USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Greensburg > History of Greensburg (Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania) and Greensburg schools > Part 8
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President- Gen. Henry D. Foster.
Vice Presidents-John Armstrong, Sr., Esq., Samuel Hill, Esq., Major Joseph Jack, General C. P. Markle, Peter Uncapher, Dr. B. R. Marchand, Dr. John Morri- son, John Kuhns, Esq., John Snodgrass, Esq., Dr. Thompson Richardson, John Covode, Dr. Baldridge.
Secretaries-Messrs. Marchand and Graham, of The West- moreland Republican; Laird and Rook, of The Pennsylvania Argus; Keenan and Klingensmith, of the Greensburg Demo- crat; D. W. Shryock. of the Westmoreland Intelligencer, and Major Israel Uncapher.
RESIDENCE OF MR. JOHN V. STEPHENSON. Corner Park Street and Walnut Avenue.
After a few introductory remarks by the President of the meeting, he called upon Rev. Mr. Valentine, who opened the exercises with a beautiful and appropriate petition to the Throne of Grace. David K. Marchand, one of the Secre- taries, then read a list of the articles to be deposited in the corner stone, as follows:
1. Early history of Western Pennsylvania and of the West, including an account of the burning of Hannas- town, said to be from the pen of the late JJudge Coulter.
2. English and German Bibles.
3. First annual Report of the State Agricultural Society of Pennsylvania.
4. Williamson's Traveling Guide through the United States and Canada.
5. Thomson's Autographical Counterfeit Detector.
6. Thomson's Coin Chart Manual.
7. Map of the Borough of Greensburg.
S. English and German Almanacs for 1854 and 1855.
9. Newspapers-Weekly National Intelligencer, Semi-Weekly National Intelligencer, Washington Globe, Washington, D. C .: The Westmoreland Republican, Westmoreland Intelligencer, The Pennsylvania Argus, Greensburg Democrat, Greensburg, Pa .; Valley Demo- crat, Ligonier: Daily Union, Daily Morning Post, The Evening Chronicle, Western Republican, (German). Pittsburg, Pa. ; The Pennsylvanian, The National Argus, Philadelphia, Pa .; the Keystone, Harrisburg Union,
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Harrisburg, Pa .; New York Tribune, Weekly Herald, New York.
10. Stamps of the Seals of the County Officers of West- moreland county, with the autographs of the respective Officers.
RESIDENCE OF MR. F. Y. CLOPPER. Corner West Pittsburg Street and Oakland Avenue.
11. Certificate of the County Commissioners of the laying of the corner stone, signed by them and the contractors.
12. Sample of Westmoreland Corn, raised by Alex. Hitch- man, of Mt. Pleasant, Pa. Sample of Westmoreland County Wheat, presented by Ramsey & Neely, millers, Greensburg, Pa. Sample of Westmoreland County Oats, presented by Alex. Hanna, Esq., South Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, Pa. Sample of Westmoreland County Rye, presented by Jesse Walton, Esq., of Franklin township. Westmoreland county, Pa. Sample of Westmoreland County Buckwheat, presented by Simon Detar, Esq., of Hempfield township, Westmore- land county, Pa.
13. An Engraving, being a relic from the Congres- sional Library which was destroyed by fire on the 24th of December, 1851, with the respects of Linn Boyd, Speaker of H. R., presented by Col. D. K. Marchand.
14. List of the National, State and County Officers of the United States of America, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Westmoreland and Borough Officers for Greensburg borough. for 1854.
15. Seventh Annual Report of the Directors of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
16. List of the County Officers of the State of Penn- sylvania.
17. An abstract of the Seventh Census, 1850, show- ing the population of the several Counties of Pennsyl- vania.
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UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH. Corner West Otterman Street and Bruston Avenue. First Building, erected 1857; second, 1879.
18. A Statement of the Receipts and Expenditures of Westmore- land County for 1853. Reports of County Auditors.
19. - List of Churches, Congregations and Pastors worshiping in Greensburg.
20. Autographs of the Attorneys of the County.
21. Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States and of the State of Pennsylvania.
Messrs. Simon Detar, Jesse Walton and Alexander Hanna, Coun- ty Commissioners, and William Bell and John Arnold, the con- tractors, next placed the copper box, containing the deposits, in the corner stone. Following that proceeding, the stone was put in po- sition at the southeast corner of the proposed Court House. When it was announced that the stone had been firmly and properly laid, Edgar Cowan, Esq .. delivered a fitting, scholarly and eloquent ad- dress. The ceremonies closed with a benediction, pronounced by Rev. Mr. Geisy.
