USA > Pennsylvania > Armstrong County > Apollo > History of Apollo, Pennsylvania. The year of a hundred years 1816-1916 > Part 7
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CIVIL WAR-Wash Fryar in old graveyard, A. J. Artman in Prospect Cemetery.
Total of Civil War, 75; Spanish-American, 3; Indian War, 1; War of 1812, 2.
The tabled slab marking the resting place of Gen. Robt. E. Stuart was unfortunately destroyed during the building of the new Presbyterian Church. It was a place of special notice since the mem- ory of Apollo's oldest inhabitant.
WATER WORKS.
For many years the people of Apollo depended upon well water for domestic use. As a consequence, typhoid fever and enteric troubles were a constant menace to health. In 1888, the old Apollo Water Company, C. J. Randolph, manager, supplied the town with water pumped directly from the river above town. The pumping station was on the site now occupied by John Green's stable. Wm. Free was engineer. The storage tanks, three in number, were placed on Owen's knoll east of the borough. As there were no sewers emptying into the river nearer than Saltsburg, and they but few, a distance of ten miles, the water was comparatively pure and typhoid abated. Owing to the increased drainage of acids from manufacturing plants, the water became objectionable on account of its deleterious effects on the pipes and hot water tanks. This plant was sold in 1899 to the Pennsylvania Water Company of Wilkinsburg. The new com- pany became the Apollo Water Works Company and immediately
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
took steps to improve the supply. The company con- , structed an impounding dam on Beaver Run with a capacity of 60,000,000 gallons and a filtering plant below consisting of two large filtering beds. After passing through these into the "clear water well" the water is pumped to a storage reservoir on the Owens farm in Westmoreland County. This reservoir has a capacity of 10,000,000 gallons. From this the water is distributed by mains to Apollo and Leechburg. Every means are taken to prevent its con- tamination after it has been filtered. Feeling the need of a greater supply, the company constructed another impounding dam on the Gilkerson and Orr farms. It has a capacity of 10,000,000 gallons. The plant on Beaver Run is very efficient. The Alberger-Deane unit has a capacity of 1,000,000 gallons in 24 hours. The new Westing- house-Smith Vaille unit has a capacity of 1,500,000 gallons. The pres- sure is 130 pounds standard. The water is bacteriologically tested frequently and a constant supervision to prevent contamination in the streams supplying is kept up. W. C. Hawley is general superintend- ent; D. C. Shull, superintendent; W. J. Murphy, cashier.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Fire protection is only by volunteer companies of which we have three. No. 1 Hose Company and Hook and Ladder Company have their headquarters in the Municipal Building on South Second Street. Hose Company No. 2 Keeps the hose cart and other equipment in Dr. T. J. Henry's garage and hold their meetings in the hall above. The Oak Hill Company or Hose Company No. 3 has had a large building erected by the borough, at a cost of $920, for their equipment, hose cart and ladders. This is also the home of the borough horse.
Fire alarms are now rung by telephone central.
FIRES.
The most destructive fire in the history of Apollo occurred Janu- ary 19, 1876. The fire originated in Absalom Rudolf's shoestore on North Street. Twenty-nine buildings were destroyed with a loss of $32,000 with only $1200 insurance. The only means the inhabitants had to fight fire was by bucket brigade, passing water along a line from wells to the burning buildings. The extent of this destruction would cover from two squares of First Street around Kiskiminetas Avenue and up South Second Street one square with the exception of the McMullen corner which escaped. The bank and post office were burned at this time.
The Cooperage Plant across the river was burned Nov. 18, 1907; loss $35,000. The American Gas Company's barn at foot of First Street on Sept. 27, 1908. This loss was $10,000. Three horses and a cow were burned.
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
The Racket Store on Warren Avenue was destroyed by fire, Oct. 21, 1911.
Apollo has had many minor fires but the volunteer fire companies have been willing and efficient. North Apollo suffered a severe loss in the burning of five houses on R. R. Avenue in July 1901.
