USA > Pennsylvania > Armstrong County > Armstrong County, Pennsylvania her people past and present, embracing a history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I > Part 24
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An opera house was built by a joint stock company on Market street in 1874. It was a frame structure, 49×60 feet, and cost $6,000. The interior was not very commodious and the acoustics were poor.
Wick's Theatre, constructed in 1913. is the first substantial building for strictly amuse- ment purposes ever erected in Kittanning, and will stand for years to come as a sub- stantial and artistic monument to the enter- prise of John Wick, Jr. It is of concrete and steel and is strictly fire-proof, in addition, having eighteen exits, by which it can be emptied of an audience in a few minutes. Steam heat, electric lights, sanitary walls, soft carpets, comfortable seats and harmoni- ous decorations make it the ideal of what a theatre should be. In addition the audience can see every part of the stage and the acoustics are perfect.
One of the remarkable features with the erection of this mammoth building was the knowledge displayed by Mr. Wick, who started to build this modern playhouse on May 22d, without any plans or contractor. He gave it his own supervision, looked after every minor detail and completed it in record build- ing time. For the last month he had from forty-five to fifty people working night and day. The wages were the highest ever paid on any building constructed in Armstrong county. The laborers received $2.25 per day
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of nine hours ; the carpenters, $3.50 to $3.75; the plasterers, $4.00 to $4.50; electricians, $4.00 10 $4.50.
Duri ig the progress of the work Mr. Wick had many volunteer advisers as to the de- tails of construction and he often adopted their suggestions, where practicable, taking the comments with perfect good nature. When the last touches were made to the out- side he had his name and date of erection affixed across the front of the top. By a carelessness on the part of the concrete work- man, the figures and the name were formed in a ludicrous way. Wick permitted the ar- rangement to remain for several days in or- der to give his volunteer assistants something to talk about, and then had the arrangement of the letters made more artistic.
Plans for the enlargement of the court- house are being worked out by the county commissioners, and will be put into effect as soon as the newly elected judge, J. W. King, takes his seat in January, 1914.
POSTAL FACILITIES
The earliest records of the post office here are missing, but it is known that the first post- master was Joseph Miller, appointed in 1807. He kept a store on the corner of Arch and Water streets. His immediate successor was David Lawson, in 1810.
At that date there was a weekly mail, car- ried by horseback from Greensburg, via Free- port. Still later the famous Josiah Copley, while learning the printing trade, carried the mail from Indiana, by way of Woodward's Mill, to Kittanning. When he arrived at the hill on the edge of town he sounded his horn, thus informing the residents of his coming, so that by the time of his arrival at the post office quite a crowd was gathered to witness the opening of the mail.
In the years that have intervened between that time and the present, many improvements have been introduced into the mail service, among them being the rural and the parcel post. A wonderful advance in the handling of the mails has been made and a large force of clerks is needed to receive and distribute it now. In these modern times the work of the Kittanning post office is conducted by the following gentlemen, who are universally popular with their townspeople and the travel- ing public for their courtesy and efficient work : S. F. Booher, postmaster ; J. M. Baker, assistant ; Gordon B. Baum, James H. Stivan- son, W. H. Reichert, G. R. Crawford and An-
drew Shawl, clerks; C. Dargue, H. Walters, A. Cook, F. S. Geiger, William Leeger, car- riers ; A. Say, parcel post carrier.
TELEPHONE COMPANIES
The Kittanning Telephone Company is a local company, connecting with the many in- dependent lines throughout the country. The service is excellent, the instruments are mod- ern and the plant is well kept up. The of- ficials of the company are : C. J. Jessop, presi- dent; E. S. Hutchison, vice president; K. B. Schotte, secretary, treasurer and manager, F. C. Monks, R. M. Trollinger, Charles Truby, Charles E. Meals, Charles Neubert, directors.
The Pittsburgh & Allegheny Telephone Company, one of the competitors of the Bell system, has an exchange here, connecting with its long distance lines in the various cities and towns of the State.
LIGHTING AND WATER SUPPLY
The Kittanning Gas Company was incor- porated in 1858, with a capital stock of $20,- 000, but did not carry out the requirements of its charter. By the act of 1859 the Arm- strong Gas Company started in to erect a plant with a capital of $50,000, but was prevented from completing the works and sold out by the sheriff in 1862. The Kittanning Gas Com- pany was reincorporated in 1868 and began business in 1872, supplying the citizens and the borough. The plant cost $31,000 and was located on McKean street, between Jacob and Mulberry.
