(Photos by Richard F. Hope)

Mayer Building (1 Centre Square)

Low, 1-story building in “Art Deco” style, showing a “Mayer” logo on the corner near the roof, with 4-story building to the South with similar façade material. Now includes:

1 Centre Square, recentlly Merchants National Bank1 (original site of Michael Hart’s store and Drinkhouse Corner)

5 Centre Square, The Standard (night club, once the Tindall Family Residence)240 Northampton St., Drinky’s (once the “Warren Building”)

Formerly Jacob Mayer on the Square. The name “Mayer” can still be seen at the top of the cut-off corner of the present building, which was erected in 1935.2

The Old Stone Store

The corner site acquired by Jacob “Jakey” Mayer was occupied at that time by a very old stone house that had considerable historical significance. The property had been designated Original Town Lot Nos.88 and 89 by William Parsons when Easton was founded in 1752.3 In 1755 (three years later), it was in the possession of Andrew

McFarlin, who owed “a little over” £250 to a Trenton, NJ merchant named Samuel Henry. Henry had the Sheriff (Nicholas Scull, Jr.) seize the property and sell it to pay the debt.

The purchaser was Lewis Gordon, Northampton County’s first resident lawyer, on 16 September 1755.4 Gordon was a Scottish immigrant.5 A Gordon family tradition holds that Gordon (a native of Scotland) had been “out with the Pretender in the ‘Forty-Five’” – that is, he had joined the forces of “Bonnie Prince Charlie” Stuart in his unsuccessful rebellion against English King George II in 1745, which was crushed at the Battle of Culloden, after which the rebel clans and much of the Highlands were brutalized by a subsequent British Army occupation.6 Historian A.D. Chidsey, Jr. rejects this tradition, because Gordon secured warrants for three land tracts in Pennsylvania dated 1 Nov. 1745, and those documents referred to him as a merchant from Philadelphia, indicating that he was already in America at the time of the Bonnie Prince’s rising.7

In Philadelphia, Gordon became a clerk to Richard Peters (the Secretary of the Governor’s Council in Philadelphia). Peters was instrumental in securing William Parsons’s appointment as Prothonotary of Northampton County, when Parsons founded Easton for the Penns in 1752.8 (The Prothonotary, as the principal administrative official to the English-speaking court system in a German-speaking county, was the “most considerable personage” in the new town.9) Peters then sent Lewis Gordon, his clerk, to Easton “as a check on Parsons”,10 and to be Parsons’s expected successor as Prothonotary.11 Not surprisingly (given this relationship), “[c]onsiderable friction existed” between Gordon and Parsons.12

Two years after Easton was founded, the French and Indian War began. The next year – 1755, the same year he purchased the Centre Square house – Gordon accompanied the party of some 50 men who failed to save the settlement of Gnadenhütten from Indian massacre, and succeeded only in recovering their bodies. Either the Indian dangers, or his disgust with Parsons, caused Lewis Gordon to move to Bordentown by 1 April 1756.13 He also continued his legal practice back in Easton, and attended the Easton Indian Conferences (although not in an official capacity).14 When Parsons died in 1757, the Governor initially appointed his friend Charles Swaine as Prothonotary, but after Swaine’s departure Gordon received the Prothonotary appointment in 1759.15 The following year (1760), Gordon obeyed orders to make a fact-finding trip in disguise among the settlers from Connecticut who were moving into the upper Delaware Valley. His report served as the basis for Pennsylvania’s petition to the King and Council,16 an early event that presaged the Pennamite Wars that would flare intermittently in the region for the next decades.17

Lewis Gordon moved back to Easton in the early 1760s.18 He became a County Justice in 1764.19 In 1769, he went to the Wyoming Valley to arrest Connecticut settlers, in the ongoing Pennamite dispute. His principal, Thomas Penn, later complained about his hourly charges over the matter.20 In addition to his lucrative government office and law practice, Gordon also was able to lease the profitable Easton ferry over the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers. He became one of the wealthiest men in the County.21 In 1773, he purchased Meiner’s “pretentious” house on Northampton Street.22 At that time, Gordon leased the Centre Square property to John Murphy, a clockmaker23 -- who in 1777 became the first signer of the oath of allegiance to the new Revolutionary government in

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Northampton County (administered by Robert Levers).24 Murphy left Easton for Allentown in 1779, and became known there as the maker of valuable grandfather clocks.25

Lewis Gordon had a checkered career in the 1770s, first as Chairman of the Revolutionary Committee of Public Safety and Observation that virtually governed Northampton County early in the War, and then as a suspected Tory after he resigned from the Committee in 1776 and delayed taking the oath of allegiance to an independent Pennsylvania.26 Gordon sold his rights to the Centre Square property to Michael Hart in 1778. Beginning in 1779 (when Murphy’s lease ran out), the stone house became Hart’s business and residence. 27 Hart also obtained an official title to the land from the Penn Family.28 The property became popularly identified in Easton as “Michael Hart’s”, even long after Hart’s death.29

Michael Hart was an Indian trader, store keeper, and grist mill owner, who came to Easton in 1773 and earned enough of a living to keep a wife and 15 children, and to acquire a slave and some silverplate.30 He originally came to rustic Easton to trade with the surrounding Indians for furs.31 In speech, he stammered, but was sensitive about it. According to a traditional story, a country woman who came to his store and innocently asked if Hart was the “stuttering Jew” was angrily pursued from the store, and escaped “his wrath . . . only by concealing herself in a neighbor’s store till the storm was passed”.32 Michael Hart succeeded to the role of principal Easton merchant at the end of the Revolutionary War with the decline of the fortunes of Meyer Hart – an original Easton settler and principal town merchant, who was also Jewish, although no relation to Michael Hart.33 During the Revolution, “Meyer Hart’s and Michael Hart’s were the only stores of any account [in Easton], whose stock of goods, collectively, amounted, according to the valuation, to about $1,500; the three other shops were very trifling ones in comparison, and their united stock was not $500.”34 Michael Hart had surpassed Meyer Hart as Easton’s largest merchant by the end of the Revolution.35 After the Revolution, Michael Hart achieved additional prosperity by selling supplies to the flood of settlers from New England headed West to the Ohio country.36 The Easton ferry was one of the main routes for large numbers of these immigrants.37 Hart’s affinity with pioneers apparently extended as well to the Connecticut (“Yankee”) settlers in Pennsylvania’s Wyoming Valley, who were imprisoned in Easton in the 1780s as part of the “Pennamite Wars” controversy. Hart supplemented the prisoners’ supposedly bread-and-water diet with a gift of “solid food every Friday afternoon.”38 He also had some political sway – it was his sponsorship that promoted Easton’s ordinance preventing pigs and horses from running through the Square.39

As with many houses at the time, Hart’s residence was on the second floor of his Centre Square house, while his general store was at street level.40 Michael Hart “kept a kosher table”, acting as his own kosher meat slaughterer (shohet).41 On 21 December 1778, he hosted General George Washington at a luncheon during Hanukkah in 1778, at his home on this site in Centre Square. Amid Hart’s explanations of the kosher food, the General mentioned an encounter with a Jewish soldier in his army the previous Christmas Night who, while lighting a menorah he kept in his knapsack, inspired the General with his optimism and his prayers for victory. Michael Hart’s family kept as mementos some

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silver coins presented by the General to the three young Hart boys, and the chair that the General had used at luncheon.42

During the Revolutionary War, Easton’s permanent population may have been 10% Jewish, and thus was probably “more densely settled by Jews, in proportion to its total population, than any other American community . . .” at the time.43 Five of the seven stores in Easton had Jewish owners in 1780.44

A glimpse at Michael Hart’s private life is given by a deposition taken by Robert Levers on November 6, 1780 from Hart’s Black slave, “Phillis”. It seems that Hart’s housekeeper, Mrs. Brills, had discovered that Phillis was pregnant, and reported the matter to her mistress, Mrs. Hart. Upon being questioned privately, Phillis had told Mrs.

1 This is the Merchants National Bank of Bangor, and is not related to the Merchants Bank of Allentown that ultimately became part of Wachovia Bank (see discussion below).

2 Advertisement, “1894 – 1937 Jacob Mayer 43 Years”, EASTON EXPRESS, Saturday, 12 June 1937, Jubilee Section A p.12; Obituary, “Jacob Mayer, Merchant and Civic Leader, Dies”, EASTON EXPRESS, Fri., 10 July 1959, p.1, at p.16, col.6; Typewritten Article, “Window of Early Building Given to Historical Society, Oriel From House on Center Square Believed Oldest Easton Relic Gift of Jacob Mayer”, MS in Northampton County Historical Society folder in Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library (undated); but see Leonard S. Buscemi, Sr., Easton Remembered 57 (Buscemi Enterprises 2007)(erected in the 1940s).

