Prior to 1800
Captain Zebulon Butler lived on the southeast corner of Northampton and River streets, directly in front of the old Ferry landing. Here Colonel Ethan Allen was entertained in 1786. In this house Luzerne County was organized, its courts established, and its officials inducted into office by Colonel Timothy Pickering. Lord Butler, son of Zebulon appointed the first Postmaster of Wilkes-Barre in 1794, kept the office here.
Farther down was what was known as "The old red house", built by Capt. John Paul Schott built in 1783 It was about thirty rods from Fort Wyoming which was located near South street on the river common. Here for several years he kept a tavern, and later a store. He was born 15 October 1744 in Prussia. In 1780 he was commandant at Wyoming in the absence of Colonel Butler, being next in command of the garrison. He married, 18 October 1780, Naomi Sills, whose sister's marriage to Nathan Dennison, had been the first to be solemnized in Wilkes-Barre. Captain Schott occupied many public offices and died in Philadelphia, 29 July, 1829, his wife following him, 31 August of the same year.
1802 - 1806
On the corner of Northampton and River Street was the residence and store of Lord Butler, previously described.
Next were the buildings of Lord Butler, the small one the residence of George Griffin, Esq., after his marriage with Lydia Butler.
Then came the house built in 1803 by John W. Robinson, who had come from Susquehanna County in 1800, and married a daughter of Colonel Zebulon Butler.
Next came the hotel of John P. Arndt. A was store adjoining. Mr. Arndt was an enterprising German from Easton, and was largely engaged in the salt and plaster trade. When the Wilkes-Barre and Easton turnpike was completed, Mr. Robinson and J. P. Arndt together kept the leading tavern in the town, in the Arndt house. The first stage line started for Easton and Philadelphia over the Easton turnpike.
Then came to the residence of Joseph Backenstow, a fashionable tailor from Sunbury.
Next stood the old red house built in 1794, by James A. Gordon, a New York carpenter, and occupied from 1802 to 1811 or 12 by Andrew Vogel, hatter.
At the end of River Street at South stood the residence of Rosewell Welles. It was a double house ceiled with pine boards..
On the bank of the river, across from Judge Welles', stood the residence of Jabez Fish. Mrs. Fish kept a school for juveniles.
Prior to 1830
On the southeast corner of Northampton and River streets was the Butler residence, previously described.
Then came the house built in 1803 by John W. Robinson.
Next was the store of John P. Arndt with his storehouse directly opposite, on the river bank.
Thomas H. Morgan kept his tavern in the former Arndt's tavern, with its swinging sign, across the street.
Next came a Mr. Wood.
Then was "The old red house", built by Capt. John Paul Schott built in 1783.
Rosewell Welles lived in a large frame house on the northeast corner of River and South streets. He was one of the four attorneys admitted to the bar upon the erection of Luzerne County and the organization of the courts. He married the eldest daughter of Colonel Zebulon Butler and his home was one of the social centers of the community.
After1840
John L. Butler lived on the corner of Northampton and River street. He was one of the prominent men in the coal business of that day.
Next was Jonathan Slocum, a lawyer.
Next was Houghton R. Robinson, a merchant.
Jesse Dilley, lived at the former Arndt Tavern. He was a cattle dealer and butcher who left a large family of sons and daughters.
On the river common was the residence of old Michael Kienzle, who was high constable many years and a terror to small boys whom he caught on the streets after he rang the curfew bell at 8 o’clock.
Next in order was Nathan Wood a stately old English gentleman who left a large family of sons and daughters and who became prominent in the history of the city.
Next was Mr. Leidy who had a house full of pretty girls.
At the lower end of the river common was a large farm house and an extensive orchard and a still house. A man named Harrington lived there.
At the end of River Street stood the residence of Rosewell Welles. It was a double house, ceiled with pine boards, and I believe was never finished in the second story.
Nearly in front of Judge Welles' stood the residence of Jabez Fish, on the bank of the river. Mrs. Fish kept a school for juveniles.
A short distance above Judge Welles' stood the old red house built. in 1794, by James A. Gordon, a New York carpenter, and occupied from 1802 to 1811 or 12 by Andrew Vogel, hatter.
Turning up we come to the residence of Joseph Backenstow, a fashionable tailor from Sunbury.
The next, the hotel of John P. Arndt, and a store adjoining. Mr. Arndt was an enterprising German from Easton, and was largely engaged in the salt and plaster trade.
The next were the buildings of Lord Butler, the small one the residence of George Griffin, Esq., after his marriage with Lydia Butler.
On the corner of Northampton Street was the residence and store of Lord Butler, and directly in front of the old Ferry landing. (James A. Gordon)
Prior to 1830
Starting at South street and going North, Rosewell Welles lived in a large frame house on the northeast corner of River and South streets, on the side of the present F. M. Kirby residence. He was one of the four attorneys admitted to the bar upon the erection of Luzerne County and the organization of the courts. He married the eldest daughter of Colonel Zebulon Butler and his home was one of the social centers of the community.
Next to Mr. Welles Capt. John Paul Schott built in 1783, what was known as "The old red house", about thirty rods from Fort Wyoming located near South street on the river common. Here for several years he kept a tavern, and later a store. He was born 15 October 1744 in Prussia. In 1780 he was commandant at Wyoming in the absence of Colonel Butler, being next in command of the garrison. He married, 18 October 1780, Naomi Sills, whose sister's marriage to Nathan Dennison, had been the first to be solemnized in wilkes Barre. Captain Schott occupied many public offices and died in Philadelphia, 29 July, 1829, his wife following him, 31 August of the same year.
A Mr. Wood lived north of Captain Schott.
Thomas H. Morgan kept his tavern next with its swinging sign, across the street, while next to him was the store of John P. Arndt with his storehouse directly opposite, on the river bank.
Then came the house built in 1803 by John W. Robinson, who had come from Susquehanna County in 1800, and married a daughter of Colonel Zebulon Butler. This property remained a part of the Robinson estate for sixty years, when it was sold to Dr. Edward Mayer, about 1868. When the Wilkes-Barre and Easton turnpike was completed, Mr. Robinson and J. P. Arndt together kept the leading tavern in the town, in the Arndt house.
Captain Zebulon Butler lived on the southeast corner of Northampton street, the site of the present Judge John Butler Woodward home. Here Colonel Ethan Allen was entertained in 1786. In this house Luzerne County was organized, its courts established, and its officials inducted into office by Colonel Timothy Pickering. Lord Butler, son of Zebulon appointed the first Postmaster of Wilkes-Barre in 1794, kept the office here. (Old Map)
1840's
On the opposite corner was John L. Butler one of the prominent men in the coal business of that day.
Next was Jonathan Slocum, a lawyer.
Next was Houghton R. Robinson, a merchant.
Next was Jesse Dilley, a cattle dealer and butcher who left a large family of sons and daughters. His residence was then known as the Arndt Tavern, from which the first stage line started for Easton and Philadelphia over the Easton turnpike.
On the river common was the residence of old Michael Klenzle, who was high constable many years and a terror to small boys whom he caught on the streets after he rang the curfew bell at 8 o’clock.
Next in order was Nathan Wood a stately old English gentleman who left a large family of sons and daughters and who became prominent in the history of the city.
Next was Mr. Leidy who had a house full of pretty girls.
At the lower end of the river common was a large farm house and an extensive orchard and a still house. A man named Harrington lived there. (J. Bennett Smith)
