110 Years Ago - East Honesdale Train Station robbed

Aug. 27—Aug. 27, 1912

Train station robbed

The Erie Railroad Station in East Honesdale was robbed and the station's telegraph operator was missing.

Leland Singrey, a recently hired telegraph operator, was sent to the Honesdale station from Dunmore to fill in for the station's regular agent, Daniel Maloney, who was attending a convention for Erie Railroad agents.

Singrey was given the keys to the station Aug. 24 and was to open up the following morning. He never reported for his shift.

Upon inspection of the station, it was found that the safe was opened and an unknown amount of cash was taken.

The station's keys were later found by the track near the Borden Milk shipping plant.

Singrey was a boarder at a rooming house operated by Mrs. John Markey in East Honesdale. Markey told police Singrey skipped out on paying his room bill Aug. 24.

Lt. Guy Relph of Erie Railroad police announced they were searching for Singrey, and a reward was offered for information leading to his arrest.

Plans change for

Wilson's city visit

New Jersey Gov. Woodrow Wilson, democratic presidential candidate, was scheduled to visit Scranton on Sept. 23. As part of the visit, there was to be a "big dollar" dinner for Wilson. The dinner was canceled.

Leon Levy, secretary of the local planning committee, and U.S. Rep. A. Mitchell Palmer, a member of the Democratic National Committee, decided the dinner would be impractical. Instead, a large rally for Wilson would be held at the 13th Regiment Armory and the general public would be invited to attend.

Levy and Palmer said the change would enable more voters to hear directly from Wilson.

Acid maker turns 95

Agnus Smith, of Starrucca, had recently celebrated his 95th birthday. Friends and family from far and wide remembered his day. He received more than 200 postcards wishing him a happy birthday.

Smith, a native of Scotland, was involved in the development of the first acid factory in the United States. The facility was built in 1855 in Conklin, New York.

Several years later, he left that business and started his own acid and wood alcohol manufacturing facility in Susquehanna County. He would later expand the business into the manufacturing of charcoal.

He had recently stepped back from his work after suffering an injury in a fall, but he still found the time to visit the acid plant.

Brian Fulton, library manager, oversees The Times-Tribune's expansive digital and paper archives and is an authority on local history. Contact Brian at bfulton@timesshamrock.com or 570-348-9140.

Brian Fulton, library manager, oversees The Times-Tribune's expansive digital and paper archives and is an authority on local history. Contact Brian at bfulton@timesshamrock.com or 570-348-9140.