USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania > Part 14
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MANUFACTURING
Manufacturing was carried on to a limited degree prior to the Civil War, generally with very limited capital and few employes. Weaving, coopering, wagonmaking, blacksmithing, broommaking and brickmaking were carried on chiefly by individuals. Since then a great change has taken place in the manufacturing methods; large combinations of both capital and labor is the universal practice.
Hagerstown, Md., the largest town in the valley, has many large and important manufactories such as the munition factory. This factory was first a bicycle factory, then an auto factory,-for a short time a metal casket factory and now a steel munition plant. Mercersburg has the largest tannery in the valley. Waynesboro is especially noted as the greatest manufacturing town in the Cum- berland Valley.
Some of the leading companies are the Frick company, the Landis Tool company, the Landis Machine company, the Emer- son-Brantingham company, the Victor Koontz Manufacturing com- pany.
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Chambersburg has the Wolf company, the Wood company, the Chambersburg Engineering company, a shoe factory, woolen mills and the Machine shops of the C. V. R. R.
Shippensburg has the gasoline engine plant, two clothing fac- tories, the Beistle Christmas tree ornament factory, a furniture factory, the table works, the knitting mill and carriage manufactory.
The beautiful little country town of Orrstown, Franklin county, has two large manufactories, a large carriage manufactory and a fer- tilizer establishment.
Newville has the largest knitting mill company in the valley also the Elliott's coffee industry.
Carlisle has many shops and factories-the Lindner Shoe fac- tory, the Frog Switch and Manufacturing company, the Axle works, the Chain works, and the Beetem Manufacturing companies.
Mechanicsburg has the Wilcox Manufacturing company, the Spoke and Rim Manufacturing company, Iron Fencing and Machine works and there are many other smaller manufacturies that are too numerous to mention. Half a century or more ago Cumberland Valley was purely agricultural; now a great change has come over it and it has become a very important and extensive manufacturing valley.
AGRICULTURE
The Cumberland Valley is one of the most highly improved and productive in the country. A ride through this valley in mid- summer will show waving fields of corn, shocks of wheat and rye and herds of cattle and the small fruits and orchards bending to the ground.
Since the Civil War great advancement has been made in the use of all kinds of farm machinery to save labor and the better to till the soil and to gather in and thresh the crops. The grain cradle and the mowing scythe as well as the self rake reaping machine were extensively used. The sound of the flail and the tread of the horses on the barn floor and the "little bunty" threshed out the grain. These have given place now to the mower, the self binder, and steam thresher by which the harvest is shortened to a fortnight and the threshing of the grain to one or two days. Stock-raising of all kinds, has greatly increased as well as enhanced in value. Cream- eries have sprung up all over the valley, county and local fairs are being held, farmers are organizing all over the valley in the great Grange movement. Land has more than doubled in value and the agricultural products of the valley of various kinds are 10 to 1 both in quantity and in price during these years. At the same time
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the population of the rural districts in this time has decreased instead of increased.
MODERN EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS
One of the other evidences of the modern progress of the Cum- berland Valley is its increased educational facilities shown in our common school system, graded now from the country school, thru the township high schools as, Penn or Quincy High schools, and then on to the city High school, as in Carlisle or Chambersburg. Graduates from these schools can enter the Junior year at Normal, and finish their training in two years. The Normal at Shippens- burg is growing every year and lays a good foundation for teach- ing or going on to college.
Education is also shown in the Orphanage established at Grantham, which cares for many homeless children, and the United Brethren Orphanage located at Quincy, which cares for ninety chil- dren at the present time. Nor are the old people neglected. At the same little town of Quincy is the Old Folks' Home, situated right across the road from the Orphanage. There are homes for the aged, especially women, in Hagerstown, Chambersburg and Carlisle. The following brief history of the Scotland Orphan's School shows what is done for the soldier's child.
SCOTLAND SCHOOL
When President Lincoln asked for soldiers to maintain the integrity of the Union, Pennsylvania responded by sending more than 380,000 men into the field during the conflict.
Governor Andrew G. Curtin addressed the soldiers in camp be- fore they were sent to the front and gave them many inspiring les- sons in patriotism. He made them a solemn promise that Pennsyl- vania would care for the widows and orphans of her soldiers as her own. This promise was the first foundation on which the Soldiers' Orphans School System was builded.