The building operations progressed in a satisfactory manner until August, 1855. Differences then arose between the contractors and Commissioners as to whether the specifications were being fulfilled. By mutual consent, the contract with Messrs. Bell & Arnold was can- celled. An agreement was then made with Messrs. Johnston & McFarland to complete the work. for $28,688, and reasonable com- pensation for changes or extras. According to the provisions of the compact, the court room was to be in condition for holding the May term, 1856, and all the work finished by August, of that year. That result was attained, both as to the public buildings and surroundings. It was carefully estimated at that time that the total cost of the Court House, Sheriff's dwelling and the jail, with the outside work on the
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lots, aggregated $100,000. Many persons imagine that the Court House is constructed entirely of stone. Such, however, is not the case. The east (front) and south sides of the build- ing are composed of cut stone, but the west and north walls
BUSINESS BUILDING OF MR. ISRAEL GLUNT. Corner East Pittsburg Street and Maple Avenue.
are brick, covered with cement and skillfully scored to rep- resent stone.
COURT HOUSE BELLS.
That now in use is the second Court House bell pur- chased by the county. Neither bell nor belfry adorned the primitive log and plank cabin erected in 1786. When that building was supplanted by the pretentious brick structure of 1798, with its lofty cupola, a bell was deemed necessary in connection with the other modern features then introduced. One was procured from Joseph Hos- tetter at a cost of $134.25. Thirteen years later the first bell was removed to make way for a more massive one cast by George Hedderly, of Philadelphia. Its cost and carriage from the Quaker City was $442.97. Messrs. James Estep, Andrew Finley and Joseph Collins consti- tuted the Board of County Commissioners that made the change. For nearly ninety years its iron tongue has salut- ed the ears of citizens of Greensburg, running the gamut of almost every human passion. In years past it has pealed joyously when the blushing daughters of the village were led to Hymen's alter, and tolled in slow and solemn measure when their white-haired fathers paid the debt of nature. It has sternly called the lagging youth, with shining morning face, to school; it has convened the sage citizens in town meeting for the consideration of borough concerns or weighty affairs of state. It has rang for ex- hibitions of negro minstrelsy, and has prompted the seri-
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ous and devout to repair to the sanctuary. Its clarion tones have broken the midnight stillness, in bidding a last fare- well to the closing year, or aronsing the slumbering inhabi- tants to gaze in terror upon the lurid glare of the fire demon,
RESIDENCE OF MR. FRIEDOLIN MILLER. East Fourth Street.
It clanged exultantly over Perry's brilliant victory on Lake Erie and the fall of the City of Mexico; and sounded sadly for many hours, in keeping with the throbs of the sorrowing hearts of the people, when Abraham Lincoln, the great Presi- dent, during the civil war, was struck- down by the the foul hand of an assassin.
Exciting War-Time Incident,
Like every other community throughout the coun- try, Greensburg was thrown into a state of great ex- citement on Saturday morning, April 15, 1865, by the startling intelligence that President Lincoln had been assassinated the night before. The fact that the assassin had not been apprehended added to the in- tense anxiety of the public mind. Some conception can, therefore, be formed of the effect on this com- munity of the receipt, on Monday, April 17, by the Provost Marshal, at Greensburg, of a telegram an- nouncing that a man suspected to be John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of the President, was a passenger on the Fast Line, westward, which would arrive at Greensburg shortly before one o'clock, noon. This sensational information spread throughout the town like an alarm of fire. Even the coolest and most sedate citizens became feverish with excitement and rushed to the railroad station. In the meantime,
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arrived the soldiers were lined on both sides of the track. A number of officers entered the cars, while the multitude with- out surged and swayed in eager expectancy. After some minutes of suspense, a small, dark-complexioned man, with a black mustache, and wearing on his head an oil cloth cap, was dragged forth by the officers. The soldiers surrounded the terrified individual and he was taken, under military guard. to the Provost Mar- shal's office, at the corner of East Otterman Street and St. Clair Avenue, followed by the thoroughly aroused crowd. Many of the agitated spectators, who had read descriptions of the personal appear- ance of the assassin, were satisfied that the man in custody was John Wilkes Booth. At the Provost Marshal's office all persons not connected there- with were excluded, and the crowd kept at a re- spectful distance from the building by a military guard. A searching examination of the prisoner took place, but some time elapsed before the feverish curiosity of the citizens, as to the result, was appeased. The investigation developed the fact that the suspected man was one Emerson Davis, a citizen of the State of Illinois, and that he was or had been a traveling agent of the Christian Commission. He was kept under arrest for nearly a week, however, until the authorities satisfied themselves beyond all doubt that he was guiltless of any connection with the awful tragedy.
a company of soldiers belonging to the Invalid Corps, quartered at this place in connection with the Provost Marshal's office, was hastily brought forth by the com- mander. Captain Leddy, and marched under arms to the de- pot. An immense crowd had assembled. When the train
RESIDENCE OF JOHN F. WENTLING, ESQ. North Main Street.
