USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 29
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In 1859 both rivers were in flood, and that portion of the town below Walnut street, as well as the mill, were entirely in- undated.
Until 1868, when the Kernville bridge was taken the town was subject to overflows on account of ice gorges, but since that time, has not been troubled in that way. Daniels' Bottom, now the Eleventh Ward, was always much affected by these ice overflows, and frequently Mr. Peter Daniels and Mr. Henry Cauffield were unable to plow and plant their spring crops until late in the season.
The highest overflow, previous to the flood of May 31, 1889, was that of June 7, 1887, before the removal of the old railroad bridge which spanned the Conemaugh river where the Stone Bridge is now located. The Fifth, Sixth and Seventh wards and all that part of town below Jackson street, were covered with water, it being eighteen inches deep in front of Quinn's store, on Clinton street. That flood made a high-water mark, and surveys were made for the purpose of locating future build- ings.
315
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
The flood of May 31, 1889, caused by excessive heavy rains throughout the central and western parts of Pennsylvania, and by the breaking of the South Fork reservoir, was, of course, the greatest the city has ever known, but reference to it will be made hereafter.
On February 17, 1891, the business and lower portions of the city were submerged by reason of both rivers being in flood. The volume of water discharged from the Little Conemaugh was 12,950 cubic feet per second, and from the Stonycreek 22.000 cubic feet. The flood of 1887 was exclusively from the Stony- creek, when there was a flow of 30,000 cubic feet per second. The Little Conemaugh was normal.
In 1891 the Conemangh below The Point was widened to 260 feet, which it was believed would give sufficient relief, but on May 20, 1894, the lower portions of the city were again under water. Both rivers were high, but the Little Conemaugh was wild, and between the hours of 11:15 and 12:15 midnight rose six feet.
Again on March 14, 1907, the city was under water to a greater height than at any previous flood, barring that of 1839.
After the flood of May 31, 1889, General Hastings raised the elevations on The Point by depositing a large amount of earth taken from cellars and streets while cleaning up the town. Also in 1891 after the city was organized, the lower part of it, up to Market street was raised; the average fill being about five feet, as follows :
Tide Eleva- Tide eleva- tions, 1906. tions, 1887.
Main and Market. 0
1164.78
1164.78
Main and Potts Place
3.9
Main and Walnut
3.67
1164.85
1161.18
Main and Morrell Place 7
Main and Union
6.5
1164.79
1158.29
Main and Johns
9.7
1166.51
1156.81
Washington and Market, 0; Washington and Potts Place, 2; Washington and Walnut, 0.
The sea levels at Johnstown, and the high water marks in the flood of June 7, 1887 :
316
IIISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Sea Levels.
Flood of
June 7, 1887. June 7, 1887.
Walnut and Locust, curb.
1161.56
1164.85
Walnut and Washington, curb
116.03
1165.26
Walnut and Main, curb.
1161.18
11644.85
Market and Main, curb.
1165.27
1166.12
Market and Lincoln, curb
1166.18
1167.73
Foot of Market street.
1165.84
1166.39
Franklin and Stonycreek, curb
1168.19
1169.94
Franklin and Main, curb
1169.06
1169.69
Franklin and Locust, curb
1168.32
1169.09
Clinton and Main, eurh.
1168.99
1170.66
Top of rail, S. & C. R. R. at Bedford street 1173.44
1171.80
Top of rail, opposite South street
1172.40
1173.71
Somerset and South, eurb
1169.92
1171.93
Franklin and South, curb.
1170.99
1172.14
Bottom of waste weir, Wildcat dam
1325.33
Bottom of waste weir, St. Clair dan
1353.07
Bottom of waste weir, Millcreek dam.
1357.88
South rail, P. R. R. station at Johnstown.
1184.
Bridge Seat, S. & C. R. R. bridge.
1181.34
1176.
Top of rail, S. & C. R. R. at Hogback tunnel 1201.06
1198.