3 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); see A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton 234-35, 242-43 (Vol. III of Publications of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1940)(Buildings Nos. 11 and 15).

4 A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton 234-35, 242-43 (Vol. III of Publications of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1940)(Buildings Nos. 11 and 15).

However, it appears that the land on Centre Square – Original Town Lot No.88 – was not officially acquired from the Penn Family (as Proprietors of Pennsylvania) until Michael Hart did so. 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).

5 A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton 144 (Vol. III of Publications of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1940)(Buildings Nos. 11 and 15). Chidsey’s conclusion was based upon Gordon’s charter membership in the St. Andrew’s Society of Philadelphia, whose members were required to be either native born Scotsmen, or sons of native born Scotsmen. The Society’s purpose was to aid poor immigrants from Scotland. See also Francis S. Fox, Sweet Land of Liberty 37 (Pennsylvania State University Press 2003). Gordon was elected Secretary of the Society in 1752, but resigned to move to Easton. Chidsey, A Frontier Village, supra at 145.

6 Armistead C. Gordon, Gordons in Virginia 108, 117-18 (William M. Clemens 1918)(available on Heritage Quest).

7 Chidsey, A Frontier Village, supra at 144. Historian Francis S. Fox states that Gordon settled in Philadelphia “Around 1742”, although his footnote for the statement does not detail his reasoning. Francis S. Fox, Sweet Land of Liberty 37, 178 n.1 (Pennsylvania State University Press 2003).

8 William J. Heller, Historic Easton From the Window of a Trolley-Car 12 n.2 (The Express Printing Co., Inc., 1912, reprinted by Genealogical Researchers, 1984).

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Hart that the baby was Michael Hart’s, who had been having “carnal knowledge of her body” for about three years behind Mrs. Hart’s back. Phillis confirmed this to Robert Levers. Mrs. Hart apparently brought the matter to Levers’s attention; it is not known what (if anything) came of it.45 We do know that Michael Hart did register his slave “Phyllis” in 1780 under the state’s law of that year designed to gradually phase out slavery. She was 18 years old at the time -- one of a total of only 11 slaves in Easton registered in that year.46 Hart is said to have called his slave “fillies”47 – it is not known whether this is an intentional pun on her name indicating Hart’s view of her condition, or just simply one of the spelling variations common at the time. Hart’s wife at the time, Leah (Marks) Hart, died a few years later on 4 July 1786 (at age 32).48 Hart evidently

9 Francis S. Fox, Sweet Land of Liberty 37-38, 179 n.8 (Pennsylvania State University Press 2003), quoting Alexander Graydon, Memoirs of His Own Times with Reminiscences of the Men and Events of the Revolution 102 (Philadelphia 1811).

10 Heller, Historic Easton from the Window of a Trolley-Car, supra at 12 n.2; see also Chidsey, a Frontier Village, supra at 145-46 (Gordon moved to Easton in 1752, and was authorized to practice law in the first court session there on 16 July 1752).

11 Fox, Sweet Land of Liberty, supra at 37. 12 Heller, Historic Easton from the Window of a Trolley-Car, supra at 12 n.2. 13 Chidsey, A Frontier Village, supra at 147-48 (attributes the move to the War dangers;

date based on Gordon’s legal business advertisement in the Pennsylvania Gazette); see Heller, Historic Easton from the Window of a Trolley-Car, supra at 12 n.2 (attributes the move to disgust with Parsons).

14 Chidsey, A Frontier Village, supra at 149. 15 Fox, Sweet Land of Liberty, supra at 39; see Chidsey, A Frontier Village, supra at 150

(Gordon’s appointment in 1759).

Fox suggests that Governor admired Swaine as an explorer of Hudson’s Bay and book writer, but “More to the point, the governor admired one of Swaine’s female relatives who had accompanied the governor from England to America.”

Mrs. Swaine made an impression in Easton, by borrowing a tea service from Mrs. Steadman of Philadelphia (evidently in preparation to receive guests during the Easton Treaty Conferences), and then refusing to return a silver tankard that had caught her fancy. She was sued. See M.S. Henry, History of the Lehigh Valley 74 (Bixler & Corwin 1860).

16 Chidsey, A Frontier Village, supra at 151-52. 17 See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Hooper House at 501

Northampton Street. 18 Compare Heller, Historic Easton from the Window of a Trolley-Car, supra at 12 n.2

(returned in 1773) with Chidsey, A Frontier Village, supra at 149 and Armistead C. Gordon, Gordons in Virginia 117-18 (William M. Clemens 1918)(available on Heritage Quest)(Gordon’s son Aaron born in Bordentown, NJ in 1857, son William born in Bordentown, NJ in 1860, and son Alexander George born in Easton in 1762). The 1773 Deed for the Meiner house property (see below) refers to Lewis Gordon as already being an Easton resident at the time of that purchase, contrary to Heller’s assertion.

19 Chidsey, A Frontier Village, supra at 150. 20 Chidsey, A Frontier Village, supra at 153-54. 21 Chidsey, A Frontier Village, supra at 154.

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had a preference for young women. He had apparently married his first wife in 1773, when he was age 35 and she was 19.49 As noted above, Phillis was about 15-18 years old during their 3-year affair in the late 1870s. After Leah Hart’s death in 1786, Michael Hart married again, this time to 18-year-old Esther Cohen in February of the following year.50 The Marriage Settlement required Michael Hart to place £ 400 for her use, and in 1798 he recorded a lien against his properties to secure this obligation.51

By the first decade of the 19th Century, Michael Hart’s warehouse “stored country produce, lumber, and hops which he bartered for almost anything a man or woman might wish: stockings, buttons, knives, hats, playing cards, iron pots, pepper, and whiskey – in hundreds of gallons.”52 Nevertheless, in 1805 Michael Hart was forced to assign

22 Deed, William (Eleanor) Ledlie to Lewis Gordon, C1 50 (7 Oct. 1773). 23 Chidsey, A Frontier Village, supra at 243; Typewritten Article, “Window of Early

Building Given to Historical Society, Oriel From House on Center Square Believed Oldest Easton Relic Gift of Jacob Mayer”, MS in Northampton County Historical Society folder in Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library (undated).

24 Typewritten Article, “Window of Early Building Given to Historical Society, Oriel From House on Center Square Believed Oldest Easton Relic Gift of Jacob Mayer”, MS in Northampton County Historical Society folder in Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library (undated).

25 Typewritten Article, “Window of Early Building Given to Historical Society, Oriel From House on Center Square Believed Oldest Easton Relic Gift of Jacob Mayer”, MS in Northampton County Historical Society folder in Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library (undated).

26 For further details, see separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 344 Northampton Street, where he was held under arrest and parole for two years.

27 Chidsey, A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton, supra at 234-35, 242-43; see Summa & Buscemi, Images of America: Historic Easton, supra at 45; Rev. Edward Reimer (compiler), II A Collection of Northampton County, PA Items 556 (undated copy in Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library); Typewritten Article, “Window of Early Building Given to Historical Society, Oriel From House on Center Square Believed Oldest Easton Relic Gift of Jacob Mayer”, MS in Northampton County Historical Society folder in Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library (undated)(erroneously states that Michael Hart was the son of Mayer Hart). See generally A.D. Chidsey, The Penn Patents in the Forks of the Delaware Map 2, plots 88-89 (Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, 1937).

See also Francis S. Fox, Sweet Land of Liberty 127-29 (Pennsylvania State University Press 2003), describing and quoting from the deposition of Michael Hart’s slave Phyllis given to Robert Levers on 6 Nov. 1780. The deposition, as subscribed by Levers, says that three years before 1780 Michael Hart had “kept shop” at a different address than his house in 1780 – which is consistent with Hart’s move to Centre Square in 1779. The prior address was “opposite Meyer Hart’s . . . , and the same house that the subscriber [Levers] now lives in”. Id. at 128. This may indicate the house at the SE corner of Second and Pine Streets where Levers was living in 1785. See William J. Heller, Historic Easton From the Window of a Trolley-Car 149 (The Express Printing Co., Inc., 1912, reprinted by Genealogical Researchers, 1984); see also separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for First United Methodist Church at 34 South 2nd Street.

Easton Daily Express, Industrial Edition Easton Express, supra at 1, indicates that this Centre Square corner was also the site of Meyer Hart’s business. However, this is probably confusion over the presence of Michael Hart’s business at that location.

28 Deed, Penn Family to Michael Hart, G1 65 (5 Nov. 1789); A.D. Chidsey, The Penn Patents in the Forks of the Delaware Map 2, Lots 88-89 (Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, 1937).

