USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Our country and its people. A historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. > Part 31
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WATER WORKS.
The city is supplied with water by the Holly system, which delivers water to consumers directly through the mains, instead of pumping it first into an elevated reservoir, from which the water descends by gravity in mains to consumers. Titusville has never tried the reservoir system, but the citizens of Titusville generally believe that the Holly system is preferable to the other. They urge that water pumped directly from the ground to con- sumers is likely to be purer for use than water standing in a reservoir, into which impurities, such as the bodies of dead animals, are liable to be-and sometimes are-thrown. They think also that there is less expense of power in the direct delivery than in lifting water to the reservoir, to say nothing of the convenience in general use of receiving water under light pressure, as against the uniformly high pressure in the reservoir system. At any rate the citizens of Titusville are strongly attached to their water plant. The con- struction of the works was begun in 1872, and finished in the spring of 1874. The pump works are located about a mile and a quarter west of the City Hall. At first two large cisterns, into the sides and bottom of which the water entered, after being filtered by the gravel through which it passed. were sunk from ten to twenty feet below the surface of the ground. The
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interior of the cisterns was walled with brick, laid without mortar, so as to admit water through the joints. Afterward large artesian wells were sunk to a depth of nearly a hundred feet. Those wells proved to be flowing ones. At first the water from them was received into the cisterns, and then pumped the same as the filtered water. But now the pumps are connected directly with the flowing wells, so that consumers get water fresh from its source. The works have been owned from the beginning by the municipal corporation. The rates to consumers have always been moderate, but the plant has become an important source of revenue to the city. The management of the water works for many years has been excellent. The First Engineer, John Smith. and George Pastorious, Second Engineer, of the works, have long held their present positions.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
From 1867 to 1882 the department was composed of volunteer com- panies. Barney Bosch was foreman of the first company, which was organ- ized and equipped with a hand engine and hose cart in 1865. The next year another engine and a hook and ladder truck were purchased. In 1867 the Titusville Fire Department was organized and placed under the control of the city authorities, with Thomas Goodwin, Chief Engineer ; Dennis Reagan, First Assistant; W. J. Stevens, Second Assistant ; B. Bosch, Foreman of En- gine Company No. 1 ; James Reardon, Foreman of Engine No. 2, and J. W. Morrison, Foreman of the Hook and Ladder Company. Before the con- struction of the city water works, three steamers were purchased. After- ward one of them was sold. The two retained by the city, the "Amoskeag" and the "City of Titusville," are kept in first-class working order, for emer- gencies. Ordinarily in case of a fire there is sufficient service got by con- necting the hose with the mains, when on the notice of less than three min- utes the pressure is raised, by the powerful pumps at the water works, to one hundred pounds a square inch. Early in the seventies there were sev- eral well equipped hose companies under excellent discipline. Most of them had elegant quarters at their respective hose houses. They became social organizations, the members of which respectively vied with one another in gentlemanly conduct, as well as in generous competition in the proper service of firemen. The Courier Hose, the Bloss Hose, the Bates Hose, the Drake Hose will long be remembered. At the last celebration of Fourth of July, a large number of the old members of the Titusville fire depart-
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ment marched as a body in the general procession through the streets of the city. The fact that so many of the old department still survived, and that so many on a short notice could be collected and presented to the community was a pleasant surprise, especially to the veterans themselves. During the last sixteen years, of those still living, many had gone to other localities, and not a few to distant parts, while others-not a few-had gone to the "undiscovered country." Still the veteran firemen on that occasion made an imposing appearance. The reunion demonstrated the last- ing attachment of the citizens of the "Queen City," whether still residing in Titusville or elsewhere.
The paid fire department was organized May 9. 1882. Augustus Castle, who had been for several years Chief Engineer under the old sys- tem, was appointed Chief Engineer and Fire Marshal, with Daniel Haley as First Assistant Engineer, and H. Butler Second Assistant Engineer. J. R. Riley was appointed Engineer of the Steamers; J. W. Beck, John Noel and James Corbett were appointed drivers of the hose carriages and hook and ladder truck, with nine minute men and a foreman. The officers of the department in 1898 are W. T. Mckenzie, Chief Engineer and Fire Mar- shal; First Assistant Engineer, W. A. Lee; Second Assistant Engineer, C. H. Henderson : Engineers of the Steamers, D. H. Herron and Joseph Hofel- der; Drivers, James Corbett, John W. Beck and C. C. Felton, with fourteen minute men and four hose carts.
