USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > Catasauqua > Early history and reminiscences of Catasauqua in Pennsylvania > Part 5
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For many years the revenues of the water system were not given close attention, and reverses coming to the Crane Iron Co., the receiver made overtures to the original owners, and the water and land rights, with some reservations, passed from control of the company back to the Navigation Company and also to the Clear Springs Water Co., which had secured char- ters for all the surrounding country.
Council then reduced the number of fire hydrants to twenty-three, owing to the demands of the new
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LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS
regulations and when in January, 1908, the rates to consumers were announced, many discontinued the use of the water. The Fire and Water Committee hav- ing been directed to make an investigation and report cost of establishing a municipal plant, a public meet- ing was called in the Town Hall, Thursday, July 23, when it was proposed to ask the tax-payers for a loan of $80,000 to sink wells, and proceed with the erection of a new municipal system. By unanimous direction of Council it was submitted to the tax-payers at the November election, which resulted in polling 776 votes in favor to 74 against.
Two artesian wells were sunk upon a tract of land, designated by a geologist sent by the State Board of Health, at Walnut and St. John streets, just east of the Catasauqua creek. The success of the first well demonstrated the wisdom of the designated spot and the second well was equally satisfactory. The wells are about 200 feet deep, steel cased that depth, and are 10 inches in diameter. They were both tested by air lifts for seven days and nights and the supply of water was pronounced inexhaustible, the strata of sandstone having been pierced the entire depth. The State Board certified that it was perfectly pure; and by practical tests at the boilers of the plant it was found free from lime sediments.
The Water Committee investigated other plants and asked experienced engineers to come to Catasauqua, view the location and prepare plans for a municipal plant. Dr. C. J. Keim was then serving as burgess, with Councilmen Henry W. Stolz, Alfred J. Leh and Martin Graver from the First Ward, and Thomas Jones, Wm. McCandless and Oscar Shugar from the Second Ward, all favorable to new municipal water works. Detailed plans and specifications were formal- ly adopted, and the sale of the water bonds for $80,000 at 4% was advertised. George H. Hardner, the well- known successful contractor of Allentown, became the
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EARLY HISTORY
contractor, and the sale was made, three-fourths of the issue having been taken by residents of the borough. Work was started in March, 1910, and completed the following October.
Two equity suits were instituted by the Clear Springs Water Co. to restrain the Borough from pro- ceeding to establish the water works, but the Court dismissed both bills, deciding that their vested rights were not injured.
Pumping Station-The pumping station is a brick fire-proof building, with concrete foundations and floors, structural, steel and slate roof, with ample pro- portions for duplicating the present plant. The engine and compressor room is 50 feet wide by 60 feet long, and boiler room, 50 by 50 feet, with fuel space for more than 100 tons. These rooms are well lighted, provided with fire-proof partitions and furnished throughout in a neat and substantial manner. The chimney is constructed of brick lining 5 feet square inside and 100 feet high, on concrete foundation.
In the boiler room there is a battery of two high- pressure tubular boilers, of 100 to 125 horse power each, set in masonry in the most substantial manner and with connections made to pumping machinery.
In the engine room there are two air compressors of the Ingersoll-Rand most improved type, made to oper- ate condensing, either or both together, through air receiver to air-lift system, with discharge from wells into storage reservoir; also the two large Platt cross compound horizontal crank and fly-wheel pumping engine, with condenser, of combined daily capacity of two million gallons, made to operate, either or both together, with suction from storage reservoir and de- livery to system of water mains.
The storage reservoir is 72 feet in diameter and 14 feet 6 inches deep, having a capacity of 366,000 gal- lons ; made of brick concrete and steel construction, with roof of cement tiling, and ventilator screened and
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protected from all impurities, which makes it a most fitting receptical for storage of water, direct from the wells. The large pumping engines, with suction from this reservoir, deliver the water through the system of water mains and tower to the people.
Water Tower-The water tower is located on the hill, near Sixth street and Howertown Road, North Catasauqua. It is of fine proportions, with steel standpipe, 15 feet in diameter and 80 feet high, rest- ing on brick sub-structure with stone trimmings, rein- forced at the top with heavy eye beams. This sub- structure is on octagonal foundation of concrete, 30 feet in diameter. The standpipe is connected through the sub-structure with main and drain pipes and valves placed so that the tower may be used with the system or not, as may be desired. The reservoir af- fords the city a storage of about one-half-million gal- lons of water for use in an emergency and as a re- serve, additional to the capacity of the plant, should there be a serious conflagration.