On Thanksgiving Day, 1863, two children, whose father had been killed in battle, called at the executive mansion and asked for bread. From that time on Governor Curtin did all in his power to see that the destitute children of Pennsylvania soldiers were given a chance to live comfortably and receive a common school education.
Governor Curtin spurned the idea of calling such assistance charity, but chose to look upon it as the payment of a debt to the children of soldiers who had offered up their lives on the altar of their country.
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Dr. J. P. Wickersham, of the Millersville State Normal School, and Dr. Thos. H. Burrows were of great assistance to the Governor in planning this work. The latter under the direction of Governor Curtin organized the system.
Under the care of the state it has been possible for thousands of soldiers' orphans to be educated to useful manhood and woman- hood. In the early days bitter opposition to the system was en- countered, but gradually these opposers came to realize that money for the building of productive citizenship is always well expended. Under the supervision of Dr. Burrows many schools were organized, the contract system being followed, and in the year 1869 the state had more than 3600 children of unfortunate soldiers in its care.
It had been planned that these schools could be closed about the year 1889. The report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction showed that over 1500 deserving children would be left without suit- able homes should this be carried out.
An act passed by the legislature of that year provided for the continuance of the schools under a commission consisting of the Governor, two state Senators, two Representatives, and five mem- bers of the Grand Army of the Republic, recommended by the De- partment Commander.
The members of this commission serve without pay and make a detailed annual report to the General Assembly of the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania.
In the year 1893 an act was passed looking toward the con- solidation of all the Soldiers' Orphans' Schools into one school. Money was appropriated for the establishment of an Industrial School and the Pennsylvania Soldiers' Orphans' Industrial School was opened June 1, 1895. Three other schools of the system were kept open for the accomodation of the younger children and the older children were transferred to the Soldiers' Orphans' Indus- trial School at Scotland, Pa.
The total number of children in the system has been gradually lessening and on July 1, 1912, Chester Springs, the last of the old Soldiers' Oprhans' Schools, was closed and the pupils transferred to the school at Scotland. The advantage of Industrial Training has added greatly to the productive equipment of the pupils.
In 1899 an act was passed extending the privileges of the Sol- dier's Orphans' School system to the children of soldiers, sailors and marines of the Spanish American War, and in 1905 the same priv- ilege was extended to the children of the soldiers, sailors, and ma- rines of the Philippine Insurrection. Pupils are now admitted to the
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State Orphan School system between the ages of six and fourteen, and discharged at the age of sixteen. On special application of parent or guardian pupils may be retained in the school until reach- ing the age of 18. About fifty percent of the pupils avail themselves of this added opportunity.
Graudates of the State Orphan School system are now filling positions of trust in almost every walk of life and those who have had a part in the work of their education can well feel proud of the results obtained.
THE INDIAN SCHOOL
The Carlisle Indian School is situated on a historic spot. In the early history of the Colonies, this had been a frontier military post and it was here that, in 1775, Benjamin Franklin made a treaty of peace with the Indian tribes of Pennsylvania.
During the Revolutioary War a number of Hessian prisoners were brought to Carlisle, following the battle of Trenton. While held as prisoners, they erected a large stone guard house, which is still standing at the southern entrance to the grounds. It is one of the most historic buildings in this part of the State. In July, 1863, when the southern army invaded northern territory, Carlisle was shelled and the buildings of the post were burned. These were re- built in 1865. For years there had been a cavalry barracks located on the present site of the Indian School.
In 1875 General R. H. Pratt became interested in the Indians, then caring for some Indian prisoners, and in September 1879, Car- lisle Barracks was given over for an Indian School. The barracks had been abandoned as a station for troops for seven years and held under the care of an army officer with a sergeant and a few men to protect the buildings. On November 1, 1879 with 147 pupils Carlisle Indian School was founded by General Pratt.
It is a large institution and students of all tribes and from all parts of the United States are instructed in this school. Like every thing done by our government, it is complete in equipment, boys are taught all kinds of trades, athletics, farming along with other studies. The girls are instructed in housework, sewing, all the arts, every- thing that will give them a well rounded education. The school has annually about 1000 students from more than 80 tribes and a large faculty.