It is proper to state that the practical operation of the paid fire depart- ment has been throughout, as a whole, highly satisfactory to the com- munity. The discipline of the department at present seems to be excellent. Temperate habits are made a condition in the selection of both officers and minute men.
SEWERS.
An extensive system of sewerage was begun in 1871. In the same year a main sewer was constructed beneath Central Avenue, which, running eastward, deflected and emptied into Oil Creek. The walls of this sewer are brick, laid with water-lime masonry. Connecting with this sewer, which is four feet in diameter, is another, laid also with brick masonry, and three feet in diameter, running under Monroe Street, as far north as Main Street. Then there are miles of street sewers laid with terra cotta pipe, with a vitri- fied surface. Scarcely a year passes without the construction of some addi-
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tional sewer line. At every street crossing, where the sewers run, there is a catch basin, which receives the water from the street gutters and strains it into the sewer.
STREET PAVEMENTS.
Wooden pavements were first laid in 1873. Spring Street was paved that year from Monroe eastward as far as Martin Street with wood; also Franklin Street between Central Avenue and the O. C. R. R. from Franklin to its intersection with Central Avenue. Diamond Street was paved with wood the same year from Franklin to its intersection with Central Avenue, and the pavement of Central Avenue extended eastward to Church Ri11. Then there was a section of wooden pavement laid in 1873 from Spring Street south on Washington to the side track of the O. C. R. R. It may be said in brief that the experiment of wood- en pavements in Titusville was a failure. The result to several per- sons owning property abutting on the streets thus paved was disastrous. They were taxed to pay for the pavement, which from its poor quality added nothing to the value of their property. The city subsequently at its own expense. as fast as the wooden pavements rotted away, laid in their place blocks of native sandstone, cut into the shape of Belgian blocks used for pavement in the large cities. While not as good as desired, this kind of pavement is much superior to the wooden ones laid in 1873. But, begin- ning in 1893. some miles of vitrified brick pavement have already been laid. The whole of Washington Street has been covered with this kind of pave- ment. Perry Street, from its junction with Union, has been paved with vitrified brick as far south as Spring. Union Street has the same pavement, Franklin Street from Church Run has been paved with this brick as far south as the W. N. Y. & P. railroad. Central Avenue has been paved with the same from its junction with West Spring almost to Drake street. Diamond Street is also paved with the same, and Spring Street, between Washington and Martin, is covered with the same.
SIDEWALKS.
On most of the business streets the sidewalks are made of flag-stones. cut to the desired shape by the stone mason's chisel. Plank sidewalks in front of private residences are fast giving way to large rectangular sawed
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flag-stones, or, of late especially, neat and smooth walks are made from cement. This latter kind of walk is also laid before some business blocks, and it may come into general use on the business streets. Sidewalks made from vitrified brick are also laid, especially in the business parts of the town.
CITY HALL.
In 1872 the city purchased the old Bush House, on the south side of Franklin Street, between Main and Pine streets, and converted the property into public buildings and grounds. The hotel proper was made the City Hall. The long dining-room was enlarged and made the Common Coun- cil hall, where the Common Council hold their meetings. As the hall is spacious it is used for many gatherings in which public interests are con- cerned. The Select Council hold their meetings in another large room. The Mayor, the City Clerk, the Comptroller, and the City Treasurer have offices in the building. Also the City School Superintendent has his office in the City Hall, on the second floor. The public library also occupies rooms on the second floor. The electrician of the street lights has a laboratory in the building. Adjoining the City Hall are outside brick buildings, one for the city prison, in the chamber of which are the police headquarters, and the others for fire steamers, hose wagons, quarters for firemen, hook and ladder truck, stables for the city horses, etc. On the same grounds is a high tower, in the top of which is the city fire-bell. On the corner of Central Avenue and Monroe Street is another hose house, con- taining hose wagons, quarters for the firemen, stables for the horses, etc.
STREET LIGHTING.
