#10 - Scotty's Blouse Factory Site
Unfortunately, we cannot see the building that formerly housed Scotty's Blouse Factory. Take a look at the map and you will see the location which is blocked today by other buildings & trees. The site is to the left of the One-Lane Bridge which is on your right.
Even without seeing the building, there is a huge history to view.
On March 25th, 1911, a fire broke out in New York City at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. 145 victims were claimed - mostly teenage girls working under horrific conditions on the top three floors of the Asch Building on the corner of Greene Street & Washington Place.
The girls worked 12-hour days and the manager locked the fire escape exits to prevent the girls from taking breaks outside on the fire escape. The girls were all immigrants, most not speaking English. Those who did not die from the smoke or the fire, died from leaping out of the windows - 58 girls died that way.
There were 600 workers there that day, earning $15 a week. On this day, only one of the 4 elevators was working and it could only carry 11 passengers at a time.
The response from the public was an outcry that forced new rules governing the garment industry in New York City. And the response of the greedy owners was to create what were called "runaway" factories. They took their sewing machines and set up factories in rural areas - free from legal regulations.
The Poconos was a prime area and three of these factories were established in Kunkletown. I will continue the story of these runaway or blouse factories when we arrive at the next one a little later from now.
Take a look at the photos of the women that worked at Scotty's Fashions in 1957.
In a little while, when we begin driving again, you will pass over a One-Lane Bridge - under it is Princess Run - a small stream (not always so small, in wet weather it can be very vibrant). You will be treated to a nice view of the "run" on your left as you go north on Fiddletown Road.
Princess Run comes from the northeast and eventually joins the Buckwha Creek near Kunkletown Road. Here in Eldred, in 1762 Abraham Smith erected a grist mill along Princess Run (although it may have been called Prince's Run back then). The ruins of the site may actually be behind us - across the road from the Historic Stone House.
Now, without moving from our Mock Grove bench let's "move" onto the Kleintop One-Room School & the One-Lane Bridge.