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HBiiU^lmfi LLUJTRATING FIVE-YEARvT' • PROGREJX • 1 ^ Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://archive.org/details/cu31924028864218 Wilkes-Barre THE DIAMOND CITY \ A Study of Its Remarkable Progress as Indicated by Its Growth During the Last Five Years "Published b\> the Wilkes-Barre Board of Trade Compiled and Arranged by R. W. Ferrel, Secretary April, 1911 There is Only One Wilkes-Barre — Ask Uncle Sam tlk?B-!am, % Itammtft Qlttg Illustrating Five Years' Progress ITERALLY as well as metaphorically there is but one Wilkes-Barre, and it is with the tale of the marvelous growth which this ancient and honorable city has enjoyed within the last five years that this publica- tion has to do. The unique name which the city bears it has worn since 1789, when Major John Durkee laid out the site for a party of Connecticut settlers and coined the name Wilkes-Barre. During the early years of its history the name was spelled and usually misspelled in many ways and for a long time the common usage was Wilkesbarre, this being officially sanctioned by the United States Geographical Board for the sake of brevity. Of late years, however, there has arisen the belief that Col. Barre, after whom the city was named jointly with Col. Wilkes, was entitled to as much recognition as Col. Wilkes and so the movement to have the name officially recognized as Wilkes-Barre grew in strength and this form of spelling became the common usage among the residents themselves. Col. Roosevelt, then President of the United States, came to Wilkes-Barre in 1905 and upon being made acquainted with the effort to have the name spelled in such manner as to do honor to both of the men after whom it was Group of Residences Erected by Wilkes-Barre Lace Manufacturing Co. for Employees River Street ami Courtright Avenue No Building here Shown is More than Five Years Old named, set on foot an investigation which re- sulted in the United States Geographical Board finally recognizing and making official the spell- ing of the name as Wilkes-Barre.* * Wilkes-Barre ; city, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. (Not Wilkes Barre nor Wilkesbarre) — Decisions of the ('. Morgan's Sons' Retail Stun West Market Street United States Geographical Board, July, 1908, to July, 1909. Note — This decision was a revision of a previous order making the official spelling Wilkesbarre. (The United States Geographical Board "passes on all un- settled questions concerning geographical names which arise in the Departments, as well as determining, chang- ing and fixing place names wiihin the United States and Public School Building, Courtright Avenue its insular possessions. The decisions of the Board are to be accepted by all the Departments of the Government as standard authority." ORIGIN OF CITY'S NAME The name Wilkes-Barre is a linking together of two surnames. Hon. John Wilkes and Hon. Isaac Barre were eminent Englishmen who saw justice in the demands of the American colonists as the}' were being presented to the mother country about the time Wilkes-Barre was founded. Their advocacy of the colonists' cause won for them the gratitude of the American patriots and so when Major Durkee, himself an ardent sup- porter of the colonists' demands, laid out the new town in the valley of Wyoming, considered by himself and the other settlers as being a part Addition to Hazard Manufacturing Co. Plant State and Ross Streets Wilkes-Barre Leads in Building Growth Public School Building, Grant and Dana Streets of the Connecticut territory, he gave to it the name of these two friends of the colonists, Wilkes and Barre, and thus was coined the unique name Wilkes-Barre, which the city has since continued to bear. The Revolution also had its effect on the naming of the county of which Wilkes-Barre is the county seat and principal city. A great territory was carved out of this then Western wilderness and created a county by an Act of the Pennsylvania Legislature of September 25, 1786, and was given the name of Luzerne, after the French nobleman, Chevalier de la Luzerne, whose services as French minister to the United States during the Revolution won for him this lasting- recognition from a grateful people.* *Anne Cesar de la Luzerne, generally known as the Chevalier de la Luzerne, withdrew from the French Army after having been successively Aide de Campe under the Duke de Broglie, Major General of Cavalry, and after- wards colonel of the Grenadiers of France ami Knight (or Chevalier) of Malta. After giving up the Army he entered a diplomatic career and was sent in 177(i to the court, of Maximillian Joseph, Elector of Bavaria, "where he re- mained two years, filling his responsible position with marked success. The value attached to his services dur- ing his stay at Munich, and his ability shown in conduct- ing the negotiations relative to the Bavarian Succession Addition to Sheldon Axle Co. Plant Conyngbani Avenue M. Ileinz's Store, South Main Street induced his being named ami accredited by the King of France in 1771) to succeed Sieur Gerard as Minister to the United States." — From Hon. Edmund Lovell Dana's address before the Wyoming Historical anil Geological Society at the Centennial of Luzerne County, September 25, bs8.j. Printed in Proceedings and Collections of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society for l!K)(l. He arrived in Philadelphia, September 1st, had his lirst audience on the 17th of the following November and Wilkes-Barre has Twelve City Banks Deposits, $21,000,000 Savoy Theatre Building Smith Side Public Square W.