The weight of the standpipe and its contents on sub- structure and foundation when filled is about 700 tons. It was erected by the McDermott Co., Allen- town.
Water Mains-The system of water mains, ranging from 16 inches to 6 inches in diameter, with but few laterals of 4 inch pipe, in all about seven miles, laid in the principal streets of the borough.
There have been located at the street corners thirty- five Matthews type hydrants, with 6-inch base con- nections and two 21/2 inch nozzles for hose and one 4 inch nozzle for steamer to each hydrant. This system is divided into 63 districts, any and all of which may be shut off as desired. In case of repairs, but one square of patrons will be inconvenienced for a short time.
From the pumping station on Walnut street to Fifth, a 16-inch artery carries the water; on Currant
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EARLY HISTORY
alley, from Walnut a 12-inch main supplies the stand pipe 12-inch main from Fifth to Front on Walnut; 8- inch pipe on Front to Union, then 6-inch to Race then 8-inch to Wahnetah, 4-inch across the canal and Central R. R. to the Castings Co. Works, where four plugs secure lower rate of insurance ; 6-inch main en- tire length of Second; 10-inch main on Fifth; 8-inch on Howertown Road to Union; 10-inch on Union to Front; 6-inch mains on Third, Fourth, Bridge, Mul- berry, Race and American streets; 4-inch on Pine, Kurtz, Church, Peach, Wood; in all about seven miles in length. In case a fire occurs in the lower portion of the town, mains on American street, Howertown Road, Second and Front streets furnish a constant flow.
Thomas Jones is worthy of special mention in the establishment of this necessary improvement for the public welfare. He came to Catasauqua in 1853 and assisted in laying the water pipe in 1854. For many years he was employed as a machinist at the Crane Iron Works; then he became master mechanic of the Catasauqua & Fogelsville R. R. under its superintend- ent, John Thomas, which position he held until the road was acquired by the P. & R. R. Co. He served in town council from 1884 to 1889 ; officiated as Burgess from 1889 to 1891; and again served in the town coun- cil since 1908, while this improvement was being es- tablished.
Edmund Randall, the publisher of the Catasauqua Dispatch, is equally worthy of mention for his con- tinuous and persistent advocacy of this necessary im- provement and its ownership by the borough.
POST OFFICE-For twelve years after this settle- ment was started, the hamlet was called "Craneville," after George Crane of Wales who was the owner of Iron Works where David Thomas was employed before coming to this country. A post office was established in 1844 at the lower part of town which for many years was called "Biery's-Port;" and upon the ap-
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LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS
pointment of Nathan Fegley as post-master in 1846, it was moved up to the corner of Front and Church streets.
Mail came three times a week from Allentown to Mauch Chunk by stage, and several times a week from Bethlehem to Cherryville by one horse conveyance. But letters for this place were frequently sent to Craneville, N. J., a small town 20 miles from New York City on this Easton stage route, which caused a delay of some days in the delivery of letters. The Crane Iron Co. received their mail from Allentown by private carrier which helped somewhat. A change was agitated as early as 1845, but owing to the domi- nant party represented by the old inhabitants at the lower end of town, they prevented the P. O. Depart- ment from adopting various names proposed. Owen Rice was at that time chief clerk at this iron works (who, for many years, had been the scrivener of deeds for the country hereabouts) and learning from old drafts made in 1735 and later that the creek flowing through the east end of the village was named "Cata- sauqua"' (Cattosoque) he suggested the name and it was adopted by the department in 1846.
The following persons filled the position of post- master :
POST MASTERS Samuel Colver, 1844-46
Nathan Fegley 1846-50 Isabella D. Duff 1865-71
Joseph Laubach 1850-53
Adaline Creveling 1871-77
Nathan Frederick 1853-54
Wm. H. Bartholomew 1877-89
Augustus H. Gilbert 1854-55
Edmund Randall 1889-94
Solomon Biery 1855-61 Jonas F. Moyer 1894-98
Arnold C. Lewis March-Nov. 1861 Henry Davis 1898-1900
Frank B. Martin 1861-62
Charles Graffin 1900-08
Chas. D. Fuller 1862-65
Samuel S. Graffin 1908-
The department at the borough comprises a post- master and assistant; three clerks, auxiliary clerk, and special delivery messenger; four carriers, sub- carrier, and mail messenger.
