USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Connellsville > Centennial history of the borough of Connellsville, Pennsylvania, 1806-1906 > Part 27
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A great improvement on the first two bridges was made in one built in 1832 by the Meason and Connell heirs. The bridge was built with two spans, resting on stone abut-
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ments and a stone pier in the river. The spans were sup- ported by solid wooden arches and the superstructure was covered to protect it from the weather. For about twenty- eight years this bridge did duty, until April, 1860, when a great and sudden rise in the river undermined the pier and carried the whole structure away. The water rose at that time to within about two feet of the bridge floor and within a foot of the roadway on Front street, New Haven.
James H. White made two or three unsuccessful at- tempts to build a bent bridge of short spans during the summer and fall succeeding the flood which destroyed this bridge, but his efforts were frustrated each time by a rise in the river which carried away his bents, and finally the plan was abandoned. This work was attempted some forty or fifty feet further up the stream than the location of the last one.
The history of the old bridges is hardly complete with- out some mention of "Aunt Jenny" Wallace (sister of Zachariah Connell's second wife) who held the position of toll-taker for many years. She must have been a quaint character, indeed, if all the stories told about her are true. Some of these anecdotes savor much of the Stone Age, and will hardly justify repetition here. Suffice it that there were a great many jokes played upon her and she was much teased by the boys and practical jokers of that time. The bridge was hers in so far as her relations to the patrons of . the bridge were concerned. She haggled for the last cop- per and was, from all reports an efficient and faithful guard- ian of her trust. One who was a boy in her time describes her as of sour visage and generally uninviting aspect, clothed in an old black dress the right side of which she would grab with her left hand and with her right plunge into the depths of her pocket to make change for a "fip." Let us hope that her sourness of countenance was only the mask assumed to impress the flippant passengers with the importance of her trust.
After the destruction of the third bridge, other parties
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made arrangements with the owners of the Meason-Con- nell franchise, under which a new bridge company was formed, and by act of the Legislature, passed April 17, 1861, supplementing the act of March 15, 1800, was created a body corporate under the name of the "Youghiogheny Bridge Company" with an authorized capital stock of $20,- 000.00, divided into eight hundred shares of the par value of $25.00 each. Stock in the new company was issued to Mrs. Mary Meason, George E. Hogg and James H. White for their property and interest in the old charter and these three were the incorporators named in the application for the new charter.
A meeting of the stockholders was held at the office of George J. Ashman, July 20, 1861, when George Nickel was elected president; George J. Ashman, secretary and treasurer, and James Wilkey, Samuel Russell, Provance McCormick, James H. White and John K. Brown, mana- gers. A building committee composed of James H. White, George Nickel and Jonathan Hewitt was appointed by the managers, and a contract with Christian Snyder was en- tered into, for the erection of the stone work, on August 24, 1861. Plans were submitted by a Mr. Smith, an engineer from "down the river," for a suspension bridge. They were adopted, and work was commenced the same year and finished in the summer of 1862, at a cost of $19,- 600.00. The suspension cables were anchored in masonry covered with iron-two on each side of river-and passed over saddles in stone towers, perhaps twenty-five feet high. From these cables, the wooden bridge was suspended.
Jonathan Hewitt resigned from the building committee at the time of letting the contract, and the work seems to have been carried on under the supervision of Nickel and White until March 11, 1862, when White resigned from the board of managers. George A. Torrence was chosen to succeed him as one of the board, and L. A. Wetherell was appointed to his place on the building committee.
At a special meeting of the board of managers, held
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DAWSON
THE OLD SUSPENSION BRIDGE
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July 30, 1862, a number of resolutions were passed, begin- ning with the following preamble: "Whereas, the Presi- dent and managers of the Youghiogheny Bridge Company congratulate themselves and the stockholders upon the com- pletion of their bridge, which for some time past has been open for public use." Following this is a series of resolu- tions authorizing the delivery of the shares of stock agreed upon to Mrs. Mary Meason, George E. Hogg and James H. White in exchange for their property and franchises ; authorizing the payment of bills by the treasurer, and in- structing him as to the manner in which the accounts should be kept; requesting an accounting from James H. White "for the proceeds of the ferry for the time which he had the same after it belonged to the company."
A dividend of four per cent was declared January 31, 1863. Josiah Kurtz and J. M. Lytle were appointed to conduct the annual election for officers and managers, held May 4, 1863.
