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The community of Branchville is about one half square mile in size, and was a part of
the surrounding Township of Frankford. Frankford Township had been established in 1797. In
1898 Branchville broke away from Frankford and was incorporated as a separate Borough.
The first meeting of the newly-formed town council was held on April 3, 1898 at "D.L.B. Smith's."
The record does not say whether it was in his home or his store. Dr. J. C. Price was the first
mayor. Joseph Thompson was appointed Marshall of the Borough and Flyod Decker was appointed
Overseer of the Poor.
Among the first actions taken by the council was to officially establish street names. These
were set up April 30, 1898 listing the following: Main, Broad, Newton avenue, Wintermute Avenue,
Dalrymple Place, Mill, Fox Hill Road, Walnut Lane, Lloyd Avenue, Mattison Avenue, Bowman Alley,
High Street(better known as Church Hill), Highland Avenue, Morris Avenue, and Park Alley. The
manner of describing locations were, for example, "Broad Street-from Smith's Store to A.N. Roe's."
The first two ordinances passed, both dated June 20, 1898, pertained to designating streets
and highways in which telephone poles could be erected. There were two telephone companies-Hudson
River Telephone Co. and the Sussex Telephone Co. In the days before unification of communication
utilities, communities and cities were served by several telephone companies, with serious inconvenience
especially to business houses who were obliged to install telephones of all companies in order to
reach the different subscribers.
Ordinance #3 required that all bicycles, tricycles and similar vehicles be equipped with a light
and an "alarm bell."
Ordinance #4 prohibited throwing ashes and garbage into the streets.
Ordinance #5 prohibited pasturing any "cattle, sheep, goats or swine on any street, public square,
or sidewalk.
On April 22,1898, the Marshall was authorized to purchase a mattress and a pail for the town jail, but
it was not until April 16, 1906 that the Marshall was authorized to obtain a pair of handcuffs, so whether
the offenders in the 20th Century had changed to something more violent than those of the late Victorian
Era we shall have to leave to speculation. The jail, incidentally, was not an advanced penal institution but
rather something that resembled a monkey cage with open bars all around. In winter the snow blew in as did
the rain, so this Borough Jail was literally "the cooler," in compliance with that classic term.
Some idea of wages paid for labor can be gained from two entries in the town records. At the second Council
meeting held April 18, 1898, a wage of $1.10 per day was established for a "road hand," and $3.00 for a team plus
a man. On April 7, 1909 it was decided that thereafter all road labor would be paid on an hourly basis, and
a rate of $.15 per hour was assigned for a man, with $.35 an hour for a team plus a man. Actually, this was a
raise in pay, for the former $1.10 per day would have been for at least ten hours of work. Most work days for
laborers were on a twelve hour basis.
One regulation that is in contrasts with the general elemental aspect of the times was the requirement that all
telephone and electric poles be painted white with at least two coats.
On May 1, 1899, Charles Crisman was authorized to install street lights in the Borough, powered from his generating
plant. There were to be sixty lights each of 24 candle power, the cost for complete service was at the rate of $5.00 per
lamp annually.
Those thousands of unenterprising persons especially in our cities who feel that the public and the government owe them
a living without working would have had scanty provisions in the early days of the Borough. Although there is evidence that
the really poor were cared for, no one was allowed to make a racket out of shiftlessness. |
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In one case, a genuine need was met (July 29, 1901) when the family of E.N. Bell was allotted $1.00 per day for provisions
because they were confined with diptheria, a limit of $10.00 being placed on the charity money.
Among the amusing problems met by the Council in its first few years included restrictions on carting trees and logs through
the Borough on Sundays and the parking of loaded wagons in the streets overnight. One J.M. Jarvis complained to the Council that
his wife was annoyed by the barking of Rev. Greenleaf's dogs. Two offenders were ordered to keep their wagons off the town sidewalks.
A coal box and platform were ordered removed from DeVore's Saloon. It is not explained whether this was to improve the appearance or in
consideration of Mr. DeVore's patrons who might have imbibed too freely and found themselves falling into the coal hole.
An annual sum of $7.50 was voted in 1902 to the G.A.R. for decorating graves on Decoration Day. In those days, the remaining members
of the Civil War soldiers were still fairly numerous and formed a most venerable part of patriotic parades.
Ordinance #11 dated November 3, 1902 established a speed limit of six miles per hour for automobiles on town streets and highways.
Mr. D.L.B. Smith was on the town's first board of health which went into action early in 1900.
The years 1908 and 1909 were especially important in town progress and were busy times for the Council. Plans for a public water
supply were underway. On May 8, 1909, the State Water Commission held a meeting in the Hotel Branchville to hear all persons about
granting permission for a public water supply. The project was firmly underway by October when a sale of bonds to finance the water
works was held in Lodomo's Opera House, Branchville. Construction of water lines was begun soon after and by the spring of 1910 the
town was being supplied water from a reservoir, formerly Victor Compton's pond.
However, the infant water works was soon to give trouble, and on October 22, 1910 action was instituted against A. Wycoff and Son
who had supplied the pipe. Apparently this pipe, made of wood, had fallen short of the specifications which had called for "wood stave
pipe made from sound lumber to withstand pressure." Eventually, all the original wooded pipe had to be replaced with cast iron, giving
the Borough plenty of headaches over its water supply. Even before the pipe leaks became troublesome another element harassed the water
commission. On August 1, 1910 two citizens were ordered to appear before the Council to explain why they had thrown a dog into the
public reservoir!
Nineteen-ten also brought regulations about the sale and use of fireworks. Sale and use were restricted to the Fourth of July "from
sunrise to sundown," and at no other time.
1910 also brought the first meeting to discuss establishing a fire department. The meeting was held in Charles Crisman's power house.
W.F. Dye was appointed the first Fire Chief with Charles Crisman as assistant.
So twelve years of the Borough reflects its first struggles, progress, and situations, some humorous in retrospect, some showing the
foresight that has given us today many advantages. Governing bodies talked in terms of a few dollars in those days, not millions. At
the close of the 20th Century, Branchville had electric power, street lights, some paved roads, and a public water supply. From Council
notes, the high integrity and public spirit of those men who pioneered the Borough can be seen. Branchville is fortunate that the same
spirit of dedication to the larger interests still prevails.
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