main house is believed to be attached to the original home built in 1777, which is also two and a half stories high, with a log and frame structure. After William’s death, it was handed down through the family until 1939, when his descendant who lived there, Miss Helen Russell, died; the house was put on the market, leading sev- eral locals to worry that it might be demolished. Fortunately, it was purchased and put into the care of the newly-established Montour County Historical Society. Many residents, as well as members of the large Montgomery family, contributed historical items for dis- play in the house, and it has served as a museum and the society’s headquarters for nearly a century. It was added to the National Reg- ister of Historic Places in 1979. From April to October, visitors can walk into the Montgomery House Museum between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. every Sunday, although special tours can be arranged by appointment any day. You’ll find arrow- heads, musical instruments, and a plethora of historical documents, including letters written by Benjamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln. The Montgomery House is a historical treasure, inside and out. •
tutelage, and gained an excellent reputation with his neighbors - so much so that they renamed the settlement Danville in his honor. In 1813, Columbia County was formed from a portion of Northum- berland County, and Danville was named the county seat. This was all accomplished partially through the efforts of both William and Daniel, who was now also serving the commonwealth in elected positions. The creation of Montour County didn’t happen until many years later, but I’ll talk about that when I report on the county marker. William lived to the age of 79, and died in his beautiful home on May 1, 1816. He’s buried in the Old Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Danville. His sons and grandsons continued a family tradition of military service, and many of them - Daniel included - are also bur- ied in the various cemeteries in Danville. As for the house, it’s a real eye-catcher, and I can only imagine it was the envy of the neighborhood back when it was new. Two and a half stories high and made of stone, it features a pedimented ga- ble roof. A low wall of the same stone surrounds the property. The
Be sure to follow Laura’s journey & read her other fascinating stories behind the state’s recognizable historical blue markers!
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