History of the Beech Creek Area of Clinton County, Pennsylvania, Part 5

Author: Harry A and Vera A Lingle
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USA > Pennsylvania > Clinton County > Beech Creek > History of the Beech Creek Area of Clinton County, Pennsylvania > Part 5


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Creek and the Bald Eagle Valley Railroad was known as the Beech Creek Lock. The walls of this particular lock, in spite of 100-year old trees rooted in their banks, are standing as erect as when built in the early 1830's.


The Lock Haven and Tyrone Railroad Company was organized in 1853 to provide a direct route between these two towns. Later known as the Bald Eagle Valley Railroad, it passed through the southern portion of Beech Creek Township. This line was acquired by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in 1908. Being a part of the bankrupt Penn-Central system it is now operated by Conrail, a government subsidized enterprise. The local division of this railroad began operations in 1862. The section between Bellefonte and Tyrone was opened in 1863.


In 1838 Solomon Strong began the manufacture of fanning mills in a building on Main Street, opposite the present Community Center, formerly the Presbyterian Church. During the 1840's and 1850's Austin Leonard was in the business of making fanning mills. Whether he was operating Mr. Strong's business or had started one of his own is not known. However, a short time later Stillman Keyes, a brother-in-law of Mr. Strong, was the owner and operator of the original Strong factory. Hall's planing mill stood next to the fanning mill building. In those ear- ly days grains were hand flailed. Fanning mills separated the chaff from the grains, likely by an air blowing process.


The old covered bridge connecting Beech Creek and Liberty Townships, just south of Beech Creek borough, was built around 1832 as a part of the early Bald Eagle Valley highway. In 1895 a new pier was placed at the center to support a sagging bridge. In 1907 a concrete masonry pier was built to replace the wooden pier, which had been washed out by ice floods. By the 1920's the bridge was sagging on both sides of the middle pier, and was showing the effects of continual failure to replace the roof shingles. In late June, 1927 the bridge col- lapsed, marking the end of a long period of faithful service.


About the middle of the last century coal deposits were discovered in the area around the northern edge of our township. This event at- tracted mining developers from England and other immigrants eager to do mining work. Among the families that settled in these mining areas we find the Reavilles, Berges, Whamonds, Llewellyns and Strecks. Railroad facilities for the removal of both coal and lumber were later built into this region from the main tracks on the Susquehanna River. Deposits of iron ore in the same area led to the construction of a furnace near the south fork of Scootac Creek. The lumbering and mining opera- tions in that section were responsible for the development of a number of small communities including Reveltown, Bear Swamp, Peacock and Tangas.


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The Miller L. McKean tannery, which was located on the Kessinger lot on Main Street, started operations in 1869. Mr. Mckean, a son of Thomas and Julia (Miller) Mckean, died suddenly at age 39 on Oc- tober 4, 1876, just three years after the death of his younger brother, Mark, also a tanner. He left a widow, Ella, and a little daughter, Mabel. It appears that the tannery ceased operations after the death of Thomas Mckean in 1879. An artist's sketch of the tannery building, preserved for many years by the late William F. Kessinger, indicated that this was a large operation. Newspaper accounts indicate that the McKean home, now occupied by the family of Clair McKivison, was purchased in 1905 by Barnard Rupert for $560.


In the 1870's Daniel Lose erected an iron foundry along the old mill race directly south of the Presbyterian Church building. He was later joined by John Bickel, who became a partner in this enterprise. Henry Lose, a son of Daniel and his wife, Susan, married Eliza Heverly, a daughter of Washington and Susanna (James) Heverly. Another son, John, married Ann Quigley, a daughter of James and Catharine (Mil- ler) Quigley.


BEECH CIELK


The P.R.R. station with Maybelle DeHaas and Simeon Maines on the steps.


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The Beech Creek, Clearfield and Southwestern Railroad, generally known as the Beech Creek Railroad, was built up Beech Creek Valley in the early 1880's. It was financed chiefly by the Vanderbilts and others of New York City. The primary purpose of this road was to transport coal from midwestern parts of the state for locomotive use and to in- dustrial centers farther east. The first train reached Beech Creek on May 15, 1884. Passenger service between Jersey Shore and Beech Creek was inaugurated on July 1 of that year. On that same date the first coal train came from farther west and was weighed, one car at a time, on the Beech Creek scales, then located on the main track. The scales were soon, thereafter, removed to a side track east of town, and later moved to the Jersey Shore area. On February 1, 1885 passenger service was ex- tended to Philipsburg, and by 1886 the tracks were completed to Clear- field. However, it was not until 1893 that the lines reached Mahaffey and Cherry Tree in Cambria County. For the benefit of key employees the company built and maintained two family residences in Beech Creek and one at Mapes Station, a "flag stop" for passenger service. Track maintenance crews were established at Beech Creek and Mapes.


