(Photo by Richard F. Hope)

Express Building (30-56 North Fourth Street)

Opened in 1923 as the headquarters of the Easton Express (now the Express-Times), Easton’s oldest successful daily newspaper, which has absorbed its principal predecessors over the years. The Express was first published in 1855, at another location (see below). The property today includes a large parking lot on the North side, with frontage of 210’ on North 4th Street and 220’ on Church Street.1

THE EARLY LOTS

The original town Lots, as surveyed for the founding of Easton by William Parsons in 1752, each contained a 60’ frontage on Hamilton (now called North 4th) Street. Accordingly, this property today contains the 4th Street frontage of three and a half of those original Lots, or Lot Nos. 225, 227, 229, and half of 331.2 As discussed below, the first two of these Lots came to be owned by Daniel Wagener and his family, while the last two were owned by George Frederick Wagener.

1 Northampton County Tax Records map, www.ncpub.org. 2 Compare Northampton County Tax Records map, www.ncpub.org. with A.D. Chidsey,

Jr., The Penn Patents in the Forks of the Delaware Plan of Easton, Map 2 (Vol. II of Publications of the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1937).

A schematic diagram of these Lots is as follows:

North 4th St.

Lot No.231

George Frederick Wagner

Lot No.229

George Frederick Wagner

Lot No.227

Andrew Eichelmeyer - Daniel Wagener

Lot No.225

Michael Yohe --- Daniel Wagener

Church Street (Alley)

The Daniel Wagener Lots (Nos.225 and 227)

Lot No.225, at the NW corner with Church Street, was identified by Easton Historian Rev. Uzal Condit as the location of former residence of the legendary Easton “flirt” in Colonial times.3 This story, published in 1851 and then said to have actually occurred “[s]ome eighty years ago”, recounts with considerable charm and length the rustic virtues and manners of the wives of Easton’s largely German-speaking community. Into this community, a Colonial legislator brought his wife and small child on summer holiday. She moved into town with fancy furniture, cosmopolitan attire and social graces that were not common in rustic Easton. She also scandalized the local dames by not attending church. She was very bold with the local men, and utterly contemptuous of their wives. Her visit to town extended through the winter and into the following Spring, while her husband returned to the legislature in Philadelphia. She allowed the local men to visit her home frequently, and walked or rode with them in the woods (even after

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dark!). The wives at length gathered to mete out the punishment that such witchcraft deserved: a dunking in the town pond. Sadly, the plan got out of hand, and the flirt’s drowned body was left on the pond bank. The town fathers had little incentive to establish with certainty who had committed the crime, and the deed went unpunished, according to the story.4 There has been much speculation as to whether this story is factual (as was claimed), or merely a legend.

Old records show that Lot No.225 was occupied by Michael Yohe in a house built before 1779.5 It was formally sold by the Penn Family to “Cordwainer” (shoemaker) Michael Yohe in 1789 for £25,6 of which the Penns loaned Yohe £16 13s. 4d. and took back a mortgage on the land, which was paid by early 1792.7 Michael Yohe married Mary Shouse, the daughter of Easton stone mason Frederick Shouse.8

The name “Yohe” was apparently often pronounced in English as one syllable. The name originates from the original German name “Joh”, which would have been pronounced the same way.9 Nevertheless, there is some evidence that having achieved an Anglicized spelling of “Yohe” (or “Johe”), the German pronunciation in two syllables was also sometimes used.10 Johan Michel Joh, along with two first cousins (who were brothers) named Johann Adam Joh and Johann Jacob Joh, arrived in Philadelphia aboard the ship Albany and took an oath of allegiance to the Pennsylvania government on 2 September 1749. They had immigrated from Erpacht (i.e. Erbache), Würtemberg (later part of Germany), via Rotterdam (Holland) and Cowes (England).11

They were apparently from a French Hugeunot family named Joe (French for Joseph, presumably pronounced with a soft “j”: i.e. “zho”) who fled from religious persecution in France in 1668.12

Michael Joh was naturalized as a citizen of Pennsylvania on 16 August 1761, as a resident of the County of Philadelphia, after having resided there for more than seven years.13 Michael Yohe was not listed for tax purposes in Easton in the tax assessment of 1763,14 but nine years later (in 1772) he was taxed in Easton £ 1 as a cordwainer (shoemaker) and an addition £ 2 and 14 shilling “For the house he lives in”. 15 He was also listed on the Easton tax rolls in the following year, 1773.16

Meanwhile, Michael Yohe’s cousin, Adam Yohe, had been in Easton earlier, before September 1757, running the Red Lion Tavern/Inn (at the NE corner of Northampton and what is now 4th Street – forerunner of the Hotel Lafayette).17

Adam sold that tavern in about 1760. In 1765 (four years after his cousin Michael was naturalized in Philadelphia) Adam Yohe formally purchased a property Lot in Easton, at the NE corner of Northampton and what later came to be called Sitgreaves Streets.18 Adam’s formal 1765 land purchase in Easton might indicate the approximate time that Michael Yohe left Philadelphia County to join his cousin Adam in Easton (see above). In 1772, Adam appears to have still be living in Northampton Township19 (now called Allentown20), when he purchased another property in Easton, this one the hotel at the SW corner of Northampton and Hamilton (now 4th) Street.21 In 1776, 1786 and 1788, Adam Yohe was listed as a tavern or inn keeper22 – although in 1780, he was unaccountably listed as a shoemaker like his cousin Michael.23 Adam and his brother, Jacob Yohe, both married Easton girls –

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daughters of Henry Barnet, a tanner with a house at the SW corner of Bushkill and Hamilton (now called 4th) Streets.24

Michael Yohe was subsequently known as a shoemaker or “cordwainer” in Easton.25 As we have seen above, he formally purchased his property at the NW corner of Hamilton and what is now called Church Streets from the Penn Family in 1789,26 and paid off his mortgage in 1792.27 Three years later, in 1795, Yohe sold his corner property to Michael Traxel (a house carpenter – referred to as Troxell in other places) for £300 in colonial money,28 and moved 300 miles away from Easton29 – probably following his son (a Revolutionary War veteran30) to western Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh.31

25 See 1776 Tax Assessment, in A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village 237 (Vol. III of Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1940); 1780 Tax Assessment, in Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 144 (George W. West 1885 / 1889); 1786 Tax Assessment in Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, vol. XIX, at 186 (assessed 5 shilling for a house and lot); 1788 Tax Assessment in Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, vol. XIX, at 292 (assessed 6 shilling and 8 pence for a cow).

See generally id, at 84 (1785 Easton assessment of 3 shillings and 5 pence from Michael “Yohr” for ownership of a cow, source does not list occupation).

In 1782, Michael “Yoh” was taxed £ 6 for 100 acres, 4 horses and 2 cows in Dover Township, York County, Pennsylvania. It is not clear whether this is the same person that lived in Easton. Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, vol. XXI, at 591.

Michael Yohe did take out a warrant to survey 400 acres of land in Northampton County, which was performed on 29 March 1785. Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, vol. XXVI, at 210.

26 Deed, John Penn the Younger and John Penn the Elder to Michael Yohe, G1 31 (20 Oct. 1789).

27 Mortgage Deed, Michael Yohe to John Penn the Younger and John Penn the Elder, G1 12 (21 Oct. 1789)(failure to pay £16 13s. 4d. in installments will result in owing a penalty payment of £33 6s. 8d., secured by Lot No.225). An annotation on the side dated 4 January 1792 indicates that the debt was satisfied.

28 Deed, Michael Yohe to Michael Traxel/Troxell, B3 223 (13 Apr. 1795), see A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village 248 (Vol. III of the Publications of The Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1940).

The name is spelled Michael Troxell when referenced in the Deed, John (Julliana) Leidich to Daniel Wagener, B3 225 (20 June 1806).

29 On 13 January 1802, Michael Yohe requested the court to relieve him as administrator of the Estate of Henry Bush, because Yohe had moved 300 miles away. A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village 248 (Vol. III of the Publications of The Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1940).

30 Michael Yohe’s son, also named Michael Yohe, fought in Washington’s Continental Army during the Revolution, including the Battle of Germantown and the encampment at Valley Forge, and remained for the remainder of the War. He also served in the Whiskey Insurrection of 1794. See Biographical Review Colume XXIV –Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of Pittsburgh and the Vicinity. 315-16 (Boston: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 1897); Posting by Darlene Yohe, “The Yohe Family Booklet by Ralph S. Yohe”, in Ancestry Netscape Boards at http://boards.ancestry.netscape.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=63&p=surnames.yohe (posted 6 Oct. 2000, 12:30 PM GMT)(concludes that the veteran Michael Yohe was probably the son of the Easton settler Michael Yohe); accord, Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, vol. XXX, at 6, 84, 186; Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, vol. __, at 2, 121, 132, 140, 155, 179, 217, 371.

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Michael Traxel immediately resold the property to cordwainer (shoemaker) John Leidich in 1795, for £ 320.32 Nine years later, in 1806, Leidich sold it to Daniel Wagener for $2,000.33 Judge Daniel Wagner was the son of the redoubtable Wagener Family of Easton. In 1824, Wagener and his wife conveyed it to their daughter, Mary Mixsell,34 the wife of merchant Philip Mixsell.35 The same deed also conveyed other properties, including Lot No.226 and most of Lot No.228 lying in the rear, fronting on Juliana (now called 5th) Street. Phillip Mixsell operated a “general supply store” at this location.

Phillip Mixsell was a brother of Jacob Mixsell,36 the Easton merchant who first built the Mixsell House at 4th and Ferry Street. Mixsell House has long

31 See Biographical Review Volume XXIV – Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of Pittsburg and the Vicinity Pennsylvania 315-16 (Boston: Biographical Review Publishing Company 1897)(Michael Yohe who immigrated in 1755 at age 8 with his parents who settled in Easton; died at Ginger Hill in Washington County, Pennsylvania); see also Posting by Darlene Yohe, “The Yohe Family Booklet by Ralph S. Yohe”, in Ancestry Netscape Boards at http://boards.ancestry.netscape.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=63&p=surnames.yohe (posted 6 Oct. 2000, 12:30 PM GMT)(Michael Yohe, born in 1747 and died in 1833, his will registered in the Wills Office of Washington County, Pennsylvania).

Washington County, Pennsylvania is part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The distance between Easton and Pittsburg is approximately 301 miles.

5 Charles de Krafft, Map of Easton Original Town Lots (from the collection of Luigi “Lou” Ferone (“Mr. Easton”) auctioned 27 Feb. 2010, said to have been used by the Penn clerks for notations to keep track of the town lots c.1779-1801).

6 Deed, John Penn the Younger and John Penn the Elder to Michael Yohe, G1 31 (20 Oct. 1789)(sale price £ 25 “in Specie” for Lot No.225 measuring 220’ X 60’ on the West Side of Hamilton Street, North of a public alley); A.D. Chidsey, Jr., The Penn Patents in the Forks of the Delaware Plan of Easton, Map 2 (Vol. II of Publications of the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1937); Charles de Krafft, Map of Easton Original Town Lots (from the collection of Luigi “Lou” Ferone (“Mr. Easton”) auctioned 27 Feb. 2010, said to have been used by the Penn clerks for notations to keep track of the town lots c.1779-1801)(“Sold by A.B. to Michl. Yohe Considn £25”).

The Deed for Lot No.227 from the Penn Family to Absalom Reeder refers in its property description to Lot No.225 as “Michael Yohe’s Lot”. Deed, John Penn the Younger and John Penn the Elder to Absalom Reeder, B2 230 (27 Aug. 1794).

7 Mortgage Deed, Michael Yohe to John Penn the Younger and John Penn the Elder, G1 12 (21 Oct. 1789)(failure to pay £16 13s. 4d. in installments will result in owing a penalty payment of £33 6s. 8d., secured by Lot No.225). An annotation on the side dated 4 January 1792 indicates that the debt was satisfied.

8 See A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village 252 (Vol. III of the Publications of The Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1940)(Building No.34, referring to the 18 Feb. 1788 will of Mary’s father, Frederick Shouse, who mentions Michael Yohe as Mary’s husband; and that Mary and Michael Yohe (as executor of the estate) sold a property on Northampton Street for Frederick Shouse’s estate to Christian Meixsell); Posting by Darlene Yohe, “Selections From”, in Ancestry Netscape Boards at http://boards.ancestry.netscape.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=63&p=surnames.yohe (6 Oct. 2000, 12.48 PM GMT); see generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 421-23 and 425-29 Northampton Street.

9 See Posting by Gary Yohe, “First USA Yohes”, in Ancestry Netscape Boards at http://boards.ancestry.netscape.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=63&p=surnames.yohe (posted 12

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served as one of the museums operated by the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society.37

Lot No.227 was apparently granted for life and occupied by Andrew Eichelmeyer (also spelled Ackelmire), in a house built before 1779.38 In 1794, Absolom Reeder, the father of later Governor Andrew Reeder,39 purchased formal title to the property from the Penn Family, although the deed was subject to Eichelmeyer’s prior rights. In May of 1802, Reeder obtained a release from Eichelmeyer (now living out-of-town), subject to a lease to Daniel Reichert that would expire on 1 April 1803.40 Reeder promptly resold the property to Daniel Wagener.41

Sept. 2000, 2:43 PM GMT). 10 Adam Yohe’s name is also spelled at time “Yohi” in his application of 17 Dec. 1754 for a

tavern license. In that case, he signed his name “J Adam Johi”. Petition of Adam Yohi (17 Dec. 1754), in Northampton County Archives, box of criminal docket papers, file for 1754.

11 R.B. Strassburger, Pennsylvania German Pioneers 127C (Norirstown (PA): Pennsylvania German Society 1834); see Posting by Gary Yohe, “First USA Yohes”, in Ancestry Netscape Boards at http://boards.ancestry.netscape.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=63&p=surnames.yohe (posted 12 Sept. 2000, 2:43 PM GMT).

12 See Posting by Darlene Yohe, “The Yohe Family Booklet by Ralph S. Yohe”, in Ancestry Netscape Boards at http://boards.ancestry.netscape.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=63&p=surnames.yohe (posted 6 Oct. 2000, 12:30 PM GMT)(apparently based upon entries for the villages of Etzean and Gammelsbach written in the parish church records at Beerfelden, Odenwald, Germany, which is in the old Landdresse of Erbach, as discussed in Ralph S. Yohe, The Yohe Family (1955)).

13 See Posting by Darlene Yohe, “The Yohe Family Booklet by Ralph S. Yohe”, in Ancestry Netscape Boards at http://boards.ancestry.netscape.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=63&p=surnames.yohe (posted 6 Oct. 2000, 12:30 PM GMT), citing Pennsylvania Archives First Series, vol. II, at 363. This citation could not be verified by the author.

14 M.S. Henry, History of the Lehigh Valley 80-81 (Bixler & Corwin 1860). 15 Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, vol. 19, at 6; see also Posting by Darlene Yohe,

“The Yohe Family Booklet by Ralph S. Yohe”, in Ancestry Netscape Boards at http://boards.ancestry.netscape.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=63&p=surnames.yohe (posted 6 Oct. 2000, 12:30 PM GMT).

16 Matthew S. Henry, Manuscript History of Northampton County, Pennsylvania 7 (Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library, from an original in the possession of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania 1851)(listed as “Michael Yoke”).

3 “The house in which the victim of the tale lived, stood where Thomas T. Miller’s hardware store now stands, and the pond of water centred where Shipman’s stables are, so that the sturdy German women did not have far to lead the object of their rage.” Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 87 (Easton: George W. West 1885 / 1889).

Mrs. Ellet, in her original story, also related that a stable “stands near the place” where the pond was located. See M.S. Henry, History of the Lehigh Valley, Pa 91 (Easton: Bixler & Corwin 1860). In Rev. Condit’s time, Henry Shipman’s stables were located at 31 North 4th Street, at the NE corner with Church Street. 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, p.413B (livery stable proprietor Henry Shipman and family at 31 North 4th Street); Census Directory of Northampton County, Eleventh U.S. Census, 1890 (Joseph H. Werner, assisted by Geo. W. West 1891), Q-Z transcribed online at www.bethlehempaonline.com/beth1890/eastonqtos.html. See www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 31-35 North 4th Street.

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In 1824, Daniel Wagener gave Lot No.227 to his daughter, Susanna Burke – on the same day that Daniel Wagener conveyed Lot No.225 to his other daughter, Mary Mixsell (see above). As he had done with his other daughter, Daniel Wagener also gave Susanna the land on Juliana (now called 5th) Street behind her 4th Street property.42 Susanna Burke was the wife of merchant Joseph Burke.43 Joseph Burke’s general merchandize store on Hamilton (now called North 4th) Street was the “most extensive establishment” in Easton at the time.44 Joseph Burke himself became Chief Burgess of Easton in 1825.45

4 Godey’s Lady’s Magazine (June 1851). The story, as published, has been reproduced in at least three other sources: M.S. Henry, History of the Lehigh Valley, Pa 84-91 (Easton: Bixler & Corwin 1860); Mrs. William Hay, “A Bit of Old Easton”, in John Charles Pohl, Jr., Local Sketches and Legends of Early Easton Pennsylvania 35-59 (Easton: 10 May 1949); Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 87-91 (Easton: George W. West 1885 / 1889).

