LOCAL HISTORY: Philo C. Gritman, Esq. surveyed new city of Carbondale
CARBONDALE - "The Pioneer City" is an apt nickname for Carbondale, given its proud legacy of becoming the first chartered city in what became Lackawanna County, Pa., and the fourth city to be charted in Pennsylvania on March 15, 1851.
The village had already quickly grown from its genesis as a hamlet supporting the first active mining of anthracite coal in the 1820's and establishment of the gravity railroad to ship the precious ore to market via the Delaware & Hudson (D&H) Canal which the coal-laden cars met down the other side of the mountain at Honesdale.
This story focuses on one of numerous pioneer men and their wives, men who were responsible for the move to incorporate a city. He was Philo Callendar Gritman, a lawyer who became an active participant in the early days of Carbondale government and went on to represent the county in the State Legislature. His wife was Jane Ball.
Thanks is extended to Dr. S. Robert Powell, historian and executive director of the Carbondale Historical Society & Museum, for his dedicated effort to uncover, interpret and preserve the rich heritage of the Carbondale area. He has written considerably about the area's history, much more so than these articles can hope to bring out, including the life and times of Philo C. Gritman.
Powell states that Gritman was one of the "founding fathers" of Carbondale, one of the most civic-minded and public-spirited citizens who have made up the human fabric of this city in the far northeast corner of Lackawanna County.
Governor William F. Johnson signed charter for a city of the third class on March 15, 1851.
At the time, Carbondale was still in Luzerne County; not that the city pulled up stakes and moved anywhere. Lackawanna County was sectioned off from Luzerne in 1878. Prior to the time the city was incorporated, Carbondale was a borough.
The city had a population of a little under 5,000 at the time it was formed. The mayor's court that was established here extended its jurisdiction into surrounding municipalities of Greenfield, Fell, Carbondale and Scott Townships.
At the time of its incorporation, Carbondale was still reeling from a devastating inferno that had swept the town north of the Public Square, on December 15, 1850.
Before that time there had not been any municipal regulations and no fire department. Ametting was called at Pierson's Hall to deliberate the best course of action. James Archbald chaired the meeting. Archbald (1793- 1870) succeeded John B. Jervis as General Superintendent of the D&H Canal, serving in this position from 1829 to 1854.
It was recommended by Cyrus Abbott to immediately apply for a city charter and a court of record, rather than submit to a borough ordinance. The measure passed unanimously. The Hon. Lewis Jones wrote the charter.
Archbald became the first mayor. He was re-elected three times to serve as mayor of Carbondale, serving four, one-year terms.
There being no city hall in the beginning, the mayor took the oath of office at the Methodist Episcopal Church the evening of March 26, 1851, administered by the Hon. William Jessup, President Judge of Carbondale Judicial District. Mayor's court was first held at the Methodist Church, May 13, 1851, Judge Jessup presiding. The first case heard was one of assault and battery. The trial was held at the local Lackawanna Hotel.
Judge Jessup was for the time being named Recorder. Captain William Brennan was Clerk of Court and J. H. Eastabrook was Marshal.
Surveyed city boundaries
In addition to being an attorney, Gritman was trained as a civil engineer. Powell recorded that Gritman was an active participant in the incorporation as a city and was given the privilege of outlining the boundaries of the City of Carbondale. He also marked out the boundary lines of four wards dividing the city. For these duties he was compensated $15.
Aided by Townsend Poor and Thomas Hartley, Gritman began the survey in the early morning on the New Year's Day, 1851 wading in knee-deep snow. They persevered and surveyed completely around the city that same day.
"The original city lines were established by Mr. Gritman under difficulties that could only be overcome by the ardent civic feeling he had to see the dignity of a city and its powers conferred upon the town that was the birthplace of the great anthracite coal industry," Powell wrote.
The descendants of Philo C. Gritman donated the original Carbondale city seal created at its incorporation, to the Carbondale Historical Society.
In 1852 a wooden courthouse was built at a cost of $3,000. On February 14, 1859 a fire in the jail cell spread and burned down the seat of Carbondale's government. The present brick courthouse- later known as city hall, was built at once. A major addition with the iconic clock tower was erected in the front in 1892.