By 1895 the railroad was hauling considerable lumber and was soon to be conveying large quantities of clay and fire bricks. Westbound trains carried farm products, processed foods and merchandise. On November 21, 1895 the Clinton Democrat reported that 6451 cars had


N.yC. DEpot, BEECHCREEK


The N.Y.C. station with, left to right, Irvin Miller, John Clark, Morris Miller, Burns Pollock and Jim DeHaas.


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passed over the tracks during the week ending on November 16, a typical week. Of this total 3108 loaded cars had been hauled eastward, while 60 loaded cars and 3283 empties were taken westward.


In 1899 the Beech Creek Railroad was leased for a period of 999 years to the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company and became the Beech Creek Division of that system. At that time F. E. Herriman, a former station agent at Beech Creek, who was then located in the Philadelphia headquarters, was placed in charge of all Penn- sylvania operations of the New York Central. During the early 1920's, particularly for weighing cars received from, and dispatched to, close- by points, a new set of scales was installed east of town. At about the same time a "Y" was built nearby to allow "pushers" to turn around preparatory to assisting in the pulling of trains up the inclines west of us. Traffic over the major portion of the railroad was discontinued in 1966, when on April 23 of that year the local freight train made its last trip, with its whistle blowing continually as it moved through town. By April of the following year the tracks had been removed all the way from Snow Shoe to Bald Eagle Junction near Mill Hall.


The Beech Creek Railroad Company continued as an entity even beyond the New York Central-Pennsylvania merger, and the later bankruptcy of the resulting Penn Central in June, 1970. However, a Federal judge's ruling in October, 1978, specifying the amount to be paid the Beech Creek shareholders was the official end of the Beech Creek Railroad.


Some time before 1890 George Thomas Furst, son of George and Elizabeth (Stewart) Furst, developed Furst's Climax Healer, common- ly called "Tommy Furst's slave." His preparation was kept on hand in almost every area household, especially for its effectiveness in the treatment of boils and other skin eruptions. Mr. Furst, a nephew of Dr. Rothrock, may have had some professional help in developing his product. George S. Furst, son of Thomas and wife, Annie (Fearon) Furst, continued the manufacture and distribution long after his father's death.


In 1892 James Riley DeHaas, a son of Edward and Ann (Connor) DeHaas, set up a plant in Beech Creek for the processing of sorghum syrup. No records can be found regarding the success of this venture. Mr. DeHaas's first wife, Mary, was a daughter of Jacob C. and Isabella (Confer) Bechdel.


In 1893 the wooden bridge (likely a covered bridge) over Beech Creek stream at the western edge of town was replaced by a new iron bridge. This iron bridge was replaced by a larger steel and concrete structure during 1935 and 1936, at which time the highway was rerouted slightly starting at the Beech Creek Hotel. This rerouting placed the new road


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over a portion of the land once occupied by the "Seven Kitchens."


A newspaper story in 1899 said "there is agitation to replace the old covered bridge at Hubbards." The article referred to the span joining Beech Creek and Liberty Townships on the present Route 364, about three miles upstream from town. However, it was not until September, 1907 that the replacement, a steel structure, which still stands, was completed and inspected by the commissioners of Clinton and Centre Counties.


The Beech Creek news items in an 1899 issue of the Clinton Republican stated that the rumors of Beech Creek getting a fire brick plant were thus far unconfirmed. Nevertheless, at that very time John P. Wynn, a son of James R. and Mary (Bitner) Wynn, already familiar with all phases of fire brick making, was visioning the possibility of mining clay in the nearby mountains, transporting it by dinkey train to Beech Creek, where it would be processed. Thus was born the Penn- sylvania Fire Brick Company, which was to be the community's major and orily large employer for the next fifty years. By 1909 sixty families living within Beech Creek were being supported by this plant including its mines and narrow-gage railroad. When one considers the total work force and the impact on the local economy, he can clearly see what one man's idea meant to our area. This plant which later became a divison of General Refractories Company, maintained a work force of about 200 most of the time, and was one of the last of the fire brick plants in this general area to close down. At the time of his death in 1919 the operation was in charge of Warren R. "Dick" and Thomas Wynn, sons of the founder, and later J. Fred Wynn, son of Dick and his wife, Mable (Robb) Wynn.


