Beechwood
Just outside Truman, between Emporium and St. Marys hides a quiet little village called Beechwood, Pennsylvania.
Railroad Tracks heading towards Beechwood Station
According to Beer's History of the Counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter County , Pennsylvania, "West creek was not settled for a long time after the other places we have noted had been occupied. The brothers, John and Benjamin Morrison*, moved up the stream in 1844, and cleared farms; Adam Armstrong also cleared a farm in the vicinity. In 1841 William Gwin and Windell Bartholomew made clearings up near the Beechwood station", The 1820 McKean County census for Shippen Township lists 16 families .The 1830 McKean County census for Shippen Township lists 104 people or 7 unique surnames. The 1840 McKean County census for Shippen Township lists 31 families . The 1850 McKean County census for Shippen Township lists surnames common to Truman/Beechwood area (Morrison, Piersall (Pearsall) and Burlingame) though in the previous censuses the pioneers of Rich Valley were listed (Housler, Lewis, Chadwick etc.) and those common to the Emporium area (Freeman, Earl, Crow etc.) were listed.
My great grandfather, George Phillip Markert and his wife, Dorothy Weiss Markert, came from NY to Beechwood in 1870's George was a blacksmith in the lumbering operation.
We metal detected the family homestead and found a lot of interesting pieces, some old some not so old yet interesting nonetheless.
The exact location will not be identified in an effort to preserve and protect the privacy of those who live there and those who are lucky enough to visit. I am one of the lucky ones and for this reason, I share its story. My family has held close their hearts the tranquil beauty of nature and history.
According to Wikipedia: The Philadelphia and Erie Railroad operated in Pennsylvania between 1861 and 1907 and later merged into the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR).
The train was a major mode of transportation and major employer. The Cameron County Press advertised excursions to various locations such as Atlantic City, Ocean City, Wildwood and Cape May , NJ. Beechwood Station was located near the center of Beechwood but there was also a train maintenance shed and residence house to for the the Supervisor or Foreman and the family.
The Pennsylvania Railroad section foreman was John Lawson. In March 1911 (according to the Cameron County Press) Lawson had been the position with PRR for 29 years. In 1900, the Track boss was Martin Lawson, John Lawson's son. John Lawson lived in what was considered the "Supervisor" house with his wife and at seven children. Being unable to remove the railroad hand car off the railroad tracks, the men jumped off the car except for John Lawson and William Filling, assistant supervisor**, who were hit by the oncoming train hit. John Lawson died of traumatic head injuries and William Filling suffered from his injuries the remainder of his life. In the 1920 census, Samuel Hopkins was the Track foreman.
The supervisor's home was set back from the railroad 150 feet or so. The PRR tool shed was to the west of the house. There is nothing remaining but an depression in the ground where a structure once stood. The old foundation is connected to the tracks by a pathway/ road. This makes me believe that this foundation was the maintenance shed. There were a large amount of kitchenware located behind the foundation, not sure why if it was the shed though.
Photo on the left shows one of porcelain lids that we found. It only had bits of paper thin pieces of metal. Photo on the right shows what it would look like if the zinc lid would have survived.
A George Warner lumber tag was found! Click on the link above to find out more about George Warner.
Shells...this is just a sampling of what we found.
Some of the tools, pick axes, hoes, hammer and axes
Eagle Stove piece, stove handle, spike, square nails, etc.
Keys, silverware, harmonica reeds, drawer pulls, pocket watch salt and pepper shaker lids, toy wheel, 1863, 1871, 1889 & 1891 Indian head pennies, 1898 Canadian 5 cent coin, and 1910 wheat penny!
We metal detected the area of where we suspect a shed was located. Even though it had been detected before, we found 2 1/2 ax heads, square nails, standard size and a very small (narrow line) railroad spikes, an PRR railroad knuckle pin and a beautifully detailed PRR brass lock and miscellaneous junk. We are fairly certain that this was at the area of the railroad shed location.
Note: The phrase "It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop" came from reference to this coupler pin. If the engineer and brakeman worked well together , the coupling would engage easily and join together quietly enough to hear it go "clink".
I vaguely remember as a child a very old fire truck with a crank on the front. It was towed away many years ago but I don't know what ever became of it. Could the 1921 license plate that we pulled from the ground be from the old firetruck??
Logging was huge in Beechwood, so finding an ax head wouldn't be a surprise but the ones that we have found combined with ones that were previously found makes a total of 10 double blades, one single blade and a pick-ax.
Could my great grandfather have made these? Hard to say for certain but there is always a possibility considering that he was a blacksmith and lived "a stone throw" away from railroad tool shed.
At the area where the old supervisor's house, we found a butter knife handle with just a stub of the rusty blade remaining, a partial spoon, 4 or 5 milk glass canning lids, pieces of a dresser hardware, pieces of oil lamps, pocket knife, two religious charms, etc.
This Photo is from Mason Clark's Railroad Handcar Information Site.
The link below will take you to that location for more old photos:
Johnsonburg News, March 27, 1914:
John Lawson Killed
Brother of Two Johnsonburg Ladies Was Killed on P & E Yesterday.
"Yesterday about noon Mrs. Danile HALEY and Mrs. Michael DIVANY, both of this place, received a telephone message announcing the death of their brother, John Lawson, who was track foreman on the P & E. at Beechwood, between St. Mary and Emporium. He was struck by train No 42, the east bound passenger that leaves here at 10:46. It is understood Mr. Lawson and the crew were getting the hand car off the track as the passenger train came around a curve and struck them, Mr. Lawson being killed and one man of the crew was badly injured and was taken to Emporium. Deceased was aged about 55 years, and leaves his wife and seven children, three of whom are married, and the others, the youngest a boy of 13, are at home. Interment will be made at Emporium. Mr. and Mrs. Haley, Mr. and Mrs. Divany, John and Michael Haley, left last night to attend the funeral.
PA Death Certificate lists birth date as June 22, 1857, born in Ireland, s/o Michael Lawson and Margaret O'Neil. Burial at St Marks Cemetery, Emporium, PA
Findagrave link: John Michael Lawson
Here's a link to a Historical P & E Railroad with Cameron County information.
Pennsylvania Railroad Stations Past & Present
*1850 McKean County Shippen Twp. census lists John and Benjamin Morrison as the son of Jeremiah and Elizabeth Morrison. Benj. Morrison was list of Jurors for 1860 in the May 12, 1860 McKean Citizen edition.
** Cameron County History: Filling Family (F241)