George A. Torrence moved away and Thomas R. Davidson was chosen in his place, January 30th, 1864, and on May second following he was elected president. James McKearns had been chosen a manager, vice L. A. Wetherell retired.
Adam Byerly was the first toll-taker, but he is not mentioned in the minutes until February 1st, 1865, when it was resolved "that the salary of Adam Byerly, the gate- keeper be advanced to twenty dollars per month from this date."
Like "Aunt Jenny" Wallace, Adam Byerly was made the subject of many practical jokes and especially so as he was very zealous in attending to his duties as toll-taker- he could not see a cent escape him (officially,) without tak- ing it as a personal affront, so deeply in his heart were the interests of his company. Some of the young folks of Con- nellsville attended a select school kept in New Haven by Miss Bell. On their way to and from school, in winter, they would cross on the ice when it was sufficiently strong
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or in summer when the river was quite low there were days when the bolder ones would wade over, but never without a protest from Adam, who would plead with them on ac- count of the danger of their being drowned and end up by a tirade against them for defrauding the bridge company. He likewise took exception to teamsters allowing anyone to ride over with them when fording the river, which was often done in those days.
June 19, 1871, Adam Byerly resigned. The resigna- tion was accepted with a resolution of appreciation for the faithful manner in which he had discharged his duties as a toll receiver, and as a token of the esteem in which he was held by the managers he was voted a substantial sum "as additional compensation." Adam Eccles was employed to take his place.
Daniel Kaine had been elected president succeeding Thomas R. Davidson, at the annual meeting held May 1, 1871.
Fifty dollars was voted to Connellsville Borough at a meeting held October 31, 1871, to be used "towards fixing and beautifying the public grounds below the end of the bridge."
George J. Ashman had been in ill health for some time, and on January 25, 1872, Josiah Kurtz was appointed treasurer to relieve him. Mr. Ashman died March 18, 1872, and A. C. Knox, on May 6, 1872, was elected to succeed him. S. P. Knox was elected treasurer May 5, 1879, and held that office until May 1, 1880, when he removed from Connellsville "much to the regret of the board." A. C. Knox was re-elected in his place.
May 7, 1883, one hundred dollars was appropriated to- wards repairing the state road westward from New Haven, "said amount to be paid to H. Wickham and expended under his direction."
George B. Kaine was elected president to succeed his father on May 4, 1885. On May 3, 1886, J. C. Kurtz suc- ceeded A. C. Knox as treasurer, and held that office until
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May 2, 1898, when he resigned and Kell Long was elected.
Upon the death of Adam Eccles, Henry Shaw was made toll-taker, this was on July 18, 1887. Leroy White succeeded Henry Shaw on December 5, 1889, and was al- lowed one assistant. Upon his death, Theodore F. White was elected to his place, November 4, 1892, and has been head toll-taker since, although he now has two assistants.
P. S. Newmyer was chosen a manager October 30, 1886, to succeed James McKearns (who had died). Mr. Newmyer was elected president at the meeting held May 7th, 1888, and has been continuously re-elected since.
A great many of Connellsville's best men have served upon the board of managers of the bridge company. Among them, besides those already mentioned, might be named the following: Aaron Bishop, M. O. Tinstman, J. T. Mc- Cormick, Samuel Freeman, Joseph Paull, Josiah Kurtz and James Allen.
In the spring of 1890 a report became current that the bridge was unsafe-a committee was appointed to have an expert examination made of the property-an expe- rienced engineer was procured who submitted an exhaus- tive report in August of that year pronouncing the cables and fastenings, superstructure and all to be in excellent condition. He further suggested a plan whereby the ca- pacity of the bridge could be increased by adding a foot- walk at the lower side-this plan was adopted and the im- provements made in the winter of 1890-91, at a cost of about $7,500.00.
A petition was presented to the court of quarter ses- sions of Fayette county in November, 1890, for the appoint- ment of appraisers to assess damages if any to the Yough- iogheny Bridge Company, by virtue of their making it a free bridge. The viewers met and assessed damages, but the county authorities never acted on the matter.
In the fall of 1892, a movement was started to build a free bridge from Apple street, Connellsville, to Traders alley, New Haven. This was opposed by the Bridge Com-
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pany as being equivalent to confiscation of their property and was so determined finally by the Supreme Court of the State, whose verdict stopped the project.