The small residence on the south side of Main Street, next to the old grist mill, was originally built to house a milk processing operation. It was later used for offices and then converted into living quarters. The porch on the east side was moved to that location from the front of the building when the highway was widened in 1934.


On May 15, 1915 the Beech Creek Truck and Auto Company filed ap- plication with the Commonwealth for a charter. This company, which was capitalized at $100,000 through the sale of common stock, mostly locally, was organized to manufacture four-wheel-drive, four-wheel- steer, heavy-duty trucks. Within a reasonable period the first truck was completed in their new building on Main Street, now occupied by Spotts' store. Demonstrations of its power, traction and maneu- verability included ascending the steps of the court house in Lock Haven. At least one additional truck was fully completed, and several others were partially completed before the concern went into bank- ruptcy. W. Harter Vonada, formerly of Blanchard and now of Belle-


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fonte, has made a very interesting collection of pictures, stock cer- tificates, correspondence and other data related to the company. An ac- count of the entire venture including material and pictures provided by Mr. Vonada, was presented by the Lock Haven Express on November 22, 1966. This followed a less detailed report in the same newspaper on September 28, 1961 from the memory of David M. Packer, then age 94. Mr. Packer had been associated with the company. The Antique Automobile Magazine, in its November-December 1977 issue, presented a very complete story and pictures of the Beech Creek truck. In addition to Mr. Packer, the following men had served on the board of directors: I. J. Rohrbaugh, George F. Hess, Lester H. Stephens, Henry H. Salisbury and Dr. P. McDowell Tibbins.


The Beech Creek Bottling Works, started about 1920 by William P. Morrissey and his son-in-law, Allen W. Gundlach, became a very suc- cessful business, with "Whistle," a national brand of orange drink be- ing the prime product. This enterprise was succeeded by the wholesale beverage business of Mr. Gundlach, which is still in operation at an gut-of-town location.


During the 1920's a branch of the Howard shirt factory was es- tablished in a part of the building of the former Beech Creek Truck and Auto Company on Main Street, commonly referred to then as the old auto factory. After several years this division was consolidated with the main plant at Howard.


Local bus service to Bellefonte and Lock Haven was started in the early 1920's. The franchise for this route was later acquired by the Tices


Our Armstrong plant.


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of Howard, who concentrated on the Howard to Lock Haven portion. The franchise was later acquired by the Johnson Motor Bus Company of Woolrich, which later became a division of the Lakes-to-Sea system, now the Continental Trailways. Longer distance service was provided for a number of years by the Golden Arrow lines, which operated between Cumberland, Maryland and Binghampton, New York.


The Reed Candy Factory opened by Edwin R. Reed and family in the 1920's, near to the present post office building, appeared very success- ful. However, a disastrous fire, mentioned elsewhere, destroyed the business, and rebuilding efforts never materialized beyond the con- struction of a new masonry foundation, which still stands.


In 1926 our main highway, which then traversed Maple Avenue, was hard surfaced from the western edge of town to Mill Hall, and became a part of State Route 64. This improvement brought a large increase in through traffic, especially because it provided a shortcut for traffic on U.S. Route 220, which then passed through Bellefonte in its course between Milesburg and Mill Hall. Later Route 220 was moved to our valley. East-West Interstate Highway 80, generally known as I-80 or the Shortway, was completed about 1970. This cross-country road runs south of us beyond the Bald Eagle Mountain range. Our approaches are at Milesburg for west-bound driving and south of Mill Hall for eastern destinations. Beginning in 1978 Route 220 traffic between Milesburg and Avis was officially rerouted via a portion of the shortway and a new connector road. This change to divert traffic from our part of the valley


Champion Parts Rebuilders, Inc.


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has not been as successful as anticipated. Drivers familiar with the two routes prefer our shorter, more level highway, which is now designated as State Route 150.


The Beech Creek Municipal Water System, designed to serve the Beech Creek-Blanchard area, was completed in the late, middle 1930's. Thomas F. Kessinger was primarily responsible for the undertaking. For this project Mr. Kessinger and two other civic-minded citizens, George F. Hess and Dr. P. McDowell Tibbins, appointed by council to become the Water Committee, steered the project to completion. In 1966 with recommendations from the local Planning Commission on file and having awaited for the opportune time, our council made the move to install a sanitary sewage disposal system, another vitally needed project. After more than ten years of above-average rainfall we had become rather complacent, and did not fully prepare for the in- evitable. The greater number of users, an increased demand in Blanchard due to a recently installed sewer system, plus additional needs for new and expanding industries were bound to be factors in the early stages of a drought. Fortunately for us, when the 1980 water shortage arrived, a larger pump, placed at the well on Maple Avenue, has so far proved adequate to serve both towns.


