The Montrose Democrat (newspaper) on February 18, 1909 had an article featuring a photograph very similar to the one referenced below. The major difference being the addition of a large chimney between the house and the hot houses.
The text of the article follows:
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge Snyder of East Lenox, a picture of which appears herewith, is one of the most comfortable rural homes of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Snyder has not only been a progressive farmer but from an early period in his life he has played a very important part in the political history of Susquehanna county and stands high as a representative of the best political thought of this county. In 1868 Mr. Snyder married Miss Emma Spearbeck, a successful young teacher of Harford, and together they took up the work of clearing and developing the 140 acres of rugged woodland, which today shows in an extraordinary manner the success of their efforts and commands the highest admiration of those who visit the farm. When Mr. and Mrs. Snyder took up their home there, the whole place was practically uncleared and was covered with a heavy growth of hemlock, beech and maple timber. There were no public roads nearer than the Milford and Owego turnpike, half a mile away. When they moved in Mr. Snyder chopped the logs with which he constructed a three room house himself, which was at best a very primitive structure. For doors, two pieces of carpet were used, front and back, and they then thought they had made quite a start in the world. That little house was a striking contract with the handsome home now occupied, furnished beautifully and with all the modern conveniences. The farm is situated in the extreme northeastern part of Lenox township and includes many interesting spots of natural scenery, among which is a beautiful round lake which indents the farm on the north and is the source of the water supply generally. At convenient places cool, sparkling springs form additional advantages. To the northwest of the lake is a beautiful large grove of hemlocks, beeches and maples, now known as the old "camp grounds", where for a number of years camp meetings were held and whose giant maples have produced maple sugar in great abundance for many years. The soil is generally very fertile and well adapted for farming, and all kinds of fruits and vegetables have from time to time been produced. In earlier times Mr. Snyder was engaged in the growing of extensive raspbery and strawberry crops, some years amounting to 600 bushels of raspberries and 300 bushels of strawberries. Along with the general farming, dairying has held an important place and its products have been no small item. For the past ten years Mr. Snyder has directed his attention to the production of green house vegetables, including lettuce, parsley, radishes and green onions. The green house plant comprises some five or six large houses, covering about 15,000 sqaure feet of ground and equipped with an adequate steam heating plant and water supply. So extensive are the green- houses that from 70,000 to 80,000 bunches of lettuce, onions, radishes and parsley are raised during the winter season. It requires about 100 tons of coal per year to run the steam plant, all of which is hauled by the three rugged teams on the farm. Mr. Snyder's trade is entirely confined to the best retail merchants of Carbondale, Scrant6on and Wilkes-Barre. Besides the large quantities of vegetables produced during the winter season, large numbers of flower plants are raised to supply the surrounding country as well as the retail trade of the sities. Among the many different flowers produced are caladiums, cannas (the latest French flowering varieties) geraniums, gladious, and all shades of asters and flox; while large quanities of cabbage and mango peppers are also produced. From the farm are produced large quantities of field corn, oats and wheat of the best varieties, which abundantly supply the demands of the home and farm for feeding purposes. Several years ago Mr. Snyder conceived the idea that we in Susquehanna county can and should produce nearly everything raised on a farm. In keeping with that idea he has set the example of raising his own corn, oats and other stock feed, and has discarded the use of mixed and adulterated so-called "feeds" coming from the Western states, since which time all of his live stock has been in prime condition. For several years the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Snyder, Arthur C. Snyder, has successfully managed the green house plant and farm gradually increasing and developing them in various ways.
Back to the DSdata genealogy index page
Copyright 1999-2000 DSdata
This page updated last on 02 Feb 2000
[eMail the site administrator] [DSData homepage] [DSData company] [DSData olives]
62K JPEG image