Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. I, Part 82

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. (Chicago) pbl
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 584

USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. I > Part 82

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Close to this old plot of lots on the up-river side, was Bamford Station, which became the immediate loeality of a great legal fight for title between the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company and the Donora Southern Rail- road Company in 1904. The evidence reveals the fact that Johu Dobbs owned land around this Bamford Sta- tion in 1\15 and laid out a town plot known in the com- munnity as Dobbs Columbia. Dobbs Ferry or Dobbstowu with streets and alleys, such as Ferry, Market, Short and Iligh streets. All above Brown's Ferry was known as Dobbs' Columbia. One witness says there were fonr taverns there and two or three stores all of which dis- appeared long before 1870. Edwin M. Stanton, after- ward secretary under Lincoln's administration, during the Civil War, had purchased, with others, some of the land at this point in 1855, including coal lands of Washing- ton County.

The legal trouble between the railroads began by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company hitching its locomotives by chains to the 500 feet of tracks laid by the Donora Southern Railroad Company and hanling them away, or twisting and destroping them. Two actions at law have already been decided for these parties by the Supreme Court affirming the decision of onr county court, and it is rumored more litigation is to follow.

The Monongahela Division of the Pennsylvania Rail- road passes through Donora. The Donora station has probably the biggest business of any station on the Monongahela Division, outside of Southside, where the big Pittsburg industries are located. The Pennsylvania Railroad has a force of nineteen men at its Donora freight office to keep the business running smoothly.

The water of Douora is pumped from the river to two reservoirs on the hill. The town is also served by the Adams Express and Bell Telephone companies.

When the Pittsburg and Charleroi line was constructed it out across the country between Monongahela and Char- leroi, leaving the river and cutting off several miles. As Donovan is on the river it is so situated as to be left out entirely. The Pittsburg.Charleroi line is within two miles of the steel town, and several companies have been formed to build a line across the country to connect Donora with this line. Active operations have never been commenced, however, and the project is still on paper. Another plan is to build a trolley line to Black Diamond, a suburb of Monongahela where the Pittsburg road leaves the river and strikes across to Charleroi. This has as- sumed more definite proportions and has proceeded to the point where traeks have been laid through Donora, and a solitary ear jogs up and down the streets in order to hold the city 's franchises until the remainder of the

road can be built. If either of these connections are made the system will be complete. Donora is a good town and deserves better communication with the outside world than it now has. Busines men in the valley eon- fidently predict that before long Donora will be afforded the same advantages in the way of trolley serviee as the rest of the Monongahela Valley towns.

One of the most notable improvements at Donora hiring the year was the erection of the Donora-Webster bridge across the Monongahela River. The new free bridge was erected by the counties of Washington and Westmoreland at a eost of about $200,000.

The center span erosses the entire river-this bridge was'erected without stopping transportation on the river -il also crosses five tracks of the P. R. R. and did not in any way interfere with their traffie. Another feature of sneeess of the work was that not a single ae- cident occurred during the construction of this bridge, which was built in reeord breaking time, having been completed in six months. If the material had been de- livered on contract time work would have been completed in fonr months.

Residents of both sides of the river have looked for- ward to its completion with a good deal of pride and enthusiasm.

The Donora "American"' was established April 19, 1901. Vernon Hazzard, Esq., of Monongahela City, was the owner of the plant, and Roman E. Koeler assnmed the position of manager and editor. During the first year of the paper's existence the latter purchased a half interest and the publication was continned by the pres- ent firm of Hazzard & Koehler. The paper is published every Friday afternoon. Besides the paste pot and shears, the ontfit at first was comprised of one press, a few fonts of type and other articles of less importance. Today an entirely np-to-date establishment is required to handle the volume of business of the American.

Donora Daily News-This paper was established in 1902. It is published every day except Sunday by J. MacCalvin and A. Calvin.

Fire Department-The burning of John Wargo's house in 1902 called the attention of the residents to the need of fire protection. Foremost among those who were active in the formation of the fire department were William Kirkwood, Burgess Castner, Dr. W. H. Lewis, L. M. Carpenter and George Woodward.

Not only the borough but also the members of the de. partment have done mueh to build up the department. The lot was donated by the Union Improvement Com. pany. The first fire chief was D. F. Millison. As early as 1903 this volunteer fire department consisted of two hose companies and a hook and ladder company. The membership at that time was nearly fifty and the Donora Fire Department was far beyond the average

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volunteer organizations of older and larger towns in respect to both equipment and personnel.

