Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 13

Author: Hazen, Aaron L. (Aaron Lyle), 1837- comp. and ed. cn
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1058

USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > New Castle > Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th > Part 13

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In the fall of 1891, about one and a half acres of ground were purchased from the estate of I. N. Phillips at the corner of North Beaver Street and Lincoln Avenue, and, during the winter following, plans for the building, drawn by Architect C. C. Thayer, were adopted. On January 11, 1892, the following were elected to consti- tute the board of directors : Thomas W. Phillips, William Patterson, David Dickey, L. F. Hoyt, W. E. Reis, M. S. Marquis, J. P. H. Cunningham, George B. Berger and A. W. Thompson. At a meeting of the board on January 23 of the same year, the following officers were elected: William Patterson, president; David Dickey, vice- president ; C. J. Kirk, treasurer, and A. W.

Thompson, secretary. The following March a building committee was appointed to con- sist of the following members: E. I. Phil- lips, chairman; W. E. Reis, J. P. H. Cun- ningham, L. Raney, R. C. Patterson and A. W. Thompson. During that month the contract was let for grading the lot, and June 29, 1892, the contract for the build- ing, exclusive of heating, excavating and concreting, was let to William Barnet, of New Castle, for $14,679. The building was completed and ready for occupancy in April, 1893, and a part of the furnishings were in it, but as yet it was unoccupied ex- cept by a watchman, when on the 8th day of that month, at 10:30 p. m., an alarm was sounded summoning the people to fight the flames which enveloped the mag- nificent structure. A valiant fight was made, but to no avail, the building being almost completely destroyed; it was in- sured to the extent of $12,500. To see the work of the past years thus undone in a few hours was discouraging, but the work of clearing away the debris and re- building was started before the embers were fairly cold. The new building was a reproduction of the old plans, but was made more substantial in order to avoid a similar catastrophe, by the building of sev- eral fire-walls. The accident delayed the opening of the hospital until the spring of 1894. Shortly after, in the interest of the institution, a fair and benefit performance was given at the opera house, from which about $1,200 were received. A "loan en- tertainment," at the old Allen Rink, was given by the ladies of New Castle, which netted the hospital approximately $3,000. Early in May, 1894, the institution was dedicated, the services in the afternoon be- ing followed by a charity ball in the even- ing; many notable people were in at- tendance, among them being Governor Pat- terson. The Masons kindly gave the use of their lodge room for the services, and William G. Dunn gave the use of his ball- room in the same building.

When opened, the hospital contained five

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

wards, a well equipped operating room, seven private rooms, six bathrooms, din- ing-room, parlor and an office, and was provided with a heating plant and other modern equipment. It was not many years before the growth of the city rendered the hospital too small to accommodate the in- creased number of patients who sought admission. In 1899, an addition to the north wing was built, which more than doubled the capacity of two wards and added three private rooms, also giving better accommodation to the nurses. By 1903 the capacity was again overtaxed and it was decided to erect an addition to the west wing, which would practically double its capacity. These improvements were made at a cost of about $43,000, of which between $20,000 and $25,000 was raised by local subscription. In 1905 there was left an indebtedness of $17,000, and in that year the Legislature made an appropria- tion of that sum, but the governor reduced it to $7,000. There was still left an in- debtedness of $10,000, and the sum was again appropriated by the Legislature in 1906, and the appropriation reduced to $6,000 by the governor. This leaves a bal- ance of $4,000 unpaid, which is the only indebtedness of the institution. The report on its condition, made December 1, 1907. reveals the following interesting facts :

Total value of property.

.$98,767.62

Indebtedness

4,000.00

Income 33,887.61

Expenses 35,771.21

In. patients 938

Gratuitous patients 178

Partially gratuitous 40

Average cost of patient per week.

$13.37

Average daily number of patients.

The hospital now has about two and one- half acres fronting on Lincoln Avenue, ex- tending from Beaver Street to Shenango Street. Since its inception $90,826.68 has been received from the state for mainte- nance, and $45,000 for building purposes. The present income from patients is about $12,000 annually, and a like sum is re- eived from the state. The hospital origi-

nally had a capacity of thirty patients, and now accommodates 120. The rooms of the institution have been beautifully furnished by the societies and benevolent private citi- zens of New Castle. The first patient entered the hospital November 10, 1893, since which time 7,766 patients have been treated and cared for.