November 1, 1897, a committee of the board was ap- pointed to confer with the stockholders and consider the advisability of building a new bridge. This was finally de- cided upon and a contract let to the Pittsburgh Bridge Company, on July 11, 1898, for the erection of an "over- head" bridge (with reference to the B. & O. R. R. Com- pany's Tracks and Water street). This contract was after- ward amended, and new specifications submitted which were adopted October 3, 1898. The starting of the work was delayed, pending an agreement with the town council of Connellsville as to the place of landing. This was finally adjusted and an agreement entered into between the bridge company and the borough authorities on October 17, 1898. This is a lengthy document and covered all the points at difference. The Bridge Company giving a bond in the sum of $50,000.00 for faithful performance.
Within a few days from the signing of this agree- ment the work was started. This is a steel truss bridge of five spans with steel girders and beams upon which rests a floor of wood, treated with creosote and overlaid with paving brick. The structure was completed and accepted from the contractors at a meeting on November 29, 1899.
The street railway entered into a contract with the bridge company for the privilege of crossing the bridge on October 18, 1900.
The officers and managers of the company, since May, 1904, are as follows: President, P. S. Newmyer; Treas- urer, E. T. Norton; Managers, John D. Frisbee, Kell Long, Isaac F. Wilkey, Philip Wilkey and E. T. Norton.
WATER.
Out of the hills of West Virginia, crossing Maryland in a generally northern course, flows the Youghiogheny, a beautiful mountain stream of water, as pure and clear as
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any in the world. Its whole life has been a struggle, for it has fought through mountain after mountain, bursting through the Laurel Ridge of the Alleghanies, crossing the Ligonier Valley and finally cutting Chestnut Ridge in twain, gives Connellsville what all towns and cities most need and few have, an abundant supply of good water-essential to the health of her people, to the success of her manufactories, to her future prosperity.
Few people appreciate the temperamental and moral effect of a living stream on a community-that it does have a beneficent and appreciably wholesome influence on human character can be proven in more ways than one. There are larger rivers than the Youghiogheny, but none more beautiful, none more incipiently pure.
The success of Connellsville's first enterprises were de- pendent upon this river, as the reputation of her world- famed coke (to a degree not generally accredited) is de- pendent upon it today. The very birth of the town grew out of the fact that the river was navigable from that point for the boats of the period, and formed an important link in shortening the way to the west. Mud Island would never have been conceived as a place for human habitation but for that fact, and Connellsville would not have been called into existence.
May the wisdom of her people and of the state author- ities keep the Youghiogheny ever undefiled.
The source of the domestic water supply of Connells- ville in its earlier history was from a number of large springs or "fountains," as Zachariah Connell termed them in his charter, which gushed from the hills surrounding the town, and were so situated as to be convenient to most of its homes. The spring most drawn upon was located on the south side of East Main street, near Pittsburgh street on the Barnes property. It was one time called McClane's spring from the fact that Dr. Charles McClane (inventor of the celebrated "Liver Pills" and "Worm Specific") at one time lived nearby. The supply from this fountain was
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pure, copious and unfailing. Water was piped to several parts of town from it, one large user being a brewery located in the rear of the present Frisbee property on Main street.
Wooden pipes-hollowed out of logs-were used as conduits. Not many years ago some of them were dug up and found to be wonderfully well preserved.
Until comparatively recent years a watering trough was maintained near the spring on Main street and it was a popular place for "watering horses and cattle."
Another good spring was located at or near the corner of Pittsburgh street and Church Place, where Dr. New- comer's building now is-this spring was walled up and protected for many years.
Still another bountiful supply of most excellent water welled up "right out of the solid rock" near the old stone quarry to the east of the Connellsville Distilling Company's plant. This was by some called Francis' spring and by others Lewis' spring. This water was also "piped" to a number of houses in the vicinity, and is still used by resi -. dents in that neighborhood. The proximity of this water supply accounted for the location close by of the old Snyder Brewery, which at one time flourished there.
Before we leave this subject we wish to mention two wells that flourished with the springs and to a much more recent period. The Robbins well on South Prospect street was considered especially pure, and was used by druggists in their compounding. A well on Meadow lane, equipped with an enormous log pump built by Michael Trump, was open to the public and used for sometime after the coming of the Connellsville Water Company.