Top of rail, P. R. R. at Fairfield avenue. . 1159.31
Stone base, Peelorville Schoolhouse
1352.45
Top of Indian Mound, Westmont .
1783.56
Highest Point, Grandview Cemetery
1657.40
. . ..
Elevations of high water of the Conemaugh and Stony- creek rivers at Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Locations.
Elevations above tide at Philadelphia. June 7, May 31, Feb. 17, May 20, Mar. 14,
1887.
1889. 1891. 1894.
1907.
Coopersdale Pumping Station
1143.70
1144.2
1146.8
Ten Acre Railroad Bridge.
1152.
1151.81
1151.7
1157.8
Mouth of Hinckston Run.
1158.72
1160.42
1157.1
1159.6
Below Stone Bridge, P. R. R.
1163.57
1159.2
1164.7
Above Stone Bridge, P. R. R.
1164.46
1164.65
1161.3
1165.6
Franklin Street Bridge.
1169.94
1168.94
1170.2
Poplar Street Bridge
1172.52
1174.
Valley Pike Bridge.
1178.58
1179.
Walnut Street Bridge
1165.26
1166.64
1165.4
1168.2
Railroad Street Bridge.
Main and Walnut Streets
1175.05
Main and Walnut Streets.
1164.88'
1184.95
1165.18
1166.99
Main and Union Streets.
1164.90
1165.2
1166.13
General Offices, C. I. Co.
1174.20
1167.2
General Offices, C. I. Co.
1184.35
1179.25
1184.2
1184.9
The measurements for 1889 were taken at 3 o'clock, and at 4:15 p. m.
The first effort made to erect a bridge at Johnstown was under an Act of Assembly of April 10, 1835, reviving the act for the construction of bridges, and extending the time for comple-
317
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
tion for a period of two years, and authorizing the governor to incorporate the Somerset & Conemaugh Road Company, which intended to build a bridge at Franklin street across the Stony- creek river. On March 30, 1836, another act was passed, re- pealing a portion of the first act, but authorizing the company to build a bridge and extending the time for a period of one year. But these efforts were unsuccessful.
In 1842 a joint stock company was formed and a bridge was erected over the Stonycreek at Franklin street. Allen Rose and Jacob Brallier were the carpenters, and Martin Hannan and Thomas Howe laid the masonry. It was built 300 feet long and 12 feet in height, with an eighteen-foot roadway, and was cov- ered, as all bridges were in those days, and being a toll bridge. cost a foot traveler one penny to cross. In 1857, the north span was washed away, and was replaced, with the addition of a sidewalk which had not been provided on the first one. It was known as the Kernville bridge, and gave splendid service until 1866, when it was washed away at the time of what is known as the "big ice gorge." To replace it, an iron bridge, the first of that material in this vicinity, was erected by the Phoenix Bridge Company, and when it was taken down in 1887 each piece was marked by the contractor, so that it could be reconstructed at Poplar street. AAn elegant iron and steel bridge of one span and 175 feet in length was put in its place, with a roadway of 30 feet and a sidewalk of 10 feet on each side. This bridge was destroyed in the flood of 1889. The power of the water was sufficient to lift this immense weight of iron and steel, and carry it two hundred yards below its abutments, but the braces, angle irons, etc., were so twisted and bent that it was not practical to attempt to again use them for that purpose.
The Edgmoor Bridge Company were the contractors for the present Franklin street bridge, which was opened to the public on February 3, 1891. It is 225 feet between abutments, with a roadway and sidewalks of the same width as the bridge of 1887.
The borough purchased the stock of the old Kernville Bridge Company in 1868, and made it a free bridge.
The old Franklin street bridge was transferred to Poplar street in that year-1887-but was reduced a panel at each end, thus making it 175 feet instead of 245. This was the first
318
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
bridge at Poplar street, and two years after its destruction in the flood of 1889 was replaced by the present structure.
