History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 72

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1474

USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century > Part 72

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The Pittburg, Virginia & Charleston Railroad was con- structed through California in 1881. California expects soon to be connected by trolley line with Coal Center and Centerville village.

California's water supply is ample to meet all present requirements and those of several years to come. The

385

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

immunity which the borough has enjoyed ever since the installation of the system from infectious and bacterial diseases speaks well for the quality of the water sup- plied, while it has but recently been fully demonstrated that the pumps are more than able to furnish a sufficient volume to quench the fiercest conflagration which is apt to occur. The explanation of the statement that the water is free from contamination is that the Mononga- hela River, from which the water is drawn, flows through a comparatively unsettled country. The Cheat River, its main tributary, is a wild mountain stream, its waters coming from a thousand springs on the west side of the Allegheny Mountains. Similar to the source of the Cheat is that of the Monongahela. But very few towns above California have sewerage systems of any size, with the exception of the three towns of Brownsville, Bridge- port and West Brownsville. The water company was organized in 1900, with George V. Milligan, president; John F. Miller, secretary; and Charles A. Rowan, treas- urer. Its capital stock is $50,000. Mr. J. R. McGinley, of Pittsburg, is the principal stockholder.

The company operates under a franchise granted by the borough of California, giving it the right to lay mains in the streets of the borough, in consideration of certain concessions by the company in the way of free water for the borough's use. The plant is located at the extreme end of Phillipsburg, on the west bank of the Monongahela River. It is a three-story stone and frame structure, in the basement of which is the pump, the sec- ond story the engine, the third story being occupied as living apartments.

The pump is of the Deming triple type, and has a capacity of 500,000 gallons every twenty-four hours. The intake pipe, through which the water is drawn from the river, is twelve inches in diameter, and is protected at its mouth by a cage-like structure which prevents the passage into it of all animate and inanimate objects which might clog the pump and prevent its effectual working. The water is forced through a pipe ten inches in diameter to a tank about half a mile south of the station, and about 300 feet above the level of the river at low water. The pressure required to force the water this great distance is considerable, yet the pump accom- plishes it with ease. The tank has a capacity of about 150,000 gallons. It may be readily seen from this that the capacity of the pump is sufficient to fill the tank more than three times in twenty-four hours. The pres- sure at the base of the reservoir is about sixty pounds, which, however, rapidly increases as the water leaves it and reaches the lower levels. At the corner of Union and Water streets the pressure is 132 pounds, and at Fifth and Wood is 105 pounds. This is sufficient to raise the water through a one and a quarter inch nozzle over the highest building in town.

It is interesting to note that while the distribution systems of most towns are through four-inch mains, that of California is by means of six-inch mains, thus amply providing for future needs.

There is, as yet, no organized fire department in the borough, the only protection the town enjoys being two hose carts, which are kept stored in a building erected for the purpose next to the borough building. The Vesta Coal Company is at present erecting a fire engine house which will probably be fitted up and turned over to the borough and a volunteer fire department organized.

The Union Telephone Company-To Mr. H. L. Lamb, of the "Sentinel" belongs the honor of first discussing the proposition for an efficient and satisfactory local tele- phone service. The field was already occupied by the Bell and Federal Companies, each of which had an ex- change in operation here. But the rates were too high, the service limited to a few patrons, and the facilities afforded the public so narrow, that the opening for a good local company, representing the people in general, seemed excellent.

The early steps toward organization were undertaken in March, 1903, when Mr. Lamb outlined his plans to Messrs. T. J. Underwood and W. C. Smith, well known citizens and capitalists of the town, and A. F. Moses, of the "Sentinel" staff. On April 8 a preliminary organi- zation was formed, with Mr. Underwood as chairman and Mr. Moses, secretary, to be styled The Union Telephone Company, was incorporated June 1st, 1903. A permanent organization was effected, with the following officers:

President, W. C. Smith; vice-president, T. J. Under- wood; secretary, A. F. Moses; treasurer, H. L. Lamb.