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Had he been the murderer of the Chief Executive, doubtless, he would have been sorely tried by remorse on Wednesday, April 19, the date of the funeral obsequies of the deceased President. On that day, in Greensburg, all business was
suspended and there was a solemn hush resting on the town, which was emphasized by the mournful tolling of the Court House and church bells from 6 o'clock A. M. until 12:30 p. M.
-
LIVERY FEED & SALE STABLES
STABLES AND PUBLIC HALL OF MR. JOHN C. SONDLES. South Maple Avenue.
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Fourth County Jail at Greensburg,
At no time, after its completion and occupancy, was the stone jail, erected in 1853-4, satisfactory in the important features of security and ventila- tion. The atmosphere became fetid and breaches of prison were frequent. In 1865 it was decided that some action was necessary as to the jail. There was a division of sentiment among the county officials on the question of whether a new prison should be built or the existing one rear- ranged and repaired. A grand jury, charged with the task of making a thorough investigation of the matter, recommended the latter course. Changes were accordingly made at a cost of about $8.500. Four iron or steel cells. the walls, floor and ceiling all being of that material, were constructed on the first floor, as affording greater security against jail breaking, and a sewerage system, extending 1,200 feet, for bettering the noisome atmosphere, were among the principal improvements intro- duced.
FOURTH COUNTY PRISON AT GREENSBURG. Erected 1883. [ 99]
Although the remodeling partially corrected the defects, it did not entirely remove them. In 1882 the old prison was condemned by the State Board of Public Charities and the grand jury advised the building of a new one. Such a course was determined upon by the County Commissioners. As the ground on which the old jail stood was insufficient for the proposed new one, the adjoining lot, No. 5 (see plan page 13), was purchased by the county from Mr. George Dorn, the consideration being 814,000, which, of course, also represented the value of the buildings erected thereon and subsequently torn down. In the two lots was secured a frontage of 125 feet on West Pittsburg Street, and a depth, aligning on the alley and Pennsylvania Avenue, of 110 feet. Plans and specifications for the new Sheriff's dwelling and prison were prepared by Architect E. M. Butz, who had but shortly be- fore acted in the same professional capacity in connection with the new Western Penitentiary, at Riverside. Mr. Butz's plans met the approval of and were adopted by the Coun- ty Commissioners and the court. The contract for the erec- tion of the buildings was awarded to Messrs. Hnckenstein & Co., of Allegheny City, on April 6, 1883, the bid of that firm being $134,700. Both the dwelling and prison were com- pleted and ready for occupancy in December, 1884. The total cost of the several structures, with the improvements on the lot and the interior furnishings, was about $155,000.
The Westmoreland county jail is pronounced by competent judges one of the best in Pennsylvania. It is absolutely se- cure and modern and complete in all its appointments. The
L of C.
proportions of the Sheriff's residence are 40x49 feet: the main structure, or jail building. 46x125; the jail tower 25x25, and 104 feet in height; and the boiler house, 20x25 feet. Iron, stone and brick were the only materials used in the con- struction of the prison, excepting the window frames and sash, which are of wood. It is pronounced fire-proof throughout and cannot be destroyed either purposely or by
RESIDENCE OF MR. JAMES B. ROBINSON. South Pennsylvania Avenue.
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Yard.
Boiler House.
Yard.
Air and Light Corridor.
Cells.
Cells.
Corridor.
Main Corridor.
Corridor.
Cells.
Cells.
Air and
Light Corridor.
Jail
Tower.
Yard
Sheriff's Dwelling
Yard.
Alley in rear of Court House.
WEST PITTSBURG STREET.
PLAN OF THE INTERIOR OF THE JAIL.
accident. There are three prison departments in the main jail building-two for males and one for females. In the male departments are seventy-two steel cells, and in the female section five, making in the three tiers a total of seventy-seven cells, capable of quartering two hundred prisoners. Every one of the cells is supplied with a wash-basin and water-closet. All the cells are eight feet square and a like distance in height. The walls of the cells are composed of one-fourth inch steel plate, and the floors and ceilings of five-inch flag stone. The female ward is entirely separate from the male, being located over the guard room, and is only accessible through the
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.