-B. & II. Railway Co. Station (Third-Rail System) North Pennsylvania Avenue "from that time to the end of the war," says Sparks in his Diplomatic History of the American Revolution, "he applied himself sedulously to the duties of his station, and by the suavity of his manners, as well as the uniform discretion of his official conduct, he won the esteem and gratitude of the American people." In 17W9, when the Federal Government was organized, Jefferson, the Secretary of State, by order of President Washington, addressed to tire Chevalier a letter containing express and official acknowledgment of his services and the sense of them entertained by the nation. Luzerne County was erected into a separate comity from the northern part of Northumberland by Act of 2f>th September, 17.S(>. Mr. Otto, the French Charge D'Affaires at New York, communicated the fact to his Government \ '- - V. \V. ('. A. Buildm X. Franklin Street Sacred Heart (Slovak) R. C. Church .North Main Street Photos by Siegfried A GROUP OF NEW BANK BUILDINGS Wilkes-Barre's material prosperity is well evidenced by these banking houses, all erected within a period of five years Wilkes-Barre has Steam-Size Coal at $1.25 Per Ton "Residence of Dr. E. U. Buckman Smith Franklin Street Residence of Franck G. Darte Xorth River Street in the following dispatch: "The Legislature of Pennsylvania, Sire, wishing to hand down to posterity a testimonial of its gratitude for the services which the Chevalier de la Luzerne rendered to the Union, has just given his name to a new county." LUZERNE A MOTHER OF COUNTIES From the county thus created and having originally five thousand square miles of territory there were separated in 1810 a part of Bradford and in 1810 also, Susquehanna, in 1842 Wyoming and in 1878 Lackawanna County. At the present time, with the county bereft of four-fifths of its original territory, Luzerne is fourteenth in size in the state and THIRD IN POPULATION. Luzerne even now has a popula- tion greater than that of either of the following states and territories: Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii or New Mexico. Its wealth, gaged by its assessed valuation, is $160,000,000.00. Snyder Block, .Market Street. Westinnnr. A Suburban Residence Property Wilkes-Barre is the Most Completely Sewered City in the Country Part of Addition to Wilkes-Barre Lace Mfg. Co. Plant Courtrieht Avenue The Leon-Ferenbacb Silk Mill Hazle and Jones Streets MAGNIFICENT PUBLIC BUILDING In Wilkes-Barre, as the county seat, is located a splendid county court house, occupied in 1909 and erected at a cost, furnished, of more than $2,000,000. This new court house, probably the most magnificent in the country, excepting only those of the great cities, and superior in beauty, size and richness of appointments to a number of the State Capitol buildings, is typical of the new- spirit which has worked a regeneration in the city and county in a few short years and to which expression has been given in the erection of handsome and costly buildings, the construction of excellent roads, the purchase by the county and freeing of toll roads and river bridges, the elimina- tion of grade crossings and the extension of business enterprises. FIVE YEARS OF PROGRESS It is the purpose of this booklet to show some of the improvements of this character that have been made DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS. With that idea in view ALL ILLUSTRA- TIONS ARE LIMITED TO BUILDINGS WHICH HAVE BEEN ERECTED DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN 1905 AND 1910. The Fricerio Silk .Mill (Located at Dorranceton). A Suburban Industrial Concern Wilkes-Barre is a Great Shopping Centre Addition to Sheldon Axle Co. Plant Conyngham Avenue Other facts will also be presented herein, similar in character to the building figures, in that they all tend to show the marvelous progress which this old and well established city has made within recent years, proving that the vigor of youth is here and that upon the sure foundation Holy Trinity (Lithuanian) R. C. Church Meade and South Sts. (Under Construction) which has been laid during the 140 years of its existence, the home builder, the manufacturer, and he who seeks an opportunity for a profitable investment, may alike locate here in security and assurance. mm mm nvm *» £*>..* r '- mimm The New Wall Paper Co. Retail Store South Main Street Wilkes-Barre Metal Drawing and Stamping Co. Plant North Pennsylvania Avenue Wilkes-Barre's Annual Coal Output is Worth $12,000,000 ^Zr^fcS* The Burdick Apartment House West Union Street NATURAL RESOURCES GREAT "Any city which has as an asset a market- able necessity such as you have in your vast beds of anthracite, cannot help but prosper, for money continues to flow in upon you in ceaseless streams from less favored communities." So said former State Treasurer William H. Berry, of Chester, Pa., Lee's Garage, North Pennsylvania Avenue on a recent visit to Wilkes-Barre, and the truth of his saying had been proved even before he said it, for during the panic months of 1907, when money was at a premium elsewhere, the streams of gold which flowed into Wilkes-Barre, in return for its mineral resources, made it one of the three eastern cities which was able to do business on a cash basis throughout the entire period of financial distress without recourse to clearing house cer- tificates, and even to send its currency to younger The Quackenbusli Co. Storage Bennett Streel St. Mary's R. ('. Parochial Scl I Smith Washington Street Wilkes-Barre's Credit is Good Anywhere and professedly more vigorous cities, in order that dire financial calamity might be averted. Wilkes-Barre's Wealth is Worth and it Faces the Future Without Fear. A STRIKING GROWTH The rapid growth of Wilkes-Barre during the years of which this publication treats, is most striking when compared with its previous rate of growth and is made more impressive when it is seen that the reports for the current year indicate no sign of a slackening of this spirit of enterprise. Residence of Paul Dasch, South Franklin Street BUILDING FIGURES SHOW PROGRESS The building for the first five years of the period of 1900-1910 as compared with the last five years, show values nearly four times as large for the latter period as follows : 1900 .