USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Its Centennial Celebration, Volume II > Part 9
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The church was formally organized, January 12, 1902, with Mr. King, pastor. In the fall of 1902 Mr. King returned to Africa to resume his work, and Rev. C. W. Hutsler was appointed pastor of the church. The present membership is about thirty.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The first annual report of the public schools of Beaver Falls was made in 1867. The old two-room schoolhouse on Seventh
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Avenue was the only building owned by the district until 1872, when the Eleventh Street or Central building was erected, con- taining ten school rooms and a public hall. In 1875 this hall was divided, making two more school rooms, which the in- creased attendance demanded. In 1880 the Seventeenth Street building, with eight rooms, was erected, and, two years later, the Fifth Street building. By 1884 the increase was such as to require a class room for the relief of the grammar department, and one was provided in the Eleventh Street school, and a year later assistant teachers were employed in the first primary rooms of Eleventh and Seventeenth Street schools. In 1887 two more rooms were provided; and, in 1888, the Eighth Avenue building, with eight school rooms, was erected. The Fifth Avenue building, with eight rooms, was erected in 1898, and all the schools have now full day sessions. The High School, which was the first established in Beaver County, is in the Eleventh Street or Central school building. Its first commencement exer- cises were held May 20, 1879. The estimated value of the school property of Beaver Falls is $135,000.
The following is a list of the superintendents of the schools since their gradation: Miss Margaret Foulk, 1872-73; Rebecca Forbes, 1873-75; V. B. Baker, 1875-77; M. L. Knight, 1877- 89; J. M. Reed, 1889-96; J. Y. Mckinney, 1896-97; C. J. Boak, 1897-1902; Edward Maguire, 1902-04.
The public schools of Beaver Falls rank very high in the estimation of educators, and are the just pride of its citizens.
Geneva College belongs to the borough of College Hill, in con- nection with which its history is given, but it is popularly spoken of as belonging to Beaver Falls, and in reality is a part of the educational equipment of that place.
Two excellent commercial colleges are here also, viz., Butch- er's Business College and Rand's Business College.
The Young Men's Christian Association was first represented in Beaver Falls by an organization which was effected about 1878, but which did not long continue. On the 29th of June, 1886, a new organization was effected, the incorporators, who were also the first board of managers, consisting of S. D. Hub- bard, Robert J. Jamison, J. A. Millan, F. F. Brierly, J. F. Kurtz, Prof. E. P. Thompson, Dr. H. C. Watson, H. W. Reeves, Ernest
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Mayer, W. H. Chandley, and A. P. Bryson; with the following officers: F. F. Brierly, president; Ernest Mayer, vice-president; Prof. E. P. Thompson, recording secretary; Lyman R. Swett, secretary; and A. P. Bryson, treasurer. For the first three months its meetings were held in the city council chamber, when commodious quarters were secured in the Surls Block, corner of Seventh Avenue and Thirteenth Street. This organ- ization did a good work, but finally went the way of its prede- cessor.
The present Young Men's Christian Association of Beaver Falls, Pa., had its inception as a section of the State organiza- tion in October, 1902. Two rooms over 1224 Seventh Avenue were rented and fitted up as a reading and game room. In July, 1902, a Board of Directors was formed and organ- ized by electing Joseph W. Knott, president; J. C. Brittain, recording secretary; and W. T. Reeder, treasurer. At a meeting of the directors, held August 18, 1902, Nathaniel I. Gordon of Jamestown, N. Y., was called to the office of general secretary, and assumed the duties of that office, Septem- ber 1, 1902. At the same time, additional rooms were engaged over 1222 and 1224 Seventh Avenue.
