Parking Lot (212-18 Norrthampton St

1

(Photo 2012 by Virginia Lawrence-Hope)

Chidsey/Osterstock Parking Lot (212-20 Northampton St.)

Part of original town Lot No.85 as surveyed by William Parsons when Easton was established in 1752. This Lot was sold by the Penn Family to Gottlieb Hipp in 1789.[1]

In 1855, this property was the H.W. Lowrey music store, which sold both instruments and sheet music.[2] J.K. Thompson’s “Daguerrean Gallery” was also located there.[3]

• At that time, the building was listed at 54 Northampton Street under the street numbering scheme then in effect.[4]

In 1855, 56 Northampton Street was apparently “R[ussell[5]]S. Chidsey’s Large Iron Store.”[6] The store had first been established in 1825 by R.C. Chidsey, and operated for many years by “the Chidsey Brothers”[7] (i.e. Russell’s sons – see below). Russell Smith Chidsey was born in Connecticut in 1802.[8] He began as a tall, muscular farm boy, but opted to teach school. He also served as the local constable, but found distasteful his duties in administering whippings. At age 22 he moved to Geneva, NY, and then came to Easton in 1830 as part of the Holt & Chidsey firm, dealing in stoves. He was a “zealous abolitionist”, who during the Civil War “never hesitated to denounce treason and applaud patriotism”.[9] In addition to running his “stove and tin-ware business”, he became a founder of the Thomas Iron Co. in 1852, a founder of the Warren Foundry in Phillipsburg, and an organizer of the Farmers and Mechanics Bank (later the First National Bank of Easton).[10] In order to devote his attention to his other businesses (especially the Thomas Iron Company), he retired from the Easton store,[11] and died in a train collision in 1865.[12] The Easton store was turned over to his son, Henry Russell Chidsey, who was born in 1834. Henry also succeeded to his father’s seat on the Board of Directors of the First National Bank, after his father’s death. Henry was President of the Easton Town Council when he died in 1870.[13]

• At this time, before the inauguration of the modern street numbering scheme in 1874, the storewas listed as No.54 and 56 Northampton Street.[14] Henry Chidsey lived next door, at No.58.[15]
• Andrew Dwight Chidsey, one of Henry Chidsey’s younger brothers born 1848, also worked in the family business for a time,[16] and also became a director of his father’s Bank.[17] He later formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Joseph S. Rodenbough, to operate two mills on Bushkill Creek, and became “the pioneer in Easton in paint manufacturing”. After selling his interest in the mills, he entered into the brokerage and banking partnership with Hackett, which continued for “a third of a century”. Although “reserved and retiring by nature”, Chidsey became “one of Easton’s most prominent businessmen and financiers”.[18] His home in 1880 was in a portion of Peter Eilenberger’s former residence at 103 Spring Garden Street.[19] His son, A.D. Chidsey Jr. (born 1879),[20] was a celebrated Easton historian, the author of A Frontier Village[21] and The Penn Patents,[22] both indispensable works on the history of the area.
• Charles Francis Chidsey (1843 - 1933), another son of Russell Chidsey (and brother to Henry), was born on Christmas Day of 1843.[23] He enlisted in for 9 months in Company D of the 129th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers beginning in 1862, and was with the Army of the Potomac at (among others) the battles of Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville.[24] [This was the same Regiment whose Lt. Colonel was William H. Armstrong, owner of the Armstrong Homestead on North 3rdStreet.[25]] According to his obituary, he then spent another three months as a Lieutenant in Company C, 38th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers.[26] He later became a Commander of Easton’s Lafayette Post of the Grand Army of the Republic (a Civil War veterans organization).[27] Upon his return from the Civil War, he finished his degree at Lafayette College in 1864, and then did additional studies of business and law. In 1869, he started work as an assistant secretary (later an auditor) at the Warren Foundry, and in 1874 joined a plumbing, steam and gas fitting business with Jan Van Norman.[28] In 1873, he purchased part of the garden belonging to Judge Henry D. Maxwell at the corner of Green and Bushkill Streets to build his house,[29] on land that has now been taken for Route 22. Chidsey also went into Easton politics, ultimately becoming Easton’s first Mayor when it was incorporated as a city in 1887,[30] and a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature from 1896-98.[31] He also wrote histories of the Warren Foundry and of the 129th Regiment. He died in 1933 at age 89,[32] and is buried in Easton Cenetery Plot C-175.[33]