THE FORESTRY ACADEMY
The School of Forestry, situated near Mt. Alto, is another school of recent development. The course is complete and covers several years of training. The young men are given a thorough
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ACADEMIC BUILDING, INDIAN SCHOOL, CARLISLE, PA.
BROWN'S MILL SCHOOL HOUSE, FRANKLIN COUNTY.
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course in Botany and tree culture. From this school reservation they send trees to plant on our mountains or wherever they have bare land that need trees. After graduation the State employs the young men to care for its reservations.
MEDICAL PROGRESS
Medical Progress has also been a very marked feature of the advancement of the Cumberland Valley since the Civil War. Each of the three counties have now established large and well equipped hospitals in their county seats-namely Hagerstown, Chambersburg and Carlisle-these hospitals are much patronized by people of their various communities and are doing a grand and humane work in sav- ing of lives which would otherwise go down to untimely graves.
Another very important and interesting feature of the medical advancement of the Valley is the very large Sanitarium for tuber- culosis on the side of the south mountain near Mt. Alto. The situa- tion is ideal in every respect. It consists of hospital, offices and camp. The children's building is one of the largest. At times they have as many as 600 children. There are also the woman's building, the men's building, dining rooms, pavillions, where they have all kinds of amusements, and poultry farms, where they raise chickens and pigeons for eggs, and squabs for the patients. There are a thousand patients here all the time and all expenses are paid by the State of Pennsylvania. This is indeed a noble work.
CHURCHES OF THE CUMBERLAND VALLEY
There has been great progress in two directions of the Christian Church. First in the structure and beauty of the church edifices of the different denominations; second in the more thorough organiza- tion of the church for doing its work. The Sunday School in grad- uation of lessons and classification, the men's brotherhood and wo- men's organizations of various kinds. The Valley is favored with a great many different denominations of which the following is a list.
United Brethren-Liberal and Radical branches; Lutheran, Pres- byterian, Reformed, Methodist-Protestant and Episcopal; Church of the Brethren-or the Dunkard-Menonite, River Brethren; Seven Day Baptist, Church of God, Episcopal, Catholic, Campbellite, and various Colored Church organizations as-Baptist, Methodist, Pres- byterian and Lutheran.
In 1861 the Lutheran Church numbered 4021 members and on September 1, 1916, its membership had grown to 12,800 members.
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In 1870 the United Brethren Church had a membership of 3746, in 1916 it had grown to 11,000.
The Presbyterian church is the oldest church in the Cumber- land Valley. Preaching at the big springs stretching throughout the valley was begun by supplies coming across the Long Crooked River as early as 1735, and in 1737, and 38 a number of church organizations had been effected, such as Silver Spring, Trindle Spring, Big Spring, Middle Spring, Rocky Spring, Falling Spring, as well as the Upper and West Conococheague.
In 1870, shortly after the Civil War, the Presbyterians had nineteen church and 2736 members-In 1916 twenty-two churches and 4750 members.
One of the old land marks of the Valley is the Rocky Spring church, four miles north of Chambersburg. Organized in 1738, for more than a century it was the leading church in that section of the country and wielded a great influence over the lives of the people both in peace and in war. The present church building was erect- ed in 1794 and is one of the most remarkable in the country. It is built of brick and from that time to this, a period of 123 years, there has been no change in this church building, save a new roof.
The high goblet-shaped pulpit-the presenter's stand, the bench for the elders, the brick isles-the high-backed seats with the names of the pew holders on the doors, which enclosed the seats, the high and low benches for celebrating the Lord's Supper and the two large ten-plate stoves for heating the house, and the blue paint of the woodwork, the oval-shaped windows and doors-mark this as one of the most remarkable church edifices of our country and shows exactly the style of architecture of the country more than 100 years ago. This is a marked contrast to the modern church building in its remarkable adaptability to all kinds of church ser- vices-some examples of beautiful church edifices of the Valley would be St. Paul's Lutheran church, of Carlisle, the Falling Spring of Chambersburg, the Catholic church, of Chambersburg, and Mem- orial Lutheran church, of Shippensburg.