The company was organized with a capital stock of $10,000 which was afterwards increased to $15,000, and again to $20,000. It accommodates both California and Coal Center. It has about 350 phones in its exchange. Its lines extend to Newell, Roscoe, Granville, Hood's Hol- low, and West Brownsville, at which latter point connec- tions are in progress with the Fayette County inde- pendent system, giving toll line access to a vast number of independent exchanges east, south and west, including the Pittsburg & Allegheny system, with all its affiliated lines.

The Bell Telephone and Greensboro Gas companies give service to California residents.

Postoffice-No surer index of a town's prosperity and growth can be found than a statement of its postal receipts from year to year. The local postoffice, since its establishment in 1851, a short time after the establish- ment of the first general store, has been steadily gaining in the amount of business transacted, until it now ranks about fourth among the offices of Washington County. The receipts for 1908 being $8,033.81. For a number of years it was only sufficient in size to rank as a

386

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

"village postoffice."' Mails were not as numerous then as now, and people were too busy to either write or re- ceive letters, and the postoffice was only an "incident" in the young town's life. But as the community began to develop, and the railroad came, the business of the postoffice rapidly increased.

Job Johnson, who is so frequently mentioned in these pages, was one of the town's first storekeepers. He was a man of untiring energy and great public spirit. He it was to whom great credit is due for the establishment of the office. There was no crying need for it, but doubtless foreseeing the future of the town in this di- rection, he applied to the postoffice department at Wash- intgon for the establishment of an office. He was at that time conducting a general store near the boat land- ing, and in this store was located the office. Since then the office has occupied nearly every building in the town. Several times a discontinuance of the office was narrow- ly averted by Mr. L. W. Morgan accepting the postmas- tership. The different men who have held the office successively since its establishment, have been Job John- son, Thomas Craven, D. H. Lancaster, A. S. Fry, James Fry, L. W. Morgan, I. T. Dawson, J. W. Smith, John S. Eberman, Charles McCain, J. B. Shallenberger, L. C. Powell, J. I. McKenna, and the present incumbent, N. K. Wiley.

During the last year of Mr. Shallenberger's term the office reached the thousand dollar mark in the amount of business done, and was placed in the presidential ap- pointment class. Prior to that time it had been a fourth- class office, the salary of the postmaster being dependent upon the receipts of the office. Mr. Shallenberger, how- ever, did not receive any of the benefits of the increased business. It was not until the appointment of Mr. Powell that the new classification became operative.

"California Sentinel"-The first newspaper published in this section of which account can be found was the "Monongahela Valley Spirit," owned and conducted by E. Lichteberger and N. W. Truxall. The first issue ap- peared in February, 1860, and was a sprightly looking publication. Times evidently failed to prosper the en- 'terprise for more than four or five years, and it is sup- posed to have faded gently from this world of care.

The next appearance of a newspaper was that of the "Valley Messenger," a newsy little sheet emanating from the brick building on the corner of Water and 'Union streets. This was in April, 1884, the first owner being William Minehart. As well as can be learned, Mr. Minehart had removed the plant of the "Valley Spirit," which had lain idle in Coal Center for so long, re-establishing the paper under the new name. He finally disposed of it to the California Publishing Company, composed of W. E. Crow, Dr. T. B. Noss, J. A. Lether- man, and L. T. Claybaugh, W. E. Crow being editor

and general manager. The company conducted the en- terprise until 1890, when it was sold to a partnership composed of S. G. Ailes and L. W. Rank. These two gentlemen published the paper for one year, the interest of Mr. Rank being disposed of at the end of the year to Mr. Ailes, who continued the enterprise until 1897, when he disposed of it to Rev. W. E. Howard, who, in partnership with W. N. Worrell, conducted it for about six months. At that time Rev. Mr. Howard disposed of his interest to Mr. Worrell, who was conducting the paper at the time of its purchase by its present owners, Messrs. H. L. and A. H. Lamb.

