USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > New Castle > Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th > Part 11
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First Ward-W. J. Chain, I. S. Fulker- son.
Second Ward-W. K. Hugus, R. C. G. White.
Third Ward-J. H. Bittner, Chas. G. Martin.
Fourth Ward-W. E. Patterson, J. D. Clarke.
Fifth Ward-Thomas Sadler, J. Blucher. Sixth Ward-G. W. Heckart.
Seventh Ward-S. A. Barnes, R. W. Hamilton.
The city now contains fifteen capacious and well appointed school buildings, while there are also three parochial schools car- ried on by the Roman Catholic Church- St. Joseph's, St. Mary's, and St. Mary's (Polish). (See chapters on Education and Religious Organizations.)
POSTMASTERS.
The first citizen to fill the honorable po- sition of postmaster in New Castle was Joseph Thornton Boyd, who was appointed in 1812, under President Madison's admin- istration, and continued to fill the office for twenty-six consecutive years, up to 1838. Following him have been :
R. W. Stewart, about eighteen months.
David Tidball, about eight months.
Joseph T. Boyd, again, about eighteen months.
David Tidball, again, about six months.
David Schaffer, about three years, dur- ing a portion of Tyler's and Polk's admin- istrations.
William H. Reynolds, a few months.
William H. Shaw, under Taylor's and Fillmore's administrations.
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David Tidball, under Pierce's adminis- tration.
Alexander Newell, under Buchanan's ad- ministration.
A. H. Leslie, a few months, under Bu- chanan.
David Emery, under Lincoln and Johnson, until 1867, when the office was taken possession of by a special govern- ment agent and correspondent of the New York Tribune, appointed by President Johnson in May, 1867. This agent occu- pied the position until August 5, 1867, when David Tidball was appointed, and was con- tinued to February, 1881. The more re- cent incumbents have been: E. I. Agnew, 1881 to 1885; William Gordon, 1885 to 1889; J. M. Clark, 1889 to 1893; Geo. B. Gibson, 1893 to 1897; John S. Brown, 1897 to 1903; John A. McKee, 1903 to the pres- ent time.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
It is not known when the first fire com- pany was organized in New Castle, but it was probably nothing more than a bucket company, each member being furnished with a leather bucket, with his name, or the name of the organization marked thereon, which he kept at his house or place of business.
The first fire company in New Castle, of which we have any record, was organ- ized on the 29th of September, 1836, the meeting being held at Andy Lewis' tavern. The following is a complete list of the offi- cers chosen: President, J. T. Boyd; vice- president, William Cox; secretary, S. C. Euwer; treasurer, Thomas Painter; cap- tain, William Dickson; lieutenant, W. B. Miller; first engineer, R. W. Cunningham; second engineer, James Watson, Jr .; third engineer, P. T. Boyd; fourth engineer, J. W. Cunningham; axeman, Thomas Hun- ter, John M. Semple and E. R. Semple. How long the company continued in exist- ence we cannot say, but there seems to be no doubt that it was kept up for many years.
The first fire engine brought to New Castle was a small hand-engine, which was operated by means of two cranks, one on either side of the wheel, which forced the water through the hose. Though a very imperfect machine, it was regarded with considerable pride by the people of New Castle.
Whether the Eagle Fire Company ex- isted prior to 1851, we do not know, but as the constitution of this company was pub- lished for the first time in this year, we may, perhaps, safely infer that the com- pany was first organized some time about this period.
The following is a list of officers chosen by the Eagle Fire Company, in April, 1851: President, B. B. Pickett; vice-presi- dent, S. Dunn; secretary, P. Dunn; assist- ant secretary, John R. Richardson; treas- urer, William Lutton; captain, P. Miller; lieutenants, J. McGown, first; S. Dunn, second; engineers, J. R. Richardson, first, R. Craven, second; W. R. Madge, third; W. G. Scott, fourth; assistant engineers, William Love, William Gaston; hose di- rectors, D. Diamond, J. S. King, G. Riddle, J. S. Pomeroy, J. R. Emery, William Douds; assistant hose directors, D. Craig, R. P. Marshall, J. R. Moore, J. Crips, J. A. Addis, J. H. Emery, R. Emery, J. Pyle, H. Stanson, H. Hall, G. V. Boyles, William Emery, William Lutton, U. Cubbison; hose engineers, J. B. Du Shane, J. H. Orr; ladder men, B. B. Pickett, J. B. McKee, G. Moore, R. Wright; hook men, J. B. Moore, John H. Spencer; axe men, D. Stewart, Sr., S. Bussinger.
