A. Williams & Asa Packer House Building Agrmnt, Springville, PA, Groton, CT 1828

Description: Original 2 page Manuscript Indenture between Amos Williams and Asa Packer [carpenters] and Aaron Blakeslee of Springville Township, Susquehanna County, PA, January 1, 1828. A very detailed description of the house they are going to build including this rather interesting line: "And the workmanship of the joiner work shall be equally as good as that of the said Robert Eldredge's in Bridgewater." Another line references that a mantlepiece shall match Eldredge's house. Asa Packer, embodies the quintessential self-made New England Yankee. Born in Groton, New London Co., CT, in 1805, he came to the Susquehanna Valley on foot at age 17 with "a few dollars in his pocket and his worldly goods comprised in a knapsack." There he learned the carpenter's trade from a cousin, went on to build canal boats, and eventually owned the Lehigh Valley Railroad. He resided in Mauch Chunk (Jim Thorpe), PA, where he commissioned architect Samuel Sloan to build his 11,000 sq. ft. mansion: completed in 1861, it is one of the best preserved Italianate Villa homes in the United States. Packer founded Lehigh University in 1865. At his death in 1879, he was one of the richest men in Pennsylvania. This document is a very interesting touchstone to his poorer days as a journeyman housewright, age 22! The last image in the listing - his portrait - is just a digital reference which you can download from Google Books (Emily Blackman's 1873 'History of Susquehanna Valley'). There is a wealth more information on Packer online, including a rather lengthy Wikipedia entry. Benjamin, Zophar, and Aaron Blakeslee arrived in Susquehanna in 1801. "The last-named was but seventeen years old, and worked for his brothers who had families, until he was twenty-one, when he located next below where A. Tuttle now lives (1873); and occupied the same farm until his death in 1859. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a generous contributor towards the erection or purchase of a good house in the village of Springville, where that society met for public worship. His house was ever an asylum for itinerant clergymen." Robert Eldridge (1781-1860) was originally from Groton or Stonington, CT, moved to Susquehanna Co., PA from Lewis Co., NY in 1814, and eventually settled in Brooklyn, PA where he was a farmer and also kept a store. Measures 7-3/4 x 12-5/8 in. There are some fold separations; overall Good condition. From a smoke & pet free home. Satisfaction guaranteed!

Price: 225 USD

Location: Pleasantville, New York

End Time: 2024-12-26T23:13:29.000Z

Shipping Cost: 8 USD