17 See A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village 234-35, 239-40 (Vol. III of the Publications of The Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1940)(Building No.6); see Deed, William Parsons and Paul Miller to Adam Johe, A1 103 (7 Sept. 1757).

18 Patent, Penn Family to Adam Yohe, Patent Book A18 422 (30 Oct. 1765)(Lot No. 76), indexed online at www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17PatentIndexes/A-AAPatentIndex356.pdf; see Northampton County Warrant No.Y6 issued to Adam Yohe, Patent Book A18 422 (23 Oct. 1765), indexed online for Northampton County Warrants p.204, Warrant No.6 at www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-88WarrantRegisters/NorthamptonPages/Northampton204.pdf (no survey copy noted), mentioned at Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, vol. XXVI, at 209. See also A.D. Chidsey, Jr., The Penn Patents in the Forks of the Delaware Plan of Easton, Map 2 (Vol. II of Publications of the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1937) (mis-citing to Patent Book A18 42). See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 433-35 Northampton Street.

19 Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, vol. XIX, at 41 (Adam Yohe assessed £ 4 as a farmer, and another £ 24 “For the land lives on”, in “Northampton Town”, Pennsylvania. In the same assessment, Jacob Yohe was assessed £ 2 and 4 shillings as an innkeeper in the same town.

20 See Wikipedia, “Allentown, Pennsylvania”, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allentown,_Pennsylvania#Founding (accessed 16 Dec. 2011).

21 Deed, Anthony Fricker and Joseph Kole, Executors of the Will of John Fricker, to Adam Yohe, B2 86 (4 Aug. 1772); see A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village 234-35, 246 (Vol. III of the Publications of The Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1940) (Building No.19).

Adam Yohe sold that hotel to his son, Adam Yohe Jr., in 1783. Deed, Adam (Christina) Yohe to Adam Yohe the Younger, B2 87 (21 Aug. 1783)(sale price £ 800 for “Stone Tenement and Lot” No.216 measuring 60’ X 220’); see A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton 246 (Vol.III of Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, 1940)(Building No.19). Young Adam sold it to Robert Traill in 1794, trading it for the Widow Nungessor’s hotel on the West face of Centre Square, which he reopened in the following year (1795), but lost four years later in a Sheriff’s sale. See and Compare A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton 246, 258 (Vol.III of Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, 1940)(Building Nos. 19,.50); Deed, Adam (Christina) Yohe to Robert Traill, B2 88 (3 Feb. 1794)(sale of tavern at Northampton and Hamilton Street); Deed, John Nungesser to Adam Yohe, B2 556 (26 Nov. 1795)(property on Centre Square); Deed Poll, Henry Spering, Sheriff, for the Estate of Adam Yohe, to John Snyder, F2 100 (14 May 1799) and Sheriff A2 45 (14 May 1799)(seizure of Centre Square property).

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The George Frederick Wagener Lots (Nos.229 and 231)

Lot Nos.229 and 231 each had a house built on them before 1779, and were informally occupied by George Frederick Wagener (also spelled Wagner).46 He formally bought both of these Lots from the Penn Family in 1789.47

George Frederick Wagener (also spelled Wagner) is said to have been born on 19 December 1752, and emigrated to America from Strassbourg48 (in Alsace, a region which has been hotly disputed between France and Germany over the years).

Daniel Wagener’s family is said to have come from Silesia,49 which was a Prussian/Polish province at the opposite corner of Germany.

22 See 1776 Tax Assessment, in A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village 237 (Vol. III of Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1940); 1786 Tax Assessment in Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, vol. XIX, at 186 (assessed 18 shilling and 9 pence for a tavern house and 2 lots); 1788 Tax Assessment in Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, vol. XIX, at 292 (assessed 16 shilling and 6 pence for a horse).

See generally id, at 84 (1785 Easton assessment of 9 shilling and 7 pence from Adam “Yohr” for ownership of a horse, source does not list occupation).

Between 1792 and 1794, Adam Yohe took out seven warrants to have land surveyed for him in Northampton County, as follows:

400 acres, surveyed on 11 Oct. 1792. 40 acres, surveyed on 31 Oct. 1792. 120 acres, surveyed on 31 Oct. 1792. 400 acres, surveyed on 26 Feb. 1793. 400 acres, surveyed on 4 Mar. 1793. 400 acres, surveyed on 20 Aug. 1793. 400 acres, surveyed on 11 Feb. 1794.

23 See Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 144 (George W. West 1885 / 1889)(1780 tax assessment).

24 A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village 234-35, 261-62 (Vol. III of the Publications of The Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1940)(Building No.59).

32 Deed, Michael (Susannah) Traxel to John Leidich, B3 224 (20 Aug. 1795)(sale price £ 320).

33 Deed, John (Julliana) Leidich to Daniel Wagener, B3 225 (20 June 1806). 34 Deed, Daniel (Eve) Wagener to Mary Mixsell, H4 325 (4 Mar. 1824)(sale for $1 and

“the natural love and affection which they bear to the said who is their daughter”). 35 See Estate of Jacob Opp, 7 Orphan’s Court Record 319 (3 June 1805), 7 Orphan’s Court

Record 330 (17 Aug. 1805); 8 Orphans Court Record 5 (18 Apr. 1806). 36 Floyd Smith Bixler, The Vine and Background of Christian Bixler, 3 rd and Some

Collateral Branches 120 (typed by Edith Jane Stires, undated but text at 15 indicates written in 1930).

37 See www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 107 South 4th Street, and sources cited therein. 38 Charles de Krafft, Map of Easton Original Town Lots (from the collection of Luigi “Lou”

Ferone (“Mr. Easton”) auctioned 27 Feb. 2010, said to have been used by the Penn clerks for notations to keep track of the town lots c.1779-1801)(Andrew Ackelmire); accord, A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village 234-35, 263 (Vol. III of the Publications of The Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1940)(Building No.62 – Andrew Eichelmeyer)

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In America, he became a “soldier of the Revolution, and enthusiastically devoted to the cause of freedom.” Taken prisoner at the fall of Fort Washington (New York) in 1776, he had petitioned the Hessian commander Count Donop for better treatment for American prisoners of war. When no improvement was afforded in response to the petition, he escaped.50

When Wagener died in 1827,51 he left a wife (Margaret) and twelve children,52 as well as extensive property in Easton and the surrounding area.53 The two Lots on Hamilton (4th) Street were each cut in half (“partitioned”), forming four strips of property, each with a 30’ frontage on Hamilton (now called 4th) Street. Each of these properties, as well as Wagener’s other extensive real estate interests, were packaged into a series of

39 See separate www.WalkingEaston.com entries for 226 and 228-30 Northampton Street. 40 Deed, John Penn the Younger and John Penn the Elder to Absalom Reeder, B2 230 (27

Aug. 1794)(sale price £50 for original town Lot No.227 measuring 60’ X 220’); accord, A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village 234-35, 263 (Vol. III of the Publications of The Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1940)(Building No.62).

41 Deed, Absalom (Christina) Reeder to Daniel Wagener, G2 470 (18 Dec. 1802); see A.D. Chidsey, Jr., The Penn Patents in the Forks of the Delaware Plan of Easton, Map 2 (Vol. II of Publications of the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1937).

42 Deed, Daniel (Eve) Wagener to Susanna Burke, H4 324 (4 Mar. 1824)(sale for $1 and “the natural love and affection which they bear to the said Susanna Burke who is their daughter”).

43 See Rev. Henry Martyn Kieffer, Some of the First Settlers of “The Forks of the Delaware” and Their Descendants 355 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. 1973)(Joseph Burke married Susan Wagener on 1 June 1806); Henry F. Marx (compiler), II Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1799 – 1851 Newspaper Extracts 29 (Easton Area Public Library 1929)(Joseph Burke married Susan Wagener on “Sunday last”, based on NORTHAMPTON FARMER AND EASTON WEEKLY ADVERTISER of Sat., 7 June 1806); see also Henry F. Marx (compiler), I Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1852 – 1870 Newspaper Extracts 125 (Easton Area Public Library 1934)(Susan Burke, the widow of Joseph Burke, died 18 June 1858 age 70 or age 72, based upon articles in the EASTON ARGUS and the WHIG).

44 See Frank B. Copp, Biographical Sketches of Some of Easton’s Prominent Citizens 113-14 (1879).

45 Article, “Chief Executives of Easton Since 1789”, EASTON EXPRESS, Sun., 12 June 1937, Jubilee Section A, p.5, cols. 1-2.

46 Charles de Krafft, Map of Easton Original Town Lots (from the collection of Luigi “Lou” Ferone (“Mr. Easton”) auctioned 27 Feb. 2010, said to have been used by the Penn clerks for notations to keep track of the town lots c.1779-1801).

47 Deed, John Penn the Younger and John Penn the Elder to George Frederick Wagner, C2 531 (25 Oct. 1789)(sale price £ 14s. 11d. “in specie” for original town Lot Nos.229 and 231, plus a property in Forks Twp.); accord, Frederick Wagner, Administrator of Estate of George Frederick Wagner, deceased, to William Down, G5 556 (24 Oct. 1831)(recital).

48 See John T. Humphrey, Pennsylvania Grave Stones Northampton County 402 (Washington (D.C.): Larjon & Company, Inc. 2000).

49 John Eyerman, Genealogical Studies: The Ancestry of Marguerite and John Eyerman 37 (Eschenbach Printing Company 1902)(family emigrated in 1736 from Silicia); ); John Eyerman, The Ancestors of Marguerite Eyerman: A Study in Genealogy 20-21 (Easton: Free Press Book and Job Print 1898)(David Wagener born in Silesia) in 1796); James Wright, “Monument marks influential Easton family”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sun., 11 Apr. 1993, p.B-5 (Silesia).

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“Purparts” which were offered to the heirs at stated valuations. Otherwise, the various real estate parcels were sold off to separate buyers. Of Wagener’s Hamilton (4th) Street property, the first three strips – which were later incorporated into the parking lot for the Express Building – were sold by the Wagener estate as follows:

Lot No.229, southern half: for $700 to Joseph Burke54 – the husband of the owner of Lot No.227 (see above). When Joseph Burke died in 1841,55 his will gave this property to his widow, Susanna Wagener Burke.56 In 1858 – shortly before she herself died at age 7057 – Mrs. Burke gave this property plus an additional tract in the rear extending to what is now 5th Street to John J. Burke,58 her son.59 A map of 1850 shows J.J. Burke’s building along North 4th Street, and his extensive “LumberYard” on the far side of the alley behind (then named “Lumber Alley”, now known as West Street). That property stretched all the way back to buildings standing along North 5th Street in the rear.60 By 1850, John J. Burke was specifically known as a lumber merchant, when he declared ownership of real estate worth some $62,300.61

Lot No.229, northern half: including a small stone house, to Jacob P. Meixsell for $890,62 who sold it several months later to Joseph Burke for only $182.08.63 After Joseph Burke died at age 67 in 1841,64 his son, John J. Burke,65 inherited the property.66

50 Henry F. Marx (compiler), I Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1799 – 1851 Newspaper Extracts 207 (Easton Area Public Library 1929).

51 Henry F. Marx (compiler), I Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1799 – 1851 Newspaper Extracts 207 (Easton Area Public Library 1929)(George Frederick Wagner died 15 February 1827); accord, Deed, Frederick Wagner, Administrator of the Estate of George Frederick Wagner, to Jacob P. Meixsell, E5 389 (1 Jan. 1829) (recitals)(George Frederick Wagner died in 1827); John T. Humphrey, Pennsylvania Grave Stones Northampton County 402 (Washington (D.C.): Larjon & Company, Inc. 2000)(died 10 Feb. 1827 age 71); Kevin Frankenfield, Genealogy Frankfield-Beam, www.frankenfield-beam.org/Cemeteries/Easton/Tombstone/Wagner_George.jpg (b. 9 Dec. 1752 in “Strusburg Franc” [Strassberg, France], d. 10 Feb. 1827).

Although probably originally buried in St. John’s Lutheran Church’s graveyard, his body is said to rest in Easton Cemetery, despite an absence of any listing for him in the Easton Cemetery Index listing in the Marx Room. See John T. Humphrey, Pennsylvania Grave Stones Northampton County 402 (Washington (D.C.): Larjon & Company, Inc. 2000); Patricia Law Hatcher, Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots (online Ancestry.com databse from 4 volume edition printed by Pioneer Heritage Press 1987); Kevin Frankenfield, Genealogy Frankfield-Beam, www.frankenfield-beam.org/Cemeteries/Easton/Tombstone/Wagner_George.jpg.

52 Henry F. Marx (ed.), XV Abstracts of Wills Northampton County 1752 – 1840 17 (Easton Public Library 1935); accord, Henry F. Marx (compiler), I Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1799 – 1851 Newspaper Extracts 207 (Easton Area Public Library 1929).

Margaret (King) was George Frederick Wagener’s second wife, married on 19 May 1806. Henry F. Marx (compiler), I Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1799 – 1851 Newspaper Extracts 26 (Easton Area Public Library 1929).

His first wife, Catherine Wagner, had died on 2 December 1805 (just a few months earlier), at age 56. John H. Kressman (compiler), Burials in Churchyard of St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church Easton, Pennsylvania 1772 – 1890 1 (Dec. 1992).

53 The Northampton County Deeds Index contains 30 property sale listings from his Estate from Easton alone, as well as other listings from other parts of the County.

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Lot No.231, southern half: including a house, was accepted by Elizabeth Tilton, the eldest daughter, as part of Purpart No.5.67 She died in 1829, and her son, Peter Tilton, accepted the Hamilton Street property (including a house) as part of his inheritance from her, at an appraised value of $1,000.68 Within less than a year’s time, he resold it to John W. Bell for $700.69

The northernmost strip (i.e. Lot No.231, northern half) was sold to William Down in 1831.70 That property has remained separate from the Express Building property, and became instead the Michael Butz Mansion at 60 North 4th Street.71 Michael

67 Estate of George Frederick Wagner/Wagener, 10 Orphan’s Court Docket 353, 355. 359 (Northampton County 24 Aug. 1827)(including a “Messuage”).

68 See Deed, Jefferson K. Heckman, Administrator of the Estate of Elizabeth Tilton, to Peter Tilton, F5 277 (1 Apr. 1830)(sale price $1,000; and recitals); Estate of Elizabeth Tilton, 11 Orphan’s Court Docket 90, 108 (Northampton County 21 Aug. 1829)(with with “Messuage or Tenement” appraised at $1,000, reciting at 90 that Elizabeth Tilton had died intestate on 15 March 1829).

69 Deed, Peter (JohnNetta) Tilton to John W. Bell, F5 278 (1 Apr. 1830)(sale price $700 for property with a “Messuage Tenement”).

54 Deed, Margaret Wagner and Frederick Wagner, Administrators for the Estate of George F. Wagner, to Joseph Burke, D5 124 (7 Oct. 1827); Estate of George Frederick Wagner/Wagener, 10 Orphan’s Court Docket 406 (Northampton County 23 Nov. 1827). This had been part of Purpart No.3 as partitioned under the Estate of George Frederick Wagner/Wagener, 10 Orphan’s Court Docket 353, 354 (Northampton County 24 Aug. 1827)(described as a “Lot and Piece of Ground” with no mention of a building).

55 John Eyerman, The Ancestors of Marguerite Eyerman: A Study in Genealogy 23 (Easton: Free Press Book and Job Print 1898)(Joseph Burke died 28 September 1841).

56 Deed, Susanna Burke to John J. Burke, H7 25 (27 Jan. 1858)(recital). 57 Henry F. Marx (compiler), I Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1852 – 1870

Newspaper Extracts 125 (Easton Area Public Library 1934)(Susan Burke, the widow of Joseph Burke, died 18 June 1858 age 70 or age 72, based upon articles in the EASTON ARGUS and the WHIG); but see John Eyerman, The Ancestors of Marguerite Eyerman: A Study in Genealogy 23 (Easton: Free Press Book and Job Print 1898)(died 18 June 1859; born 11 May 1788).

58 Deed, Susanna Burke to John J. Burke, H7 25 (27 Jan. 1858)(gift for “natural Love and Affection” plus $1 of Lot No.232 (along Juliana Street measuring 60’ X 240’), Lot No.230 plus part of Lot No.228 (along Juliana Street measuring 70’ X 240’), plus the southern half of Lot No.229 (along Hamilton Street measuring 30’ X 220’).

59 John Eyerman, The Ancestors of Marguerite Eyerman: A Study in Genealogy 23 (Easton: Free Press Book and Job Print 1898).

