Masten and Marsh Hill, two Lycoming County villages along the Susquehanna and New York Railroad, which were once flourishing towns with many lumbering and railroad activities, again have telephone facilities after being without the service for more than 20 years.

The annual report of the Ralston Telephone and Telegraph Company which was submitted recently shows that this company has rebuilt telephone lines through these two communities.

Masten, which has had an very interesting history is now the site of the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp No. 50. Besides the camp there are about 20 families living there. At one time it was a very prosperous settlement with a population of 1,000 people.

Masten is about 10 miles from Ralston and was formerly Hillsgrove Junction. Here junction was made with the narrow -gauge line of the Susquehanna and Eagle Mere Railroad. Large and extensive lumbering operations were carried on C.W. Sones of Eagle Mere and the mill and camp headquarters were located in Masten. The last of the steam engines were removed from Masten in the last several months.

Marsh Hill is a railroad settlement, being the junction of the Susquehanna and New York Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad. Its present population is about 50 persons.

The first dwelling in Marsh Hill to receive telephone service under this new system installed by the Ralston Telephone and Telegraph Company is that of I.R. Marshall, Susquehanna and New York Railroad passenger agent.