Old Minooka Stories (1885-1886)
Carr’s Patch – September 2, 1895 – Scranton Republican
“The most backward place for building or improvements is
that part of Minooka known as Carr’s Patch. The Carr’s Patch of twenty years
ago is the Carr’s Patch of today with very few exceptions. All the wanderer
would miss to make it what it was then is the buildings and shanties owned and
occupied that time by Dan O’Brien, whose death not long ago took place at the
Hillside farm. It was thought that the bringing of the silk mill, steel mill
and button factory close to it would wake it up, but it seems doomed to its
present condition. Davis’ Patch, though springing into existence at about the
same time, has miles of buildings, with thousands of inhabitants. These two
places constitute what is known as Minooka. It has within its limits ten
schools, one church, a large hall owned by the Father Mathew society, and six
grocery and provision stores.”
Night School Opens – October 26, 1885 – Scranton Tribune
“The opening of night-schools in Lackawanna township is but
another proof of the go-ahead spirit with which the School Board of the
township is imbued. The sound of the large bell in Minooka every evening finds
hundreds of boys whose good fortune it is to be in the district at their
studies. Teachers should doubly exert themselves in behalf of those almost
forgotten slate-pickers and drivers for no doubt on the teachers depend their
future.”