Life of Philo C. Gritman
Gritman was a native of Sherburne, Chenango County, NY, born October 29, 1828. His father, Dr. William Gritman, was a physician. They were among the early settlers of the Carbondale area, having moved to Dundaff in 1829. In 1847 the family moved into Carbondale where Philo taught at the Carbondale Academy (other references give Franklin Academy or Franklin Lyceum) and Lackawanna Institute (another reference gives Dewey Collegiate Institute). He become the second principal at the Lackawanna Institute, which was located in Temperance Hall at the corner of Church Street and Salem Avenue.
Philo had taken an interest in becoming an attorney. He read law under D. N. Lathrope, Esq., Carbondale's first lawyer. He entered Lathrope's law office. In November 1848 Gritman completed his studies and was admitted to the Luzerne County bar at Wilkes-Barre. Once Lackawanna County was formed, he was admitted to the bar of his new county. For a year Gritman was in partnership with another attorney, Samuel Hodgon. Gritman continued to live in Carbondale where he was a practicing attorney.
He was out of town in 1850 when a downtown fire destroyed the Bronson hotel and along with it, his law office a few doors south. Friends rescued his law library from the advancing flames. Gritman soon established his office.
He also had a law office at 308 Main St., Scranton, in the 1890's.
Carbondale newspapers from the period tell us of some of his legal work. For instance, in 1851 there were advertisements to purchase 10,000 acres of Michigan lands; Gritman was the contact for his client, the seller. The ad ran for at least six months.
LOCAL HISTORY: Bruning's Bakery & Carbondale's Winter Wonderland tie
An 1890 Carbondale directory places his law office at 62 North Main Street, next to his residence at 64 North Main. Google Street View shows what may be this building.
The old post office is across the street.
At the time of his death he was the senior member of the Lackawanna County Bar.
He was elected as district attorney in Carbondale's mayor's court, succeeding George W. Perkins, the first to hold that office, Gritman served in this capacity from 1856 to 1859, and then from 1862-1865 and 1869-1871. Gritman was also the city solicitor for several terms and served on Carbondale's Select and Common Councils.
Gritman was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, serving two one-year terms in 1858 and 1859, representing Luzerne County. He chose not to seek a third term. While in office he was regarded by his colleagues as the Democratic leader of the House and was named a candidate for that role in his second term.
A gifted orator, Carbondale papers printed speeches he made at special occasions. He gave what Powell penned was "a stirring a prophetic talk" on January 25, 1856 at the opening of Richmond's hall, on the third floor of the Pascoe and Scurry building, southeast corner of Salem Avenue and Main Street.
A song for Independence Day
On July 4, 1856, a rousing Independence Day celebration was observed in Dundaff, which at the time was considered a separate community from Carbondale, next door. The day began with the firing of the national salute and raising of the American flag, Carbondale's Lackawanna Citizen reported. At noon a procession started from in from of the Dundaff Hotel, to the Presbyterian church. After an address by Rev. Mr. Ward, they marched back to the hotel for dinner and ceremony. Col. Gould Phiney was appointed President, and Dr. William S. Gritman- Philo's father- was named Vice-President. Numerous toasts were given, some with cold water, some with wine.
We don't know which beverage the Gritmans employed, but here are their toasts:
Dr. William S. Gritman: "A tariff for the support of government, with a reasonable protection - But blister not the hands of the poor, to glove the rich."
Philo C. Gritman: "Our freedom - May it exist until time is wrecked on the shores of non-entity, and mortality swallowed up in oblivion."
The exercises for the day were closed with a song, which was composed for the occasion and sung by Philo C. Gritman. He used the tune to Landlady of France. Here are the first two verses of his lyrics:
...
Gritman delivered a long oration at Carbondale on July 4, 1861. His speech was printed on page one of The Carbondale Advance. He spoke on the great peril and sacred mission before them as the nation splits in Civil War. He summed, "Fellow citizens! Who does not shudder at a thought of a divided country - a severed nation? It must not be!
The Union must and shall be preserved! That this end shall be accomplished, let us upon this day, July 4, 1861, as our fathers did July 4, 1776, pledge each to the other, 'Our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor!'"
In September 1862 Gritman was named captain of the Luzerne Artillorists, a state militia company of 50 men organized in Carbondale. The company was called to Harrisburg when Pennsylvania was invaded by the Confederates. Their services were not needed after the battle of Antietam.
