The Director’s Column
Regular Passenger Service on the D&H Began in 1860
By S. Robert Powell, Ph.D.
In 1859, the first passenger car to be run over the D&H Gravity line in the Lackawanna Valley made a trip from Carbondale to the foot of Plane C in Archbald. The car, we learn from a contemporary newspaper article, was like the cars with the side seats that were used in later years on excursions. A car, loaded two-thirds full with culm and saturated with water (to keep it from flying into the passengers’ faces), was run in front to give impetus on the levels. Among the D&H officials on this trip was Charles Pemberton Wurts.* The trip to the foot of Plane C, later known as Plane 21, at Archbald, was made in 23 minutes. That time proving satisfactory, passenger cars were ordered to be built.
In November 1859, another experimental passenger run was made on the Gravity Railroad, this time "to the new village of Olyphant." About this run, we learn more from an article titled "Railroad Communication," that was published in the November 12, 1859 issue of the Carbondale Advance: “Railroad Communication. / We understand a party of our people were favored with a ride upon the extension of the Company’s Railroad to the new village of Olyphant. A more general party took a similar excursion on Wednesday, and on Thursday another, including all that had notice, leisure and inclination for the trip. A comfortable passenger car has been provided, well seated, and the trip we learn is made very safely and pleasantly in less than hour.” Regular passenger service to the foot of Plane No. 23 was established shortly thereafter, with full loads each way.
Without delay, the D&H then constructed an extension of the Company’s Gravity Railroad, about 4 1/2 miles long, from the foot of Plane 23 to a point on the western shore of the Lackawanna River. From that point, to become known as Valley Junction, dual-gauge tracks (Gravity and standard gauge), four miles in length, were laid to Providence. This extension to Providence was completed in February, 1860.
Those four miles of standard-gauge tracks on the western shore of the Lackawanna River were the first embodiment of what would become known as the Valley Road from Carbondale to Scranton. Those four miles of standard-gauge tracks were also the first standard-gauge tracks on the Pennsylvania Division, which would ultimately be extended to the South to Hudson (Mill Creek) and to the North to Nineveh.
The passenger cars to Providence, which were very quickly upgraded by the D&H from the perspective of passenger comfort and warmth, were very popular with the public.
In the February 18, 1860 issue of the Carbondale Advance, we read: “. . . the Passenger Cars now run on the Del. & Hud. Canal Co.'s Railroad to Providence, within two and one-half miles of Scranton, have become an established and highly popular institution. They far exceed the most sanguine anticipations. The trip to Providence is a pleasure. The cars are elegant and comfortable, well cushioned and well warmed, and they run by gravity on fair locomotive time. The mails reach us in about one and a half hours from Scranton, and passengers arrive in good spirits, full of praises for the cars. / Depots are about being built here, and every disposition is manifested to provide fully for the convenience of freight and travel."
On April 17, 1860, the following D&H schedule was published: “The Carbondale and Providence passenger trains, until further notice, will run as follows: Leave Carbondale at 6:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., and 2:00 p.m. Returning leave Providence at 8:15 a.m., 11 a.m., 4:40 p.m. Omnibuses will be waiting for the conveyance of passengers to and from the trains upon the Del., Lack. and Western and Bloomsburg Railroads. / C. P. WURTS / Supt. D. & H. C. Co.”
Regular passenger service on the Gravity Railroad from Carbondale to Honesdale began on April 5, 1877. The fare was 80 cents. There were two trains daily. The first one left Carbondale at 8:15 A.M. and the second at 3:15 P.M. The passenger trains left Honesdale for Carbondale at 7:30 A.M. and 2:45 P.M.
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Charles Pemberton Wurts (1824-1892) was one of the most remarkable D&H officials in the nineteenth century. He was the son of George Wurts, who was a brother of Maurice and William Wurts, the founders of the D&H and of the city of Carbondale. His uncle, John Wurts, who later adopted C. P. Wurts, was the third president of the D&H. In 1854, C. P. Wurts married Laura Jay, great granddaughter of Supreme Court Justice and diplomat, John Jay.
Soon after his arrival in Carbondale in 1843, C. P. Wurts was appointed assistant to James Archbald, the general superintendent of the D&H, serving in that capacity until James Archbald removed to Scranton in 1853, at which time C. P. Wurts assumed entire charge of the D&H's affairs.