Until 1887 it was the custom to have a notice posted on both ends of all bridges to the effect that a fine would be im- posed on any person driving a horse over it faster than a walk. But one of the conditions of the Franklin street structure built in 1887 was that it should be strong enough to allow a horse to pass over it at the will of the person driving, and the ob- noxious notice never appeared on it. nor its successor of 1891, nor of any of the other bridges.
In 1888 the Valley Turnpike Company finished its bridge across the Stonyereek at Moxham, between Stonycreek and Upper Yoder township now the Eighth and Seventeenth wards. The Valley Turnpike Company also erected another toll bridge from the upper end of Moxham to Ferndale soon after.
On the 13th of April, 1868, Governor Geary signed an Act of the General Assembly incorporating the "Stonycreek Bridge Company," wherein Jacob Fronheiser. Jacob Fend, Lewis Plitt, John Geis, Jacob Wild, Conrad Suppes, and Jacob Swank were authorized to secure subscriptions to erect a footbridge over the Stonyereek, "at or near the tanyard of Jacob Levergood on the one side, and the mouth of Haynes street on the other side of said stream." The bridge. had to be completed within two years, but the company did not succeed in procuring suf- ficient money. and it was not built.
It seems that this location for a bridge has been a favorite one for many years, but its promoters never succeeded until March, 1896, when a light suspension footbridge was swung.
The first bridge across the Little Conemaugh was erected in 1829, and stood for one night, when it fell of its own weight. It was what is known as a "straining-brace" bridge, and was a single span. It was located between the Walnut street bridge and the aqueduct, nearer the latter than the former. About this time the aqueduct was constructed, and horses, with their riders, passed over it on the towing-path, but it was not wide enough for a vehicle.
The first successful bridge for the use of all kinds of travel was a two-span frame bridge, erected in 1848 by popular sub- scription. It was replaced by another in 1853, which stood until 1862, when the boroughs of Johnstown and Millville erected the first municipal bridge, under power of an Act of
319
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Assembly passed March 15, 1862, of which the preamble is as follows :
"Whereas, The Boroughs of Johnstown and Millville, in the County of Cambria, have erected at their joint expense a bridge connecting said boroughs on the Conemaugh River, at Johnstown, etc."
The Act then gave jurisdiction to the Burgess of either borough for punishing violations of ordinances thereon.
It was called the Lincoln bridge in honor of the president. and continued in use until 1883, when a single-span iron bridge of 110 feet in length, and the first of the restricted kind, was put in its place by the two boroughs. It was destroyed in the flood.
The present Walnut street bridge was commenced Feb- ruary 4, 1890, and part of it was washed away February 16, 1891, but it was rebuilt and opened to the public March 4, 189K
By the Act of Assembly of April 4, 1856, John Murray, Jacob Fronheiser, James H. Pennel, John Fenlon, David Prosser, C. P. Murray, P. Cauffield and William Howard were appointed Commissioners to receive subscriptions for the "Conemaugh Bridge Company."
The intention was to construct a bridge across the Little Conemaugh at Woodvale, but the promoters did not succeed in securing sufficient subscriptions, and the project failed.
In April, 1861, however, the county commissioners erected a two-span frame bridge across the Little Conemaugh about where the present Woodvale bridge is located, but when it was about finished a freshet swept every stick of it away.
Wesley J. Rose and George W. Easly were the contractors, consequently the loss was theirs, and they at once replaced the bridge, but before the second structure was completed Mr. Easly enlisted in the Union Army and was elected Captain of Company H, of the Tenth P. V. Regiment, recruited April 26, 1861.
On February 21, 1862, Governor Curtin signed an Act of Assembly authorizing the Commissioners of Cambria county "to make settlement with the said George W. Easly and Wesley J. Rose, and to allow them such compensation as may seem just and reasonable," which they did.
