Wyalusing Town

Wyalusing Town

Early in the forties, the chances afforded for a good landing-place at the point occupied by the village of Wyalusing attracted the attention of parties interested in the building up of the county, and predicating their expectation on the fact that, with an exceptionally good landing, they might attract trade in that direction and gradually build up a thriving town, E. P. Finn, James M. Otis and L. 0. Schrader became the possessors of eighty acres of land, situated just above the present village. Here tbey laid out a village, and waited for purchasers of town lots. That others had thought this a good point, at least for the manufacture of logs and cordwcnd, was evinced by a solitary cabin, remained there as a reminder of those whose feet had pressed the soil before. The first settler in the village was Mr. Cranston, who was donated a lot by the proprietors, on the understanding that he vas to keep a house of entertainment for those happening in this section. The scheme proved not so successful in practice as in theory. Like many other 6chcm,es, it looked well on paper, but that was the only place -where it did look well. The property passed into diflerent hands until it reached those of Mr. N. W. Kendall. The latter gentleman erected a saw-mill at this point, and, together with Charles Blanford and Eobert Glenn, surveyed and platted the village of Wyalusing, in July, 1856. From the elaborate character of the plat, it -was evident that great expectations lingered in the minds of the proprietors. In the meantim.e, Mr. John Otis had opened a store in the new town, and trade was being slowly attracted in that direction. A large stone warehouse was in process of erection, and the fates seemed propitious for an extensive trading-post, the iron rails were laid, linking the eastern and western portions of the Slate, and Wyalusing. with its proprietors, suffered a crushing set-back. Although it staggered bravely on for a time, the place never recovered, and gradually began to settle back to its original status. Today it is but a feeble reminder of might have been."

In 1854, the town of Wyalusing was erected from Patch Grove, and the first election was held April 3, 1855, when the following officers were chosen: Supervisors, Jonkim Gulick, Chaiiman, Eobert Glenn, H. E. Miles; Clerk, S. H. Seaman; Treasurer, N. W. Kendall; Assessor, W. P. Stephenson ; Superintendent of Schools, David Brodt ; Justices of the Peace, E. Jacobs, long term, S. Brodt, Charles Blanford, short term ; Constables, J. Brodt. B. Y. Griflen, W. H. Harvey. The present officers of the town are as follows: Supervisors, Edwin Glenn, Chairman, H. Strong, Lewis Glass; Clerk, L. Wellard ; Treasurer, A. Calkins; Ab- sessor, David Brodt ; Justices of the Peace, J. A. Harford, William Kern, long term, J. A. Bradley, L. Jacobs, short term ; Constables, A. Shrake, J. Vanamee, J. B. Palmer.