USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Altoona > History of the city of Altoona and Blair County : including sketches of the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. > Part 19
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DISCOVERY OF IRON ORE.
In May, 1852, discoveries of iron ore were made on lands north of town. These ores were first discovered by Mr. Thorn, a citizen of the town, who owned some fields just beyond the borough limits. Ile commenced prospecting, and in a comparatively short time found the ore, and threw out about a ton. It proved to be fossil ore. This led to more prospecting by others interested in the neighborhood, and in a short time it was ascertained that the entire country between Hollidaysburg and Brush mountain was underlaid with a good quality of fossil ore. The surrounding hills being filled with a good quality of lime stone, these discoveries soon led to the building of two furnaces, and soon after the building of a large rolling mill and.
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nail factory. For a time considerable excitement prevailed, and the town seemed to take a new start. These mines have been worked at different points constantly ever since their first development-mil- lions of tons of ore, of good quality, have been taken out and large quanties shipped to JJohnstown and other furnaces. The mines are still being worked with profit, and many years will be required to ex- haust them. At the present time the mines and furnaces are owned and operated by the Cambria Iron company.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE RESERVOIR.
A meeting of the citizens, for the construction of a reservoir, was held in the town hall, March 6, 1839. At this meeting resolutions were adopted and committees appointed, and the most determined steps were taken to push forward the measure. Robert Williams, Dr. James Coffey, G. R. McFarlane, John B. Royer, J. C. Betts, Peter Hewit and Joseph Komp were appointed on the most import- ant committee. The Legislature was stirred up, the necessary money appropriated, and the next year the work was commenced and vigorously prosecuted. The contractors were John Mitchell and S. II. Lloyd. The firm of McFarlane & Garber furnished the iron. The work was completed by Henry L. Patterson, who subsequently took the contract.
FIRE APPARATUS AND FIRE COMPANIES.
The first fire engine purchased by the borough was during the fall of 1836, soon after its organization, and cost two hundred and twenty- five dollars. It was a very odd looking and singularly constructed machine, and proved of little service at a fire. In December, 1837, an attempt was made to organize a fire department and take steps to supply a want which was evidently felt-means to subdue a fire in case the borough, which was now a rapidly growing town, should be threatened with such a disaster.
[An effort was at the same time made to form a joint stock com- pany for the purpose of supplying the borough with water. Joseph Crawford, esq., Hon. Joseph Adams, Rudolph Williams, David Mitchell and Robert Williams were appointed a committee to procure from the Legislature an act of incorporation for said company. In the fall of 1867, a little more than thirty years after this meeting, the fond dream of these public spirited citizens was realized, but not one of the above committee were present to witness it. ]
There was no regular fire organization until January 26, 1838. The citizens then met at the United States hotel and a company was .
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formed, and a determination evinced to procure a good engine. But the effort was abortive, and the company organized proved to be nothing more than a " bucket brigade." In the winter of 1841 the "Diamond Engine company" was organized, and this was really the first fire company in the borough. It was then determined to pro- cure two good fire engines. A vote on the subject was had, and the tax-pavers were largely favorable to the proposition. In September, 1841, the "Juniata " arrived, and was placed in the hands of the firemen. But the Allegheny engine was not received until April 9, 1842. In 1869 the borough authorities purchased of Mr. Button, the manufacturer of the Button engine, of Troy, New York, the fine steamer " Phoenix," at a cost of $2,500. It is in charge of a good company, composed of some of the best citizens of the town. It has done good service. In addition to the Phoenix organization, Holli- daysburg boasts of the Allegheny Hook and Ladder company, with a good truck, constructed on the modern plan; the Good Will Hose company, with a first-class carriage, and also a hose carriage man- aged by the Phoenix company. The fire organization is not only complete in all its details, but is a credit to the borough and those having the management of public affairs.
MARKET HOUSE.
In July, 1841, the borough authorities built a fine market house, on the Blair street front of what was then known as Market square. The building is still standing, and is used for the Hook and Ladder Truck and the Good Will Hose carriage. Each butcher had his own stall, where he dealt out the choicest steaks; and the farmers for many years patronized this market, bringing the products of their farms in front of the building and backing their wagons against the curb. The market was open on Wednesday and Saturday mornings of each week. The hours were from about 3 until 8 or 9 A. M. Dur- ing these pleasant market times the "early bird caught the worm." Here, at the early blush of dawn, could be purchased the best of everything-vegetables and fruits in their season.