The first engine purchased by the Coun- cil, for the Eagle Fire Company, arrived at New Castle on Saturday, the 30th of August, 1851. The Gazette of that time described the new engine as "a beautiful piece of mechanism."
On Saturday, the 4th of September, 1852, there was a grand firemen's parade, which was followed by a dinner at the Cochran House.
In February, 1852, a test was made of
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the engine belonging to the Eagle Com- pany. The engine being stationed at the canal, the hose was carried to the north side of the "Diamond," a distance of 500 feet, from which point a strong stream was thrown over the Gazette Building. At that time John R. Moore was president of the company, James Moorhead, secretary, and John R. Richardson, captain.
On Tuesday evening, the 26th of Feb- ruary, 1856, a supper for the benefit of the Eagle Fire Company was given at the Leslie House. More than 100 persons, be- sides firemen, partook of the luxurious re- past. The supper was followed by a dance.
On Monday evening, the 25th of October, 1858, a meeting was held at the Eagle En- gine House, at which the Eagle Company was reorganized, with following officers: President, D. Tidball; vice-president, Thomas Marshall; secretary, James Dick- son; assistant secretary, James M. Craig; treasurer, James McGown, and captain, John W. Taylor.
November 2, 1858, a new fire company was organized under the name and title of "The Relief Fire Company." The follow- ing officers were elected to serve during the ensuing year : President, D. S. Morris; vice-president, H. J. Levis; secretary, Crawford W. Stewart; assistant secretary, Noble Holton; treasurer, O. G. Hazen ; cap- tain, John R. Richardson. Notwithstand- ing the Girard Insurance Company, of Philadelphia, donated to this company the sum of $50 towards procuring a new en- gine, the latter was never procured, and on this account the company ceased to exist.
Although there has been a fire company in New Castle known as the Eagle Fire Company almost from the year 1836, the Eagle Fire Company existing in 1877 may be said to date its existence from the 16th day of November, 1871, at which time a meeting was held at White Hall that re- sulted in the organization of a fire com- pany. The following is a complete list of
the officers then elected: Captain, John Young; first lieutenant, Thomas Marshall; second lieutenant, William P. Morrison; first engineer, D. D. Douds; second engi- neer, Henry Hartsuff; first hose director, D. M. Cubbison; second hose director, H. W. Squier. This meeting was presided over by Col. D. H. Wallace; John A. Por- ter served as secretary. At a meeting held on the 3d of February, 1872, a new set of officers was elected. What is now known as the new constitution of this company seems to have gone into operation about the 1st of October, 1873, about the time that the Eagle steam fire-engine arrived.
The first officers under the new constitu- tion were: President, Joseph Kissick; vice-president, D. H. Wallace; treasurer, William H. Reynolds; secretary, H. E. Woodworth ; captain, John Young. At this time the Eagle Company contained about sixty members, but the number in 1877 would probably not have exceeded forty.
For several months the Eagle steam fire-engine, though it weighed fifty-three hundred pounds, was drawn to fires by hand, but in January, 1874, a team of horses was purchased by the Councils for the sum of $500, Frank Miller being made driver.
A hook-and-ladder company was organ- ized in the autumn of 1873, which was known as the Rescue Hook-and-Ladder Company. It had a membership of about thirty-five strong, able-bodied young men, with Stephen B. Marshall, foreman, but the apparatus assigned to them was so cumbersome and unwieldy as to make its use a matter of considerable difficulty. In consequence the company gradually di- minished in numbers until at length it was disbanded.
Some time in the spring of 1877 a new company was organized in what is known as the Fourth Ward. This company con- tained about sixty members, all strong and vigorous young men, some of whom had had experience in fire-fighting. This
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY
company had charge of the hook-and-lad- der truck formerly belonging to the old Rescue Hook-and-Ladder Company.
The Neshannock Fire Company, which contained about sixty members, was or- ganized on the 26th of September, 1873. Its original members numbered forty- four.
The company known as the Vigilant Fire Company was organized on the 12th of December, 1873, at which time it contained forty-seven members. At first it was called the Amoskeag Fire Company, from the fact that there was a purpose on the part of its members to procure an Amos- keag fire engine. After a time, however, this purpose was abandoned, and it was resolved to procure a hook-and-ladder truck with Babcock Extinguishers. The original members of the Amoskeag Company were only four in number. These were: President, Thomas McBride; vice- president, Thomas Marshall; secretary, A. M. Coulter; treasurer, D. M. Cobbison.
