
Laceyville PA Attractions
Oldest House | Susquehanna River | Out
and About Laceyville | Surrounding NEPA Attractions
PA Events : Local Area Events : Sojourners Visit Laceyville : Community Days : Oldest House
Hunting & Fishing Guide : Wedding Guide : Artists & Crafts Guide
A
welcome sight to travelers on the old North Branch Canal boats on
the Old North Branch Canal boats, over a hundred years ago was the
house, which is still standing and known as "The Oldest
House", where passengers could enjoy a cool drink, or stock up on
tobacco and food for the remaining portion of their journey.
This scene, however, did not occur until nearly a
hundred years after the house was built, for it was in 1781 that
Eliha Hall, the areas first carpenter, completed the house for the
James Smith Family.
Wonderfully preserved "The Oldest House" stands
erect today with every chink and corner revealing a story of the
simple living of the past and legends of history.
The house is built around a large fireplace
measuring 8 x 12 feet in the basement keeping room, with two
openings on that level and three on the main floor. The original
hanging irons, as well as hardware elsewhere in the house were
forged by a local blacksmith shop.
The house was built to face the river. It has been
occupied by many families through the years, among them the
Lacey's for whom the town is named. The last family was the Gordon
Morrison's, who restored the house in the late 1940's much as you
see it today, except for the porch, which "The Oldest House
Historical Society" had done along with quite a bit of other work
in 1990.
Regarded as the oldest frame house in four
counties (Wyoming, Bradford, Sullivan, and Susquehanna), The
Oldest House remains a well preserved monument to the pioneer days
of this region's past and its people.
The Oldest House is located on E. Main St., Laceyville, Pa.
Tours for 2006 are: June 15 through September 15, Thursday through
Sunday between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. Contact us early to schedule
your tour for next year. Arrangements may also be made for clubs
and small groups to tour the home by calling 570-869-1245 or
570-869-1540.
The Susquehanna River located just two
blocks from downtown Laceyville offers a multitude of activities
from fishing, picnicking and a quiet scenic view. There is a
landing to launch boats or canoes from, a parking area and a
picnic area where the calming effects of the river may be enjoyed
by all. The man in the boat happened to catch a fish as I was
taking this picture. He was trolling along when suddenly he
started yelling. He had caught a fish of some size and the fish
was pulling backwards as he was working to reel in his catch. It
was very exciting for a while to see his excitement and struggles
to bring in his prize. Several times the head of the fish could be
seen above the water's surface. Just as he had finally gotten the
fish to the edge of the boat, he lost it. He had hooked its tail.
Still it was certainly a lively few moments. Today, the river is popular for not only fishing but canoeing and kayaking trips. To schedule a trip contact Endless Mountains Outfitters.
|