The Shamokin Valley Railroad ( reporting mark SVRR ) is a short line railroad that operates 27 miles of track in southern Northumberland County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is part of the North Shore Railroad System .
87-751: The line runs generally southeast between Sunbury and the unincorporated village of Mount Carmel Junction (just east of the borough of Mount Carmel in Mount Carmel Township ). Other communities served include the villages of Paxinos (in Shamokin Township ) and Weigh Scales (in Ralpho Township ), and the city of Shamokin . The rail line runs east from Sunbury, then turns south through Paxinos and Weigh Scales to Shamokin, where it turns east again, always along or near Shamokin Creek and roughly following
174-467: A European-style settlement. Trading was limited to skins and furs and initially the missionaries were not permitted to own livestock. Some of these regulations were relaxed as the mission grew and other Europeans settled nearby. In 1754 Conrad Weiser surveyed the land near Shamokin with plans to build a new settlement in the area. In July, 1754, much of the land west of the Susquehanna was transferred from
261-468: A Lenape Indian named Mussemeelin owed Armstrong a debt, and in late 1743 Armstrong had taken Mussemeelin's horse as payment. Mussemeelin later paid Armstrong 20 shillings to settle the debt, but Armstrong refused to return the horse. Mussemeelin and two of his friends later found Armstrong and his servants clearing a road on the Juniata River and killed them. Afterwards, Mussemeelin's friends told others in
348-556: A Lenape woman's scalp, or $ 150 for a male Lenape prisoner and $ 130 for a female one. Concerned over the possibility of attack, the leaders of Shamokin burned the village and the population relocated to another community on Nescopeck Creek . A scouting party led by George Allen visited the site on 3 June and found it abandoned. Governor Robert Hunter Morris ordered the construction of forts garrisoned with colonial militia, and in early 1756 Fort Augusta , Fort Shirley , Fort Lyttleton and Fort Granville were built. Plans to build
435-775: A buffer against Connecticut." The presence of the Moravian mission was viewed as an indication that the Lenape there would support the British, or at least remain neutral in any conflict with the French. The French and Indian War brought fighting to much of the region. The Delaware Indian residents of Shamokin remained neutral for much of the early part of the war, in part because a drought and unseasonable frost in Shamokin in 1755 left them without provisions. However, some Delaware Indians at Shamokin joined
522-748: A captain's commission under the government; is an extensive Indian Trader; bears a good name among them; and drives a brisk trade with the Allegheny country. His wife, who was brought up among the Indians, speaks but little English. They received us with much kindness and hospitality. In August 1736, Chief Allumapees ( Sassoonan ) visited Philadelphia and reported that "some of the Six Nations had been lately at Shamokin and had enquired kindly touching their Brethren there, towards whom they shewed much Love and Friendship." On 18 September, The Pennsylvania Provincial Council
609-442: A creek, six miles from Shamokin, a great extent of fruitful low ground still continuing. Here we found a fine meadow of grass on our right, and rich dry ground on the left...peach-trees, plumbs, and excellent grapes. In May, 1744 Conrad Weiser was sent to Shamokin to investigate the murder of Jack Armstrong, a trader, and two of his servants, after a dispute over a horse. Weiser interviewed Shikellamy and Allumapees and learned that
696-512: A fort on the Susquehanna were made in late 1755, but not implemented until June 1756 when Colonel William Clapham and Major James Burd finally received sufficient funding and supplies to begin construction at the site of the village of Shamokin. Fort Augusta was largely completed by late August 1756. It was the largest British fort built in Pennsylvania, with earthen walls more than two hundred feet long topped by wooden fortifications. The fort
783-479: A gorge on the Juniata River, was afterwards known as Jacks Narrows , and the ridge nearby is still known as Jacks Mountain . In September Weiser and eight other men built a house at Shamokin for Shikellamy, which he described in a 29 September letter to James Logan : The day before yesterday I came back from Shohomokin, where I have been with eight young men of my country people, whom Shickalemy hired to build
870-437: A hunting expedition with a group of Lenapes in the fall of 1729. Jack Armstrong and his servants Woodworth Arnold and James Smith were killed in 1744 by Lenape Indians over a stolen horse. Jonah Davenport lost much of his property during violence with Indians and died in poverty near Lancaster, Pennsylvania . A later arrival was Thomas McKee (1695–1769), father of Indian agent Alexander McKee (1735–1799). He arrived in