A charter was granted the Association on April 1, 1903. In the charter the following were named as trustees: J. F. Merri- man, H. W. Reeves, John A. Campbell, F. F. Brierly, R. M. Downie, M. L. Knight; and directors: J. W. Knott, J. C. Brit- tain, J. F. Merriman, Frank B. Bruce, J. L. Kerr, Thos. Sten- house, W. J. Dunlap, I. N. Mason, J. H. Ohnsman, W. T. Reeder, C. M. Emmons, Chas. N. Ramsey, Geo. W. Johnson, Robert Pearce, and Frank W. Richter. The directors organized by electing J. W. Knott, president; Thos. Stenhouse, Ist vice-presi- dent; J. L. Kerr, 2d vice-president; J. C. Brittain, recording secretary; and W. T. Reeder, treasurer. The Association has now 112 members.
The Ladies Auxiliary is composed of thirty members, with Mrs. H. W. Reeves, president; and Mrs. Chas. M. Emmons, secretary and treasurer.
SOCIETIES
Harmony Chapter, No. 206, R. A. M., organized and char- tered in 1870; meets in Masonic Building; Beaver Valley Lodge,
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No. 478, F. and A. M., organized and chartered in 1870, meets in Masonic Building; Rising Star Encampment, No. 264, I. O; O. F., organized December 10, 1883, meets in Lyceum Hall. Beaver Falls Lodge, No. 758, I. O. O. F., organized March 13, 1871, meets in Hanauer's Hall; Valley Echo Lodge, No. 622, I. O. O. F., chartered January 25, 1868, meets in Mechanics Hall; Beaver Valley Post, No. 164, G. A. R., Department of Pennsylvania, chartered April 8, 1880, meets in Dawson's Hall; Encampment No. 4, Union Veteran Legion, chartered Decem- ber 2, 1885, meets in Hanauer's Hall; Beaver Valley Camp, No. 71, Pa. Div. S. V., U. S. A., chartered August 5, 1885, now defunct.
Beaver Falls Lodge, No. 10, I. O. O. F., meets in Martsolf Block; Beaver Falls Circle, No. 23, P. H. C., Ewing's Hall; Beaver Falls Turn Verein, organized August 2, 1871, has its own building; Myrtle Council, No. 121, N. U., chartered Janu- ary 5, 1885; Schiller Grove, No. 8, U. A. O. D., chartered August 22, 1880, Lyceum Hall; the Fraternal Mystic Circle, chartered July 21, 1886, Hanauer's Hall; Beaver Falls Council, No. 311, R. A., organized April 18, 1879, Ewing's Hall; Mechanics Lodge, No. 28, A. O. U. W., organized September 19, 1872, Lyceum Hall.
Beaver Falls Council, No. 48, Jr. O. U. A. M., chartered August 11, 1884, Ewing's Hall; Concord Lodge, No. 75, A. O. U. W., organized May 28, 1874, consolidated with Mechanics Lodge, No. 28, in January of 1901; Lone Rock Lodge, No. 222, K. of P., chartered December 7, 1869, Hanauer's Hall; Malvina Lodge, No. 18, D. of R., organized October 2, 1869, Hanauer's Hall; the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, St. Mary's Branch, No. 31, St. Mary's Hall; Beaver Falls Castle, No. 299, K. of G. E., Martsolf Hall; Knights of Malta, organized in 1891, Ewing's Hall; Lawton Camp, No. 7397, Modern Woodmen of the World, Fox Hall.
Walnut Camp, No. 2, Woodmen of the World, Fox Hall; Beaver Falls Tent, No. 53, Knights of the Maccabees, Fox Hall; Beaver Valley Lodge, No. 1288, Knights and Ladies of Honor, Fox Hall; Home Guards of America, Ewing's Hall; Beaver Falls Lodge, No. 348, B. P. O. E., Hanauer's Hall; Sons of St. George, Dawson's Hall; First German Sick Benefit Society, Hanauer's Hall; Beaver Falls Circle, No. I, U. A. O. D., Han-
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auer's Hall; Social Grove, No. 9, U. A. O. D., Hanauer's Hall; Valley Falls Council, No. 6, Loyal Additional Benefit Associa- tion, Martsolf Block; Mound Valley Lodge, No. 733, I. O. G. T., Martsolf Block; Falls City Council, No. 385, O. U. A. M., Ewing's Hall; William Mckinley Commandery, No. 311, Ancient and Ill., K. of M., Ewing's Hall; Honor Council No. 101, American Legion of Honor.