In the 1870's, a false story was being circulated that Carbondale's rich coal deposits were running out. Gritman took this rumor to task, repudiating the claim. He also predicted correctly that in a short time that a railroad would connect Carbondale on the north with the Erie Railroad. The Erie's Jefferson branch was built, linking Carbondale with Lanesboro.
Family
While he was still single, the 1850 census lists Gritman residing at what may have been a boarding house.
Gritman was united in marriage to Jane Ball on August 25, 1852. The wedding was held at the Ball residence on Canaan Street, Rev. O.E. Ward, Presbyterian minister from Dundaff, officiating.
His wife was the eldest daughter of Wiliam and Mary Ann (Smith) Ball, born February 18, 1833.
Jane's father was the first master mechanic of he D&H Gravity Railroad and was superintendent of motive power for the D&H. He has arrived in Carbondale in the 1820's from New York City with five other men to set up the first stationary engines on the gravity railroad planes out of Carbondale. When the railroad opened October 9, 1829, Ball served as the first engineer on Plane No. 1.
She attended finishing school at Maplewood, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
She took the opportunity in 1838 to accompany her father to New York to watch the arrival of the first trans-Atlantic steamer to make regular trips across the Atlantic Ocean, the Great Western. This was the largest ship every built at that time.
Their home stood on the southeast corner of North Main and Lincoln (formerly called Foundry Street), at 64 North Main Street. Pictures show a pleasant wrap-around porch and a central cupola on the roof. There was a very similar house immediately adjacent on North Main. The 1895-96 Carbondale directory lists this residence as 62 North Main.
It also had a cupola but the porch was only in front.
The Gritmans had a son, William B. Gritman, Esq., born in November 20, 1859. He also was a lawyer, and became managing editor of the Carbondale Evening Leader. The 1890 Carbondale directory lists he and his father in business as "P.C and W.B. Gritman," at 62 North Main Street, next door to 64 North Main (the Gritman residence). Perhaps William and his family lived at 62, or they he and his father had offices there.
The Gritman home on the corner is gone. There has been a car wash found at this site in recent years at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and North Main. At one time while the house was still standing, an automotive service station was built in its first floor. The house at 62 is still standing and has been used for a funeral home since the 1930's (currently, Oliver Shifler & Scotchlas Funeral Home, Inc.).
A lover of music, he was quoted in the Carbondale Leader in 1897 as recommending hearing the Mozart orchestra of Carbondale, at the Opera House.
He and his wife did get away, including a refreshing vacation at Nantucket in 1875.
Like so many men of the day, Gritman was very active with fraternal organizations, including the Masonic Lodge and Knights Templar. When the Eureka Chapter, No. 179 of the Masons was organized in 1855 in Carbondale, Gritman was the "Most Excellent High Priest." He was also listed as the Worshipful Master for Lodge No. 249 in 1855; they met at the Odd Fellows Hall, corner of Church and 7th Streets.
He was Captain-General of the Palestine commandery, No. 14, Knights Templar, when this group was established in 1856.
His name was among the board requesting charter for the Carbondale Bank in 1855.
On August 25, 1902 the Gritmans celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary with a large impromptu party. Although they had made no special plans, a number of relatives surprised them at their home on the afternoon of their 50th anniversary. Friends and neighbors followed suit to offer their congratulations, the Carbondale Daily News reported. The occasion was full of reminiscences, Wedding souvenirs from 50 years before were brought out of the Gritman's "treasure box" to enjoy again.
Phil Callendar Gritman died February 10, 1903. There was a large attendance at his funeral at his home.
The Presbyterian minister conducted the service. Gritman was then laid to rest at Maplewood Cemetery.
His wife lived to February 24, 1909.
...
Main Sources
Philo and Jane Gritman/Carbondale Becomes an Incorporated City by S. Robert Powell
Carbondale Historical Society
Carbondale, Pennsylvania 125th Anniversary
Reminiscences of Carbondale, Dundaff, and Providence Forty Years Past (1875) by John Reed Durfee (LackawannaGenWeb)
Newspapers.com
Ancestry.com
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: This story focuses on one of numerous Carbondale men and their wives, men who were responsible for the move to incorporate a city.