957-478: A lack of inter-municipal coordination and cooperation, a changing employment base and a dearth of jobs paying a living wage, out-migration of young people, an aging population, the need for workforce development, and an inequitable local tax structure. The Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way in 2006 commissioned a study regarding what matters most in area communities. They found that some major concerns were alcohol and drug use among all age groups and its effects on
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#17328545637221044-427: A locke house for him, and I went with them to direct them. We finished the house in 17 days; it is 49 1/2 foot long and 17 1/2 wide, and covered with singels . The designation of "locke house" may indicate either that this was intended as a storehouse that could be locked, or possibly a jail. In June, 1745, Bishop August Gottlieb Spangenberg , Weiser and Zeisberger visited Shamokin where they met with Shikellamy and
1131-503: A market study, phase II environmental study, wetland review, traffic impact study and title survey. The site, an 11.6-acre (47,000 m ) former rail yard and plastic manufacturing plant, is to be developed into four, 2-acre (8,100 m ) shovel ready sites. It was suggested that the redevelopment of this facility will result in the creation of 120 jobs. The site was purchased by Moran Industries, based in Watsontown, for $ 200,000. Moran
1218-450: A pleasant view of the mountains and of the charming plain of Shamokin, 2 miles long and above one broad, skirted on the west and north by the river, and encompassed east and partly south with lofty hills...we returned to the town and dined. July 10: We departed [from Shamokin] in the morning, with Shickcalamy and his son, he being the chief man in the town, which consisted of Delaware Indians...Our journey now lay through very rich bottoms to
1305-462: A rocky hill in the wilderness...From it, the surrounding country and the West Branch of the Susquehanna are called Otzinachon, i. e., The Demon's Den, for here the evil spirits, say the Indians, have their seats and hold their revels." The date of first human settlement is not known. Stone tools and cord-marked pottery dating to between nine thousand and fifteen hundred years ago have been found in
1392-837: A trading post at Chillisquaque Creek (known at the time by colonists as "Chenastry") about six miles north of Shamokin. These early traders are sometimes referred to as "the Shamokin Traders." Life as an Indian trader was dangerous and unpredictable. Anthony Sadowski wrote to John Petty in August, 1728 that "the Sauanos [Shawnees] have hanged Timothy Higgins upon a pole of their cabin," although he does not say why. Petty wrote back that, while on their way to Shamokin, they had met Higgins, who "was thought to be hanged, escapt his life very narrowly...We dare not take him [back to Shamokin]." John Hart and John Fisher were accidentally shot and killed during
1479-870: A vacant property (called the Charles Cobler property) just north of the Hunter House found large amounts of fill materials associated with the fort's construction and its demolition. Below this, archaeologists uncovered the remains of the village of Shamokin and even earlier prehistoric occupations. Numerous Native American artifacts, dating mainly to the Archaic and Middle Woodland periods between nine thousand and fifteen hundred years ago, were recovered. These consisted of stone tools, spear points, cord-marked pottery, and large cooking hearths. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission archaeologists also found gunflints, musket balls, broken glass, white clay pipe fragments, and
1566-509: A variant of the Lenape term Shackamaxon , from the Lenape term Sakimauchheen Ing which means "to make a chief or king place" referring to the residence of the foremost Lenape sachem ( sakima ) on the Delaware River. The community is also sometimes referred to by the Iroquois name Otzinachson , which was according to Count Zinzendorf , the name the Iroquois gave to a "large cave, in
1653-420: A variety of metal objects, many of which can be dated to the mid-eighteenth century. Portions of a palisade wall, a trench, and a dry moat were discovered and artifacts such as burned cow, sheep, pig, and horse bones, gun parts, buttons, cannon balls, and glazed colonial ceramics as well as fragments of iron and brass, slag , charcoal, worked gun parts, stone from a foundation, and highly oxidized soil indicated
1740-615: A vital agent of change in converting all Indians to Christianity. Shikellamy permitted the Moravians to establish a mission at Shamokin, and he served as an emissary between the Moravians and Madame Montour 's village of Otstonwakin at the mouth of Loyalsock Creek and French Margaret 's village at the mouth of Lycoming Creek . Shikellamy permitted the Moravians to stay in his home, lent them horses for work, and helped them build their homes. He formally converted to Christianity in November 1748 at