Lighting the streets with lamps on the street corners began in 1868, by illuminating gas manufactured by the Titusville Gas and Water Company. This system continued until 1889, when machinery for producing electricity was put into the water works, poles erected on street corners and wires strung for the purpose of electric illumination. From 1889 to August, 1897, fifty-eight lamps were used. The machinery is in charge of the engineers of the water works, who operate both plants, thus saving to the city a good deal of expense in labor. In 1897 a larger engine and larger electric motor were added, additional wires stretched, and the number of street lamps in- creased to one hundred and fourteen. Previous to this the cost per lamp of
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operating the plant was comparatively moderate, but upon the addition of fifty-six lamps the expense per lamp was greatly reduced, the average being $31.88 a year, a total for twelve months of $3.635.32. Probably no other city of the size in the United States is so well lighted, on so small expense, as is Titusville. No attention is given to moonlight. The lamps give light from the beginning of darkness in the evening until daylight in the morning, every day of the year.
CITY PARK.
In 1894 the city purchased of Mr. E. T. Roberts the entire square, bounded by Oak Street on the north, by Monroe on the east, by Elm on the south, and by First Street on the west, for $5,000, Mr. Roberts himself con- tributing $1,000 toward the purchase, making the net cost to the city $4.000. Since then the city has expended various sums for building a wall around the park, and for other improvements.
BANKS.
There are at present two large banks in Titusville, the Second National and the Commercial. Each of these banks does a very extensive business, and they are both among the most solid banking institutions of the country. The Second National was chartered February 11, 1865, and rechartered February 11, 1885, twenty years later. It is located in a very fine building of its own, on the northwest corner of Spring and Washington streets. This palatial edifice was erected thirty-three years ago. The bank opened its doors for business immediately after it received its charter, in a smaller building, a little north on the same side of the street, and continued there through the summer of 1865, and until the present edifice was completed in the following fall. The capital of the bank is $300,000, and its surplus $100,000. The bank is now one-third of a century old. Charles Hyde founded the institution, and he has been the main spirit of it ever since. The officers of the bank at present are Charles Hyde, President; F. DeL. Hyde, Vice-President ; Louis K. Hyde, Cashier. The directors are Charles Hyde, Louis K. Hyde, P. T. Withrop, F. DeL. Hyde and William Bayliss.
The Commercial Bank of Titusville was organized under the banking laws of Pennsylvania, receiving its charter in the early part of 1882. Its offices are in the southeastern part of the Oil Exchange, on the ground floor. Its capital is $150,000, and its surplus $100,000. Its officers at present
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are John L. Mckinney, President ; John Fertig, Vice-President ; E. C. Hoag, Cashier. These three men have held the same positions respectively since the first opening of the bank. The present directors are E. T. Roberts, John Fertig, Jesse Smith, W. J. Stevens, Joseph Seep, John J. Carter, J. C. Mckinney, John L. Mckinney and C. N. Payne. This bank is a strong and exceptionally well managed institution. It is especially useful to the com- munity, in that its officers, including the directors, all live in Titusville and are personally acquainted with the business men of the city and vicinity. Few banking institutions in the country are more fortunate in this respect.
HOTELS.
Some of the larger and more prominent hotels of Titusville may be mentioned in this history. The American Hotel, as already stated, was the first public inn started in the place. Among its several proprietors were Major Mills and the late W. P. Love. During the last several years, pre- vious to the time when it was closed and moved away, to make room for the Oil Exchange, in the spring of 1880, Archie Johnston was its landlord. The Titusville House, the old Kerr homestead on Pine Street, between Kerr and Drake, a long building, was among the early hotels. The Eagle, per- haps one hundred feet west of Franklin Street, on the south side of Spring Street, was subsequently built, and it had at one time for its proprietor the veteran landlord, Mr. Z. Martin. It disappeared in the summer of 1865, to give place for a brick edifice. When Major Mills had charge of the American, the house became a kind of oil exchange. Oil dealers and ship- pers congregated there, and daily carried on their market transactions in oil. The practice led ultimately to the organization of the first oil exchange, in the winter of 1870-1. During 1864 and 1865, when speculation in oil territory rose to its highest point, Major Mills was proprietor of the Moore House. The place was the old homestead of Jonathan Titus. It was owned at the time by John Moore, who had married Olivia, the youngest daughter of Jonathan Titus. The Moore House was crowded to its utmost limits during Major Mills' incumbency. The house was burned in March, 1866.
