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Collomsville is a small village located in Limestone Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania of the United States of America.

Collomsville, Limestone Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Village
Etymology: Collom from the Surname of an early settler, Seth Collom
Map of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania highlighting Limestone Township
Map of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Coordinates (41.147700,-77.145000): 41°08′51.7″N 77°08′42″W
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Lycoming
Time zone	UTC-4 (Eastern (EST))
ZIP Code	17702
Area code	570

Name and Origins

Lycoming County was founded in 1795 from a portion of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Lycoming County was originally named Jefferson County in honor of Thomas Jefferson, but after some expressed discontent with the name, it was agreed upon to be named Lycoming after the Lycoming Creek; which was the subject of a pre-Revolutionary border dispute. Then name Lycoming is a corruption of the Native American term “Legaui-hanne”, which means “sandy stream”.

There are two main explanations as to the origin of the name for the Nippenose Valley. The first explanation is that it is a corruption of the Indian phrase, "Nippe-no-wi," signifying a warm, genial, summer like place. The other explanation is that an old Indian hunter who lingered long in the valley had his nose nipped by the frost, and the early settlers called him "Nippenose," as a result of his misfortune.

Limestone Township was founded by a Court Decree as Adams Township on December 4th, 1824. Adams Township was named in honor of John Adams and was formed from portions of Nippenose Township and Wayne Township. After discontent was expressed over the name, Adams Township was appropriately renamed Limestone Township on April 14th, 1835.

Collomsville is designated as a village of Limestone Township, situated in the beautiful Nippenose Valley of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Collomsville took its name from an early settler named Seth Collom. Seth Collom was a Scottish Presbyterian believed to have arrived in the Collomsville area in the 1830s. Seth Collom assisted in establishing the Sunday School offered in the Collomsville Church. A newspaper article written May 19th, 1875 in the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, stated that Seth Collom moved to the area and attempted to establish a silk factory, which was unsuccessful.

Mill

The Saw and Grist Mill is located on the stream that runs along Mill Road near Buffington Road. The Collomsville Grist Mill was built by Henry Clinger in 1851, and by the mid-1850s it was run Elijah Williamson. When Williamson died in 1866, the mill was passed to his son Alexander. Around 1885, it was passed to Henry Dougherty and then to John Engler. After Engler died in 1901, it was eventually passed to his sons George Engler and Joseph Engler in 1905. Peter and Elizabeth Miller bought the mill in 1925. The mill was passed to Fred Miller in 1943.

Hotel and Post Office

The Post Office used by the residence of Collomsville went back and forth a number of times between the locations of Collomsville and the neighboring village of Oval. A post office was established on the ground floor of the Collomsville Hotel. The appointments of Postmasters were as follows:

December 20th, 1841 – Jesse Bower

June 1st, 1854 – Henry Clark

February 19th, 1855 – Returned to Oval

June 18th, 1855 – George Eonte

December 7th, 1876 – David A. Clark

December 6th, 1883 – Hugh Denworth

November 10th, 1886 – Returned to Oval

Currently the addresses of Collomsville belong to the Williamsport Zip Code of 17702.

Newspaper

During the late 1800s, Collomsville had a newspaper called “The Daily Ledger,” which was established by H.J. Moore on August 8th, 1890.

Church

About 1835, Mr. Adam Epler and Mr. Henry Klinger purchased a corner of woodland, which now includes the old cemetery at Collomsville, for a total $5. The purchase was made from Mrs. Elizabeth Smith with the agreement that it was to be used for a burial ground, and the erection of a building for church and school purposes. Mrs. Smith also stipulated that no night meetings were to be held and that it must be for the exclusive use of the Lutheran, Reformed, and Presbyterian denominations. Prior to that time the people living in Collomsville buried their dead on a small piece of ground owned by, Samuel Buffington.

An Irish Presbyterian lady by the name of Simpson was the first to be interred in the Collomsville Cemetery. Soon after the purchase of the lot, the people agreed to build a church. The work was mostly done without voluntarily by small parties at different times. The building was constructed of logs, was nearly square, and "chunked and daubed;" it had slab benches, a ten-plate wood stove, and a small stand boarded up for a pulpit. Fourteen feet were later added for the increasing congregation. The building had such an odd appearance that it was called the "bark house." Here Revs. Schultze, Grier, Weighand, Barnitz, and Evans held services. Thus, the Lutherans and Reformed co-operated in the eastern end of the valley.