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ownership of his Centre Square property to two Philadelphia merchants for the benefit of certain of his creditors53 – although his sons Naphtali and Jacob purchased the land back again in 1811.54 They sold the bulk of this Centre Square property to prominent businessmen Jacob Arndt and John Herster for $8,200 early in 1812;55 later in that year, they sold off the remaining “small frame Tenement” on the eastern strip (next to what later came to be called Sitgreaves Street) to realize $2,000.56 By that time, Michael Hart had retired from active control of the business; he moved to Belvidere, New Jersey in 1812 or ’13, and died there on 23 March 1813.57 After his death, his three grown-up sons suffered business reverses, and his widow had insufficient cash in his estate to support his

29 Joshua Trachtenberg, Consider the Years, The Story of the Jewish Community of Easton 1752 – 1942 69 (Centennial Committee of Temple Brith Sholom 1944)(available in Marx Room, Easton Public Library).

30 Jacob Rader Marcus, I United States Jewry 1776-1985 151 (Wayne State University Press 1989); Trachtenberg, Consider the Years, supra at 69, 75, 81-82.

31 Mark Winfield-Hansen, “Early Settler’s Portrait Now Hangs in Easton”, EASTON EXPRESS, Wed., 22 Nov. 1978, p.53, cols.3-6 (based on family expert and descendant Mrs. C. Spencer Allen).

32 Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 16 (George W. West 1885 / 1889); see also Trachtenberg, Consider the Years, supra at 75-76.

33 Trachtenberg, Consider the Years, supra at 55; accord, Malcolm Stern, Americans of Jewish Descent 103 (1991, online edition by Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives at www.americanjewisharchives.org/pdfs/stern_p103.pdf, accessed 7 Jan. 2009); see also Chidsey, A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton, supra at 234-35, 242-43; Summa & Buscemi, Images of America: Historic Easton, supra at 45; Rev. Edward Reimer (compiler), II A Collection of Northampton County, PA Items 556 (undated copy in Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library).

Some authorities have stated, to the contrary, that Michael Hart was Meyer Hart’s son. See Francis S. Fox, Sweet Land of Liberty 128 (Pennsylvania State University Press 2003)(interpolation in transcript of deposition of Hart’s slave, Phillis); Typewritten Article, “Window of Early Building Given to Historical Society, Oriel From House on Center Square Believed Oldest Easton Relic Gift of Jacob Mayer”, MS in Northampton County Historical Society folder in Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library (undated). These are probably relying on Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 16 (George W. West 1885 / 1889), which stated that “Meyer Hart had a son named Michael, who established himself in a store in town, at the southeast corner of the public square.” Condit appears to be consistently confused regarding the Harts. Condit elsewhere states (at 443) that Michael Hart was “the first Hebrew settler in Easton” – which is not true, since Meyer Hart had that honor. Condit also states (at the same place) that Michael Hart donated “the first Hebrew burial ground . . .near the Synagogue on Sixth street”. In fact, Easton Jews were buried in Michael Hart’s family plot, although the Synagogue was not opened until 1839. Jacob Rader Marcus, I United States Jewry 1776-1985 230, 244, 678 (Wayne State University Press 1989).

34 Ethan Allen Weaver, “Historical Sketches Relating to Easton and Eastonians No.II”, in Historical Notes First Series 6 (copied in Easton Public Library June 1936).

35 See 1780 tax records list, which (among other things) showed Easton’s wealthiest citizens to be:

Michael Hart (£1797 plus a house worth £464 = £2261)Myer (Meyer) Hart (£2095)Peter Kachline Sr. (£2095)

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remaining minor children in “anything approaching to our elegant style of living”. His widow was forced to take in borders at her Philadelphia home to support herself and the remaining minor children. Hart had a total of fifteen children – three with Leah and a dozen with Esther – but only 9 survived their father, and at least the oldest three boys were adults by that time.58

A tantalizing view of the relationship between bond servants and Michael Hart’s oldest son, Naphtali, in 1818 is provided by an advertisement in the Easton newspaper, offering a reward for the return of a runaway 17-year-old “bound servant girl”. However, the reward he offered was only one cent, and

Widow Nungessor (£620 plus £1312 in Nungesser estate = £1932) Ferry Keeper Jacob Abel (£60 plus £680 for the ferry = £940)

Quoted in F.A.Davis (ed.), History of Northampton County 72-73 and 74 (Peter Fritts 1877). See also Joshua Trachtenberg, Consider the Years, The Story of the Jewish Community of Easton 1752 – 1942 69 (Centennial Committee of Temple Brith Sholom 1944).

36 Rev. Edward Reimer (compiler), II A Collection of Northampton County, PA Items 556 (undated copy in Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library).

37 A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton 52 (Vol. III of Publications of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1940); Trachtenberg, Consider the Years, supra at 69, 76 (the Easton ferry was the “bottleneck” for settlers moving to the western frontier lands).

38 Marcus, I United States Jewry, supra at 316, 591. See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Hooper House at 501 Northampton Street, regarding Captain William Patterson and his role campaigning against these Connecticut settlers in 1784 during the Pennamite Wars.

39 Mark Winfield-Hansen, “Early Settler’s Portrait Now Hangs in Easton”, EASTON EXPRESS, Wed., 22 Nov. 1978, p.53, cols.3-6 (based on research of family expert and descendant Mrs. C. Spencer Allen).

40 I. Harold Sharfman, Jews on the Frontier 65 (Henry Regnery Company 1977). 41 Marcus, I United States Jewry, supra at 151; see I. Harold Sharfman, Jews on the

Frontier 65-66 (Henry Regnery Company 1977)(quoting the diary of Hart’s stepdaughter, Louisa Hart).

42 I. Harold Sharfman, Jews on the Frontier 65-67 (Henry Regnery Company 1977); see Stephen Krensky, Hanukkah at Valley Forge Author’s Note (Dutton Children’s Books 2006); Trachtenberg, Consider the Years, supra at 71-72 (left open whether it was in Washington’s visit of 1778 or 1782). See generally Marcus, I United States Jewry, supra at 562 (Michael Hart “had once entertained Washington as he passed through town.”).

See also Norman Seidel, A History of Easton’s Jewish Community, Lecture presented to Northampton County historical & Genealogical society, printed in part in EASTON IS HOME HERITAGE EDITION (Summer 2005) 15, 16-17 (Washington’s visit and kosher meal at Meyer Hart’s residence), followed by Richard F. Hope, Easton PA: A History 46-47 & n.188 (AuthorHouse 2006).

43 Trachtenberg, Consider the Years, supra at 1. 44 Jacob Rader Marcus, II United States Jewry 1776-1985 24 (Wayne State University Press

1989)45 Francis S. Fox, Sweet Land of Liberty 127-29 (Pennsylvania State University Press

2003).

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no expenses were to be paid,59 thus presumably discouraging any effective pursuit.

The John Herster Interests

A. The Mattes Parcel at the corner. At the time they agreed to purchase the property in 1812, John Herster and Jacob Arndt had an agreement to resell the stone building at the corner of Centre Square and land fronting on the Square itself to Philip H. Mattes.60 Unfortunately, Jacob Arndt died before any formal conveyance was made – although he did make provision for it in his will. An Act of the General Assembly of

46 Ethan Allen Weaver, “The Forks of the Delaware” Illustrated xvi (Eschenbach Press 1900).

47 Joshua Trachtenberg, Consider the Years, The Story of the Jewish Community of Easton 1752 – 1942 69 (Centennial Committee of Temple Brith Sholom 1944).

48 Malcolm Stern, Americans of Jewish Descent 185 (1991, online edition by Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives at www.americanjewisharchives.org/pdfs/stern_p185.pdf, accessed 8 Jan. 2009).

49 Joshua Trachtenberg, Consider the Years, The Story of the Jewish Community of Easton 1752 – 1942 68 (Centennial Committee of Temple Brith Sholom 1944).

50 Malcolm Stern, Americans of Jewish Descent 103, 180 (1991, online edition by Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives at www.americanjewisharchives.org/pdfs/stern_p103.pdf and www.americanjewisharchives.org/pdfs/stern_p180.pdf, accessed 7-8 Jan. 2009)(second wife was Esther Cohen, 1769 - 1855); see Joshua Trachtenberg, Consider the Years, The Story of the Jewish Community of Easton 1752 – 1942 72, 74 (Centennial Committee of Temple Brith Sholom 1944).