60 J.C. Sidney (survey), Plan of the Town of Easton (R. Clrk 1850)(framed map on the Wall of the Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library). See also Article, “Fire! Fire!”, EASTON SENTINEL, Fri., 22 Apr. 1831, p.3, col.2, which states that the fire did not reach “Messrs. Burke & Mixsell’s extensive Lumber Yards”.

61 1850 Census, Series M432, Roll 802, p.168A, Image 342 (available through Ancestry.com).

62 Deed, Frederick Wagner, Administrator of the Estaet of George Frederick Wagner, to Jacob P. Meixsell, E5 389 (1 Jan. 1829)(sale price $890 for “messuage Tenement” on northern

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Butz was also related to the Wagener Family -- in fact, he was Daniel Wagener’s nephew.72

THE FIRE OF APRIL, 1831

In April 1831, a fire broke out in the stable around the corner on Church Alley “belonging to Mrs. Margaretta Wagener”, that spread to this corner at Hamilton (North Fourth) Street.73

“Mrs. Margaretta Wagener” appears to have been Margaret Wagener, the widow of George Frederick Wagener.74 In the partition of her former husband’s estate, she received a stone house and property on Northampton Street that extended back to the South side of Church Alley, which was presumably the location of the stable where the fire started. This property was located on the western part of original town Lot No.219,75 which now has the address of 425 Northampton Street.76 Mrs. Wagener was actually referred to

half of Lot No.229 measuring 60’ X 220’). This had been part of Purpart No.4 as partitioned under the Estate of George Frederick Wagner/Wagener, 10 Orphan’s Court Docket 353, 354-55 (Northampton County 24 Aug. 1827)(including a “small Stone Tenement”).

63 Jacob P. Meixsell to Joseph Burke, E5 398 (16 Oct. 1829)(sale price $182.08). 64 Records of the First Presbyterian Church (Easton, PA) (Marx Room Reference Code “F”)

at 78 (Joseph Burke died 29 Sept. 1841); Henry F. Marx (compiler), II Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1799 – 1851 Newspaper Extracts 593 (Easton Area Public Library 1929)(Joseph Burke died “Tuesday last”, based upon the WHIG AND JOURNAL of Wed., 6 Oct. 1841).

65 Rev. Henry Martyn Kieffer, Some of the First Settlers of “The Forks of the Delaware” and Their Descendants 199 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. 1973)(John Jacob Burke, born 22 April 1807, the son of Joseph and Susanna Burke).

66 See Deed, John (Jeanette) Bacon Jr., et al., Heirs and Successor to John J. Burke, to Incorporated Trustees of The Salvation Army, B47 592 (23 Mar. 1920)(recitals – the heirs were Burke’s great grandchildren). In some documents, John J. Burke has been mis-transcribed as John I. Burke.

70 Deed, Frederick Wagner, Administrator of Estate of George Frederick Wagner, deceased, to William Down, G5 556 (24 Oct. 1831). This had been part of Purpart No.6 as partitioned under the Estate of George Frederick Wagner/Wagener, 10 Orphan’s Court Docket 353, 355-56 (Northampton County 24 Aug. 1827)(described as a “Lot of Ground” with no indication of a building).

71 See 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, p.414C (Michael Butz at 60 North 4th Street); separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Michael Butz Mansion at 60 North 4th Street (and sources cited therein).

72 Daniel Wagener was the son of David Wagener. One of Daniel Wagener’s sisters was Mary Wagener, who married Christian Butz; Michael Butz was one of their children. See John Eyerman, Genealogical Studies: The Ancestry of Marguerite and John Eyerman 38-39 (Eschenbach Printing Company 1902).

73 Article, “Fire”, THE NORTHAMPTON WHIG, Tues., 19 Apr. 1831, p.3, col.1, also quoted in Rev. Edward Reimer (compiler), A Collection of Northampton County, PA Items 170-72 (undated MS in Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library).

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by the name “Margaretta” in a recital in a deed dated 1858,77 even though the original deed being cited had actually called her “Margaret”.78

“The wind being south-westwardly, it carried the flames across the alley and there entirely destroyed a store-house, kitchen, ice-house, and some other buildings belonging to Mr. Philip Mixsell, and greatly injured his front store-house occupied as a wholesale and retail store by Messrs. Philip Mixsell & Sons, and dwelling house occupied by Mr. Philip Mixsell. The slate roofs of this store and dwelling-house, with the extraordinary exertions and activity of our fire companies, prevented the further extension of the flames, which, but for those roofs seemed to threaten destruction to the whole of that quarter of the town.”

Next door, in the “adjoining” property, the residence and store of Joseph Burke was evacuated, but that building did not in fact burn.79

THE REST OF THE 19 TH CENTURY

The Mixsell Property (Lot No.225): In 1824, Mary (neé Wagener) Mixsell and her husband, Philip Mixsell, transferred the corner property and the two parcels on 5th (then called Juliana) Street to their son, Theodore Mixsell.80 In 1855 (the same year that The Express was first published), the corner location (listed at 18 North 4th Street under the street numbering scheme then in effect) was listed to merchant Philip Mixsell.. His residence was listed next door at No.20.81 Joseph Mixsell, a “gentleman”, lived in No.18, while Theodore Mixsell had his store in No.20. Theodore Mixsell’s residence was located down the street at No.54.82 The three Mixsells (Philip, Joseph and Theodore)

74 George F. Wagner married Miss Margaret King on 19 May 1806. Henry F. Marx (compiler), I Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1799 – 1851 Newspaper Extracts 26 (Easton Area Public Library 1929). Since George Frederick Wagner (Wagener) died in 1827 (see above), his widow would have been referred to as Mrs. Margaret (or Margaretta) Wagener” in 1831.

Review of the relatives of Daniel Wagener listed in John Eyerman, The Ancestors of Marguerite Eyerman: A Study in Genealogy 20-25 (Easton: Free Press Book and Job Print 1898) failed to disclose any “Margaret” or “Margaretta” in that family tree.

75 Deed, Frederick Wagner, Administrator of the Estate of George Frederick Wagner, to Margaret Wagner, F5 444 (5 Feb. 1828)(“Stone Messuage or Tenement” on the North side of Northampton Street, on the western part of Lot No.219 measuring 33’ 6” X 220’ – extending back to Church Alley).

76 See www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Carryl Building at 425 Northampton Street. 77 Deed, Susanna Burke to John J. Burke, H7 25 (27 Jan. 1858)(regarding the sale of Lot

Nos.232 and 230, part of Lot No.228, and the southern half of Lot No.229 – the last property description containing a reference to “Margaretta” Wagener as Administratrix of the Estate of George F. Wagener.

78 Deed, Margaret Wagner and Frederick Wagner, Administrators for the Estate of George F. Wagner, to Joseph Burke, D5 124 (7 Oct. 1827)(sale of southern half of original town Lot No.229).

79 Article, “Fire”, NORTHAMPTON WHIG (NORTHAMPTON COUNTY JOURNAL), Tues., 19 Apr. 1831, p.3, col.1; see Article, “Fire! Fire!”, EASTON SENTINEL, Fri., 22 Apr. 1831, p.3, col.2.

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were apparently brothers, all sons of John Philip Mixsell.83 Meanwhile, 22 North 4th Street had become the office of brothers Thomas T. and Depue Miller’s wholesale hardware business,84 which was first established at about this time.85 This location, adjoining the Mixsells, appears to have been the location of Joseph Burke’s store in 1831 (see above).

It appears that a financial crisis ensured for the Mixsell clan. In 1859, Theodore Mixsell was sued by his brother,86 Joseph J. Mixsell, for a debt of $2,216 plus $4.12 ½ in costs and charges. As a result of the lawsuit, this 4th Street property (together with another on 5th Street) was seized by the Sheriff and sold at auction; creditor Joseph Mixsell purchased both of the Mixsell parcels for $6,000. At that time, the property at the corner of what are now called 4th and Church Streets had “a large two Story Stone house” measuring 33’6” X 36’ deep, as well as a pair of “two Story Brick Buildings and a two Story fire proof house”.87 The fire proofing was, no doubt, constructed in the aftermath of the 1831 fire. Three years later, on 29 April 1862, the Sheriff again seized the property – this time in two pieces.

The piece at the corner with Church Street was again seized from Theodore Mixsell – suggesting that the 1859 lawsuit was a “friendly” action designed to

80 Deed, Philip (Mary) Mixsell to Theodore Mixsell, D7 340 (10 Sept. 1845)(and recitals). 81 C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA 41, 43 (Cole &

Eichman’s Office, 1855). 82 C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA 41, 43 (Cole &

Eichman’s Office, 1855) (Philip Mixsell and Theodore Mixsell each listed as a “merchant”; Theodore Mixsell’s residence at 54 North 4th Street). Other members of the Mixsell Family were in the area. Philip Mixsell Jr., also a merchant, had his business across the street, at 17 North 4th Street, while Charles W. Mixsell, another “gentleman”, had his residence at 29 North 4th Street.

83 See Dale E. Berger, Descendants of Philip Meixell (typewritten genealogy chart in Micksell Family File, Easton Area Public Library Marx Room [undated]). This genealogy (at 17-19) lists John Philip Mixsell (1777-1870), with three sons as follows:

Theodore Mixsell (1811 – 1886)Joseph Jacob Mixsell (1814 – 1862)Philip Mixsell (1819 – 1871).

84 C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA 40, 43 (Cole & Eichman’s Office, 1855)(Miller Brothers; Thomas T. Miller’s residence was at 52 Bushkill Street, and Depue’s residence was at 55 North 4th Street).

85 American Journal of Progress, “Greater Easton of To-day” 10 (originally printed c.1903 during Mayor B. Rush Field’s second 3-year term, reprinted courtesy of W-Graphics)(Miller’s business established “about 1850”).

86 See Dale E. Berger, Descendants of Philip Meixell 17-19 (typewritten genealogy chart in Micksell Family File, Easton Area Public Library Marx Room [undated]).

87 Deed Poll, Daniel Riegel (also spelled Reigel), Sheriff, for Theodore Mixsell, to Joseph J. Mixsell, A10 262 (undated, recorded 20 May 1859) and Sheriff 2 404 (24 Mar. 1859)(sale price $6,000 for property measuring 33’ 6” X 220’ at the corner of 4th Street and a public alley, plus another property at the corner of that alley and 5th Street). The Sheriff’s Book citation is clear as to the location of the properties. The copied deed record in Book A10 is confusing, because instead of 4th or Hamilton Street it locates a parcel on the West side of “Northampton” Street (which is an impossibility, since Northampton Street runs East and West!).

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forestall creditors, and that Joseph Mixsell had promptly turned around and returned the property at No.18 to Theodore. The building on the property was described as a “large two story Stone House” measuring 32’ 6” X 36’ deep, with “two Brick back buildings two stories large with a two Story fire proof Brick Stone house” – in other words, the same as Joseph had had the Sheriff seize from Theodore three years before. The sale was described as being caused by a lawsuit brought by Joseph P. Hettrich, Trustee for Theodore Mixsell himself.88

Also seized was the parcel next door, from Joseph J. Mixsell, upon a lawsuit by Mary Hummel. The buildings on that property (presumably No.20 North 4th Street) were described as a “two story Stone dwelling House” measuring 27’ 9” X 36’, “with a small one story stone kitchen attached together with other outbuilding”. The sum of $3,200 was realized on this sale.89

Theodore Mixsell’s family ultimately sorted out its financial issues. His son, Dr. Joseph Mixsell, became President of the Northampton County Medical Society. His grandson, Austin Davis Mixsell (1873- 1916), became a Vice President of the Bethlehem Steel Company. Upon his death, the Bethlehem Steel plant was stopped for 10 minutes to commemorate his achievements for the company.90

In 1862, both of the Mixsell parcels making up original town Lot No.225 were sold to John O. Wagener, grandson of Judge Daniel Wagener who had owned the property earlier (see above).91 In 1867, Wagener sold the parcels to Thomas T. Miller for a total 4th Street frontage of 60’.92 By 1873, Thomas T. Miller’s wholesale hardware store had moved over from Joseph Burke’s old store location to occupy Mixsell’s previous corner address, and Miller had also moved his residence into the corner property.93 In 1874, when the new street numbering scheme was introduced, Thomas Miller’s hardware store was renumbered 30 North 4th Street, while his residence received No.34.94

Miller’s store grew to include No.32 as well, and continued into the 20th Century. This operation ultimately maintained a three-story warehouse elsewhere in Easton, as well as an office in New York City, and in addition sold railroad carload lots of merchandise “while awheel” without ever bringing it to Easton. After Thomas Miller’s death in 1890, the business was made into a limited partnership by two of his sons, and continued into the 20th Century.95 The business was expanded to include guns and ammunition.96 The Miller Family’s residence was at 34 North Fourth Street,97 probably in the same corner building. The Miller property continued to be owned by Miller’s hardware company or his heirs until 1921, when it was sold for $56,000 to the Northampton Trust Company, apparently in trust,98 and then by the Trust Company to the

88 Deed Poll, Thomas Heckman, Sheriff, for Theodore Mixsell, to John O. Wagener, Sheriff 3 52 (29 Apr. 1862).

89 Deed Poll, Thomas Heckman, Sheriff, for Joseph J. Mixsell, to John O. Wagener, Sheriff 3 59 (29 Apr. 1862).

90 William J. Heller, II History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh 205 (Boston [Etc.]: The American Historial Society 1920).

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Easton Publishing Company99 (publisher of The Express newspaper) in the following year. [See below for further discussion of The Newspapers.]

Susanna Burke’s Property (Lot No.227): Joseph Burke died on 28 September 1841.100 William H. Lawall had served as the clerk in Joseph Burke’s general merchandise firm for some years. Lawall, “by his industry, faithfulness to his business duties, and strict economy during a period of ten years as clerk”, had accumulated sufficient capital to take over the Burke family store on 4th Street.101 Meanwhile Joseph Burke’s son, John J. Burke, acquired residential property farther up North 4th Street (see below), and became a lumber merchant using a lumber yard established behind the Burke Family property.102 After running the general merchandise business for a period of time, Lawall came to feel “that the business interests of the town were centering on Northampton street”. Accordingly, he got John J. Burke to sell him some property on Northampton Street in 1844,103 where he “erected the building” that became his new dry goods establishment.104

Meanwhile, back on the Burke property on Hamilton (now called North 4th)Street in 1850, the household of Joseph Burke’s widow (“Susan” [Susanna Wagener] Burke) included her daughter, Marie E. Knight (also known by her middle name Eva), and her son-in-law John T. Knight. Knight was then working as a clerk,105 apparently at the Easton Bank where (as of 1855) his Uncle (by marriage) David D. Wagener was the President.106 After Susanna Burke died in 1858, at approximately age 70,107 her estate promptly sold the Lot No.227 property to Maria E. Knight for a (supposedly public) bid price of $8,250.108 After this purchase, Mrs. Knight’s husband came into his own. By 1860, John T. Knight was the Treasurer of the Thomas Iron Company, declaring real estate interests worth $13,000 and personal property of $24,500.109 By 1870, now both Treasurer and Secretary of the company, his wealth had increased to $27,000 in real estate and another $67,000 in personal property.110 By 1880, he had become not only the Treasurer and Secretary, but had become the Iron Master of the Thomas Iron Company as well.111 That company that was historically important to the development of iron manufacturing during the early Industrial Revolution.112 Knight later (in 1890) became the President of the then-newly formed Easton Trust Company.113

Initially, John T. Knight’s family residence on Lot No.227 had the same address of 20 North 4th Street that had previously belonged to Philip Meixsell’s residence and Theodore Mixsell’s store.114 With the inauguration of the modern street numbering scheme in 1874, the Knight residence was assigned the address of 40 North 4th Street.115

After Maria Eva Knight died on 14 December 1891,116 her husband inherited a life estate in the property under her will (described as the “house and lot in which we now live”).117 He died almost exactly a year after his wife, on 15 December 1892.118

When John T. Knight died, the Lot No.227 property descended to his wife’s grand niece (Leila B. Reeder) in trust. She sold it in 1897 to George R. Anderson for $10,000.119 Anderson was a chirurgical physician, who had started his medical practice and a drug store in Portland in 1883, and was now moving to Easton to establish his office and residence on this property (at 42 North 4th Street). After a successful medical

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career,120 he sold the North 4th Street property in 1911 to the Fraternal Order of Elks for $33,500.121 Dr. Anderson later focused on real estate development, erecting “many dwellings” in the city. He died at age 81 in 1937.122

The Properties formed from Lot Nos.229 and 331 :

Lot No.229, southern half: In 1861, John J. Burke sold this property, with a house on it, for $1,800 to Sarah Runkle,123 his mother-in-law.124

121 Deed, George R. (Mary E.) Anderson to Lodge No.121, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, E39 125 (1 Apr. 1911)(sale price $33,500). The Elks had acquired the property as an association, but became a corporation and deeded the property to their corporate entity on 16 July 1912 (recorded at B40 345).