The Connellsville Water Company was incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania in 1883. The charter was secured and works were erected by W. S. Kuhn and asso- ciates of Pittsburgh. Later the charter and franchises were turned over to the American Water Works and Guarantee Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., of which Mr. Kuhn is vice president and treasurer.
BREAKNECK RESERVOIR
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The first reservoir was built about two miles east of town, at the foot of the mountains on McCoy Run, and utilizes the water from McCoy's spring and a number of smaller mountain streams. McCoy's spring has been fa- mous for years for its pure, cold water and never varying supply. The capacity of this reservoir is 5,000,000 gallons.
The rapid growth of Connellsville during 1884 made it necessary to provide a still larger storage basin. Con- sequently, about 1885, the Breakneck Reservoir was built, about four miles northeast of town, on the site of the old Breakneck furnace. This basin has a capacity of 20,000,000 gallons, and is supplied by several mountain streams.
At each of these reservoirs a watchman is kept all the time, whose duty it is to patrol the streams to head- waters weekly-summer and winter, to prevent their pollu- tion. The company keep the grounds about both basins in a good condition all the time, and, as they are well laid out, present a beautiful appearance, set-off as they are by the surrounding mountains.
On the Youghiogheny river near Blue Stone quarry, about two miles southeast of town and above all contam- ination, the company maintain a pump house and filtering plant with a capacity of 2,500,000 gallons of water every twenty-four hours. The equipment consists of three pumps of 2,500,000 gallon capacity each for the twenty-four hours, one of which pumps the water from the river to the filter, another forces the filtered water into the mains, while the third is held in reserve to provide for accident or other contingencies. All of the water taken from the river is carefully filtered, and once a month samples of water are sent to the company's chemist for analysis as a further precaution against contamination. The pumphouse and other buildings are surrounded by lawns and driveways, and the company invite inspection by the public.
There are about forty miles of pipe and eighty-six fire hydrants in the town.
The situation of the storage reservoirs in the moun-
MCCOY'S RESERVOIR
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tains high above town enables the company to maintain a high fire pressure all the time-no engines being required to throw the water over the highest buildings. The rates to manufacturing concerns as well as to private. consumers are reasonable, and a never failing and abundant supply of clear, pure, wholesome water is always at hand for all purposes.
The present officers of the company are J. H. Purdy, general manager, Pittsburgh, Pa .; J. David Stillwagon, su- perintendent, local office, 118 North Pittsburgh street, Con- nellsville, Pa.
The water company had one serious break a few years ago, when the excessive rains augmented by a cloud-burst carried away a part of the Breakneck Reservoir and flooded the valley to Mounts Creek. The damage was soon repaired and the dam re-inforced against like occurrences in the future.
THE CONNELLSVILLE AND NEW HAVEN GAS AND WATER COMPANY
was incorporated March 7, 1871. The incorporat- ators were Joseph Johnston, Christopher S. Sherrick, Ed- ward Dean, David Welsh, and Dr. Ellis Phillips. On the 23rd day of September, 1871, the stockholders met and elected from their number the following named board of managers: Joseph Johnston, Edward Dean, Ellis Phillips, David Welsh, John D. Frisbee and J. T. McCormick. Of these, Joseph Johnston was chosen president, John D. Fris- bee, treasurer; J. T. McCormick, secretary.
A committee was appointed in July, 1872, to secure a site for the erection of a gas works, and, on the 31st day of that month, reported the purchase of a lot from the Connellsville Mutual Building and Loan Association for the purpose.
The location is on Mounts Creek, near its confluence with the Youghiogheny river. A contract was made with Connolly and Taylor of Pittsburgh to build the works com-
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plete and lay all gas mains ready for use on or before No- vember 1st, 1871, for the sum of $22,000.00, which was done, and J. T. McCormick was appointed superintendent of the works.
The company was prosperous for a time, but seems ever to have suffered from a lack of broad, liberal man- agement. Its managers, of whom there were many, never appear to have grasped the opportunities offered under its broad charter and liberal franchises-not only to further the interests of the company, but of the community as well -they seem on the contrary, to have been peculiarly short- sighted in their administration of its affairs.
