Anonymous wrote:

To find out what was at 425 S. Washington Ave. in Scranton, I took a look at the 1900 census.

South Washington Ave. is in Ward 17, 1st District (Enumeration District 0169). It's on pages 34-35 of 47 pages for that district. I looked it up on Ancestry, but census records should be available elsewhere too, such as on FamilySearch.

The records show 425 S. Washington as a place where several immigrant families lived, and quite a few boarders. The surrounding addresses are similar. Many of the occupations listed are "laborer, railroad."

There were at least two Rusyn-owned "hotels" on that block circa 1910: George Munchak's at 422, and George Sepelyak's at 418. Both served as witnesses for the naturalization of at least a few Rusyn immigrants who lived on the same block or in the neighborhood.

Both men listed their occupation as "hotelkeeper," but whether that was a boarding house or more of a small "hotel", who knows...

Around the same time another witness was "Nik Blasko" at 421 S. Washington, listed as "hostler" (is that like hostel owner?).

The same thing happened on Drinker Street in Dunmore.    I was fishing around for Rusyns in Endicott, NY and saw a lot of Rusyns going to 3(I think that's the number) Hill St.   As best as I can figure, this was a boarding house.   When I dug through the census, these folks for the most part were tanners, who worked on the leather at Endicott Johnson company, the shoe manufacturer.   Given that today 3 hill is in the middle of an industrial complex, right by the river, my hunch is that this was, in the day, very close to the factory where they worked.

So I looked up some old fire insurance maps (they are online) from the period, and sure enough, there had been a number of what appear to be houses at this location, and a big factory nearby.   Today it's all different.

Take a look at the city directories for that period and that house.   It usually gives the resident's occupation.  It's not as good as a census which strives to make sure everyone is accounted for, but it's been a good shot for me.

Which reminds  me, I have to go back and look more completely at Corning, NY.   My grandfather worked there for a few years along with his village-mates from Zboj.   They all went back to Europe after a few years, so finding them in a census is hit or miss.

Also, don't forget to look at ancestry.com.   They seem to have filmed a lot of military records up to and including WW2.  Many public libraries today have a subscription to Ancestry, and thanks to coronavirus, have made them accessible to library patrons online.   It used to be you had to go into the library to read it.)  Same applies to consumer's digest, if you're interested.

So Sharon, find some old maps and see what was on Washington Ave. at the time.   The city directories also list this too.    The directory is probably "Scranton" is my guess.

Good Luck!

Bill

Anonymous wrote:

My paternal grandfather immigrated first to Scranton then settled in Dunmore. I have a fascination with all things roots related but what really puzzles me with pouring over passenger lists is so many Rusyns putting as final destination 425 S. Washington Ave., Scranton. I even drove there and there is nothing there. I believe it was the flat lands and maybe flooded at some point. I know St, John's Byzantine Catholic church stands overlooking  it. 

 What was there and why so many Rusyns from all these different ships and different years  listed this as there final destination?        Any ideas on this?

Bill Tarkulich ,

Thank you for creating a new post.

Ray,

  Have you seen the passenger list that Ann was on?  What relationship is she to the others?  A relationship might be found there. Also, could follow up on where she resided here in US on census. I have to check to see about paperwork by city leaving.   Bill Tarkulich site is very helpful with all kinds of hints. 

Sharon

Sharon, I do not know if the information you provided on  Topolyancin, Kascan will bear any fruit but the surnames are  very promising. The dates would make my grandparents too young but who knows what pays off when following genealogical leads. Thank you so much.