The original board of directors has con- tinued to the present time, except for the following changes made necessary through death or resignation. At the second elec- tion, January 9, 1893, John L. Crawford was elected to take the place of David Dick- ey, resigned; January 8, 1894, Elmer I. Phillips was elected to the place of John L. Crawford, who had removed from the city, and J. N. Fallis succeeded S. M. Mar- quis, resigned. A few days later George B. Berger was elected to fill the vacancy as vice-president, caused by the resignation of David Dickey, and E. I. Phillips suc- ceeded Mr. Kirk as treasurer. The same officers and trustees then served without change until the death of William Pat- terson in August, 1905, when his son, R. C. Patterson, was elected to the presidency. Shortly after, D. Jameson was chosen to fill the place left vacant by the death of George B. Berger.

It is fitting that we here make mention of the unselfish efforts and devotion of the late William Patterson to the successful operation of this institution. A man of national prominence as a financier and one of the captains of industry in this country, the demands of his own interests on his time, were such that to give daily atten- tion to the business of the hospital, which he did from the time he was elected presi- dent at its organization until his demise, must have been a great personal sacrifice. But his heart was in the work and of all his masterly achievements there was none in which he took so much pride as in his connection with the Shenango Valley Hos- pital and the grand work it was accom- plishing.

The staff of the Shenango Valley Hos-

ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH AND PARSONAGE, NEW CASTLE.

MASONIC TEMPLE, NEW CASTLE.

RESIDENCE OF HON. THOMAS W. PHILLIPS, NEW CASTLE.

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HIGH SCHOOL, NEW CASTLE.

ST. MARY'S SCHOOL AND CHURCH, NEW CASTLE.

ALMIRA HOME, NEW CASTLE.

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pital is composed of physicians selected by the Lawrence County Medical Society, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees. They serve without pay, and to them is due a large measure of the suc- cess of the institution; the present staff, and the quarter of the year to which its members are assigned, is as follows: First quarter - Drs. T. J. Blackwood, A. M. Cook, L. O. Phillips, H. W. McKee, and Samuel W. Perry, assistant; second quar- ter-Drs. Harry Wilson, H. E. Zerner, C. A. Reed, R. G. Miles, and W. C. Kissinger, assistant ; third quarter-Drs. J. M. Popp, C. F. McDowell, M. Linville, John Foster, and John Tucker, assistant; fourth quar- ter-Drs. R. A. Wallace, E. C. McComb, L. W. Wilson, E. A. Donnan, and A. W. Urmson, assistant. Dr. D. C. Lindley is the staff specialist on the eye and ear. The first superintendent was Miss Eliza Nelson, who served until March, 1895, when she was succeeded by Miss R. F. Johnson, who in turn was succeeded by Mrs. Harriet A. Cochran in April, 1896. The last named has served continuously in that position since, and with marked ability. At its inception the hospital had a matron, two nurses, a cook, a laundress and a janitor. The present force consists of the super- intendent, a clerk in charge of the office, an assistant superintendent, a night super- intendent, two internes, twenty-two nurses, two orderlies, one laundress with three assistants, one cook with two assistants, one dietitian and an assistant, a janitor, an elevator operator and six maids.

The Shenango Valley Hospital Training School for Nurses was established and incorporated in 1896, and at first had a two years' course, the change to a three- year course being made in 1899. It started with an enrolment of two pupils, and now has twenty, who have come from various parts of the country to avail themselves of exceptional advantages. The number of graduates is thirty-seven. During the first two years the training was by lectures de- livered by members of the hospital staff,

and since then the faculty has been com- posed of Drs. R. G. Miles, A. W. Urmson, W. H. Hay, E. C. McComb, H. W. Me- Kee, John Foster, H. E. Zerner, W. L. Campbell, W. C. Kissinger, C. F. McDow- ell, together with Mrs. Harriet A. Cochran, the superintendent, and her assistant, Miss Austa Whitmore, and the resident phy- sicians of each year. The executive com- mittee of the hospital, consisting of the officers and trustees, serves in a similar ca- pacity for the training school.

FRANCISCAN HOSPITAL.

In November of the present year (1908) there will be opened a new hospital, yet unnamed, to be conducted by the Francis- can sisters of Pittsburg. The hospital is to be located in the old Phillips mansion, in the Fifth Ward. The grounds of this property contain about six acres, bounded on the north by Lutton Street, on the east by South Mill Street, on the west by South Jefferson Street, and on the south by Phil- lips Street. The building is three and a half stories and basement. When the re- pairs and alterations now being done are completed the institution will be able to take care of from thirty-five to forty pa- tients. The improvements are to cost about $10,000, and will make the hospital a thor- oughly up-to-date institution. While the sisters in control and the nurses will be members of the Franciscan order, the hos- pital will be non-sectarian with respect to the admission of patients. Sister Cecelia of Butler has been appointed the Mother Superior.