Methodism was introduced into the Cumberland Valley in 1787 by the Rev. John Hagerty and Rev. Nelson Reed. The first church was a log building seating about 200 persons, built in 1790. This is said to be the oldest Methodist church in the Cumberland Valley, the second in Central Pennsylvania-Rock chapel, in Adams County, having been built in 1773. The Rev. James Reed held the first camp- meeting in Shippensburg in 1810. He was badly abused by ruffians trying to break up his meeting. The Methodist church has grown in establishing new churches and in membership as compared with -
ROCKY SPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
CHAMBERSBURG HOSPITAL
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the old churches. In 1880 the churches numbered nine and the mem- bership 1847; in 1916 the churches numbered twelve and the mem- bership 4287.
The Bethel or the Church of God which numbers twelve churches in the Valley, with a membership of 1757, is not known in many states of our Union, but in this Valley it is well known, and its strongest church is at Shippensburg, having a membership of 375.
There are a number of smaller denominations scattered through- out the Valley, namely, the Episcopalian, Roman Catholic, Camp- bellite, and the Baptist.
The Covenanter or Reformed Presbyterian church, of Scotland, has existed as a regularly constituted organization since August 17, 1791, when "a number of persons wishing to adhere to Reformation attainments did constitute themselves into a social capacity."
Rev. John Cubertson, who landed at New Castle, Del., August 5, 1751, was the first ordained minister. He immediately began the ex- ploration of a missionary field to which there were no bounds, nor was there any opposition. For more than a score of years he trav- eled over a circuit embracing the whole of southeastern Pennsylvania and adjacent portions of neighboring states. The ecclesiastical union of 1782 obliterated the distinction between Presbyterian and Covenanter, where both were represented by strong and well organ- ized bodies; but the isolated societies of the latter in the Cumberland Valley did not thus easily permit their denominational characteristics to be absorbed and modified by the fusion thus planned and executed. They regarded the covenant of their ancestors as still binding, and clung tenaciously to the faith and practice of the original followers of Cameron and Cargill. In that short period of comparative quiet which followed the close of the French and Indian War, the tide of immigration brought many of their faith to the region west of the Susquehanna and among others one who was destined to wield a wide influence in their councils, and contribute more to their sub- sequent history than any other individual of his generation. This man was Alexander Thomson. Sailing with his family from Green- ock, Scotland, in July, 1771, he arrived at Boston, September 10 following. A Scotch colony was being planned at this time for Cale- donia County, Vermont, while numerous others of that nationality were settling in the Carolinas. He considered the incipient settle- ments of the valley of Kittochtinny the most inviting locality, and re- moved thither in 1773, purchasing 500 acres of land, embracing the site of the village of Scotland. He was an active and prominent supporter of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and his house at
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once became the religious center of a wide area of country. Here, in September, 1795, a general meeting was held at which measures were taken to render the organization of four years previous more effective.
A person acquainted with the location of these places can readily conceive of the wide geographical limits of the society. The sacrament was administered three or four times a year, on which occasions those who wished to commune could do so only upon the presentation of a 'token" to one of the ruling elders. Days of fasting and humiliation as well as of thanksgiving were regularly and rigor- ously observed. It is hardly necessary to state that the Covenanter Church of today has receded from this position in regard to fast days as held in 1792. And yet, at this time, there is frequent men- tion of the dissatisfaction among them with the constitution of the United States. Members of the church were not permitted to hold office, either civil or military, as this was regarded as sanctioning a government which sanctioned slavery, and did not require, as a qualification for office, religious convictions and professions. But they were staunch patriots, and furnished many brave soldiers to the various wars since the French and Indian troubles; many of them. however, were true to their church as well as their country and shouldered the musket without taking the oath of allegiance. Their "own society was democratic in the extreme; when officers were elected or measures considered involving a division of sentiment, the votes of the younger members were taken first, that they might not be influenced by the example of older and influential persons. To such an extent was this carried that the youth were sometimes blind- folded in order to be sure they were not unduly influenced. Their de- liberations were characterized by a dignity and decorum indicative of a high order of intelligence. Their discipline was rigorous and exclu- sive. Robert Lusk was ordained and installed as pastor of the ''Con- ococheague congregation" in 1816, in Shippensburg; one-fourth of his time in Newville and Walnut Bottom; one-fourth in Shippens- burg; one-fourth in Greene Township, and the remaining fourth in the Lurgan and Waynesburg society; and days for other places to be taken out of the whole as occasion may serve." Rev. Samuel W. Crawford succeeded him in 1824, Thomas Hammy in 1842, and Joshua Kennedy in 1845; since the resignation of the latter, in 1860, there has been no regular pastor, and the membership may be num- bered among two or three families in the vicinity of Scotland and Fayetteville. The church buildings at these places were erected in 1825 and 1840, respectively. There was also a place of worship at Greenwood, erected in 1829. The meetings at Scotland were held in
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a tent for many years. Prior to Mr. Lusk's pastorate, there were a number of supplies-Revs. James Reid, David Scott, James R. Wil- son, William L. Roberts, J. McLeod Wilson and Moses Roney.