1827-567: Is a family business that began making horse-drawn carriages in 1889 and now sells automobiles. The local public school system is the Shikellamy School District . There is a campus of Lackawanna College in the city. Shikellamy School District The Degenstein Community Library at 40 South Fifth Street provides books, DVDs, internet access, educational classes, summer reading, and adult programs. The Degenstein Community Library
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#17328545637221914-706: Is a historic site from the era. On March 21, 1772, Northumberland County was incorporated and subdivided. The settlement was named Sunbury that same year, and the present-day city of Sunbury identifies 1772 as the date of its establishment. It was named after Sunbury-on-Thames , a town in the Surrey borough of Spelthorne , England, just outside Greater London . Lorenzo Da Ponte , the librettist of Mozart and of Salieri, lived in Sunbury for some years after his arrival in America. In July 1883, American inventor Thomas Edison installed
2001-513: Is at 40°51′50″N 76°47′21″W / 40.86389°N 76.78917°W / 40.86389; -76.78917 (40.863894, -76.789174). It is located at the point where the west and north branches of the Susquehanna converge. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km ), of which 2.1 square miles (5.4 km ) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km ) (1.40%)
2088-446: Is inflated in May and deflated in the fall. The new waterfront development in Sunbury will provide a marina with transient boat docks, walking trails, gardens, an amphitheater and a new accessible fishing pier. Three acres of land will be added to the river side of the flood wall. The city offers baseball fields, a skating park, tennis courts, playgrounds, a community pool and a small park that
2175-409: Is located outside of the city limits. Sunbury Motor Company is a family-owned and -operated company since 1915; it is on North 4th Street. The Squeeze-In on Market Street is an iconic business that sells hot dogs seven days a week with just five stools. The business is just 7.5 feet wide. Hot dogs are sold to-go out the service window. Serving hot dogs since 1945. Zimmerman Motors on Market Street
2262-619: Is next to the county courthouse, in the downtown area. A vacant building in the Shikellamy State Park along the river is under consideration for redevelopment as an environmental research and education center. Designed in the 1960s, the facility was originally the Basse Beck Environmental Center. It has been empty for several years. The city and state struggle economically, part of America's " Rust Belt ". A Brookings Institution publication has cited reasons including
2349-573: Is on a fee basis. The permanent exhibits deal with the site in prehistoric times, at the time of the Moravian Mission and blacksmith shop, and Fort Augusta during the French and Indian War and later under the Americans, during the Revolutionary War. The local newspaper is The Daily Item . There are a variety of local radio stations, including the all news/sports channel WKOK 1070 kHz AM,
2436-634: Is using the space for food grade storage. Weis Markets has its corporate headquarters in Sunbury. Shamokin (village) Shamokin ( / ʃ ə ˈ m oʊ k ɪ n / ; Saponi Algonquian Schahamokink : "place of crawfish") ( Lenape : Shahëmokink ) was a multi-ethnic Native American trading village on the Susquehanna River , located partially within the limits of the modern cities of Sunbury and Shamokin Dam, Pennsylvania . It should not be confused with present-day Shamokin, Pennsylvania , located to
2523-562: Is water. Sunbury is the largest principal city of the Sunbury-Lewisburg-Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, a Combined Statistical Area that includes the Sunbury (Northumberland County), Lewisburg ( Union County ), and Selinsgrove ( Snyder County ) micropolitan areas, which had a combined population of 173,726 at the 2000 census . As of the census of 2010, there were 9,905 people, 4,540 households, and 2,637 families residing in
2610-539: The Comedy Central television series Tosh.0 in a recurring video category called Shithole of the Week , a segment in which host Daniel Tosh takes images or videos of various communities found online and will select the "Winner" based on the comedic negative features based in that community. The image that secured Sunbury's placement was a June 2020 video of a man spray painting "WIGHTE LIVES MATTER" on his personal fence with
2697-841: The North Shore Railroad (at Northumberland), the Union County Industrial Railroad (at Milton ), the Lycoming Valley Railroad at Muncy and the village of Linden (in Woodward Township, Lycoming County , and to the Nittany and Bald Eagle Railroad at Lock Haven . The line operated by the Shamokin Valley Railroad was formerly part of Conrail . SEDA-COG JRA (Susquehanna Economic Development Association - Council of Governments Joint Rail Authority)