That bridge was replaced by an iron structure built in 1884, by the boroughs of Woodvale and Conemangh. On July 16. 1884, the county commissioners appropriated $1,000 toward
320
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
its construction. It stood until 1889, when it was, like all the others, destroyed by the flood, and in 1891 it was replaced by a substantial iron and steel bridge.
On the 18th of April, 1853, the legislature authorized James P. McConaughy. George S. King, Evan Roberts, James Potts, R. B. Gageby. Cyrus L. Pershing and J. A. Cox to create the "Cambria Bridge Company" to erect a toll bridge "at or near the Broad fording, in Conemangh township," which they ac- cordingly did. Notwithstanding its great value to the public, it was not a financial success, and on November 27, 1865, the General Assembly authorized a dissolution of the company and a sale by the sheriff.
The bridge of 1853 was a Howe truss, of four spans, each 90 feet in length, and after it was disposed of the Cambria Iron Company built an iron bridge on its site about 1870. This bridge was washed away in 1889, and its successor was built in 1891, when the other city bridges were replaced, and was located one full square below Branch street, opposite Railroad street, whereas the bridges of 1853 and 1870 were at the en- trance of Branch street.
In 1880 an iron bridge was erected across the Little C'onemaugh, between Woodvale and Franklin boroughs. above the street-car barn. This changed the route of travel to Cone- maugh, which had been ria the Bluff crossing to the Franklin side of the river, where the horse-car tracks were, and along the fair grounds, where the trotting track was, as well as the baseball grounds. But bridge, road, street-car tracks, cars, barns and fair grounds were swept away-even the soil down to the gravel-by the great flood of 1889. A new steel bridge was built in May. 1896, to replace the one destroyed.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company built a single-track iron bridge across the Conemaugh river on the present site of the Stone Bridge, in 1852, and in 1864 it was made wide enough for double tracks. It was replaced in 1887-88 by the present four-track stone arch structure.
The right of way for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Com- pany was proenred October 21, 1879, and the road was com- pleted within a year. A three-span single-track steel bridge was built across the Stonycreek, between what is now the Seventh and Eighth wards.
In the tripartite compact of 1882, between the boroughs of Johnstown and Millville and the Cambria Iron Company, it
321
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
was agreed that the Cambria Iron Company should construct a railroad bridge across the Little Conemaugh at The Point, with a passage way on the upper side for foot travelers, and should build a railroad along the northerly bank of the Stony- creek river up to Bedford street, leaving an opening for Beulah Fording.
The bridge was built shortly thereafter and was used up to the time of the flood of 1889, when it was also destroyed and never replaced. The filling for the railroad was partly made, but it was not even finished, as far as Market street.
In 1890 the Cambria Iron Company erected a steel bridge over the same stream, a short distance above the Railroad street bridge and below the Stone bridge, for the purpose of hauling coal from the Mill Mine in Yoder Hill to the boilers by means of a cable.
In the same year the Westmont Ineline Plane Company built a steel bridge across the Stonycreek river, below Union street, for the accommodation of its patrons.
In 1896 the Pennsylvania Railroad Company erected a steel bridge across the Little Conemaugh at the Woodvale Factory for the spur to the new freight depot.
In 1874 the Cambria Iron Company erected a single-track bridge over the Little Conemangh at the old Basin-Feeder Dam. in rear of the Gautier Works, for the purpose of re- ceiving raw materials for their Works from the Pennsylvania Road at Conemaugh. shipping their finished products by the same road over bridges at Branch street and Morrellville, but high water destroyed all of them, and the Morrellville bridge was the only one replaced, and that in the fall of 1889.
After the Cambria Iron Company became possessed of the old Basin and Canal bed, and Old Portage roadbed up to Franklin, they used the old wooden aqueduct for a railroad bridge until 1868, when the Phoenix Bridge Company put up an iron structure which was destroyed in the flood of 1889. The next year it was replaced by a single-track steel bridge, with a footwalk on the lower side.