The introduction of natural gas in 1878 caused the company to close their works, as they could not compete with the new fuel, and their plant was old and the mains were sim- ply logs, hollowed out for the purpose and useless for the installation of the new sys- tem. Another item to reckon with was the rapid introduction of electricity for lighting purposes, and the old company did not have enterprise enough to enter the field of electric- ity themselves.
J. G. Henry, George H. Fox and A. H. Stitt were the pioneers in the natural gas in- dustry in that section, having drilled the first well at Cowanshannock in 1875.
There are seven companies in this county at present, one of which, the American Natural Gas Company, supplies Kittanning with light and heat to some extent, having most of the mains in operation into private homes and factories.
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
The Armstrong Electric Company came into being soon after the development of nat- ural gas in the county. Until the consolida- tion of the Kittanning Electric Light Com- pany and the West Penn Electric Company this company operated its own plant, supply- ing light and power to the town and surround- ing territory. All of the companies are now consolidated, the power coming from Con- nellsville. In the latter part of 1913 the Public Service Commission of the State has compelled an adjustment of rates in this sec- tion, thus increasing the prices in many in- stances to consumers.
A charter was granted the Kittanning Wa- ter Company in 1866, and in 1872 it com- menced to supply the town with water from the Allegheny. In 1886 the company was reorganized under the name of Armstrong Water Company, to whom a charter was granted giving exclusive rights in the town. But in the following year this charter was revoked by the State and a new one granted, which did not contain the objectionable mo- nopolistic clause. The plant of the company has been gradually increased in size since the time of commencing operations and is at pres- ent ample to supply the borough. Two res- ervoirs, an old and a new one, are located near the town of Wickboro, just above the line of Kittanning. The only trouble the company has to contend with is the difficulty of obtaining a pure supply of water in the dry seasons when the Allegheny is low. Great expense would be incurred in damming the Cowanshannock, and there is always danger of contamination by the mines and mills of this vicinity. The problem will, however, be worked out in the coming years.
FIRE PROTECTION
Kittanning's first fire company was formed at a meeting held in the courthouse in 1826, and the following year the borough purchased a hand fire engine for $76.65, also erected a frame house for it at a cost of $60, on the east side of Jefferson, below Market street. Buckets were supplied by the citizens and the borough. Two hooks and two ladders were also procured. Such were the means pro- vided for the extinguishing of fires until the burning of L. C. Pinney's carriage factory in 1854.
After that event the citizens petitioned for better protection and a special tax was levied and a hand fire engine purchased for $2,500. It was better than the old one, but hardly good enough for the rapidly growing borough.
This was the only means of extinguishing fires until 1871, when the borough entered into a contract with the Kittanning Water Com- pany to put in twenty-three fire plugs for $2,783. The company also contracted to sup- ply the town with water for fire extinguishing for the annual sum of $500.
After that date the town depended upon volunteers to extinguish all fires, as the company had disbanded. In 1875, when Fire Company No. I was organized, the borough bought the old First Presbyterian church for headquarters. The fire company com- pletely renovated the interior and fitted it up for social purposes. The interior is hand- somely decorated, and contains a dance hall, parlors, engine house and pool tables on the ground floor. The borough has only borne the cost of outside repairs, pays the company $5 for each fire that requires the use of the hose, rebates the tax on members for occu- pations and defrays a part of the lighting bills. The company has recently bought a $4,000 Lange auto-truck from a Pittsburgh firm, for which the borough donated $1,000. The truck is a very large one, is fitted with ladders and hose and two chemical tanks of 70 gallons capacity. Its speed is such that but a few minutes are required to arrive at fires in the remotest part of the town.
The members of No. I are as follows: P. J. Hoey, president : Burt Milson, vice presi- dent ; Fred Lindeman, treasurer ; E. H. Mc- Ilwain, recording secretary ; William F. George, financial secretary; M. B. Oswald, Lon. O'Donnell, David McMasters, trustees ; Madison Dosch, chief ; Ray Dosch and M. C. Linnon, assistants ; L. L. Thompson, foreman hook and ladder truck; members, Fred. E. Blaney, William Blaney, William Bowser, Frank Keener, Earl Dosch, Harry Daugherty, J. E. Bush, Walter Bush, A. W. Dosch, Wil- liam Leeger, Wiley Thompson, Joseph Rush, Clarence Davis, Harry Blaney, John Schlos- ser. Thomas Gough, Jr., Miles Mobley.