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2784-696: The Susquehanna River Basin Commission . Additionally, a multimillion-dollar fish ladder is being built across the river in Shamokin Dam to mitigate the impediment of the shad migration up the Susquehanna River caused by the annual inflation of the Adam T. Bower Fabri Dam. The Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam , an inflatable fabric-tube dam barrage impounding the Susquehanna River , creates the 3,000 acres (12 km ) Augusta Lake for recreation. It
2871-526: The Susquehanna Valley , Sunbury is positioned on the east bank of the Susquehanna River . Sunbury's roots stretch back to the early 18th century. As of the 2010 census , it had a population of 9,905. The city is one of the three principal cities in the larger Bloomsburg-Berwick-Sunbury, PA Combined Statistical Area . Sunbury is connected to inventor Thomas Edison . In 1883, the Hotel Edison became
2958-574: The Big Country Radio Network (WLGL 92.3 FM, WQBG 100.5 FM, and WWBE 98.3 FM) and WFYY Y106.5 FM and 94.1 WQKX. In the episode titled "Nixon vs. Kennedy" in first season of the AMC cable drama Mad Men a train supposedly carrying the unrecognizable body of Pvt. Dick Whitman, who was killed in the Korean War , arrives in Sunbury. The escort officer with the casket is said to be Lt. Don Draper, and
3045-665: The Delawares in Shikellmy's house, and...informed them that on Sundays they should assemble as the whites do, and pray as they do. Hence he would build a house for that purpose, and stay with them two years. That the Governor had given him orders to that effect, and he would be glad to see the Indians hearken to him. To this Shikellmy said: "We are Indians, and don't wish to be trans formed into white men. The English are our Brethren, but we never promised to become what they are. As little as we desire
3132-659: The Indians when he will." Approval was given to establish a forge at Shamokin. In April of 1747, Shikellamy insisted to missionary John Martin Mack that any work done at the smith for the Five Nations should be without charge, saying, "I desire, T’girketonti (Spangenberg's Iroquois name) my brother, that when something is done to their flints that it is done for free, because they have nothing with which to pay. However, when they return, and they have something done, then they would have to pay for it." All other Native American customers to
3219-567: The Moravian church, Count Zinzendorf, recognized the strategic importance of Shamokin as the seat of Shikellamy, de facto leader of the Delaware. On 5 May 1746 Conrad Weiser sent a request to the Governor of Pennsylvania stating that a blacksmith at Shamokin was urgently needed. In November the Governor responded, "The Five Nations of Indians have taken up the Hatchet against our Enemies. Therefore you may write to Mr Spangenberg that he may send People among
3306-541: The Moravian city of Bethlehem . On his return journey Shikellamy became ill and died in Shamokin on December 6, 1748. After a series of violent conflicts between Indians and white settlers, Meshemethequater , Sassoonan and other chiefs from the Six Nations (including Shikellamy), the Tuscaroras , and the Lenape met with Conrad Weiser and Andrew Montour at Shamokin on 4 February 1743, and received wampum from Weiser, who
3393-709: The Shamokin Indians seem friendly, and others appear like enemies. In November 1755, following the Gnadenhütten massacre in which eleven missionaries were killed and the mission house was burned, the Moravian missionaries at Shamokin, in fear of their lives, abandoned the mission and fled to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania . There were only about 200 warriors among the Shamokin Lenape, but their numbers were soon bolstered by approximately 700 Ohio Lenape who came east to join them in their raids. By March 1756, five months after
3480-471: The Six Nations reserving Wyoming and Shamokin from the sale, since friendly Delawares, including Teedyuskung (also known as Teedyuscung ) and his people living in those settlements--and any other Indians who might be placed there--constituted a buffer against Connecticut." The French and Indian War brought fighting to much of the region. The Delaware Indian residents of Shamokin remained neutral for much of
3567-643: The Six Nations to Pennsylvania at the Albany Congress . However, Shamokin was not sold and was reserved by the Six Nations, "to settle such of our Nations as shall come to us from the Ohio or any others who shall deserve to be in our Alliance." According to Weslager, "the Pennsylvania authorities had no opposition to the Six Nations reserving Wyoming and Shamokin from the sale, since friendly Delawares, including Teedyuscung and his people living in those settlements--and any other Indians who might be placed there--constituted
Shamokin Valley Railroad - Misplaced Pages Continue
3654-635: The Susquehannah, called Shaumoking, one of the places and the largest of them which I visited May last. I was kindly received and entertained by the Indians but had little satisfaction by reason of the Heathenish revel they then held in the house where I was obliged to lodge...The Town lies partly on the east and the west shores of the river, and partly on the island. It contains upwards of fifty houses and three hundred inhabitants, though I never saw much more than half that number in it...About one-half are Delawares;