In the latter part of the sixties a modern bridge was built by the Johnstown Manufacturing Company across the Little ('onemangh, in the rear of the Woodvale Mill and Factory, to haul coal from the Coshun Hill to these industries. It was also used for teams until taken down some years ago. In 1890 the Cambria Iron Company erected a wooden railroad bridge Vol. I-21
322
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
at abont the same place, or a little above it, to take the place of the one in the rear of the Gautier Works lost in the flood, but this bridge was removed by the company in the winter of 1894, to allow the ice, which had gorged at that point, to pass off. The single-span bridge of the Pennsylvania Railroad here- after referred to is about on its location.
As will be observed, all the bridges in this vicinity were destroyed in the great catastrophe of 1889, and the finance com- mittee of Johnstown, consisting of W. C. Lewis, John D. Roberts, James McMillen, Cyrus Elder, Geo. T. Swank, A. J. Moxham and Tom L. Johnson, expended for temporary bridges at the ยท various places the following sums of money :
At Mineral Point, $50; at Poplar street, $363.84; at Frank- lin street, $410.86; at Woodvale, $609.24; at Walnut street, $2,761.20; at Cambria, $2,833.21; for permanent bridges at Franklin, Walnut, Cambria and Woodvale, $75,000; total, $82,- 028.35.
Before the temporary bridges were erected, and within a few days after the flood, Secretary-of-War Proctor sent pon- toons belonging to the Federal Government, which were an- chored in the Stonycreek, at Poplar and Franklin streets, and were of great value for the passage of people and teams.
A number of citizens, of whom Daniel J. M. Stackhouse was one, succeeded in getting a rope ferry across the Conemaugh in the rear of the Cambria Company's office on Sunday after the flood. This was of great use to the bereaved and their friends, and Mr. David Boyle rendered great assistance by construct- ing a raft and ferrying people from Frank W. Hay's residence to the Presbyterian Church, on Main street, on Saturday, going across the cut made by the Conemaugh river, where the water was five feet deep.
In 1890 the finance committee referred to above of which James McMillen was chairman, employed Mr. Carl Schenk, of Cincinnatti, to make a survey of the Stonycreek valley, to ascertain the best method to prevent future overflows. He made an elaborate examination, and prepared maps from actual sur- veys, etc. He recommended the filling up of the old bed and that a new channel be made for the Stonycreek from Poplar street bridge to the base of Millcreek road, keeping close to Yoder Hill, the bed to have 225 feet at low-water mark and 250 feet at the top of the embankment, which would straighten the conduit. The opposition was strong, and no one person desired to under-
323
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
take the labor of prosecuting it, although ample capital was of- fered to purchase all the property that would be taken.
The Board of Trade secured the services of Mr. J. J. R. Croes. of New York, who made a survey of both rivers, and prepared photographs, maps, and drawings of every essential thing affecting or likely to produce overflows, which report was made June 19, 1891.
In the report of Mr. Croes, one of his conclusions is as fol- lows: "As regards the rivers within the city limits, the inunda- tion of that part of Johnstown south of the Little Conemaugh in floods such as (from experience of 1887, 1889 and 1891) may be expected every second year, is caused almost entirely by the con- traction of the channel of the Stonycreek, between the south end of Market street and the point where the Valley Pike strikes the river, about 1.000 feet below the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad bridge."
Until about 1870 the average width of the Little Conemaugh, within the limits of the city, was 195 feet, and that of the Stony- creek was about 288 feet. and the Conemaugh, below The Point about 350 feet. However, some filling in spots had been done previously.
To understand the situation at that period it is proper to consider the topographical conditions of the city, as well as other causes.