Donora is primarily an industrial town. Its wonder. ful growth is due to the large manufacturing plants located there. The mills at Donora pay out in wages about $114,000 every two weeks. Donora's pay-roll aver- ages in the neighborhood of $230,000 a month. The number of working men in Donora is close to 3,000.

The American Steel and Wire Co. (U. S. Steel Cor- poration, Donora Plant )-The great mills of the Amer- ican Stel and Wire Company (Union Steel Company), at Donora, occupy a level tract of 300 acres and front the river for a distance of two and a half miles. The Union Steel Company broke ground on May 29, 1900, and pro- duction was hegun the following September. This plant is composed of two rod mills, wire mill, galvanizing de- partment, wire nail mill, barb wire department, large warehouse, boiler house, pump house, electric station, office building, emergency hospital for first-aid to the injured, and a number of anxiliary departments.

Carnegie Steel Company (U. S. Steel Corporation, Donora Plant)-Ground was broken for the open hearth plant in 1902. Mr. Neviu McConnell, general superin- tendent of the Donora plant, made it the most modern and best equipped that it was possible to build. This plant is composed of two blast furnaces, electric power- house, pumping station, open-hearth plant, hlooming mill, boiler house, mechanical department, machine shop, car- penter shop, pipe shop, locomotive house, blacksmith shop and boiler shop. The No. 1 blast furnace was blown in January 1, 1905, giving employment to 1,000 men. The U. S. Steel Corporation pays $1,200,000 to its employes at Donora annually.

Mathews Woven Wire Fence Co .- An important indus- try of Donora is the Mathews Woven Wire Fence Com- pany. It is an independent concern, being affiliated with the big steel mills only to the extent of drawing its sup- ply of wire therefrom. E. C. Mathews is general mana- ger.

Coincident with the first sale of lots in Donora was the organization of the Donora Lumber Company. The president of the company is Charles F. Thompson. The Union Lnmber Company and the Allen Lumber Com- pany also aided in the building up of the town.

Besides the plants above mentioned, Donora has mauy other manufacturing concerns, among which are the Do- nora Ice and Storage, the Donora Brewing, and the Donora Electric Light, Heat and Power companies.

The First National Bank of Donora was organized in the spring of 1901, and was formally opened July 15, 1901. The first president was W. I. Berryman, and the first board of directors were: W. I. Berryman, Jolin W.

Ailes, W. H. Donner, A. W. Mellon, Bert W. Castner, J. N. Mullin and C. F. Thompson. The bank has erected a handsome three-story office building.

The Bank of Donora was established in 1902. The institution has grown and prospered wouderfully in the last few years. The Bank of Donora, during the year 1905 increased its deposits 116 per cent, which was about the best record made by any institution of the county.

The officers are: Dr. J. Add Sprowls, presideut ; G. W. Thomas, vice-president; C. E. Thomas, cashier, and E. B. Todd, assistant cashier. Dr. J. Add Sprowls, the president, has heen an active force in the affairs of the Bank of Donovan since its incorporation, and his in- fluence has been an important factor in winning patron- age for the bank.

Mr. George W. Thomas, vice-president, was for many years a pilot on the river, and has advanced to the man- agership of the People's Coal Company.

The Union Trust Company of Donora was organized in May, 1903, with a capital of $125,000. The company occupies an important place among the banks of the Monongahela Valley. It transacts a general banking business, is a bank of deposit, allows interest on deposits, acts as trustee, guardian, demonstrator and in other trust capacities, and sells foreign exchange. The first president was John W. Ailes.

Erdelyi & Wainer, bankers, conduct a foreign bank at Donora, and do an extensive business. This bank was organized by Arthur Kline, when the town was first started.

The Standard Real Estate Company, Limited, was or- ganized with a capital of $40,000. At the present time they are deliberating on increasing the capital to $50,- 000.

The first hotel to be opened in Donora was Hotel McManus, April 15, 1901. The town at preseut has six fine hotels, the Donora, Irondale, Indiana, Highland Inn. Duquesne and Laurence. There are eight saloons and one wholesale liquor establishment in Donora.

The promoters of Donora early provided the means by which a complete graded school of eight rooms was put in full operation in one year from the time the first town lots were placed on sale. Before a lot had heen offered for sale, the foundation had been laid for a modern school building.

The second year, 1903, found an enrollment of 625 pupils with 13 teachers. Another large school building was erected in 1903. Since then several handsome build- ings have been put up.