C. P. Wurts, who negotiated, brilliantly, the first D&H labor/management confrontation, in 1857, was one of the founders of the Dickson Manufacturing Company, and under his direction the Valley Road (Carbondale to Scranton), and the highly innovative 1859 configuration of the D&H Gravity Railroad were constructed. He served as D&H superintendent until 1864, when Thomas Dickson came onto the scene.
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D&H Caboose No. 35964 now on display beside Carbondale City Hall. Working together to celebrate Carbondale’s astonishing history and to create a bright future for the Pioneer City.
The City of Carbondale and the Carbondale Historical Society placed this important D&H railcar, “35964,” on display in downtown Carbondale, on August 15, 2021.
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Friends of D&H Caboose No. 35964
One of the primary missions of the Carbondale Historical Society is to preserve important artifacts from Carbondale’s historic past. One such artifact is D&H Caboose No. 35964, which the Society acquired in December 2010, and which was put on display next to Carbondale City Hall in August 2021.
When the Historical Society purchased the Caboose in 2010, a “Friends” group was established. That “Friends” group is still in existence (with 85 members at present), and we continue to welcome all persons who are interested in this Caboose and its future to become members of the “Friends of D&H Caboose No. 35964”.
To become a member, and to help create a bright future for this important D&H railcar, complete the membership form given below, and mail your tax-deductible contribution (perhaps in honor of a living person or in memory of a deceased person who worked for the D&H or in the anthracite coal mining industry*) to:
Carbondale Historical Society, Post Office Box 151, Carbondale, PA 18407
Your name
Your address
Phone and E-Mail
* All donors will be listed in the official historical logbook of the history of Caboose No. 35964. Those who donate $100 or more will be presented with a certificate recognizing their contribution on behalf of Caboose No. 35964.
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Members of the Friends of D&H Caboose No. 35964, as of July 21, 2022:
1. Richard T. Buberniak
2. S. Robert Powell
3. Mary R. Monahan
4. Jack & Connie Buberniak
5. Mr. & Mrs. John A. Brennan,
In Memory of John A. Loftus #16. L. Fred Thomas (New York)
7. Martin L. Langan (Greenfield Township)
8. Jermyn Historical Society (Jermyn)
9. Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Di Marino (New York),
In Memory of Angelo Pinzone10. Toulla & Joseph Vitale
11. Linda Starzer,
In memory of Edward "Sam" Coxe12. Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Cassaro,
In memory of Patrick A. Cassaro III13. Thomas & Ellen Farrell
14. Joseph E. Kuna, Philadelphia, PA,
In memory of Mary Faith McDonough15. Kimberly L. McCarthy, Frazer, PA,
In memory of Luther S. Belles16. Marion B. Richards,
In memory of Luther S. Belles17. Paul I. Jacks, San Diego, CA,
In memory of Evelyn Jacks Cardonick18. Dr. Rodney D. Brown, Waymart, PA
19. John A. Gummo, Beech Creek, PA
20. John V. Buberniak, Fresno, CA
21. Genevieve G. Burke & Rose Marie Coleman,
In memory of Thomas L. Burke22. Ron Gilroy
23. Mary T. Pollitts
24. Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Postlethwaite
25. Jane M. Varcoe
26. Milana J. Williams
27. Thomas J. Connor,
In memory of Gerard W. Connor28. Robert W. Avery, (Rochester, NY),
In memory of Raymond Avery29. Elizabeth M. Dowd
30. Mary Shaw
31. Jack Race
32. Mike & Gwen Delfino
33. The Dougher, Spellman,& Davies families
34. Neil M. Davis, D.O.,
In memory of Thomas Davis35. Charles Carroll, (Endwell, NY),
In memory of Gerard B. Carroll & Harry Nelson36. Julianne M. Pazin
37. The Carbondale Business Association
