THRIVING CITY: Johnsonburg native Megan Schreiber-Carter shared an article about the borough that appeared in the New York Times on May 4, 1892.

That’s 126 years ago.

Megan told her that Sam McDonald, president of the Elk County Catholic School System, discovered the article — “A Thriving Young City: Why Johnsonburg, Penn., Is Prosperous” — and showed her.

It begins, “It is always interesting to know how great cities grow from small ones by the various processes of aggregation and development.

People don’t always know why cities grow, and some town built with “Western ambitions” are “born to decay,” according to the author.

“Some towns are born prematurely, others flourish to magnificent proportions. These thoughts are suggested by the sight which confronts one who stands on one of the seven hills surrounding Johnsonburg, a city of Elk County, Pennsylvania, that has recently been created under very singular conditions.”

According to the writer, Johnsonburg had about 50 inhabitants two years prior; by the time of the article, it had grown to 3,500.

“Two years ago the banks of the Clarion River, a swift stream of remarkably pure water flowing through the town, were covered at this point with an almost unbroken underbrush. To-day these banks are covered with paper mills, brick works, tanneries, and lumber mills, interlaced with five lines of railroad, all giving employment to a small army of workmen, and all contributing to the general air of thrift and property that as if by magic has suddenly pervaded the neighborhood. Giant stacks, engines, furnaces, and locomotives are to be seen and heard in all directions, and on the sides of the surrounding hills the hammer and saw of the carpenter testify to the rapid creation of hundreds of homes.”

The writer provides several reasons why Johnsonburg was special.

“The reasons why this town is destined to make a great name and fame for itself are apparent to the most superficial observer. To begin with, it is situation in the heart of the largest of the natural gas fields.”

The close supply of gas made it inexpensive to live there.

“The saving thus afforded is not confined to the manufacturers. Families can live there, and do live there, cheaper by $100 a year than they can live elsewhere.”

Coal and wood were both abundant, too, the writer stated.

“This remarkable abundance of fuel is one of the most striking of the advantages emanating from Johnsonburg’s natural surroundings.”

We’ll have more about Johnsonburg’s advantages later.