Soon after the first church was built Seth Collom organized a Sunday school, which was held in the old church. Collom wrote a constitution for its government and was its first superintendent, assisted by Jesse Bower. Rev. Gustavus Schultze was the first Lutheran minister in the valley. In 1838 the members and friends raised by subscription $39. 70 to be paid him as his salary, but his receipts show that he only got $29. 70.

Rev. Gustavus Schultze was of German birth and education and preached in the German language. In his earlier years he is said to have served as a soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte. For forty years Rev. Schultze was the only Lutheran minister in the Nippenose Valley. Rev. Gustavus Schultze was born June 30th, 1779 and came to the United States in 1816. Rev. Schultze died at Ball's Mills, PA on January 9th, 1874 at the age of 94.

The second regular Lutheran pastor was the Rev. F. A. Barnitz. Pastor Barnitz preached in English. Rev. Barnitz was followed in the summer of 1847 by Rev. Thomas M. Flint for a few months. After Rev. Flint, the following served the Church:

Rev. J. Evans.

Rev. Samuel Yingling for two years.

Rev. J. T. Fahs.

Rev. P. Bergstresser.

Rev. E. Studebaker began work 1858.

Rev. W. H. Heisler from Jan. 1, 1862 through September 1, 1866.

Rev. H. B. Winton from Dec 1866 until his resignation in February, 1868. Rev. Winton was the last to serve the valley churches in connection with the Jersey Shore Synod. After Rev. Winton’s resignation, the two churches of the valley formed a charge by themselves.

Rev. D. Beckner served ten months.

Rev. G. S. Battersby from 1872 through 1875.

Rev. J. A. Flickinger frpm April 1, 1878 through July 1881.

Rev. R. H. Fletcher, supply.

Rev. J. G. Griffith 1882.

Rev. T. J. Frederick from 1884 through 1888.

Rev. I. H. McGann from 1888 through 1892.

Rev. L. N. Fleck from 1892 through 1894.

Rev. W. A. Trostle from 1899 through 1907.

Rev. T. B. Uber from 1909 through 1911.

Rev. F. H. Schrader from 1911 through 1913.

Roy J. Meyer on Dec. 25th, 1916 until unknown.

The Cornerstone of the St. Peter's Church was laid during the year 1852. On Oct. 11, 1914 St. Peter's Collomsville, after extensive repairs and improvements, was re-dedicated by Rev. Frank P. Manhart, President of the Synod. Student A. W. Smith, of Susquehanna, supplied the charge during the summer of 1916.

School

Located across from the Lutheran Church, the former brick school was converted into a private residence. The school building was built in 1905 and had more than one room. The school closed in 1943. There were, however, two frame schools that originally stood next to the brick building and that were constructed in the one-room tradition. The first of these frame buildings was also referred to as the Collomsville School, but the population grew too large for a one room school and an additional frame structure was built beside the original building to serve the growing student population. In 1905, the school directors contracted Mr. Adam Eck to construct the brick building for $3,500.

The one frame building was torn down to make room for the new brick structure, and for many years the other frame building and the new brick school stood side by side. While the brick Collomsville school was holding classes, the old frame building to its right was being used as a voting place and gathering place for making rag carpets on a loom. The frame school also had to be reopened after the Oval school burned to serve as an instructional building for the older grades. In 1944, Mr. Lewis Ream bought the wood frame building and tore it down for its lumber.

From 1978 to 2013, the youth of Collomsville attended the Nippenose Elementary School, which was located at 7190 S State Rte 44, Williamsport, PA 17702. Nippenose Elementary was a part of the Jersey Shore Area School District. The school was converted into a home for the elderly in 2016. Since Nippenose Elementary was closed in 2013, due low enrollment, the youth of Collomsville began to attend Jersey Shore Elementary School.

Roads

The main road that runs through Collomsville is Pennsylvania State Route 44. Prior to being designated as State Route 44, it was designated as State Route 54 sometime after 1930. Prior to being designated as State Route 44 it was designated Route 176. However, prior to ever being used by Colonial settlers, the road was once known as part of the “Great Island Path”. The Great Island Path was a Native American Trail that went from present day Sunbury, Pennsylvania to the Great Island near present day Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.

Roads that branch off of Route 44 in Collomsville are Mill Road, Wells Road, Martha Lane, and Nubby Lane. Mill Road connects with Buffington Road. Mill Road is clearly named as such, because of the mill. Wells Road and Buffington Road were both named after the farms that were owned by those families.

Current Businesses

Steinbacher Enterprises is located at 8130 S State Rte 44, Williamsport, PA 17702

Dewalt Greenhouse is located at 8234 S State Rte 44, Williamsport, PA 17702

Valley Image Hair Salon is located at 8291 S State Rte 44, Williamsport, PA 17702