The Pendleton House was also crowded during the same period, as was also every other hotel in the town, and there were many, some small, others large. The passenger station of the Oil Creek Railroad was at the
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foot of Monroe Street. It was moved to its present location in 1870 and 1871. Near the old station were the Morey House, and the Lowrey Hotel. On the corner of Spring and Monroe streets the Monroe House was built in 1865. The house has been a hotel ever since. Its present proprietor, Mr. Frank Netchier, during the last few years has greatly improved the prem- ises. The McCray House, on the southwest corner of Spring and Washing; ton, where afterward stood the Parshall House, was a popular hotel in 1864. 1865, and the next year, when it was destroyed by fire in the fall. The Bush House, built originally for a private residence, was converted into a hotel in the spring of 1865. Its first proprietor, Mr. Bush, in February, 1865, paid $25,000 for the property as it then stood. But before the house could be used for a hotel of much size it had to be enlarged. It is not un- likely that the enlargement of the building, together with the furnishing of it, cost at least $10,000 more. The front part of the basement was con- verted into a bar-room, and rented for $2.500 a year. The bar of the Pen- dleton-where now is the Mansion House-was first leased in 1865 for $2,000 a year. But the rent in both cases was too high, and the lessees of both failed in their undertakings. The prices of liquors and cigars were at least twice as large as at the present time in Titusville. But the bars in the town were more numerous than the hotels. While few travelers were strictly temperate, few drank liquors to excess, and a drunken man was rarely seen. The Bush House was kept as a hotel about seven years, when the city bought the property, and converted the building into a city hall, reconstructing the dining-room on the west side for the Common Council Chamber. The Brawley House on West Spring Street is an old hotel. It is an inn proper. It is now kept by Mr. McClelland. There are many who regret the disuse of the word "tavern" for a public house. A tavern suggests accommodations for man and beast. The Spring Hill House, on West Spring Street, has been in operation several years. It is kept by Mr. John Gutman. The largest hotel Titusville ever had was the Parshall House, extending from the south- west corner of Spring and Washington west to the Brunswick and south as far as the south side of the present opera house. It was built of brick, and four stories high. It was erected by Mr. James Parshall, who came from Tidioute, bringing the money which he had acquired from oil production in the Tidioute fields, and investing heavily in Titusville. The block had upon its west side, adjoining the Brunswick Hotel, a beautiful opera house.
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In that hall devoted to the muses have appeared Joseph Jefferson, Janau- scheck, John McCulloch, Lawrence Barrett. William J. Florence, Nilson, Kellogg, Carlotta Patti, John Owen, Sara Bernhardt and other celebrities of the drama. The Parshall Block was burned April 14, 1882. The Crit- tenden House at one time was the leading hotel of the city. It was built in 1865 and opened in the following winter. E. H. Crittenden erected the house, and he was the first proprietor of the hotel. In 1870 William H. Abbott and G. W. Deans purchased the property, and, after re-fitting and re- furnishing it, leased the hotel to Charles W. Mathews. The name of the hotel was changed to that of the Abbott House. The house had its front on Pine Street, between Martin and Drake, and extended through to Spring. It was burned in the fall of 1872. The Brunswick Hotel, immediately west of the Parshall House, on the south side of Spring Street, was opened in the summer of 1880. The upper stories of the palatial block, which had been finished in the fall of 1873, had been occupied by people who wanted elegant rooms in which to live, but preferred to board outside, either at a restaurant in the building, or elsewhere in the vicinity. The lower floors of the edifice were occupied principally by stores. The building was owned by W. B. and E. A. L. Roberts. The latter, who had charge of the property, in 1880 converted the building into a hotel. It was burned at the Parshall House fire, in April, 1882. Previous to this the main building had a mansard roof on top of four stories in height. E. A. L. Roberts died in the spring of 188r. W. B. Roberts, the surviving brother, re-built the edifice, whose walls remained standing after the fire, putting a fifth story in place of the mansard roof. Previous to the fire the hotel had been leased to Mr. Z. Martin, who liad sold the Mansion House to Mr. W. P. Love. Dr. Roberts, after build- ing the Brunswick, re-furnished it in elegant style. Mr. Martin kept the house several years afterward. He had owned and kept the Mansion House for about fourteen years, before selling to Mr. Love, and going to the Bruns- wick in 1881. Mr. Love owned and operated the Mansion for nearly nine years, when he sold the property to Mr. Frank Hill, who, after making some repairs and changes, sold to Gleason & Lockwood, the present proprietors. In the summer of 1897 Gleason & Lockwood began re-construction of the building, by taking down sections in turn, and re-building with a brick struc- ture, while continuing the hotel in operation without interruption, until the whole front upon Franklin Street and the main part on Central Avenue were
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rebuilt, with porches and balconies, presenting, with the liglit colored brick surface, a very beautiful edifice. The interior of the house has been finished with corresponding elegance. The office and main lobby of the hotel is spacious, and a model provision for the comfort of guests. The proprietor of the Brunswick, Mr. E. T. Roberts, son of the late Dr. W. B. Roberts, also last fall and winter made a thorough overhauling, re-fitting and re-furnishing of the hotel in truly magnificent style. Mr. J. P. King is the present popular lessee and manager of the Brunswick. As a matter of fact, no other hotel in northwestern Pennsylvania approaches the Mansion and the Brunswick in elegance and in appointments for the comfort of guests. Other hotels in the city may still be mentioned. The European, already referred to, has good appointments. The American, on East Central Avenue, enjoys a good repu- tation. The United States, corner of Martin and East Spring, is well spoken of. The Erie Hotel, on North Franklin Street, kept by George J. Kuntz, and the Central Avenue House, kept by Jacob Schwartz, have recently been opened, and they doubtless get a fair share of public patronage. The Buffalo House, on South Franklin Street, has an excellent reputation.