Fire Company No. 2 is located in the city hall building, where there are rooms for games and recreation. It has the old style hand hose reel cart, but expects to purchase a better equipment soon.
Fire Company No. 3 is located in a home of its own on North Jefferson street, where all the conveniences of a first-class club are provided for members. They have an auto truck and hose reel, somewhat smaller than that of No. I, but of the latest pattern. The cost was $3,000, most of which was defrayed by the members. This company also gives
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
entertainments and dances in its hall, but it was issued as the Gasette and Columbian the dances are sometimes more exclusive than those of No. I, although at one time they were well advertised in the papers of the whole country through the stag dinner and dance that was held in their hall at that time. The present members of No. 3 are: John Borger, president ; C. K. Stivanson and A. F. Cook, chiefs; Gordon Baum, J. H. Stivanson, Hoyt Truitt, Herman Heidersdorf, H. T. Crissman, Ray Smith, M. Todd, John Stivanson, D. E. Stivanson, H. J. Walter, Charles Witmer, L. B. Mohoney, Harry Streiber, Fred Weaver.
The Gamewell system is used for sounding alarms. The borough is divided into districts, each telephone bearing the number of the dis- trict in which it is located. When a fire oc- curs the nearest telephone is used to notify the operator of the district and the exact house. The operator plugs in the number on the switchboard and the alarm bell is auto- matically rung until the plug is removed. Scarcely three minutes elapse ere the trucks are at the spot,, and by the time of their ar- rival the water pressure on that line has been increased to the emergency load. The pres- sure is ample to send a stream to the top of any of the buildings in town. All the towns- people work in harmony with the fire compa- nies and so far no difficulty has been experi- enced in coping with the most threatening conflagration.
All of the three companies have a joint re- lief fund for sickness and accident, and the State relief fund averages $500 per year, be- ing used as a nucleus by them.
NEWSPAPERS OF KITTANNING
The first newspaper in Kittanning was the Western Eagle, established by Capt. James Alexander in 1810. It was discontinued while the proprietor was in the War of 1812, but re- vived for a short time after his return in 1814. The office in which it was published was lo- cated in a log building on the north side of Market street near the public alley, which was afterward destroyed by fire while occupied by the late Nathaniel Henry.
The Columbian and Farmers' and Mechan- ics' Advertiser was started in 1819 by the Rohrer brothers, Frederick and George. It was merged with the Gasette in 1831.
The Kittanning Gasette was established in 1825 by Josiah Copley and John Croll, and published under the name of Copley, Croll & Co. until 1829, when Copley withdrew. After merging with the Columbian in 1831
by Simon Torney and John Croll, until 1832, when Croll withdrew and Copley resumed the editorship, publishing it for the estate of Torney, who had died the year previous. He dropped the Columbian part of the name, and in 1838 the paper passed into the hands of Benjamin Oswald, who changed the name to Democratic Press in 1841 and later into Kit- tanning Free Press, which name it retained until 1864. The plant was then purchased from Oswald's widow by a company, who changed the name to Union Free Press. Marshall B. Oswald succeeded the association as publisher, in 1876 selling an interest to James B. Neale, who after his election to the bench transferred his half to G. S. Crosby, in 1881. After Crosby's death A. D. Glenn purchased his interest. Mr. Glenn was at the time superintendent of the county schools, and was later appointed to a position in the Department of Public Instruction at Harris- burg. He sold his interest to Judge Buffing- ton, Orr Buffington and R. T. Knox of Pitts- burgh, who conducted the paper under the firm name of Oswald, Knox & Buffington. The Buffingtons and Knox later withdrew and M. B. Oswald bought all of their shares, changed the name of the paper to Kittanning Free Press and published it until his death in 1900. His son, M. B. Oswald, then as- sumed control, and after his mother's death became part owner. His nephew, W. W. Os- wald, now has an interest in the plant. This is the oldest paper in the county and the build- ing is constructed especially for printing pur- poses. It is a typical old time printing of- fice, with the homelike air of those famous schools of printing and journalism. One of the oldest printing presses in the United States is still in a good state of repair in the office, and is occasionally used for small work. It was the second of the makes of press used after the old wooden Franklin press, and is a relic of historical value. Joseph G. Stiva- son is another member of the working force.