HOTELS
Beaver Falls has several good hotels. These are: the Sev- enth Avenue Hotel, E. Fred Hughes and Robert L. Lowe, pro- prietors; Grand Hotel, William Boyle; Central, John M. Magaw; Hotel Anderson, Frank Macdonald; Windsor, Frank Teufel; and the Book House, John J. Patterson.
There are two theaters, the Sixth Avenue and the Lyceum.
Beaver Falls maintains a very efficient fire department. There are three companies-fifty volunteers and three paid men. The apparatus consists of one Silbsy fire-engine, one combina- tion hose-wagon, one ladder-truck, and four hose-reels, and there are five head of horses to haul these. The three stations of the department are located as follows: No. 1, at Seventh Avenue and Eleventh Street; No. 2, at Twenty-fourth Street and Eighth Avenue; and No. 3 at Eighteenth Street and Twelfth Avenue.
Newspaper Press .- Mention of the excellent local newspapers will be found in the chapter of this work devoted to the general history of the press in the county.
POST-OFFICE AND POPULATION
The post-office at what is now Beaver Falls was first known as Brighton. It was established in 1818 and discontinued, April 22, 1857. During this period the postmasters, with the dates of their service, were as follows: John Dickey, April 11, 1818; David Hoopes, May 17, 1821; James Patterson, Decem- ber 26, 1832; Archibald Robertson, February 8, 1843; Matthew H. Robertson, December 19, 1850; James B. McCallan, June 19, 1856. Since the re-establishment of the office in 1867 under the name of Beaver Falls, the following have served: Edward A. Noble, July 3, 1867; Milo A. Townsend, February 11, 1869; James L. B. Dawson, December 10, 1872; Samuel S. McFerran,
First Hotel, Beaver Falls, 1803.
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January 14, 1881; Wm. H. Grim, February 28, 1889; Harry F. Hawkins, February 6, 1893 -.
By the United States Census for 1900 the population of Beaver Falls was 10,054.
CHAPTER XVIII NEW BRIGHTON BOROUGH
Location-Depreciation Tracts on which it was Laid Out Described- First Flouring Mill-The "Old Red Front"-Aaron Burr's Opera- tions-Constable Bros .- Origin of Name, New Brighton-Old Bill of Sale of Lots-Pioneer Enterprises-Early Prosperity and De- pression-Branch of United States Bank-Early Educational Move- ments-Public Schools-Manufactories-Churches and Societies- Anti-Slavery Agitation-Hotels-Financial Institutions-Post-office -Grove Cemetery-New Brighton's Patriotism-Secret Societies and Orders-Incorporation-Population-Notable Residents.
NEW BRIGHTON is located on the east bank of the Beaver River, about two miles from its junction with the Ohio River, and is built upon what was designated as tracts Nos. 91 to 95, in Leet's district of Depreciation Lands.
Tract 91 began at the south line of the town, extending to Eighteenth Street, contained 160 acres, and was patented to Mark Wilcox, January 19, 1786. It was conveyed to Benj. Wynkoop, March 20, 1793; by his heirs to David Shields and James Allison, November 21, 1834; and by them to Robert, David, and Hugh Mitchell, December 24, 1834, the last convey- ance of the tract as a whole.
Tract 92 extended from Eighteenth Street to Thirteenth Street, contained 232 acres, and was patented to John Lukens, January 18, 1786. It was conveyed to Thomas Lukens by John Lukens's executor, April 18, 1807; from Thomas Lukens, by sheriff's sale, in 1811, to James Allison and Parker Campbell; and by them to John and Charles Lukens in 1829, who partitioned it between them the same year, and then began its subdivision into lots.
Tract 93 extended from Thirteenth Street to Eighth Street,
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View of New Brighton from Lower End of Beaver Falls.