38. Robert H. Berry, (Brockport, NY),
In memory of Raymond & Elinor Berry,
(Jerymn PA)39. Leo B. Burke, (Vestal, NY)
40. The Price Insurance Agency
41. Tony Mikloiche
42. Michael J. Yavorosky, (Hop Bottom, PA)
43. Tom Horlacher, (Scranton, PA)
44. Joan O. Peters, (Kingsley, PA),
In memory of Frank Edwin Peters45. Frances Grecco,
In memory of Joseph Grecco46. Mary Louise Dougher, (Greenlawn, NY),
In memory of Genevieve Burke47. Michael & Debrah Dougher, (Chattanooga, TN),
In memory of Genevieve Burke48. The family of Margaret A. & Joseph L. Moran,
In memory of Dorothy Moran49. Mary E. Conomos
50. Rose Marie Coleman,
In memory of Genevieve Burke51. Colleen Baltrusaitis, (Throop, PA),
In memory of Genevieve Burke52. Charles & Ann Marie Carroll,
In memory of Genevieve Burke53. The Free family,
In memory of Genevieve Burke54. Anthony Marino,
In memory of Angelina Pinzone55. Jerry & Sophia Fives
56. Dunmore Historical Society
57. Teresa Bomba
In memory of Nicholas J. Bomba58. Teresa Bomba
In memory of Nancy Bomba-Angeloni59. Nancy & John Hollenback
In memory of Raymond Rice-Hollenback60. The Moran Children
In memory of Margaret A. & Joseph L. Moran61. Robert Schroeder
62. Mr. &. Mrs. Charles Grim
In memory of Elizabeth H. Rose63. Ms. Ruth Edwards
In memory of Ellsworth H. Rose64. Small Town Red Hatters
In memory of Jean Burke65. Mr. & Mrs. Edward Jankauskas
In memory of Ellsworth H. Rose66. Mr. Eddie Jankauskas Jr.
In memory of Ellsworth H. Rose67. Mr. Chris Jankauskas
In memory of Ellsworth H. Rose.68. Jeff and Judy Belch
In memory of Ellsworth H. Rose69. David W. Owens
In memory of Ellsworth H. Rose70. David R. Wright
In memory of Bessie Patten-Powderly71. Mr. Edward G. Hughes
In memory of Ellsworth H. Rose72. Mr. & Mrs. John Schott
In memory of Ellsworth H. Rose73. Rose Marie Coleman
In memory of Jenny Redmond74. Rose Marie Coleman
In memory of Anthony Cerminaro75. David K. Edwards
In memory of Ellsworth H. Rose76. Susan L. Victor
In memory of Ellsworth H Rose77. Joan Cosgrove
78. Walkercise Class at the Y
In memory of Jean Burke79. Donald McCarthy
80. Gerald C. Palko
81. Friends of Justin Taylor
82. William A. Collier
83. Simpson VFW
84. Charles & Marie Carroll
In memory of Alan Wills85. Friends of Welsh Music,
Jerry Williams & Ted Frutchey86. Robert Bifano, Archbald, PA:
“In Memory of His Father, Sam Bifano,
and His Grandfather, Giuseppe Bifano,
both D&H Engineers”87. David A. Freedman, Rehovot, Israel
“In Honor of My Friends
Growing Up in Carbondale”88. Carmine Artone, Front Royal, VA
89. Alice & Joe Scotchlas, Simpson, PA
90. John F. Fagan, Carbondale, PA:
In Memory of his Grandfather, P. Edward Fagan,
who was born in Ormskirk, England,
and who worked for the D&H,1915-1946,
as a trainman-brakeman”91. Joe Callahan & Margaret Callahan Russell
In memory of Margaret (Peg) Callahan92. Lynda Raitala, Whitesburg, TN.
“In Memory of William John Finney
& Gerald Graham Finney,
My Grandfather and Uncle,
Who Worked for the D&H
in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s”93. Patricia Morell, 187 Washington Street, Carbondale.
“In Memory of Leonard R. Perri”94. Matthew Levine,
10 Hendrick Lane, Carbondale, PA95. Martin L. Langan:
“In Memory of James F. Moran”96. Joe Callahan & Margaret Callahan Russell
“In Memory of Joseph Leo Callahan,
who was killed in the D&H Yard
on March 18, 1920”97. Shirley A. Trayford, Goshen, IN
98. Mike & Treena Bischak, Simpson, PA
99. Vincent J. O’Bell, Olyphant, PA
100. Carol (Emmett) Peknik, Watertown, NY
“In Memory of Arthur R. Emmett,
who worked for the D&H for 50 years”101. Richard E. Thomas, Sandy Lake, PA
“In Memory of Ellsworth H. Rose,
D&H Engineer;
Edgar Rose,
foreman,Hudson Coal Co.; and
John E. Thomas,
D&H fireman/engineer, 1909-1939”
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Carbondale Historical Society and Museum, Inc.