The youngest Chidsey brother, Edward Hart Chidsey, was born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1850[34] and began working in the Easton stove store after he returned from college in Connecticut. Edward took up the service (plumbing and gasfitting) side of the business by 1870,[35] and also apparently took over his older brother Henry’s residence next door.[36] By 1875, Edward himself had become a senior partner of “Chidseys’ & Meeker”, at the same address. The other partner was Charles W. Meeker; Andrew D. Chidsey had also joined the business since at least 1873.[37]

• With the inauguration of the modern street renumbering scheme in 1874, the “Hall, Chidsey’s B’dg” received No.214 Northampton Street, while the “Chidsey’s and Meeker” stove store was listed at No.216.[38]
• By 1873, Edward Chidsey had left his brother Henry’s old residence at No.58, and it was then occupied by Thomas Timmings.[39] The same address was also listed as John E. Titus’s saloon, apparently at the store-front level.[40] In the street renumbering of 1874, No.220 was assigned to the residence of “Thos. Timmins”,[41] apparently a variant (intentional or otherwise) of Mr. Timmings’s name.[42] In 1883, it was occupied by Margaret Timmins.[43]
• At the eastern end of the property, 54 Northampton Street had become J.H. Bailey’s fancy goods store, selling ribbons, millinery goods, hosiery, gloves, and laces. Bailey advertised that his store was at the “Sign of the Big Stocking”[44] – suggesting that such a device must have been hung outside the front of the store. With the inauguration of the modern street numbering scheme, Bailey’s fancy goods store was assigned the address of 212 Northampton Street.[45]

In approximately 1875, Joseph S. Osterstock took over the Chidsey stove store, now also selling “house furnishings”, and occupying Nos.212-16.[46]

• After leaving the stove business, Edward Chidsey moved into the Edward Chidsey Mansion at 122 Spring Garden Street.[47]

Osterstock remained in the business until he retired in 1909.[48] Joseph Swift Osterstock (1842-1918) was a Civil War veteran. He enlisted three times.[49] He was initially a private in Company D of the 129thPennsylvania Volunteer Regiment, the same regiment in which Francis Chidsey had served,[50] and the same Regiment whose Lt. Colonel was William H. Armstrong, owner of the Armstrong Homestead on North 3rdStreet. This regiment was heavily involved in the fighting at the Battles of Fredericksburg (December 1862) and Chancellorsville (May 1863).[51] In June-July of 1863, Osterstock joined the 27th Pennsylvania Regiment of Emergency Militia as the First Sergeant of Company D. This militia regiment served for about 2 months in the summer of 1863 in response to the Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania that ended at Gettysburg,[52] under the command of Colonel Jacob G. Frick[53] (who had been the Colonel of the 129th Pennsylvania Regiment[54]). It was part of a “hodgepodgeof militia regiments, some convalescent soldiers from York”, and a collection of other companies (including one “negro company”) who briefly defended the Columbia Bridge across the Susquehanna River from Confederate General Jubal Early’s troops. They succeeded in burning the bridge, denying passage to the Confederates and thwarting General Early’s plan to seize Lancaster and threaten Harrisburg from the rear.[55]

• Colonel Frick (of Pottsville, Pa.) regarded his action at Columbia as his greatest achievement of the war, notwithstanding the fact that he was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his gallantry at the Battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.[56]

Osterstock’s third enlistment was as the 2nd Lieutenant of Company H of the 214th Pennsylvania Regiment, which served a year from March 1865 until March 1866.[57] This regiment was engaged in guard and provost duty in the Shenandoah Valley, and then served as part of the garrison of Washington, D.C.[58]

After the War, Osterstock was often the marshall of veterans’ parades in Easton.[59] At the parade dedicating the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Easton’s Centre Square on 10 May 1900, he was the Assistant Marshall leading the First Division.[60] He died in 1918, at age 75, and is buried in Easton Cemetery Plot E-144.[61]