Sheriff's office in the tower. All the cells are four feet from the outer walls of the building, leaving an air and light corri- dor between the walls and the rear of the cells. As the rear sections of the cells are grated, by this arrangement, the jail guard can have a full view of the interior of the cells. Pris-
RESIDENCE OF DR. LEMUEL OFFUTT.
West Otterman Street.
oners can be admitted to the exercise corridors, which are 16x40 feet, without having access to the main jail hall. From the several platforms, in the latter, the guard can constantly keep the corridors on either side under scrutiny. Prisoners cannot gain entrance to the air and light corridors. The pur- pose of dividing the jail into two compartments is that the prisoners awaiting trial or sentence, and those serv- ing sentence, may be separated.
Between or connecting the Sheriff's dwelling and pri- son is the lofty tower. The main entrance to the latter is reached by a covered walk along the east side of the Sheriff's house. On the first floor of the tower. of course, is the doorway to the central hall of the prison; on the second floor are the Sheriff's office and the guard room, while on the third floor are the hospital depart- ment and prisoners' bath rooms.
The heating of the jail is on the fan system. There are two blowing and one exhaust fans. Fresh air is taken in at an air-shaft on the west end of the building, at a distance of eighty feet above the ground, drawn down the shaft, forced through two heating chambers. containing radiators. thence distributed through warm air ducts, and thence through registers to the cells. The vitiated air is exhausted through flues from each cell, connected with the main vitiated air duets in the basement; thence it is forced up through a main in the east end of the building.
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SEVERAL MORE RECENT EXECUTIONS.
But one execution took place in the stone jail built in 1853. A culprit named Hugh Corrigan, however, had been sen- tenced to death but cheated the gallows. Corrigan was a resi- dent of Derry township, in 1856, and had murdered a woman
who was living with him as his wife. He burned her body in a brush-heap in the hope of concealing his crime. Being detected, he was arrested, tried. convicted and the death penalty imposed. A few nights before the date fixed for his execution, he committed suicide through the agency of poison.
Samuel Beighley, a native of Washington township, was hanged in the stone jail on January 20, 1875. Beighley had laid in wait and deliberately murdered Joseph Kerr, a farmer and shoemaker, residing in Franklin township. His guilt was easily established. and he confessed the same to his spiritual advisers be- fore his death. Beighley was but twenty-one years of age. Although reared in a good family, by respectable parents, both as a boy and young man Samuel evinced a vicious and depraved disposition. The unpleasant duty of fulfilling the stern mandate of the law was per- formed by Sheriff John Guffey. The remains of the deceased were interred in Washington township.
A double execution occurred in the present prison on Thursday, July 18, 1895. It devolved upon Sheriff P. F. McCann to carry out the extreme penalty of the law at that time. William Freeman and John Good, both colored, were the names of the men who expiated the crime of bloodguiltiness. Both were natives of Virginia and aged twenty-seven years. Freeman had been con- vincted of the murder of his mistress, Gertrude Timber- lake. The tragedy took place in a room adjoining the barroom in the Hotel Simpson, Mt. Pleasant, on the
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Corner West Third Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Erected 1880.
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evening of July 26, 1894. Freeman and the woman had beeu conducting a disorderly house at Mt. Pleasant, and quarreled about the division of the money realized. Freeman drew a revolver and shot the female, inflicting a mortal
7.4-
-
.
7
RESIDENCE OF MR. ISRAEL GLUNT. Corner North Main and Park Streets.
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wound. John Good was found guilty of the willful killing of another colored man, named Max Slaughter, at the village of Morewood, on November 29. 1894. With other colored coke workers, they had been engaged in the negro game of "craps." There was considerable drinking and quarrelliug. Slaughter's wife went after her husband and was taking him home. Good followed. As Slaughter was about to enter his house, Good fired the fatal shot and the former fell dead in his own doorway. After the execution, on July 18, 1895, the re- mains of Good and Freeman were interred in one large grave in a section of the new St. Clair ceme- tery set apart for the burial of colored persons.
Borough Boundaries.