$ 566,-179 1901 455,514 1902 495,880 1003.... 550,337 1904 574,345 1905 SI, 489, 899 1906 2,224,833 1907 2,486,861 1908 1,660,986 1909 2,121,234 Total* ,640,555 $9,983,813 Much of this value is represented in large banking and business houses but the rate of Residence of Henry Lazarus South Franklin Street Residence of A. F. Wolfe Terrace and Sheldon Sts. Residence of Joseph Leibson South Franklin Street Wilkes-Barre's New High School Cost $350,000 Residence of E. W. Marple South Franklin Street Residence of Mrs. George Weaver South Franklin Street increase among the small residence structures, and on these must be estimated the true growth of the city, has kept pace with the larger structures. New frame residences were constructed dur- ing the several years as follows : June 1, to December 31, 1905 178 January 1, to December 31, 190(3 244 January 1, to December 31, 1!>07 377 January 1, to December 31, 1008 283 January 1, to December 31, 1909 290 January 1, to June 1, 1910 208 1580 The Eeichard and Rutter Residence North River Street Residence of F. T. McCormick West River Street During the same period new brick dwellings were erected as follows : .June 1, to December 31, 1905 42 January I, to December 31, I90(i 82 January 1, to December 31, L907 80 January 1, to December 31, 1908 129 January 1, In December 31, 1909 151 January 1, to June 1, 191(1 74 558 Within this same five year space additions to the number of 424 and alterations to the number of 308 were made. Of this total of 732 in alter- ations and additions the building inspector esti- mates that forty per cent, were for the purpose IREM TEMPLE, A. A. ( >. N. M. S. Used by Courtesy of Irem Temple (_ opyrisht 1909 by J. Horgan , Jr. Scranton, Pa. One of the most beautiful buildinga of the city is this handsome Shrine Temple with its distinctly Moorish decorations Wilkes-Barre has an Exceptionally Low Tax Rate of transforming single houses into double houses or apartments, so that room was thereby made for 292 additional families. The total of 2430 new residences was therefore provided within the city limits during this period. The increase in the number and proportion of brick dwellings built dur- ing the past two years is especially gratifying, in that it tends to a depreciation in fire losses. For the five year period it will be noted that the proportion of brick to frame was twenty-three per cent. While for the years 1908 and 1909 the proportion was 31 and 34 respectively. In addition to buildings of this character there have been erected during the same five year period new fronts for 75 of the city's business places and 307 alterations and additions of different character to as many other business houses. The growth of prosperity indicated by the construc- tion of new store buildings is shown in the following record : 2 in the latter part of 1905 14 in 1906 31 in 1908 23 in 1907 35 in 1909 22 for the first half of 1910 E. G. Kemmei Block, Rive ind Franklin Streets The building record for the full year, 1910, shows 762 permits with a total valuation of $2,052,180 as compared with 650 permits in 1909 and a total valuation of $2,121,234. Forty-five factory buildings were erected during the same period, nine office buildings with a total of 300 offices, ten hotels and additions to five others ; six new school buildings, one costing $300,000 and another $100,000 and additions to four others ; eight new churches and additions to four others ; eight new theatres and six apartment houses. These will serve to indicate Wilkes-Barre's growth in building and pictures of many of these new buildings are shown in this book. BANKING FIGURES SHOW PROGRESS Closely allied with the building figures, as indicating the growth of a community, are the bank- ing figures. These show marvelous growth and this in spite of the fact that in suburban territories, Wilkes-Barre has 65 Churches, Property Value $2,500,000 immediately tributary to Wilkes-Barre, no less than eight banks have been started during the last five years and are in successful operation. Within the same period also, three new banks have been opened within the city limits and continue in operation and the prosperity of the local institutions is shown by the handsome group of bank buildings pictured in this publication, all of which have been erected since 1905 at a total cost of nearly $1,000,000. The eleven city banks in operation on October 1, 1910, (one awaiting completion of building at that time and since opened* had deposits at the time of the last controller's report prior to June 1, 1910, aggregating $21,917,767.57, while the total resources of these same banks amounted to $31,806,737.81. At the same time there were on deposit in the fifteen banks in the suburban ill 1 • •'"^P— fr^^T-,,-- , "™^^^^^^*B '%;>■,. :.