People's Bank of California-To the efforts of a num. ber of such Californians along in the latter part of 1899 is due the organization and establishment of the People's Bank of California. L. Z. Birmingham, at the time manager of the California Store Company, and one of the principal stockholders in the California Coal Com- pany; Charles E. Baker, recent clerk of courts of Wash- ington County; Joseph Underwood, a prominent coal man, of Roscoe, and the father of T. J. Underwood, of California; and R. B. Drum, superintendent of the Vesta mines of the Jones & Laughlin Company in this neigh- borhood, were the prinmipal promoters of the new enter- prise. To Charles E. Baker was delegated the task of soliciting the sale of shares of stock in the proposed or- ganization, and with what success we know best when it is stated that within a month the entire amount had been subscribed.

The bank was organized in 1900. The first officers of the institution were A. B. Duvall, president; G. B. Frantz, first vice-president; R. J. Gregg, second vice-president. In addition to the above mentioned the board of directors consisted of L. Z. Birmingham, J. Underwood, J. N. Dixon, Theodore B. Noss, Thomas C. Richards, J. B. Crothers, R. B. Drum and J. E. Masters. A handsome and commodious brick bank and office building was erected. In 1907 the bank was closed for a short time, that not being due to any serious condition of the bank, but to alleged irregularities among those who were in- trusted with its safety and to outside influences. The bank has the confidence of a large constituency, and some of the most progressive and enterprising business men of this section of the county are interested in it.

First National Bank of California-One of the oldest of the national banks in the river section is the First National Bank of California. It was organized in 1891, with a capital of $50,000. It has steadily grown in its business and influence until now it ranks among the foremost of the national associations of the entire county, considering its limited capital. It is located in a rich and growing community and has more than kept pace with the advancement and development of this part of Washington County.

387

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

This institution was organized with J. C. Ailes as president, J. A. Letherman, vice-president, and W. H. Binns cashier. Its first board of directors was composed of J. C. Ailes, J. A. Phillips, J. W. Reed, Cary Piper, W. H. Gregg, Gibson Binns, J. W. Ailes, J. S. Eberman and J. A. Letherman.

A handsome building, the first story constructed of Cleveland sandstone and the second of red pressed brick, was erected. W. H. Binns is the president, and William S. Nicodemus is the cashier. Prominent business men of California compose the rest of the officers and board of directors.

The Old Shipyard, at One Time the Leading Industry of the Borough, Since Demolished to Make Room for the Railroad-The boat yard, the one industry around which California's early interests centered, and of which noth- ing now remains but a memory, was located on the river bank, and extended from a point adjoining the wharf up the river beyond Green street. During its. palmy days it was a busy place, but now even the boats which were born on its stocks and slipped into active life on its ways, are no more, and of the men whose industry gave strength and symmetry to the yard's product, but few remain. At the time of the yard's beginning the river was the only means of communication with the outside world. The immigrant caught his first glimpse of the fertile country from the decks of the old-time packets; his household goods came with him on the lower deck. Merchandise and mail came by boat. All the packets in those days were crowded with passengers and freight, and their arrival at the landing was the occasion of much excited interest on the part of the inhabitants. They were nearly all built on the river on which they were to run, the principal yard being at Elizabeth. Afterwards other yards were established, notably at Brownsville and Lucyville. Each of these yards was rushed to its full- est capacity in the building of new boats and the repair- ing of old ones. When the railroad was built through town, in 1881, the shipyard had to go.

The yard in California was established in 1851 by Will- iam McFall, Jr., St. Clair Chrisinger and James Imlay, practical boat builders residing in the neighborhood of Elizabeth. The site was well suited to the construction of boats of every description, and at that date land could be purchased at very reasonable figures. The yard at the beginning was small, but its output was large from the first, and at times its capacity was sorely taxed to supply the demand upon it. The original management of the concern continued for about two years, when it was undertaken by Benjamin Coursin and Mark Ster- ling. William McFall was retained by the new firm as foreman, and later William Latta was induced to enter the employ of the company as general business superin- tendent. Later, or about the year 1857, George M. Eber

man and Catharine McFall obtained control and con- tinued the business until 1870, when Samuel W. Craft and Joseph A. Lambert purchased their interests. It is remembered that oftentimes over 300 men were em- ployed. Four launchways extended along the river front and the noise of hammer and saw was incessant.