122 Obituary, “Doctor In City for Forty Years Is Dead at 81 – Dr. Anderson interested in Real Estate and Erected Dwellings”, EASTON EXPRESS, Fri., 23 July 1937, p.1. He had been a resident in the Terrace Apartments at 6th and Ferry Streets at the time of his death.

123 Deed, John J. Burke to Sarah Runkle, E10 139 (9 Dec. 1861)(sale price $1,800 for “Messuage or Tenement”). This deed appears to recite the seller’s ownership as being from a life interest conveyed by John J. Burke’s father, Joseph Burke, by will.

124 John J. Burke’s wife was Matilda Runkle Burke. Henry F. Marx (compiler), II Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1799 – 1851 Newspaper Extracts 475 (Easton Area Public Library 1929)(married on 12 April 1831, based upon an article in the NORTHAMPTON WHIG of Tues., 15 Apr. 1831); accord, id. vol. I at 348 (based upon an article in the EASTON CENTINEL of Fri., 15 Apr. 1831); John Eyerman, The Ancestors of Marguerite Eyerman: A Study in Genealogy 23 (Easton: Free Press Book and Job Print 1898)(John J. Burke married Matilda Runkle on 12 April 1831); see also Jane S. Moyer (compiler), II Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1885-1902 Newspaper Extracts 184 (Easton Area Public Library 1976)(John J. Burke and Mrs. Matilda Runkle Burke had been married in 1830).

Matilda Runkle’s mother was Sarah Runkle. See Deed, Matilda R. Burke to Catharine Fulmer, D19 30 (14 Feb. 1884)(regarding sale of Runkle House at what is now 52 South 4th Street by Matilda Burke, Sarah Runkle’s daughter, after Sarah Runkle died on 12 Jan. 1878). See also 1850 Census, Series M432, Roll 802, p.168A, Image 342 (available on Ancestry.com), which shows the household of John J. and Matilda Burke (ages 42 and 38, respectively) in Easton, along with their children, and also includes Adam Runkle (age 84) and Sarah Runkle (age 85), both from New Jersey.

The identity of Adam Runkle as Sarah Runkle’s husband (and Matilda Runkle Burke’s father) is further confirmed by Deed, Matilda R. Burke to Catharine Fulmer, D19 30 (14 Feb. 1884)(recital, Adam Runkle died 18 Oct. 1850, leaving the house at what is now 52 South 4th Street to his widow, Sarah Runkle).

After Adam Runkle’s death, John J. Burke and Matilda Burke moved to Philadelphia (at least, for a time), and therefore were released from the Easton congregation on 22 March 1855. Id. at 86.

91 John O. Wagener was the son of David D. Wagener, one of the three “rich men of Easton”. As mentioned in the text, John O. Wagener was a grandson of Judge Daniel Wagener, and a great-grandson of Judge David Wagener, both owners of Bushkill mills. See separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the John O. Wagner Mansion at 33 South 4th Street.

92 Deed, John O. (Matilda) Wagener to Thomas T. Miller, H11 181 (1 Apr. 1867)(sale price $10,960 for “Messuages tenements” on two lots, including No.1 (at the corner, measuring 32’ 3” X 220’) and No.2 (adjoining parcel to the North along 4th Street measuring 27’ 9” X 220’,

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The Runkles came from New Jersey.125 They purchased a house (the Runkle House) in Easton in 1843 – at what is now 52 South 4th Street.126 However, in 1850 Sarah Runkle (at age 65) and her husband, Adam (at age 84), were living with John J. Burke.127 Adam Runkle died in that year (1850).128 It appears that Sarah Runkle then returned to live in Runkle House.129

Two years after he sold this property to Mrs. Runkle, John J. Burke got into financial difficulties (in 1863). The Sheriff seized this property (notwithstanding the earlier deed to Mrs. Runkle), together with his interest in properties on Juliana (now called 5th) Street; Mrs. Runkle purchased that property for $1,500 at the resulting Sheriff’s sale.130

bounded by John T. Knight’s property on the North). The combined frontage of the two parcels was 59’ 9”.

93 D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874)(map shows “T.T. Miller” at this corner location); Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 98 (1873)(alphabetical listing for Thomas T. Miller, hardware wholesale and home, “N 4th cor Church”, also residence).

94 Article, “The New Numbers”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Wed., 26 Nov. 1873, p.3, col.4. This listing also shows that S.L. Rodenbough’s grocery was assigned No.32 in-between Miller’s store and residence addresses, and the Barcaw & Haarlaan green grocery received No.28 (on the other side of Miller’s store). See also 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, p.414C (Thomas T. Miller and family residence at 34 North 4th Street).

95 American Journal of Progress, “Greater Easton of To-day” 10 (originally printed c.1903 during Mayor B. Rush Field’s second 3-year term, reprinted courtesy of W-Graphics)(when this was published, the corporation President was Rufus W. Miller, Secretary/Treasurer and management Frank C. Miller); see Deed, The Thomas T. Miller Hardware Company, Limited to Frank C. Miller, A27 594 (2 Apr. 1896)(sale price $13,500 for two tracts: No.1 at the corner of Church and North 4th Street measuring 32’ 3” X 220’; No.2 adjoining, measuring 27’ 9” X 220’); Deed, Frank C. Miller and Rufus Miller, Executors for The Thomas T. Miller Hardware Company, Limited, A27 590 (2 Apr. 1896)(sale price $12,000 less $4,000 secured by a mortgage); see also 1870 Census, Series M593, Roll 1382, pp.26-27 (in 1870, Thomas Miller’s household included Frank, age 13, and Rufus, age 7); see Leonard S. Buscemi, Sr., The 2001 Easton-Phillipsburg Calendar 16 (Buscemi Enterprises 2000)(1915 picture); Ronald W. Wynkoop, Sr., It Seems Like Yesterday 354 (self published 1989)(same).

96 American Journal of Progress, “Greater Easton of To-day” 10 (originally printed c.1903 during Mayor B. Rush Field’s second 3-year term, reprinted courtesy of W-Graphics).

97 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, p.414A; Census Directory of Northampton County, Eleventh U.S. Census, 1890 (Joseph H. Werner, assisted by Geo. W. West 1891), J-POHL transcribed online at www.bethlehempaonline.com/beth1890/eastonjtop.html (Florence s. Miller and Emma M. Miller listed as the residents at 34 North 4th Street); 1900 Census, Series T623, Roll 1447, p.105B; 1910 Census, Series T624, Roll 1381, p.71B (hardware merchant Franklin Miller and family at 34 North 4th Street); 1920 Census, Series T625, Roll 1609, p.150B (hardware merchant F.C. Miller and family at 34 North 4th Street).

98 Deed, Frank C. (Katharine D.) Miller to Northampton Trust Company, E49 69 (1 Oct. 1921)(sale price $56,000 for property measuring 60’ X 220’).

99 Deed, Northampton Trust Company, Trustee, to Eastno Publishing Company, F49 504 (2 May 1922)(property measuring 60’ X 220’).

100 John Eyerman, The Ancestors of Marguerite Eyerman: A Study in Genealogy 23 (Easton: Free Press Book and Job Print 1898).

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Mrs. Runkle was financially well off. In 1860, she was listed as owning real estate worth $20,000.131 In 1870, she was doing even better, listed as having real estate worth $60,000 and personal property worth $26,000.132

When Mrs. Runkle died in 1878,133 the property was inherited by her sole heir, Matilda Runkle Burke134 (John J. Burke’s wife135). After Matilda died at age 79 in 1891,136 the property descended to her son,137 Edward (also written Edwin) R. Burke.138 After Edward R. Burke died in1889139 without a will, his heirs and trustee sold the residence to W. Stewart Weaver for $6,700 in 1898.140 Weaver promptly took up residence.141 Weaver was a hardware merchant in Easton for 51 years. He began work as a store clerk at 414

101 See Frank B. Copp, Biographical Sketches of Some of Easton’s Prominent Citizens 113-14 (Hillburn & West 1879). See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Express Building at 30 North 4th Street. Copp claims he “succeeded the firm of Joseph Burke & Sons” in “About the year 1843 or 1844”, and “continued the same for about five years at the old stand” on North 4th Street, before opening his own store on Northampton Street. This is slightly inconsistent with the deed record suggesting that Lawall acquired his Northampton Street store property from John J. Burke already in 1844 (see above).

102 Cf. 1850 Census, Series M432, Roll 802, p.168A, Image 342 (available on Ancestry.com)(John J. Burke, lumber merchant, with wife Matilda Burke and family). See also D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874)(showing a large “Lumber Yard” behind Matilda Burke’s property at that point, lying between 4th and 5th Streets).

103 Deed, John J. (Matilda) Burke to William H. Lawall, C7 187 (22 May 1844); see www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Lawall-Bricker Building at 450-52 Northampton Street.

104 See Frank B. Copp, Biographical Sketches of Some of Easton’s Prominent Citizens 113-14 (Hillburn & West 1879). Lawall’s 1844 purchase deed did indicate that a building (“Messuage or Tenement”) was already on the property when he bought it, but Copp seems clear that Lawall “erected” a new one when he took over.

105 See 1850 Census, Series M432, Roll 802, p.168A, Image 342 (available through Ancestry.com)(Household No.345 Susan Burke, the owner of real estate worth $35,000, with a household including clerk John T. Knight and Maria E. Knight).

Maria E. [Eva] Knight was Susanna Burke’s daughter. See Jane S. Moyer (compiler), X Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1885-1902 Newspaper Extracts 81, 82 (Easton Area Public Library 1976)(Mrs. Eva Knight / Maria E. Knight was the daughter of Joseph Burke, and wife of John T. Knight). These two obituaries – one of Eva Knight, the other of Maria E. Knight – both show her death on 14 December 1891, and are thus just different names for the same woman. Maria E. Knight’s middle initial “E” almost certainly stands for the other name, “Eva”.

John Eyerman’s work identifies Joseph Burke’s daughter as Maria-Eve Burke, (14 Feb. 1821 – 14 Dec. 1891) – thus clearly including both names -- and shows her marriage to John T. Knight (12 June 1822 – 15 Dec. 1892). John Eyerman, Genealogical Studies: The Ancestry of Marguerite and John Eyerman 45-46 (Eschenbach Printing Company 1902). See also Henry F. Marx (compiler), II Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1799 – 1851 Newspaper Extracts 740 (Easton Area Public Library 1929)(J.T. Knight’s marriage to Eva, daughter of Joseph Burke, reported in the WHIG AND JOURNAL for Wed., 24 May 1848).

106 See C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA 37 (Cole & Eichman’s Office, 1855)(John T. Knight, bank clerk, house at 20 North 4th Street); id. at 59 (D.D. Wagener, President of the Easton Bank).

David D. Wagener was Susanna Wagener Burke’s brother – and consequently Marie E. (Burke) Knight’s uncle. John Eyerman, The Ancestors of Marguerite Eyerman: A Study in Genealogy 23-

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Northampton Street in approximately 1875.142 In approximately 1889, Weaver opened his own hardware store at 456 Northampton Street.143 In 1905, he took on his son Charles as a partner and returned his hardware store to his original business address at 414 Northampton Street, where it remained until just before his death.144 Weaver was known for his quiet, “genial manner”: one employee claimed never to have heard a cross word from him in 25 years. He lived on the property (with an address of 48 North 4th Street) until his death in 1926. After his death, his daughter, Miss Helen R. Weaver, continued to live in the 4th Street home.145 However, in 1929 W. Stewart Weaver’s estate conveyed the property to his son, Frank M. Weaver146 – who sold it a year later to the Easton Publishing Company (publisher of the EASTON EXPRESS).147

24 (Easton: Free Press Book and Job Print 1898). 107 Henry F. Marx (compiler), I Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1852 – 1870

Newspaper Extracts 125 (Easton Area Public Library 1934)(Susan Burke, the widow of Joseph Burke, died 18 June 1858 age 70 or age 72, based upon articles in the EASTON ARGUS and the WHIG); accord, Deed, John J. Burke, Trustee for the Heirs of Susannah Burke, to Levi N. Starner/Sterner, A10 255 (1 Apr. 1859)(regarding sale of Burke’s Flour Mill on the Bushkill: recitals).

108 Deed, Executors of the Estate of Susanna Burke, to Maria E. Knight, G9 531 (23 Nov. 1858)(reciting that the purchaser was the wife of John T. Knight). See also D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874)(J.T. Knight).

109 1860 Census, Series M653, Roll 1147, p.249. 110 1870 Census, Series M593, Roll 1382, p.23 (front)(John Knight, age 48, Treasurer of

[illegible] Iron, and wife “Eva”, age 48); see also Fitzgerald & Dillon (compilers), Easton Directory for 1870-71 56 (Ringwalt & Brown 1870)(John T. Knight, Secretary and Treasurer of Thomas Iron Co. at 6 South 3rd Street, house at 22 North 4th Street).

111 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, p.414C (John T. Knight, age 57, Treasurer, Secretary and Iron Master of Thomas Iron Co., with wife Maria E. Knight, age 58, and household on North 4th Street, no street number listed).

112 See Craig L. Bartholomew and Lance E. Metz, with Ann Bartholomew (ed.), The Anthracite Iron Industry of the Lehigh Valley 167-69 (Easton: Center for Canal History and Technology 1986); see also American Journal of Progress, “Greater Easton of To-day” 13 (written c.1902 during Mayor B. Rush Field’s second 3-year term, reprinted courtesy of W-Graphics). David Thomas was the man who brought the techniques of successful iron manufacture using anthracite coal to America from Wales. After faithfully serving his original American backers for a number of years, Thomas started his own Thomas Iron Company in 1855, with a number of financial backers largely from Easton.

113 See Census Directory of Northampton County, Eleventh U.S. Census, 1890 (Joseph H. Werner, assisted by Geo. W. West 1891), J-POHL transcribed online at www.bethlehempaonline.com/beth1890/eastonjtop.html (John T. Knight, President of Easton Trust Company, and family resident at 40 North 4th Street). See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 6 South 3rd Street.

114 Compare Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 88 (1873)(alphabetical listing for John T. Knight, “pres.”, at 20 North 4th Street) with C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA 41, 43 (Cole & Eichman’s Office, 1855)(Phillip Mixsell’s residence and Theodore Mixsell’s store at 20 North 4th Street).

115 Article, “The New Numbers”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Wed., 26 Nov. 1873, p.3, col.4.

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Lot No.229, northern half: John J. Burke died in 1865,148 evidently leaving the property to his widow – who we have seen was Matilda Runkle Burke.149 With the inauguration of the modern street numbering scheme in 1874, Mrs. John Burke (i.e. Matilda Burke) was assigned the address of 52 North 4th Street.150 This became the long-time residence of Matilda R. Burke and her family,151 until John J. Burke’s great grandchildren sold it to The Salvation Army in 1920.152

Lot No.231, southern half: John W. Bell died in 1855153 without a will, leaving the property to his four children, but one of these heirs consolidated the family’s interests in the property154 and sold it to William J. Micke in 1863 for $2,080.155 Despite Micke’s business expertise as a local merchant,156 he lost heavily on the resale of this house in 1865, getting only $1,000 from Samuel Keim.157 Keim sold it three years later for $4,500

116 Jane S. Moyer (compiler), X Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1885-1902 Newspaper Extracts 81, 82 (Easton Area Public Library 1976).

117 See Deed, Joseph S. Rodenboughm, Trustee for Leila B. Reeder, and Leila B. Reeder, to George R. Anderson, G27 694 (6 Feb. 1897)(recitals). See also Census Directory of Northampton County, Eleventh U.S. Census, 1890 (Joseph H. Werner, assisted by Geo. W. West 1891), J-POHL transcribed online at www.bethlehempaonline.com/beth1890/eastonjtop.html (John T. Knight and family resident at 40 North 4th Street).

118 Jane S. Moyer (compiler), X Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1885-1902 Newspaper Extracts 82 (Easton Area Public Library 1976)(John T. Knight died 15 Dec. 1892); see Deed, Joseph S. Rodenbough, Trustee for Leila B. Reeder, and Leila B. Reeder, to George R. Anderson, G27 694 (6 Feb. 1897)(recital that John T. Knight had died on 15 December 1892).

119 Deed, Joseph S. Rodenbough, Trustee for Leila B. Reeder, and Leila B. Reeder, to George R. Anderson, G27 694 (6 Feb. 1897).

120 See 1900 Census, Series T623, Roll 1447, p.105B (physician George R. Anderson at 48 North 4th Street); Obituary, “Doctor In City for Forty Years Is Dead at 81 – Dr. Anderson interested in Real Estate and Erected Dwellings”, EASTON EXPRESS, Fri., 23 July 1937, p.1. He had been a resident in the Terrace Apartments at 6th and Ferry Streets at the time of his death.

