Kingsley, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Kingsley is a small town in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, USA. It's nestled in the Endless Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The town got its name from Rufus Kingsley, a hero of the American Revolutionary War. He was one of the first people to settle here.

Kingsley is a very small place. In 1900, only 75 people lived there. Today, the town itself has about 50 residents. However, the areas around Kingsley stretch out for miles, with over 200 people living in the outskirts. Kingsley is about a 30-minute drive from the cities of Binghamton, New York, and Scranton, Pennsylvania. People in Kingsley use phone area codes 570 and 272.

Meet Rufus Kingsley

In 1809, Rufus Kingsley, his wife Lucinda, and their four children moved to this area. They came from Windham, Connecticut. Rufus was born in 1763. When he was just thirteen, he fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill. He was a drummer boy in that important battle.

Rufus married Lucinda Cutler in 1786. When they moved to Kingsley, he built a mill for processing wool. He also built a house. His home still stands today. A maple tree they planted long ago is also still there. Rufus died in 1846 at age 83. His wife died three days later. They are both buried in Brooklyn, Pennsylvania.

Rufus's son, John, lived in Kingsley his whole life. He built a large house next to his father's home. Sadly, John's house later burned down. John and his wife are buried in the Harford Cemetery.

Prince Perkins: An Early Settler

Even before Rufus Kingsley arrived, another important person settled nearby. In 1793, a free African American man named Prince Perkins moved here. He came from Connecticut with his wife and two children. It's not known if he was ever a slave. However, Connecticut had abolished slavery by 1780.

Prince Perkins also fought in the American Revolutionary War. His daughter, Phebe Perkins, married Bristol Budd Sampson. Bristol was also a Revolutionary War veteran. He was a close friend of Prince's. They served together in the Continental Army. They even survived the harsh winter at Valley Forge.

The land where Prince Perkins settled is now called the Dennis Farm. It has stayed in the Dennis family for generations. This farm is so important that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Both Prince Perkins and Bristol Budd Sampson are buried there.

Bristol Budd Sampson later moved to Kingsley. He was an African American soldier. Some say he even served General George Washington. Bristol lost his eyesight after moving to Kingsley. In 1820, he asked for a pension for his war service. He was given $96 a year. After he died, his wife Phebe continued to receive his pension.

Today, the Dennis Farm is a special place. It is cared for by the Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust. This group works to preserve the farmhouse, stone fences, and cemetery. In 2008 and 2009, students found thousands of old items there. These discoveries help tell the story of the Prince Perkins family.

The Railroad Comes to Town

Kingsley got its name in 1886. That's when a railroad station was built here. The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad tracks were laid around 1870. Trains would stop in town to refill their water tanks.

In 1886, people in Kingsley decided they needed their own station. It cost $1,310 to build. The townspeople agreed to name the station and the town after Rufus Kingsley.

The railroad tracks were moved in 1915. This was part of a big project called the Summit Cut-off. The railroad wanted to make the route shorter and flatter. This would save time between Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, and Hallstead, Pennsylvania. The new tracks were built in their current spot. A new station was also built.

The cut-off construction brought a lot of workers to town. This made Kingsley's economy boom! Every home and building was filled with people needing food and shelter. Even chicken coops were used for housing.

Building the Martins Creek Viaduct

One of the biggest parts of the railroad project was the Martins Creek Viaduct. A viaduct is like a very long bridge. This one is 1,600 feet long. It has ten arches, each 150 feet high.

Construction started in 1912 and finished in 1914. It was completed a year early! During World War I, soldiers guarded the viaduct. They slept in tents nearby. This amazing viaduct is still used by trains today. It crosses over Route 11 and Martins Creek.

Kingsley's Post Office

The first post office in Kingsley opened in 1886. Will Whitney was the first postmaster. Over the years, the post office moved several times. It finally settled in its current spot in 1933.

Local Churches

The first church in Kingsley was the Universalist Church of Our Father. It was built in 1894 and dedicated in 1895. Reverend Ralph Edwin Horn was its first pastor. The church celebrated its 25th and 50th anniversaries. Later, fewer people attended, and the church closed. However, its basement was still used for town parties. In the 1970s, it became the Kingsley Community Church.