HOLY FAMILY CHILDREN'S HOME.

This institution was established in New Castle September 10, 1903, by Margaret L. Henery, who came here as the repre- sentative of the Society of the Holy Fam- ily, of Cleveland, Ohio. During the first six months of its existence the home oc- cupied quarters on Lincoln Avenue, being then moved to its present location, at the corner of Cunningham Lane and East Di-

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

vision Street. Two years ago the property was purchased. The society is Roman Catholic, but the home is not under any church control and is open to needy chil- dren of any denomination. It depends en- tirely upon the public benevolence for its support and aims to provide the children with a home in the real sense of the word. There are now twenty children being cared for in the institution.

CROTON.

This place so named from William Crow, its first settler who came from Bucks Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, about 1826. He was a soldier during the War of 1812, and his father, Abram Crow, had served in the American Army during the Revolution. William Crow had the warrant which his father had drawn for his services in the army, which he located where Croton now stands. His two brothers, George and Moses, settled at Croton about a year later. It is probable that the three brothers di- vided between them the land located by their father's warrant. The place was for a long time called "Crow-town," in honor of the first settlers. The name was by some means changed to Croton about the time the glass works were located there in 1847. William Crow died May 12, 1836. He granted to Neshannock Township the ground on which the Croton School Build- ing (now within the limits of New Castle) now stands.

Moses Crow sold his property lying on the south side of the "Scrub-Grass," alias, Harlansburg Road, to Dr. Whippo. Among those who had to do with laying out the land into lots were Isaac P. Rose, Samuel Pearson, William Becker and E. and P. Hoover, the last mentioned making a small addition of lots to the place about 1870-71, on the east side of Vine Street.

Among early settlers were Isaac P. Rose, James Vogan, Alexander Roderick and William Bennett.

On the erection of the glass works by Henderson and Morris in 1847, the place

enlarged its borders, and began to put on the airs of a town. The first attempt at manufacturing was in the shape of a pot- tery for the manufacture of common earth- enware, put in operation by Isaac Rose on a piece of land purchased of George Crow. Mr. Rose carried on the business for sev- eral years. There was also at an early day a small stoneware manufactory, put up by Ferdman Aye, a German, who op- erated it for some eight or ten years. Bricks were manufactured by William Crow, David Shaffer and John Tidball, and later by John Hammett and John G. Ray. A grocery store was opened by David Em- ery as early as 1846. Among the earliest physicians were Drs. Searles and Fish. Iron ore is quite abundant in the vicinity, and stone for building purposes has been quite extensively quarried. A description of the large nursery and greenhouses of the Butz Brothers is given elsewhere in the chapter on New Castle.

The village of Croton, formerly a sub- urb of New Castle, now forms a part of the city. It is situated on high ground and lies northeast from the Courthouse, and about a mile distant. There are many desirable residence localities in its vicinity, and manufacturing and other interests give employment to a large number of men.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

About 1847-48 a Methodist class was or- ganized in this place, and a church build- ing erected about 1850. Since that date a very fine church has been constructed. Among the prominent members at the date of organization were T. P. Bittner, Isaac Cline, John Rhodes, J. C. Young, Daniel Bittner and James Emery, with their fam- ilies. The first pastors (previous to the erection of a church building) were Revs. Crum and Hubbard. The first preaching was in the schoolhouse. The first regular pastor in charge was Rev. John Graham, who preached for a number of years, and dedicated the new church. The records of the society for the early years are scat-

