girls cheering Simon Ostowitz(?), John Joyce and Tony Snarski and the other draft boys as they marched gallantly by.

Fourth Row Bottom: John G. Jennings came all the way from Moosic to see the boys off. Patrick Mulkerin was the Grand Marshall. Miss Alice Egan brought her roll of music away to sing for ....

Patrick Mulkerin Dies - January 21, 1935

Patrick Mulkerin Obituaries

Patrick J. Mulkerin, diocesan president of the Catholic Total Abstinence Union, remained an arch foe of liquor until the very end of his fruitful life, even after attending physicians advised him that a spoonful of liquor would stimulate his weakened heart and prolong life. When death was fast closing in on Mr. Mulkerin at the family home, 2816 Birney avenue, Minooka, early Thursday evening, liquor was prescribed. A nurse poured a small quantity on a spoon and placed it on the patient’s lips. His eyelids lifted slowly and his lips opened and in a weakened voice, he uttered: “No, not now, never, I would rather die as I have lived.” A few minutes afterwards he closed his eyes in eternal sleep. Mr. Mulkerin, as a boy, had taken the Father Mathew pledge and kept it inviolate all his life. 

Patrick Mulkerin Dies; Ill for ten days - Died January 21, 1935

Prominent in Temperance movement all of his life. Retired Prudential Life Insurance Agent.

Newspaper Sketch of Patrick

Patrick. J. Mulkerin, a leader in the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of the Scranton Diocese for half a century and a retired insurance agent, died at 8:30 o’clock last night, in the family home 2816 Cedar Avenue, Minooka, after ten days’ illness.

Mr. Mulkerin was regarded as one of the best versed temperance workers in this region and his passing came as a distinct shock to hundreds of friends and acquaintances. He was a lifelong resident of Minooka and was looked upon as a kind, generous and whole hearted citizen. In his early years he worked about the mines, later becoming an agent for the Prudential Life Insurance Company in which capacity he served for thirty years retiring about three years ago.

Mr. Mulkerin was a close friend and relative of School Director P.J. Philbin who died early yesterday morning in his Minooka home.

Biographical Record of Lackawanna County 1897

Portrait and Biographical Record of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, 1897 

PATRICK MULHERIN. Years of constant application, years in which there was much adversity and physical suffering, have brought to Mr. Mulherin financial success and prominence among the Irish-American residents of Scranton. His interests are extensive, including real estate in this city, Lackawanna and Old Forge Townships, and valuable timber land in North Carolina. In addition to the general mercantile establishment at Taylor with which he is connected as a member of the firm of Judge & Co., he and his brother-in-law, M. P. Judge, about 1893 bought out W. B. Hull's lumber yard at Nos. 1401-1441 Remington Avenue, where they have built and enlarged workshop, sheds, barns, etc. In addition to the sale of lumber, they carry on a contracting business, and built Terrace Hotel, Duryea Catholic Church, Father Matthew's Hall at Minooka, several residences in Taylor and on Sanderson Hill, Scranton.

The Mulherin family lived for generations near Lake Erin in Ireland, and this fact is indicated by their name, "mul" meaning clan. Our subject was born in County Mayo in February, 1851. His father, Patrick, and grandfather Thaddeus, and great-grandfather, were born in the same house, and the old structure is still standing, now the home of our subject's step-mother. Thaddeus Mulherin took part in the French Revolution and was a farmer by occupation. To the same calling Patrick Mulherin gave his attention, but made a specialty of stockraising, and often drove or shipped stock to England and Scotland; he died in October, 1895, at the age of eighty-seven. Twice married, his first wife was Mary, daughter of Patrick and Catherine (Madden) Henry, and granddaughter of Richard Madden, sheriff of that principality and a distinguished man of his day. Mrs. Mary Mulherin died in 1864, and afterward our subject's father was united with a Miss McDowell, who still lives at the old homestead.

John T. Brown Tells of Early Minooka - 1925

The Scranton Times, Saturday, August 8, 1925

John. T. Brown Tells of Early Minooka

Journalist Rambles Back Over Memory’s Lane on Eve of Minooka’s Great Celebration, Planned to Commemorate Opening of Once “Main Street”

Goes Into the Days When “Father John” was the Good Shepherd of His Flock and Advocated Reform, Not by Legislature or By Force But By Truth and Reason.

Tells of the Time When a Solid Mass of Humanity Was Dropped In a Hall As Judge Connolly Was Speaking and of the Heroic Efforts of Men At That Time To Prevent Greater Calamity.

Philadelphia, Aug. 8 – Come all ye readers of the Scranton Times – may your tribe increase, for it is a great newspaper – and listen unto me while I ramble back over Memory Lane and try to describe Minooka and its fighting race of bygone days. Next week the old town will have a formal celebration. Of the opening of its new thoroughfare, now called Birney Avenue, but in my boyhood, and long afterward known as Main street or the “Old Turnpike.”

Fifty years ago the population of that section between the city line and the present terminus of the trolley car route was probably one thousand. Most of the heads of families were born in County Mayo or County Galway, Ireland, and their everyday language was the ancient Gaelic. Very few could speak English, and fewer still read or write at all.