The late Judge Joseph Buffington, in 1830, began the publication of the Armstrong Ad- vertiser, which was afterward continued by William Badger until 1833, when the type and machinery were removed to Freeport to print the Olive Branch.
The Armstrong Democrat was established in 1834 by Frederick Rohrer and John Croll. It continued to be a Democratic paper un- der their management, and that of Andrew J. Faulk and William McWilliams, until 1864, when its politics was changed and the name
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
became Armstrong Republican. It was owned cial job printing which is a side line of the es- and conducted for several years by A. G. tablishment. The paper was the first success- Henry and his son, W. M. Henry, the latter ful daily in the county and the first to install a modern typesetting machine. Mr. Fries has been blind for the last seven years, but this fact has not prevented his successful manage- ment of the multifarious details of a daily paper. becoming editor in 1880. The widow of A. G. Henry retained the ownership until 1903, the last editor being Squire Isaac Miller, after which date the plant was sold to the Advance Printing Co., who removed it to their plant in Leechburg.
The Mentor was established in 1862 by J. A. Fulton, who sold it in 1863 to an associa- tion, they changing the name to Democratic Sentinel. It was edited and published by John W. Rohrer and his son, Frederick, for a number of years. After the son's death his father sold the paper to John T. and Roland B. Simpson in 1909, who began the issuing of the Armstrong Democrat and Sentinel (weekly), with Roland Simpson as editor. They have gained a fine circulation and are firmly fixed as part of the growing borough of Kittanning.
John T. Simpson after he had sold his in- terest in the Daily Times, which he had edited for eleven years, started the publication of a daily the title of which was Simpson's Daily Leader. This was in 1909, and so great was his prestige as a newspaper man that now, in December, 1913, he has a sworn circulation averaging from 2,850 to 3,100 daily, the larg- est in the county. His paper is independent in politics and fearless in publication as to ques- tions of the hour.
The Centennial was an amateur juvenile weekly, first issued in 1874 by William and Adam Reichert. They soon enlarged it to "man's size" and changed the name to County Standard. It passed out of existence in 1903.
The Valley Times was transferred from Freeport to Kittanning in 1876, being pub- lished by Oswald & Simpson as a weekly. Their office was in the Reynolds building. The name was altered to Kittanning Times in 1880. After Oswald's retirement in 1884 the pa- per was conducted by John T. Simpson until the year 1890, when F. T. Fries bought a half interest in it. In 1898 a daily was started, called the Daily Times. Simpson sold out to Fries in 1909 and started another daily. Mr. Fries lias continued the two pa- pers, daily and weekly Times, since the disso- lution of partnership, and has been very suc- cessful. He is remarkable as one of the few blind men in the United States now living, to be editor and proprietor of a daily paper. The Times is housed in a specially constructed building, with all conveniences for the produc- tion of the two papers and the large commer-
The Daily Advertiser was issued in 1884 from the office of the Armstrong Republican by Robert O. Moore. Later he took into partnership W. W. Titzell, changed the pa- per to a weekly and renamed it the Kittan- ning Globe. In two years it was sold to W. G. Reynolds and R. A. Mccullough, who made it Democratic in political complexion. It was returned to the Republican fold in 1893, and the name made Kittanning Tribune, which name it bears now. It is owned by a stock company.
The County Light was the name of a pa- per which was established in 1893 by a stock company, with D. L. Nulton as editor, and ran for about three years, after which the outfit was sold to local printers.
The Armstrong County Record came on a visit of less than two years from Leech- burg to Kittanning. Holmes & Marshall were the publishers. For one and a half years they ran it as a daily, but finally Holmes sold to O. S. Marshall and the latter removed it to Rural Valley, where it suffered other vicis- situdes, which can be found in the sketch of that town.
The Electric Printery is an up-to-date es- tablishment owned and . operated by Neal Heilman, on North Mckean street. He has a large trade of the better class of users of printing material. He is seriously contemplat- ing a material enlargement of his plant. He has as an assistant in the composing room Edward T. McElwain.