51 Articles of Agreement between Michael Hart, Esther daughter of Jacob Cohen, and Jacob Cohen, H1 528 (6 Feb. 1798).

52 Marcus, I United States Jewry, supra at 151. 53 Deed, Michael (Esther) Hart to John Fries and john Jordan in Trust for the Benefit of

Creditors, A3 542 (4 Nov. 1805). This was subject to the lien securing Michael Hart’s Marriage Settlement obligation of £ 400. It included all of original Town Lot Nos.88 and 89, each measuring 40’ X 120’, for a total frontage on Centre Square of 80’.

54 Deed, John Fries and John Jordan to Naphtali Hart and Jacob Hart, G3 281 (24 Sept. 1811)(original town Lot Nos.88 and 89 repurchased from two Philadelphia merchants who had received them as an assignment from Michael Hart for the benefit of certain of Hart’s creditors, citing an earlier deed of 1805). Both Naphtali and Jacob are listed as Michael Hart’s sons in Malcolm Stern, Americans of Jewish Descent 103, 180 (1991, online edition by Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives at www.americanjewisharchives.org/pdfs/stern_p103.pdf and www.americanjewisharchives.org/pdfs/stern_p180.pdf, accessed 7-8 Jan. 2009).

55 Deed, Naphtali (Elizabeth) Hart and Jacob (Mary) Hart to Jacob Arndt and John Herster, G3 446 (11 Apr. 1912)(sale price $8,200 for property with 96’ frontage on Northampton Street and 72’ frontage on Centre Square).

56 Deed, Naphtali (Elizabeth) Hart and Jacob (Mary) Hart to George Bidleman, H3 210 (30 Oct. 1812)(sale price $2,000 for “small frame Tenement” next to eastern alley). See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 234 Northampton Street.

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Pennsylvania was required to complete the transaction, which was finally documented in 1817. The sale price of $6266.67 was apportioned to designate $1066.67 as payment to cover the old lien for Michael Hart’s Marriage Settlement.61

Philip Mattes was the son of John Caspar Mattes.62 The elder Mattes had immigrated from Germany to become the organist at the German Reformed Church, and teacher in the school buildings behind the church, from approximately 1783 until his death in 1809.63 Philip Mattes (1785 - 1870)64 was originally licensed as a Lutheran minister in 1807.65 However, his career then took a more commercial turn, probably resulting from his marriage in 1809 to merchant John Herster’s niece, Catharine.66 Due

57 Joshua Trachtenberg, Consider the Years, The Story of the Jewish Community of Easton 1752 – 1942 69, 75, 81 (Centennial Committee of Temple Brith Sholom 1944); see Marcus, I United States Jewry, supra at 151.

58 Marcus, I United States Jewry, supra at 151; Trachtenberg, Consider the Years, supra at 69, 75, 81-82 (quotation and account of sons’ business reverses recorded by daughter; inventory of children). Rabbi Malcolm Stern only appears to list 14 children: four to Hart’s first wife, Leah Marks, and ten to his second, Esther Cohen. Malcolm Stern, Americans of Jewish Descent 103 (1991, online edition by Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives at www.americanjewisharchives.org/pdfs/stern_p103.pdf, accessed 7 Jan. 2009).

59 I. Harold Sharfman, Jews on the Frontier 158 (Henry Regnery Company 1977); Trachtenberg, Consider the Years, supra at 90-91. Another source indicates that higher statutory rates were provided for the return of bond servants and slaves (of both races) ranging from 6 cents to $30, depending upon the size and physical condition of the person being returned. Floyd Smith Bixler, The Vine and Background of Christian Bixler, 3 rd and Some Collateral Branches 62 (typed by Edith Jane Stires, undated but text at 15 indicates written in 1930).

60 Deed, Francis (Elizabeth) Swaine, Abraham Arndt, and John Nyce, Executors of the Will of Jacob Arndt, and John (Mary) Herster, to Philip H. Mattes, C4 388 (16 June 1817)(and recitals); see also Explanatory Agreement among Michael (Esther) Hart, Jacob Arndt, and John Herster, G3 466 (20 Oct. 1812).

In 1830, Philip Mattes purchased a small, L-shaped piece of land from Jefferson K. Heckman, his next-door neighbor on Centre Square. Deed, Jefferson K. Heckman to Philip H. Mattes, G5 17 (30 June 1830).

61 Deed, Francis (Elizabeth) Swaine, Abraham Arndt, and John Nyce, Executors of the Will of Jacob Arndt, and John (Mary) Herster, to Philip H. Mattes, C4 388 (16 June 1817)(and recitals); see generally Explanatory Agreement among Michael (Esther) Hart, Jacob Arndt, and John Herster, G3 466 (20 Oct. 1812).

In 1830, Philip Mattes purchased a small, L-shaped piece of land from Jefferson K. Heckman, his next-door neighbor on Centre Square. Deed, Jefferson K. Heckman to Philip H. Mattes, G5 17 (30 June 1830).

62 See Article, “Easton Public School System Acclaimed for Accomplishments”, EASTON EXPRESS, Saturday, 12 June 1937, Jubilee Section B p.9.

63 Ethan Allen Weaver, “Historical Sketches Relating to Easton and Eastonians No. III”, in Historical Notes First Series 11-12 (copied in Easton Public Library June 1926); Barbara Fretz Kempton, A History of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Easton, Pennsylvania 1740 – 1940 31-35 (Easton: The John S. Correll Co., Inc. 1940). See generally separate www.Walkingeaston.com entry for the Wolf High School Building at 45 North Second Street, and for the German Union Church at 27 North Third Street.

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undoubtedly to his church education (and schoolmaster father), Mattes was considered a scrivener by trade in the commercial world.67 In 1812, when John Herster and his partner purchased Michael Hart’s prime property at the SW corner of Centre Square and Northampton Street in 1812, Herster agreed to make the Hart store and residence at the corner available to Philip Mattes. That deal was formally implemented in 1817,68 although Mattes had probably occupied the premises in fact at about the time the agreement was made. Mattes was appointed the sixth U.S. postmaster in Easton by President Madison in 1813, and he continued to hold that office for 15 years, during the terms of Presidents Monroe and John Quincy Adams. He located the post office in the eastern portion of his Centre Square building, facing Northampton Street. In 1827, he became the Cashier of the Easton branch of the Bank of Pennsylvania. He was also (at various times) the actuary of the Dime Savings Bank, and the Register of Northampton County.69

The Heckman Parcel. The remainder of the Centre Square property was sold for $5,325 to George Herster70 (John Herster’s son71), presumably as a means of “cashing out” Jacob Arndt’s heirs. George sold half of the land facing Centre Square, just next to Philip Mattes’s corner house, to Easton industrialist Samuel Sitgreaves in 1816;72 in 1829, Sitgreaves’s estate sold it to Jefferson K. Heckman.73 Heckman held the property until he died,74 and was acknowledged as a friend by his neighbor, John Herster.75

The Two Herster Parcels. John Herster himself reacquired the rest of the Centre Square property back from his son George.76 This now included two parcels:

A parcel on Centre Square,77 next to Heckman’s. John Herster had his own residence on this parcel at the time of his death.78 Herster’s Homestead was ultimately given to his granddaughter (George Herster’s daughter), Eliza (Elizabeth) Herster, the wife of John Tindall.79 Mary Maxwell’s 1835 water color of Centre Square reproduced below, there appeared to be a 2-1/2 story double brick house on this property, with three window bays on each side. This double house would appear to correspond to the residences of Jefferson Heckman (next to the old Michael Hart store) and John Herster.

64 John Eyerman, The Ancestors of Marguerite Eyerman: A Study in Genealogy 43 (Free Press Book and Job Print 1898)(Philip Henry Mattes husband of Catherine Herster).

65 Barbara Fretz Kempton, A History of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Easton, Pennsylvania 1740 – 1940 33-34 (Easton: The John S. Correll Co., Inc. 1940).

66 John Eyerman, The Ancestors of Marguerite Eyerman: A Study in Genealogy 43 (Free Press Book and Job Print 1898)(Philip Henry Mattes husband of Catherine Herster); John Eyerman, Genealogical Studies: The Ancestry of Marguerite Eyerman 43 (Free Press Book and Job Print 1898); see St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, Easton, PA, Parish Records of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Easton, PA from 1769 to the Consecration of the New Church, Jan.1, 1832 (Marx Room Code Letter “G”) at 278 (Easton, PA, no date)(married 21 May 1809).

67 Rev. Uzal W. Condit, History of Easton, Penn’a 180, 376 (George P. West 1885 / 1889). 68 Deed, Francis (Elizabeth) Swaine, Abraham Arndt, and John Nyce, Executors of the Will

of Jacob Arndt, and John (Mary) Herster, to Philip H. Mattes, C4 388 (16 June 1817)(and recitals).