• Osterstock’s son, J. Frederick (“Fred”) Osterstock, was the renowned Easton theatre manager and namesake for the State Theatre’s “Freddy” awards.[62]

Joseph Osterstock apparently also made space available, starting in 1886, to the Philadelphia Dental Rooms were established at No.212 as a suite for dental surgeons. They continued into the 20th Century.[63] For many years, Ellsworth D. Vogel’s bookstore was located at 218 Northampton Street.[64]

In the 1940s, the building at this location housed Sage’s Luggage and Trunks at No.214, Nixon’s Book Shop and Stationery at No.216, and the Easton Trades Union Club on the second floor. The building burned in the 1970s.[65]

- Richard F. Hope

[1]Deed, Penn Family to Gottlieb Hipp, D5 45 (20 Oct. 1789); 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); compare with Northampton County Tax Records map,

[2]C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA (Cole & Eichman’s Office, 1855)(advertisement). But see the alphabetical listing for H.W. Lowrey at 34 Northampton Street.

The location at No.54 should be across the street from No.55, which has been identified with 213 Northampton St. under the modern numbering scheme. Thus, the property at 212 Northampton Street is the probable location of (old style) No.54.

[3]C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA (Cole & Eichman’s Office, 1855)(advertisement).

[4]Kitchen, General Directory, supra.

[5]Deed, Gregor Unser to John Pollock, E14 386 (1 Apr. 1874)(sale of Pollock House property now numbered 222-24 Northampton Street; recital that property to the East had belonged to Russell S. Chidsey, deceased).

[6]Advertisement for J.H. Wilking, Easton Argus, Thurs., 5 July 1855, p.4, col. 6-7 (“next door to R.S. Chidsey’s Large Iron Store”).

[7]American Journal of Progress, “Greater Easton of To-day” 18 (written c.1902 during Mayor B. Rush Field’s second 3-year term, reprinted courtesy of W-Graphics); accord, Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition advertisement on front cover interior (Jan. 1893, reprinted by W-Graphics)(listing at Nos.212-16)(“Established, 1825”); Advertisement, “Joseph S. Osterstock”, Easton Argus, Wednesday, 7 Nov. 1875, p.1, col.5 (ad. dated 6 Oct. 1875, stated that Chidsey Bros. had been in business for 50 years).

[8]Theo. Francis Rodenbough, Autumn Leaves from Family Trees 39 (Clark & Zugulla 1892); Frank B. Copp, Biographical Sketches of Some of Easton’s Prominent Citizens 94 (Hillburn & West 1879).

[9]Frank B. Copp, Biographical Sketches of Some of Easton’s Prominent Citizens 95-96 (Hillburn & West 1879).

[10]Theo. Francis Rodenbough, Autumn Leaves from Family Trees 44 (Clark & Zugulla 1892); see also Frank B. Copp, Biographical Sketches of Some of Easton’s Prominent Citizens 96 (Hillburn & West 1879)(a founder of Thomas Iron Company, and of the Farmers’ and Mechanic’s Bank ).

[11]Theo. Francis Rodenbough, Autumn Leaves from Family Trees 44 (Clark & Zugulla 1892); see William H. Boyd, Boyd’s Directory of Reading, Easton, [Etc.] 119 (William H. Boyd 1860)(H.R. Chidsey stoves and ranges store at 54 and 56 Northampton Street).

[12]Theo. Francis Rodenbough, Autumn Leaves from Family Trees 39, 45 (Clark & Zugulla 1892); Frank B. Copp, Biographical Sketches of Some of Easton’s Prominent Citizens 96 (Hillburn & West 1879).

[13]Theo. Francis Rodenbough, Autumn Leaves from Family Trees 40, 44 (Clark & Zugulla 1892).

[14]William H. Boyd, Boyd’s Directory of Reading, Easton, [Etc.] 119 (William H. Boyd 1860)(H.R. Chidsey stoves and ranges store at 54 and 56 Northampton Street).

