Prior to 1830
The house and store of Mathias Hollenbach was on the west side of South Main street between Northampton and South streets.
The house and store of Mathias Hollenbach was on the west side of South Main street between Northampton and South streets.
On the east side of South Main street between Northampton and South streets was the old Ross log house.
Next came the "Ross House" . It was built by Colonel Timothy Pickering about 1787, who sold it to General William Ross in 1796, who occupied it for 46 years.
A little to the north was the old Ross log house.
A little to the north was the old Ross log house.
After 1840
On the southwest corner of Northampton street and South Main was an old shanty.
Then came a vacant space and you came to the old Matthias Hollenback establishments where the early settlers and Indians came to do their trading. At one time there were saw hunderds of old deer horns under the old sheds that had accumulated as barter with the Indians for molasses and stacks of old day books in the garret , with charges like “Injun Joe, one-half gallon rum”, with rum as the leading article in most of the entries.
Next was Polly Pells;
then Thomas Butler’s small house;
Then Reuban Marcy’s house
Then William Dilley’s who was a carpenter.
On the easterly side about midway between Northampton street and South street, a large two story frame structure known as the Ross house. In its construction oak timbers and oak sideing were used. It was built about the year 1788 by Timothy Pickering, a native of Salem, Mass., who had served as an adjutant general of Washington's army and after the Revolutionary War settled in Philadelphia. In 1787 he was sent by the government of the State to Wilkes-Barre to organize the county of Luzerne and was commisioned to hold most of the county offices. He remained until 1792 having the year previous been appointed postmaster general by President Washington.
Toward South street was a large farm barn.
Prior to 1830
The most southerly building on the west side of Main street was the house and store of Mathias Hollenbach, about where the People's Outfitting Company later was.
Returning to South street, the southern most house on the east side of Main street is generally known as the "Ross House" and later was the oldest house standing in Wilkes-Barre. It was built by Colonel Timothy Pickering about 1787, who sold it to General William Ross in 1796, who uccupied it for 46 years.
A little to the north was the old Ross log house. (Old Map)
1840's
On the easterly side of Main street, south of Northampton street, nearly all the lots were vacant, but there was one notable exception.
For some one hundred and thirty years there has been standing on the easterly side of Main street, about midway between Northampton street and South street, a large two story frame structure known as the Ross house, the oldest and most historic building now standing in Wilkes-Barre, but hemmed in on either side by business buildings. In its construction oak timbers and oak sideing were used.
It was built about the year 1788 by Timothy Pickering, a native of Salem, Mass., who had served as an adjutant general of Washington's army and after the Revolutionary War settled in Philadelphia. In 1787 he was sent by the government of the State to Wilkes-Barre to organize the county of Luzerne and was commisioned to hold most of the county offices. He remained until 1792 having the year previous been appointed postmaster general by President Washington.
The Main street house, together with surrounding land, was sold by Pickering to General William Ross and is held to this day by his decendants. (George R. Bedford)
On the opposite corner was an old shanty. Then came avacant space and you came to the old Matthias Hollenback establishments where the early settlers and Indians came to do their trading. I saw hundereds of old deer horns under the old sheds that had accumulated as barter with the Indians for and molasses and stacks of old day books in the garret , with charges like “Injun Joe, one-halk gallon rum”, with rum as the leading article in most of the entries. This is the spot where the foundation was laid for a colossol fortune which so many of the legatees are now enjoying. Next was Polly Pells, where the Pell block now stands then Thomas butler’s small house. Then Reuban Marcy’s house. Then William Dilley’s who was a carpenter.
Where Landmessers Hall now stands was a large farm barn, then the old Ross homestead, then the one small house between there and the corner of Northampton street. (J. Bennett Smith)
