Photo of the Month
March, 2004
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HARRISON GENERAL STORE AND BLOOMSBURG & SULLIVAN
RAILROAD STATION AT FORKS
Circa 1910
The building of the Bloomsburg & Sullivan Road through the
Fishing Creek Valley started in early May 1886 from Bloomsburg and was
completed two years and seven months later at Jamison City at the end of
November 1888. It became an economic stimulus to the area. As an
example, the village of Forks in Fishing Township became one of the
eleven stations on the railroad. Two brothers, John and Rush Harrison,
sensing a business opportunity built a general store at Forks sometime
in 1900 or 1901. By mutual agreement the latter partner became the sole
owner of the store in 1903. It carried a variety of merchandise for the
rural market such as groceries, clothing, shoes, fabrics, patent
medicines, hardware items, lanterns, kerosene and coal. It was also a
place where farmers could sell their butter and eggs. In addition, it
served as the post office. To learn more about Forks and the Harrison
General Store see The Life and Times of a Country Merchant by
Emma Harrison Burrus published in 1979. |
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