[15]William H. Boyd, Boyd’s Directory of Reading, Easton, [Etc.] 119 (William H. Boyd 1860); 1870 Census, Series M593, Roll 1382, p.86 (Henry Chidsey (age 36) and his wife Matilda (age 33), real and personal estate valued at $160,000). By 1880, a Matilda Chidsey (listing her age as 35) is found living with her father, Michael Butz, at 60 North Fourth Street. 1880 Census, T9, Roll 1161, p.414C.

[16]Theo. Francis Rodenbough, Autumn Leaves from Family Trees 39 (Clark & Zugulla 1892); Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 60 (1873).

[17]Theo. Francis Rodenbough, Autumn Leaves from Family Trees 39 (Clark & Zugulla 1892).

[18]Obituary, “A.D. Chidsey, Banker and Broker, Dies After An Illness Of Two Years”, Easton Express, Tues., 26 Jan. 1926, p.1, cols.7-8. His sister was Mrs. Emily H. Rodenbough. The mills were located: one below the Wagener Dam, and one where the Simon silk factory was later established (13th Street). See also separate entry for 60 Centre Square.

[19]Seeseparate entry for 103 Spring Garden Street.

[20]Theo. Francis Rodenbough, Autumn Leaves from Family Trees 43 (Clark & Zugulla 1892); see Obituary, “A.D. Chidsey, Jr., 64, Architect, Historian, City Planner, Dies”, Easton Express, Thurs., 22 June 1944, p.1, col.3 (picture col.4).

[21]A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton 234-35, 245-46 (Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1940).

[22]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).

[23]Gravestone inscription in Easton Cemetery, from photo at Pennsylvania Gravestones, (accessed 29 May 2009)(Charles F. Chidsey * Dec. 25, 1843 * Jan. 11 1933); Obituary, ”Charles F. Chidsey, Easton’s First Mayor, Dead; 89 Years Old”, Easton Express, Thurs., 12 Jan. 1933, p.1, cols. 4-5.

[24]Obituary, ”Charles F. Chidsey, Easton’s First Mayor, Dead; 89 Years Old”, Easton Express, Thurs., 12 Jan. 1933, p.1, cols. 4-5; accord, Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 369-70 (George W. West 1885 / 1889); Samuel P. Bates, IV History of Pennsylvania Volunteers 1861-5 184-86, 192 (P. Singerly, State Printer 1870).

[25]Samuel P. Bates, IV History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers: 1861 – 1865 184-87 (Harrisburg: B. Singerly, State Printer 1870, reprinted by Broadfoot Publishing Company 1994); see Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 256, 258 (George W. West 1885 / 1889); see alsoObituary, Easton Express, supra (was promoted Colonel during the War – presumably referring to his Lt. Colonel’s rank with the 129th Regiment); see separate entry for Armstrong Homestead at 40 North 3rd Street.

[26]Obituary, ”Charles F. Chidsey, Easton’s First Mayor, Dead; 89 Years Old”, Easton Express, Thurs., 12 Jan. 1933, p.1, cols. 4-5; but see Samuel P. Bates, I History of Pennsylvania Volunteers 1861-5 796-97 (P. Singerly, State Printer 1869)(Charles Chidsey not listed as a Lieutenant with this Company).

[27]Theo. Francis Rodenbough, Autumn Leaves from Family Trees 42 (Clark & Zugulla 1892); see Obituary, ”Charles F. Chidsey, Easton’s First Mayor, Dead; 89 Years Old”, Easton Express, Thurs., 12 Jan. 1933, p.1, cols. 4-5, at p.13.

[28]Obituary, ”Charles F. Chidsey, Easton’s First Mayor, Dead; 89 Years Old”, Easton Express, Thurs., 12 Jan. 1933, p.1, cols. 4-5; see Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 369-70 (George W. West 1885 / 1889).

[29]Obituary, ”Charles F. Chidsey, Easton’s First Mayor, Dead; 89 Years Old”, Easton Express, Thurs., 12 Jan. 1933, p.1, cols. 4-5, at p.13.

[30]Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 369-70 (George W. West 1885 / 1889); Obituary, ”Charles F. Chidsey, Easton’s First Mayor, Dead; 89 Years Old”, Easton Express, Thurs., 12 Jan. 1933, p.1, cols. 4-5.