3741-427: The area before 1735, when Alexander was born, and had two posts on the left bank of the Susquehanna, near Shamokin. He quickly became fluent in the Delaware language. The Moravian Bishop John F. Cammerhoff and David Zeisberger visited McKee's trading post on 13 January 1748. In his journal the bishop wrote: At nine-o'clock we reached Thomas McKee's, the last white settlement on the river, below Shamokin. McKee holds
3828-668: The area. A village definitely existed by 1711, when the Shawnee chief Opessa Straight Tail reportedly fled to Shamokin after being accused of complicity in the death of Francis Le Tort, an indentured servant who had fled into the forest with several escaped slaves that he was apparently trying to help. Le Tort was indentured to the Swedish-American trader, John Hansson Steelman (1655–1749) (also referred to as Stelman or Tillmann), and after Steelman offered bounty to some Shawnee warriors of Opessa's tribe to bring him back dead or alive, Francis
3915-453: The casket is met by Dick Whitman's adoptive mother, his half brother, Adam and his mother's second husband. In fact, the person killed in Korea was Don Draper, and Dick Whitman has switched identities with Draper. Though Dick Whitman posing as Draper attempts to hide, Adam Whitman sees him, recognizes him, and chases the train as it leaves the station. On September 29, 2020, Sunbury was featured on
4002-487: The city housed 300 Indians, half of which were Delawares and the other Seneca and Tutelo. In 1754, much of the land west of the Susquehanna was transferred from the Six Nations to Pennsylvania at the Albany Congress . However, Shamokin was not sold and was reserved by the Six Nations, "to settle such of our Nations as shall come to us from the Ohio or any others who shall deserve to be in our Alliance." According to Weslager, "the Pennsylvania authorities had no opposition to
4089-409: The city. The population density was 4,716.7 people per square mile. There were 4,864 housing units at an average density of 2,316.2 per square mile. The racial makeup of Sunbury in 2000 was 95.26% White , 1.29% African American , 0.14% Native American , 0.26% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 1.91% from other races , and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.09% of
4176-476: The community, the dependency on social services and assistance across generations, and a lack of public transportation. It is the intention of the organization to focus spending on these issues. The Susquehanna Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) received $ 173,500 in planning grant funding (2005) to support the redevelopment of the Wilhold Manufacturing facility in Sunbury. The BOS funding paid for
4263-527: The early part of the war, in part because a drought and unseasonable frost in Shamokin in 1755 left them without provisions. However, the Delaware Indians at Shamokin joined the war against Pennsylvania and the English after the Gnadenhütten massacre in 1755, and Shamokin was abandoned in May 1756. Pennsylvania Fort Augusta was built in 1756 on the former site of the village of Shamokin. The Bloody Spring
4350-481: The east. The village was the focus of missionary efforts, and then was the staging area for raids on English settlements in Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War . It was burned and abandoned by the Lenape in May, 1756. A few months later, Fort Augusta was constructed on the site of the village. "Shamokin" is usually described as derived from Schahamokink or Shahëmokink , ("place of crawfish") but it may be also
4437-543: The elderly chief Sassoonan: "[Spangenberg] and Conrad crossed the river to visit the Indian King {Sassoonan] who lives there, and had the honor to smoke a pipe with him." The bishop described "Allummapees" as "very old, almost blind, and very poor; but withal has still power over, and is beloved by his people and is a friend of the English." Spangenberg was also informed of David Brainerd 's visit to Shamokin in May. Shikellamy reported that [The Reverend Brainerd] had assembled
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#17328545637224524-425: The fire; then the women would run out to other cabbins and soon return, leaving the men singing and dancing the war dance , which continued all the next day...As soon as we alighted they shewed us where to lay our baggage, and then brought us a bowl of boiled squashes cold...I had learnt not to despise good Indian food. July 9: After breakfast Lewis Evans and myself went to the point of the mountain...and having taken