■■-...- . .. . , - 1 The Derr Block, North Main street Interior Decoration Holy Savior Church, East End Naessig Apartrpenl [-louse First Universalist Church Lincoln and Northampton Streets South Main St. territory within a radius of eight miles of the central city, $12,570,329.20, which makes a total of over $34,000,000 in bank deposits in Wilkes-Barre and its immediate environs. This is a showing scarcely equalled in any territory similar in extent and character. Bank Clearings, too, have shown a healthy growth, as witness the following table showing the clearings for the fiscal years ending March 1st: (The Wilkes-Barre Clearing House Association clears only for hanks within the city limits). 1905 $51,8(17,937.69 1907 $61,669,399.44 1906 55,950,473.23 1908 (panic months) 60,858,440.78 1909 $66,314,784.59 Wilkes-Barre has Two Public, Three Private Hospitals Wilkes-Barre suffered less by reason of the panic than any other city. Its rate of decrease in clearings was about ten per cent, less than the average for the balance of the country, and its sharp recovery from panic conditions may be noted in the table. For the first half of 1910 the monthly clearing house figures were as follows : January $ 5,961,472.28 February 5,327,384.58 .March 5,403,812.57 April 6,224,267.28 May 6,159,887.08 June 6,242,989.08 $35,319,812.87 Addition to Osterhout Library (Stack Room) South Franklin Street TheTischler Block Market and Hancock Streets Addition to Home for Friendless Children South Franklin Street A Myers Estate Resilience Block Northeast Corner Jackson and Main Streets That the rate of growth is of a permanent character is shown by the fact that the total clearings for 1910 amounted to $71,209,767.64. ASSESSED VALUATIONS SHOW GROWTH Assessed valuations are usually slow to respond to the increase in real values, but even these show a rapid growth during the past five years, amounting to about 35 per cent, in the aggregate. Wilkes-Barre's Y. M. C. A. Buildings are Worth $250,000 The Turner ami VanSooy ('<>. Building East Northampton Street The figures for this period are as follows : 190(1 §38,404,069 1907 45,233,279 19()s 46,187,913 1009 47,356,737 1910 52,056,188 The 1911 figures just completed show a total assessed valuation for the city of $53,185,000. St. Mary's Greek (E. ('. ) Church North Main Si reel POSTAL RECEIPTS SHOW GROWTH Uncle Sam has given semi-official recognition to a greater Wilkes-Barre and the boroughs of Forty Fort, Dorranceton, L,uzerne, Kingston, Edwardsville and Ashley and portions of Wilkes- Barre, Hanover and Pringle Townships are served from the Wilkes-Barre office. The postal receipts, like other lines of business, show a healthy growth as indicated by the following table : 1905 §118,029. 09 1906 126,915.05 1IKI7 144,110.40 1908 157,655.86 1909 165,213.13 Building, Ka.-i Northampton Street No. S Fire Engine House, Scotl St., East End Wilkes-Barre's Y. W. C. A. Buildings are Worth $160,000 The J. B, Carr Biscuit Co. Factory Building North Pennsylvania Ave. (Under Construction) All Figures Serve Alike to Show Wilkes-Barre's Healthy Growth, Which in the Light of its Age May be Con- sidered Remarkable. MODERN HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING The new high school building now in process of construction will be one of the finest in the state, and like the Court House and Irem Temple, is destined to become one of the show places of the city. Its equipment will be essentially The Samuel Williams Building East Market Street modern and though the Wilkes-Barre school system already has the reputation of being one of the best in the state, the influence of the new building will be felt for good in the opportunity to enlarge and broaden the curriculum. Addition to Hazard Manufacturing Co. Plant Pennsylvania Ave. and Ross St. The IP I'.. Sehooley Building North Franklin Street Wilkes-Barre has a Trading Population of 250,000 Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Co. Office Building South River Street FURTHER EVIDENCES OF PROGRESS Evidences of Wilkes-Barre' s little less than remarkable progress, presented in tabloid form, will be found in the following table, summarizing conditions in various lines in 1910 as compared with 1905 : 1910 1905 Miles paved streets 29 26 Number of postal employees 110 75 Miles of street car lines '■>'■'> 81 Miles of sewers 116 98 Number of parks 4 1 Park acreage 160 35 Number of playgrounds 6 Number of public school buildings 22 20 Number of school rooms 218 193 Number of school teachers 218 193 Value of public school property. . $1,203,400 $595,000 Number of public school pupils.. 10,731 9,325 Number of children of school age 12,216 8,799 Number of toll bridges in county 2 It Number of free bridges in county *4 Number of toll roads in county. . 4 Pieces of Are apparatus in city. . . 15 14 Number of paid fireman in city. . 4:! 