Two articles written after the "Big Fire" are matters of history. Rogers & Burchfield had failed the year before and the fire added to the distress.
ADDRESS OF THANKS FROM THE RELIEF COMMITTEE
"The condition of our people called for immediate relief. The crackling flames had scarcely died away when the sympathy of the people poured in upon us. It is the desire of the Relief Committee and the citizens of this place to return their sincere thanks, in a special manner, to the following persons for their generous con- tributions.
"To the citizens of Blairsville for their prompt and liberal con- tribution of $160 worth of provisions; to Wm. Grabenstein, Esq., of Saltsburg, for one barrel of meat and sausage; to J. McCreighton, superintendent of West P. R. R., cash $10 and free transportation for all contributions; to Major J. R. Speer, $20; to an engineer of W. P. R. R., $1; J. M. Stewart, Saltsburg, $10. Although the best part of our town is in ashes, the gratitude of the people toward their bene- factors still lives and rises above the ruins."
The second article is not so pleasant but it is history. The fol- lowing was taken from our home paper, dated Feb. 11, 1876.
"We have ten able bodied men on the poor rates of Apollo. Any person wanting laborers please call with the Overseers of the Poor of Apollo. These men need work and will be hired out at 75 cents per day and board. We have 17 children from 2 to 12 years old to be bound out, otherwise they will be sent to the poor house."
TELEPHONES.
When Harry C. Wray read in a boys' paper that he could make a "lovers' telegraph" by taking two "extract" boxes and substituting parchment for their bottoms and connecting them together by a cord passing through the centre of each inembrane and kept from slipping out by a knot on the end, that when these were whispered in at a distance when the cord was taut, that a secret conversation could be held, he made one and brot it to school. It was a success. Little he thought that this simple contrivance was the beginning of a tele- phone system which revolutionized the communication of the whole world. In August and September of 1894, C. W. Bolinger experiment- ed with real telephones which had now been developed. He ran wires
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FLOOD OF 1907. (Picture by T. J. Henry.)
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
to six or seven business houses, connecting the phones on one line. This method worked but was unsatisfactory. He, however, looked up some more subscribers and with T. J. Baldrige formed a company call- ed the B. & B. Telephone Company. They purchased a switchboard from Viaduct Telephone Company, of Baltimore. By Oct. 30, 1894, they had erected poles, connected up the phones and established an ex- change in C. W. Bollinger's building, on North Fourth Street. Miss Anna Cochran was the first operator. In Jan. 1895, Mr. Baldrige re- tired from the company and Mr. Bollinger continued the business alone, still gradually adding to his subscribers. In 1901, F. W. Jack- son bought an interest but sold it the same year to H. W. Walker. They continued in partnership until Oct. 1902 when a stock company of Apollo citizens was formed. It was called the Apollo Telephone Company. The capital stock was $10,000. In 1908 it was consolidat- ed with the Kittanning Telephone Company.
ELECTRIC RAILWAY.
The Leechburg and Apollo Electric Railway Company was or- ganized in 1902. Officers: John Q. Cochrane, president; S. M. Jack- son, treasurer; S. M. Nelson, J. P. Klingensmith, J. D. Orr, Edward Hill, J. W. Crosby and Jas. B. Kifer, directors.
Right of way was granted by the Council of Apollo in 1904. As the road was not completed in the specified time, at the request of the company an extension of franchise was granted until 1906. The name of the company was changed to Pittsburgh and Allegheny Val- ley Railway. It became the property of the West Penn Traction Company in 1911.
The line is eight miles long, running along the river route, from Apollo to Leechburg. The first car traversed the road from Leech- burg March 13th, 1906. The following week full traffic was establish- ed.
APOLLO WOOLEN MILL.
This mill was built in 1908. The Board of Trade assisting and controlling the site until it was on a good financial footing when the full title was given to the company. It employs about thirty hands. Besides making blankets they make cloth for use in the U. S. Army. T. E. Cunningham is president and J. M. Hankey, secretary and treasurer.