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contained 262 acres, and was patented to Elias Boudinot and William Bradford, April 20, 1786. William Bradford died, and his interest passed to his brother, Thomas Bradford. In a partition between Bradford and Boudinot in 1812, the tract was taken by Bradford. The Bradfords came from Philadel- phia, and their ancestor, William Bradford, came from England with William Penn in 1682. Bradford conveyed the tract to David Townsend, August 11, 1829, who laid out a considerable part of it in lots, many of which he sold during his lifetime, and many were sold after his death by his executors, John Pugh, Levi McConnell, and Nathan Townsend.
Tract 94 extended from Eighth Street to a point on the river bank between the Brighton and Fort Wayne Railroad bridges, contained 265 acres, and was patented to Thomas Brad- ford, April 21, 1786. Mr. Bradford sold it to Benj. Sharpless and David Townsend in 1801; and Mr. Sharpless conveyed his interest to Mr. Townsend, August 15, 1815, who laid out a plan of lots, which will be more fully described later on. This tract was laid out in lots first, followed by tract 93, the plans supple- menting each other.
Tract 95 extended from the north line of tract 94 to the north line of the present borough, contained 286 acres, and was patented to Mark Wilcox, January 31, 1786. During its early history it passed through the hands of several persons, among them Daniel Leet, John Wolf, and David Shields, the latter conveying it to Oliver Ormsby in 1829. Ormsby the same year conveyed it to James Patterson, who conveyed it to Samuel C. Atkinson. Atkinson's title was sold by the sheriff to the assignees in trust of the Bank of the United States, and, April 20, 1848, the latter conveyed the larger part of the tract to John Miner and Silas Merrick. They sold it off in smaller tracts, considerable portions being purchased by Edward Hoopes, William Kennedy, Samuel A. McGowan, Rev. Joseph P. Taylor, and others, and since then several plans of lots have been laid out on different parts of the tract, now covered by hundreds of homes.
These tracts extended eastward beyond the borough line into Pulaski township, but all terminated westward at the Beaver River. The title to tract 95 was in 1799 conveyed to John Wolf, who put in operation a flouring mill near the present dam
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and east end of the Tenth Street bridge, known as Wolf's mill. This was probably the first mill of any kind east of the Beaver, and people came to it from a distance of over thirty miles, even from east of Pittsburg, over a bridle path cut through the forest. It was operated until 1820, and remained standing until the canal was dug.
In 1803 Hoopes, Townsend & Company erected a building in Sharon, the second house from Brady's Run, for the use for mer- chandising of Isaac Wilson, who came from Chester County, Pa., The Hoopes family were from the same county, and the pro- genitor of the family came from England with William Penn in 1682. The building referred to was called the "Old Red Front," and is yet standing, remodeled, and made more modern. Near this old building, on the flat between the river and Brady's Run, in 1806, Aaron Burr's managers and workmen built a flotilla of boats as a part of his expedition down the Ohio to found an empire.1
With this expedition were two English brothers named Con- stable, who had no part in the enterprise, but went along to see the country and sketch its interesting points. The owners of the "Black Walnut Bottom," where the lower part of Beaver Falls now stands, wished to lay out a plan of lots, and engaged the Constable brothers, who were engineers, to do the work. For their services they were granted the privilege of naming the new town, which they called Brighton, after their old home in England.
In 1815 a plan of lots was laid out on tract 94, which led to the name given to New Brighton. By an Act of Assembly of March 20, 1810,2 a company was incorporated under the name, style, and title of "The President, Managers and Company for erecting a Bridge over Big Beaver Creek opposite the Town of Brighton," where the Brighton (overgrade) bridge now stands. If erected where laid out it would not be opposite Brighton, but in a township, and in order to conform to the charter, the name of East Brighton was given to the plan of lots surveyed on tract 94, and thus the eastern end of the bridge was built opposite (East) Brighton, and the conditions of the charter carried out. In course of time East was changed to New, and the newly
1 See chapter on the borough of Bridgewater for further particulars of this enterprise.
* P. L., 169.
.
Wilson , Mill, New Brighton, 1950.