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tered or imperfect, so cannot be given in detail, but among Mr. Graham's successors up to 1877 were Revs. Thompson, Bennett, Merchant, Johnson, Morris, Wick, Ward, Darrow and J. C. Rhodes. From 1877 to 1880 there is no record, but beginning with 1880, the pastors were (first of the Greenwood Charge, which included Cro- ton) : 1880-81, S. K. Paden; 1881-82, C. W. Reeves, supply; 1882-84, F. R. Peters; 1884-85, A. O. Stone; 1885-86, J. C. Gil- lett; 1886-90, C. M. Morse; 1890-95, C. W. Foulke; 1895-98, L. W. Elkins; 1898-01, W. S. Sheppard; 1901-04, S. A. Smith; 1904-05, S. L. Mills; 1905, J. L. Stratton, who is still pastor. In 1886 the name of the church was changed to Shenango M. E. Church. In 1893 a negro church was built on Croton Avenue, New Castle, at which time Croton Church became a station and the name was changed to Croton Avenue M. E. Church, which name it has since borne. Probably in 1899 Savannah was annexed to Croton Avenue, but this year (1908) it has been taken off and Croton Avenue is again a station. When it became a station there were 120 members, includ- ing ten probationers ; now there are nearly 300 members, including probationers, not- withstanding the heavy losses the church has sustained. Croton Avenue is now a well organized up-to-date church and has a graded, well organized Sabbath school. During the past three years the church has prospered in every way. Each year of the three there has been a revival with a num- ber of accessions to the church, with fre- quent accessions during the entire period. The number of members in the Sabbath school (main school), is 312; in Home De- partment, 150; in Cradle Roll, 77; grand total, 539.

The church officers: Stewards-W. H. Locke, F. H. Rohlf (rec. stewd.), Fred Rowland, I. E. George (dist. stewd.), G. M. Gibson, A. C. Allen, Mrs. D. T. McCon- ahy, Mrs. John Reitz and Mrs. N. J. Black- stone. Trustees-J. S. Campbell, William Hunter, W. H. Locke, P. K. Fike, E. E.

Hilliard, A. L. Burlette, H. O. Allen, O. A. Rodgers, Rev. C. W. Foulke and T. C. Arm- strong. Class leader, with twenty as- sistants, I. E. George. Local preacher, I. E. George. Sabbath school superinten- dent, Mrs. J. L. Stratton. Exhorter, C. L. Keagy.

FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH.

A society of this denomination was or- ganized in Croton, about 1855. Among those prominently connected with it were Thomas Blake and family, the Carrs, James and Douglass Ray, David and Joshua Pierce, Almond, John and David Miller, and their families. The first preacher was Elder William Ray. Among those who afterwards officiated were Elders Manning, Bumpus, Ring, Morford, Harvey and Clary. John Kelty was also an ordained elder at one time, and preached occasionally. In the prosperous days of this society the congregation was quite large.

AREA AND ADDITIONS.

The original town plot of New Castle was laid out by John Carlysle Stewart, in April, 1798.

James Gillespie made an addition in 1811.

James D. White, two additions in 1832 and 1837.

Ezekiel Sankey laid out West New Castle, 1836.

Thomas Falls made an addition at an early date.

John Crawford White, an addition in 1846 or 1847.

Dr. C. T. Whippo, an addition in 1850.

John T. Phillips, an addition in 1867. Henry F. Falls, an addition in 1867.

David White, or his heirs, an addition, date unknown.

Phillips and Du Shane, addition to West New Castle, 1868.

And there have been several other addi- tions, not all of which, however, have been placed upon record.

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

The present area within the city limits will not vary materially, from ten square miles or 6,400 acres, a large proportion of which is very thickly settled.

· SITUATION.

New Castle is romantically and pic- turesquely situated at the confluence of the Neshannock Creek and Shenango River. Big Run, a considerable stream, also dis- charges its waters into the Shenango with- in the city limits, and there are a num- ber of smaller streams which also traverse various portions of its territory. "Along the Neshannock Creek the bluffs rise very abruptly to the height of a hundred feet or more; in places precipitous, and show .. ing bold and rugged rock escarpments. The scenery along the Neshannock is quite wild and picturesque, and the minor streams present some rare and beautiful retreats, particularly is this the case upon a small creek which discharges into the Neshan- nock, near the crossing of the Coal rail- road, and also on a small run below Croton Village; and there is a picturesque gorge or ravine just south of Greenwood Ceme- tery. Along the Shenango, from about opposite the west end of North Street, to a point in the southeastern part of Union Township, the hill rises abruptly from the stream, and the sandstone crops out in per- pendicular cliffs. The bluffs are very bold and commanding in the northern part of the city, and afford many fine building sites, which have been greatly improved by the hand of art. On the east side of the Neshannock, from a point near the Courthouse, to the southeastern limits of the city, the hills rise more gradually, at- taining a height of about 300 feet, at the distance of about ten miles from the creek. The valley of the Shenango, in the north- western part is beautiful; skirted on the west by a fine level bottom, and on the east overhung by wooded heights. South of Big Run the hills rise grandly to the height of over 300 feet from the Shenango,

and the valley of Big Run opens a charm- ing vista towards the southeast.