RAILROADS
The Cumberland Valley is one of the best conducted railroads in the country. Its road bed, ballasting, regularity of time and car service are in every respect first class. The road was incorporated in 1831, but it was eight years later before the bridge over the Sus- quehanna river at Harrisburg was finished and trains were operated to the terminus there. Before that passengers were brought to Bridgeport, now called Lemoyne, and either ferried over the river or hauled across the "Camelback" bridge in stage coaches. The Cumberland Valley road originally ran from Harrisburg to Cham- bersburg, connecting here with the Franklin Railroad, which ran to Hagerstown. In 1865 these two roads were consolidated, and in 1873 the line was extended to Martinsburg. In 1889 the extension to Winchester was completed, and that is the present terminus south. The road runs through four states.
Between the years 1838 and 1848 the Cumberland Valley Railroad operated sleeping cars between Chambersburg and Harrisburg. In those days passengers used stages between Chambersburg and Pittsburgh. The managing director of the railroad, in order to give comfort to the weary travelers, transformed one of the ordinary coaches into a sleeping car which, although primitive, gave great comfort to the ones who had just done several days of stage coach- ing, and gave a night's sleep between Chambersburg and the time for the train to leave Harrisburg for Philadelphia.
Today the trackage of the Cumberland Valley Railroad, includ- ing its branches, is 163 miles, and the territory it operates in and serves as a transportation agency is not excelled by any like terri- tory in the known world.
Another item of great interest in railroad circles is that the first electric light car was built at the Cumberland Valley shops in Chambersburg in 1883, under the supervision of the road's elec- trician, Charles Hull, who is living retired at his home there. This car was a great attraction.
The Cumberland Valley is favored by two other railroads, the Western Maryland, whose termini are Hagerstown and Baltimore with a branch running as far as Shippensburg, and the Reading railroad, with a branch extending from Harrisburg to Shippensburg, connecting at Shippensburg with both the Western Maryland and the Cumberland Valley.
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The Cumberland Valley is also favored with trolley lines, tele- phones, and state highways, part of which are constructed and part are under construction. All these afford great facilities of travel and communication one with another and coupled with the kind hospitality of the people, makes it one of the delightful valleys to visit or in which to have your residence.
MIDDLE SPRING
Middle Spring is one of the oldest villages in the valley and being closely related to the Presbyterian church of the same name has given it more than usual prominence. The church was organ- ized in 1738 and the first building stood at the lower end of the village and was a log structure. In the upper end of the village still stands an old log and frame building, the Lutz home, which was, in early times a hotel. There was an old stone fulling mill on the south of the stream which was destroyed when the paper mill burned. For a long time there was a saw mill and then a Papyrus paper mill owned by the Shryock brothers, which was destroyed by fire in 1898. At this time five families were burned out of homes and the village never regained its industry. Many families moved to Florence, Massachusetts and to Downingtown, Pa.
The village has now one blacksmith shop and one wagonmaker shop-a store-and a church. The church is famed for its wonder- ful history, monuments have been placed by the State of Pennsyl- vania in honor of those who have gone out in the Revolutionary war, the War of 1812, and the Mexican War-the church erected a monu- ment to the memory of those in the Civil War-also a monu- ment to the ministers who have had charge of the congregation.
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