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laid out village became known as New Brighton, while Brigh- ton came to be known as "Old" Brighton. The late Joseph T. Pugh had a bill of sale of these lots, in excellent condition, dated September 1, 1815, from which we quote: "Any person purchasing one or more lots shall improve them as follows: If one lot, the purchaser shall erect thereon, within three years from this date, a building equal to 15 by 20 feet, two stories high, with shingle roof and stone or brick chimney; if more than one lot, one such building for every two lots." The bill is signed by D. Townsend, Evan Pugh, John Pugh, and Benj. Townsend, and 54 lots were sold, averaging about $33 each. Joseph Hoopes, grandfather of Henry Hoopes, was the surveyor, and J. W. Wilson, father of Wade Wilson, the chain carrier. The part of the town surveyed was largely a wilderness, and the surveyors had to carry a hatchet and chop the saplings out of the way, in order to run their lines. The original plot is yet in good condition, and is in the possession of Wade Wilson.
In 1806 or 1807 a man named Walton attempted to establish boat yards a short distance below the foot of Thirteenth Street, but he met obstacles that defeated his project. The brick dwelling formerly occupied by J. W. Wilson, now a part of F. G. Rohrkaste's property by the Brighton bridge, was built by his father, Isaac Wilson, in 1817, and was known as "the Brick House," being the only brick house in this region. In 1828 a fine flouring mill was built by David Townsend, which was operated for many years by J. W. Wilson, and afterward by his son, Wade Wilson, and is now in operation under the name of the Quaker Milling Company. It has been remodeled in part, and has been burned out, but the strong old walls yet stand.
New Brighton started on a new career of prosperity with the opening of the Pennsylvania canal, but the boom came when a branch of the United States Bank was estab- lished. In the charter of the Bank of Pennsylvania, under the influence of Hon. John Dickey, it was stipulated that the bank might establish branches, "one of which must be in Beaver county." Taking advantage of this the bank established a branch at New Brighton, with the following officers: President, John Pugh; Cashier, Dr. William Denny; directors, R. Townsend, M. F. Champlin, James Patterson, Ovid Pinney, Dr. E. K. Chamberlin, A. W. Townsend, and J. P.
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Johnston of Beaver County; John B. Pearson of Mercer County; and John Gilmore of Butler County. All responsible persons were urged to borrow money, which increased the volume of business in the community, but at a fearful cost when settle- ment day came. Bank obligations had to be met, the mother bank in Philadelphia failed, and a financial panic followed, causing disaster and ruin. Values were depressed, property had no sale, and the effect on the community was disastrous. After- wards a large amount of the debts were compromised, by which most of the manufacturers were enabled, in a small way at least, to resume business, and in process of time confidence was restored.
EARLY EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENTS
July 4, 1833, Marcus T. C. Gould, from Rome, N. Y., adver- tised the establishment of the New Brighton Female Seminary, wherein young ladies were taught all the useful branches of modern female education.
May 1, 1837, Richard Leech and his wife, of Harrisburg, opened a female seminary, announcing that they would teach the English branches and French and Latin and the higher mathematics.
The Beaver County Institute, of New Brighton, was organ- ized in 1837, the object being "the promotion of science and literature, but more especially of natural history." At a meet- ing, January 16, 1838, the association was fully organized by the election of the following officers: President, James Patterson; Vice-Presidents, Joseph Hoopes, Robert Townsend, and Enoch Marvin; Curator, A. W. Townsend; Corresponding Secretary, Dr. T. W. Powers; Recording Secretary, Rev. A. Williams; Li- brarian, B. B. Chamberlin; Treasurer, M. F. Champlin; man- agers, M. T. C. Gould, H. Mendenhall, Dr. E. K. Chamberlin, Dr. John Winter, Edward Hoopes, John Collins, and J. W. May- nard. The frame building adjoining the News office, burned in February, 1899, was the hall of this society for a number of years. It was then located on Third Avenue, near the Pres- byterian Church.
In 1840 the "New Brighton Female Seminary" was char- tered. Robert Townsend was the president, and B. B. Chamberlin secretary. It was advertised as under the superin-
John Pugh.