At a meeting held on the 11th of Febru- ary, 1874, the company assumed the name of the Vigilant Fire Company and adopt- ed the motto, "We strive to save." At a subsequent meeting held on the 18th of March, 1874, the follownig list of officers was elected : President, Thomas Marshall; vice-president, Thomas McBride; secre- tary, L. D. Durban; treasurer, C. W. Wat- son; trustees, George B. Berger, H. W. Squier and Milton Love; foreman, D. M. Cubbison; first assistant foreman, H. W. Squier, second assistant foreman, James Hale; captain of axe, M. Hannon; captain of extinguishers, W. W. Cubbison; mar- shal, William H. Wilson. The hook-and- ladder truck, with the extinguishers, ar- rived in New Castle in April, 1874.
The Neshannock and Eagle companies disbanded in 1878 on account of trouble with the city councils over the sale of their team, the privilege of purchasing the same being refused by the councils. Frank H. Miller, now fire marshal in Cleveland, was then driver. At that time the driver was
the only man permanently employed in the department.
The steamer purchased in 1875, and known as "The Eagle," continued in use until 1882.
In 1882 Hollen Hose Company was or- ganized. In that year also the establish- ment of the present water-works revolu- tionized the system of fire-fighting, and much of the glory that arose from the rival- ry of the different ununited companies de- parted. Its loss was more than compen- sated for, however, by the better service which resulted from the new methods of the united department under one supreme control.
About 1891 the Gamewell fire system was put into use, and alarm boxes were dis- tributed throughout the city. At first, there were but twelve, but now there are sixty- four, with about thirty-five miles of wire. There are now seven stations, and a lot has been purchased on Arlington Avenue for the eighth, which will be erected in the near future. The outlying districts are given excellent protection.
The stations are the following :
Central Engine House, in East Street, in rear of the City Hall, was built in 1881. It is the headquarters of the T. W. Phillips Hose No. 1, Vigilant Aeriel (65 feet) Hook- and-Ladder Truck, and also fire police. Be- sides the chief, there are six men stationed here, all of whom are full paid. In winter -from November 1 to April 1-three extra men are employed for night work.
W. D. Wallace Hose and Chemical Com- pany No. 2 is located on Park Avenue, in the Second Ward. It now has two men, but in the near future a three-horse hitch will be put in there, requiring an additional man.
The Croton Hose and Chemical Company No. 3, on Vine Street, has two men.
The George W. Johnson Hose and Chem- ical Company No. 4 is on Ray Street, in the Fourth Ward. It now has two men, but soon will have similar additions to No. 2. Hose and Chemical Company No. 5, on
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Scioto Street, Fifth Ward, now has a three- horse hitch and four men.
Hose and Chemical Company No. 6, on Smithfield Street, has two men.
Vandevort Chemical and Hose Company No. 7, located at the corner of Cherry and Cedar Streets, Seventh Ward, has three men.
The Phillips Hose Company is hose and chemical. It has a combination wagon and team.
In addition to the tweny-four full-paid men in the department, there are now about 185 volunteer numbers. New Castle is justly proud of its fire department and its efficient service. The expense for this year (1908) not including equipment or build- ings is $26,350 ; property valuation, $76,891.
The Firemen's Relief Association, of New Castle, on June 28, 1895, passed an act providing that one-half of the net amount received from the 2 per cent tax paid upon premiums by foreign fire in- surance companies be paid to the treasurer of each of the boroughs and cities of the commonwealth.
The Firemen's Relief Association, of New Castle, was chartered February 23, 1897. The object of the corporation is to provide and maintain a fund from legacies, bequests, and other sources for the relief, support and burial of those who may be crippled or killed or who might be prevented from attending to their usual occupation or calling on account of chronic ailments or permanent injuries caused by exposure or accident while attending to public fire duty. Any member of the asso- ciation in good standing when inca- pacitated for his regular employment while attending to his duties as fireman is en- titled to benefit during the time that the Board of Examiners may report him as under control.
If a member is killed in the performance of his duty, leaving wife or orphan chil- dren under sixteen years of age, or de- pendent parent, such shall receive $300.
The income from the tax above mentioned is now about $800 per year.
The fire captains since 1872 have been the following :
John Young, 1872-76; George C. Hagan, 1876-78; Joseph Stritmater, 1878-79; Col. D. M. Cubbison, 1879-80; Capt. A. S. Love, 1880-81; W. W. Cubbison, 1881-92; James H. Brown, 1892 to January, 1901; F. J. J. Connery, January, 1901, to present time.
FIRE POLICE.