LIME AND BALLAST COMPANY.
This plant has an excellent quarry, fine crushing machinery and kilns. W. L. George is president and C. P. Wolfe, secretary. It is located near the West Penn Mines.
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO. COAL MINES.
The West Penn Mines are south of Apollo about one and a half miles. The opening of these mines was promoted by Walter L. George C. P. Wolfe, F. W. Jackson and Robert Mclaughlin. The company employs 150 men and the pay roll is over $4,000 every two weeks.
The Hicks Mine on the West Apollo side employs about 120 men. The tipple at this mine has had to be replaced twice on account of fire.
GAS AND GAS COMPANIES.
Natural gas has been known for more than a thousand years. The so-called "Eternal Fires" of Asia are of this origin. Notwith- standing illuminating gas was introduced into general use in 1805 in England, no one seems to have thought of utilizing the gas found in drilling for salt or oil for domestic purposes for many years. In fact the substance was regarded as a nuisance. It was usually conducted to a safe distance from the well and burned at the end of a pipe. In Fredonia, N. Y., it was used as a fuel in 1821. In Fairview, Butler County, Pa., it was used in 1872. In 1869, a number of Leechburg, Pa., people drilled a well for oil near the present site of the Leech- burg R. R. depot. A huge gusher of gas was struck and for several years the community was lighted up by the burning of this above the derrick. In 1874, Wm. Rogers had it piped across the river to the rolling mill where it was first tested as a fuel under the boilers. This was successful and it was tried in a puddling furnace. Thus was the first use of natural gas in the iron industry introduced in our neigh- boring town. The first well drilled in the vicinity of Apollo was on the Thomas Martin farm on Pine Run and the Pine Run Gas Com- pany came into existence.
Apollo is now supplied with gas by the American Natural Gas Company, of Pittsburgh, of which Xavier Wittmer is president and Henry Wittmer is secretary and treasurer.
The Pine Run Gas Company was the first to supply Apollo with gas . It was sold to Undercliff Natural Gas Company which was re- organized under the name Kiskiminetas Natural Gas Company and finally taken over by the American Natural Gas Company.
The Apollo Gas Company was a subsidiary of the Apollo Iron & Steel Company. It is yet furnishing gas to the American Sheet & Tinplate Company at Vandergrift, but had sold its town plant to the Conemaugh Gas Company. Later this also was taken over by the American Natural Gas Company. The Jackson Farm Gas Company had supplied the P. H. Laufman Mills but this interest was also em- bodied in the American Natural Gas Company.
Apollo has never experienced a gas shortage since the first com- pany laid its mains. The constancy of a well is uncertain. Some flow for but a few months; some of the wells drilled here at the beginning
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
of the gas industry are yet in use. Illustrating the fickleness of the substance, a company formed in Apollo struck a "roarer" up Beaver . Run. A charter was applied for, an office opened and steps taken to put the product on the market. In a few weeks the well had exhaust- ed its supply. It was but a "pocket."
APOLLO TRUST COMPANY.
A meeting of the citizens of Apollo Borough and vicinity was held in Whitlinger's Hall on May 16, 1871, for the purpose of taking preparatory steps toward organizing a banking association to oper- ate in Apollo. J. B. Chambers was elected president; S. M. Jackson, secretary of the meeting; and Dr. Wm. McBryar, S. M. Jackson and S. P. Townsend were appointed a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws.
Another meeting was held May 27, 1871, at which a constitution and by-laws were adopted and the name "Apollo Savings Bank" de- cided on and the following persons were elected directors of the bank: J. B. Chambers, Samuel Jack, Wm. McBryar, John Morrow, S. P. Townsend, James M. Kennedy, David Kepple, W. C. Bovard and Adam Maxwell. J. B. Chambers was elected president and S. M. Jackson, cashier.
Bids were received for the erection of a one-story frame bank building on lot purchased from Mrs. Withington, adjoining Whitling- er's shoe store, as follows: D. J. Hilty $700, James Leech $515, and Moses Horne $500. Mr. Horne being the lowest bidder the contract was awarded to him.