HOLLIDAYSBURG IN 1842.
Hollidaysburg, in January, 1842, is described by J. Penn Jones, esq., (at that time editor and proprietor of the "Register and En- quirer," and which is still ably conducted by David Over, esq., to whom we are indebted for favors, ) as follows: "Hollidaysburg is a great place! It is great in a great many respects-one of the great-
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est perhaps in the interior of the great State of Pennsylvania! It i- great as a business place ; it is a great place for fun, and great for sobriety and order ; great for pretty girls, and good ones, too; (the assertion of the 'Williamsport Emporium' to the contrary notwith- standing;) great for its liberality and enterprise; great for its rapid increase in population, wealth and improvement ; great for its muddy streets in wet weather ; great for its dusty ones in dry ; it's a great place for Washingtonians and Teatotallers; great for industrious men and thinking mechanies, and a great place for sleighing when the ground is frozen ! It's a good place to sell saddles of venison, and flour for buckwheat cakes, potatoes, chickens, ice cream, (in summer.) and patent medicines all the year round! But the greatest thing of all, is, it's a great place for taking newspapers-greater in this ro- spect, than any other town of the same population in the world. ' But enough said ' about our town's greatness for the present. Not many years ago it was little better than a wilderness. In 1830 it did not contain more than fifteen or twenty houses, and a population of 150 or 200. Where Gaysport stands there was no sign of a town! Swamps and thickets, in which rabbits burrowed and black birds built their nests, were then where now are houses, gardens, streets, alleys and work-shops.
" In 1842 the American House was kept as a temperance hotel by Ira Hoadly, and the bar-room was turned into a reading room.
" The population of Hollidaysburg at the present time, as correctly taken by our borough assessor, Abraham Vantries, esq., is 2,368; Gaysport, 448; total, 2,816. Gaysport is an incorporated district, eut off from Hollidaysburg proper, by a branch of the Juniata."
GAS INTRODUCED
In 1856 Hollidaysburg was lighted for the first time with gas. The Hollidaysburg Gas and Water company was incorporated by an aet of Assembly, approved March 16, 1854, but was not fully organ- ized for the purpose of manufacturing gas until April, 1856. No at- tempt was at that time made to introduce water. The capital of the company was $40,000. Sometime during the spring a contract was made with L. R. Titus, of Trenton, N. J, for the furnishing and laying of the pipes, and construction of the works at a cost of $30,- 000. The first officers of the company were Thomas C. McDowell, president ; J. R. Crawford, secretary ; and Thomas Bingham and William MeFarland, directors. They held their positions until June, when an election was had and R. M. Lemon was elected president ;
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R. B. Johnston, treasurer, and Thomas C. MeDowell, secretary. The managers were Jesse R. Crawford, Thomas Bingham and Dr. Joseph A. Landis. The work was prosecuted with vigor, and the town was brought from darkness to light by means of a good article of gas in the month of October, 1856.
WATER WORKS AND RESERVOIR.
The Hollidaysburg water works were built by the borough au- thorities. The art of Assembly authorizing their construction was approved March 16, 1866. James Gardner, William Jack, James Condron, John L. Hemphill and Thaddeus Banks were the water commissioners. An article of agreement was made and entered into with John A. Woodward and T. B. Farrington, of Williamsport, Pa., to supply the water pipes. These pipes are of wood, wrapped with iron by a machine invented for this express purpose, and coated with a composition of coal tar and asphaltum. The water is brought from a beautiful spring of free-stone water on the Brush mountain farm of the Hon. Thaddons Banks. Its location is in a beautiful mountain dell, into which the rays of the sun seldom penetrate, and the pure, clear, cold water comes forth from the mountain side, leap- ing and rushing over large moss-covered boulders, and from the noise thus made it has received the appropriate name of "Roaring Run." The distance, along the line of pipes, from the borough limits to where the stream is tapped, is two and three-fourth miles. Hollidays- burg was truly happy when the pure Brush mountain water leaped from the hydrants for the first time, early in November, 1867. The cost of these works was about $50,000. It must be remembered that in 1866-7 the cost of iron pipes was from one-third to one-half more than the cost of wooden pipes.