There were in 1908 in Donora: Schools, 27; teachers, 31, (males 3, females 28) ; enrollment, 1,316; average number of months taught, 9; average salary of teachers per month, males $95.00, females $55.93; cost of each

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FREIGHT STATION. DONORA

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URILA FA

VIEW OF DONORA. LOOKING SOUTH

AMERICAN STEEL WORKS, DONORA

TYTTI

BLAAST FURNACE, CARNEGIE STEEL CO., DONORA

VIEW OF OPEN HEARTIL, DONORA

AMERICAN WIRE AND NAIL WORKS, DONOR1

TIME NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

pupil per month, $3.64; number of mills on the dollar levied for school purposes, 10; estimated value of school property, $98,890.

Tubb's Business College is giving many a business training.

The religious growth of Donora has kept pace with her industrial progress. At first the several denomi- nations worshipped in temporary places, such as tents and halls and in some cases in private houses. They have now erected splendid church edifices.

Methodist Episcopal Church-The Methodist Epis- copal was the first church building to be erected in Donora. This tabernacle was finished in September, 1901, and cost $1,000. In 1903 they built a permanent building, which together with the lot was valued at $20,000, certainly a creditable enterprise for a church and town only 30 months old. The handsome auditorimn has a seating capacity of 600, and the main and primary rooms of the Sunday school hold 500. To Rev. W. H. Kirkland and the Methodists, belong the honor of in- angurating religious work in the new community. Rev. Mr. Kirkland started to hold services in October of the year 1900. The present pastor is Rev. O. B. Emerson and the membership 318.

African Methodist Church-The builder and first pas- tor of the African Methodist Church, Rev. S. P. West began missionary work among his people at Donora in the fall of 1900. On January 26, 1902, they dedicated their new church. It was valued at $3,500.

First Presbyterian Church-The first Sunday school (known as the Union Sunday school), held in the borough of Donora, was held on June 2, 1901. and on May 8 of the following year the school was converted into a Cum- berland Presbyterian Sunday school, since it was largely attended by followers of the Cumberland Presbyterian faith. In 1902, during the pastorate of Rev. J. T. Neel, who was its first pastor, work was begun on a brick church costing $12,000. A few years later a Presby- terian Church was organized in Donora, and a church building erected. The first pastor was Rev. John E. Fulton. In 1906 the Cumberland Presbyterian Congre- gation on the corner of Fifth and Thompson Streets united with the Presbyterian Congregation on the corner of Eighth and Thompson Streets and formed the First Presbyterian Church of Donora. The congregation oe- cupies the oldl Presbyterian building. The present pastor of the First Presbyterian Church is Rev. R. L. Lip- pencott. The number of members is 226.

United Presbyterian Church-The first preaching serv. ice of the United Presbyterian Church was held by Rev. John W. MeClenahan July 20, 1902, in Odd Fellows Hall.

Soon after this the meetings were held in a Merry-Go- Round. The church building, having a seating capacity of 300, which, together with the lot, was valued at over $5,000, was dedicated May 10, 1903. The present num- ber of communicants is 38.

The first regular pastor was Rev. W. W. Reed. He was followed by Revs. C. W. MeCandless, P. E. Simp- son and A. J. Calvin, present pastor.

St. Dominie's Roman Catholic Church In July, 1902, Father Pohorence started to minister to the Slays of Donora and during the following year erected the St. Dominic's Roman Catholic Slavish Church, a wooden structure. In 1905 a handsome brick church was built at a cost of $35,000. The rectors since Rev. Andrew Pohorenec are Rovs. L. Laush, JJ. Jaunshec. E. Kitz and A. Filkorn, the present rector. The congregation em- braces 300 families and 600 unmarried people.

St. Charles Boromeo Roman Catholic Church-Soon after the St. Dominie congregation was organized in 1903, Rev. C. J. Steppling was holling services in a store-room. Soon the congregation bought ground and in 1904 ereet- ed the St. Charles Boromeo Roman Catholic Church and a parochial residence. Rev. Mr. Steppling was followed by the present rector. Rev. Ilenry Geibel.

Holy Name of B. V. M. Roman Catholic Church-The Iloly Name of Mary Congregation was organized iu 1903. In 1904 a brick church was erected at a cost of $27,000. The first rector was Rev. F. Pikulski, whose successor was the present rector. Rev. L. Odziemszewski. There are 150 families and 300 unmarried people in the congre. gation.

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church-The St. Joseph's Congregation was organized in 1906. It purchased the old M. E. Church building. It is composed of 50 families and the rector is Rev. Victor Panksto.

Greek Catholic Church-The Greek Catholic Congre- gation of Donora was organized in 1904 and built a frame house of worship in 1905 at a cost of $10.000. The congregation numbers 200 families and 500 un- married persons. The church has been served in turn by Revs. P. Stavroosky, E. Seregelli and J. Bisaha.