By 1910, he had apparently moved from the property, as 40 North 4th Street showed two households: wine and liquor merchant Frank Barnet, and insurance agent D.S. Null. 1910 Census, Series T624, Roll 1381, p.71B.

125 John J. Burke’s wife, Miss Matilda Runkle, was from New Jersey at the time of their wedding. Henry F. Marx (compiler), II Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1799 – 1851 Newspaper Extracts 475 (Easton Area Public Library 1929)(married on 12 April 1831, based upon an article in the NORTHAMPTON WHIG of Tues., 15 Apr. 1831); accord, id. vol. I at 348 (based upon an article in the EASTON CENTINEL of Fri., 15 Apr. 1831).

In 1837, Sarah and Adam Runkle had purchased the Richey-Dunham House in Warren County, NJ was purchased from Marcey Richey. See Dennis N. Bertland, Early Architecture of Warren County 57 (Belvidere (NJ): Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders 1976).

126 Deed, George (Sarah) Sauerbier to Adam Runkle, B7 143 (6 Nov. 1843); see www.WalkingEaston.com entry for Runkle House at 52 South 4th Street.

127 1850 Census, Series M432, Roll 802, p.168A, Image 342 (available on Ancestry.com). 128 Deed, Matilda R. Burke to Catharine Fulmer, D19 30 (14 Feb. 1884)(recital, Adam

Runkle died 18 Oct. 1850, leaving the house at what is now 52 South 4th Street to his widow, Sarah Runkle); accord, Record of First Presbyterian Church of Easton, Pennsylvania (Marx Room Reference “F”) 85 (copied in Easton Public Library 1936)(Adam Runkle died in 1850 – although that fact is listed under the year 1848).

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to Benjamin F. Lerch,158 who resold it a year later for $4,800 to Thomas Timmins.159 After Timmins’s death in 1875,160 the Timmins heirs sold the property in 1877 to Charles Hemingway.161 This property, now numbered 56 North 4th Street after the inauguration of the modern street numbering scheme,162 became the residence of Charles and Alice Hemingway.163 The Hemingways held this property until 1936, when they sold it to The Woman’s Club of Easton.164

A schematic diagram of all of these properties is as follows:

North 4th St.

129 See 1860 Census, Series M653, Roll 1147, p.341 (Sarah Runkle, age 74, in a separate household in Lehigh Ward of Easton); 1870 Census, Series M593, Roll 1382, p.80 (Sarah Runkle, age 83, household located between Henrietta Barron and John Drake – both neighbors on South 4th

Street); Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 110 (1873)(Mrs. Sarah Runkle at 30 South 4th Street, under the numbering scheme in effect at that time); D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874)(“Mrs. Runkle”); Article, “The New Numbers”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Wed., 26 Nov. 1873, p.3, col.4 (assigned the new address of 52 South 4th Street). See generally www.WalkingEaston.com entries for 54 South 4th Street (Barron Homestead), 52 South 4th Street (Runkle House), and 40 South 4th Street (KWM Building, former site of John Drake House).

130 Deed Poll, Adam Hower, Sheriff, for John J. Burke, to Sarah Burke, G10 182 and Sheriff 3 124 (1 May 1863), Sheriff 3 124.

131 1860 Census, Series M653, Roll 1147, p.341 (Sarah Runkle, real estate $20,000, personal property $200).

132 1870 Census, Series M593, Roll 1382, p.80B. 133 Record of First Presbyterian Church of Easton, Pennsylvania (Marx Room Reference

“F”) 156 (copied in Easton Public Library 1936)(Sarah Runkle died 12 Jan. 1878); accord, Deed, Matilda R. Burke to Catharine Fulmer, D19 30 (14 Feb. 1884)(regarding sale of Runkle House at what is now 52 South 4th Street; recital, Sarah Runkle died 12 Jan. 1878).

134 Deed, Emilie B. (John) Bacon, et al., to Edward R. Burke, E23 148 (15 Sept. 1892)(recitals); accord, Deed, Matilda R. Burke to Catharine Fulmer, D19 30 (14 Feb. 1884)(regarding sale of Runkle House at what is now 52 South 4th Street; recital that Sarah Runkle’s daughter, Matilda Burke, took over this property as well after Mrs. Runkle’s death).

John Bacon’s daughter, Matilda Runkle Bacon, was the wife of Easton architect William Marsh Michler. Compare Jane S. Moyer (compiler), XIII Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1885-1902 Newspaper Extracts 23 (Easton Area Public Library 1976)(William Marsh Michler married Matilda Runkle Bacon, daughter of John Bacon, on 4 Oct. 1899) with John W. Jordan, Edgar Moore Green & George T. Ettinger, I Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania 228 (New York and Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co. 1905, reprint by Higginson Book Co.). His buildings included the Drake Building, and the residences of S.R. Bush, William T. Kubler, and Herman Simon. Id. He also designed the Superintendent’s House at Easton Cemetery, as well as the Howard Riegel Mansion at 214-16 Spring Garden Street, and houses on College Hill.

135 Henry F. Marx (compiler), II Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1799 – 1851 Newspaper Extracts 475 (Easton Area Public Library 1929)(married on 12 April 1831, based upon an article in the NORTHAMPTON WHIG of Tues., 15 Apr. 1831); accord, id. vol. I at 348 (based upon an article in the EASTON CENTINEL of Fri., 15 Apr. 1831); John Eyerman, The Ancestors of Marguerite Eyerman: A Study in Genealogy 23 (Easton: Free Press Book and Job Print 1898)(John J. Burke married Matilda Runkle on 12 April 1831); see also Jane S. Moyer (compiler), II

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BUTZ MANSION Lot No.231 (N. half)

(60 North 4th Street)

1958 Woman’s Club of Easton Lot No.231 (S. half)

(Charles Hemingway, 56 North 4th Street)

1959 Salvation Army Lot No.229 (N. half)

(John J. Burke, 52 North 4th Street)

Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1885-1902 Newspaper Extracts 184 (Easton Area Public Library 1976)(John J. Burke and Mrs. Matilda Runkle Burke had been married in 1830).

136 John Eyerman, The Ancestors of Marguerite Eyerman: A Study in Genealogy 23 (Easton: Free Press Book and Job Print 1898)(Matilda Runkle Burke died on 21 September 1891; she had been born on 4 August 1812).

137 Edward R. Burke was a son of Matilda and John J. Burke. Jane S. Moyer (compiler), II Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1885-1902 Newspaper Extracts 184 (Easton Area Public Library 1976); see also John Eyerman, The Ancestors of Marguerite Eyerman: A Study in Genealogy 23 (Easton: Free Press Book and Job Print 1898)(son was Edwin R. Burke, born 5 July 1848); 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, p.414C (Edwin R. Burke, age 30, dyspepsic conveyancer living in the household of Matilda R. Burke at 52 North 4th Street).

138 Deed, Emilie B. (John) Bacon, et al., to Edward R. Burke, E23 148 (15 Sept. 1892) (implementing the will of Matilda R. Burke, deceased, who had obtained the property as the sole heir of Sarah Burke, deceased).

139 See Jane S. Moyer (compiler), II Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1885-1902 Newspaper Extracts 182 (Easton Area Public Library 1976)(Edward Burke died at age 55 on 11 June 1889).

140 Deed, Emilie B. (John) Bacon, et al., to W. Stewart Weaver, G28 518 (9 Dec. 1898)(sale price $6,700 for property measuring 30’ X 220’).

141 See George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory of Greater Easton for 1900 356 (George W. West 1900)(W.S. Weaver, hardware, 456 Northampton Street, house at 48 North 4th Street); George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory of Greater Easton for 1901 276 (West & Johnson Printing Co. 1901)(W. Stewart Weaver, hardware and seeds, 456 Northampton Street, house at 48 North 4th Street); George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory of Easton City for the Year 1903 292 (George W. West 1903)(W.S. Weaver, hardware and seeds, 456 Northampton Street, house at 48 North 4th Street).

143 See George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory for Easton [Etc.] 233 (George W. West 1889)(W. Stewart Weaver, hardware, 456 Northampton Street, house at 33 South 5th Street); cf. Obituary, “Sudden Death of W.S. Weaver – Easton Merthant’s Long and Honorable Career Comes to an End”, EASTON EXPRESS, Mon., 13 Dec. 1926, p.5, col.5 (later moved his hardware business to 456 Northampton Street). See also George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory of Easton [Etc.] 225 (George W. West 1892)(W. Stewart Weaver, hardware, at 456 Northampton Street, house at 33 South 5th Street); George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory of Greater Easton 265 (George W. West 1898)(W. Stewart Weaver, hardware, 456 Northampton Street, house at 33 South 5th Street); George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory of Greater Easton for 1900 356 (George W. West 1900)(W.S. Weaver, hardware, 456 Northampton Street, house at 48 North 4th Street); George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory of Greater Easton for 1901 276 (West & Johnson Printing Co. 1901)(W. Stewart Weaver, hardware and seeds, 456 Northampton Street, house at 48 North 4th Street); George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory of Easton City

23

1930 Weaver Lot No.229 (S. half)

(Matilda Burke)

1957 Fraternal Order of Eagles Lot No.227

(Joseph Burke / Knight)

for the Year 1903 292 (George W. West 1903)(W.S. Weaver, hardware and seeds, 456 Northampton Street, house at 48 North 4th Street).

144 Obituary, “Sudden Death of W.S. Weaver – Easton Merthant’s Long and Honorable Career Comes to an End”, EASTON EXPRESS, Mon., 13 Dec. 1926, p.5, col.5 (“21 years ago” moved back to his original address, and added his son, Charles K. Weaver, to the partnership, then known as W.S. Weaver and Son); George W. West (compiler), Directory of Easton City 309 (George W. West 1906)(W.S. Weaver & Son, hardware, 414 Northampton Street, house at 48 North 4th Street).

No listing was found for the Weaver hardware store in the intervening 1904 City Directory. George W. West (compiler), Directory of Easton City 280 (George W. West 1904).

145 Obituary, “Sudden Death of W.S. Weaver – Easton Merthant’s Long and Honorable Career Comes to an End”, EASTON EXPRESS, Mon., 13 Dec. 1926, p.5, col.5; see also Deed, Charles K. Weaver, Executor of the Will of W. Stewart Weaver, and J.F. Hahn, Deputy Clerk of Orphans’ Court, et al., to Frank M. Weaver, D60 162 (14 Jan. 1929)(Stewart Weaver died on 12 December 1926).

See 1900 Census, Series T623, Roll 1447, p.105B (hardware merchant William S. Weaver and family at 48 North 4th Street); 1910 Census, Series T624, Roll 1381, p.71B (hardware merchant W. S. Weaver and family at 48 North 4th Street); 1920 Census, Series T625, Roll 1609, p.150B (same).

146 Deed, Charles K. Weaver, Executor of the Will of W. Stewart Weaver, and J.F. Hahn, Deputy Clerk of Orphans’ Court, et al., to Frank M. Weaver, D60 162 (14 Jan. 1929)(“with the dwelling house erected” on property measuring 30’ X 220’).

147 Deed, Frank M. (Edith E.) Weaver to Easton Publishing Company, C62 268 (5 May 1930)(sale price $9,500 and other consideration, for “dwelling house and brick garage” on property measuring 30’ X 220’ numbered 48 North 4th Street; recital that Easton Lodge #121, B.P.O.E. lay to the South).

148 John Eyerman, The Ancestors of Marguerite Eyerman: A Study in Genealogy 23 (Easton: Free Press Book and Job Print 1898)(John J. Burke died 5 May 1865).

149 Henry F. Marx (compiler), II Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1799 – 1851 Newspaper Extracts 475 (Easton Area Public Library 1929)(married on 12 April 1831, based upon an article in the NORTHAMPTON WHIG of Tues., 15 Apr. 1831); accord, id. vol. I at 348 (based upon an article in the EASTON CENTINEL of Fri., 15 Apr. 1831); John Eyerman, The Ancestors of Marguerite Eyerman: A Study in Genealogy 23 (Easton: Free Press Book and Job Print 1898)(John J. Burke married Matilda Runkle on 12 April 1831); see also Jane S. Moyer (compiler), II Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1885-1902 Newspaper Extracts 184 (Easton Area Public Library 1976)(John J. Burke and Mrs. Matilda Runkle Burke had been married in 1830).

150 Article, “The New Numbers”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Wed., 26 Nov. 1873, p.3, col.4; see D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy &

24

1923 EXPRESS BUILDING Lot No.225

(Mixsell / Thomas T. Miller)

Church Street (Alley)

Co. 1874)(M. Burke); Webb’s Easton and Phillipsburg Directory 1875-6 32 (Webb Bros. & Co. 1875)(Mrs. Matilda R. Burke house at 52 North 4th Street); J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc,] Directory for 1877 59 (M.J. Riegel 1877)(Mrs. M.R. Burke house at 52 North 4th Street); J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1879 62 (M.J. Riegel 1879)(same).

151 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, p.414A (after the modern street numbering scheme was inaugurated, Matilda R. Burke (age 67), two sons and a grandson lived at 52 North 4th Street; Census Directory of Northampton County, Eleventh U.S. Census, 1890 (Joseph H. Werner, assisted by Geo. W. West 1891), A-D transcribed online at www.bethlehempaonline.com/beth1890/eastoncityabc.html (Matilda R. Burke and family at 52 North 4th Street); see also 1870 Census, Series M593, Roll 1382, p.23 (Matilda Burke listed after Dr. Isaac Ott, William Shouse, and John Knight).

152 See Deed, John (Jeanette) Bacon Jr., et al., Heirs and Successor to John I. Burke, to Incorporated Trustees of The Salvation Army, B47 592 (23 Mar. 1920).

142 Cf. Obituary, “Sudden Death of W.S. Weaver – Easton Merthant’s Long and Honorable Career Comes to an End”, EASTON EXPRESS, Mon., 13 Dec. 1926, p.5, col.5 (opened a hardware business at 414 Northampton Street 51 years ago); J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1877 145 (M.J. Riegel 1877)(W. Stewart Weaver, clerk, home at 210 South 5th Street); J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc,] Directory for 1879 160 (M.J. Riegel 1879)(same). See also J.H. Lant & Son, Easton [Etc.] Directory 1881-2 129 (1881)(Stewart Weaver and W. Stewart Weaver, clerk, house at 210 South 5th Street); J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1883-4 152 (J.H. Lant 1883)(W. Stewart Weaver, clerk, house at 625 Ferry Street); J.H. Lant, Easton, Etc. Directory for 1884-5 144 (J.H. Lant 1884)(Stewart Weaver, clerk, house at 625 Ferry Street); West’s Guide to Easton [Etc.] 159 (George W. West 1887)(W. Stewart Weaver, clerk, house at 33 South 5th Street).

153 Henry F. Marx (compiler), I Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1852 – 1870 Newspaper Extracts 66 (Easton Area Public Library 1934)(John W. Bell Sr. died 3 April 1855, aged about 63 years).

154 Deed, Richard S. (Rebecca) Bell, Courtland (Serena) Bell, and Ferdinand W. Bell, to John O. Bell, F9 653 (24 Nov. 1858)(3/4 interest in property; and recitals). Bell’s widow had died on 11 December 1858 (thus disposing of her “dower” life estate rights). See Henry F. Marx (compiler), I Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1852 – 1870 Newspaper Extracts 67 (Easton Area Public Library 1934).

155 Deed, John O. (Bebecca) Bell to William J. Micke, G10 93 (2 Apr. 1863)(sale price $2,080).

156 See generally www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Micke House at 25 North 2nd Street. 157 Deed, William J. (Elvira) Micke to Samuel Keim, B11 320 (30 Mar. 1865 (sale price

$1,000 or property with ”messuage tenement”). 158 Deed, Samuel (anna E.) Keim to Benjamin F. Lerch, F12 67 (2 Apr. 1868)(sale price

$4,500).

25

THE NEWSPAPERS

In 1923,165 a new Headquarters of the merged Easton Express / Easton Argus newspaper was built (apparently to replace the Miller store and residence) here at the NW corner, numbered 30 North Fourth Street, and today (with the parking lot to the North) occupies all of the property through street number 56 North Fourth Street (apparently including the Burke Family building as well).166

The Easton Express (forerunner of the present-day Express-Times) newspaper resulted from a 1917 merger of two newspapers: The Easton Argus and the Easton Express.167

159 Deed, Benjamin F. (anna Maria) Lerch to Thomas Timmins, G12 27 (1 Apr. 1869)(sale price $4,800); cf. D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874)(T. Timmings).

160 Henry F. Marx (compiler), VI Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1871 – 1884 Newspaper Extracts 1826 (Easton Area Public Library 1935)(Thomas Timmins died 20 November 1875, at age 72).

