Nestled in the southeastern part of McKean County was a town
named Norwich that flourished as the logging business of Frank and
Charles Goodyear moved in from Hammersly in Potter County. The
purchase of the land tracts by the Goodyears in Norwich and
Sergeant townships in the late 1880's set the stage for the influx
of people to this area. In 1907, construction of railroads
necessary for the logging operations began and were completed in
1910 when the first logs were ready to be hauled out of the
mountains. Construction of a railroad shop, a roundhouse, an office
and boarding house were the first to be built in Norwich and the
population growth saw the need for more housing as well as a
school, two churches, a theater and a community center. For a
decade and a half lumber was king in the Norwich area but it too
succumbed to its success as the area was depleted of the trees that
provided a livelihood for the laborers. By the late 1920's, Norwich
began a decline that eventually took it into non-existence. A drive
through the area on Route 46 today offers very little evidence of
the magnitude of what took place here a century ago.
Below you will see photos of this area.
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Imagine yourself standing in this very spot in 1910. Your
senses would be overwhelmed with the sights and sounds of a
lumbering town coming to life. Frank and Charles Goodyear are
moving their operation to Norwich following a prosperous era at
Hammersley. Build it and they shall come was so true with the
logging industry in Norwich, Pennsylvania.
This photograph is taken along Route 46 at N41° 39.215' W78°
22.117' looking 330 Degrees North West. |
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The population swelled enough to warrant a request for the
construction of a post office to supply mail for 1,000 people.
Now it is long gone. This is a picture of Hulls Store taken from
across Route 46 at the following location N41° 39.221' W78° 22.133'
and facing 116 degrees |
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The town was self supporting as Norwich had its own schools,
two churches, stores, boarding houses, a town center and even a
theater.
This photograph is taken from a logging road (N41° 40.083' W78°
22.214') looking 216 degrees. The Catholic Church located on Route
46 is visible on the lower right of the photo. Only a few original
houses along Route 46 remain. |
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In addition to the lumber mill that was built in Norwich, a
kindling wood factory also occupied this village. A chemical mill
was built in nearby Keystone as well as a stave company in
Betula.
In the foreground, logs float in the sawmill pond. This photo was
taken from N41° 39.384' W78° 22.496' looking NW (328
degrees). |