English Lutheran Church-This congregation has been in existence for several years. Services are hekl in Odd Fellows Hall by Rev. W. C. Mann.

Donora has the following lodges and societies: Cast- ner Lodge No. 11, I. O. O. F .; Donora Lodge No. 226, K. of P .; Donora Aprie No. 502, F. O. E .; Tancred Com- mandery No. 359, K. of M .: Donora Hive No. 237, L. O. T. M .; Donora Lodge No. 640, B'nai Brith; Donora Camp No. 1919, Royal Arcanum. The Commercial Club of Donora is composed largely of business men. Its object is to make improvements looking to the betterment of the community.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

History of the Boroughs of Elco, Ellsworth, Finleyville, Houston, Long Branch, McDonald and Midway.

ELCO.

Elco Borough was erected out of Allen Township May 14, 1894, and is bounded on the north and east by Long Branch Borongh, on the south by the Monongahela River, and on the west by East Pike Run Township. The town of Elco extends continuously along the river south from Roscoe.

Eleo is a mining town, the immediate territory being underlaid with a rich vein of bituminous coal. The Pittsburg, Virginia & Charleston Railroad, known as the Monongahela division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, passes through this town, following the west bank of the Monongahela River.

This town was formerly called Wood Run, and the station still retains the name, but the name of the postoffice was changed by order of the Government owing to the fact that there was another Wood Run in Allegheny County. The name Elco was taken from the uames of two girls, Ella Patterson and Ella Cornna- way, residents of the town at the time. The first two letters of the Christian name of one and of the sur- name of the other, were taken to form Elco.

Elco is composed of almost 100 houses, most of which are owned by the Monongahela River Coal and Coke Com- pany and the Vesta Coal Company.

The postoffice is kept in the Valley Supply Company's building, No. 123. The town also contains three other stores. The Bell Telephone is used.

The population of the borough of Elco in 1900 was 850. It was estimated at 738 in 1905. In 1904 there were 188 voters and in 1908, 179.

The number of taxables in 1908 was 284, the real estate value $157,245 and property value $29,005.

There are four schools in this borough and four teachers, (males 1, females 3) ; enrollment, 238; average number of months taught, 8; average salary of male teachers per month, $70.00, females $50.00; cost of each pupil per montli, $1.21; number of mills on the dollar levied for school purposes, S; estimated valne of school property, $4,500.

ELLSWORTH AND COKEBURG BOROUGHS.

Ellsworth and Cokeburg are thriving mining towns on Pigeon Creek, on the Ellsworth branch of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad, above Bentleyville. The laying out of the towns was the direct result of the opening up of the Ellsworth Collieries about ten years ago. The sites of these towns are in what was formerly Somerset Town- ship. Ellsworth Borough, at which place the mines Nos. 1 and 2 of the Ellsworth Collieries Company are located, derived its name from James W. Ellsworth, of that com- pany, and was erected into a borough ou Angnst 20, 1900.

Cokeburg, at which town the mines Nos. 3 and 4 of the Ellsworth Collieries Company are located, was formed into a borongh on the 17th of September, 1906, it being the 32d borough formed in the county. The town is a coking town and was therefore named Coke- burg.

The population of Ellsworth was estimated at 909 persons in 1905, but has since increased. The registra- tion of voters for 1904 was 134 and for 1908 was 230. The borough tax of Ellsworth in 1908 was 7 1-10 mills. The total value of real estate lying in the borough of Ellsworth for 1908 was $291,160.

Tho postoffice at Ellsworth is a presidential office, the receipts for the year 1908 amounting to $2,952.57. The postmaster is H. B. Klingensmith. Each of these towns has finely equipped supply stores and each has one saloon. They have the Bell telephone service. The com- pany butcher shop at Ellsworth is oue of the finest equipped stores in this region. The physician at Ells- worth is Dr. E. E. French and at Cokeburg, Dr. H. J. Kirby.

The population of Cokeburg at the time of its incor- poration in 1906 was 1,600. The population at present is estimated at 3,000. The registration of voters for 1908 was 102.

The borough tax for 1908 was 2 mills and $460 was collected and $633.84 expended.

The great majority of the inhabitants of these min-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

ing towus are foreigners. Soon after the mines were opened up a Romau Catholic Congregation was organ- ized near Ellsworth in the borough of Bentleyville, as the company owns all the property in the boroughs of Ellsworth and Cokeburg. Other societies hold meetings in these boroughs also, but they have built uo churches.