161 Deed, Margaret Timmins to Charles Hemingway, E15 578 (24 Mar. 1877)(4/5 interest); Deed, Francis Timmins to Charles Hemingway, E15 580 (7 Apr. 1877)(1/5 interest, Francis Timmins identified as the grandson of Joseph Timmins).

162 With the inauguration of the modern street numbering scheme in 1874, 56 North 4th Street was assigned to Dr. W.S. Kooker, and 54 North 4th Street was assigned to Miss Gaston. Article, “The New Numbers”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Wed., 26 Nov. 1873, p.3, col.4.

163 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, p.414C (56 North 4th Street residence of Charles L. Hemingway (a livery stable clerk) and his family); 1900 Census, Series T623, Series 1447, p.105B; 1910 Census, Series T624, Roll 1381, p.72B; 1920 Census, Series T625, Roll 1609, p.150B.

164 Deed, Easton National Bank, Executor of the Estate of Alice S. Hemingway, to The Woman’s Club of Easton, Pennsylvania, C67 410 (18 Dec. 1936)(sale price $10,000 for 56 North 4th Street); see Deed, John (Lucy M.) Eyerman to Alice S. Hemingway, D33 597 (23 Mar. 1904)(sale price $14,000 for two tracts, this one was Tract No.1, Tract No.2 was on 5th Street); Deed, Charles L. (Alice X.) Hemingway to John Eyerman, G33 85 (23 Mar. 1904).

165 H.P. Delano (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton Pennsylvania 126 (Union Publishing Co. Inc. 1925)(advertisement containing picture of modern building and statement that it “Opened to the Public in 1923”); Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, unpublished typewritten account obtained from the Express-Times Library on 20 March 2007, at 2; Scott Hill, A Self Guided Tour . . . Historic Forks of the Delaware 3 (Eagle Scout Project, 29 Apr. 1992).

The 1923 date is confirmed, in part, by the fact that Oliver L. Fehr sold the prior offices of the Argus in 1923. Deed, Oliver L. Fehr to Edwin Stipe, A51 547 (6 June 1923). See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Stipe Building at 26 North Fourth Street.

166 See Northampton County tax records (map), www.ncpub.org.

This is across Church Alley from the prior office of the Argus newspapers, which were on the SW corner (where the Stipe Building stands at 26 North Fourth). See George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 100 (West Job Printing House 1908)(Argus listed at corner of Church and Fourth Streets); Charles M. Barnard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 1910 171 (The West Job Printing House 1910)(Argus at 26 North Fourth Street); Charles M. Bernard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 1912 188 (The West Job Printing House 1912)(same); Charles M. Barnard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 20, 132 (Union Publishing Co. 1920)(listings for the “Argus Building” and “Argus Daily and Semi-

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The Easton Argus

The Easton Argus evolved from the Pennsylvania Argus of was first published in 1827 by Jacob Weygandt (Jr.), and then consolidated with the intended Easton Gazette of Samuel Innes (then age 25).168 It was a weekly newspaper,169 which supported the candidacy of Andrew Jackson for U.S. President.170 The German-language edition was called the Republikanisch Presse.171

Jacob Weygandt withdrew after four years, leaving Samuel Innes (popularly known as “Dick Innes”) as sole proprietor,172 who changed the name to the Democrat and Argus.173 Samuel Innes (1802-41) was the son of William Innes and grandson of Revolutionary War Captain and Easton politician John Arndt. Samuel Innes married

Weekly, now Easton Argus – Northampton Democrat” at 26 North Fourth Street); cf. George W. West (compiler), Directory of Easton City 79 (George W. West 1906)(Argus Building listed at 27-28 North Fourth Street – which makes little sense, since odd number 27 is located on the East side of the Street, while even number 28 would be on the West). See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Stipe Building at 26 North Fourth Street.

167 Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, unpublished typewritten account obtained from the Express-Times Library on 20 March 2007, at 2; Scott Hill, A Self Guided Tour . . . Historic Forks of the Delaware 3 (Eagle Scout Project, 29 Apr. 1992).

168 William J. Heller, I History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh 292-93 (Boston [Etc.]: The American Historial Society 1920); see Article, “The Argus”, EASTON ARGUS, Wednesday, 17 March 1875, p.3, col.1; see also John W. Jordan, “John Bechtel: His Contributions to Literature, and his Descendents”, in The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. XIX, No.2, pp.137-51, at 150 (1895); Alfred Lewis Shoemaker, A Check List of Imprints of the German Press of Northampton County Pennsylvania, 1766 – 1905, with Biographies of the Printers 140 (Vol. IV in the publications of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1943); Esther Weygandt Powell, The Weygandt-Frase-Bechtel Family Record 1523 - 1965 6a – 6b (published privately 1965)(copy in Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library; essentially repeats the Pennsylvania Magazine text); see also John W. Jordan, “John Bechtel: His Contributions to Literature, and his Descendents”, in The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. XIX, No.2, pp.137-51, at 150 (1895).

169 See PENNSYLVANIA ARGUS, Vol. I, No. I, Thursday, 15 Feb. 1827 (microfilm at Easton Area Public Library); Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra at 1 (Argus first published as a German language weekly in 1827).

170 Scott Hill, A Self Guided Tour . . . Historic Forks of the Delaware 3 (Eagle Scout Project, 29 Apr. 1992); William J. Heller, I History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh 293 (Boston [Etc.]: The American Historial Society 1920).

Samuel Innes had also briefly published the Argus and Anti-Masonic Gazette in 1830. Alfred Lewis Shoemaker, A Check List of Imprints of the German Press of Northampton County Pennsylvania, 1766 – 1905, with Biographies of the Printers 140 (Vol. IV in the publications of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1943)

171 Scott Hill, A Self Guided Tour . . . Historic Forks of the Delaware 3 (Eagle Scout Project, 29 Apr. 1992)(Pennsylvania Argus, published in German); William J. Heller, I History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh 293 (Boston [Etc.]: The American Historial Society 1920).

172 E.A. Weaver, “Historical Sketches – Relating to Easton and Eastonians”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Thurs., 13 Aug. 1896, p.3, col.3.

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Elizabeth Traill Nungesser, a granddaughter of Revolutionary War politician Robert Traill.174 Samuel Innes was himself a militia officer from 1832, and also a talented poet.175 He died suddenly at age 38 on 8 February 1841,176 leaving the newspaper to be run by his father (William Innes) and a brother (John A. Innes).177 Despite being generally “in commerce” and without newspaper experience, John A. Innes became the sole editor of the Argus until it was sold to Col. William H. Hutter in 1844,178 when Hutter was only 19 years old.179 Hutter renamed the newspaper the Easton Argus.180 Hutter was the grandson of Christian J. Hütter, who had owned the Easton Sentinel and the Northampton Correspondent.181

Col. William Hutter continued to own the newspaper until 1869, when it was briefly acquired by James F. Shunk and William Eichman. The following year (1870) Eichman sold his interest to Cole & Morwitz,182 the publishing vehicle of Judge Josiah Cole and E. Morwitz,183 and they acquired Shunk’s interest in 1871. They returned editorial responsibility to William Eichman.184

Josiah Cole had previously (since 1855) published the German language weekly Der Northampton Correspondent, which was one of the first weekly newspapers in Pennsylvania outside of the city of Philadelphia.185 It was first published (in German) in 1806 by Christian J. Hütter,186 and in the early 1800s became “the leading paper of the county”.187 After some changes in control among Hütter’s family, he sold the paper in 1839 to Abraham H. Senseman. In 1860, under the editorship of Josiah Cole, the

173 William J. Heller, I History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh 293 (Boston [Etc.]: The American Historial Society 1920); Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 456 (George W. West 1885 / 1889); see Alfred Lewis Shoemaker, A Check List of Imprints of the German Press of Northampton County Pennsylvania, 1766 – 1905, with Biographies of the Printers 140 (Vol. IV in the publications of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1943).

174 E.A. Weaver, “Historical Sketches – Relating to Easton and Eastonians”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Thurs., 13 Aug. 1896, p.3, col.3.

175 Shoemaker, A Check List of Imprints of the German Press of Northampton County Pennsylvania, 1766 – 1905, supra at 140.

176 E.A. Weaver, “Historical Sketches – Relating to Easton and Eastonians”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Thurs., 13 Aug. 1896, p.3, col.3; accord, Alfred Lewis Shoemaker, A Check List of Imprints of the German Press of Northampton County Pennsylvania, 1766 – 1905, with Biographies of the Printers 140 (Vol. IV in the publications of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1943)(Samuel Innes died in 1841); see Article, “The Argus”, EASTON ARGUS, Wednesday, 17 March 1875, p.3, col.1 (died approximately 1840).

177 William J. Heller, I History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh 293 (Boston [Etc.]: The American Historial Society 1920); Article, “The Argus”, EASTON ARGUS, Wednesday, 17 March 1875, p.3, col.1.

178 Article, “The Argus”, EASTON ARGUS, Wednesday, 17 March 1875, p.3, col.1. 179 William Jacob Heller, History of Northampton County (Pennsylvania) and the Grand

Valley of the Lehigh 293 (American Historical Society 1920). 180 Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 456 (George W. West 1885 / 1889). 181 William J. Heller, I History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh

293 (Boston [Etc.]: The American Historial Society 1920).

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Correspondent was consolidated into the Independent Democrat188 (Unabhängiger Democrat).189 In 1875, Judge Cole’s Argus publishing firm formally acquired the German-language newspaper, and changed the name back to Der Northampton Correspondent.190

On 1 July 1879 Oliver L. Fehr (with a partner, J.P. Correll) acquired the Argus, and in September added a daily edition.191 Correll withdrew in 1882. Fehr, a prominent Republican Party politician, published and later edited the Argus, obtaining an influential voice in the area. He discontinued the associated German-language Northampton Correspondent in 1903.192 Over the weekend of 6-7 January 1905, the Argus was moved from Bank Street to open on Monday, 8 January at a new location at 4th and Church Streets.193 This is the location of the present Express Building. In 1917 sold the Argus to the Easton Express and retired.194

The Easton Express

The Easton Daily Express – the oldest daily newspaper in northeastern Pennsylvania195 – was first published as a morning paper on 5 November 1855, by William Eichman and William L. Davis.196

William Eichman was the great grandson of Capt. Jacob Weygandt (Sr.), “the founder of the first newspaper (1893) in Easton”,197 known as the Eastoner Bothe und Northamptoner Kunschafter (a German language paper).198

William Davis had been an editor and writer for the “short-lived” Daily Eastonian newspaper.199

At a chance meeting in the autumn of 1855 at the corner of Northampton and Hamilton (4th) Streets (near where their first office would be established), the two partners flipped a penny to choose “The Express” from among four newspaper names.200 Having no money, the partners arranged to use the English language type and press of publisher Josiah Cole.201 Cole and Eichman had previously been partners in Cole’s printing office, apparently before Eichman’s partnership with Davis.202 With 250 subscribers and a single column of paying ads,203 The Express opened for business on the third floor of the same building in which Cole’s press was located (on the first floor), as well as Col. Hutter’s Easton Argus (on the second floor).204 The newspaper cost 2 cents for a single issue; it had 150 subscribers.205

In order to receive news quickly, the editors of the Daily Express installed a magnetic telegraph service in their first year, although its use was limited initially because of the expense.206 In the beginning, the two Daily Express editors were also the paper’s “reporters, typesetters, printer’s devils, advertising salesmen and their own newsboys.”207 Only the “rolling” (i.e. inking the press as each page was printed: “printer’s devil”) was done by “a small boy”, as well as some of the newspaper distribution.208

In 1856 (the year after the paper was founded), the Daily Express’s owners seriously considered selling out to Col. Hutter at the Easton Argus. However, with the appearance of a financial backer, business slowly improved.209 That backer was Samuel P. Higgins. With his association in the firm, the paper acquired its own type and press,

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opened its own job printing establishment, and as of 17 April 1856 moved its offices to the “Ihrie Building” at the SE corner of Third and Ferry Streets210 in “one of the upper rooms”.211 -- apparently referring to the Benjamin Ihrie Building (now listed as 100 South Third Street).212 Higgins retired shortly thereafter,213 and as of 22 September of the same year the Easton Express offices returned to the Old Newspaper Building on Northampton Street, once again to the Third Floor, now utilizing “the room recently occupied by Mr. Josiah Cole, publisher of the ‘Unabhängiger Democrat’.”214 In the late 1850s, the editors began issuing the paper in the evening, instead of in the morning.215 In the Spring of 1862, the paper moved its offices to the “Express Building” on the opposite side of Northampton Street from the Franklin House,216 then numbered 165 Northampton Street.217 [This location is the modern Carryl Building at 429 Northampton Street].218

That was the era of the Civil War. During Confederate General Lee’s brief invasion of Maryland that ended at the Battle of Antietam (September 1862), publication of the Daily Express was suspended while the two editors “hurried to the front” to “repel a threatened rebel invasion”. Publication was resumed “several weeks” later.219 They served for about 10 days with the 5th Pennsylvania Regiment of Emergency Militia. This Regiment was raised as part of the Governor’s call for 50,000 men in response to General Lee’s “triumph in the second battle of Bull Run” and his brief invasion of the North in September 1862 that ended at the Battle of Antietam on 16-17 September. The Pennsylvania “Emergency Men of 1862”, mustered in on 11-13 September, were sent back to Harrisburg and disbanded on 24-27 September.220 William L. Davis was a 2nd Lieutenant in Company I of that Regiment,221 while William Eichman was a Sergeant in Company A.222 Upon his return from the War, Eichman retired from the Daily Express in September 1862223 “to join the competing Easton Weekly Argus”.224 Eichman later began the Daily News, a newspaper with a Democratic orientation (the Daily Express was intended to be politically neutral).225 He bought an interest in the Argus from Col. Hutter, and consolidated it with the Daily News226 (apparently before it was acquired by Judge Cole227). Then, in the 1870s and ‘80s, Eichman became an editor of the Argus under Morwitz’s ownership, for publisher Oliver L. Fehr.228

Davis, meanwhile, continued with the Daily Express until his death in 1870229 at age 43.230 The newspaper was then purchased by George M. Reeder (son of Governor Andrew H. Reeder231) as proprietor, and Washington H. Bixler as editor.232 Bixler had first “became connected” with the Daily Express in 1865, and (under various titles including business manager, editor, and managing editor) he continued to guide the paper after the deaths of Davis233 and George Reeder. After Reeder’s death, the newspaper was purchased by the Express Publishing companies, with Washington Bixler, James J. Cope, Thomas Emmens, J. Davis Broadhead, and Charles Hillburn as shareholders. Cope ultimately “became the majority shareholder”.234 During Bixler’s tenure, the headquarters of The Express moved to Bank Street,235 and ultimately to a wood frame house at Nos. 15 and 17.236 In 1875, The Express claimed to have “a larger circulation than any other” in the Lehigh Valley, but the Easton Daily Free Press made the same claim,237 so The Express later modified its claim to asserting “a larger bona fide circulation than any paper in the Lehigh Valley.”238

Majority shareholder James Cope sold The Express239 in 1888 to its then-business manager, Howard Mutchler; Bixler retired.240 In 1896, the paper doubled its circulation

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by cutting its price in half (from two pennies to one per issue), and also wished to add heavy modern machinery.241 The paper’s engineers decided the Bank Street building was barely strong enough for the combined weight of the printing equipment and employees, so the old wood frame building242 was demolished, and replaced by a new, six-story brick headquarters in only eight weeks from the time work was begun on the foundation. During the construction, much of the machinery was moved, but the main printing press and office remained in place, covered by a temporary roof. The paper continued to be put out from that location – despite a heavy thunderstorm on one occasion, that wet the press.243 The new six-story building still stands today at 15 South Bank Street, and is now home of the Purple Cow Creamery.244

In 1917, The Express was purchased by the Easton Publishing Company, which had been formed by Easton lawyer and U.S. Congressional representative Henry J. Steele and Easton banker Chester Snyder. They also purchased the Easton Argus, 245 whose offices were in a 3-story Italianate-style Argus Building at 26 North Fourth Street,246 located at the SW corner of Fourth and Church Streets (across from where the Express Building now stands).247 Plans were being made to move the publishing plant into the Argus Building and new printing equipment was being installed there, when on 27 October 1917 a fire caused extensive damage. The Argus was able to print at the Express’s plant (presumably, in Bank Street).248 A few days later, on 5 November 1917, The Argus was merged with The Express as a combined daily.249 Circulation of the combined newspapers at this time was 3,000.250 The Business Manager of both The Argus and The Express was still listed across the Church Street intersection at the Argus Building at 26 North Fourth Street at this time,251 which was apparently leased from Oliver Fehr (who still owned the building).252

At the time of the merger with The Argus, the Managing Editor of The Express was John H. McGrath. He had started with the paper as a reporter in 1890, and risen through the ranks. Even as an editor, the newspaper staff knew that he would work personally on big stories, and he had a passion for getting the facts correct. He also had an active interest in politics, as a staunch Democrat, and for many years as the clerk of Easton’s Select Council.253 His home was at 328 Bushkill Street.254 In 1917, Congressman Steele hired James Laurence (“Larry”) Stackhouse to be the Business Manager. He had come to Easton only four years previously, in 1913 (at age 25), to be a manager at a quarry company. Stackhouse proved to be an enormous success. He was elected Editor and President of the company in 1946, retaining those positions until he retired in 1966, and still remained as Chairman of the Board after his retirement until his death.255

Within five years, the combined newspapers’ circulation had “exploded to 36,000”.256 As mentioned above, in 1922, the Easton Publishing company purchased the former Thomas T. Miller hardware store property at the corner of Church and North 4th Streets.257 It demolished the stone building and made arrangements to incorporate support for a common wall with the stone building next door (on Lot No.227 – the Burke/Knight property), in order to build “a new building adapted to the publishing of a news-paper”.258 In the following year, The Express opened its new, “custom built, state-of-the-art” Headquarters building at 30 North Fourth Street,259 which replaced the old Argus Building. A 1925 Advertisement shows a picture of the building – obviously the same building that is still there today – captioned:

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“Opened to the Public in 1923. It is the most up-to-date Newspaper Plant in Eastern Pennsylvania and Northwestern New Jersey. It cost, fully equipped, well over half a million dollars.”

