USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > Picture of Lycoming County, 1st ed > Part 9
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To those living in the rural districts, attendance at Sunday services was necessarily preceded by considerable advance pre- paration. Livestock had to be fed, cows milked, horses hitched to the wagons. Then carefully, almost reverently, the "meetin" clothes were removed from the closets and young and old were properly groomed and attired for the occasion. The drive to the church often required from one to three hours. The spending
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Scene at Old Curbstone Market
of so much effort is a clear indication of the depth of their faith and the extent to which the church entered into their daily lives.
An important addition to the educational facilities of the county was the establishment of the James V. Brown Library in 1906. Every year since its founding thousands of books, pamphlets, and periodicals have been added, and the library has become a great educational and cultural force.
Of importance, particularly to the rural sections of the county, was the inauguration of the rural free delivery in 1896 and the parcel post in 1913. These services enabled the more remote sections of the county to buy a variety of merchandise ranging from pins and needles to a suit of clothes.
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STYLE CHANGES
The introduction of the bicycle hastened the end of Vic- torian ideas of modesty and morality, and women began to take part in athletics. This brought about radical changes in fash- ions of dress. Lisle and silk stockings replaced the old-fashioned cotton, and skirts began to leave the ground. Women's hair underwent a cycle of change which reached the stage of the "boyish bob." Dress-tight kid gloves, high buttoned shoes, and high tight-laced corsets were the object of severe criticism by reformers and physicians, but gradually women's clothing be- came more comfortable and practical.
Men's styles, though not as quickly as women's, were also undergoing a change. The tendency was toward lighter weight clothing and more attention to appearance. The well-dressed young man at the turn of the century wore a woolen suit with heavily padded shoulders, a shirt with stiff front fastened to- gether with studs, separate stiff collars and cuffs, a derby hat, "tooth pick" shoes, fleece lined underwear, and heavy socks. Only "sports" wore garters. There were no winter and summer suits, only a "second best" or a "scuff" suit, which was worn every weekday of the year, and a Sunday suit for special occa- sions. These fashions were replaced by the soft hat, soft shirt with soft attached collars, and lighter weight suits for summer. Heavy kersey overcoats, made to last for years, gave way to lighter. though less serviceable, materials.
Fads in men's jewelry revealed interesting phases of the life of the era. Emblems of trade were popular: a gold anvil or horseshoe for blacksmiths, a jeweled beerkeg for bartenders, an anchor or compass for sailors, and a miniature locomotive or caboose for railroaders. Gold-headed canes and umbrellas were signs of wealth, and hunting-case watches with heavy gold chains were regarded as signs of prosperity.
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RURAL INNOVATIONS
In the rural districts electricity was not yet in use for power or lighting. Coal-oil lamps illuminated the homes, the most convenient and elaborate of them having reflectors. The most ingenious type was the hanging lamp, suspended from the ceiling and raised or lowered by a small chain on pulleys.
Laundering was done by hand or with a hand-turned ma- chine. The mechanical threshing machine was in general use, but it was vastly different from today's model. In the early part of the period threshing was done by a professional thresh- ing crew which travelled from farm to farm. The machine was powered by horses on a treadmill. This type was replaced by the portable steam engine and later by gasoline motors. The reaper, a horse-drawn machine which cut the grain and dropped it untied to the ground, was rapidly being replaced by the reaper and binder which not only cut the grain but tied it with twine into sheaves in one process. The combination binder and mowing-machine outmoded the scythe and grain-cradle except for fence corners and small patches.