One of the objects in view in the formation of the company was to supply the borough with water, which is authorized in the charter; this privilege was bartered to the promoters of the Connellsville Water Company for a few thousand feet of new gas mains and a cash considera- tion entirely inadequate to the benefits conferred.
Natural gas was brought into town; then, electric light. The competition thus engendered and the improve- ments in the distribution of electric light finally brought matters to a point where the control of the company passed to the electric company and thence through it to the light- ing branch of the West Penn Railways and its allied com- panies.
The company is still in existence and is officered by the West Penn Company. Hiram Austen has for twenty- three years been in charge of the works.
The authorized capital was $35,000.00 consisting of 1,400 shares of $25.00 each. Of this amount 1,019 shares or only $25,475.00 was ever paid in.
A copy of an agreement between the company and Connellsville Borough follows,-this contract was made in 1880-an earlier one could not be found, although the streets were lighted by the gas company prior to the date of this agreement :
The following agreement to date from Jame It- 1886 and to Learn for one year from that date, has been entered into by The Bayla The said Gas Company agrees on the fract to put in good Over all the Service pipes, pillow Coches I burner comedie with the 25 Lamp Posts aren created and supply from track to time as needed all new Coche + business and do Such werken toward Keeping them in order as the Police of The Si. Brough are not able to do, and to Supply all The gan needed to Blach Sous 25 Langs busing with midnight of every night that gas is legmed for lighting The streets sufriendly; and also to funch Gas as wanton at Conmal Home- Lede bite The Brough afecta on Their hast agree to pay to the Sand Gar Con for the Gas Command & the Boro,- One dollar her mouth for each of the Sound 25 dank Posts aus, two dollar per 1000 feet of far used in 80 Coment Rommet Look of- Payants to be Onede month In teckning when we have leche Bet
Ihm d. Fisher Pris. fra 34) A. S.Balsley Chain & Sus CIT. 21 f Kon-Bugh
FACSIMILE OF CONTRACT WITH THE CONNELLSVILLE, NEW HAVEN GAS & WATER COMAN
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TELEGRAPH COMPANIES.
Telegraphic communication was first established with Connellsville in the latter part of 1864, when an office was cpened by the Western Union, although the Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad had a private service for the opera- tion of their road at an earlier date. For a number of years the office was in the Smith House. Afterwards it occu- pied a room where the Yough National Bank now is, for quite a number of years-moving thence to the Borough building corner Main and Pittsburgh streets. It is now lo- cated opposite the Hotel Marietta in the old J. D. Still- wagon house (now the property of the Second National Bank). Miss Cora B. Anthony is in charge.
An office was established by the Postal Telegraph Cable Company for the service of Connellsville in April, 1899. It first occupied a room on West Main street- thence it was moved to Brimstone corner. It is now located in the Kail property on West Main street. The office is now in charge of Mrs. Cree Horner.
THE ELECTRIC COMPANY.
Connellsville had had a gas plant since 1871, but, as its lines were not sufficiently extended, the demand for a better and farther reaching lighting system became more and more urgent upon those citizens not within the circle of illumination. In the fall of 1889, John L. Gans and E. T. Norton started a subscription paper which culminated in the incorporation of a company under Pennsylvania laws with a capital stock of $30,000.00 (shares $100 each) under the name of "The Electric Company."
A remarkable fact about this company (when con- sidered in the light of present-day methods) is, that the stock was fully paid in in cash before the work of con- struction was begun.
The charter was dated November 13, 1889, and the first officers and directors were: John D. Frisbee, presi- dent; J. M. Reid, Charles Davidson, J. S. McCaleb, Ellis
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Phillips, John L. Gans, secretary, and E. T. Norton, treas- vrer.
A contract was entered into with the Keystone Con- struction Company of Pittsburgh for a full Westinghouse equipment, steam and electric. It consisted of an arc-light generator with a capacity of 50 lights, two alternating cur- rent incandescent generators with a capacity of 750 sixteen candle power lamps each. One generator was held in re- serve as the company had consumers promised for only 700 sixteen candle power lights. The steam plant con- sisted of one forty horse power Westinghouse simple engine and two compound engines (seventy-five horse power each) of the same make, with boiler capacity suffi- cient to take care of the maximum loads , All the necessary switchboards and apparatus appertaining thereto was in- cluded with sufficient converter capacity to provide for the initial installation.
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