Black Diamond RR Bridge

The Black Diamond bridge of the Wilkes-Barre Connecting Railroad in South Wilkes-Barre, from yesterday morning. The bridge is currently used by the Canadian Pacific.

Don Clark's Miniature Memories

A few views of Don Clark's Miniature Memories at the Steamtown Mall from last Saturday.

Cleveland: Lincoln Funeral

150 years ago today, Friday, April 28, 1865, President Lincoln's funeral train stopped in Cleveland, it was a fortnight since the assassination.

Page 2 of The Cleveland Morning Leader, April 28, 1865.

The city was draped in mourning, most every dwelling, rich and poor alike, along with all businesses were "most mournfully expressively" decorated. By daybreak the thoroughfares of the city were thronged with vehicles of every description as crowds made their was to the Euclid Avenue - Willson Street station of the Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad. The train arrived at 7:20 AM and was greeted with a 36 gun salute. The coffin was unloaded and placed upon a hearse with was covered in white flowers and flags. The local pallbearers were: Former Governor Tod, R.P. Spalding, J.C. Diven, General E.P. Buckland, H.B. Payne, Judge H.V. Willson, J.A. Foot, William B. Castle, A. Everett, Amasa Stone Jr, Stillman Witt, and L.A. Pierce. The procession was led by the Camp Chase band, playing dirges, moved down Willson Street to Prospect Avenue where it was met by a civic honor guard, then doubled back to Euclid Avenue, where it slowly moved down the street. The procession was nearly two miles long, comprised with military units, followed by the general public. At Erie Street (East 9th) the procession turned north, then west on Superior to Monument Park (Public Square). A ceremony was held in the pavilion in the park once the procession arrived, shortly after 9 AM. After the lid of the coffin was removed, and the body prepared for viewing, various groups presented floral arrangements, The Soldier's Aid Society, The Colored Soldiers Aid Society, as well as from private citizens. Bishop Charles Petit McIlvaine read from the Episcopal burial book followed by The Lord's Prayer and a benediction. Honor guards then took their place and the pavilion was opened to the public. 

Photos from The Western Reserve Historical Society.

Few problems marked the public viewing, unlike other cities, where some had riots, the pavilion was arranged for easy entrance and exits. The viewing lasted until 10 PM and an estimated 65,000, and quite possibly more, viewed the remains. The crowds thinned out after 6 PM, although a number of people lingered to get a better view of the Great Emancipator. The coffin was resealed at 10 PM with the night an inky black and the rain falling in torrents and plans for an evening procession were scrapped. At 10:30 PM the cortege left the park and made it's way to Union Depot, at the foot of Vineyard Street, followed by a large crowd who despite the deluge wished to see the martyred leader off. Once the train departed for Columbus the crowd was led back up the hill by the Father Matthew Temperance Band which played a quickstep. The crowd then dispersed into the night.

President Lincoln was interred in his hometown of Springfield Illinois on May 4, 1865.

Scranton Mansion

The former home of William Scranton, now part of the University of Scranton.

Step Falls

Step Falls from the Harrison Avenue bridge this afternoon.

River Street

Looking west on River Street from Crown Avenue last Sunday afternoon.

Delaware-Lackawanna 405

D-L 405 crossing Lackawanna Avenue this afternoon.

Delaware-Lackawanna: Northbound Freight

A northbound Delaware-Lackawanna freight, at the Boulevard Avenue crossing, Dickson City Pa, 12:30 PM, Monday, April 20, 2015. The D&H freight house is visible in the bottom two on the right.

Legends Saloon

We stopped by Legends Saloon at 750 Boulevard Avenue in Dickson City the other day for lunch. The food was great and the service was excellent! We highly recommend it.

Click on the menus for a closer look.

Embassy Vinyl

We stopped by Embassy Vinyl, 352 Adams Avenue, at Mulberry Street, on Saturday for Record Store Day. They had a live band playing and a crowd there to see them. This is always a good store to visit. If they don't have what we want at The Electric Mindshaft, we stop here.

Electric Mindshaft

A few views of the Electric Mindshaft, at 227 Lackawanna Avenue on Record Store Day 2015. It's always a worthwhile visit! Next time you're in town, stop by.

View From The Roundhouse

View from the Steamtown roundhouse on Saturday morning.

Ernie Pyle

70 years ago yesterday, April 18, 1945, Ernie Pyle was killed by a Jap sniper on the Pacific Island of Ie Shima. Pyle was a popular travel columnist for the Scripps - Howard newspaper chain before the war. When the was began he was sent to England when his dispatches of the Nazi bombing of London became legendary. His best columns were anthologized in the best selling books, Ernie Pyle in England, Here is Your War, Brave Men, and Last Chapter. Some of his work was adapted in the 1945 picture, The Story of GI Joe. Following the war a number of his travel columns were published in Home Country. His wartime stories give a vivid picture of the life of an average soldier. His prewar travel columns paint a picture of an America that is long gone. Two anthologies of his work were published in the mid 1980's, Ernie's War and Ernie's America.

For more information on Ernie Pyle, read his books, or go to The Ernie Pyle WWII Museum.