Every community had its gristmill where grain for stock feed or flour for the family bread was ground on shares. By preserving fruits, berries, and vegetables, the housewife of the period was able to enjoy a degree of economic independence. At the turn of the century rural folks depended on the grocery store far less than they do now. Almost every household had its sausage grinder, coffee grinder, and apple parer. Sugar, weighed and packaged by the grocer; molasses, drawn from a barrel into a jug; coffee, unground; and tea and spices were purchased, not for cash, but in exchange for butter and eggs. In the towns, milk was delivered to the door, not in bottles but in the consumer's own container, at a price of five cents a quart. The passing of the country store was regretted by many. It was more than just a commercial enterprise; it was a civic insti-
Oxen and Cart, Old Park Hotel (Herdic House) in Background
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tution. It afforded a common meeting place for the people of the locality; local and national news was gathered there; and the great problems of the times were discussed. In time the sugar-bins, molasses-barrels, and the mummified cod and mack- erel that hung from hooks or wires on the walls and ceiling were replaced by the neatly arranged cans, bottles, cartons, and packages of the later-day store.
MUSICAL DIVERSIONS
Music, always an important factor in the cultural life of the county, underwent a great change during this era. From its beginning in 1831 the Repasz Band gained in popularity, being in great demand for special functions throughout the state. In Williamsport also were the Imperial Teteques, a unique mu- sical body organized in 1894 as the Triple Tongue Quartette, the Fisk Band, and the Stopper and Fisk Orchestra. Many of the boroughs and larger towns also supported brass bands or fife and drum corps. Musicales were frequently presented, and many of the nation's best artists appeared.
An innovation which had a far-reaching effect in the field of music was the perfection of the talking machine or phono- graph. This instrument made it possible for people living in remote sections of the county to enjoy the country's most popu- lar entertainers. It in large measure supplanted the guitar, vio- lin, mouth-organ, and other instruments which produced home- grown music. The phonograph popularized new songs and music rapidly and the demand for new works brought forth a great variety of songs ranging from semi-classical to modern jazz.
POPULAR SONGS AND HYMNS
A popular hymn of the period was, "When the Roll is Called up Yonder I'll Be There," by James M. Black of Wil- liamsport. Highly popular were the Indian songs "Hiawatha" and "Red Wing," and the Hawaiian song "Aloha Oe." Other
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songs in a lighter vein were "Yankee Doodle Boy," "Alex- ander's Rag-time Band," "Oh! You Beautiful Doll," "Sweet Rosie O'Grady," "Down on the Farm," "I've Got Rings on My Fingers," and "I Want A Girl Just Like The Girl That Married Dear Old Dad."
This was the gay and interesting period when the waltz dance for favor. A song popular among the exponents of the new dance was "Waltz me around again Willie-around, around, around; the music is dreamy, it's peaches and creamy; Oh don't let my feet touch the ground." Then there was the railroad song "Casey Jones," and two special favorites of vaude- ville vocalists "I'm Afraid to Go Home in the Dark," and "Please Don't Take Me Home."
The Swarthmore Chatauqua was a valuable contribution to the culture of the county. It provided entertainment and en- lightenment by presenting many of the country's most outstand- ing musicians, speakers, and entertainers. The Chatauqua made seven-day stands with new talent presented daily, afternoon and evening.
The old Lycoming Opera House, erected in 1892 and burned in 1915, was the theatrical center of the county. Al- most all of the country's great theatrical stars, and most of the leading stock and minstrel companies were seen there. During the summer season the open air pavilion in Vallamont Park, Williamsport, also presented excellent talent. A popular type of entertainment during the early part of this era was the travel- ing shows consisting of glass-blowers, ventriloquists, and Punch and Judy or puppet shows.
Frequently came transient medicine shows, composed of a group of entertainers similar to the minstrel show, the main purpose of which was to sell medicines recommended for the cure of any disease "that human flesh is heir to," were frequent visitors.
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SPORTS
Although baseball had been a popular sport some time prior to the turn of the century, it was not until 1904 that or- ganized professional baseball was introduced to Lycoming County. In that year Williamsport joined with York, Harris- burg, Altoona, Lebanon, and Wilmington to form the Tri-State League. Originally this league was set up to include teams from the three states, but New York did not join. Later Trenton joined the league. The first pennant was won by York. The next year Williamsport, which had acquired the name "Million- aires" because of the excellent financial support given the club by a group of affluent citizens, finished second. In 1907 and 1908 the Williamsport club won pennants. In 1910 the league passed out of existence. The Williamsport "Grays" team is now (1939) a member of the Class A Eastern League.
