Some Minisink Hills, PA history!

Reader submission! My name is Kirk Neison and I live in Sudbury, MA but grew up in Minisink Hills. My Grandfather owned the grocery store and was the first postmaster (Charles Frailey) and named the village. It was originally called North Watergap. He named it after the Minsi Indians who were the original inhabitants. The post office was part of his general store and was up the road that led to the bridge that crossed the Broadheads Creek toward the papermill. That bridge was destroyed by the flood of 1955 and not rebuilt. My Mother was the second postmaster and operated it until she retired in the late 1960's. It was later moved to a location across from Smithfield School. The original house still stands and the post office/store is now an apartment. The flood of 1955 was a horrifying experience for me as a 10 year old. It almost took our house. Growing up in the area was a great experience and I cherish the time there. The beautiful stone farmhouse was part of an active farm run by the Perry family who left in 1955 after the flood.

June 21, 2020 Old batting cages...

This building across the street from the elementary school once housed an ice cream stand and in the back were batting cages.

6/19/20 Creepy Notes Left for Someone...

I was walking around in the cemetary behind St. Mark's Church and decided to walk up the overgrown path to the church when I saw these two notes attached to trees. It looks like several people have added to the original notes. I took these photos. 

Riverside House in Minisink Hills, PA

I received this photos a while ago from Hans Schmitt. This is from his email: "There used to be a resort on the property where Eilenberger's Landing Lane leaves River Road and heads down to a bennikill of the Delaware River behind the Shawnee Golf Course island. The Riverside House was owned by August Kron, who was Caroline Schmitt's uncle. Attached is a copy of the brochure, unfortunately, the only copy we had is stained."

The other photos, according to Hans is August Kron and a woman who is probably his wife.

Railroad through Minisink Hills, PA

It's been forever since I posted here. Can you believe there is no mobile app for this blogging platform? Here are some old postcards from Minisink Hills, PA. The first photo is of a postcard from 1905. The bridge was for the trains that would come through. I took a photo today to show you the difference 115 years makes. Not much except there is no bridge  and the little building that used to house the post office is now a private home. Below is a postcard of "The Paper Mill Bridge." I have to investigate the location of that. It was too muddy out there today to go walking around...

Post Office Road in Minisink Hills, PA

Lisa Wieder was kind enough to share this photo from her family's archive. This photo shows a unique view of Post Office Road in Minisink Hills, PA. I call it a unique view because I have never seen these two structures from this angle before. On the left is the home that is still standing today. The building on the right was used as the post office and little market until the mid-1980's. The road is visible in the photo and the fishing hole / rope swing area is on the left side of the photo. The river is on the bottom left. Thank you, Lisa!