Location: One North Main Street, Third Floor, Carbondale, PA 18407
Mailing Address: Post Office Box 151, Carbondale, PA 18407
E-Mail Address: carbondalehistorical@gmail.com
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, noon to 5 P.M.; Saturday by appointment
Phone: 570-282-0385
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This level of membership lasts a lifetime!
David W. Maxey, Gladwyne, PA
Carol J. Peknik, Watertown, NY
Donald W. Powell II, Clifford Township, PA
Margaret E. Russell, Apopka, FL
Shirley A. Trayford, Goshen, IN
AJ’s Bar and Grill / Dan Totsky, Carbondale
Attorney Harry T. Coleman, Carbondale
Attorney John Coleman, Pasadena, CA
Anthony DiMarino, Massapequa Park, NY
Vincent O’Bell, Olyphant, PA
Jane M. Varcoe, Waymart, PA
Joseph A. Talerico, Levittown, PA
Robert Bifano, Archbald, PA
Bernard W. Kalt, Port Matilda, PA
George Essif family, Lancaster, PA
Mary and Bob Tomaine and family, Carbondale
Alan and Diane Kurlansky, Carbondale
Gary E. Lippi, Carbondale
Sharon Marie Miller, Flemington, NJ
Cody Gonsauls, Childs, PA
Robert A. Ryczak, Opelika, AL
Barbara Sprovkin and family, Poyntelle, PA
Cindy Klenk and Behnam Bakhshandeh , Crystal Lake, PA
Eugene Brown, Jr., Hawley, PA
Matthew T. Buberniak, Carbondale
Jason Thomas, Lansdale, PA
John LaDue, Carbondale
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Kathy Land, Waymart, PA
Donna Dombroski, Carbondale
Fred Moase family, Carbondale
Marie P. Greto, Carbondale
Ann Marie Pettinato, Carbondale
Marjanie Hellman, Waymart, PA
Martin Langan, Greenfield Township, PA
Donald Law, Show Low, AZ
S. Robert Powell, Carbondale
Alice and Joe Scotchlas, Simpson
Mark Evans, Carbondale
Sean Farber, Carbondale
Anne Malesky Rose, Melbourne, FL
Peter Pettinato, Carbondale
Mary Cay and Jim Tomaine, Endicott, NY
David Freedman, Israel
Gloria A. Wilson, Waymart, PA
Susan Valentine, Alexandria, VA
Marty Mulholland, Hertford, North Carolina
John Fagan, Carbondale
Trudy Gerlach, Wyalusing, PA
Charles Carroll, Endwell, NY
John Bifano, Cape Coral, FL
Michele Bannon, Carbondale
David Dottle, Davenport, FL
Ronald F. Krastek, Greenfield Township, PA
Lynda Raitala, Whitesburg, TN
Carl E. Reichart and Jason Smith, Honesdale, PA
Joe Callahan, Dickinson, ND
Mary Shaw, Carbondale
Jennifer Suwak, Toms River, NJ
Patti Rodis, San Diego, CA
Kimberly and Donald McCarthy, Carbondale
Nancy Moran, Port Orange, FL
Jeff Davis, Naches, WA
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Linda Rupp, Carbondale, PA
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Matthew Levine’s Column:
Matthew Levine – The Carbondale Report, October 24, 2023:
This is Matthew Levine, from the Carbondale Report, here to inform all of you about a four-week-long genealogy class I have been enrolled in at the University of Scranton!
The class has been held every Saturday this October between 9:30 AM and 12:00 PM. It is intended to provide its students with an introduction to genealogy and how its practitioners utilize it to conduct research on family history. Particularly, the class focuses on the software that genealogists use, as well as the source materials they consult. These range from local cemetery and church records, to city directories, and to certificates pertaining to births, deaths, and marriages. Genealogists also utilize American census records, for instance, in determining how many people made up a household.
For a fledgling historian dabbling in local events, this class has been a useful opportunity to help boost my credentials. While I do not intend to pursue genealogy as a full-time career, I do intend on continuing to utilize the research methods that genealogists take advantage of on a daily basis. I am familiar with the software that they use, anyways, having done my research at the Wayne County Historical Society.
The previous was a snippet of the genealogy class I have been taking at the University of Scranton. Once again, feel free to check out my future columns for more history-related topics!
Matthew Levine–The Carbondale Report: October 24, 2023