They Were Misunderstood

People of other towns, I came to find out when I got into newspaper work had a most erroneous set of conclusions regarding Minooka and its inhabitants. They look upon us as cavemen. Never was there a more cruel misconception, for with all their faults never was there a more God fearing true hearted community. They drank lots of hard liquor, had many’s the paynight fight, but used only their fists, never got contaminated with the hideous vices of race, suicide or divorce, and no man ever sank low enough to lose veneration for his priest.

Rev. John Loughran was the first pastor of St. Joseph’s parish, organized within a year or so after 1870. Everybody called him “Father John.” He was born in Ireland not far from where St. Patrick lived, educated in Maynooth College, a scholar of wide culture, giant in stature and in face and figure, proportioned like a Greek god. It was my happy lot to spend many evenings in Father’s study where he tried to teach Latin, and I can testify to his humility and piety.

Father John Was a Real Shepherd

Father John was a real shepherd of his flock. The parish then took what are now Lackawanna Township, Taylor and Old Forge boroughs, Moosic borough almost to the Avoca line, and South Scranton beyond the residence of the late John Gibbons. The people in this expansive area attended St. Joseph’s church and thought nothing of trudging through mud, snow or rain to mass. Later on a mission church was built in Old Forge.

St. Joseph’s church was situated where it now stands, and the rectory conjoined it. Living amongst us in Minooka, Father John was thrown into contact more intimately with the people of Main street than those of the rest of his parish, and undertook to correct with a stern hand some of the habits that needed correction.

In those days the sole industry was usual. When a boy reached the age of eight or ten, he quit school to go picking slate in the breaker. A few years later he shifted to the mines and worked his way on up to follow his father as a miner. Coal companies paid on the Saturday nearest the 20th of the month, and that night was usually the occasion for generous indulgence in wassail bowl.

First School in Minooka

The first schoolhouse in Minooka was built in 1854, but teaching the children in a tough mining town was a thankless jobs.  One of the earliest teachers was Anthony O’Boyle who had been a schoolmaster in Ireland, and Francis Kane who would serve as the town druggist. (See the obituary of his son below.)  Around 1870, Thomas Patrick Joyce, who later became Minooka High School’s principal, became Mr. O’Boyle’s assistant.  Born in Ireland to illiterate parents, he arrived in Minooka when he was nine years old with his widowed mother and sister.  He worked as a mule driver for two years until an accident caused him to quit the mines.  It was then that he decided to become a teacher, and in five years, Tom Joyce, at the age of 16, became one.  The teachers’ job was to instruct the unlettered, undisciplined and unenthusiastic children of the town.  Some of the boys who worked at the breakers during the day went to night school as did Mike Lydon, Dr. Joe’s father:

"The night school the boys attended by kerosene light was under the hard eye of "Perfesser" Joyce. He was very smart and administered a discipline that Captain Bligh would envy. Corporal punishment was liberally administered with a hickory cane, and nobody complained to their parents. (Contributed by Dr. Joseph Lydon)

The following was written by journalist, John T. Brown on August 8, 1923 in connection with the celebration of Old Home Week:

This brings me to consideration of another great character, the late Professor Thomas P. Joyce, who for more than fifty-two years was the principal of the public school. The late County Commissioner, A. F. O'Boyle was, I believe, the first teacher, but he moved to North Scranton in a year or so and was succeeded by Mr. Joyce.

Mr. Joyce began teaching when he was quite young and had only elementary training, but Father John (Loughran) started him on the road to Latin and higher mathematics. The more Mr. Joyce delved into advanced studies, the more he felt the need for additional scholastic training. So, after he taught for a good many years, he applied for leave of absence from the board and took the academic course at Wyoming Seminary. That must be forty years ago.

Rev. Dr. L. L. Sprague was at that time principal of the seminary. His reputation for learning attracted Mr. Joyce... I recall distinctly that Mr. Joyce had misgivings about being accepted as a student because he was a Catholic. "We are all God's children," the good doctor replied.

What a different world this would be if everybody were that tolerant and judged not harshly or rashly of his neighbor but worshiped God according to the dictates of his conscience and minded his own business!

Under the inspiration of Father John and Mr. Joyce, the Minooka youth began looking upward. Father John was a frequent visitor at the school and always conducted a quiz, but I do not recall that he ever injected religion, for there were some Protestants among the pupils such as the children of William Connell and of his brother James and of the Penman and Kuester families. Father John taught religion in his own church and at Sunday school.

Among the boys who had Mr. Joyce as schoolmaster were former mayors, W.L. Connell and Alex T. Connell, former congressman Charles L. Connell, John F. Connelly, district attorney and later judge, Recorder of Deeds Martin F. Judge, Rev. Patrick Joseph Kelly, and his brother, Rev. Thomas Francis Kelly, Rev. John J. McLoughlin, Rev. Joseph McDonnell, Rev. Father Joyce, Rev. Peter Cusick, S.J., currently president of Canisius College in Buffalo, and John Egan, known in the religious life as Brother Philip and now teaching in the Christian Brothers College in Los Angeles.

Contributed by the late Dr. Joe Lydon, Marybeth VanWinkle and Mary Simonsen