Historical Association of Tobyhanna Township

HATT | PO Box 2084 | Pocono Pines, PA 18350-2084

June 13, 2012

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GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF TOBYHANNA TOWNSHIP

June 13, 2012
Clymer Library, 115 Firehouse Road, Pocono Pines, Pa.


Speaker: Gene Kerrick: “The Blakeslee Family”

The meeting was called to order at 10:20 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.

The secretary’s and treasurer’s reports were presented.

Highlights


Scarlett Rehrig informed the membership that DVDs about the history of places in the Northeast were available to borrow and return.

Note: The August meeting will be held at the Austin T. Blakeslee Open Space. Time of the meeting is 11 a.m. Anyone attending is asked to bring a covered dish. Hot dogs and fish will be served.

On June 23, 2012, the Tobyhanna Army Depot will hold an open house for the public.

The HATT September bus trip will be along the Revolutionary Trail. Two meals will be served. The cost is $115.

The October meeting will be our annual dinner at the Pocono Manor.

Speakers | Gene Kerrick with Amy Henry and Emily Carter – The History of the Blakeslee Family


The Blakeslee family originally migrated from Connecticut. The men in the family were blacksmiths and farmers.

Jacob Blakeslee Sr. first came to Wilkes-Barre. He remarried and had three sons. About 1883, the town of Blakeslee came about, named for Jacob Blakeslee Sr., who was the local postmaster until about 1893.

Emily Carter’s grandma Jennie was a Blakeslee, and had a property and home named the Preserve. She was also the postmaster, with a post office being located at Preserve. As word has it, Grandma Jennie was a “spitfire.” She was very active in the area and was also the local midwife. She died at the age of 78.

Amy Henry displayed a genealogy chart of the Blakeslee family through the years. She spoke of her father Austin T. (Pug) Blakeslee – for whom the open space area is named — and also other family members.

Austin took over the family farm but after a time took on a career in conservation. Her mother, Elsie, worked as a counselor at Lutherland. One funny story was told as to how Austin settled a church dispute over what color of paint to use in the church. Finally after much time, Austin just went out and bought the paint – Dispute settled.

The Blakeslee family also held positions in the township. Many pictures and photo albums were on display for attendees to peruse. A question and answer time followed the presentation, followed by refreshments.

Submitted by
Barbara Fox, Treasurer


NOTE: A more extensive Blakeslee Family history is located online at HATT’s Family History page.

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