It was ascertained that the small well first used for the reception of the water was insufficient, and a reservoir was constructed of a ca- pacity of two and a half million gallons, at a cost of about $15,000. The elevation of the reservoir above Brush run is one hundred and seventy-five feet, and above points in town from sixty to one hundred and twenty feet. The water works are managed and controlled by the burgess and town council.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND ITS PASTORS.
The Presbyterian church, of Hollidaysburg was organized about the year 1778. The Hollidays were Presbyterians. The first preach- ing that we have any account of was at the house of Mr. William
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Holliday, by the Rev. Dr. King, of Mercersburg, Franklin county, in 1772. The Rev. Mr. MeDugal, Rev. John Johnson, . Rev. Matthew Stevenson, and other ministers, preached here at different times. But it was not until after the arrival of the Rev. David Baird, or Bard, as he was called, came here that a church was fully organized. A frail wooden structure, called a "tent," was erected at the Blue Spring-now owned by Archibald McFadden-which was used as a place of worship. Thomas Blair, (the father of John Blair, for whom the county was named, ) Thomas MeCune and James Smith, sr., were the first ruling elders of this church.
In 1790 the "tent" was replaced by a house of worship, and was erected on the ground where the cemetery now is. It was built of round logs, and was used until 1818, when it caught fire from the burning woods and was destroyed. A new and more elegant struc- ture, built of hewn logs, immediately took its place, which was occu- pied until the new brick church was erected in 1836-7 on the corner of Walut and Clarke streets, the same ground now occupied by the large and commodious building erected in 1869-70.
Mr. Bard, whilst serving this congregation, also served the na- tion as a member of Congress. He was a member of the 4th and 5th Congress, and of the 8th to the 13th, inclusive. In the 13th Congress, which commeneed December. 1813, and had three sessions, Mr. Bard was a member of the committee on claims.
Mr. Bard preached not alone to this congregation. but divided his time between this place, Williamsburg and Sinking Valley. He re- sided here most of his time; but at the time of his death, which oc- curred suddenly in Alexandria, Pa., in March, 1815, his residence was in Sinking Valley, where he was buried.
After the death of Rev. Bard, the church was without a regular minister until 1816, when Rev. James Galbraith, who had been preaching in Indiana county, became its settled pastor. He labored here, giving one-third of his time to the church in Williamsburg, un- til 1835. The same year, Mr. John Dunlap, a licentiate, came with a commission from the Board of Missions. His health being feeble he was uever ordained. He went to Cincinnati in 1837 and assumed editorial charge, in connection with Rev. William D. Smith, of the "Presbyterian of the West," published in that city.
In 1838 the congregation called the Rev. William J. Gibson, of Philadelphia, who continued as their pastor until 1841. He removed to Darlington ; thence to Philadelphia; thence to Jacksonville, and thenee to Duncansville, this county, where he now ministers. The
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HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
Rev. Dr. David Mckinney was called to this charge in 1841, and continued in the pastorate until 1852. He was one of the leading spirits in the great temperance movement of 1844. Ho resigned the pastoral charge to take control of the "Presbyterian Banner," which he originated, and which is still published in Pittsburg.
Between the years 1820 and 1841 Alexander Knox, Thomas B. Moore, John B. Riddle, John G. MeKee and John Lyttle were or- dained ruling elders of the church. During Dr. MeKinney's pastor- ate Jonathan Hamilton, John McCartney, Joseph Smith, Charles Wilson, William C. McCormick and Samuel Moore were ordained ruling elders.
The Rev. David X. Junkin, pastor of the F Street Presbyterian church, of Washington, D. C., having been called to the pastorate, commenced his ministry on the 30th of October, 1853. During his pastorate James D. Rea, Joseph Dysart, Wm. R. Findley, M. D., Thomas Smith and Robert R. Hamilton were ordained ruling elders. In the spring of 1860, the health of Dr. Junkin becoming impaired, he was granted a leave of absence for six months. On the 11th of Do- cember, of the same year, the pastoral relations between Dr. Junkin and the church were, at his own request, dissolved. The Rev. David Sterret supplied the pulpit until the first Sabbath in September, 1861.
On the 4th day of August, 1861, the Rev. David Henry Barron received a call to become the pastor of this church, and, it having been accepted, he preached his first sermon as the pastor elect on the second Sabbath of September, 1861. On Tuesday, November 12, 1861, he was installed pastor of the church, in which relation he still continues.