It was decided to open the bank for business on Monday, Aug- ust 7, 1871, at 2 o'clock p. m. and the rate of interest fixed at from 4 per cent. to 6 per cent. The cashier was required to furnish a bond of $10,000 and his salary was fixed at $800 per annum.
The original building was destroyed by fire in 1876, and pending the erection of a new building, a room was rented from W. C. Bovard in what is now the "McBryar" residence. The new building which is that now occupied by the Trust Company was completed and ready for occupancy November 1, 1876, its total cost including fixtures be- ing $7334.17.
J. B. Chambers held the office of president from its organization until his death which occurred October 21, 1886. S. M. Jackson was its cashier until 1882 when he resigned to accept an appointment as Collector of Internal Revenue in Pittsburgh, and after the death of Mr. Chambers he was elected president which office he held until his death on May 8, 1907.
S. M. Nelson was elected a director in 1876, and after the resig- nation of S. M. Jackson in 1882, he was elected its cashier which office he held until its conversion into a trust company in 1901, when
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he was elected treasurer and at his death on September 12, 1908, he held the office of president.
The bank was conducted as a private bank until 1895 when a state charter was taken out with a paid up capital of $60,000, with the following persons as directors: S. M. Jackson, W. McBryar, Robert Parks, T. A. Cochran, A. B. Cochran, W. G. Chambers and F. W. Jackson. In 1901 a charter was taken out in the name of the Apollo Trust Company with a paid up capital of $125,000 which took over the business of the savings bank whose stockholders became the stock- holders of the Trust Company, with the following board of directors: S. M. Jackson, S. M. Nelson, W. McBryar, W. J. Guthrie, T. A. Coch- ran, J. N. Nelson, F. W. Jackson, W. C. Guthrie and Robert Parks.
The Apollo Trust Company is one of the strongest financial insti- tutions of the state; its capital, surplus and profits now exceeding $275,000 and its total resources over $900,000. Its officers and direct- ors are: president, J. N. Nelson; vice president, E. A. Townsend; secretary and treasurer, John H. Jackson; solicitor, Walter J. Guthrie; directors, T. A. Cochran, W. J. Guthrie, A. C. Hammitt, J. H. Jackson, J. S. McAwley, J. H. Mclaughlin, J. N. Nelson, W. N. Nelson and E. A. Townsend.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
During the latter part of 1900 a number of business men of Apollo conceived the idea of organizing a National Bank in Apollo and on December 15, application was made by W. L. George, W. S. Beamer, George J. Bortz, H. G. Kennedy and Andrew Gallagher for a charter for The First National Bank of Apollo, Pa., with capital of $50,000. The Comptroller of Currency approved the application on December 17, 1900.
Subscriptions were opened for stock and greatly to the surprise of those interested the authorized capital was over subscribed about three times so that it was necessary to reduce the allotment and limit the number of shares to be issued to any one person.
The building opened for business on March 1, 1901 in the McBryar Building on Warren Avenue, with the following directors: W. L. George, George J. Bortz, W. S. Beamer, H. G. Kennedy and Andrew Gallagher. W. L. George was president; Andrew Gallagher, vice president; and Chas. P. Wolfe, cashier. These officers still hold their respective positions, there never having been any change in the ex- ecutive officers of the bank.
Dr. T. J. Henry was elected as director in January 1904. H. G. Kennedy died in March 1905 and Geo. W. Hilborn was elected director in his place.
On January 9, 1906 the number of directors was increased to seven and Wm. M. Biehl and Chas. P. Wolfe elected to the Board.
In 1906 the bank having outgrown its quarters the directors
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FLOOD AT NORTH WARREN AVENUE IN 1907. (Picture by T. J. Henry.)
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
purchased the old Elwood property on the corner of Warren Avenue and North Second Street and erected thereon a modern banking and office building costing approximately $35,000.