Football made its appearance in the early '90's but there was no real organization of this sport. At the time of its in- troduction it was still a game of brute strength, with laterals, reverses, and spinners unknown. However, it rapidly grew in popularity and in a few years most of the county schools boasted teams. Penn State, Bucknell, and the Carlisle Indians brought their teams to the Dickinson Seminary and the old Ath- letic Park fields in Williamsport for games.
Golf had not yet attained a place in sports or recreation. It was not until 1909 that courses were constructed and golf began to grow in popularity.
Basketball, introduced early in the century, was played only at the Y. M. C. A. After the World War it became a major sport in the colleges and high schools. Boxing com- manded considerable attention during this time. Exhibition matches between Jim Jeffries and Bob Fitzsimmons and other famous boxers were held, and several Lycoming County men
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attained considerable prominence in this field. The most not- able of these were the "three greats of Lycoming County": Frankie Maguire, Tiger Thomas, and Jess Gilbert.
QUESTIONS CHAPTER XI
1. What were two important changes in the social life of Lycoming County which took place between 1894 and 1914?
2. How did the industrial life of the county change during this period?
3. What added responsibility was assumed by the schools because of in- dustrial changes?
4. What changes occurred in transportation methods?
5. Describe the curbstone market.
6. How did rural people benefit by the establishment of the Rural Free Delivery and the Parcel Post?
7. Name the various early musical organizations in the county?
CHAPTER XII
The World War, Business Prosperity, And Depression
W HEN the factory whistles and church bells heralded A New Year in 1914, the people of Lycoming County were concerned with problems of unemployment; campaigns for better roads, better homes, and better living conditions; pro- posals for the prohibition of child labor and the limitation of feminine employment in factories; movements to stop the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages and to grant equal political rights to women.
In scores of factories and mills in Lycoming County con- siderable unemployment existed. Because of a business depres- sion throughout the nation, many establishments had curtailed their operations and several had closed down. Agriculture, too, was affected. Prices of many farm products were below pro- duction costs. Farmers had difficulty in finding a market for their surplus products at any price. This economic condition continued, with little improvement, until after the Presidential campaign in 1915. By that time most of the nations of Europe were at war.
When the World War began, few residents of the county had any conception of the forces that were being set loose or of the far-reaching effect the war would have on community and national life. The war had not been waged very long before England and France were in need of supplies and munitions in enormous quantities. The United States, one of the few major industrial and agricultural powers not yet involved in the con-
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flict, was the only nation in a position to furnish these neces- sities. In order to obtain war materials, England and France appointed certain business and financial houses in the United States to act as purchasing agents and to arrange credits. Huge orders were placed in factories throughout the country. Many of the companies were compelled to make mechanical changes and to expand their plants in order to fill the orders. A notice- able improvement in business conditions took place almost overnight.
In order to counteract the effects of the blockade which England and France had placed against her shipping, Germany soon initiated a campaign of unrestricted undersea warfare. This action, together with the growing sentiment among the Amer- ican people in favor of the Allies, finally brought the United States into the war. A special session of Congress was called by President Wilson, and on April 6, 1917, Congress declared "that a state of war existed with Germany."
In Lycoming County the action of Congress was not un- expected. Before the sinking of the Lusitania, sentiment in the county had been equally divided between England and France and their allies and Germany and her supporters. But shortly before the declaration of public opinion had swung overwhelm- ingly to the side of the Allies. In Williamsport, previous to the declaration of war, arrangements were made by City Council, local newspapers, and the fire department to sound all fire alarms as soon as word was received. With the beginning of hostilities, a Committee of Public Safety was formed in Lycoming County to coordinate military and civil activities. One of its first duties was the stationing of soldiers to guard the principal bridges, factories, highways, and railroads. A public proclamation warned all persons approaching bridges and other points under guard to obey promptly military commands. Every phase of community and individual life, related directly or indirectly
THE WORLD WAR, PROSPERITY, AND DEPRESSION 133
to the conduct of the war, was placed under the direction of the full committee or one of its subcommittees. More than a dozen subcommittees functioned in the county. Most important of these were the Bureaus of Finance, Legislation, Publicity, Agri- culture, Motors, Medicine and Sanitation, Home Guards, Plants and Materials, Civic Relief, Commissary and Equipment, Fuel, Recruiting, Transportation, and Enrollment.