4611-615: The first building in Sunbury to be illuminated by Edison's innovative three-wire electrical system. The hotel was later named in honor of Edison. Sunbury is home to the Beck House and the Northumberland County Courthouse . The Sunbury Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The first human settlement of Sunbury were likely Shawnee migrants. A large population of Delaware Indians
4698-660: The first successful three-wire electric lighting system in at what was then known as the City Hotel. At the city's 150th anniversary celebration in 1922, it was renamed the Edison Hotel. This is a list of the historical places located in Sunbury, Pennsylvania . This is a list of the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission historical markers located in Sunbury, Pennsylvania . Highland St. (PA 61) at metal truss bridge, E end of Sunbury 1947HM00296 Sunbury
4785-532: The governor and offered to lead an expedition upriver to try to pacify the Native Americans and find out the mindset of those at Shamokin, since the Indians there were known to be friendly to settlers. He gathered a group of 40 or 50 men and set out on 22 October. At Shamokin, they found a gathering of Lenape painted all in black who had come from the Ohio and Allegheny River Valleys. Andrew Montour , an Indian of mixed Oneida , Algonquin and French ancestry,
4872-824: The growing fur trade in Pennsylvania. The Oneida chief Shikellamy moved to Shamokin in 1737, where he served as a representative of the Iroquois, supervising Lenape affairs. He was visited there in March of that year by Conrad Weiser. Shikellamy was there when Sassoonan died at Shamokin in 1747. Shikellamy died at Shamokin on 6 December 1748, after which a faction of Delawares left and founded Tioga, Pennsylvania . Chief Shingas may have been born at Shamokin. Count Nicolaus von Zinzendorf visited Shamokin together with Conrad Weiser and Anna Nitschmann in September, 1742, and met there with Shikellamy. The Count believed that Shikellamy, who had converted to Christianity , could serve as
4959-505: The intent of spelling "White Lives Matter". Nearby city Shamokin was a previous "winner" of the same segment in 2016. The extensive Sunbury Riverfront Park Project is in the planning and implementation stages in Sunbury. An extensive floodwall protection system was designed and built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1951. Additional height was added to the wall in 2003. The system has provided protection from 15 major flood events over
5046-405: The largest and most influential Indian settlements in Pennsylvania. At that time, it was known as Shamokin , not to be confused with the present-day city of Shamokin, Pennsylvania , which is located about 13 miles to the east. In 1745, Presbyterian missionary David Brainerd described the city as being located on both the east and west sides of the river, and on an island. Brainerd reported that
5133-486: The massacre at Penn's Creek, they had killed some 200 settlers and taken an equal number captive. Settlers across eastern Pennsylvania left their homesteads and moved to more populated areas to the south and east. On 14 April 1756, Pennsylvania Governor Robert Hunter Morris officially declared war on the Delaware Nation, offering a bounty of $ 130 for the scalp of every Lenape male over ten years of age and $ 50 for
5220-445: The north, as well as Shawnee and Lenape settlers moving away from expanding white settlements in Pennsylvania, and also some Saponi and Tutelo from Virginia . A 1727 map by John Taylor, of the forks of the Susquehanna River , shows Shamokin on both north and south banks of the west branch, with James Le Tort 's store to the east. John Scull's store is marked on the east bank of the Susquehanna. From 1727 to 1756, Shamokin
5307-448: The opposite bank. on 28 October Harris sent a report to the governor in which he states: The Indians are all assembling themselves at Shamokin to counsel; a large body of them were there four days ago. I cannot learn their intentions, but...there is not a sufficient number of them to oppose the enemy; and, perhaps, they will join the enemy [the French] against us...At the same time, some of
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#17328545637225394-428: The others, Senecas and Tutelars . The Indians of this place are accounted the most drunken, mischievous, and ruffian-like fellows of any in these parts; and Satan seems to have his seat in this town in an eminent manner. Sept 16: Spent the forenoon with the Indians, endeavoring to instruct them from house to house, and to engage them as far as I could, to be friendly to Christianity. Towards night, went to one part of
5481-619: The past 50 years. In 1972, flood waters from Hurricane Agnes crested at 35.8 feet (10.9 m) at Sunbury, two feet higher than the crest in 1936. The wall held back the water and residents showed their gratitude in messages they wrote on the wall. Hurricane Agnes in late June 1972 was blamed for 10 deaths in Lancaster County, eight in Dauphin County, five in York County and four in both Northumberland and Luzerne counties, according to
5568-401: The population. In 2000, there were 4,540 households, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
