Untitled Document

An Update to the

Souvenir Book
of
Benton, Penn'a

originally published by

H. A. Kemp & Son, Photographers
Benton, PA

The Kemp Studios of Benton and its collection of negatives and prints was destroyed in the Benton fire on July 4, 1910. The studio building "sat some distance from the Exchange Hotel" at the intersection of Main and Market Street, but the intense heat ignited the building and it was destroyed. The pictures that follow are all about a hundred years old and the photographic quality is by today's standards marginal. We are deeply appreciative to Louise Lewis for the loaning of the book.

H. A. Kemp and his son recorded the community's history on film and they produced a "Souvenir Book of Benton, Penna." with a series of 40 photos of the community plus a short one-page story of the town itself. The book was not dated but was probably published in 1904, six years before the first burned much of Benton. What follows on this page is an update to the 40 photos originally published. We consider it "work in progress," and we need your help. We have taken the original title and picture from the Kemps and we are slowly adding the status of the building today and any history of the building that we can gather together. We ask for your help in this.

In addition to the Kemp Studios, buildings that were lost in the 1910 fire included the Columbia County National Bank, Exchange Hotel, People's Department Store, the Post Office and Confectionery Store of R. E. Keeler, Fred Hagenbach's Store, and the F. M. Golder residence and Millinery Store. You can read the complete history of the fire by going here.

We'll begin as H. A. Kemp did, with his introduction to his book. It is presented below exactly as he wrote and published it.

BENTON

The beautiful village of Benton is located twenty miles north of Bloomsburg, the county seat of Columbia. It is beautiful for situation, and the joy not of the whole world, but of all u Bentonians, and the regions for many miles around about. It is nestled among the magnificent hills all around it, and on the banks of the picturesque and charming stream called "Fishingcreek." On account of thousands of trout—"speckled beauties,"—as well as many other species of the finny tribe, found in the crystal waters of this lovely stream, fisherman find it a veritable paradise for their chosen sport, and when the shadows fall, and night comes on, Benton becomes the Mecca, whence the "tribes" turn and find rest and quietness until the dawn another day. But Benton has not only became famous as the resort of the fisherman, but Nimrod as well. In this beautiful valley and among these charming hills the hunter finds no of sport in the pursuit of game.

From a business stand point it would indeed be difficult to point to a more prosperous town for it (sic) size than Benton. It is the business centre of one of the richest and most magnificent farming communities in the great State of Pennsylvania. In addition to this, it has a large planing mill, lumber yard, and other factories. Benton too is noted for its large and elegant stores and shops. It has five physicians, two dentists and a fine drug store. For the weary traveler and sojourner, there are two hotels, three stories each, and among the finest in their appointments for comfort in Columbia County.

The public schools easily rank among the very best in Columbia County. In addition to the Public Schools, there is a high grade Summer Normal School held during the months of May and June of each year. This school numbers way above the hundred mark in students and as most of them are teachers or preparing to teach, are among the brightest and most intelligent to be found anywhere. The school is managed by a high grade class of professors and teachers and is under the direct management of the superintendent of public schools of the county and the principal of the Benton Schools. Last but not by any means least Benton is noted for its beautiful churches, three in number, namely: — The Methodist Episcopal, the Christian and Presbyterian. The moral and religious tone of the town is fine, and society elegant.

Our task is done, and we herewith present this Souvenir hoping that it may not only prove of great interest to all Bentonians, but that it may reach many who are now far away, but were once of our number and thus recall many tender and happy associations of days gone by.

Published by H. A. Kemp & Son.





The column shows the title assigned to the picture by H. A. Kemp		This column shows the pictures as published by Kemp. Remember that these pictures are about a hundred years old, and the quality is by today's standard less than desirable in some cases.		This column shows the houses as they are today.

Bird's Eye View Looking from West to East

Main Street Looking North

Mill Dam in Fishing Creek

First Presbyterian Church, Rev. I. B. Crist, Pastor

Christian Church, Rev. J. P. Topping, Pastor

Columbia County National Bank

Public School Building

McHenry House, J. B. McHenry & Son, Prop's

Exchange Hotel, D. J. Donovan, Prop.

Benton Roller Mills, J. J. Mather, Prop'r.

Rohr McHenry Distilling Company's Plant

Ash's Green and Flower House, Harvey R. Ash, Prop.

Benton Marble and Granite Works, Z. A. and W. A. Butt, Prop'rs.

Everything in Merchandise (Pennington & Seely)

(Department Store), Benton Store Company, L't'd.

The People's Department Store

M. A. Phillips, General Merchandise

Joe Mamolen The Old Reliabe Clothier

Benton Hardware, Keller & Conner Byron S. Keller M. E. Conner

H. W. Belles, General Merchandise, Sporting Goods and Coal

R. E. Keeler, Confectionery and Stationary, Ice Cream Post Office Building

Miah Cole's Center Street Grocer and Confectionery

Fred, Hagenbuch, Tea and Racket Store, Corner Market and Third Streets

H. A. Kemp's Photograph Gallery				This building burned on July 4, 1910. The building was located near the present location of the Hess Hotel, adjacent to the Old Filling Station on Main St.

Fred Wood Harness Shop, Main Street

Argus Office, Percy Brewington, Ed. Barber Shop, Glen A. Tubbs, Prop. Meat Market, Chas. Hess, Prop.

Ira McHenry, Furniture and Undertaking Establishment

Benton Drug Store and Residence, Dr. M. McHenry, Main Street.

Dr. J. B. Laubach, Residence and Office O. E. Little, Jewelry and Repairing

Mrs. F. M. Golder, Millinery Store

Hon. Russell Karns, Residence

Dr. Sidney Hoffa, Residence and Office, Second Street

Dr. I. E. Patterson, Residence and Office

J. B. McHenry's Residence, Second Street

John W. Belles, Residence Cor. Second and Everitt Sts.

H. A. Kemp's Residence, Third Street

C. L. Davis' Residence, Third Street

W. C. Hosler, Residence

Ira R. McHenry's Residence, Second Street

Fred Edwards, Residence Alfred Belles, Residence I. E. Keeler, Residence P. L. Appleman, Residence