Here is the text of Attorney Edward Merrifield’s lecture on the early days of Scranton. The lecture as given at a meeting of the Lackawanna Institute of History and Science (known today as the Lackawanna Historical Society).
A bit on Merrifield – Atty. Edward Merrifield was known as “Scranton’s Old Man.” He was born in the Hyde Park section of West Scranton in 1832. During his life he was a lawyer since 1855 and was active with the local Democratic Party, the Lackawanna Institute of History and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He died on Jan. 19, 1918 at the age of 87 years old. You can read his obituary here – https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68098877/
The Scranton Times – Jan. 22, 1916
Brian Fulton has been the librarian at The Times-Tribune for the past 15 years. On his blog, Historically Hip, he writes about the great concerts, plays/musicals and celebrity happenings that have taken place throughout NEPA. He is also the co-host of the local history podcast, Historically Hip. He competed and was crowned grand champion on an episode of NPR quiz show “Ask Me Another.” Contact: bfulton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9140; or @TTPagesPast