5655-411: The preacher to become Indian, so little ought he to desire the Indians to become preachers. He should not build a house here, they don't want one." They also visited Madame Montour , Andrew Montour's mother, on Shamokin Island. In May and September, 1745 Presbyterian missionary David Brainerd visited Shamokin and wrote: Shaumoking, Sept. 1745. Sept. 13: ...Arrived at the Indian town I aimed at on
5742-428: The presence of a blacksmith shop. This shop was identified as that constructed by the Moravian missionaries who lived at Shamokin until 1755. The Great Shamokin Path (also known as the "Shamokin Path") was a major Native American trail in Pennsylvania that ran from Shamokin along the left bank of the West Branch Susquehanna River north and then west to the Great Island (near modern-day Lock Haven ). There it left
5829-418: The river and continued further west to Chinklacamoose (what is now the borough of Clearfield ) and finally Kittanning on the Allegheny River . Pennsylvania was criss-crossed with well-traveled trails, as navigation by canoe was impractical due to the lack of the canoe birch ( Betula papyrifera ), which does not grow in the area. Eleven major Indian paths or trade routes led into Shamokin: The Bottom Path,
5916-412: The route of Pennsylvania Route 61 . It interchanges with the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad in Locust Summit. The corporate offices are located in Northumberland, Pennsylvania . There is a connection to the Norfolk Southern Railway at Sunbury. The system has trackage rights via the Norfolk Southern line. These allow the Shamokin Valley Railroad to connect to the north and west with
6003-467: The smithy had to pay for their services in deer, fox, and racoon skins. In the late spring of 1747, Moravian missionaries arrived in Shamokin and discussed the blacksmith project in a conference with the chief Shikellamy and his advisors. The forge and a mission were built in June and July, 1747 and by the end of July the forge was opened. The first blacksmith, Anton Schmidt, arrived on July 23 with his wife Catharina. The diary entry for that day states, "It
6090-401: The soldier killed in September at Bloody Spring . He ordered a raiding party of 42 men, with Andrew Montour acting as a guide, to destroy the village, and instructed the commander, Captain Hambright, "to Kill, Scalp, and capture as many as you can." The raiding party found the village empty, but returned later and destroyed it. Archaeological investigations conducted in 1978 and 1979 on
6177-410: The town of Shamokin. It contains eight cabbins near the river's bank...It is by means of this neighborhood that we may reasonably hope...that a very beneficial trade may be extended...I quartered in a trader's cabbin, and about midnight the Indians came and called up him and his squaw ...She sold the Indians rum, with which being quickly intoxicated, men and women began first to sing and then dance around
6264-449: The town where they were sober, got together near fifty of them and discoursed to them, having first obtained the king's cheerful consent. There was surprising attention among them, and they manifested a considerable desire of being further instructed. The Moravian mission in Shamokin was set up in 1747 primarily as a blacksmith’s shop to serve the Iroquois and their protected tribes, the Delaware, Tutelo, Conoy, and Shawnee. The leader of
6351-504: The village about the murder, and eventually they were arrested and made to confess. Weiser arrived on 2 May 1744 and heard the confession. Goods that were taken from Armstrong were returned to his brother Alexander, and Mussemeelin and one of the two accomplices were handed over to Weiser, to stand trial in Lancaster, Pennsylvania . The second accomplice was arrested, but the Indians allowed him to escape. The site of Jack Armstrong's murder, in
6438-547: The war against Pennsylvania and the English after Braddock's defeat at the Battle of the Monongahela on 9 July 1755. On 16 October 1755 Lenape Indians allied with the French attacked and destroyed the town of Penns Creek, Pennsylvania about ten miles west of Shamokin. As news of the Penn's Creek massacre spread, panic gripped the settlements. Trading post owner John Harris Jr. wrote to
6525-410: Was $ 37,851 and the average $ 52,975 in 2020. About 19.8% of the population was below the poverty line . Weis Markets , a regional supermarket chain operating in seven states, is headquartered in Sunbury. The company is a significant employer in the city and the region. Great Coasters International is a roller coaster design and manufacturing firm and lists its contact address in Sunbury, though it
6612-403: Was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.91. In 2000, the city the population had 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males. The median income for a household in Sunbury