"In the southern part of the city, a little north of Big Run, is a curious freak of nature, in the form of an oblong hill, lying parallel with the valley of the Run, rising some fifty feet above the level bot- tom, by which it is surrounded. It is the property of Hon. Thomas W. Phillips, whose residence crowns its summit, em- bowered amid the foliage of a few pri- meval forest trees, and a most beautiful arrangement of deciduous and evergreen trees, planted and arranged in the most artistic manner. This is one of the very finest residence locations in the city. The mound itself was undoubtedly formed by the action of counter-currents of swift- flowing waters, in the days when the vast continental glacial system was melting away under the rays of the sun. From whatever direction New Castle is ap- proached, the views are beautiful, always excepting the murky atmosphere that per- petually overhangs the valley, from its smoking factories."

Including its numerous suburbs, the city contains an estimated population of from 40,000 to 50,000 people. Three lines of rail- way center or make connections with New Castle-the Erie and Pittsburg, the New Castle and Franklin, and the Ashtabula, Youngstown and Pittsburg. Another, called the Pittsburg, New Castle and Erie Railway, is in contemplation, with fair prospects of being put in operation at an early day.

A large amount of capital, amounting in the aggregate to several million dollars, is invested in extensive and varied manufac- tures, which give the city prominence, the principal among which are the various and complicated iron industries, the products of which, from pig-iron down through all the multiform variations of "T" rail, bar and sheet-iron, spikes and nails, mill-gear- ing, water-wheels, flat, round, plate, band- iron and nail-rods, find their market in all

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the great centers of trade throughout the land.

Large quantities of flour and feed, paper and sacks, glass, tin plate, pottery, car- riages, etc., are also manufactured and ex- ported to various points. A very large mercantile business is transacted in New Castle in the various departments of dry goods, groceries, clothing, drugs, paints, oils, medicines, jewelry, hardware, crock- ery and furniture, the number of business houses amounting to several hundred.

The principal thoroughfares are substan- tially paved, and the city has a number of fine and substantial bridges. The iron bridge on Washington Street, over the Shenango, is a splendid and most substan- tial structure. Its total length is about 210 feet and its width fifty feet, with two carriage-ways and sidewalks on either side. It is built upon the arched truss principle, somewhat modified, and is very firm, the heaviest traffic making no perceptible vi- bration. Another iron bridge spans the Shenango at Grant Street. It is about the same length as the Washington Street bridge, and a solid and satisfactory struc- ture. It is similar to the "Howe truss." A substantial wooden bridge spans the She- nango at the "point," just above the mouth of the Neshannock, constructed upon the arched truss principle and covered. On the Neshannock there are three iron bridges of the King pattern, built at Cleve- land, Ohio, and one wooden foot-bridge, the latter opposite the upper portion of the "Shenango Iron Works." In addition to these there are four railway bridges within the city limits; two over the Shenango and two over the Neshannock.

The water-power within the city is all situated on the Neshannock Creek, there being three substantial dams upon the stream. There was formerly a very fair water-power on Big Run, but a flood swept it away and the dam has not since been re- built.

The city contains thirty-two church edi- fices, the most conspicuous being those of

the Christian denomination, the First Pres- byterian, Episcopalian, First Methodist and First United Presbyterian.

There are within the city fourteen school buildings, not including the large and flour- ishing Catholic denominational school. In addition to what has been already de- scribed the city contains numerous and important manufactories, two flourishing commercial colleges, three weekly and two daily newspapers, seventeen hotels, two gas companies, a company of the National Guard (troop cavalry), a fine military band, an opera and market house, besides several job printing houses, and many fine, tasteful and costly residences. There are about fifty resident clergymen, sixty-one practicing physicians, and about sixty- seven attorneys.

GROWTH OF NEW CASTLE.

During the ten years from 1890 to 1900 New Castle's percentage of growth, ac- cording to the United States census de- partment, was greater than that of any other city in the United States. The pop- ulation in 1890 was 11,600; in 1900, 28,- 329. This growth was due to the fact that New Castle lies in a fertile region, en- riched with inexhaustible veins of coal and limestone, and enjoys exceptional advan- tages for manufacturing pig iron as well as the finished material. The city is lo- cated on five railroad systems-the Pitts- burg & Western, the Pittsburg & Lake Erie, the Pennsylvania, the Erie, and the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg.

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 13

Author: Hazen, Aaron L. (Aaron Lyle), 1837- comp. and ed. cn Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co. Number of Pages: 1058

Author: Hazen, Aaron L. (Aaron Lyle), 1837- comp. and ed. cn
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1058