There were five schools in Ellsworth iu 1908 and five teachers, (male 1, females 4) ; enrollment, 237; averago number of months taught, 9; average salary of teachers per month, males $75.00, females $60.00; cost of each pupil per month, $1.51; number of mills ou tho dollar levied for school purposes, 3 1-5; estimated value of school property, $800.

In 1908 there were four schools in Cokeburg with an average of nine months taught; 4 teachers, 1 male and 3 females; salary of male teachers, $65.00 per month, females $50.00; enrollment, 219; cost per month, $1.41, and school tax, 12 mills.

Tho National Bank of Ellsworth is a part of the community or institution where the holdings and mines of the Ellsworth Coal Company are located. It is dis- tinetly an Ellsworth enterprise. It is intimately con- nected with the business of the Ellsworth Company and has beeu an accommodation not only to its own busi- ness, but to the hundreds of workingmen who have been brought into that locality through the operatious of the Ellsworth Company. This bauk was organized in 1903, with a nominal capital of $25,000. At the close of busi- ness, December 31, 1904, it had on deposit $56,000. At the close of business, December 31, 1905, its deposits were $78,805.49; its resources were $100,364.36. It held loans and investments to the amount of $79,875, and surplus funds of $457.49. During the year 1906 the bank increased in every department. The statement issued at the close of business, December 31, 1906, being as follows:

Resources

$130,000.00

Surplus and profits 1,639.65

Total deposits 94,638.54

Loans and investments 96,810.00

The book value of the bank stock in 1906 was $106.60. In January, 1909, it $103.23. The surplus and profits at the end of the year, 1908, was $5,212.81; deposits, $98,449.93; increase over 1907, $37,576.92; resources, $38,257.44; loans and investments, $43,295.30.

The officers are: President, E. A. S. Clarke; vice presi- dent, G. C. Schlehr; cashier, Charles W. Connor; assist- ant cashier, J. P. Higginson. The directors are E. A. S. Clarke, Benjamin Holliday, Henry Bourns, George C. Schlehr, W. R. Calverley.

About the year 1900 the Ellsworth branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad was built from Monongahela City to mines Nos. 3 and 4 of the Ellsworth Collieries

Company at the miniug towu now known as Cokeburg. In 1906-7 the railroad was extended to Zollarsville and to Marianna in 1908.

The West Side Belt Line, owned by Gould interests, have surveyed a railroad through Bentleyville, Ells- worth crossing the National Piko one mile east of Scenery Hill at Taylor's Summit. The road has been constructed from Pittsburg to Clairton and Bruce Sta- tion iu Allegheny County near the Washington County lino and it is the expectation to extend it on to the first mentioned points. The present terminus of the survey is Clarksville in Greene County.

Ellsworth will soon be connected by trolley with Mo- nongahela City and Washington. The Pittsburg, Mo- nongahela and Washington Railways Company expects to finish in the course of two years a line serving Monon- gahela, Frye Station, Hazel Kirk (mines 1 and 2), Crescent, Braznell, Scenery Hill, Bentleyville, Ells- worth (mines 1 and 2), Beallsville, Vanceville, Ellsworth mines 3 and 4 (known as Cokeburg), Marianna and Washington.

Ellsworth is situated on the Beallsville-Bentleyville Road. This road was built by the county in 1904. The construction work was done by the contractor, N. C. Hunter. The road is 9,700 feet in length, 10 feet in width of stone and 25 feet in width of grading. The engineering cost was $1,059.73 and construction cost $20,794.63. Since the road was built $5,292.72 has been expended in repairs.

The Ellsworth Road to be built by the State is at present under contract. This road will be 16 feet wide, 3,240 feet long and the cost is estimated at $5,621.00.

The Ellsworth Collieries Company have sunk shafts at two localities near the bottom of the Waynesburg syneline, thus taking a position where the mines may be easily drained by the natural inclination of the coal to the foot of the shaft, from which the water may be pumped to the surface as on Pigeon Creek above Bent- leyville at collieries Nos. 1, 2, (Ellsworth) 3 and 4 (Cokeburg) of James W. Ellsworth & Co. The coal is here deep below the surface and is reached by two shafts at Ellsworth and two at Cokeburg, two and one-half miles farther up the creek on South Branch. The shafts are 261, 279, 397 and 414 feet deep, respectively. This company is carrying on extensive operations and has built up-to-date plants and mining towns. Coal is shipped by means of a branch of the Pennsylvania Rail- road running down Pigeon Creek and connecting with the main line at Monongahela City.

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Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. I, Part 82

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. (Chicago) pbl Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 584

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. (Chicago) pbl
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 584