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EARLY HISTORY
Three daily deliveries are made excepting Sundays ; and four collections from 35 boxes located in different parts of the borough.
The following statement shows the character and extent of the postal business at Catasauqua :
Daily mail handled :
Outgoing (pieces) 2800
Incoming (pieces) . 4600
Registered mail during 1913:
Outgoing (pieces) . 2247 Incoming (pieces) 2233
Stamped paper sold during 1913 $13,340
21,950
Domestic orders paid
issued “ 66 34,048
International orders paid during 1913 1,318
issued 66
3,426
P. O. Building-The post-office has been located at Bridge and Railroad streets since 1907. The superior and attractive three-story brick building was erected by capitalists identified with the National Bank of Catasauqua at a cost of $25,000. The first floor is occupied by the Post-Office; the second by the Tele- phone Exchanges, and the Clear Springs Water Co .; and the third by the "Charotin Club," a social organ- ization of 80 members.
HUMANE FIRE CO-David Thomas, the manager of the Crane Iron Co., encouraged the workmen to form a fire company for the protection of the community as well as the iron works against fire, and in pursuance of his suggestion, a preliminary meeting was held in the village on Nov. 4, 1845, which was attended by the following persons :
Owen Rice John Kane
George Jenkins Arthur McQuade William Boyle
Edward Clark Henry E. Kildare Isaac Miller Thomas Dempsey
John Lees Noah Phillips Cochrane Mclaughlin
Charles Dempsey
Alexander Miller Robert Campbell Richard Davis
William Neligh William Pollock
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LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS
Jacob Smith
John Hunter
Morgan Emanuel
James Hunter
Neil Mckeever
Alex. McCurdy
Thomas Miller
James Dempsey
William McClelland
Mark Dempsey
Samuel Thomas
Patrick Dempsey
John Thomas
James McAllister
William J. Aull
John Clark
David Thomas
William Davis
John McIntyre
The idea was approved, and the name "Humane Fire Company" adopted.
An application was then made to the court of Le- high county for a charter of incorporation and the decree was made March 14, 1846.
Hand Fire Engine-Soon afterward the company purchased a hand-pumping engine from the Philadel- phia Fire Co. for the use of the local fire company. This engine was housed in a frame building on 2nd street near Church (now the site of the large stone stable of the Crane Iron Co.), until one was put up about 1866 on Front street.
The engine consisted of a large water tank, set on four strong wheels, and over the centre was placed a tower which enclosed a force-pump; and this pump was operated by two projecting handles from the front and rear with extension arms that could be laid inward when not in use. Twenty men were necessary to put and keep these handles in successful motion, ten on the ground, and ten on the tank with extension and folding platforms. A stream of water could be forced over buildings and into the air nearly as strong and as high as the steam-fire-engines of a later period. The water in the tank was supplied by a bucket-brigade from a neighboring well and pump, or by a hose from the water mains.
At that time, the water mains were laid on Church and Wood streets, and on Front street from Church to Wood. These mains were primarily laid for the protection of the iron company's properties. The
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EARLY HISTORY
water was pumped into them from the water-house in the furnace where a powerful pump was operated by a flow of water from the canal. The pressure through the mains was great, with such a force back of it.
A hose-carriage with sufficient hose was secured at the same time, the hose being used to lead the water from the fire-plug into the engine tank, and from the force pump to the immediate vicinity of the fire whence it was "played" upon the burning building.
Water Fight-A favorite sport on Saturday after- noons for the members of the fire company was to pit one party with a section of hose directly from a fire-plug against a similar party with a section from the hand-fire-engine. Oh, how they did "play" water into each other, to the great amusement of many on- lookers, who applauded the strenuous performance with uproarious laughter; and they would keep up the wet but friendly fight until either one, drenched and nearly drowned, cried "enough."
Of course, the great steam-engine in the furnace was too powerful, with inexhaustible staying qualities, for the heart-engines in twenty plucky firemen. It was, indeed, a dramatic performance, and the skilful en- gineer in the furnace displayed much judgment in manipulating the throttle at his end of the line to keep the human energy of the respective contestants swaying to and fro until either party became ex- hausted.
Steam Fire-engine-This hand-engine continued in use until 1865 ; then a large fire occurred (the destruc- tion of the machine-shop of the Crane Iron Co.) which demonstrated its inefficiency. The Borough substi- tuted an improved steam fire-engine which was pur- chased from the Phoenix Fire Co. of Philadelphia, and this was used for 30 years; then it too had to make way for a stronger engine because it had failed to cope with the great and costly fire at the Unicorn Silk Mill, beyond the northern end of the borough.
