Gouldsboro and Jay Gould

Gouldsboro, Lehigh Township, Pennsylvania -  In the very southwestern tip of Wayne County is a town once known as  Sand Cut. During the 1840s and 1850s the Delaware, Lackawanna, and  Western Railroad built their line through the area and opened up a large  tract of virgin hemlock.The DL&W  constructed a train station which carried freight from Hoboken to  Buffalo, and ran passenger trains until 1950. In 1856, twenty-year-old Jay Gould, infamous  financier, built America's largest tannery here. This became the start  of his vast fortune and the town was renamed Gouldsboro. Jay Gould (born Jason Gould; May 27, 1836 – December 2, 1892) was  a very wealthy American businessman. He became famous for owning and  controlling many railroads. People often called him a "robber baron"  because of his aggressive business methods. He was one of the richest  people in the late 1800s. Gould was born in Roxbury, New York.  His parents were Mary More and John Burr Gould. His family had a  history of business. His great-grandfather, John More, was a Scottish  immigrant. He even founded the town of Moresville, New York. Jay Gould went to Hobart Academy in Hobart, New York.  He paid for his schooling by working as a bookkeeper. From a young age,  he knew he did not want to be a farmer like his father. So, his father  sent him to school with some money and clothes. Gould's school principal helped him get a job. He worked as a  bookkeeper for a blacksmith. After a year, the blacksmith offered him a  share of the business. Jay sold his share to his father in 1854. Gould then focused on learning more on his own. He studied surveying and mathematics. In 1854, he made maps of the Ulster County, New York area. Two years later, in 1856, he published a book. It was called History of Delaware County, and Border Wars of New York.  He had spent several years writing it. While surveying, he also helped  finance people who made woodash. This was used in tanning leather. In 1856, Gould partnered with Zadock Pratt. They started a tanning business in Pennsylvania. This area was later named Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania after him. Jay eventually bought out Pratt, who then retired. Later in 1856, Gould joined with Charles Mortimer Leupp. Leupp was a  major leather merchant in the U.S. Their business did well until a  financial crisis hit in 1857. Leupp lost all his money. However, Gould used this chance to buy properties at lower prices. Gould also started an ice business. He harvested ice from the large  Gouldsboro lake in winter. This ice was stored in big ice houses. He  built a railroad line next to the lake. This allowed him to send ice to  New York City in the summer. After Leupp died, the Gouldsboro Tannery became a problem. Leupp's  brother-in-law, David W. Lee, was also a partner. He took control of the  tannery by force. He thought Gould had cheated their families. Gould  eventually got the tannery back. But he was later forced to sell his  shares to Lee's brother. In 1859, Gould began investing in railroads. He started by buying  shares in small railway companies. His father-in-law, Daniel S. Miller,  helped him. Miller asked Gould to help save his investment in the  Rutland and Washington Railroad. Gould bought shares for a very low  price. This gave him control of the company. He continued to invest in railroad shares during the Civil War. In  1863, he became a manager for the Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad. Gould was a member of the West Presbyterian Church. He married Helen Day Miller in 1863. They had six children together. Jay Gould and his son George helped start the American Yacht Club. He owned a steam yacht called the Atalanta (1883). Gould passed away on December 2, 1892, from tuberculosis. He was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in New York. His  wealth was estimated at $72 million. He left all of it to his family. Before he died, Gould helped rebuild the Reformed Church of Roxbury, New York. It is now known as the Jay Gould Memorial Reformed Church.  The  Lackawanna County Rail Authority is the present owner of this station,  which in 1960 became part of the Erie Lackawanna and in 1970 part of the  Conrail System. The Gouldsboro Area Foundation began to restore the  very dilapidated building. The group of local citizens have replaced the  station's roof, replaced sections of the Dutch wooden siding, and some  of the vertical siding. They have, with the help of crews from the Wayne  County Prison, repainted the old station in historically accurate  colors, replaced over forty windows, and created replica gold lettered  signs. Every detail has been carefully researched. Poplar doors  identical to the original have been made and donated. Next on the  Foundation's agenda is the restoration of the interior. The  station waiting room is in quite good condition with its original  tongue and groove walls, and unusual concave ceiling moldings. They plan  to use the business office for historical exhibits and the freight room  for community gatherings. The Gouldsboro Area Foundation received a  2002 restoration award from the Wayne County Historical Society. The  Foundation is as an inspiration to local groups. They didn't just bemoan  the deterioration of this beautiful old train station; they rolled up  their sleeves and restored it. Historic Preservation Award given in 2002  to the Gouldsboro Area Foundation for restoration of the exterior of  this property.