34 Expenditure's for fire protection. $50,728.00 $44,871.50 Expenditures for police protection $63,121.00 843,255.00 Number of policemen lil 52 Volumes in public library 42,000 35,500 Coal production in Luzerne Co... 27,671,702 24,736,864 •Two new free bridges have been ordered constructed by the court and the grand jury has reported favorably on another. According to the census figures of 1910, Wilkes-Barre was the eighty-first city in the United States as to population. According to building figures compiled from reports of the building departments of the various cities of the country, Wilkes-Barre was fifty-third in order in 1910 in the value of its building permits issued. The Bell Telephone Co. Building East Northampton Si reel LOW BONDED INDEBTEDNESS Wilkes-Barre is ably handled as to its finances and city expenditures. It has a lower city tax rate than any other city of the state with more than 40,000 population and its bonds always command a good premium. Its bonded indebted- ness is $1,067,000, considerably less than the legal limitation without recourse to a vote of the people and more than $2,500,000 less than the legal limit of seven per cent, by vote of the people. ' '■' '■■"-' ' '■' - : ' Cotyright 1909 THE LUZERNE COUNTY COURT HOUSE A group of views showing the magnificent character of Luzerne's principal publie building' Plmtns Used by Courtesy iff The American An luted Wilkes-Barre has an Established Park Commission AN EFFICIENT FIRE DEPARTMENT The city has an efficient fire department and is constantly improving- its equipment. For new engine houses and new equipment alone the city has expended since 1905 the sum of $60,000, and among other modern fire-fighting devices has an aerial quick-acting ladder truck, a gasoline fire engine and an automobile chemical wagon. Clarke Brothers' Retail Stove South Main Street Luzerne County Brewing Co. Plant North Pennsylvania Avenue Joseph S. Rice Building South Main Street The Pinskey Residence Block Madison Street The following equipment has been added during the period noted : One first size Nott Steam Fire Engine One Waterous Gasoline Fire Engine tine Seagrave Aerial Hook and Ladder Truck One Combination Auto Chemical Engine One Combination Hose and Chemical Wagon Two Fire Engine Houses Nineteen new Fire Alarm Boxes Nine Paid Men Wilkes-Barre has 160 Acres of Parks For other city improvements during" the same period, including; expenditures for new sewers, paved streets, street extensions, etc., there has been expended the sum of $776,215.70. GROWTH IN POPULATION The census figures for 1900 gave Wilkes- Barre a population of 51,721 and for 1910 a Showing Additions to Stegmaier Brewing Co. Plant Baltimore and Market Streets The Burgimder Building, !•'.. Northampton St. The Mohican Co. Retail Store South Main Street population of 67,105, an increase of 29.7 per cent, during the ten-year period, a record which might well be envied by many a younger city, but the census figures do not by any means do justice to the city's real importance as a com- mercial and industrial centre. The Cumberland Apartment House \Y. 1 toss Si. Wilkes-Barre has Six Well Equipped Playgrounds Wilkes-Barre Laundry Co South Main Street I'lan Header Laundry Co. Plant East South Street A GREAT TRADING CENTRE F. M. Kirby & Co. maintain eighty stores in as many different cities in the East, Middle West and South, including such cities as New Orleans, Cleveland, Columbus, Baltimore, Louisville, Charleston, Dayton, etc., and Wilkes-Barre is rated among their other stores as having a trading population of 200,000. Within a radius of eight miles from the city and with every point reached by trolley lines, there are thirty-two towns and townships and one small city, having a combined population with Wilkes-Barre, of 178,923 in 1900. The population of that same territory in 1910 is 245,801, showing a general rate of increase of 37.3 per cent. Hut even this does not tell the real trading population of the city for every part of the county with its population of 363,000 people is The Ball) <■ No. "i Colliery, D. & II. Co., Eas1 End Write to the Board of Trade for Further Information P. R. R. Electric ('rune, for Handling Heavy Freight ('. R. R. of N. J. Electric Crane, for Handling Heavy Freight reached either by trolley, steam or third-rail lines, together with portions of adjoining counties for which Wilkes-Barre is the natural market place, being the largest city within easy reach. JOBBING HOUSES FIND PROFITABLE FIELD Wilkes-Barre' s large suburban population, together with its excellent railroad facilities, makes it an exceeedingly strong jobbing centre. Plight railroads, including two third-rail freight-carrying systems, centre in the city. Two steam roads have their termini here. The strategical value of this situation is becoming yearly more apparent and the city is adding yearly to the number of its The Matheson Autorn ,bile ('... Plant (Located at Forty Fort). A Suburban Industrial Concern Wilkes-Barre's Annual Factory Output is Worth $17,000,000 jobbing houses. Milling interests are also strong in Wilkes-Barre and vicinity and the city is the headquarters of the oldest and largest milling firm in the state and of the Pennsylvania Millers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company. There are one hundred and two wholesale houses in Wilkes- Barre, classified as follows : Grocers, 10 ; Grocers' Specialties, 6 ; Meats, 7 ; Dry Goods and Notions, 11 ; Boots, Shoes and Salvation Army Citadel South Pennsylvania Avenue Rubbers, 4 ; Stationery, 2 ; Produce, 9 ; Cigars and Tobacco, 11 ; Confections, 8 ; Mine Supplies, Hardware, Stoves, Plumbers and Hotel Supplies, 8 ; Oils, 4 ; Grain and Hay, 1 ; Iron and Steel, 1 ; Wall Paper, 2 : Iron Beds, 1 ; Harness, Trunks, etc., 1 ; Leather and Findings, 1 ; Optical Sup- plies, 1 ; Furs, 1 ; Millinery, 1 ; Lumber, 2 Barber Supplies, 1 ; Watches and Jewelry, 1 Poultry 1 ; Druggists' Supplies, 1 ; Scrap Iron, 1 Mrs. Geo. J. Stegmaier's Residence South Franklin Street (Under Construction) The Square Garage Building Hear South Side Public Square Empire Washery, Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Co, Wilkes-Barre has an Efficient Fire Department '-&*■" Radnor Apartment House South Washington St. Mayock Building South Washington Street Electrical Supplies, 2 ; Crockery, 1 ; Ice and Coal, 1; Dental Supplies, 1. Each of these concerns is given a credit rating by R. G. Dun and Company. The list does not include millers nor local manufacturers who handle their own products, although in a sense both are wholesalers. Neither does the list include concerns acting merely as agents for foreign manufacturers, carrying no stock on hand . Seeherman & Gross Wholesale Store South Pennsylvania Ave. It is safe to say that there is scarcely another city in the country with a census population of 67,000, with such a showing of wholesale houses. Pennsylvania R. R. Freight Station Pennsylvania Ave. and Northampton St. MANUFACTURING STATISTICS There are one hundred and twenty-nine manufacturing plants in Wilkes-Barre City and its environs. In an effort to secure for this publication figures as to the production of these FAHH1NGER CO. Photos by Siegfried A GROUP OF HOTEL BUILDINGS Showing how Wilkes-Barre has added to its accommodation for travelers during the past five years Wilkes-Barre is Superbly Located for Jobbing plants, the number of employes, etc., letters were sent out asking that replies be returned on blanks enclosed for that purpose. Forty-three replies were received and these, just one-third of the entire number, showed the following: Capital s 8,307,000.00 Value of Plants and Equipment 0, 753, 540. 00 Value of Annual Production 17,290, 1)10.00 Annual Pay-Roll 3,530,713.00 Number of Employes for Full Production, 8,072 r Kirby Building, South Main Street ANTHRACITE MINING PREMIER INDUSTRY The above figures do not include the Anthra- cite mining industry, which is of course the premier industry of the city and valley. There are about 8,000 coal mining employes in the city alone and about 80,000 in the county. AS A RESIDENCE CITY Wilkes-Barre is a delightful residence city, situated as it is in the heart of the beautiful and Laurel Silk Mill ■utli Empire Street historic Wyoming Valley, surrounded by moun- tains which afford a cool retreat in the heat of the summer and concealed behind which is a rich farming country which is fast being developed as a centre for summer homes. Glen Summit, a far-famed summer resort, is situated on the mountain just above the city, reached by both the Lehigh Valley and Central Railroads and by a beautiful mountain boulevard constructed at a cost of nearly $200,000. On this same mountain also is located Nuangola Lake, a small body of water but beautifully situated and rapidly growing in favor as an ex- clusive and yet inexpensive summer colony. Williams Bros, & Co. Wholesale House South Pennsylvania Avenue Wilkes-Barre is Served by Eight Railroads The Bennett Garbage Disposal Co. Plant South Wilkes-Barre This place is reached by the Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton Railway, third rail system. Back of the mountains to the west of the valley lies Harvey's Lake, the largest body of water in the state. This too is a favorite summer resort. It is reached both by electric and steam railroads and at this place are located several hundred cottages of Wilkes-Barreans who spend their summers at this attractive resort. Train service to each of these places makes it possible for the summer dwellers to live there during the Bennett & Phelps Block North Main Street Massive Gas Tank of The Wilkes-Banc (' Water Si reel Addition to City Hospital (Nurses' Home) North River Street summer mouths and travel back and forth from the city daily. Harvey's Lake is surrounded by a State built macadam highway which makes automobiling about it a pleasure. Picnic grounds maintained by the railroads make of the spot a Wilkes-Barre has an Endowed Free Public Library popular excursion point. In the intervening territory between the city and the lake there is a large farming region which is being rapidly taken up by city residents and utilized as a convenient place for a country home, and indeed many, by reason of the excellent trolley service provided Residence of J. C. Bridgman West River Street Addition to Y. M. ('. A. Boys' Building North Washington Street (Taken from Rear) all the year round are beginning to make this region their place of residence during the entire year. The city itself is an attractive place for a home. It is an old city and consequently well improved. Its proportion of paved streets is No. 7 Fire Engine House Lockhart and St. Clement Streets large and it is more completely sewered than any city of similar size in the country. A compre- hensive park system is now being developed, playgrounds have been in operation for several years, it has a river front which for real beauty is not exceeded by that of any similar community Spring Brook Water Supply Co. Office Building N. Franklin St. (Under Construction) This Book Shows Only Five Years' Growth (). W. Nelson Building, North .Main Street iti the country, and the entire front is owned by the city and is in process of improvement by the city's Park Commission. Because of the enormous building- expansion in recent years rents are main- tained at a reasonable figure, and the rates of rent and general cost of living" are no higher propor- tionately than elsewhere. The retail stores of Additions to Mercy Hospital Hanover Street Wilkes-Barre have long held an enviable reputa- tion for modernity and straightforwardness in their dealings and they do a great amount of business, although this is naturally to be expected when one takes into consideration