In its new building, The Express “became one of the first newspapers in the nation to use teletype machines to receive telegraph news. Less than a month later, the paper was one of the first to use the machines to set wire service news.”260

Managing Editor John H. McGrath retired from the newspaper staff in 1925.261 In 1926, the owners bought the Easton Free Press, and merged that newspaper into The Express.262

The Easton Free Press had first appeared as the Northampton Farmer (a weekly) in 1852.263 At that point, it was a “spicy publication” devoted to the “Know-Nothing” or “Native American” party, which was soundly defeated in the election of 1854. After that election, B.F. Stem had purchased an interest in the paper. When flamboyant newspaperman W. Henry Brown came to town and bought the paper, he changed its name to the American Free Press, but the paper closed after only a few months. Lewis Gordon then bought it, and made it the Republican Party paper housed in the “County House” (a/k/a the County Records Building), with the support of Easton politician (and former Democrat) Andrew Reeder and others.264 The name was changed to the Easton Free Press in 1857.265 In 1866, Republican attorney James K. Dawes joined the paper, and began also issuing it also as a daily.266 Businessmen J.W. Wood and Henry L. Bunstein purchased the paper – subsequently ownership was consolidated by Wood, and then sold back to James K. Dawes, who moved its publication to the “Ihrie Building” in Centre Square,267 where it remained for many years in close proximity to the Post Office that Dawes also ran as Postmaster.268

In 1930, the owners of The Express purchased half of original town Lot No.229 from Frank and Edith Weaver, the successors to Sarah and Matilda Burke’s Family. The “dwelling house and brick garage” that was on this property269 has since been removed, and the property is now part of the parking lot.

By the mid-1930s, circulation of the newspaper had increased to 49,000. In 1948, the American Newspaper Publishers Association established a technical research institute in Easton in 1948 (and a dedicated facility in Forks Township in 1951), while also borrowing idle facilities from The Express. This relationship allowed The Express “to take advantage of new technology as it was being developed.”270

260 Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra at 2. 261 Obituary, “Dies Unexpectedly At Home – John H. McGrath’s Newspaper Career

Covered 45 Years – Former Managing Editor of Easton Express, Who Retired In 1935, Was Experienced in Every Phase of Newspaper Publishing”, EASTON EXPRESS, Mon., 14 Feb. 1944, p.1, cols.4-5 and Editorial, p.6, col.1.

262 Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra at 2; Leonard S. Buscemi, Sr., The 1991 Easton Calendar inside front cover (Buscemi Enterprises 1990).

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In 1957, the publisher of The Express (Easton Publishing Company) joined up its Headquarters Building property with the half-Lot it had acquired from the Weavers, by purchasing the intervening Burke property that had been original town Lot No.227 for $190,000. The selling owner at that time was the local “Aerie” of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, who had acquired the property after the Elks lost it in a Sheriff’s sale.271 In the next two years, The Express publishers expanded their property to the North with two more acquisitions:

The other half of original town Lot No.229 (previously John I Burke’s property), acquired from The Salvation Army in 1959 for $32,000;272 and

272 Deed, Salvation Army to Easton Publishing Company, 106 289 (2 Apr. 1959). 182 Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 456 (George W. West 1885 / 1889);

William J. Heller, I History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh 293 (Boston [Etc.]: The American Historial Society 1920); see Article, “The Argus”, EASTON ARGUS, Wednesday, 17 March 1875, p.3, col.1, and p.1 Masthead showing Cole & Morwitz as publishers.

183 Compare Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 61, 68 (1873)(alphabetical listings for Josiah Cole and Easton Weekly Argus) with D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874)(“J. Cole” shown for two buildings East of Mt. Vernon Hotel); see also Webb’s Easton and Phillipsburg Directory 1875-6 36 (Webb Bros. & Co. 1875)(Josiah Cole & E. Morwitz publishers of The Correspondent and Democrat). See generally separate entries for Old Easton Argus Bldg. at 530-32 Northampton Street, and Cole Residence at 536 Northampton Street.

184 William Jacob Heller, History of Northampton County (Pennsylvania) and the Grand Valley of the Lehigh 293 (American Historical Society 1920).

185 Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a, supra; Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra (Judge Cole had the Northampton Correspondent in 1855).

Two earlier newspapers had appeared, but were apparently quickly discontinued. Id. One of these appears to have been Der Lancaster Correspondent, published in 1799 by Christian Jacob Hütter, who moved to Easton in 1803. William J. Heller, I History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh 34 (The American Historical Society 1920).

Christian J. Hütter (born 1789) was the original publisher and editor of Der Northampton Correspondent. Condit, History of Easton, Penn’a, supra at 456; Frank B. Copp, Biographical Sketches of Some of Easton’s Prominent Citizens 1-5 (Hillburn & West 1879); William J. Heller, I History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh 34, 291 (Boston [Etc.]: The American Historical Society 1920); accord, NORTHAMPTON CORRESPONDENT, Freytag, den 12ten August, 1814, Neunter Band, Nummer 30 (masthead states “Gedruckt bey Christian Jacob Hütter”).

o After some financial reverses of 1821, Herr Hütter tended to other business, and allowed his twin sons Henry and Frederick to manage his newspaper business. The twins, both born in 1800, both died in 1824. Heller, History of Northampton County, supra at 34.

o In 1831 Herr Hütter’s daughter, Amelia, married Andrew H. Reeder, Easton lawyer and politician and sometime Governor of Kansas Territory. Frank B. Copp, Biographical Sketches of Some of Easton’s Prominent Citizens 7 (Hillburn & West 1879); see Heller, I History of Northampton County, supra at 34-35 (Fredericka Amalia Hutter).

o Christian Hütter was never, however, associated with The Argus. Article, “The Argus”, EASTON ARGUS, Wednesday, 17 March 1875, p.3, col.1.

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Half of original town Lot No.331 (previously Charles and Alice Hemingway’s property), acquired from the Woman’s Club of Easton in 1958, also for $32,000.273

In 1973, the newspaper formally changed its name from The Easton Express to simply The Express to reflect its five-county circulation and coverage area. In 1989, it changed from an afternoon to a morning paper – reversing a decision that had last been made by Davis and Eichman in 1857. In 1984, the newspaper gave up local ownership, and was sold to Thomson Newspaper Inc.274 In 1991, The Express merged with the Globe-Times of Bethlehem to form The Express-Times,275 which is the current name of

186 Heller, I History of Northampton County, supra at 34, 291; Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra (first appeared on 15 Feb. 1806); see also Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a, supra (first published in 1801); John W. Jordan, Edgar Moore Green & George T. Ettinger, I Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania 112 (The Lewis Publishing Co. 1905, reprint by Higginson Book Co.)(Northampton Correspondent founded by Christian J. Hutter in 1800).

The earliest edition in the microfilm collection of the Easton Area Public Library is for “Freytag, den 12ten August, 1814”, listed as the “Neunter Band, Nummer 30”.

187 Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a, supra. See also Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra (first published in 1806).

188 Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra; Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’s, supra at 456; William J. Heller, I History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh 291-92 (Boston [Etc.]: The American Historial Society 1920); see William H. Boyd, Boyd’s Directory of Reading, Easton [Etc.] 119 & ad p.39 (William H. Boyd 1860)(alphabetical listing and advertisement for Josiah Cole, printer and editor of Independent Democrat); Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 61 (1873)(alphabetical listing).; Webb’s Easton and Phillipsburg Directory 1875-6 36 (Webb Bros. & Co. 1875)(Josiah Cole & E. Morwitz publishers of The Correspondent and Democrat).

189 See Masthead, EASTON EXPRESS, Mon. 22 Sept. 1856, p.1 and p.2, col.1 (Express moving back into third foor of 147 Northampton Street, in the room where Cole had published the Unabhängiger Democrat – see below).

190 William J. Heller, I History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh 292 (Boston [Etc.]: The American Historial Society 1920); see Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’s, supra at 456; Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra. See also Frank B. Copp, “The Beautiful City of the Delaware” (1878), reprinted with Donna Troxel, “Old paper turns back the clock in Easton”, EASTON EXPRESS, Sunday, 19 July 1981, p.C-1, C-3 (Judge J. Cole was publisher of the Argus and the Correspondent in 1878).

191 John W. Jordan, Edgar Moore Green & George T. Ettinger, I Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania 111-13 (The Lewis Publishing Co. 1905, reprint by Higginson Book Co.)(biography of Oliver L. Fehr, editor and publisher); see Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a, supra at 457; Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra at 1 (“around the turn of the century”). The first editions of the Daily Argus are available in the microfilm collection of the Easton Area Public Library are from that year.

192 John W. Jordan, Edgar Moore Green & George T. Ettinger, I Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania 111-13 (The Lewis Publishing Co. 1905, reprint by Higginson Book Co.). The microfilm collection in the Easton Area Public Library ends with the 6 Jan. 1882 edition.

193 Article, “The Argus Moves”, EASTON DAILY ARGUS, Sat., 6 June 1905, p.5, col.1.

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the newspaper. The Express-Times staff believe that, rather than being simply an Easton newspaper, they have worked hard to keep the Bethlehem paper alive.276 The paper changed owners twice since then (in 1994 and 2000), and is now part of the newspapers published by Advance Publishing Inc., a part of the Newhouse publishing family.277

In 2015, The Express-Times moved out of the building, and into its new headquarters on the first floor of the Alpha Building in Centre Square, under its “lehighvalleylive.com” banner. Its old headquarters on North 4th Street was sold for $950,000,278 to be remodeled by Lou Pektor (who previously worked on the Laubach’s Department Store Building on Northampton Street but failed to complete it) as the new Easton police station, and to house the Easton Arts Academy Charter Elementary School by 2017.279

194 Obituary, “Oliver L. Fehr, Former Publisher of Easton Argus, Dies At Age Of 91”, EASTON EXPRESS, Tues., 20 Dec. 1932, p.1, cols.7-8, at p.3. See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Stipe Building at 26 North 4th Street for biography of Oliver L. Fehr.

195 J.H. Lant & Son, Easton [Etc.] Directory 1881-2 (1881)(advertisement after title page). See also, e.g., Webb’s Easton and Phillipsburg Directory; 1875 front matter ad (Webb Bros. & Co. 1875)(“the OLDEST daily paper published in the Lehigh Valley”); J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1877 front matter ad (M.J. Riegel 1877)(“oldest Daily Paper in North-Eastern Penn’a”). While it is the oldest paper still in existence, it appears that there were two earlier attempts to establish a daily newspaper in Easton.

The Daily News was first issued on Monday, 11 Aug. 1834 by E.I. Garren. It was apparently affiliated with the Easton Centinel, because it advertised that “single numbers” could be obtained from the Centinel office. A microfilm copy of this paper is available in the Easton Area Public Library. See also Leonard Buscemi Sr., The 1991 Easton Calendar unnumbered p.23 (Buscemi Enterprises 1990).

o The publication year of this paper is unclear on the microfilm copy – it could be 1854 – but the reference to the “Easton Centinel” makes it likely that the Library and Buscemi’s reading of 1834 is correct, because later in 1834 the “Easton Centinel” changed the spelling of its name to the “Easton Sentinel”, and it is clearly spelled “Centinel” on the microfilm. See Buscemi, The 1991 Easton Calendar, supra at 7.

The Daily Eastonian was first issued on 21 April 1854. It claimed (at p.2) to have been “the first attempt of the kind which has been made here.” The microfilm collection of the Easton Area Public Library contains this edition (Vol.1 No.1), and only one other: Vol.1 No.290, issued on Friday, 31 July 1857. See also Leonard Buscemi Sr., The 1991 Easton Calendar unnumbered p.27 (Buscemi Enterprises 1990). An advertisement on page1 of this 1857 edition also references a Weekly Eastonian issued during this period. See also Buscemi, The 1991 Easton Calendar, supra at 25.

196 Ethan Allen Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series 82 (copied in Easton Public Library June 1936); see Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a, supra at 457; see Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition 6 (Jan. 1893, reprinted by W-Graphics); Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1; accord, Hill, A Self Guided Tour, supra.

197 Ethan Allen Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series 83 (copied in Easton Public Library June 1936).

198 Ethan Allen Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series 16 (copied in Easton Public Library June 1936).

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199 Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1.

200 Ethan Allen Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series 82 (copied in Easton Public Library June 1936)(according to reminiscences by Eichman, recorded by historian Ethan Allen Weaver); see Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1 (newspaper resulted from a “chance meeting between the two men in autumn 1855 on an Easton street corner.”).

201 Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series, supra at 82 (lists Cole as the publisher of the Unabhängigge Democrat); accord, Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1 (borrowed printing equipment “of another German-language newspaper”).

202 See Ethan Allen Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series 80 (copied in Easton Public Library June 1936)(reference to The Daily Eastonian newspaper of 21 Apr. 1854, owned by Davis and Cole); C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA (Cole & Eichman 1855)(alphabetical listing for Cole & Eichman, Book and Job Printers, 147 NH St., 3rd Floor). Note that the address is under the pre-1874 street numbering scheme, in the building that is now 403 Northampton Street.

Prior to joining Eichman, Davis had run his own printing business at 131 Northampton Street (under the pre-1874 street numbering scheme), now.

203 Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series, supra at 82.

204 See Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series, supra at 83 (“The Express was first printed in the “old Argus building on Northampton street above Hamilton (4th).”); Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1 (borrowing the printing equipment of a German-language newspaper, they “produced the paper from an office on the third floor of a building in the 400 block of Northampton Street.”). The Easton Express Masthead specifically identifies the address as 147 Northampton Street. See Masthead, EASTON EXPRESS, Sat., 17 Nov. 1855 (Vol.1 No.12), p.1. Microfilm copies of the earlier editions of this newspaper have a recurring stain on the first page that makes the Masthead address illegible.

The Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition, supra agrees that the first office of the Express was at 147 Northampton Street, but identifies this as being on “the third floor of the building now occupied by Moses Friedlich as a private residence”. That author then believed that the Express moved “within a year or so” to the third floor of the building “now occupied by W.J. Daub as a furniture store.” This identification with Moses Friedlich’s house is mistaken.

In 1893 (when the article was written), No. 147 Northampton Street was indeed located East of Centre Square, where the Friedlich property was located. See D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874). At that time, the W.J. Daub

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furniture store was located at 403 Northampton Street, in a 6-story building that still stands next-but-one to the NW corner of 4th Street. See West’s Directory (Easton, etc.) opposite p.232 (George W. West 1894)(Daub advertisement, with building picture showing its 403 street number posted at the top of its 6-story building, and a lower building inscription showing Nos. 403 and 405). Visual inspection of the present building at 403 Northampton Street confirms that this is the same building.

Significantly, in 1855 (under the older street numbering scheme) this Daub furniture store building had been listed as 147 Northampton Street – the address given in the 1893 Express Article!

In 1855, William Hutter II, editor, had his office at 147 Northampton Street. C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA (Cole & Eichman’s Office, 1855)(alphabetical listing). The 1893 Express Article identifies Col. William Hutter as the editor of the Argus, which it also says was in the same building as the Express after the supposed move across Centre Square. See also Talbot’s Lehigh Valley Gazetteer and Business Directory 1864-65 19 (Press of Wynkoop & Hallenbeck 1864)(alphabetical listing at No.147 for William H. Hutter, editor and proprietor of the Easton Argus).

The 1860 Easton Directory listed the address of Davis & Eichman’s “Evening Express” itself as 147 Northampton Street. William H. Boyd, Boyd’s Directory of Reading, Easton, [Etc.] 134 (William H. Boyd 1860)(alphabetical listing for “Evening Express”).