In 1845 a number of families separated from this church and or- ganized as the church of East Freedom. It has since been changed to Duncansville. In 1852 the church of Altoona was organized out of the members of this church. From that has sprung the Second church, of Altoona, and now both are large and flourishing. The present membership of the Hollidaysburg church is 440.
During the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Barron, four members of the session have died, viz: John B. Riddle, Charles Wilson, James D. Rea and Joseph Smith ; two have removed from the bounds of the church, viz : Joseph Dysart and Robert Riddle, who now reside in Altoona. Hon. Samuel S. Blair, Hon. A. S. Landis, Crawford Ir- win, M. D., and Robert Riddle have been ordained ruling elders. Three of these, Messrs. Blair, Landis and Irwin, with Messrs. Robert R. Hamilton, compose the present session.
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In the summer of 1868 the congregation resolved to build a new church as the old structure, which had done good service, was be- coming unsafe and had been time upon time condemned. The writer distinctly remembers that during some condemnatory remarks by the Rev. Dr. Junkin, his furious pounding made the feathers or cotton fly from the old pulpit cushion. Fortunately, that same pulpit was the most durable part of the church, and could have easily withstood the Doctor's most vigorous pounding for ages. It was not, however, until the December following that the abandonment of the okl church building was fully determined upon. The congregation then (De- cember 13) commenced worshipping in the court house, which they continued to occupy until the 5th of June, 1870, when the chapel was ready for occupancy.
On the 9th of September, 1869, the corner-stone of the new building was laid. The stone occupies a place in the south-west corner of the wall. "First Presbyterian Church," is cut upon one side, and "Sept. 9, 1869," upon the other. The laying of the stone was observed with appropriate ceremonies. The box deposited in the stone contained a sermon by Dr. W. J. Gibson and his photo- graph ; sermon by Dr. David MeKinney and his photograph ; sermon by Dr. D. X. Junkin and his photograph ; sermon by Rev. D. H. Barron and his photograph : history of the church, by Hon. A. S. Landis; one copy of the Bible; Hymnal and Confession of Faith; photograph of the old church building; list of officers and members of the church ; fractional currency ; one copy each of the "New York World," "New York Tribune," "Presbyterian," "New York Observer," "Hollidaysburg Standard," and "Hollidaysburg Reg- ister ;" and sixty dollars in Continental currency. The first public service was held in the new church during the sessions of the Synod of Harrisburg, which began on the 19th of October, 1871, but regu- lar Sabbath worship did not begin in the main room until December 31,1871.
ST. MICHAEL'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Among the early citizens of this town were a number of Roman Catholics from different parts of Germany. They attended St. Mary's church here. Messrs. Joseph and John Baroner, sr., the Meintels, the Fuchs, Greneders, Lich, W. Rauch, J. Zanker, J. Ileil- meier, and others, finally numbering eighty families, established a German congregation, and built a new church of their own.
The corner-stone of their church (St. Michael's) was laid on No- vember 27, 1862, and in less than a year the church was dedicated
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by Rt. Rev. Michael Domenec, Bishop of Pittsburg, who also ap- pointed the first pastor in the person of Rev. George Kirchner. The church is built in an elevated part of the town upon a fine plot of ground. It measures 75x43 feet. Its tower or steeple is 120 feet, and contains a chime of bells. In addition, the German Catholics possess a school-house and a temporary residence for their pastor.
The pastor, Rev. G. Kirchner, labored hard among his flock ; he had many sore trials, hard work and at times insufficient rest. Yet he bore it pleasantly in his zeal to promote the welfare of his people. Hle filled the position of pastor for nearly five years, after which he was transferred to Pittsburg. The second pastor was Rev. John B. Schmidt. Nothing particular was done during his pastorate, save the endeavor to promote the spiritual welfare of the congregation. Rev. J. Rosswog was his successor. He remained about nine months. His pastorate was attended by nothing noteworthy. The next pastor appointed was Rev. George Allman. He was born in Germany, but completed his studies and was ordained in this country. He was beloved here by all classes. The next pastor, was Rev. Julius Knenzer. He also was born in Germany. His literary abilities were of a high grade; a great scholar in Latin, unexcelled in profane and ecclesiastical history, and well posted in all theological matters. No changes were made during his pastorate of nearly four and a half years. From here he was transferred to Pine Creek, Allegheny county, Pa., where he is still in charge. The present pastor, Rev. Francis J. Kaib, came on December 1, 1878. He is a native of our country, born at Pittsburg, on February 24, 1850. Great improve- ments have been made up to date under his careful management.