69 Rev. Uzal W. Condit, History of Easton, Penn’a 180, 376 (George P. West 1885 / 1889).

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A parcel on Northampton Street to the West of Philip Mattes’s corner house.80

The year after John Herster died, his estate sold this parcel to his grandson (George Herster’s son), John J. Herster. At that time, this Northampton Street parcel included a “two Story Brick Dwelling House and Kitchen”, and part of a “privy” that straddled this land and the other lot on Centre Square, which was “divided by the said John Herster to Eliza Tindall”.81 The Northampton Street property later became the Warren Building (see below).

Schematic of Properties(Irregular interior property boundaries omitted)

Sitgreaves Alley (later Sitgreaves St.)

Black’s Emporium

North-ampton

John J. Herster (later, the Warren

70 Deed, John (Mary) Herster, and Francis (Elizabeth) Swaine et al. (heirs and executors of Jacob Arndt), to George Herster, A4 330 (3 June 1815)(sale price $5,325 for a parcel on Centre Square 55’3” X 72’ deed, and another piece 24’ on Northampton Street, to the East of the corner property to be conveyed to Philip Mattes).

71 John Eyerman, The Ancestors of Marguerite Eyerman: A Study in Genealogy 41-42 (Free Press Book and Job Print 1898). George Herster married Susanna Mixsell. John J. Herster (1811 – 1866) was their son, and Elizabeth Herster Tindall (1809 – 1885) was their daughter.

72 Deed, George (Susanna) Herster to Samuel Sitgreaves, C4 76 (4 Apr. 1816)(sale price $2,630.20 for a “stone messuage or tenement” and property measuring 25’ 3” X 72’

73 Deed, Samuel Sitgreaves and James Linton, Executors of the Will of Samuel Sitgreaves, to Jefferson k. Heckman, E5 255 (1 Apr. 1829)(sale price $1600).

74 See Deed, Andrew H. Reeder and John W. Heckman, Executors of Jefferson K. Heckman, to Dr. Samuel Sandt, A9 18 (1 Apr. 1854).

75 See Will of John Herster, Will File 6540, Will Book 7 187, at 198 (proved 5 Mar. 1856). The acknowledgement of Heckman as a friend occurs in a codicil, which may indicate that the friendship grew up later, perhaps as a result of becoming neighbors.

76 Deed, George (Susanna) Herster to John Herster, F4 186 (18 Apr. 1817)(sale price $3,300).

77 Deed, George (Susanna) Herster to John Herster, F4 186 (18 Apr. 1817)(parcel No.1). 78 C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA 34 (Cole &

Eichman’s Office 1855)(John Herster, gentleman, 82 Public Square). 79 See reference to the “privy” in Deed, Joseph Herster and John Eyerman, Executors of the

Will of John Herster, to John J. Herster, C9 730 (6 Apr. 1857). 80 Deed, George (Susanna) Herster to John Herster, F4 186 (18 Apr. 1817)(parcel No.2). 81 Deed, Joseph Herster and John Eyerman, Executors of the Will of John Herster, to John

J. Herster, C9 730 (6 Apr. 1857)(sale price $4,250 for “two Story Brick Dwelling House and Kitchen” and property measuring 24’ 6” on Northampton Street X 61’ 9” deep).

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Building)

Street Philip Mattes (later Samuel Drinkhouse)

Jefferson Heckman

John Herster (later becoming Tindall House)

Adam Lehn

Centre Square

Drinkhouse Corner

In 1840, Philip Mattes sold Michael Hart’s store to Samuel Drinkhouse.82 Drinkhouse was born in Reading, PA. in 1804,83 and was apprenticed to a hatter at age 13.84 In 182385 at age 18, he left Reading with $800 to go to New York City, but stopped in Easton overnight and decided to stay. He quickly joined a local military organization that went to Philadelphia in 1824 to welcome General Lafayette on his visit to the U.S., and proudly told of that visit for the rest of his life.86 Upon his arrival in Easton, young Drinkhouse invested his $800 in a “hat factory”87 – becoming a partner in Charles Hinkle’s hat business.88 “[A]s a manufacturer of hats [he] acquired a fortune”,89 selling them “for the Philadelphia trade”, but he later concentrated on local retail selling90 and

82 Deed, Philip H. (Catharine) Mattes to Samuel Drinkhouse, F6 248 (1 Apr. 1840)(sale price $4,000 outright plus $1,066.67 to discharge the lien securing Michael Hart’s Marriage Settlement).

83 See Article, “A Long Life’s Peaceful End, Samuel Drinkhouse Had Nearly Reached the Century Mark”, EASTON DAILY ARGUS, Monday, 25 Jan. 1904, p.1.

84 Manufacturing and Mercantile Resources of the Lehigh Valley (1881)(excerpt copy in Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library, Drinkhouse Family File, copied from Allentown Library).

85 Manufacturing and Mercantile Resources of the Lehigh Valley (1881)(excerpt copy in Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library, Drinkhouse Family File, copied from Allentown Library); see Andria Zaia, “The Curator’s Corner”, in TALES FROM THE GRAPEVINE, Vol. 11, Issue 2, p.8 (Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society May 2008)(“In 1823, Samuel Drinkhouse opened the Hat, Cap and fur Store situated at the corner of Centre Square and Northampton St.”; moved to Easton in 1823); see also Ethan Allen Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series 44 (copied in Easton Public Library June 1936)(partnership announcement dated 2 Jan. 1824 in the Spirit of Pennsylvania newspaper).

86 William J. Heller (supervising editor), III History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh 364 (The American Historical Society 1920); see generally F.A.Davis (ed.), History of Northampton County 266 (Peter Fritts 1877)(David Wagener was Captain of the Easton Union Guards who made that trip in 1824).

87 William J. Heller (supervising editor), III History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh 364 (The American Historical Society 1920).

88 Ethan Allen Weaver, III Historical Notes First Series 44 (copied in Easton Public Library June 1936)(partnership announcement dated 2 Jan. 1824 in the Spirit of Pennsylvania newspaper).

89 William J. Heller (supervising editor), III History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh 364 (The American Historical Society 1920).

90 Manufacturing and Mercantile Resources of the Lehigh Valley (1881)(excerpt copy in Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library, Drinkhouse Family File).

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remaining a fixture in the hat business throughout nearly all of the remainder of the Century. The corner Centre Square location was numbered 76 Northampton Street before 1874, under the street numbering scheme in effect at the time.91 It came to be called “Drinkhouse corner”.92 The Drinkhouse hat store’s address was assigned as 250 Northampton Street with the inauguration of the modern street numbering scheme in 187493 – his store had a 72’ frontage on Northampton Street, and only 26’ on Centre Square.94 When he died in 1904, Mr. Drinkhouse was Easton’s oldest citizen, at 99 years old.95 Before his death, beginning in 1898, Drinkhouse leased the Centre Square building to lawyer Abraham B. Howell96 and to Jacob Mayer.97

91 C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA (Cole & Eichman’s Office, 1855)(alphabetical listing for Samuel Drinkhouse); Talbot’s Lehigh Valley Gazetteer and Business Directory 1864-65 (Press of Wynkoop & Hallenbeck 1864); Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 67 (1873)(alphabetical listing).

A No.71 listing in Boyd’s 1860 Directory is evidently a typographical error. See William H. Boyd, Boyd’s Directory of Reading, Easton, etc. (William H. Boyd 1860)(alphabetical listing).

When the numbering scheme changed before 1881, Samuel Drinkhouse’s business became 250 Northampton Street. J.H. Lant & Son, Easton etc. Directory 1881-2 (1881)(alphabetical listing).

An article “Hess’s New Hat Store”, EASTONIAN, Friday, 23 Oct. 1851, p.2, col.6 listed James Hess’s store at 76 Northampton Street. It is unclear whether this is a newspaper typographical error, or whether Hess actually began his new store in Drinkhouse’s building.

92 See Article, “A Long Life’s Peaceful End, Samuel Drinkhouse Had Nearly Reached the Century Mark”, EASTON DAILY ARGUS, Monday, 25 Jan. 1904, p.1.

93 Article, “The New Numbers”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Sat., 22 Nov. 1873, p.3, col.5; see Webb’s Easton and Phillipsburg Directory 1875-6 44 (Webb Bros. & Co. 1875)(Samuel Drinkhouse, furs, at 250 Northampton Street, and A.T. Drinkhouse the same). The 1877 City Directory lists Samuel Drinkhouse as still in hats, but gives no business address for him; however A.T. Drinkhouse’s hat store is shown at 250 Northampton Street. J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1877 70 (M.J. Riegel 1877). Accord, J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1883-4 40 (J.H. Lant 1883)(Samuel Drinkhouse, hats & caps etc., 250 Northampton Street, house 116 North 3rd Street); J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1884-5 44 (J.H. Lant 1884)(S. Drinkhouse, hat store, 250 Northampton Street; house 114 North 3rd Street); George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory for Easton, [Etc.] 32 (George W. West 1887)(Samuel Drinkhouse, hats, SE corner Centre Square).