Edgar A. Brodhead, a descendant of the famous Capt. Daniel Brodhead, is the proprie- tor of a well equipped job printing office on South Jefferson street, near Jacob. He has a fine and growing trade.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES
About 1820 the nucleus of a public library was created by contributions from Thomas Hamilton and Thomas R. Peters and others. Several hundred volumes, mostly historical, were accumulated and housed for a few years in the courthouse. After accumulating much dust through neglect they were finally distrib- uted among various citizens, who probably took better care of them.
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
It remained for the Jewish young people of Kittanning to revive the matter of a public library, in 1913. At a meeting held in this year a constitution and bylaws were adopted, and the following officers elected : President, Morris Silberblatt; vice president, Joseph Newman; recording secretary, Harry Ram- bach ; financial secretary and treasurer, Louis Gruskin; librarian, Ruth Adelson. There were thirty-five members in the organization, most of them young people. They have al- ready collected many volumes on Jewish his- tory, and will establish a public library for all classes of citizens.
KITTANNING ACADEMY
This institution was authorized by an act of Assembly and approved April 2, 1821. The trustees first named were Thomas Hamilton, James Monteith, Robert Robinson, Samuel Matthews, David Reynolds and Samuel S. Harrison. The first meeting of the trustees was held Sept. 4, 1821. In the fall of 1824 a building was contracted for at a cost of $1,130. This building was located on Jefferson street near the corner of the then-existing public square.
In February, 1827, Charles G. Snowden was engaged to open the school. He received a salary of $16 per quarter out of the public funds in addition to private subscriptions as a compensation. Other teachers, the exact dates of whose service cannot be ascertained, were Alexander Shirran, Rev. J. N. Stark, Rev. Joseph Painter, D. D., and Rev. E. D. Barrett.
The second story of the building was not finished until the summer of 1834. A fence was erected and a cupola placed over the bell in 1842. For several years the upper story of the Academy was used for school purposes and the lower for family residences. In 1864 the Academy was closed and the buildings and grounds reverted to the county, largely on account of the Civil war. In 1886 all that remained of the institute was a fund of $5,000, which was loaned to the county and to the school board. During the early history of the Academy, the only facilities in this county for acquiring an education in the high- er branches were afforded by this institution.
and the Academy was reopened under the old charter, with Professor Ritchie as principal. The project was so successful that a brick building was erected on North Jefferson street in 1899. After the departure of Professor Ritchie, Rev. Robert A. Barner was placed in charge of the institution. In the fall of 1902 Professor J. C. Tinstman was elected principal, and was succeeded by Professor C. V. Smith in 1906. The Academy was again closed in 1908, and the building occupied by the high school, while the new high school building was in process of construction. In 1911 the build- ing was offered to the State National Guard for $10,000, which offer was accepted condi- tionally. The building is occupied at present by the local militia company as an armory.
LAMBETH COLLEGE
A charter was granted to the Episcopalian diocese in 1868 for the establishment of an educational institution at Kittanning and the same year Lambeth College was opened by them. The incorporators included members of the churches of Kittanning, Brady's Bend, Allegheny, Pittsburgh, Erie, Clearfield, Rochester and Sewickley. For ten years un- der competent instructors it held sway, but finally support ceased, and lack of necessary buildings and financial encouragement caused its final suspension.
UNIVERSITY OF KITTANNING
The name of this institution was about as long as its existence. The charter was granted in 1858 with very extensive powers and for a time the outlook was favorable, but after a deal of discussion and amendment as to the charter the first session opened in 1868 with 114 pupils, ran five months and closed for- ever.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
In accordance with the custom of pioneer times a log schoolhouse was built on a lot between Water and Jefferson streets, on an alley, the site being then the most convenient. This lot was later owned by Mrs. Mary A. Craig. The first school teacher was Adam Elliott. Several of his pupils were living in 1880. They stated that the school was prob- ably opened in 1805. It continued to be used until the completion of the first jail, when the school was opened in one of the upper rooms
After the funds had accumulated for sev- eral years, the trustees decided to revive the charter. Meanwhile a Mr. Ritchie came to Kittanning and opened a school, which he called the Kittanning Academy. His success induced the trustees to finance the enterprise, of that edifice. Finally it was transferred to 8
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