This building is a credit to the bank and to the town and the management have received very complimentary opinions from visit- ing bankers on account of the beauty and convenience of the banking rooms. Plans for this building were drawn by E. E. Clepper, an old Apollo boy, and the contract was let on July 9, 1906 to Taylor Broth- ers of Sharon, Pa., and on July 1, 1907 possession was taken of the new building.
On January 16, 1907, Chas. F. Hageman, who had for several years been employed as teller was elected assistant cashier. A few years later Mr. Hageman resigned and on July 7, 1912, S. Martin Jamison was elected to the vacancy.
After the death of Geo. W. Hilborn in 1913, D. B. Townsend of South Bend was elected to the board.
The bank has prospered from the beginning and has shown con- stant and regular growth both in deposits and resources. The first day's deposits amounted to $4,022.41; in one year thereafter they amounted to $131, 997.85 and have shown constant increases to date, the deposits at present amounting to approximately $460,000.
The bank now has 2150 depositors, has paid to its depositors $90,316,29 in interest on accounts, paid $45,000 in dividends to the stockholders and accumulated a surplus and undivided profit account of $48,000. In the fifteen years business the bank has paid to de- positors and stockholders $135,816.29 and has accumulated surplus and profits of $48,000, a total of $182,905.26.
The officers and directors of the bank are leading business men of the community and the bank has always co-operated in every way possible in the upbuilding of the town.
THE SCHOOLS.
The first schoolhouse for this community was built at the south- ern end of the old graveyard. It was of hewn logs and one story high. The fire place was in the side and large enough to accomodate backlogs 5 or 6 feet long. The windows slid sideways. The seats were of slabs and had no backs. For writing desks slabs were arrang- ed along three sides of the room in such a manner that the pupils stood between them and the wall and faced the teacher. Each pupil after working a question copied it into a blank book so that when · through he had a key to the old Western Calculator. Wm. Mckinstry, who furnished the information to the writer a number of years ago, attended this school in 1825. Mr. Beacom was master then but it is said that Samuel Owens was the first. Alex Mckinstry taught here. To him went John Brodhead, a terror to the community, maschievous
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
and lazy. One day when the school was called to order the children wondered at the long strip of hickory bark hanging from a rafter. . During the day when John got into mischief the master called him up and said: "John, I have watched you for many a day. I have made up my mind that you will never amount to anything and will be a disgrace to your parents. I have therefore decided to hang you." John pleaded for mercy and was glad to promise to reform. He kept his promise as far as study and behavior, but evidently not as to lying as he became a prominent lawyer. Wm. Mckinstry helped to hew the logs for the second school building which stood at the forks of the little run back of the Presbyterian Church some distance up on the Owens farm, then owned by John Andree. This school was taught for some time by Jack Brown, grandfather of Mrs. Henry Bowers of North Second Street. The third schoolhouse and the first one to be erected in the Borough of Apollo, was built in 1850 on the corner of Church and Thirtyfoot Streets, now Pennsylvania Avenue and South Third Street. It was a one story frame building. It had pine desks and seats, was furnished with a cupola and bell. The latter swings in the tower of the present school building. This schoolhouse was pur- chased for one hundred dollars by Alex Henry and converted into a dwelling. Later he added a story to it and it yet stands as the prop- erty of John A. Long.
The next schoolhouse was built in 1863 on the present school lot. It had two stories and two rooms. The first teachers in this building were Wm. Davis and Mary Llewellyn. As the population increased this building was moved back and a four roomed frame building was added, making six rooms for the accomodation of the pupils. This building had patent desks. In 1876 there were five rooms. The pupils still increasing in number, it became necessary to rent outside rooms. One was in the second story of the old Simon Whitlinger Building, the other was above T. A. Cochran's drug store. After the town was divided into wards the directors bought lots on Terrace Avenue with a view to erect a Second Ward Schoolhouse. This idea not meeting the desires of the succeeding board, they decided to build a brick build- ing at the rear of the frame, looking forward to the period when the old structure could be razed and a creditable building erected. Those opposing this procured an injunction. In June 1900 the injunction against the building of the new schoolhouse was dissolved by the court and a new eight room brick building was started in 1900 and completed in the Spring of 1901. This cost $9559. During this latter period of scarcity of room, rooms in various parts of the town were rented. Rooms thus rented and used for school purposes were above the store-rooms in the Bellas building, in the Diamond brick and un- der the U. P. Church. In 1913 the frame building was torn down and a fine fireproof building erected at a cost of $30,000. This building contains nine rooms, a directors' room, principal's room, gymnasium and auditorium.