The original boundaries of the borough of Greens- burg are defined in the first section of the Act of incorporation (see page 23). Those outlines are more intelligibly shown in the early plan of Greens- burg, presented on auother page. No change in the corporate limits occurred for sixty-one years after the establishment of the borough. On March 30, 1860, what was entitled a "Supplement to an Act to erect the town of Greenesburgh, in the county of Westmoreland, into a borough, ap-
THE BARCLAY BANK
THE BARCLAY BANK BUILDING. Main Street.
proved February 9. 1799," was enacted. Under that statute, the boun- daries were enlarged, as described below :
"Beginning at a point in the centre of the track of the Pennsylvania Railroad, im- mediately over the centre of the arch which passes the Greensburg and New Alex- andria road: thence north 66} degrees west 1,692 feet to the northeast corner of the Greensburg academy grounds; thence south 87 degrees west 1,284 feet to a point in the centre of the Greensburg and Harrison City road; thence along the centre of said Greensburg and Harrison City road, to the centre of the track of said Pennsylvania Railroad; thence along the centre of the track of said railroad to the corner of the horough of Ludwick; thence along the east side of said borough of Ludwick south 17} degrees west 346 feet to a point in the centre of the Greensburg and Pittsburg turn- pike: thence along the centre of said pike north 82 degrees west 192 feet: thence south 891 feet to the centre of the old Greensburg and Pittsburg turnpike: thence along said old turnpike south 82 degrees east 330 feet; thence along a road leading from said old turn- pike to the Greensburg and New Stanton road sonth 34 degrees east 1,521 feet; thence along said Greensburg and New Stanton road north 53 degrees east 700 feet; thence along the east side of a road leading to the Greensburg and Mount Pleasant road south 32 degrees east 350 feet; thence south 53} degrees east 1,020 feet, to a point in the centre of the Greensburg and Mount Pleasant road: thence south 21 degrees east 266 feet: thence north 80 degrees east 250 feet; thence north 22 degrees east 3.010 feet, to a point in the centre of the Greensburg and Stoystown turnpike: thence north 9} degrees east 1,238 feet to the centre of the track of the Pennsylvania Railroad. im- mediately over the centre of the arch which passes the Sewickley creek; thence along the centre of the track of said Pennsylvania Railroad south 74} degrees west 593 feet to the place of beginning."
The next extension of the borough lines was on the north side. In February, 1891, residents and property-owners of that suburban locality, who suffered many inconveniences, petitioned the court for the "Annex- ation of a part of Hempfield township to Greensburg borough." There was some division of sentiment at that time as to just what course would be the most expedient. A few of the citizens and real estate owners, of the section affected, did not approve of any change. Still another element desired the establishment of a new and separate borough. On April 3, 1891. persons favoring the latter course applied to the court for the in- corporation of the "Borough of North Greensburg." After various pro-
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ceedings before the court, and some readjustment of the lines of the territory as first proposed, the peti- tion for the annexation of that section, to the bor- ough of Greensburg, was granted on February 20, 1892, and all exceptions dismissed. In the approved
RESIDENCE OF MRS. JOHN W. TURNEY. West Pittsburg Street.
petition it was stated "that the said limits so desired to be annexed include a part of the plan of lots laid out by the Culbertson heirs, John Barclay, Dr. Metzgar, Jehu Taylor's estate and Joseph J. Johnston, Esq., and a collection of houses, collected after a regular plan in regard to streets and lanes." The description of the annexed territory in detail is as follows:
"Beginning at a point at the northeast corner of Academy lot: thence north- ern boundary of Greensburg borough south 87 degrees west 1.284 feet to a point; thence through the Harrison City road north 18 degrees 5 minutes west 215 feet to a point: north 20 degrees 25 minutes east 663.5 feet to the northwest corner of Barclay plan of lots: north 33 degrees 10 minutes east 911 feet through Salem road to the northwest corner of Dr. Metzgar's plan of lots; north 74 degrees 10 minutes east 288.6 feet to the northwest corner of said plan; south 12 degrees east 919.8 feet to a point at northerly line of Best Street; north 77 degrees 25 minutes east 502 feet along Best Street to a point: south 12 degrees 35 minutes east 664.2 feet to Grant Street: north 77 degrees 35 minutes east 320 feet to an alley; thence south 12 degrees 35 minutes east 674 feet to a point; north 66 de- grees 15 minutes west 1,037.2 feet to the place of beginning."
BUNKER HILL BOROUGH ANNEXED.
An Act of Assembly, approved June 6, 1893, to promote the merging of abutting or contiguous boroughs, was regarded so favor- ably by many of the citizens of Greensburg and Bunker Hill bor- oughs, that the consolidation of the latter with the former was pro- posed. To afford the residents of both places an opportunity to give expression to their sentiments on the subject, in an orderly and legal manner, the annexed joint agreement was executed between the Bur- gesses of the two boroughs :
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