In the 1889 Directory, Drinkhouse was only listed at his home address of 116 North 3rd Street. However, in 1894 his listing in 1894 returned to being a “hatter” at the corner of Centre Square. In 1896, he was listed as the President of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company (and again not shown at his hat store address); but in 1898 and 1900 he was again listed at 1 Centre Square as well as his home at 116 North 3rd Street – although not identified as a hatter in those years, which (especially in light of Mayer’s store at that address) suggests that he had retired from business. See George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory for Easton, [Etc.] 75 (George W. West 1889); George W. West (compiler), Directory of Easton, [Etc.] 83 (George W. West 1894); George W. West (compiler), Directory of Easton, [Etc.] 60 (George W. West 1896); George W. West (compiler), West’s Easton City Directory 55 (George W. West 1898); George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory of Greater Easton 80 (George W. West 1900).

94 Manufacturing and Mercantile Resources of the Lehigh Valley (1881)(excerpt copy in Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library, Drinkhouse Family File, copied from Allentown Library).

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“Jakey” Mayer’s Store

Jacob (“Jakey”98) Mayer was born in 1871 in Lithuania. He came to New York City in 1889, and joined two brothers already in Easton on New Year’s Day of 1890. Having little capital, he borrowed some dry goods from a brother, and started selling them as an itinerant backpack peddler in the surrounding farms.99 He opened a clothing store at Sitgreaves and Northampton Streets (230 Northampton Street) in 1894,100 and moved into “Drinkhouse Corner” (1 Centre Square) in 1898,101 which he purchased in 1903 for $35,700.102 In 1911 he purchased the “adjoining Buckman property” (apparently, 3 and 5 Centre Square).103 His Centre Square store became one of Easton’s

95 See Article, “A Long Life’s Peaceful End, Samuel Drinkhouse Had Nearly Reached the Century Mark”, EASTON DAILY ARGUS, Monday, 25 Jan. 1904, p.1.

96 See George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory of Easton [Etc.] 110 (George W. West 1898)(A.B. Howell, attorney-at-law, 1 Centre Square); George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory of Easton [Etc.] 147 (George W. West 1900)(A.B. Howell, lawyer, office and residence at 1 Centre Square).

For more history of Howell, see separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Steele Building at 44 Center Square.

97 Article, “A Long Life’s Peaceful End, Samuel Drinkhouse Had Nearly Reached the Century Mark”, EASTON DAILY ARGUS, Monday, 25 Jan. 1904, p.1; see George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory of Easton [Etc.] 204 (George W. West 1900)(Jacob Mayer, clothier and hatter, SE corner of Centre Square). See also Madeleine B. Mathias, “Square Is Challenge to Drivers, Planners”, THE EXPRESS, Saturday, 28 Feb. 1970, p.28 (picture caption identifies “Drinkhouse Building” at the corner); Talbot’s Lehigh Valley Gazetteer and Business Directory 1964-65 (Press of Wynkoop & Hallenbeck 1864)(alphabetical listing for Drinkhouse & Youndt, hats, caps & furs, 76 Centre Sq.). See generally Ronald Wynkoop, Sr., The Golden Years 16 (self published 1970)(Hart building in 1911, with Jacob Mayer store).

98 See Article, “Real Estate in Business Section Changes Ownership”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Wednesday, 4 June 1919, p.7.

99 Obituary, “Jacob Mayer, Merchant and Civic Leader, Dies”, EASTON EXPRESS, Fri., 10 July 1959, p.1, cols.4-5 and p.16, col.6 (birth date 22 Nov.1871); see also Ronald Wynkoop, Sr., The Golden Years 224 (self published 1970)(backpack peddler); Marie and Frank Summa & Leonard Buscemi Sr., Images of America: Historic Easton 56 (Arcadia Publishing 2000)(same); George W. West (compiler), West’s Easton City Directory 156 (George W. West 1898)(Jacob Mayer, peddler, 119 South 5th Street).

100 Advertisement, “1894 – 1937 Jacob Mayer 43 Years”, EASTON EXPRESS, Saturday, 12 June 1937, Jubilee Section A p.12; Obituary, “Jacob Mayer, Merchant and Civic Leader, Dies”, EASTON EXPRESS, Fri., 10 July 1959, p.1, at p.16, col.6; see Summa & Buscemi, Images of America: Historic Easton, supra at 56 (Mayer opened his store in 1894); Article, “Real Estate in Business Section Changes Ownership”, supra (Sitgreaves and Northampton Streets).

City directory entries, on their face, differ from these results. Mayer is missing from the 1894 directory altogether. George W. West (compiler), Directory of Easton [Etc.] 174 (George W. West 1894). A Mayer clothing store appears in 1896 and 1898 at 230 Northampton Street (with different partners), but the 1898 entry makes it clear that this refers to B.D. Mayer (not Jacob). Moreover, the 1898 entry separately shows Jacob Mayer as a “peddler”. George W. West (compiler), Directory of Easton, [Etc.] 166 (George W. West 1896)(Mayer & Hochman, clothing & gent’s furnishing, 230 Northampton Street); George W. West (compiler), West’s Easton City Directory 156 (George W. West 1898)(Jacob Mayer, peddler, at 119 South 5th Street; B.D. Mayer and A.L. Freeman, clothiers, at 230 Northampton Street). An explanation may be suggested by

15

finest men’s clothing establishments,104 and received national recognition as a brand name retailer.105 In particular, Mayer’s innovations included “Tailored Clothes To Fit All Figures”, and Easton’s first “All-Wool Clothes”.106 Children, rhyming with the store’s name, sang: “Jacob Mayer on the Square, he wore woolly underwear!”107

When Mayer tore down Hart’s store building in 1935 to replace it with the current “Art Deco” style building,108 he presented an oriel window to the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society. He also presented an Indian grave found under the cellar of an adjoining brick building, which “is surmised [to be] the grave of an Indian chief who is recorded to have died while attending one of the Indian treaties held at Easton.”109 This is presumably the Seneca chief who was found dead on the morning of 23 Oct. 1758, and was then buried.110

Mayer was involved in civil projects. He was the President of the Temple Covenant of Peace synagogue in 1920 and 1921. He appeared on the television show “Life Begins at 80” after his 80th birthday in 1951. In 1957, his son David Mayer achieved national attention as a successful contestant for 10 weeks on the NBC television quiz show “21”.111 Unfortunately, other “21” show contestants in that year later revealed that the game was rigged by the producers, resulting in a national scandal and grand jury

the directory of 1900, which shows the B.D. Mayer & Freeman clothing store moved to 446 Northampton Street and B.D. Mayer himself living at 119 South 5th Street – the same home address that had been listed for “peddler” Jacob Mayer in 1896. George W. West (compiler), West’s Directory of Greater Easton for the Year 1900 209 (George W. West 1900).

101 See Advertisement, “1894 – 1937 Jacob Mayer 43 Years”, EASTON EXPRESS, Saturday, 12 June 1937, Jubilee Section A p.12; Obituary, “Jacob Mayer, Merchant and Civic Leader, Dies”, EASTON EXPRESS, Fri., 10 July 1959, p.1, at p.16, col.6; George W. West (compiler), West’s Easton City Directory 209 (George W. West 1900)(Jacob Mayer, clothier and hatter, SE corner Centre Square).

102 Deed, Samuel Drinkhouse to Jacob Mayer, H32 127 (6 Apr. 1903)(sale price $35,700); see Article, “Drinkhouse Property Sold”, EASTON EXPRESS, Tues., 6 Jan. 1903, p.8, col.4 (notice that Jaocb Mayer had purchased the property, and “is said to have paid $34,000” for it). See also Advertisement, “1894 – 1937 Jacob Mayer 43 Years”, EASTON EXPRESS, Saturday, 12 June 1937, Jubilee Section A p.12; Article, “Real Estate in Business Section Changes Ownership”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Wednesday, 4 June 1919, p.7; Obituary, “Jacob Mayer, Merchant and Civic Leader, Dies”, EASTON EXPRESS, Fri., 10 July 1959, p.1, at p.16, col.6 (sale price $35,000).

103 Advertisement, “1894 – 1937 Jacob Mayer 43 Years”, EASTON EXPRESS, Saturday, 12 June 1937, Jubilee Section A p.12; Article, “Real Estate in Business Section Changes Ownership”, supra.