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OLDEST BUILDINGS
The old hand-engine was stripped of its brass mountings and taken to the shadow of an old tree near the C. & F. R. R. round-house, and there the two passed away together in the natural process of decay. It would seem to me that the pride of this Fire Company should have been stirred up to such a pitch as to have kept it as a great relic of the sport, if not of the protection, which it had afforded them for twenty years, during the early development of the town, and in our "celebration" it would have been an honored curiosity.
Before the erection of the Town-Hall in 1868, the apparatus was housed in a frame building specially put up by the borough for the purpose, on Front street, south of Church, which is now occupied as a barber-shop ; since 1868, it has been kept in the Town- Hall.
OLDEST BUILDINGS-There are eight old build- ings in the borough which are still standing and worthy of special mention.
DEILY STONE BARN, near Catasauqua creek, east of the new concrete county bridge, supposed to have been erected about 1760; now owned by the F. J. Deily estate.
GEORGE TAYLOR RESIDENCE, on the Deily Hill, south of Catasauqua creek, two-story stone Colonial dwell- ing, plastered, supposed to have been erected in 1768, and now owned by the Frank J. Deily estate. There were three cast-iron plates at the back of open fire- places here which were cast at the Durham Furnace in Bucks county, with G T 1768 on them. The large plate in the kitchen was removed and presented by the Deily Estate to the Historical Society of Lehigh Coun- ty in 1910. Taylor was employed as a clerk at this furnace and after its proprietor died he married the widow, and carried on the furnace before and during the Revolution. While there he became a member of
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EARLY HISTORY
Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Inde- pendence. In 1913, when the School Directors of the Borough erected a new school building in the 3rd Ward for the accommodation of the increasing number of children, they named the building after him.
BIERY FARM-HOUSE at 2nd and Race streets, two- story stone, plastered and marked in imitation of brick ; supposed to have been erected about 1800; now owned by August Hohl.
BIERY HOTEL, on Race street, at rear of American Hotel; fine two-story cut stone, used for many years as a tavern; erected in 1826; now owned by George B. F. Deily.
BIERY HOME at Race and Canal streets, opposite the large grist mill of Mauser & Cressman; fine two- story cut stone, erected in 1830; now owned by Frank B. Mauser and occupied by him as a residence.
BIERY STONE-HOUSE, on Race street at the canal; fine two-story cut stone, used for many years as a store and residence by James Lackey, Joseph Lau- bach and George Deily to accommodate the boatmen ; erected in 1835; now owned by George B. F. Deily and occupied by him as a residence.
THOMAS HOME-The first home of David Thomas was on Front street, opposite the Crane Iron Works; two-story frame building erected for Thomas during the Summer and Fall of 1839 by the company while he and his family sojourned at Allentown till it was finished. A stone ice-house was erected for his use at the same time on the lot along the street, now used as a small store ; owned by the company. There were two prominent and useful institutions in connection with this home which are also worthy of special mention.
A sun-dial was established in 1840 by the Crane Iron Co. along Front street near the gate leading to this home which was highly appreciated in the village for 30 years. Whenever the sun shone, it indicated
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OLDEST BUILDINGS
the correct time to all the inhabitants and visitors who passed the place. Watches and clocks were expensive then and not in general use.
A well was sunk by the Crane Iron Co. on this premises at the same time that the dwelling house was erected for Mr. Thomas and a pump-stock was placed there with a long iron handle to raise the water, and a long-handled iron cup attached to a chain from which to drink it. This was also appre- ciated, for the quality of the water was superior and many persons refreshed themselves there, more es- pecially the working people at the furnace; indeed, all the families in that vicinity got their drinking water at this pump. It was continued in active use until the town came to be generally supplied from the water-works.
KURTZ FARM-HOUSE, in the 3rd Ward on the Kurtz Lane leading from the Howertown Road; two-story stone, erected about 1800; now owned by John Yeager.
