Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/155

 COI.UMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES H'hen it was reorganized under the new name, and the following officers elected: President, H. V. W hile; vice president, Jam es E. R o y s; secretary. G. Edw ard Klwcll, J r .; treasurer, C. H. bharpless; executive committee, F. P. Pursel, W. R. Kochcr. W. M cK. Reber, U w is W. Buckalew, W illiam Lowcnberg. The aim of the association in general is town betterment. Its membership o f over one hun­ dred includes merchants, w W csalc and retail, in all lines, manufacturers, clcrg>'mcn and professional men. It Itas the functions o f a board o f trade, a credit rating bureau, collec­ tion agency and civic club- An office with a stenographer is maintained in the First N a­ tional Bank building. T he officers for 19 14 are the same as above, except the following: Secretary, R. S. H em ingw ay; executive committce. J. S. Coleman, W. R. Kochcr, G. E. Elwell, J r ., William Lowcnberg, Paul Uomboy. O A K OKOVF.

Oak G ro ve Park Association w as organized on M ay 26. 1886, " fo r Ihe purpose o f pur­ chasing Or leasing grounds to be fitted up as a park, within the Town o f Bloomsburg. Pa., or any other portion* of the County o f Columbia, to be used for holding celebrations, picnics, and any and all purposes for which similar places are u se d ." T h e capital stock was $10,000. The incorporators w ere: W. R. TuWts, H ar­ man &- liasscrt, J. R. S c h ille r, Buckalew Brothers, J. C. Brow n. R. C Neal, D.ivid Low cnberg. J. F. Peacock, J. H. Mercer, J. W. G ibb s. I. W. M cK elvy, Jam es M cQ osky, George E. Elw ell, J. L. M oyei. H. H. Grotz, C. V. Meal. G. W. Creveling. C. B. Robbins. F„ Jac o b y. I.. T. Sharplcss, F. P. Billmeyer, L. E. W aller, C. M. Creveling, I. S. Kuhn, C. W. M iller. T h e m ain object o f this organization was to preserve the beautiful grove at East F ifth and ra rk streets, as the town w as in need of such a resort, and it was feared that these fine old trees would be felled for commercial purposes. The com pany made a lease with Mr. Ncsbit and the H oyt heirs, the owners, and pro­ ceeded lo beautify the place. A high fence was built around it. the grounds were cleaned up. a large rustic dancing pavilion w as erected, w ater w as introduced and a fountain con­ structed. walks made, kitchen built, tables and benches and swings provided, and the whole grove made attractive, at a cost o f about ^ ,0 0 0 to the stockholders. A t first it w as patronized fairly well, but

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the income w as not sufficient to pay the rent, so that at the end o f five years the company proposed to turn over the park with all the iinprovcments to the owners, the Land Im­ provement Company, which had purchased it in the meantime, in payment o f rent due. which w as accepted by the latter, and in (891 the lease was cancelled and Oak Grove Park .Association disbanded. The members, who were among the leading business men of the town, lost all they invested, and the town lost a beautiful grove, whose site wilt some day be within the built-up portions o f Bloomsburg. Then the town o f Bloomsburg bought the grove from the Land Improvement Company for $5,500, and paid $1,00 0 on it, under the agreement that the town should pay a rental o f $1,5 0 0 a year, and after a certain number o f pa)'mcnts the town was to own the grove. The rent was not paid, however, as subsc«|ucnt councils refused to recognize the contract, and the company sued the town and obtained a verdict o f $2,300. subject to a reserved ques­ tion of law as to the power of the town to buy parks. In December, 1905, Judge Staples, who heard the case, filed an opinion finding in favo r of the town on the ground that the towtt had no legal right to make the purchase, and therefore the contract could not be en­ forced. In 19 12 the Improvement Conipan_ sold the timber, and it has all been removed, a few stumps being all that is left to mar the site o f this once beautiful grove. B ir P K R T G RO V E

F o r many years the only easily accessible grove in this section was what w as known as H ess' Grove or Rupert Grove, near the bridge over Fishing creek at Rupert. It was used fo r picnics, festivals, camp meetings and otitcr gatherings, and though not b ra e was an attractive spot. It was owned by Thomas K norr and his estate fo r many years before being used as a grove. Reuben Hess bought the K norr property, and fitted up the grove for picnic grounds. F o r a number o f years it was used each summer for a week or more as a camp meeting ground by the A. M. E. Church, and other rathcrings were o f frequent occur­ rence. Subsequently G. V. K eitcr purchased the grove from M r. Hess, and on Jan. 1. 1904. C. .A. KIcim became the owner. H e improved the grounds by enlarging the pavilion and add­ ing to the attractions and conveniences gener­ ally. T he trolley cars on the Catawissa Hne pass close lo the grove, making it easily accessible.