Dick Riffle Part V

( Continuing down Morgan Creek Road)
Just before reaching the Town Hall("old"),on the right side lived another Civil War veteran,Ami Allen. He would shape the bank of the nearby creek with a shovel and keep the stream clean. When we boys would stop on the dirt road and start throwing rocks in the creek ,he would come roaring out of his house and yell at us,"You boys stop throwing stones in my creek!" He had lost an eye in the war and suffered a leg injury which made him limp the rest of his life. There was another Civil War Veteran next to the Lindley School. His name was Mr. French.
Next to the Town Hall, was a grocery store owned by my great uncle Tom Harrison. When the store closed,it was bought by a single lady who became known as the "Cat Lady". She had dozens of cats and when she died they found the remains of about 40 cats in the basement. The building later became a tavern, "The Green Shingle Inn". It burned in the 1930's,but was rebuilt.
(Note from Kitty) - This spring, the L/P Historical Society program- Growing Up in Lindley in the 1920's was given by Durland Weale-(a little younger than Mr.Riffle). Mr. Weale related more stories about Mr. Allen and his neighbors who lived on Morgan Creek Road. It,too, was an entertaining and informative program about the Morgan Creek area and it's residents during the 20's.
The present Green Shingle Inn is the rebuilt Tavern mentioned by Mr. Riffle.
I may have mentioned this before, but in 1953 when U.S. Rt 15 was moved west to today's location (instead of along the Tioga River-present Lindley Road),business was affected at the Shingles. Mike Jusick owner-approached Clarence Brant who owned land where the Shingle is now located. Clarence sold the lot to Mike and the Shingle was moved across the fields to the new Rt. 15 location. The only reminder of the old location of the "Inn is the large Douglas Fir at the south end of the "old" Town Hall on Lindley road.