By way of confirming the 1855 street number, G.W. Hope’s “Sky-Light Daguerrean Gallery” was also listed at No.147 (presumably on the top floor, given the store name). Hope advertised his store as being located “2 doors above P. Pomp’s Drug Store” -- and Pomp’s Drug Store was at No.143. C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA (Cole & Eichman’s Office, 1855)(advertisements and alphabetical listings). Assuming a second storefront entrance in 1855 (presumably listed as No.145), and given the modern street plan showing the Pomp-Bixler Building at the corner, it is quite consistent that No.147 was what we are now calling The Old Newspaper Building (i.e. the Daub building of 1893).

Accordingly, it appears that the Express writer in 1893 was not aware that Easton had renumbered its street prior to 1880. He appears to have correctly noted the initial address of the Express as No.147, but incorrectly ascribed it to the Friedlich home East of Centre Square at No.147 in his day. He then drew the conclusion that the Express itself must have physically moved into the Daub building. Instead, it now appears that the street numbers moved across Centre Square approximately a dozen years before he wrote the article, and the Express actually started up and remained in place on the third floor of No.147 (in 1855 street numbers), West of Centre Square.

205 Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1.

206 Compare Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra at 1 with Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition, supra.

207 Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra at 1; accord, Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring

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readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1. 208 Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series, supra at 83 (based upon Eichman’s

reminiscences, as recorded by Ethan Allen Weaver); see Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1.

209 Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition 6 (Jan. 1893, reprinted by W-Graphics) (“Col. Hutter”). The Argus owner was Col. William H. Hutter (see above).

210 See Masthead, EASTON EXPRESS, Thurs., 17 Apr. 1856, p.1; see also Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series, supra at 83 (based upon Eichman’s reminiscences, as recorded by Ethan Allen Weaver); Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition 7 (Jan. 1893, reprint sold by Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society).

An explanatory entry on page 2, col.1 of the EASTON EXPRESS for Thurs., 17 April 1856, stated: “Finding it necessary to extend our business, by adding . . . a job printing extablishment, and in order the better to carry out our business and prosecute our undertaking, we have this day associated with ourselves as a partner with equal interest, to date from 1st of April, 1856, Mr. S.P. Higgins.” The firm was thereafter to be known as Davis, Higgins & Eichman.

See also separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Benjamin Ihrie Building at 100 South 3rd

Street. 211 Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition, supra.

212 The 1893 Express article (supra) specifically identifies the new building address as the “southeast corner of Third and Ferry streets, now occupied by the H. G. Tombler Grocery Company”. Another article, at page 21 of the same special edition of the Express discussing the Tombler firm, states that it was located on the “southwest corner”. However, a business listing in D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania Map of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874) confirms that the principal address for “Daly, Tombler & Co., Wholesale Grocers” was the “S.E. cor.”. In addition, visual inspection of the Express article’s drawing of the Tombler building with the Benjamin Ihrie Building as it exists today suggest that it is the same at the SE corner, although the first-story walkway roof over Third and Ferry Streets has been removed. The issue is not, however, completely free from doubt. See separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for Benjamin Ihrie Building (100 South Third Street).

213 Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series, supra at 83. 214 See Masthead, EASTON EXPRESS, Mon. 22 Sept. 1856, p.1 and p.2, col.1 (and subsequent

editions); see also Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series, supra at 83 (moved about a year after the paper was founded); see generally William H. Boyd, Boyd’s Directory of Reading, Easton, [Etc.] 134 (William H. Boyd 1860)(alphabetical listing for “Evening Express” on Northampton Street).

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215 Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition, supra, at col.2; contra, Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series, supra at 83 (published as an evening paper when offices moved opposite Franklin House in Spring of 1862).

216 Ethan Allen Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series 83 (copied in Easton Public Library June 1936); see Subscription Notice, Daily Easton Express, Mon., 2 Jan. 1865, p.1, col.1 (Express Building, northampton Street, opposite the Franklin House). The Franklin House was located where the parking lot at 418-26 Northampton Street now stands: see separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for that location.

217 Talbot’s Lehigh Valley Gazetteer and Business Directory 1864-65 9 (Press of Wynkoop & Hallenbeck 1864)(W.L. Davis, editor and publisher of the Daily Evening Express at 165 Northampton Street).

218 See separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Carryl Building at 425-29 Northampton Street.

219 Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition, supra, at col.2; see Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra at 1; Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a, supra at 457 (Davis sole proprietor from 1864); Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series, supra at 83. See also Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1 (“ceased publication until their return about a year later”).

However, the next Express copy in the microfilm file at the Easton Area Public Library was for 2 January 1865.

220 Samuel P. Bates, V History of Pennsylvania Volunteers 1861-5 1147, 1158-59 (P. Singerly, State Printer 1871); Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 249-50 (George W. West 1885 / 1889).

221 Bates, supra at 1160; Condit, supra at 250. 222 Bates, supra at 1158; Condit, supra at 249. 223 Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition, supra, at col.2; see Article, “The

Express-Times: A History”, supra at 1; Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a, supra at 457 (Davis sole proprietor from 1864).

224 Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1 (underlining added).

225 Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series, supra at 83. 226 Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series, supra at 83; see Fitzgerald & Dillon, Easton

Directory for 1870-71 40 (Ringwalt & Brown 1870)(alphabetical listing for William Eichman); Rev. Uzal W. Condit, History of Easton, Penn’a 456 (George W. West 1885 / 1889)(Eichman

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bought a half-interest in 1969, but sold it to Cole & Morwitz in 1870). 227 See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entries for the Cole Residence (536

Northampton Street) and the Old Easton Argus Building (530-32 Northampton Street). 228 William Jacob Heller, History of Northampton County (Pennsylvania) and the Grand

Valley of the Lehigh 293 (American Historical Society 1920); see Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a, supra at 457.

229 Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition, supra, at col.2; see Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra at 1; Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a, supra at 457 (Davis sole proprietor from 1864).

Distribution of the Express at this time was “outsourced” – to use modern terminology. The issue for Monday, 2 January 1865, p.1, col.5, carried a notice that J.P. Correll, “who has for a long time been connected with the Express”, had assumed “entire control of the delivery of the papers, the routes, and the collection of subscriptions, from and after to-day.” The notice also advised that all connection with the former distributor – Rothrock & Co. – had “ceased on Saturday”. Notice, “J.P. Correll”, DAILY EASTON EXPRESS, Mon., 2 Jan. `865, p.1, col.5.

230 Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1.

231 See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entries for Andrew Reeder Family Residence (226 Northampton Street) and George Reeder House (21 North Second Street).

232 Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series, supra at 83; see Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1. See also Frank B. Copp, “The Beautiful City of the Delaware” (1878), reprinted with Donna Troxel, “Old paper turns back the clock in Easton”, EASTON EXPRESS, Sunday, 19 July 1981, p.C-1, C-3 (Washington Bixler was the Associate Editor in 1878).

233 Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition, supra; Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series, supra at 83; see J.H. Lant & Son, Easton etc. Directory 1881-2 (1881)(alphabetical listing for W.H. Bixler, managing editor, Easton Daily Express).

234 Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1.

235 D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874)(business notice for George M. Reeder, Editor of the Easton Daily Express at 6 and 8 Bank St.); Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 67 (1873)(alphabetical listing for Easton Daily Express at 6 and 8 Bank Street). In 1875, after the 1874 street renumbering, this apparently became 15 and 17 South Bank Street. See Webb’s Easton and Phillipsburg Directory; 1875-6 front matter ad (Webb Bros. & Co. 1875); accord, J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1877 ad.p.2 (M.J. Riegel 1877)(advertisement).

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236 Compare J.H. Lant & Son, Easton etc. Directory 1881-82 (1881)(alphabetical listing for Easton Daily Express) with Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra at 2 (“woodframe quarters”).

237 Webb’s Easton and Phillipsburg Directory; 1875-6 front matter ads (Webb Bros. & Co. 1875).

238 J.H. Lant & Son, Easton etc. Directory 1881-2 (1881)(advertisement after title page). In its advertisement two pages later, the Easton Free Press continued to claim “The Largest Circulation of any Daily Paper published in the County, exceeding that of any other by over 1000.” See also J.H. Lant, Easton Etc. Directory for 1877 front matter ads (M.J. Riegel 1877).

239 Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1.

241 Article, “Our New Home – The Express in Its Handsome New Building Today”, EASTON EXPRESS, Thurs., 1 Oct. 1896, p.1, col.6.

242 Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra at 2. The Article, “Our New Home – The Express in Its Handsome New Building Today”, EASTON EXPRESS, Thurs., 1 Oct. 1896, p.1, col.6 mentions that attempts were made to purchase new premises, and to strengthen the old floors and foundation, but there was still a danger of collapse.

243 Article, “Our New Home – The Express in Its Handsome New Building Today”, EASTON EXPRESS, Thurs., 1 Oct. 1896, p.1, col.6. Work on the foundation was begun on 1 July 1896. Id.

The Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra at 2 tells a similar story, although it includes an even faster pace: “The facility was built on the site of the demolished former building just eight weeks after engineers decided the woodframe quarters were barely holding the weight of heavy printing machinery and bustling employees.” I have given more credence to the Express’s contemporaneous account of the story.

244 See separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 15 South Bank Street. 245 Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the

newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1; see also Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra at 2; Hill, A Self Guided Tour, supra. See also Leonard S. Buscemi, Sr., The 1991 Easton Calendar inside front cover (Buscemi Enterprises 1990)(“took control” of Easton Daily Argus in 1916).

246 Charles M. Barnard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 21 (The Union Publishing Co. 1914)(“Blocks, Buildings, Halls” identifies the “Argus Building” as 26 North 4th Street); Charles M. Barnard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 20 (Union Publishing Co. 1920)(same).

247 Article, “Flames Damage Newspaper Plant on 4th Street, Argus Building, Soon To Be New Home of Daily Express, Was on Fire”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, p.1, col.6.

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248 See Article, “Flames Damage Newspaper Plant on 4th Street”, supra. 249 Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra at 2. But see Charles M. Barnard

(compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 132 (Union Publishing Co. 1920)(continued listing for “Argus Daily and Semi-Weekly, now Easton Argus – Northampton Democrat”).

250 Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1, citing to a 1967 history of the Express by James Laurence Stackhouse, a former President and Editor of the newspaper.

251 Charles M. Barnard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 116, 201 & Back Cover advertisement (Union Publishing Co. 1918); Charles M. Barnard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 132, 218 (Union Publishing Co. 1920).

252 Fehr did not sell the building to Edwin Stipe until 1923, when the new (modern) headquarters was opened across Church Street. See Deed, Oliver L. Fehr to Edwin Stipe, A51 547 (6 June 1923).

The old Express building on Bank Street was sold to Laubach’s Department Store in 1918. Wm. Laubach & Sons, Sixty Years of Store Progress 1860-1920 13 (Easton: The Hobson Printing Co. 1920).

253 Obituary, “Dies Unexpectedly At Home – John H. McGrath’s Newspaper Career Covered 45 Years – Former Managing Editor of Easton Express, Who Retired In 1935, Was Experienced in Every Phase of Newspaper Publishing”, EASTON EXPRESS, Mon., 14 Feb. 1944, p.1, cols.4-5 and Editorial, p.6, col.1.

254 1900 Census, Series T623, Roll 1447, p.70B; 1910 Census, Series T624, Roll 1381, p.29B; 1920 Census, Series T625, Roll 1609, p.100B.

255 Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1.

256 Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1, citing to a history by Donald W. Diehl, a former President and Editor of the newspaper.

257 Deed, Northampton Trust Company, Trustee, to Easton Publishing Company, F49 504 (2 May 1922)(NW corner of North 4th and Church Streets, Lot No.225 measuring 60’ X 220’).

240 See Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition, supra. 258 Agreement, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Easton Publishing Company,

MISC 7 1 (Northampton County Deeds Office 1 April 1922). It was agreed that a girder and joist supporting the Elks’ wall “may be walled into the new building” being constructed for the newspaper.

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259 Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1; see Marie and Frank Summa & Leonard Buscemi Sr., Images of America: Historic Easton 49 (Arcadia Publishing 2000); Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra at 2.

263 Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a, supra at 457; see J. Peter Correll (ed. SUNDAY CALL), “The Free Press Reviewed by the Sunday Call”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, mon., 23 Dec. 1912, p.4, col.2 (paper started in 1853).

In 1881, the Easton Free Press headquarters was located at 12 to 18 South Bank Street. J.H. Lant & Son, Easton etc. Directory 1881-2 (1881)(alphabetical listing). In 1918, it was listed at 16-24 South Bank Street. Charles M. Barnard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 201 (Union Publishing Co. 1918).

264 J. Peter Correll (ed. SUNDAY CALL), “The Free Press Reviewed by the Sunday Call”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, mon., 23 Dec. 1912, p.4, col.2.

265 Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a, supra at 457. 266 J. Peter Correll (ed. SUNDAY CALL), “The Free Press Reviewed by the Sunday Call”,

EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, mon., 23 Dec. 1912, p.4, col.2; see Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a, supra at 457.

267 J. Peter Correll (ed. SUNDAY CALL), “The Free Press Reviewed by the Sunday Call”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, mon., 23 Dec. 1912, p.4, col.2.

268 See www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 62-67 Centre Square. 269 See Deed, Frank M. (Edith E.) Weaver to Easton Publishing Company, C62 268 (5 May

1930)(sale price $9,500 and other consideration for a “dwelling house and brick garage” with address 48 North 4th Street on land measuring 30’ X 220’ deep).

Deed, Charles K. Weaver, Executor of the Will of W. Stewart Weaver, et al., to Frank M. Weaver, D60 162 (14 June 1929)(sale price $23,000 for “dwelling house” no property measuring 30’ X 220’); Deed, Emilie B. (John) Bacon, et al., Heirs and Trustee of the Estate of Edward R. Burke, to Frank M. Weaver, G28 518 (9 Dec. 1898)(sale price $6,700); Deed, Emilie B. (John) Bacon, et al., to Edward R. Burke, E23 148 (15 Sept. 1892);

270 Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1.

271 See Deed, Easton Aerie No.111, Fraternal Order of Eagles, to Easton Publishing Company, D101 14 (25 Oct. 1957); Deed, Lafayette Trust Company to William Ziegler, Samuel Grigg and Harry Weitzman, Trustees of Easton Aerie No.111, Fraternal Order of Eagles, C72 490 (7 Oct. 1941); Deed Poll, E. Albert Boyer, Sheriff, for Lodge No.121, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, to Lafayette Trust Company, F69 697 (14 Sept. 1939)(price $3,618.12); Deed, George R. (Mary E.) Anderson to Lodge No.121, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, E39 125 (1 Apr. 1911)(sale price $33,500). The Elks had acquired the property as an association, but

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became a corporation and deeded the property to their corporate entity on 16 July 1912 (recorded at B40 345).

273 Deed, The Woman’s Club of Easton, Pennsylvania to Easton Publishing Company, A99 551 (15 Feb. 1958).

274 Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1; see Deed, Easton Publishing Company to Thomson Newspapers Inc., 659 840 (6 Jan. 1984).

275 Hill, A Self Guided Tour, supra; Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra at 2. 276 Peter Hall, “The day we were born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the

newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1. 277 Article, “The Express-Times: A History”, supra at 3; see Peter Hall, “The day we were

born – Through various owners – and new strategies – the newspaper endures to bring readers the news”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sat., 5 Nov. 2005, p.AA1.

1994: Deed, Thomson Newspapers (Michigan), Inc. to Easton Publishing Company, 1994-6-34126 (1 June 1994)(4 tracts: No.1 = Express Building; No.2 = the NW corner of North West and Church Streets (now a parking lot); No.3 = a property next to Mack Printing on Wood Avenue; No.4 located in Forks Township). The deed recites that Thomson Newspapers Inc. – the purchaser in 1984 – was merged into TW Publishing, Inc. on 22 December 1993; that corporation was merged into Thomson newspapers (Alabama), Inc. the next day; and the resulting corporation was in turn merged into Thomson Newspapers (Michigan), Inc. three days later (27 December 1993).

2000: Deed, Easton Publishing Company to Penn Jersey Advance Inc., 2000-1-088253 (27 June 2000)(sale price $936,000 for property at the corner of North 4th and Church Streets stretching 210’ on North 4th Street X 221.03’ on Church Street).

278 Deed, Penn Jersey Advance Inc. to 30 North Fourth, LP, 2015-1-63441 (10 Apr. 2015). 279 Rudy Miller, “Easton’s old structures are getting a new look and a new life Brick by

Brick”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Thus., 6 Oct. 2016, p.1, col.1, & p.2, cols.5-6; Rudy Miller, “How Easton’s new charter school will revamp landmark building”, LEHIGH VALLEY LIVE, http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2017/01/see_improvements_planned_for_e.html (29 Jan. 2017).

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