OIL EXCHANGES.
The first board of trade in the world organized distinctively as an oil exchange was established in Titusville in January, 1871. L. H. Smith was the first President, G. Shamburg, Vice-President, J. F. Clark, Treasurer, and J. D. Archbold, Secretary. The Exchange occupied, the first year, a hall on the ground floor in the Parshall Block, fronting Washington Street, near where the present opera house now stands. At the end of the year it moved across the street, and occupied the first floor of what is now the Knights of Labor Building. The building was then owned by L. H. Smith. The Ex- change continued in that building about three years, when it moved to the Ralston Block, where it remained until absorbed by a second organization in 1881. The second Exchange was organized upon a broader basis than the first. It was incorporated February 14, 1880, upon a capital stock of $40,000-400 shares of $100 a share. Its first officers were John L. Mc- Kinney, President; H. F. Sweetser, Vice-President; A. P. Bennett, Treas- urer; J. A. Pincott, Secretary. It purchased the ground on which the American Hotel stood, and several feet adjoining on the west side, the whole extending from Spring Street to Pine, which is now Central Avenue. Upon
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this site was erected a magnificent edifice, three stories high, of red pressed brick and sandstone trimmings. This structure, with its interior finishings and furniture, was a model of beauty. The construction of the edifice and the arranging of its furniture occupied nearly a year. The entire cost of the ground, the building and its furniture was about $62,000. The assembly room is on the west side. In the southeastern part, on the ground floor, is the Titusville Commercial Bank. There are three fire proof vaults, one above another, for each of the three floors respectively, the bank using the lower one, and the Carter Oil Company the next above. Upon the ground floor, opposite each other in the main hall, and adjoining the assembly room of the Exchange, are the two telegraph offices, the Western Union and the Postal. The rooms on the second and third floors are used for offices.
NEWSPAPERS.
The history of the press in Titusville possesses not a little interest. The first paper published in Titusville was issued in 1859, not long after Drake's discovery. James B. Burchfield moved a printing office from Meadville ill the fall of that year and started a weekly. He however sold the establish- ment to Albert M. Fuller and C. M. Allen, who continued to publish the weekly and do a general job printing business for some time, perhaps two or three years, until the plant was destroyed by fire. About the fall of 1863 Mr. Fuller purchased a new outfit for a newspaper office, and published the "Petroleum Reporter," until the next year, when he sold the plant to Lake and Martin, who continued to issue the weekly until February or March, 1865. William W. and Henry C. Bloss from Rochester, New York, bought the establishment and continued the weekly until June following, when they brought out the "Titusville Morning Herald," the first daily paper of the oil region. This daily paper has since been uninterruptedly issued for upward of thirty-three years. Its publishers were first Bloss Brothers. J. H. Cogswell came to Titusville and bought an interest in the paper in the fall following. The name of the new firm was Bloss Brothers & Cogswell. This partnership continued until the spring of 1872, when W. W. Bloss retired from the association. The new firm of "Bloss & Cogswell" con- tinued until 1883, when Cogswell retired. Henry C. Bloss continued after- ward sole proprietor of the Herald until his death in January, 1893. Since that time the widow of HI. C. Bloss, Mrs. S. A. Bloss, has been proprietor of
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