The period covered by the late 1960's and early 1970's brought two industries that are flourishing at this time. They are the Armstrong Cork Company and Haven Homes, both located just east of town. Our Armstrong division later completed an expansion program that was ac- companied by an increase in the work force. Haven Homes builds readymade homes.


On June 9, 1978 Northeast Rebuilders, a division of Champion Parts Rebuilders, announced plans to consolidate its two Mill Hall units into a new facility to be built adjacent to the Armstrong plant. It was ex- plained that the projected move was primarily contingent upon finan- cial aid from the government. In December, 1978 it was announced that financing had been assured, and groundbreaking was to be scheduled, with completion expected in 1980. As contemplated earlier, the new, modern building for this facility was completed in 1980, and production began about mid-year.


The one industry that should have special recognition is that of farm- ing. Our early settlers, after first providing shelter for their families, began clearing land so as to provide food for the table and feed for the livestock. Among our first settlers who carried the farming tradition from generation to generation were the Fearons, Hayses, Davids, Packers, Williamses, DeHaases, Millers, McCloskeys and Crispens. Shortly thereafter, in about this order, came the Bitners, Linns, Huffs, Winslows, Wagners, Glossners, Masdens, Liggets, Berrys, Quays,


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Chapter VI


Manns, Reeds, Haagens, Halls, Eyers, Earons, Gummos and Bradys. Following closely were the Mapeses, Lehrs, Myerses, Dickeys, Ruperts, Harlemans, Rowes, Muthlers, Swartzes, Metzgers, Mantles, Kalers, Heimers, Peters, Bickels, Whitefields, and Smiths. From the early days until the present time the workday of a farmer often starts before daylight and ends after darkness comes. What other group of workers displays such industriousness!


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Commercial Enterprises


Stores were scarce in our valley as late as the 1831-33 period, at which time a trading post was operating near Howard, then called Howardville. Beech Creek area residents whose names are found in that store's preserved account books include David Rorabaugh, William Hays, Simon Lingle, Michael Quigley, William Fearon, Henry James, Joseph Fearon and Hugh McFadden. John Rich, the founder of Woolrich Woolen Mills, then representing the firm of Rich and McCor- mick located at the other end of our township, was also listed as a trader. Customers made a wide variety of purchases, including calico, muslin, woven cashmere, silk by the skein, thread, sugar, coffee, alum, cinnamon, indigo by the ounce, castile soap, tobacco by the pound and whiskey at twenty-five cents per half gallon. Hardware items were sled soles, plow shares, razor strops, lumber and nails. In 1832 Paul Lingle delivered to the trading post 498 pounds of beef at 31/2 cents per pound and 225 pounds of pork at 5 cents per pound. In 1833 Daniel Nestlerode of Liberty Township bought one German calendar for 121/2 cents. Dur- ing the period of the early 1830's the Howardville Furnace Company, operators of the trading post, was shipping its iron ore down Bald Eagle Creek by arks. Incoming goods came by horsepack and wagon trains .. Christopher Heverly, the first Heverly to settle in this general area, had come here as an operator of the overland transportation system. Christopher, a son of S. Henry Everly, was the only one of seven children to affix an "H" to his name.


The mercantile partnership of Landcake and Baker, sometimes listed as Longcake and Baker, began operating in Beech Creek in 1833, shortly after the canal had been opened this far. This firm was still do- ing business in 1839 and perhaps later, and appears to be of absentee ownership. Whether this firm conducted a general trading post such as the Howardville unit, or dealt in just one commodity such as lumber or grain, has not been ascertained. "Buck" Claflin, mentioned elsewhere as an early schoolteacher, was likely our first real storekeeper. He was succeeded by George Furst, Henry Gast, Cline Quigley and Andrew


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White, in this order. The location was the house on White Island, just south of the grist mill. White Island, named for Mr. White, was previously called Nestlerode Island. White was a son-in-law of Michael Quigley. Mr. Furst later constructed a large two-story brick store building on Main Street. Some time later Mr. Furst's son-in-law, George D. Hess, became a partner in the business, and afterwards full owner. Mr. Hess was succeeded by his son, George F. Hess, whose death in 1959 brought an end to this long-standing family enterprise. The building still stands and is in fairly good condition for its age.