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tendence of Mrs. M. Sheddon, assisted by Laura K. Collins. In it were taught Greek, Latin, Hebrew, French, and Italian, with music, drawing, and the usual English branches. In 1841 and 1842 Mrs. Eunice Critchlow was advertised as the principal of the seminary. The "Greenwood Institute," under the direction of Miss Myra Townsend and her sisters, was established later. It was held in the brick building on Third Avenue, now the resi- dence of Chas. A. Barker (then the home of the Townsend sisters), and a part of the time also in the frame building on the corner opposite, where the new residence of Charles C. Townsend is built. In 1840 and later there was a male academy known as the "Brighton Institute," of which S. L. Coulter was principal in 1841.
In 1841-2 a private school was conducted by Rev. Mr. Hawkins, back of the Presbyterian Church, corner Twelfth Street and Fourth Avenue; one by A. P. Dutcher in 1843, in B. B. Chamberlin's office; and one about the same time by Harvey Thomas, at the Steinfeld corner, Third Avenue and Eleventh Street. Miss Curtis had a school in the early fifties in the building where Hon. G. L. Eberhart now lives and the one torn down by Dr. J. S. Boyd, Third Avenue and Thirteenth Street. Later a building was erected where the Central school building now stands, in which the Davis school, and later the Curry Institute were held. In the early sixties the Johnston school was held in this building for a short time. It was also used afterwards as a Water Cure establishment, an asylum for the insane, and later as a fine boarding house and dwelling.
In 1855 Rev. Joseph P. Taylor, rector of the Episcopal Church, established the Kenwood boarding school for boys. Its main building is now occupied by the Beaver Valley General Hospital. Subsequently Professor Charles Jacobus was in charge of the school. Other private schools were in existence that helped to give character to the town and the reputation of being one of the finest educational places in the State.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The first public schoolhouse in New Brighton was built in 1835, a few rods north of where the Church of God now stands. It was a small brick building, with seats of rough planks, and
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boards nailed to the walls as writing desks, and with no modern conveniences. Mr. Moss was the first teacher in the building. About 1840 a brick building of two rooms was built on the pre- sent site of the Church of God. In 1849 the Board of Directors purchased the property, corner Third Avenue and Fifteenth Street, now owned by J. F. Miner. Previous to this time the frame building on this lot was used for a Friends' meeting-house and a private school. These were ungraded schools, and the only ones until 1857. In October of that year the three-story brick building, corner Ninth Street and Fifth Avenue, was com- pleted, and in it was opened on the first Monday of November, the first graded school in the county. In 1861, when the stirring scenes of the war were disturbing the ordinary routine of life, patriotic meetings were held in the school hall, and seventeen of the students of the school enlisted and went to the front.
In 1884 the fine school building in the Third Ward was opened and in 1890 the beautiful First Ward building was occu- pied. In 1893 the large and beautiful high-school building was completed and put to use, one of the most attractive in western Pennsylvania, and later, 1895, the fine Fourth Ward building was dedicated. The old Ninth Street building was sold soon after it was abandoned for the new high-school building.
The following persons have been principals of the schools: George M. Fields, S. P. Van Pelt, G. W. Kratz, J. B. Orr, J. C. Gilchrist, H. C. Missimer, Luther Fuller, Miss S. A. Platt, H. N. W. Hoyt, E. C. Lavers, John Collier, J. B. Richey, and J. W. F. Wilkinson.
In 1881 a three-years course was adopted for the high school, that being its first year, and the first diplomas were publicly granted in 1883. In 1889 another year was added, and now the course is one of the most complete in the State.
MANUFACTORIES
The beginning of the building of manufactories was about 1836. Prior to that time there were no factories on the race below the Quaker Mill. In 1836 F. D. Houlette, John Gammel, and James Erwin put up a building. which was used for a while as a wagon shop, then as a woolen mill by Mr. Hyde; and after- ward a saw-mill was built on the same lot, which was operated for a number of years by Joseph Darling, a native of Ver-
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