Captain, C. W. Watson; first lieutenant, P. Gaston; second lieutenant, John Linn, with a force of twenty-four men. Ap- paratus: One steamer of the "Button" pattern, costing $3,500; one hand-engine of the same pattern; one hose-carriage and four hose-reels, with 3,500 feet of hose; two hook-and-ladders and one police truck, with necessary apparatus.
CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT.
This department consists of twenty-five officers and men, the present chief being Joseph Gilmore, who has held the office since April 1, 1908. The lieutenant is James Diskin, while there are two ser- geants.
The department occupies rooms in the basement of the city building. The office- room is comfortably and neatly fitted up, and adjoining are the cells for prisoners, consisting of three separate apartments, built very strong and lined inside with boiler iron, with a heavy open iron grating in front along the corridor. They are clean and well lighted and ventilated. For base- ment rooms these are exceedingly dry and comfortable. For a number of years the department has had a patrol wagon, but there are as yet no patrol boxes.
WATER-WORKS.
The present water system of New Castle was established in 1882, and gives excel- lent service. The water pressure in the downtown district runs from 90 to 100 pounds or over, and is obtained from two
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY
large reservoirs, one on the North Side and the other on East Hill. Into the reser- voir on the North Side the water is pumped from the Shenango River, after passing through one of the best filters in the coun- try; while the water is forced into the East Hill reservoir from the mains by a first-class pumping station. From near this latter reservoir the water is returned to the mains from such an elevation as to give an excellent pressure in all parts of the city. The City of New Castle Water Company is located at No. 29 North Mill Street, D. H. Amsbary being the present superintendent.
NEW CASTLE GAS COMPANY.
This company was chartered in Febru- ary, 1856, the incorporators being Dr. Charles T. Whippo, Stephen J. Noble Theodore F. Hay, N. White and Ezekiel Sankey. The franchise included the right to manufacture and supply the borough of New Castle with gas for illuminating pur- poses for the period of twenty years. Be- fore the expiration of the time granted, the company became involved, and their rights and property were sold by the sher- iff. The purchaser under the sale was Jo- seph Pennock, of Pittsburg, who was the principal creditor. Soon after his purchase he sold out to Cyrus Clarke, who disposed of a half interest to David Sankey. Mr. Sankey went to Harrisburg and procured a new act of incorporation, or a re-enact- ment of the former charter, with a new set of incorporators, including Cyrus Clarke. David Sankey, Isaac N. Phillips, and per- haps some others. This company sold out in 1875 to another company, which oper- ated the works under a capital of $50,000. In the latter part of 1899 this latter com- many, with others, was merged into the Fort Pitt Gas Company. In March, 1903, the Fort Pitt Gas Company was absorbed by the Manufacturers' Light & Heat Com- pany, of Pittsburg, which now supplies New Castle and Ellwood City with natural gas for all the ordinary purposes. This
company owns 248 oil wells and 648 gas wells, also owning and controlling under lease 448,976.32 acres of gas and oil lands, a large proportion of which are yet un- developed. The company is officered in Pittsburg and the vicinity. The local dis- trict embraces New Castle and Lawrence, Butler and Mercer Counties, the New Castle office being in charge of Joseph T. Campbell, formerly agent for the Fort Pitt Gas Company. Under his direction the local service is maintained in a thoroughly efficient and satisfactory manner, which makes New Castle an up-to-date city as re- gards this important utility.
The introduction of natural gas and the electric light proved ruinous to the old gas companies. The charter of the Lawrence Gas Company, formerly operating in New Castle and vicinity, is now owned by the Pennsylvania and Mahoning Valley Rail- way Company. The gas plant has not been operated for some years. The city streets are now lighted by the New Castle Electric Company, which is controlled by the Ma- honing & Shenango Railway & Light Com- pany. M. A. Pooler, 51/2 South Mill Street, is superintendent.
NESHANNOCK RAILROAD, COAL AND ORE COMPANY.
This company was originally chartered in 1868. The incorporators were D. Craig, R. H. Peebles, Joshua Rhodes, A. B. Ber- ger, George Pearson and James Rhodes. The road was built in 1866 by James Rhodes. The first cost was about $100,000, which was subsequently increased to $140,- 000. The company organized with George Pearson as president, James Rhodes, sec- retary and treasurer, and the balance of the incorporators acting as directors. A new charter was obtained in 1872, and a new company organized under the name of the New Castle Railroad and Mining Company. The new company purchased the interests of the Neshannock Railroad, Coal and Ore Company. The road was constructed to connect the New Castle Rail-
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road and Mining Company with the coal and iron-producing district in Neshan- noek Township, north of New Castle.
TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.