Johnstown is situated in the valley, between the Prospect and Yoder Hills, which are 3,700 feet apart at Franklin street; 2,800 feet at Walnut; 1,400 feet at the Stone bridge, and 1,700 feet at the Cambria bridge. Above Franklin street, the valley between Green Hill and Prospect Hill at Adam street, is 1,800 feet ; at Singer street, 1,800 feet; at Church street, 800 feet and in Woodvale 1.400 feet. Above Franklin, between Green Hill and Yoder Hill, at Adam street the valley is 1,800 feet; at Horner and Bedford streets, 1,300 feet, and at Poplar street 1,300 feet.
Thus it will be observed that the business portion of the town was somewhat limited, and with the increased demand for the products of the iron and steel mills, and the increased facilities required for transportation, succeeding the Rebellion of 1865, it became a necessity to have more room, and ground was made on both sides of the rivers, which caused the officials of the boroughs of Johnstown and Millville on March 28, 1882, to agree -- in which they were supported by public opinion-that
324
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
the width of the Little Conemaugh should be fixed at 110 feet, and the Stonycreek at 175. It was a mistake.
The following tables show where the rivers have been nar- rowed.
The width of the Little Conemaugh river in 1854 and 1907, at the several points given in feet was thus :
1854.
1907.
At The Point
112
125
At Walnut street bridge
150
125
At Market street
114
125
At Franklin street
242
125
Above month waste weir
262
125
At Smith's Foundry
188
125
Below Basin Feeder Dam
150
125
At the Basin Feeder Dam
562
125
At Woodvale bridge
225
125
In 1854 the average width of the river from the dam down to The Point was 195 feet.
The space between the southerly line of Conemaugh street and the Little Conemangh river, in feet, was thus :
1854.
1907.
At Johns street
38
100
At Union street
37
138
At Morrell place
19
104
At Morgan's
30
96
At southeast corner Washington and Walnut.
45
93
The width of the Stonycreek river at the same period, in feet, was as follows :
1854.
1907.
At The Point
300
300
At Union street
281
228
At Walnut street
282
200
At Market street
394
330
At Court alley
262
160
At U. B. Church
280
175
Above Franklin street bridge
318
175
At Haynes street
282
175
At Dibert street
262
245
At South street
262
128
At Everhart street
300
225
At Poplar street bridge
300
225
262
175
At Willow street
The average width from Poplar street bridge to The Point. in 1854 was 288 feet, and in 1907 it was 206.
At Union street
262
125
325
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
The space between the property lines on the southwesterly side of Water and Somerset streets and the Stonycreek river, at the same periods, in feet, was thus :
At Napoleon street
1854. 75
1907. 150
At Mrs. Parker's, southwest corner and Water streets Franklin
38
100
At Taney's drug store, at southeast corner same
37
80
At Willow street
56
100
The number of feet from the property line on the northerly side of Stonycreek and Vine streets to the Stonycreek river was as follows :
1854.
1907.
At Johns street
19
106
At Union street
93
105
At King street
75
94
At Walnut street
75
120
At Carr, west end
56
120
At Carr, east end
19
80
At School alley
19
56
At Court alley
18
96
At Franklin, above bridge
75
120
At John Thomas'
38
110
At Levergood street
56
106
From the westerly line of Baumer street to the Stonycreek river, comparing Baumer street with the Old Feeder, up to Cherry street, it is thus :
1854.
1907.
At Bedford and Baumer
15
110
At 300 feet above
57
90
At 300 feet above
83
90
At 300 feet above
30
101
At 300 feet above
30
120
At Spruce street
38
120
At Cherry
57
42
As to the mouth of the Conemaugh river below the junction of the Little Conemaugh and the Stonycreek, in feet, it is thus :
1854.
1907.
At Stone Bridge
300
260
At Railroad street, in Cambria
450
260
At Hinckston's Run
318
260
At City line
300
260
of
The channel of the Conemaugh river below the junction of the Little Conemaugh and the Stonycreek rivers is 260 feet
326
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
wide; this width was fixed by the ordinance of 1890, which also made the standard width of the Little Conemaugh 125 feet, and the Stonycreek 225 feet.
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