The Methodist Church received its charter in 1897. It was built by a local carpenter, Warner Wilmarth. Sadly, this church burned down in 1923. A new Methodist church was built on the same land in 1924. This church grew and was expanded. The Kingsley Methodist Church is still active today.

When attendance at both churches dropped, the Kingsley Civic Club helped. They started a community Sunday School. It combined both churches. Classes were held at the Universalist Church in winter. They moved to the Methodist Church in summer.

Schools in Kingsley

The first school in Kingsley was built in 1896. John Palmer was the first teacher. A second floor was added to the school in 1907. In 1939, the school closed. All students were then bused to Harford.

Later, in 1959, the Mountain View Junior/Senior High School opened. In 1991, the Mountain View Elementary School was built. This combined three local schools. The original schoolhouse from 1896 is still standing. It is now a house on Mill Street.

Kingsley Civic Club

The Kingsley Civic Club was started in 1928. It was founded by the women of the town. This club organized many fun events and fundraisers. They held ice cream socials and dances. The civic club is still active today.

Woman's Christian Temperance Union

Kingsley also had a Woman's Christian Temperance Union. This group worked to teach people about the dangers of alcoholic drinks. They also held fundraisers. For example, in 1909, they held an apron sale and supper. This event honored Frances Willard, who founded the organization.

Stearns Mill

In 1900, George and Coe Stearns built the Stearns Mill. It was used for grinding feed and selling grain. Coe Stearns continued to run the mill. Later, his grandson, Richard Masters, took over.

Richard ran the mill for about ten years. Then he sold it to Ross Brothers. The mill tragically burned down on September 7, 1966. The Ross Brothers then moved their business to Hop Bottom, Pennsylvania. Today, the site of the old mill is a front yard. You can still find pieces of the concrete floor there.

The Acid Factory

In 1900, a company from Binghamton, New York, built an acid factory in Kingsley. They built an 85-foot-tall smokestack. They also built cheap houses for the workers. The company bought all the timber nearby. If you saw pictures from that time, you would see many cut-down trees.

The factory made wood alcohol and acetate. The acetate was sent to Germany. The factory could only use certain types of wood. Other wood was sent to a sawmill. The factory was sold several times. In 1912, all the timber was gone. So, the factory was packed up and moved to Shinhopple, New York. Only the smokestack was left behind. You can still find parts of the factory today on Tannery Street.

The Aqua Inn

In 1910, Coe Stearns built the Aqua Inn. Some people in town didn't like that the Hotel Kingsley served alcohol. So, they built the Aqua Inn as an alcohol-free place. "Aqua" is Latin for water. This meant it was a "temperance" inn.

The Inn was built by Warner Wilmarth. It was very successful. Over the years, it was sold to different owners. It became a place for parties and later a boarding home for elderly people. In 1960, it became the Rosengrant Market. In 2016, the former Aqua Inn was turned into a restaurant.

Town Water System

Kingsley once had its own town water system. Alva J. Masters owned and ran the water company. He used Hall Pond as a reservoir. Hall Pond is located above the town. Alva ran water pipes to each home. Many homes still have these old pipes. Kingsley no longer has town water today.

Floods and the 2014 Tornado

Kingsley has experienced two major floods. In 1926, the dam at Hall Pond broke. A huge rush of water flooded Main Street. Many homes were damaged, but none were lost. The dam was later rebuilt.

On June 28, 2006, Kingsley had another big flood. Martins Creek overflowed its banks. Most townspeople had to leave their homes. Only a few houses were saved from the water. One home was lost, and five were badly damaged.

On July 8, 2014, a strong tornado hit Kingsley. It touched down near the Martins Creek Viaduct. The tornado struck around 6:45 PM. Luckily, no one was hurt. However, many buildings were destroyed, including the original Kingsley Post Office. Hundreds of trees were pulled from the ground. Power lines were ripped down. The town was without electricity for about four days. The forest on the east side of town was completely destroyed. You can still see the damage today. The tornado was ranked as an EF-2.