"West Pittston is an elegant suburb of Pittston. It was taken from Exeter Township. This place was known in early times as Fort Jenkins, and the name was applied to the town until it was incorporated as a borough. West Pittston was incorporated as a borough in the autumn of 1857. Jenkins Fort, a small stockade, was built by settlers from the Connecticut Susquehanna Land Co., who adopted the actions of the Continental Congress in 1778; hasn’t been totally forgotten, Jenkins Township now carries on the name. Fort Jenkins was within what is now the borough. The fort was simply a log house surrounded by a stockade fence. John Jenkins was also moderator of the "ADJOURNED MEETING" of the settlers of Westmoreland held August 8, 1775, when it was "voted, as this town has but of late been incorporated and invested with the privilege of the law, both civil and military, and now in capacity of acting in conjunction with our neighboring towns within this and other colonies, in opposing ye late measures adopted by Parliament to enslave America; also this town having taken into consideration the late plan adopted by Parliament of enforcing their several oppressing and unconstitutional acts, of depriving us of our property, and of binding us in all cases without exception, whether we consent or not, is considered by us highly injurious to American or English freedom; therefore do consent to, as acquiesce in, the late proceeding of the Continental Congress, and to rejoice that those measures are adopted, as so universally received throughout the continent; and in conformity to the 11th article of the association, we do now appoint a committee to observe attentively the conduct of this town touching the rules and regulations prescribed by the Honorable Continental Congress, and will unanimously join our brethern in America in the common cause of defending our liberty. Voted the Mr. John Jenkins, Joseph Sluman, Esq., Nathan Dennison, Esq. (see more of whom later), Mr. Obediah Gore, Jr., and Lieutenant Buck, be chosen a committee of correspondence for the town of Westmoreland."
And this is an account of the building of Jenkins Fort (actually a fortification of the Jenkins Home): After the August 24th meeting, John Jenkins built a stockade fort around his dwelling for the protection of his family and neighbors. Notice the location marked on the map of West Pittston. The site is presently at the intersection of Exeter Avenue and the Susquehanna River and is marked by a stone monument. It was situated about fifty yards above the west end of the bridge. The area of the borough contains 323 acres. The residence of Mr. Carr on the corner of Wyoming and Luzerne Avenues, is one of the old original farmhouses built when this was a part of Exeter Township. Two railroads and the Wyoming Valley Traction Streetcar Line all had offices and depots in West Pittston. In 1860 its population was 590. It had 4 bakers, 5 blacksmiths, Vulcan Iron works, 1 bookbinder, 4 cabinet makers, 6 carpenters, 2 carpet weavers, 1 cigar dealer, 2 confectioners, 4 druggists, 1 fancy goods, 1 fish and oysters, 1 florist, 1 plumber, 2 general stores, 7 grocers, 1 furniture, 1 hay and feed, 1 house furnishing, Luzerne Knitting mills, 1 cracker factory, 1 lime and plaster, 7 meat markets, 4 milk depots, 1 miner supplies, 1 private school, 1 livery stable, 1 stoves and tinware, 3 wagon makers. Some notable residents were Samuel Price, Miles C. Orr, Thomas Ford, Amherst Wisner, A. J. Griffith, William Apple, Cornelius Stark, Bradley Downing, Theodore Strong, Isaac W. Moister, Peter Polen, J. H. Jenkins, R. J. Wisner; David T. Bound, Ralph D. Lacoe, J. C. F. Rommel, B. D. Beyea, Samuel Price, Barnard Sharkey, W. H. Cool, Bradley Downing, George Corey, James Mantayne, Smith Sutherland, A. J. Loomis, J. B. Hoyt, G. M. Richard, Charles H. Foster, William R. Sax, S. P. Fenn, William C. Benton, S. K. Barber, John Struthers, J. S. Jenkins, S. K. Barber, Evan J. Evans, F. B. Sanders, O. C. Foster, John A. Stone, Lewis Jones, Chandler H. Williams, George W. Walker, William C. Smith, John Courtright, P. K. Richards, Eugene Spencer, John Hughes Blackman, E. W. Stark, George S. Ferris, Thomas Williams, Thomas B. Mitten, George N. Lewis and Benjamin S. Emory." (Info from a number of old local Sources!) |
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