the amount of territory which is tributary commercially to Wilkes-Barre. The public school system of the city is ex- ceptionally fine, and the city superintendent, because of his reputation made here, has been honored by an appointment on the State Com- mission to codify the school laws of the state, and significant it is that this new code provides W. A. K & Co. Bakery, Dyer Lam Residence of \V. S. (i Hanover Street Come and See the Growth of 14-0 Years New High School Building North Washington Street (Under Construction) for the election of only a small number of directors at large in each municipality, a system which Wilkes-Barre already enjoys. In addition to the public schools there are numerous parochial schools, private schools for young men and women, and business colleges, while just across the river, in the town of Kingston, is located an old and well established preparatory school, the Wyoming Seminary. In the city also is located St. Ann's Academy, a German Catholic Convent School for girls,, which has students from all over the United States, and which, because of its excel- lence, draws many local students of other faiths. Within easy reach of the city, too, are two State H. F. Mooney Building, South Washington St. Normal Schools, which make a specialty of the training of teachers for the public schools. The city is surrounded by a number of residence communities of more than the usual suburban attractiveness. These have enjoyed a most remarkable growth during the last few years. A movement is now under way to Miriam Apartment House, North Main Street A .Myers Estate Residence Block Southwest Corner Jackson and Main Streets Wilkes-Barre's Advantages for Manufacturing are Many Crane Brothers' Silk Mills (Located at Kingston)- A Suburban Industrial Concern consolidate several of these communities with the city, thus making of it a GREATER WIL/KES-BARRE, with a population of about 150,000 in an area of a little more than twenty square miles. PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS The city's park and playground system has made rapid advances during the five years of which this brochure treats. This is under the direction of a Park Commission, a non-partisan body elected by the city councils. This Park Commission was formed in 1906 and has done most effective work since that time. Armed with the proceeds of a small tax levy the Commission has beautified the city's river front, for the front boundary of the city is formed by the beautiful Susquehanna river, and has extended the park system to other portions of the city. When the Commission first took charge of the work the city had but one park, the river common, which had been reserved as a public common when the city was laid out. Since that time three parks have been added in as many different parts of the city, and others are projected. The beautification of the river common i 133 The Adder Machine Co. Plant (Located at Kingston). A Suburban Industrial Concern Photos by Axel Bennett ADDITIONS TO VULCAN IRON WORKS This series of views depicts the rapid extension during the last five years of one of Wilkes- Bane's big industrial concerns Wilkes-Barre Is a Favorite Convention City in!\ir'&£^^i : <' '••> ^' : ^'-f' • The Stafford & Trainor Building South Main Street Residence of Dr. N. L. Schappert South Washington Street has effected a transformation in the appearance of that section of the city, and generous gifts of park areas, just outside the city limits, have provided breathing' spaces which will be well utilized and greatly appreciated in the years to come. Five 3>-ears' progress in this line shows the number of parks increased from one to four, the acreage increased from thirty to one hundred and sixty, the number of playgrounds increased from none to six and the amount of money expended annually for park purposes increased from nothing to about $25,000 annually. The Reynolds Residence Block, Sambourne Street Wilkes-Barre is a Delightful Residence City GOOD MANUFACTURING LOCATION From the standpoint of the manufacturer, Wilkes-Barre is most admirably located, situated as it is, in the very heart of the anthracite coal mining region. Coal admirably adapted for steam purposes is mined at several collieries within the city limits and hundreds in the valley and country contiguous to the city, and can be pro- cured at a very low figure. Each one of these collieries is reached by connections from some one of the six railroads that enter the valley, so The Planters' Peanut Co. Factory Building South State Street that switching facilities can be provided at almost any point either within or without the city limits. These railroads furnish adequate transportation also with direct transit to all points of the compass. The Delaware & Hudson has a direct line to the New England States and Canada by way of Albany, the Lehigh Valley and Central and Lackawanna run to New York, the Lehigh Valley and Lackawanna to Buffalo, the Central, Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania to Philadelphia, the City Police Station, North State Street (Under Construction) Pennsylvania to Pittsburg and the Erie to both New York and western points. The great markets provided by New York and Philadelphia are located within about 200 miles of the city, while the great northeastern Pennsylvania market is at the very door of the city. A Myers Estate Block, South Main Street Wilkes-Barre is a Centre of Scenic Beauty • > *. t Luzerne Theatre Entrance South Main Street The Whiteman Shoe and Rubber Co. Wholesale