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO. PARTIAL ROSTER OF TEACHERS.
A T. B. Allison, Mary Allshouse, Belle Alcorn, Mabel Ansley, Carrie Anderson, Bertha Anderson, Virginia Allison.
B Mr. Beacom, Cyrus Boggs, Sarah Boyd, Ethel Bortz, Clara Burk- ett, Blanche Bonnie, Mrs. John Baker, Ethel Bash, Fannie Bent- zel, Albert Bowser, Joseph Beyers, Joseph L. Black.
C Silas Cochran, James Chambers, John Q. Cochrane, William Coult- er, Cora C. Cochran, M. Hermond Cochran, Chas. T. Culp, Anna- bel Cowan, Mary Caldwell, H. G. Carmalt, J. Ross Clark, Jennie Chambers, Anna M. Cooper, Frances Caldwell, Mayme B. Cramer, Olive Caldwell, Lavinia Chew, Mary Carruthers.
D Samuel Davis, Wm. Davis, Nettie Dyess.
E Margaret J. Elder, Minerva Elwood, Roberta Ewing, Margaret Eckman, May Elder.
F Jacob Freetly, Jean Fitzgerald, Janet Fulton, Myrtle Foale.
G Lauretta A. Guthrie, Etta Grimm, Eva Gartley.
H Joseph Harper, Tillie M. Hunter, T. J. Henry, Mary S. Hawk, Zoe S. Howe, J. T. Henry, Bertha Henry, Verna B. Hill, Luella Hesse, Elizabeth Hankey.
I Geo. W. Innes.
J Murray Jackson, Tabitha Jellison, Anna Bird Johnston, Myra E. Jackson, Ida E. Johnston,Ralph C. Jack, Annie E. H. Jones, Mrs. A. H. Jamison, Margaret Jackson, Pearl Jack, Maggie Johnston, Wm. M. Johnston, Wm. Jamison.
K Wm. Kirkwood, Myrtle Kettering, Zilla Kerr, Grace Kelley, Nell G. Kennedy, Mary Kirkwood, Anna G. Kerr, Lenora Klingensmith.
L Mary Llewellyn, J. Wilse Leech, Nan Larimer, Mary Lintner, Edna Leydic.
M Alex Mckinstry, Wm. McQuilken, John McIntire, James Marshall, Anna Means, Nannie W. Matthews, Eliza McMullen, Jennie Mc- Kenzie, Alice Marsh, Grace Mclaughlin, Ruth McLinn, Hattie McAninch, A. T. Morgan, Susie McCandless, Maude Mccullough, Eunice Miller, Dora Mccullough, Mabel McFarland, R. R. Max- well, Maude McCurdy, Alfreta Musser, Helen McNees, Lois Miller.
N Anna Neemes.
0 Samuel Owens, Nellie Orr, Madge Owens, Ethel Owens.
P Lucy Paul, George M. Peeler.
R Gertrude Rudolf, Ethel Randolph, Prof. Roup, A. W. Rodgers, W. A. Rodgers.
S Hugh Skiles, Stewart Shaw, John G. Stewart, R. D. Sumstine, Pearl St. Clair, Flora Stewart, N. S. Steele, Agnes Stewart, Susanna Schulte, Sarah Sloan, W. M. Stewart, Myrtle Stewart, W. R. Steele, Melva Snyder, Irene Smith, Amy Shockey, Ethel Stuchell, Helen Strouse, I. L. Smith, Mary Spaulding.
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