Frenchtown is a part of Decatur Township that borders on the western end of Osceola Mills Borough. It is called Frenchtown because an early French immigrant family, named Coudriet, settled there in the immediate years after the Civil War.
Frenchtown today, is primarily a residential community, but it does not have the population that it once did. Families were often larger, then, and many men were employed at the nearby Osceola Silica Fire Brick Company, which closed in 1974.
The brickyard, as it was locally known, was within walking distance for many of its workers who lived in Osceola Mills and Frenchtown.
Brick manufacturing eventually became more and more automated and the demand for high-quality fire bricks decreased over the years, especially after the decline of the U.S. steel industry.
Both native born and immigrant families settled in Frenchtown. Elementary schools were built as was the still active Nativity of the Theotokos (Mother of God) Orthodox Church. Small businesses came and went.
The Slovak Club was a social establishment that survives to this day. The Tee was a popular and roomy bar and dance hall that was famous for providing big band music. Guy Lombardo’s band played there.
John Burns was and early Frenchtown businessman, who operated the Decatur House, known also as the Burns Hotel and Livery Stable.
Travelers, who wanted a decent meal, some washing facilities and a clean room, could be fed there and put up for the night. And of course, the bar was open.
Brickyard workers did not have much spare cash, but to stop for a cold beer after a day’s work near the hot kilns would have been a relief. Like any bar owner of the time, Burns would have to keep order in his establishment.
Burns and his family would have been continually busy. They also ran a livery stable to house and had to care for the large bred horses that hauled coal ash to the brickyard’s waste heap.
The c. 1910 photo shows the Burns family, likely dressed in their Sunday best, posing on the porch of their neatly kept hotel. The looked to be proud of their success.
The 1911 advertisement card for the Decatur House is indeed unique. If anything, it looked to be honest! Maybe it really did increase liquor and cigar sales.