The Jennings & Kintner Enterprise, Mehoopany

Recently, the cousins and I had a hot email debate was about a photograph that was recently posted on the website of the Wyoming Valley Historical Society. The undated photograph showed a two-story structure that sported a sign that read, "JENNINGS & KINTNER".

Through the efforts of some Ohio-area period clothes experts, a consensus was reached as to an approximate date, which is in the span immediately following the Civil War, specifically 1865-1870.

After my whirlwind Tunkhannock-Mehoopany tour last Wednesday, July 1, I feel I'm a lot closer to knowing what the photo is all about; so much closer, in fact, that I feel I can put this mystery to bed for a while. In other words, it's no longer quite the mystery.

While I was at the historical society, I was able to obtain a nice print of the photograph, although they could not provide the source of the photo, nor could they tell me anything about the building. But their map, which I'll tell you about later, helped a great deal to pinpoint the building's location.

My next stop that day was the Mehoopany Library, where I met with Ina Hunter, the librarian. In fact, when I walked through the door she said, "Are you here to do some family research?" She must have seen my licence plate! When I told her I was looking for information about the JENNINGS & KINTNER, she immediately showed me the book that would explain it all. In fact, she allowed me to check out a duplicate copy of the book! Talk about trust!

The book is "Wyoming County, 1842-1992, Compiled by the Sesquicentennial Committee and the Wyoming County Historical Society of Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, 1992". This book has an extensive history of Mehoopany Township, as well as surrounding towns. On page 65, you can find the JENNINGS & KINTNER photo with the following caption, possibly written by Dorothy Cavalier, the author of the Mehoopany Township chapter:

"Jennings and Kintner Store just south of the Little Arch Bridge Corner of Main Street and Bridge in North Mehoopany. Upstairs was a tailoring shop -- also a photography studio at one time. The canal boats came into the Little Mehoopany Creek and unloaded their wares at the store. The building was renovated and used as a garage and finally torn down."

So, where exactly was this? This takes us back to Tunkhannock. According to the historical society map of the county, the area around Jenningsville, Laceyville and Mehoopany were peppered with enterprises that were founded, owned, or operated by the Jennings families -- I say "families", because one must remember that there were many people named Jennings in the vicinity before William came to America.

So, look at the intersection of Main, Depot and Race Street in the map in this post. There you will find a building and the following description: "Store & P.O., Jennings & Kintner". That's it.

Of the identities of the people in the picture, not much can be proven. I have some thoughts, but I'll reserve them for another post.