The Central District and Printing Tele- graph Company, operating under the Bell telephone patent, began business in New Castle in 1881, with about twenty-five or thirty subscribers. They now have about 3,500 subscribers. They have a modern battery equipment and employ about thir- ty-five exchange operators.
The American Union Telephone Com- pany, an independent company, is the suc- cessor of the Citizens' Telephone Com- pany: President, David Jameson; treas- urer, C. H. Aiken; secretary, W. Scott Paisley. This company started with 110 subscribers. The business increased to such an extent that the members of the company who had other interests found it inconvenient to give it the required at- tention and the business was sold to its present owners. The company has about 1,500 subscribers and employs about nine- teen operators. C. P. Mebane is the man- ager, with an office on the second floor of the Greer Block.
OPERA-HOUSE.
The origin of a popular and up-to-date place of amusement dates back to March 12, 1866, when a stock company, under the title of the "New Castle Hall and Market Company" was chartered, with a capital of $25,000, and authority to increase to $175,000. The original incorporators were E. J. Agnew, George Pearson, Jr., George Conzette. I. N. Phillips, Paul Butz, Adam Treser, George C. Reis, John Davis, Eze- kiel Sankey, Joseph Kissick, Christian Genkinger, James R. Shaw and A. B. Ber- ger. The contract for the erection of the buildings was let in May, 1867, to James M. Mayne, at $25,000, but additional work brought the total expenditures up to $38,000. The building was completed in
the autumn of 1867. It is situated on Mer- cer Street, and is sixty-four feet front by 134 feet deep. It contains on the first floor two store rooms. The Opera House oc- cupies the upper portion of the building, and is finely fitted up with a roomy and convenient stage, proscenium boxes, gal- lery, etc., and has ample accommodations for an audience of 1,000. The best trav- eling troupes always visit New Castle, and the entertainments given are equal in every respect to those of a similar character in the large cities. The present owner and proprietor is J. F. Genkinger.
CASCADE PARK.
This park, which was opened by the New Castle Traction Company, is consid- ered by many to be the most beautiful pleasure resort, from the standpoint of natural scenery, in Western Pennsylvania. From the site of the terminal depot, up the rocky stream to the falls, the scenery is undoubtedly grander than can be found anywhere else in this part of the state. Across the bridges you stand in awe as you contemplate the sublimity of the Cat Rocks rising perpendicularly from the bottom of the gulch and crowned by a cosy, rustic house. Advancing, you come to such points of interest as the boiling spring, the great waterfall, and the old dam. These are all in the primeval forest, and, with few changes, are just as they were when the Indians made this their favorite camping ground. Many traces of the red men are yet to be found in the rude figures on the rocks, notably the face of an Indian princess carved on a huge bowlder just beneath the falls, where tradition says she met a horrible death by falling over the cliff. The falls are one of the principal points of interest-a miniature Niagara. On either side the walls of the rocky gulch rise perpendicularly. All the amuse- ment attractions usually found in such re- sorts in these days are provided at the park.
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY
NURSERIES AND GREENHOUSES.
The extensive floral business now car- ried on by Butz Brothers, on Croton Ave- nue, was originated in October, 1851, by Paul Butz, who purchased six acres of land then in poor condition for cultivation, and on which there was a one and a half story frame dwelling, and an old stable. It re- quired several years of hard, unremitting labor to get the land in passable condi- tion for the purposes Mr. Butz had in view. The first building erected was a small greenhouse, in 1853, for the cultivation of plants and flowers. Very little taste had been developed, at that day, in the cultiva- tion of flowers among the good people of New Castle and the adjacent region, and the proprietor was obliged at first to keep up his establishment, apparently, as much for his own gratification as for the ac- commodation of the public. Mr. Butz was thoroughly acquainted with the cultivation of plants and flowers, and also an accom- plished landscape gardener, before he be- came a citizen of Lawrence County, having been employed for upwards of fifteen years in some of the largest horticultural estab- lishments and botanical gardens of Europe. He soon became known, and his services began to be in demand in the laying out and adorning of private grounds in and around New Castle. He also introduced the first young evergreens and shade trees.
For several seasons he pursued the busi- ness under serious difficulties, due partly to climatic conditions, as well as to those above mentioned. But during the years 1855-56 the market for plants and flowers greatly improved, and Mr. Butz purchased and added to his place four more acres of land, which, after getting it in good order, he planted in strawberries and peach trees. The same year he planted a young nursery of evergreens, shade trees and shrubs. In 1858 he built an addition to his greenhouse, in order to extend the culti- vation of plants, and also added about 20,000 young stock plants to his nursery,
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