One of the more recent industries of California, the California Glass Company's plant, was located on the eastern end of the old boat yard, ten or twelve years ago. It was erected at about the time of the financial panic of '93, and through various causes was not the success which its promoters vouchsafed for it. This plant man- ufactured flint glass bottles and jars.

The California Foundry and Machine Company is a comparatively recent addition to the list of industrial establishments of California. It is located on a plot of ground immediately adjoining the old plant of the Cali- fornia Glass Company, with a frontage of eighty feet on the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks and extending back to the Monongahela River. The company as originally organized was simply a partnership between Mr. James R. Hill and S. W. Murray, the former an experienced machinist and the latter an experienced business man.

After the plant had been in operation about six months Mr. Murray disposed of his interest to Mr. Hill, who became sole proprietor and active manager.

Hornbake Brothers, and John R. Powell's Sons, two contracting companies, have done much toward the up- building of the town of California.

The California Marble and Granite Works, William M. Burley, proprietor, make the most of the monuments, mausoleums and sarcophagi of the cemeteries in this neighborhood.

The Valley Supply Company-This company's store at Calofirnia is one of the largest merchandising enter- prises in the upper Monongahela Valley. It was original- ly established by the California Coal Company, at one time a large factor in the development of the mining industry in this section. The former company was or- ganized for the purpose of carrying on a general retail merchandising business in California. L. Z. Birmingham, at the time a leading coal operator of this section, was the general manager of the store. For years Mr. Bir- mingham continued to act as manager of the store, or until its incorporation into the system of stores operated by the Valley Supply Company.

Upon the organization of the Monongahela River Con- solidated Coal & Coke Company in October, 1899, the store was transferred to the new company. The old management was continued, however, until April, 1901, when the Valley Supply Company was organized to take charge of the river company's stores throughout the ter- ritory covered by their mining operations.

The building of the company in California, known as

388

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

the Valley Supply Company's store No. 24, was erected in 1899 and is by all odds the largest in town and larger than any similar building in the upper valley.

The Pittsburg Mercantile Company-Housed in one of the finest and best appointed buildings in the Monon- gahela Valley, with opportunities for close buying by reason of the large quantities handled, the Pittsburg Mercantile Company, in spite of the short space of time in which it has been established in California, enjoys a large and constantly growing trade from all classes of citizens.

The company was organized on April 1, 1904, with B. F. Jones, Jr., president; Edward Gray, vice-president and general manager; J. B. Laughlin, treasurer, and W. C. Moreland, secretary. The thought in the organization of the company was that by combining their capital and experience its members could not only establish a modern merchandising establishment in California which would be a credit to the town, but would enable its patrons to buy their everyday necessities, such as groceries, dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, etc., to the best ad- vantage in the way of unlimited opportunities for selec- tion and at a close margin of profit to the company. This latter feature, it was thought, would be easily made pos- sible by the increased facilities for purchasing in large quantities such a store would possess. Following out this idea the policy of the store has been fixed and it de- pends rather on the quantities of merchandise it handles at a small profit, than on smaller sales with greater profit on each item.

In addition to the above described business companies there are the usual number of other concerns for a town of California's size.

Arlington Hotel-The building on the corner of Union street and Second avenue occupied by the Arlington Hotel was, in its original form, built by Solomon Fry, as a dwelling house. Upon the purchase of property by Dr. J. A. Letherman in 1887, additions were built on each side, the whole being converted into a hotel building. The first boniface who conducted a hotel in the building was W. B. Alter.

At one time the Arlington corner was the center of the commercial life of the borough, but when the rail- road came, and the station was established in its present location, it moved up town.