Under the Selective Service Act every man within the age limits prescribed by the Government was compelled to appear at designated places for registration. From the registration lists persons were drawn by number and inducted into military ser- vice as needed. Because a number of Lycoming County men had enlisted before the adoption of the draft law, the county's first quota was considerably reduced.
The first contingent of draftees left Williamsport for Camp Meade, Maryland, September 19, 1917, more than five months after America's entry into the World War. Several months be- fore, members of the National Guard and volunteers had left for service. Each group called to camp was given a splendid send- off by thousands of people gathered at the railroad stations. The Repasz Band, for many years considered one of the best brass bands in the country, was mustered into service as a unit. Re- named the Marine Band, it toured the county, appearing in re- cruiting drives and Liberty Loan campaigns. A total of 3,170 men from Lycoming County rendered military service during the war. Of this number 1,296 were enlistments-207 in the navy and 1,089 in various branches of the army. A total of 1,874 were inducted into service under the selective draft law, 900 from Williamsport and 974 from the county outside of the city. Casualties among Lycoming County men totaled 311.
The passage of the Selective Service Act solved the prob- lem of supplying men to the army, but the problem of main- taining our own army and those of our allies became quite
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serious. As greater numbers of men from all walks of life were drawn into the armed forces, while orders for war materials poured into the factories of the county, hundreds of women took places vacated by men. Despite the entrance of women into industry, a grave labor shortage occurred. So serious did the shortage become during the latter period of the war that em- ployers joined in a public appeal to workers to refrain from changing their places of employment.
Many articles necessary to the conduct of the war were manufactured in Lycoming County factories. Shells, shell cases, field desks, army shoes, shirts and uniforms, powder bags, and equipment for chemical and dyestuff manufacture were among the county's wartime products. Of importance in the protection of shipping were mine nets and mine cables manufactured by the Williamsport Wire Rope Company.
CONSERVATION MEASURES
In addition to the task of feeding an American army on foreign soil there was the responsibility of supplying food to the armies and civil populations of our Allies. Before the termi- nation of the war the capacity of both farm and factory was taxed to the utmost. More than four million men had been taken from the industries and farms of the United States to serve in various military activities. The necessity of conserving food, fuel, and other war supplies became so great that a nation-wide campaign to avoid waste and duplication was inaugurated. Food and fuel were the articles most in need. In order to conserve the supply of these, a Food Administrator was appointed in each county. Certain days were set aside each week when the people were urged to abstain from using certain kinds of food and cer- tain types of fuel.
There came into existence "meatless days," "wheatless days," and "gasoline-less days." To avoid a serious curtailment
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of factory production, a national campaign was conducted to induce householders not to maintain temperatures in their homes above 65º Fahrenheit and to avoid wasteful use of electricity, gas, and kerosene. Restrictions were placed upon the use of elec- tricity for window display lighting. Prices of food, fuel, cloth- ing, shelter and other commodities skyrocketed. During the last months of the war, sugar, wheat and other essential foods could be obtained only in rationed quantities. Retail food merchants were compelled to keep strict account of the names and addresses of purchasers and the amount of sugar obtained. In the last month of the war, the use of sugar was restricted to three pounds per person per month and the allowance to hotels and restau- rants was three pounds for each ninety meals served. Because wheat was a basic product, a mandatory regulation provided that each purchaser of white flour must buy an equal quantity of grain cereal substitute. Food substitutes came into more or less general use. Chicory was used for coffee, oleomargarine for butter, and vegetable shortening for lard, to mention but a few. To discourage profiteering and to insure a just price to both re- tailer and consumer, a fair price list was issued weekly by the food administrator. Its purpose was to give information con- cerning fair prices, and at the same time to assure a just profit to the handlers. Soon after the signing of the Armistice on No- vember 11, 1918, restrictions on the sale of food and fuel were somewhat relaxed, but not until months after the end of the war did conditions approach normalcy. Local administrators were invested with authority to enforce rules and regulations pertaining to the conservation of food and fuel, but most of them were voluntary. However, behind the regulations was a strong public opinion, backed by the newspapers and churches.