6699-541: Was also forcibly resettled there after 1737 when they lost rights to their land in the Walking Purchase . Canasatego of the Six Nations , enforcing the Walking Purchase on behalf of George Thomas, Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania , ordered the Delaware Indians to go to two places on the Susquehanna River , Wyomink and Shamokin. Early in the eighteenth century, the village consisted of Iroquois migrants from
6786-403: Was also forcibly resettled there in the early 18th century after they lost rights to their land in the Walking Purchase . Canassatego of the Six Nations, enforcing the Walking Purchase of behalf of George Thomas, Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania, ordered the Delaware Indians to go to two places on the Susquehanna River, one of which was present-day Sunbury. From 1727 to 1756, Sunbury was one of
6873-457: Was among those painted in black but was known to Harris and often acted as an interpreter. He advised Harris to return home immediately along the east side of the Susquehanna. Harris and his men started back but disregarded Montour's warning to stay on the east side of the river. On 25 October they were ambushed by twenty or thirty Lenape, who fired on them, forcing Harris's men to jump into the river, where four of them drowned while trying to reach
6960-400: Was as though a king had arrived, even Shikellamy was very happy." He gave Schmidt an Iroquois name, Rachwistonis, and immediately accompanied him and Hagen down the river to Harris' Ferry to collect the rest of the tools for the blacksmith's shop. In January, 1748 the Moravian community was visited by Bishop John Cammerhoff . The Moravian mission was strictly controlled to avoid creating
7047-692: Was awarded a Gold Star from the Pennsylvania Library Association in 2018 for its participation in the PA Forward Star Library program. The library has maintained its gold star for the past 5 years. The Northumberland County Historical Society maintains the Charlotte Darrah Walter Genealogical Library. It contains material on local history along with thousands of records of early families from Northumberland County and surrounding counties. Access to records
7134-601: Was formed in July, 1983 to continue to provide rail service to communities whose rail lines Conrail had decided to abandon. In 1989 the JRA took over the line when Conrail abandoned it, and the Shamokin Valley Railroad was born as its third railroad. Sunbury, Pennsylvania Sunbury ( / ˈ s ʌ n b ɛr i / SUN -berr-ee ) is a city and the county seat of Northumberland County in Pennsylvania , United States. Located in
7221-877: Was garrisoned by sixteen officers and 337 men and served as base for the Third Battalion, Pennsylvania Regiment of Foot, known as the Augusta Regiment, which was originally formed to build and garrison Fort Augusta. In November 1756, Colonel Clapham informed Deputy Governor William Denny that about fifty miles up the West Branch Susquehanna River was an Indian village with only ten families, located near Great Island (now known as Lock Haven, Pennsylvania ). The inhabitants had formerly lived at Shamokin and were reportedly under French influence. Clapham believed that war parties from this village had been ambushing, killing and scalping soldiers and civilians, including
7308-614: Was informed by Conrad Weiser that "there was a large number of those People with many of their Chiefs arrived at Shamokin, on Sasquehanna." This was a diplomatic visit intended to confirm the dominance of the Iroquois Confederacy over the Delaware. In October over a hundred of these Iroquois met with Pennsylvania authorities at Stenton , James Logan's country home in Logan, Philadelphia , to affirm friendship and to encourage trade. The Delawares were major suppliers of furs and skins as part of
7395-551: Was killed. Opessa took refuge in Shamokin and while there, he married Polly, Sassoonan 's daughter. At least one source states that the Delaware chief Sassoonan ( Allumapees ) was living at Shamokin as early as 1718. However, historian C. A. Weslager indicates that it was probably Shawnee migrants who first settled there. Delaware Indians displaced by German immigrants in Tulpehocken Creek Valley relocated to Shamokin in 1728. A large population of Delaware Indians
7482-412: Was one of the largest and most influential Indian settlements in Pennsylvania. Traders John Petty and Henry Smith had a trading post at Shamokin as early as 1728, as did Samuel Cozzens, John Hart, John Fisher, Timothy Higgins, Jonah Davenport, Alexander and Jack Armstrong, Woodworth Arnold, James Smith, John Scull and his brother Nicholas Scull II , and Anthony Sadowski . James Le Tort established
7569-460: Was trying to persuade the Shawnees not to attack English traders living on the Allegheny, to prevent war from erupting. Ultimately, the negotiations were successful. John Bartram and Lewis Evans visited Shamokin in July, 1743. Bartram wrote in his journal: July 8: We crossed the creek and rode along a rich bottom near the river for two miles...beyond which, two miles good oak land brought us to
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