FREDERICK HOME-The old two-story stone house on the public road on the west side of the Lehigh river near the Biery Bridge was razed in 1892 to utilize the stone for filling in the approaches to the iron county. bridge erected on the site of the Biery Bridge. It was one of the early houses in the Lehigh Valley, hav- ing been built in 1757. It was familiarly known as the "Frederick Mansion," named after George Fred- erick, who was the owner of the farm on which it stood to the time of the construction of the Lehigh Valley R. R. in 1855, when he sold it to Asa Packer. One of the early owners was Jacob Yundt, who settled along the Lehigh river after taking up 278 acres in two warrants in 1750, which extended from the Biery Bridge down to Stephen Snyder's farm; and he erected the stone house in 1757. It was known for years as "The Fort," because it is supposed to have
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EARLY HISTORY
been used as a place of refuge during the Indian incursions.
On account of their prominence in the early his- tory of the town, I should mention also the Biery Grist-mill, the Breisch Home, and the Peter Home.
BIERY GRIST-MILL-Opposite the Biery Tavern were the Biery grist-mill, together with a saw-mill and fulling-mill, and the fine two-story stone house (now the residence of Frank B. Mauser). The mill-dam (abandoned) lay several hundred feet to the north- east, and the mill-race extended under what is now the northerly end of the Dery silk-mill, and the yard of the Mauser residence. At the fulling-mill, the bags of carded wool were fastened together with strong pins cut from the hawthorn hedges which grew along the road-sides in the township.
The farm-house along Race street, at 2nd, was the residence of Jonas Biery, a son of Frederick, who conducted the farm. There was a small rough-coated house where the Mauser barn is now located.
BREISCH HOME-The Breisch home was on a farm of about 7 acres. It occupied the site of Dr. Daniel Yoder's residence, at 3rd and Bridge streets.
PETER HOME-The Peter farm lay along the river. It extended northward from Church street to a point 100 feet beyond Spring street, and eastward to the Howertown Road, excepting the Breisch farm, which was "sandwiched in between." The farm house and barn were situated opposite the Schneller Block; the former was built of stone and stood near the canal.
A primeval forest extended along Front street from Wood street to Church and eastward to the Hower- town Road.
FIRST OCCUPATIONS-I mention the following names of persons who were the first here to pursue their several avocations in professional, industrial and commercial life :-
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FIRST OCCUPATIONS
DOCTORS-The first doctor was William J. Romig of Allentown, who resided in the lower part of Front street and practiced his profession as a homoeopathic physician for eight or ten years when he returned to Allentown. He was succeeded by Dr. F. B. Martin who, for many years, was the only physician here, and in 1858 formed a partnership with Dr. Daniel Yoder. Martin died in 1868, and Yoder continued to practice until a few years ago when he retired. Dr. Hornbeck was a nephew of Dr. Martin who came here in 1866 and was associated with his uncle until the latter's death. He also continued practice until his death a few years ago.
DENTISTS-There were no dentists here in 1839. Dr. J. P. Barnes, late of Allentown, was the first. He came over from Bath where he was a student with Dr. Scholl. He would visit the village on Church and Wood streets with his instruments in a satchel, and a patient requiring his services would attend to them. At that time it was the custom to file or cut away the tooth and insert an artificial tooth on a wooden pivot in the centre of the roots, the tooth having been cut away even with the gum. Imagine the pain, for no opiates were used.
Prior to the settlement of the village, Thomas Butz, who owned the farm now the site of the Thomas Iron Co., was the only extractor of teeth apart from the doctors. People would come for miles around and have him extract their teeth which pained them. If he were in the field plowing, they would take along from the farm house the instrument, a long hook ; then he would sit them on a stump in the field, insert the hook back of the tooth (after having wrapped the handle with his handkerchief), and give a tremendous pull, when presto, out would come the troublesome tooth.
CHEMIST-The first chemist was Alonzo W. Kinsey, an Englishman, employed by the Crane Iron Co.
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EARLY HISTORY
He occasionally gave free lectures and showed great ability in chemical experiments. His most astonish- ing feat was, after having washed his hands with some liquid, he would go to the foundry and dip his hands in a ladle of molten iron, and splash it around on the floor, then show his hands uninjured. He af- terwards removed to the Carnegie Works at the re- quest of Capt. Bill Jones; there he married a second time, the mother of the wife of Charles Schwab, now of the Bethlehem Iron Co. He died a few years ago at an advanced age.
MACHINIST-The first machinist was George Jen- kins who was foreman of the small machine shop at- tached to the Crane Iron Works. He afterwards be- came superintendent of the Boonton Iron Works at Boonton, N. J., where some of his descendants are still living.
DRUGGIST-Uriah Brunner was the first druggist and also published the first newspaper, "The Rising Star of Catasauqua." He removed to West Point, Nebraska, where he became a State Senator of that State.
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