Schools-California in 1908 had nine public schools, with 11 teachers (males 2, females 9); enrollment of scholars, 372; average salary per month of teachers, male and female, $50.73; cost of each pupil per month, $2.08; number of mills on the dollar levied for school purposes, 6; estimated value of school property $4,500. The common schools of the borough have the advantage of teachers and educational apparatus from the South- western State Normal School. This institution for the

education of teachers and others is the pride of Cali- fornia and indeed of the whole Monongahela Valley. It is treated more fully elsewhere.

The first educational institution of which the borough can boast was the public school which for many years was conducted in the two-story brick building on Liberty street, near Fifth, belonging to Mr. Samuel Craft. The school was developed into an academy or high school in 1852. This was not done without effort and much was due to the public spirit and leadership of Job Johnston. The building as first constructed was a substantial two- story brick, entered by a central hall-way from the front, with recitation rooms to the right and left, and stairway leading to the hall on the second floor, known as "Seminary Hall." At a later time, as the demand came, an addition of two recitation rooms was con- structed to the rear, giving the building an L shape. The upper room could as occasion required be opened up so as to form part of the assembly room, thus giving a seating capacity for perhaps three hundred. The build- ing was never well adapted to the work for which it was used, but served as an important stepping stone leading to the State Normal School. The old academy building was abandoned in 1868, as soon as the State Normal School Building had enough rooms completed to accom- modate those in atendance. This is the only academy in the county organized during the last half of the last century (not connected at present or heretofore with a college), which has not ceased to exist, but has been nurtured into a higher institution.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of California was organized in 1858, most of its membership having come from Coal Center. Before the erection of the present church edifice, meetings were held in the public school building, now used as an apartment house, located on Liberty Street, near Fifth. Occasional meetings were held at the homes of the different members also. The present building was erected in the latter part of 1860, although it was far from the pretentious building it now is. The first pastor of the congregation of which au- thentic record may be found was Rev. William Mc- Cracken, an energetic worker, who contributed in no small measure to the founding of the church on the stable lines which have enabled it to pass through many trying situations. It was originally known as the "Kiers Chapel of the Methodist Episcopal Church of California." The original trustees were Abner Jackson, William Mc- Fall, Jr., George M. Eberman, William Carrol, James P. Ailes, John Wells, James H. Bell, James Carroll and St. Clair Chrissinger.

The church building was erected in 1860, and was at that time ample for all purposes, but its capacity was in time outgrown, and extensive alterations, which largely increased it in size and convenience, were made in 1894

389

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

at great expense. This money was well expended, how- ever, as time has fully demonstrated. A very fine pipe organ, secured through the generosity of Andrew Car- negie, aids in the services.

About ten years ago the church erected a handsome parsonage for the accommodation of its pastors. It is a modern building throughout, with furnace, gas, and city water. The membership of the church is 368 and the pastor Rev. S. M. Mackey.

Presbyterian Church of California-The organization of the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Cali- fornia occurred on May 20, 1897, a short time after the destruction by fire of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Coal Center, to which most of its charter mem- bership then belonged. This first meeting was held in Odd Fellows' Hall, and the organization was affected with 113 charter members. Rev. W. E. Howard, who was filling the pulpit of the Coal Center Church, was se- cured as pastor, dividing his time equally between the two charges.

Shortly after the organization of the church a building committee was selected, composed of W. H. Winfield, L. S. Jackman, W. K. Coatsworth, N. K. Wiley, and Fred T. Wilkins, to superintend the necessary steps in the con- templated erection of a house of worship. In addition to this steps were taken toward the raising of a building fund with so much success that the cornerstone of a $20,000 edifice was laid with befitting ceremony on Sep- tember 22, 1900, Rev. J. R. Henry delivering the ad- dress.

The congregation worshiped in Odd Fellows' Hall for over two years, Rev. W. E. Howard dividing his time between his charge in Coal Center and the one here. Since that time Revs. J. R. Morris, A. B. Elliott, and James W. Harvey have served as pastors. The member- ship of the congregation is 275. The denomination of the congregation was recently changed from Cumberland Presbyterian to Presbyterian by vote of the congrega- tion.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 72

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1474

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1474