104 Summa & Buscemi, Images of America: Historic Easton, supra at 56; Obituary, “Jacob Mayer, Merchant and Civic Leader, Dies”, EASTON EXPRESS, Fri., 10 July 1959, p.1, cols.4-5.

105 Obituary, “Jacob Mayer, Merchant and Civic Leader, Dies”, EASTON EXPRESS, Fri., 10 July 1959, p.1, cols.4-5.

106 Advertisement, “1894 – 1937 Jacob Mayer 43 Years”, EASTON EXPRESS, Saturday, 12 June 1937, Jubilee Section A p.12.

107 Interviews with Ronald Wynkoop (28 June and 6 July 2005). Mr. Wynkoop’s book, It Seems Like Yesterday 329 (self published, 1989) indicates that the more informal “Jakie Mayer on the Square” was adopted as the store’s slogan.

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investigation that caused cancellations of not only “21”, but other similar quiz shows such as the famous “$64,000 Question”.112

Mayer died in 1959, at age 87.113 His heirs sold the property in 1974 to the Lehigh Industrial Realty Co. in 1974 for $150,000.114 Three years later, Switlyk Properties purchased the property,115 when a number of Easton buildings were purchased by George Switlyk, who “held Easton’s revitalization hopes in his hands”.116 In fact, Switlyk used his Easton properties as collateral to buy other buildings elsewhere;117 his Easton projects were never completed, and he later spent time in federal prison for bank

108 Advertisement, “1894 – 1937 Jacob Mayer 43 Years”, EASTON EXPRESS, Saturday, 12 June 1937, Jubilee Section A p.12; Obituary, “Jacob Mayer, Merchant and Civic Leader, Dies”, EASTON EXPRESS, Fri., 10 July 1959, p.1, cols.4-5; but see Leonard S. Buscemi, Sr., Easton Remembered 57 (Buscemi Enterprises 2007)(erected in the 1940s).

109 Typewritten Article, “Window of Early Building Given to Historical Society, Oriel From House on Center Square Believed Oldest Easton Relic Gift of Jacob Mayer”, MS in Northampton County Historical Society folder in Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library (undated). The article identifies the building as being at “Lot 89” – however, the original town Lot 89 was located on the other side of Centre Square, in the NW corner of the Square (second from the corner) as part of the lot on which the Bush & Bull Store stood at the time. 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); see generally separate entry for 301 Northampton Street.

110 Ethan Allen Weaver, Local historical and Biographical Notes 58 (copy No. 10 of 30, in Marx Room at Easton Area Public Library, 1906); William J. Heller, I History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh 98 (The American Historical Society 1920)(23 Oct 1758: “one of the Seneca chiefs died; his funeral the same morning was attended by many of the inhabitants.”).

111 Obituary, “Jacob Mayer, Merchant and Civic Leader, Dies”, EASTON EXPRESS, Fri., 10 July 1959, p.1, cols.4-5 & p.16, col.6; Article, “Mayer Leaves ‘21’ Quiz After Wining $47,500”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Tues., 26 Nov. 1957.

112 See Peter Havens, “The Quiz Show Scandal of the 1950s: The $64,000 Question”, in AC Associated Content Arts and Entertainment, http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/34914/the_quiz_show_scandal_of_the_1950s.html?cat=39 (accessed 14 Nov. 2009); PBS Online, “the $64,000 Question”, in The American Experience, On The Air, www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/quizshow/peopleevents/pande06.html (1999; accessed 14 Nov. 2009).

Significantly, David Mayer’s obituary in 1997 mentioned nothing about his involvement in the quiz show. Obituary, “David G. Mayer, owned research group”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Fri., 28 Nov. 1997, p.B-6, col.3.

113 Obituary, “Jacob Mayer, Merchant and Civic Leader, Dies”, EASTON EXPRESS, Fri., 10 July 1959, p.1, cols.4-5; accord, Deed, Fannie Mayer, et al., to Lehigh Industrial Realty Co., 483 578 (1 Apr. 1974)(recital: Mayer died 10 July 1959).

114 Deed, Fannie Mayer, et al., to Lehigh Industrial Realty Co., 483 578 (1 Apr. 1974). An Orphan’s Court Decree recorded in Northampton County Deed Records MISC 146 177 (28 Oct. 1963) had awarded 55% of the property’s ownership interest outright to Fannie Mayer (Jacob Mayer’s widow), and the other 45% to Fannie Mayer and the Easton National Bank as trustees.

115 Deed, Lehigh Industrial Realty Co. to Switlyk Properties, 722 800 (18 Mar. 1987).

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fraud.118 Two years later, Switlyk Properties sold the Mayer Building,119 and the property was seized by the Sheriff and resold in 1994.120

The property was most recently resold in 2004 for $725,000.121 In the same year, Merchants Bank opened its branch at that location. That bank had been founded in 1890, in a building that is now the Bangor Public Library, and has branches in many locations throughout Northampton County. It moved its Easton branch to larger quarters in the Steele Building (at 44-45 Centre Square) in 2014.122

The Mayer Building’s façade also includes the premises next-door to his store in both directions: East on Northampton Street, and South on Centre Square.

The buildings involved with Switlyk included:

The Alpha Building at 1 South 3rd Street. The Mayer Building at 1 Centre Square. The Laubach’s Department Store Building at 322-36 Northampton Street. The Farrs Building later incorporated into the Two Rivers Landing at 30 Centre Square. The Seip Building (White’s Hotel Annex) at 60 Centre Square. The Kahn Building at 58 Center Square. The Mohegan Market (now a parking lot at 23-27 South 4th Street).

See citations included in listing in www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Laubach’s Department Store Building at 322-36 Northampton Street.

116 Joe Nixon, “Switlyk Pleads Guilty to Fraud * Former Easton Developer Admits in Federal Court that He Was Behind Scheme Involving a $150,000 Business Loan”, MORNING CALL, 19 Aug. 1998, p.B-1; Dennis Zehner and Lauri Rice-Maue, “Real Estate Magnate Will Spend One Year in Jail * Switlyk, Who Owned Easton Properties, Stole $150,000 from N.J. Bank”, MORNING CALL, 15 Dec. 1998, p.B-4.

117 Madeleine Mathias, “Dreamers Won with Two Rivers Mayor Goldsmith: Landing Will Lead Downtown Revival”, MORNING CALL, 14 July 1996, p.S-03.

118 Tracy Jordan, “Pomeroy Lofts not abandoned, Pektor says ** Developer insists the condo and brew pub project awaits steel to start construction”, MORNING CALL, 18 July 2007, p.B-7A; Dennis Zehner and Lauri Rice-Maue, “Real Estate Magnate Will Spend One Year in Jail * Switlyk, Who Owned Easton Properties, Stole $150,000 from N.J. Bank”, MORNING CALL, 15 Dec. 1998, p.B-4.

See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 322 Northampton Street, for a fuller discussion of the George Switlyk revitalization scheme.

119 Deed, Switlyk Properties to Wynn-Lyson Associates, Ltd., 779 637 (18 Aug. 1989). 120 Deed Poll, Kevin P. Franczak, Acting Sheriff, for Wynn-Lyson Associates, Ltd., to

National Westminster Bank NJ, 1994-6-0060289 (2 Aug. 1994); Deed, National Westminster Bank NJ to Fares Stephen, 1995-1-001784 (22 Nov. 1994).

121 Deed, Fares Stephen to FKS Realty, Inc., 1997-1-008105 (30 Dec. 1996); Deed, FKS Realty, Inc. to BAMA Management, LLC, 2004-1-375450 (6 Aug. 2004)(sale price $725,000).

122 Lydia E. Bruneo, “BANK LOCAL: Merchants Bank celebrates growth with New Location in downtown Easton”, THE EASTON IRREGULAR 1, 3 (Sept. 2014).

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The Warren Building: As discussed above, the property East of Drinkhouse Corner was obtained from John Herster’s estate by his grandson, John J. Herster, in 1857. He died without a will, leaving his property to his daughter. She also died, unmarried and without a will. The estate was split between the two remaining Herster relatives: Eliza (Elizabeth) Tindall and Joseph M. Herster. In the partition of the property, Eliza Tindall chose to take the Northampton Street property,123 which was adjacent (across the back of the lot) to her Centre Square property.

