Newspaper Stories from Old Minooka (1885-1886)

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.”

Coal Mining Employment – September 19, 1886 – Scranton Tribune

(A rather rosy picture of the life of a miner and his laborer)

“How life is spent by the large population engaged in and about the mines in the anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania is in itself an interesting study. For years gone by, and up to the present, 200 days out of the three hundred and sixty-five would be a fair average of the time they are employed. The idle time of the collier, of which there is plenty, does not have him engaged in any other pursuit, not even sport. To him, time passes unnoticed. But with all this ease, no better nor more frugal class of people dwells on this side of the Atlantic. The thousands of homes that dot the hillsides are all that the limited wealth, coming from short times work, can make them, and with few exceptions, they are homes of happiness and comfort.

“Of all that toil in or about the mines, the miner draws the largest salary. To him, fifteen days work amounts to a big thing when compared to the small sum paid to the low-priced laborer outside, and how this latter class maintain themselves and their families is what would puzzle the brain of any person. Notwithstanding the fact that apparently all live alike, each enjoying himself as well as the other, it is often remarked that the man who works outside for small wages in the end can show up more hard cash than his neighbor, the miner, who always gets the biggest pay, and this, with few exceptions, is found to be true.

“The aim of the majority of those who located in this region is to procure a home of his own. This, in some instances, can be done easier than in others. The companies engaged in the mining of coal either own or lease the lands surrounding the colliery. From many of them a man can procure the land on which to build by simply paying a small ground rent. In other instances, the land is parceled out in lots and sold at a figure that places it beyond the reach of many. The companies are easy with the payments and in numerous instances quite a number of years elapse before the payment is made and the deed procured. Dwellings are erected immediately, if possible. After purchasing the lot, the struggle commences to make both ends meet, and hence the best part of the collier’s life is gone.”