Other merchants in the middle to late 1800's were: Silas Hess and Salathial Mobley, each of whom was married to a daughter of Michael Quigley, Silas to Frances, and Salathial to Mary; Henry Berry, whose store building contained his shoe repair shop; and brothers, Charles and Erastus Cade, Civil War veterans who had come from Haines Township in Centre County and married local girls. Charles married Mary Elizabeth Hall, a daughter of Joseph and Temperance (Sterling) Hall, and Erastus married Harriet Bitner, a daughter of Abraham and Mary (Leathers) Bitner. It is interesting to note that William E. Beschler, a great grandson of Joseph and Temperance Hall, became a twentieth century storekeeper. Additional merchants prior to 1900 in- cluded: John McGhee and the Ligget Brothers, who had come from Liberty Township; Jesse S. Hall, son of Samuel and Sarah (Mc- Closkey) Hall; George W. Williams, the son of George Q. and Elizabeth (Bollinger) Williams and the husband of Kate Hubbard, a daughter of Joseph Hubbard and his first wife, Harriet (Weaver) Hubbard; Edward Mobley, the son of Salathial, and the husband of Jesse Hall's sister, Sarah. Others were: James Clark, a son of William and Sarah (Hays) Clark, whose store building on the high creek bank on upper Water Street is now a family residence; and Edward K. Parsons, who married Virginia, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (James) Linn, and later moved to Lock Haven. The Cade brothers also left town with Erastus finally settling at Damascus in Wayne County.


The Ligget store building had been erected at the corner of Main and Grant Streets. This building later housed many commercial enterprises before being converted to serve as the first home of the Beech Creek National Bank. Recent conversion by William B. Kessinger turned this structure into an apartment house. The Williams store building on Locust Street was later used as a store by brothers-in-law, Lester Stephens and William Smith, followed by Mr. Stephens and another brother-in-law, Mr. Horton, and still later by Mr. Stephens alone, who continued the business for many years. During these same years the south side of this same building was used for various types of business by Alec Shoemaker, James Pollock, Eugene and Frank Johnson,


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E


The bank's first home.


Timothy McCarthy and his daughter, Bertha, Charles W. Miller, An- nabelle Mckean and others. It was later used as living quarters. Mr. Stephens had come from New York state and married Annie Smith, a daughter of Temple and Eliza J. (Gardner) Smith; William Smith was a brother of Annie. Mr. McCarthy, the father-in-law of Mr. Miller, was the son of Isaiah and Julia (Hurley) McCarthy.


After being burned out on Main Street the general store of Enoch


IN THE BANKING BUSINESS SINCE 1921


THE BEECH CPIEK


The Beech Creek National Bank.


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Hastings was located at the point of the Ligget Triangle at the end of Grant Street. This small two-story building had been moved to that location in 1899 to make room for a house being built on Main Street by James Metzger. The store of John W. Waite in part of his home on Main Street was continued for many years, after which his son, John Raymond "Onnie" Waite, opened a small restaurant and confectionery store. A later conversion of this building by Harold Packer led to the pizza shop that exists today. For a short period starting in April, 1905 Mr. Waite leased his store to Curtis Bechdel and moved temporarily to Tyrone.


A drug store was opened by Mrs. Clara (Kelly) Tibbins, a licensed pharmacist and wife of Dr. George H. Tibbins, in the section of the Lig- get cluster that still stands. It was moved to the Ligget building on Main Street before being closed.


Jerry Shearer once conducted a small store on Vesper Street in the former home of his wife's parents, George and Isabelle (Leonard) Shearer. This building is now occupied by the Harris Rupert family. Isabelle Shearer was a daughter of Austin Leonard, an early local post- master, and his first wife, Julia Ann (Packer) Leonard. Jerry Shearer was one of two children of Thomas and Margaret Shearer. The other was Franklin, familiarly known as "Sheriff" Shearer. An 1899 news- paper story told that Albert Bergner was closing his Beech Creek store and opening a boarding house and store at Monument Run, where timber operations were still flourishing, but more importantly, a new fire brick plant was already under construction at that place. In 1870, at age 10, Mr. Bergner had been living with the David and Isabella (Reed) Mapes family in Beech Creek Township. He later married An- nie E., a daughter of Casper and Philomena (Eckert) Peters.




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