[31]Obituary, ”Charles F. Chidsey, Easton’s First Mayor, Dead; 89 Years Old”, Easton Express, Thurs., 12 Jan. 1933, p.1, cols. 4-5.

[32]Obituary, ”Charles F. Chidsey, Easton’s First Mayor, Dead; 89 Years Old”, Easton Express, Thurs., 12 Jan. 1933, p.1, cols. 4-5; Gravestone inscription in Easton Cemetery, from photo at Pennsylvania Gravestones, (accessed 29 May 2009)(Charles F. Chidsey * Dec. 25, 1843 * Jan. 11 1933).

[33] Jeanne Cheston and Adele Hartman (compilers), 5 Easton Cemetery 1929-1999 A-L 29 (Feb. 2000)(Plot C-175).

[34]1900 Census, Series T623, Roll 1447, p.53B; 1910 Census, T624, Roll 1381, p.22A; Obituary, “Edward Hart Chidsey”, Easton Express, Mon., 23 May 1910, p.5, col.3 (New Haven); Theo. Francis Rodenbough, Autumn Leaves from Family Trees 43 (Clark & Zugulla 1892).

[35]Obituary, “Edward Hart Chidsey”, Easton Express, Mon., 23 May 1910, p.5, col.3; Fitzgerald & Dillon, Easton Directory for 1870-71 34 (Ringwalt & Brown 1870).

[36] Fitzgerald & Dillon, Easton Directory for 1870-71 34 (Ringwalt & Brown 1870)(E.H. Chidsey at 58 Northampton Street).

[37]Webb Bros. & Co., Webb’s Easton and Phillipsburg Directory 1875-6 35 (M.J. Riegel 1875); see Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 60 (1873)(with A.D. Chidsey).

Edward Hart Chidsey also served one term on the Easton Town Council. Theo. Francis Rodenbough, Autumn Leaves from Family Trees 43 (Clark & Zugulla 1892).

[38]Article, “The New Numbers”, Easton Daily Free Press, Friday, 21 Nov. 1873, p.3; accord, Webb Bros. & Co., Webb’s Easton and Phillipsburg Directory 1875-6 35 (M.J. Riegel 1875). The newspaper article also shows that the Jason H. Bailey fancy goods store was given No.212, while David Herst’s clothing store was assigned to No.218, both apparently in this building.

[39]Compare Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 123 (1873)(alphabetical listing) with D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874)(map listing for T. Timmings) and Northampton County Tax Records map, (showing modern location and street numbers of the lot).

[40]Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 124 (1873)(alphabetical listing).

[41]Article, “The New Numbers”, Easton Daily Free Press, Sat., 22 Nov. 1873, p.2, col.5.

[42]See also Deed, Easton Trust Company to Charles Joseph, C72 253 (1 Aug. 1941)(sale of Pollock House at 222-24 Northampton Street, reciting that property to the East had belonged to William Timmin’s Estate); Deed, Joseph’s, Inc. to Jagdish Desai, 882-000100 (1 Dec. 1992)(same).

[43]J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1883-4 145 (J.H. Lant 1883).

[44]Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 6 (1873)(advertisement).

[45]Article, “The New Numbers”, Easton Daily Free Press, Sat., 22 Nov. 1873, p.2., col.5.

[46]Advertisement, “Joseph S. Osterstock”, Easton Argus, Wednesday, 7 Nov. 1875, p.1, col.5 (ad. dated 6 Oct. 1875, stated that Joseph S. Osterstock “having recently succeeded CHIDSEY BROS., at the old and well-known Stove and Tinware Establishment, (and which has been carried on for over fifty years)”, at Nos. 212, 214 and 216 Northampton Street”). Accord, American Journal of Progress, “Greater Easton of To-day” 18 (written c.1902 during Mayor B. Rush Field’s second 3-year term, reprinted courtesy of W-Graphics)(“extensive store”, took over in 1875); see also William J. Heller, III History of Northampton County and the Grand Valley of the Lehigh Biographical Section 332-34 (American Historical Society 1920)(took over in 1872); Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition advertisement on front cover interior (Jan. 1893, reprinted by W-Graphics)(listing at Nos.212-16)(“Successor to Chidsey Bros.”).