Around the turn of the 20th Century, the premises at 238-40 Northampton Street (then known as the “Warren Building”124) was the location of the Werner Brothers firm, a center for “high-class and cultured trade”. The store was first opened in 1895125 in the Drake Building126 on South Third Street. William Werner was the brother who operated the firm’s Easton branch, selling pianos, organs, and musical merchandise; Edison phonographs, records, and supplies; and sewing machines.127

Next door at No.242 was the tailor shop of Edward L. Knauss in the early 20th Century.128

The Werner “Music Store” business moved to the Werner Building at 432-34 Northampton Street in approximately 1906.129

123 Deed of Partition, Joseph M. Herster and wife, and Eliza (Elizabeth) Tindall, H12 498 (21 Apr. 1870)(Tract No.1). The deed recitals make it clear that the Elizabeth Herster who had previously owned this property had died unmarried (and so was not Elizabeth Herster Tindall). This Elizabeth Herster’s father was the “John Herster” from whom she had inherited the property – which appears to have been John J. Herster, consistent with the 1857 deed cited above.

124 Three locations for the store before its removal to the Werner Building in 1906: The Drake Building (which was on South Third Street), the “Warren Building” (address not identified), and another location at the corner of Northampton and Fourth Streets. William J. Heller, II History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh Biographical Section 111 (The American Historical Society 1920). In approximately 1902, the “Werner Brothers” store was identified as being at 238-40 Northampton Street. American Journal of Progress, “Greater Easton of To-day” 15 (written c.1902 during Mayor B. Rush Field’s second 3-year term, reprinted courtesy of W-Graphics). This is presumably the “Warren Building” location referred to by Heller.

125 American Journal of Progress, “Greater Easton of To-day” 15 (written c.1902 during Mayor B. Rush Field’s second 3-year term, reprinted courtesy of W-Graphics).

126 Historic Easton, Inc., Annual House Tour Site #14 (18 May 1985). 127 American Journal of Progress, “Greater Easton of To-day” 15 (written c.1902 during

Mayor B. Rush Field’s second 3-year term, reprinted courtesy of W-Graphics); see also Historic Easton, Inc., Annual House Tour Site #14 (18 May 1985).

In 1855, Justice Jacob Weygandt’s office was located at 70-1/2 Northampton Street (under the street numbering scheme in effect at the time), evidently located between Drinkhouse Corner (at No.76) and Black’s Emporium (No.68). See C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA 6 (Cole & Eichman’s Office, 1855).

128 American Journal of Progress, “Greater Easton of To-day” 22 (written c.1902 during Mayor B. Rush Field’s second 3-year term, reprinted courtesy of W-Graphics).

129 See separate entry for 432-34 Northampton Street.

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The “Warren Building” location at 238-40 Northampton Street was evidently inherited by Mary Warne from her parents, Mark and Elizabeth Tindall. In 1919, she gave this property (along with Tindall House on Centre Square, see below) to Elizabeth Buckman,130 her daughter.131 Within a month, Mrs. Buckman sold the property to Joe and Frank Paris132 (on the same day she sold the Tindall House to Jacob Mayer133). In 1920, Jacob Mayer purchased the Warren Building as well,134 and later incorporated it into his “Art Deco” style building façade in the 1930s (see above). Today, this portion of the former Mayer building houses “Drinky’s”.135

Tindall House: see separate entry for 5 Centre Square.

130 Deed, Mary E. Warne to Elizabeth K. Buckman, G46 51 (8 July 1919)(sale price $1 together with “natural love and affection”)(Tract No.1 – Northampton Street property; Tract No.2 – Centre Square property).

131 John Eyerman, The Ancestors of Marguerite Eyerman: A Study in Genealogy 42 (Free Press Book and Job Print 1898)(Mary and Mark Warne’s daughter, Elizabeth, married Robert K. Buckman).

132 Deed, Elizabeth W. Buckman to Joe Paris and Frank Paris, E46 163 (31 July 1919)(sale price $45,000; recites that the property was originally owned by John Tindall).

133 Deed, Elizabeth W. Buckman to Jacob Mayer, G46 53 (31 July 1919). 134 See Deed, Joe Paris and Frank (Mary) Paris to Jacob Mayer, H46 463 (13 Feb. 1920)

(sale price $72,000 for property with nearly 24’ frontage on Northampton Street next to property previously owned by Daniel Black).

135 See Northampton County Tax Records map, www.unpub.org, and compare with street location of “Drinky’s”.

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SE Corner of Center Square (c.1835) Left: Michael Hart’s Building.

Front: County Records Building; Pennsylvania Bank.On S. Third Street: American Hotel (previously Conrad Ihrie’s Golden Lamb Hotel136)

Right (in the Square): Courthouse137

136 Later the Drake Building; now the Easton Parking Garage. Compare Summa & Buscemi,, Images of America: Historic Easton, supra at 67 with Leonard Buscemi, Sr., The Easton – Phillipsburg 1999 Calendar 2 (Buscemi Enterprises, 1998).

137 From a painting by Mary Maxwell (from 1839 Mrs. Washington McCartney), published in Ethan Allen Weaver, “The Forks of the Delaware” Illustrated xxiv (Eschenbach Press 1900)(dated to “c.1835”). A more detailed history of the painter is given in the separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 208 Spring Garden Street. The original of the painting is now possessed by the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society. The Society’s accession notes claim that the hill shows “the Jewish synagogue, built in 1842”, and dates the entire collection to “About 1840”. Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, Water Colors Painted by Mary Elizabeth Maxwell McCartney About 1840 Views of Old Easton (Sigal Museum undated).

The Society’s accession note claim about the synagogue presumably related to the Covenant of Peace Synagogue (Brith Shalom) dedicated on Gallows Hill in 1842. Mrs. McCartney’s picture shows a small brick building on Gallows Hill (to the right) with a tiny outhouse in the rear yard, which the Society may have thought is represented by the seemingly large building to the left of the walled structure. See Joshua Trachtenberg, Consider the Years: The Story of the Jewish Community of Easton, 1752-1942 132, 35 (Centennial Committee of Temple Brith Sholom, 1944). It should be noted that St. Bernard’s Catholic Church was dedicated somewhat farther South on Gallows Hill in 1836. See, e.g., Scott Hill, A Self Guided Tour . . . Historic Forks of the

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Delaware 8 (Eagle Scout Project, 29 April 1992); Marie & Frank Summa and Leonard Buscemi Sr., Images of America: Historic Easton 115 (Arcadia Publishing 2000); A Brief History & Architectural Tour of EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, www.easton-pa.com/History/HistoricEaston.htm, “St. Bernard’s Roman Catholic Church” (accessed 2 Jan. 2005).

Another version of this picture, apparently an engraving (because it appears to show engraver’s lines), appears in the Marx Room Photo File, Easton Area Public Library. It is signed (in the lower left corner) by A.H. Markley. Despite many similarities (including similar vehicles in the Square), there are several minor differences from the Maxwell painting: notably the buildings on Gallows Hill (to the right) are much smaller and simpler structures; there are keystone entablatures over the Courthouse windows, which are not seen in any other pictures of the Courthouse located in the Marx Room; the clouds are different, and are not adorned by any birds, and the single fat citizen in Miss Maxwell’s painting down front is missing. Several versions of the Markley engraving claim that it shows the Square as of 1815 – i.e. 20 years earlier than the Maxwell water color picture.

However, other facts show that Mrs. McCartney’s water color came first, and was used by Markley as the basis for his engraving. One print of the Markley picture in the Marx Room has a printed caption, identifying it as coming “From a Painting Kindly Loaned by Mrs. M’Cartney”. This makes it clear that Markley copied the Maxwell/McCartney water color, rather than the other way around. That same print has an ink date of 1836 written on it – which is lined out, and “1815” is written underneath. One possible interpretation is that Markley changed the Gallows Hill buildings, in an effort to represent an earlier state of building around the Square, but otherwise kept the buildings (and even the vehicles) largely the same.

Rev. Condit’s caption indicating that Markley’s engraving was made from (and hence, after) Mrs. McCartney’s painting – and the fact that several Markley engravings are used in the Reverend’s History of Easton, Penn’a – suggest that Markley’s engravings were done in the 1880s, contemporary with the articles in Rev. Condit’s book. Indeed, because several Markley pictures are used in the book, it is entirely possible that Rev. Condit commissioned Markley to engrave them. Such a dating is supported by the identification of A.H. Markley as the co-artist (with John Dalziel) of an engraving of St. David’s church in Radnor, Pennsylvania dated to 1884. See The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Collection 1478, St. David’s Church (Radnor, Pa.) Records page 27, referenced item in Box 16 Folder 26 (catalog processing completed July 2007), online www.hsp.org/files/findingaid1478st.davids.pdf. A.H. Markley, engraver, also appears as an alphabetical entry in the City of Philadelphia Directory for 1890, with his home in Radnor.

A slightly cropped version of the Markley picture accompanies an article by Madelaine B. Mathias, “Square Is Challenge to Drivers, Planners”, EASTON EXPRESS, Sat., 28 Feb. 1970, p.28 (picture caption).

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