House North Washington Street L,abor is plentiful. The anthracite mining industry alone employs 167,000 men. The great majority of these are immigrants, and their children, born in this country and educated in the public schools, are turning from the mines to the factories, and proving themselves exceptionally apt students along mechanical lines. Several factories, which have come to the city with a few skilled workmen, have developed hundreds of skilled mechanics for their own use from the purely local labor supply, and are achieving success because of it. The three requisites of successful manufacturing — cheap fuel, a good labor supply and adequate transportation facilities, are here supplied, and the record of growth made by some of the local industries which have trained their own help, during the last few years, has been remarkable. THE BOARD OF TRADE The Wilkes-Barre Board of Trade has been in existence since 1883, and its charter was granted by the Court of Common Pleas of L,uzerne County, at the May term in 1884, by President Judge Chas. E. Rice, now a member of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, and still a resident of Wilkes-Barre. The Board has always taken an active interest in public affairs, and has originated or assisted in carrying to a successful issue, many matters of prime importance to the communit}'. A movement is now under way to enlarge the scope and broaden the activities of the organization, giving full recognition to the fact that it is not alone a commercial organization, but that its influence, as a medium through which public opinion may be expressed, should be great. This fact is clearly expressed in the proposed new constitution, which states that the object of the organization shall be "to inculcate just and equitable principles in trade, to establish and maintain uniformity in commer- cial usages, to acquire, preserve and disseminate valuable information, to educate and stimulate public sentiment and encourage action on matters affecting the general welfare, and to adjust con- troversies and misunderstandings in business between members of the Chamber." Wilkes-Barre is a Centre of Historical Interest The Board of Trade is generally looked upon as a promoter of industrial enterprise, and Wilkes-Barre' s Board of Trade has had considerable to do with the upbuilding of Wilkes-Barre's industries, as is indicated by the fact that the Sheldon Axle Works, the city's largest industrial enterprise, employing now about 2,200 men, was brought to the city originally by the Board of Trade, while the Wilkes-Barre Lace Manufacturing Company, an industry employing nearly 1,500 hands, and the largest concern of its kind in the country, together with other industrial concerns, was brought to the city through Board of Trade efforts. The most recent example of the activity of the Board of Trade in this particular line is indicated in the removal to this city, from Holyoke, Mass., of the plant of the Matheson Automobile Company. This concern was brought to Wilkes-Barre within the five year period of which this publication treats, and in addition to erecting the commodious factory building which is pictured elsewhere in this issue, and greatly enhancing real estate values in the vicinity of the plant through the demand for houses for its employees, the concern employed an average of 474 hands last year, and since its coming to Wilkes-Barre, has paid out the huge sum of $943,000.00 in wages. The Board of Trade also originated and conducted the Centennial Jubilee in 1906, which celebration served to develop civic pride wonderfully, and helped place the city "on the map" through the publicity given to it. As an incident of that celebration, the first automobile hill climb up Giant's Despair was held. This hill climb has since been conducted as an annual affair by the Wilkes-Barre Automobile Club, and has been developed into an event of national importance. The Board's influence has been felt in much state legislation, and it was represented on the "Joint Committee on Election Code of Pennsylvania," through whose activities the Personal Registration and Uniform Primaries Laws were framed and enacted. The Board of Trade's protest Addition to Armour & Co.'s Wholesale House South Pennsylvania Avenue Entrance to Poli Theatre South Main Street Wilkes-Barre's Board of Trade is a Consistent Booster The Hoover Group of Residence Blocks, South Main Street against the creation of a new county was also successful, and locally the Board took a prominent part in such matters as the new court house question, the creation of park and shade tree commissions, etc. The Board has met with hearty co-operation on the part of city councils, and the two organi- zations work in harmony in many projects. In fact, the Board of Trade is supplied with office headquarters in the City Hall by resolution of councils. The recital of some of the achievements of the past only serve to set a high mark for the future, and under the enlargement of its scope of activities as proposed by the new constitution, and through the process of reorganization which it is now undergoing, the immediate future promises great success. Group of Residences on Park Wace, Dorranceton. A Suburban Residential Section. All built within five years PUBLICATION COMMITTEE Charles K. Gloman Chairman Guy W. Moore John Hourigan John W. Raeder Geo. H. Coddington G. T. Kirkendall Daniel L. Hart P. S. Ridsdale Cornell University Library F 159W68 W682 + Wilkes-Barre, the diamond city: a study 3 1924 028 864 218 olin Overs