WAR FUNDS
The raising of money to finance the war was a major task. In addition to unprecedented taxes on income and special sales
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taxes on luxuries and many necessities, the Federal Government was forced to raise billions of dollars by the sale of "Liberty Bonds." Every cross-roads hamlet, village and town, every ward in the city, was visited by volunteer speakers asking the people to purchase these bonds. Through the efforts of the Sal- vation Army, the American Red Cross, the Young Men's Chris- tian Association, Knights of Columbus, and many other local organizations, thousands of dollars were raised in Lycoming County. The county subscribed its quota of bonds and thrift stamps, and also contributed generously to funds raised by the various organizations. Thrift stamps priced as low as 25 cents each were sold to pupils in the county schools. Bankers, busi- ness-men, and manufacturers, cooperated by assisting their em- ployees to purchase Liberty Bonds on the installment plan.
INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC
During the World War, an influenza epidemic swept the county, taxing local medical facilities to the limit. The simi- larity of this disease to the common grippe caused many persons to disregard preventive measures until the malady had taken a foothold. At the height of the epidemic, health authorities esti- mated that in Williamsport alone there were one thousand cases of influenza, and in the county a thousand more. Most of the preliminary measures adopted by city and county health boards had little effect on the spread of the epidemic. On October 4, 1918, the Williamsport Health Board, composed of the Mayor and City Council, issued an order closing all schools, churches, clubs, pool rooms, bowling alleys, public libraries, and theatres, and prohibiting all public meetings either indoors or out. Since most medical men and health officials were of the opinion that the disease was spread by close association in crowds or gather- ings, the ban against public meetings was extended and schools and churches were not permitted to reopen for several weeks. The epidemic struck with such great force that factories manufac-
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turing munitions and other war supplies were crippled. The disease seemed to be particularly severe among apparently healthy and robust persons. It was many months before the epidemic had spent its force, and in almost every home some member of the family was stricken.
POST-WAR PERIOD
For some time after the signing of the Armistice, industry and agriculture were carried along by the war momentum. A number of contracts for war materials held by county manu- facturers did not expire with the end of the war, but, in several instances, continued to keep factories busy for many months. The fulfillment of these contracts and the return of soldiers from overseas soon created a severe unemployment problem. By 1921 the situation had become so acute that a State employment office was established in Williamsport. Beginning in the summer of 1922, business improved and unemployment was reduced.
During the twenties the county embarked upon a period of industrial expansion paralleled only by the lumber boom of fifty years before. This upswing surpassed even that of the war period. Everywhere in the county additions were being made in plants and equipment. Real estate values soared to new levels. In Williamsport alone, approximately $2,000,000 in building permits were issued in one year, and the county experienced the greatest building boom of its history. In 1924 and 1925 more than a thousand new homes were erected. Surplus savings ac- counts in the banks of the county reached a total in 1924 higher than at any time since 1900. Christmas savings accounts were exceedingly popular. The banks of Williamsport paid out more than $600,000 in these accounts in 1924. During this period the motor car completed its conquest of the horse and buggy as a means of transportation. Automobile dealers reported the sale of approximately four thousand trucks in 1924 at an esti- mated cost, including maintenance for the year, of more than
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$4,000,000. Many of the trucks were powered by motors made in the county.
This era of prosperity was marked with a movement to- ward friendlier relations between employer and employee. In- surance and pension systems were inaugurated. A number of industrial concerns installed cafeterias in their plants, organized bands or orchestras, and equipped athletic fields. High wages and an easy flow of money brought many improvements not only in the industrial but also in the social and educational structure of the county. Public camps, playgrounds, and amuse- ment places were established and immediately received public favor.
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