Going over the old Main street canal bridge which was raised above the water high enough to allow boats to pass under, and with a foot walk on each side and a drive way in the center we come to the famous Gabtown corner, which was a cluster of small houses and a broken stump of the Liberty pole. This was all changed in 1843 when the Hilliard block and Mill replaced it. On the north corner was the residence of Dr. Thomas Miner, who for many years was a prominent practitioner and was later folowed in the same profession by his son Dr. Bow Miner. Main street from Union at that time on the south side lived Dr. Jones, who with Dr. John Smith, who lived on Washington street and Dr. Miner were the only practicing physicians in the town. Dr. Jones lived where Dr. Beck, the dentist, now has his home. Adam Behee, the blacksmith and Lauerence Myers had a feed store and livery stable on the same side. Then came Mrs. Nancy Drake’s home, then Lord Butler, who was one of the pioneers in the coal business. He had several sons and daughters, Joseph, Zebulon, Ziba and Edward, all of whom are dead except Edward. Coming down on the north side of the street Mr. Bidlack, who was a minister abroad and left a widow with several daughters and sons, The writer recalls the names of only two, Benjamin and Blanch. In the block was Z. Gray, who kept a bakery, and a little further down was Charles Dennison’s law office. Next in order was a dwelling occupied by a Mr. Wells. He had a boy and girls nicknamed “Doney” and “Lucretia”, or “Tute Wells”. Then came one or two small offices. Next was Ziba Bennetts residence, with his store adjoining, where he sold hardware, dry goods and groceries and ranked as one of the wealthy men of the town. His two children George S. and Martha are still on this side of the dark river. On the corner where the Bennett block now stands was a hotel owned and keot by George P. steele. It was a frame structure with a wide porch where the stages and Democratic politicians made their headquarters. Steele was sheriff of the county and afterwards a representative at Harrisburg. J. Bennett Smith