The old school-building has been superseded by a new and elegant one. Mrs. Barbara Zanker, wife of Joseph Zanker, an old citizen of this town, but now deceased, gave to the pastor, toward creeting the new school, $4,000. Work was commenced at the new building about April, 1879, and was finished for school purposes the following Octo- ber. The building is large and commodious, measuring 60 feet in depth, 26 feet in width and about 28 feet in heighth. Besides this in- provement, there now stands in the place of the old school building a neat brick dwelling for the good teachers, the Sisters. It is 21 feet front and 33 feet deep and two stories high, and complete in its ar- rangements. The Sisters have brought the school to a high grade, teaching in both languages-German and English-reading, spelling, writing, grammar, arithmetic, geography, Bible history and catechism, to an average of ninety to one hundred children.
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Thus the congregation has prospered under the present pastor. He is a young and active man, and is considered an able speaker in both the German and English languages. Since his advent he has gained the friendship and respect of all classes without exception, and all good wishes attend his ministry among the citizens. Thus, through his earnest endeavors and hard labor, Rev. Francis J. Kaib has raised St. Michael's congregation to such a state that it may be justly considered one of the best in the Catholic diocese of Pittsburg. 1862 and 1880-what a change during this time!
LUTHERAN CHURCH.
It is with difficulty that a complete history of the Lutheran church can at this day be written. Its early records were loosely kept and the original members are either now members of the church in heaven or have removed to other States. In Frankstown, about the year 1824, the First Lutheran church of Hollidaysburg was organ- ized with Rev. G. A. Reichart as pastor, who served until 1830. Rev. Smick filled the pulpit for several years. The old church build- ing is still standing. It was built and finished inside like all other church edifices in those days-galleries around the three sides, a pul- pit high in the air, reached by winding stairs, and high back pews. Rev. Jacob Martin became the pastor in 1832, and with his advent the church began to increase in numbers and prosperity. His pas- torate continued, with the exception of several years, until 1849. In 1840, the church was without a pastor. In 1846 Rev. Peter Anstadt ministered to the congregation. In 1837, the congregation-many having now settled in Hollidaysburg-contemplated a removal. Mr. Christian Garber, accordingly donated to the church a piece of ground on the hill where the cemetery now is, and in the spring of 1838, ground was broken for a new church edifice. Henry L. Patterson, Jacob Brumbaugh and John R. Martin composed the building com- mittee. The ceremony of laying the corner stone was performed on Saturday, May 14, 1838. The exercises were held in the then new Presbyterian church. Rev. Benjamin Kurtz, of Baltimore, Md., and Rev. Gibson, of Bedford, assisted in the devotional services. In a few years, additional ground was purchased, and used as a cemetery. . This building did good service, and was, in its day, a comfortable church. The basement of the church was used for a short time by the public school. During Rev. Martin's pastorate, there were re- ceived into the church 466 members and he baptized 320 children. In 1849, Rev. Lloyd Knight was called to be the pastor, and he 15
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served the congregation until 1862. During his pastorate, the new church, on the corner of Allegheny and Union streets, was built and the old church taken down. The corner stone of the new church was laid in June, 1853, amidst imposing ceremonies. Many articles of interest were deposited, and it is to be regretted that a description of them cannot be given. Rev. Daniel Schindler became the pastor in 1862 and served for three years. He was an eloquent preacher and a good man, but there was no notable prosperity during his pastor- ate. He succeeded in procuring for the church an elegant pipe organ which cost six hundred dollars. Rev. Charles L. Ehrenfeld became the pastor during the summer of 1865, and served the congregation acceptably for five years. He was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. D. L. Ryder, who preached his first sermon as the regular min- ister, in the month of January, 1872. During his ministry the church edifice and parsonage have been remodeled and greatly im- proved. The church is now very neat and comfortable. The walls are handsomely frescoed ; beautiful stained glass adorn the windows and the floor is covered with a handsome carpet. The present mem- bership is three hundred and fifty, and the Sabbath-school numbers some two hundred scholars.
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