Silver Lake – The box social and dance that was held recently in the Brackney Hall by the ladies of Silver Lake and vicinity, for the benefit of the Red Cross Society, was a financial and social success. The evening began with a short entertainment by some of the young people of Brackney, and then dancing followed. Eighty-two boxes were sold, everything being donated for the evening, and the ladies ended up with $169 in the treasury for Red Cross work.

Fairdale – We had our “Flag raising day.” Mr. W. Harvey donated a pole and early Friday afternoon several men gathered at the schoolhouse and raised the pole. After this, a short patriotic program was rendered. Former teachers, Mary Hickok, of Binghamton; Pansey Babcock, of Montrose; M. S. Cronk, of Towanda; and D. W. Ainey, of Payette, Idaho, read messages of greeting. Our esteemed citizen, E. W. Bolles, wrote a short history of this school, which was read. He was the teacher during part of the Civil war. Miss Clara Winans, assistant county superintendent of schools, and Rev. C. E. Cook, of Fairdale, each gave short addresses.

South Ararat – No mail since Thursday owing to the terrible snow and windstorm which struck this and adjoining towns. This is the second hard storm we have had within two weeks, doing much damage.

Springville – M. L. Scott reported that there seemed to be about four inches heavier fall of snow in Montrose than in Springville.  It is reported that ice on Norris pond, in Dimock, is eleven inches thick. ALSO There was almost a coal famine scare here last week, but Brown & Fassett, fortunately, received a car of coal, which was disposed of in short order.

Dimock – Owing to the scarcity of wood at the M. E. church, prayer meetings are being held at the neighbors’ homes. ALSO A carload of coal came to the depot on Saturday, which was soon drawn away by the farmers in the pelting snowstorm, as most of them were entirely out of fuel. ALSO We cannot fail to mention our good graded school and teachers, four in number, with a large attendance of pupils from this place and adjoining neighborhoods, which are drawn here by kid wagons.

Harford – Music of sleigh bells reminds us that winter is with us again, and the mercury also tells us that we need our furs.  Sixteen below zero is cold enough, isn’t it? ALSO Calvin Chamberlin is very ill.  We hope to hear of his recovery soon. The neighbors made a wood bee for him Saturday and a large wood pile is reported.

Great Bend – Mrs. A. W. DuBois sailed Saturday from New York for South America to join her husband, who is now located at Uruguay. The trip will require twenty-three days by boat. Their two little daughters will remain with their grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. A. F. Merrell.

Franklin Forks – Ralph Lamson was terribly injured while felling trees.  He was caught between a falling tree and another stump and the abdomen punctured. Dr. Preston was called and yesterday morning he was removed to the City Hospital, in Binghamton. It was reported last night that he would recover.

Lackawanna Trail Project – About 100 representative citizens of Scranton, Binghamton, New Milford, Montrose and other nearby towns were present at meeting held in Hotel Carpenter, New Milford on Wednesday evening. The project contemplates the State highway department taking over the former Lackawanna railroad right of way, abandoned since the cut-off went into operation, and convert it into a permanent road. It would form a connecting link between Binghamton and Scranton, which is a route much travelled by those in long distance journeys, being an almost direct “coast to coast” route. The men present felt that this plan was feasible.

Christmas Celebrations: The Presbyterian church choir will render the customary musical program at a vesper service to be given next Sunday afternoon, Dec. 23, in Montrose; St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will celebrate Sunday evening, Dec. 23 at 7 p.m. when the choir will render its annual recital of old-time carols. A special Christmas service will be given at the Universalist church at Kingsley, Sunday afternoon at 2:30, and the Harford Congregational Church will hold its Christmas services Sunday morning and evening. The Christmas season will be celebrated in the Universalist church, Hopbottom, on Sunday morning by music, devotion and sermon, and on Monday evening by much music, speaking, reading, a Christmas tree and Santa Claus.

Susquehanna – The library at this place is soon to attempt to be a “free” institution.  To that end, 400 are to be asked to contribute $1 each, thus making them voting members and giving privileges in regard to the loaning of books from the library.  A change certainly seems advisable, but nothing can be done without financial aid.

Elk Lake – The death of Miss Juliet Lathrop, a sister of C. E. Lathrop, occurred at the home of her nephew, C. S. Lathrop, on Sunday morning. Miss Lathrop has been an invalid since her girlhood. For a number of years she was confined to her bed. She has been willingly and faithfully cared for by her brother and family.

Forest City – Joseph Slick went to Scranton to enlist but was rejected. Not to be prevented from serving Uncle Sam he went to the naval recruiting office and was accepted. ALSO An interesting game of basket ball was played Friday evening between the girls’ team of the Forest City high school and the girls’ team of the Carbondale high school. The score stood 8 to 8. ALSO At Lyden’s Plaza Theatre, on Christmas day, a reproduction of Winston Churchill’s great novel, “The Crisis,” will be given.

News Brief: The city of Wilkes-Barre is quite unique in that it is the birth place of one of the first schools for teaching the building of aeroplanes in America. This school is known as the Penna. State School of Aero-Mechanics and graduated its first class of young men on Dec. 10. Among the instructors of the school is Sergt. Wm. F. Frey, former member of the famous Lafayette Escadrille, who was injured on the fighting front. The school is for training both men and women for service in the many aeroplane factories. ALSO Dummy Horse: History’s ancient example of camouflage, the Trojan horse, has a modern variation of peculiar interest, says the January Popular Mechanics Magazine. During the fighting near Craonne, on the western front, a horse broke his traces and dashed across “No Man’s Land” toward the German defenses. When near the edge of a first-line trench he fell.  The French immediately made the bet of the opportunity and set camouflage artists at work fashioning a paper-mache replica of the dead animal.  Under cover of darkness the carcass was replaced with the dummy.  For three days observers stationed in the latter were able to watch the enemy’s movements at close range and telephone their information to headquarters.

200 Years Ago from the Centinel, Montrose, Pa., December 20, 1817.

*Clifford and Wilkesbarre Turnpike. The Stockholders of the Clifford & Wilkesbarre Turnpike Road are requested to meet at the Court House in the Borough of Wilkesbarre, Luzerne county, on the first Monday of January next, to elect One President, One Treasurer, and Twelve Managers for said Company for the ensuing year.  Benjamin Perry, Secretary. Wilkesbarre, Nov. 14, 1817.

*A Gentleman competent to teach the genteel and accomplished recreation of Dancing, will hear of a situation much to his advantage by addressing a letter to A.J. and direct it to this office.  Montrose, Dec. 13, 1817.