USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > The history of Erie County, Pennsylvania, from its first settlement > Part 38
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The St. Vincent Hospital was erected in 1875-76 ; a hand- some four story brick structure well fitted for hospital pur- poses. It is under the care of the Sisters of St. Joseph, be- ing presided over by Sister Ambrosia with a large corps of well-trained nurses. It is one of the most popular institutions of its kind in this region and is on the corner of Twenty- sixth and Sassafras streets.
Home of the Friendless .- This popular and well-established institution, first occupied (Nov. 2, 1871) the "Reed home- stead," which was on the southeast corner of State Street and
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South Park Row, having been tendered its use by Gen. C. M. Reed. The next year it was removed to the Marine Hospital, now the Soldiers' Home. The managers authorized them to occupy it until the State authorities should direct its use for other purposes. In November, 1875, the Home was removed to its permanent quarters, the Hon. M. B. Lowry having do- nated the fine property on the corner of Twenty-Second and Sassafras streets, In 1875 the new brick building was com- pleted through much effort to collect funds on the part of its friends. Hon. W. L. Scott made a donation to the institution on Christmas, 1880, of $5,000. Mr. P. Metcalf presented a lot of fifty feet added to the south side. Ten years from its com- mencement it had a convenient building large enough to ac- commodate eighty persons, and a property worth $18,000. In 1884 Mr. Dunning's property adjoining on Twenty-Third Street was purchased for $5,000 for an old people's home, an improvement which had been contemplated from the first. A large addition was made on Twenty-Third Street. Thousands of children have been sheltered and cared for, and the ladies of the Protestant churches feel richly rewarded in their labor of love. Mrs. I. B. Gara, Miss Kate Mason, and Miss Sarah Reed have successively held the office of President.
The Old Ladies' Home, under the Home of the Friendless board of managers, commenced in 1886 by the purchase of the " Dunning " place, has proved a very acceptable institution, and will probably soon be enlarged.
St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum is in charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Also in charge of the same Sisters is the Old Folks' Home corner of Twenty-sixth and Ash streets.
A Charity Society was organized in 1881, mainly through the efforts of Mr. W. L. Scott. J. F. Downing, President ; W. S. Brown, Secretary and Treasurer. Objects: To bring into har- monious cooperation with one another and with the overseers of the poor, the various churches, charitable agencies, and in- dividuals in the city, and thus, among other things, to check the evils of the overlapping of relief ; to obtain from the people charities, suitable relief for deserving cases ; to provide visitors, who shall personally attend cases needing counsel and help, and to procure work for poor persons who are capable of being
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wholly or partly self-supporting ; to assist from its own funds, as far as possible, all suitable cases for which assistance cannot be obtained from other sources ; to repress mendacity by the above means and by the prosecution of imposters ; to promote the general welfare of the poor by social and sanitary reforms, and by the inculcation of habits of providence and self- dependence. This society was very useful, particularly in 1891-92 when the diphtheria prevailed, but has been super- seded by the Bureau of Charities, which was incorporated in 1892. The applicants were Harriet V. Gridley, Ella R. Griffith, Filinda W. Walker, Katharine Clark, Minnie Dun- ning, Emma J. Carroll, Charlotte M. Brevillier. The names of those chosen to act as an advisory board were as follow : Hon. Matthew Griswold, Hon. J. F. Downiug, Hon. William A. Galbraith, Rev. John Huske, Rev. Solon Cobb, Rev. H. C. Hall, Hon. Walter Scott, and Messrs. Frederick Brevillier, Charles Jarecki, J. H. Davie, William S. Brown, F. A. Bliley, C. P. Cody, Dr. John Doll and Veterinary Surgeon George W. Bell.
The membership fee was placed at $1 for both ladies aud gentlemen.
Commissioner Riblet stated that the board had much to be thankful for ou account of the Bureau of Charities, a new or- ganization, which is working in unisou with the Commis- sioners and furnishes the board regularly with a list of persons who have received aid from it. The Commissioners in returu furnish the bureau with a similar list.
The total amount expended by the Commissioners during October for groceries and fuel was $299.70 against $243.60 for the same period last year. At present the board is aiding 107 families, an increase of 26. In September of this year, $285.64 was the amount expended in their relief. Every precaution is taken that only worthy persons receive assistance.
The total poor expense last year amounted to $37,151.34, and out of the appropriation $5,450 remained in the treasury at the beginning of the present year. The custom has been to carry over about this amount from year to year, but if 1893 keeps pace with former years with a natural increase in the expense account of $2,000, which it bids fair to do, there will not be
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much of the $34,000 appropriation made for this year left in the treasury next spring. The amount remaining in the treasury at the present time is $15,000.
Mr. Robertson Wilcox, of Girard, bequeathed $5,000 to a public library in that borough. The amount is to be kept as a reserve fund, and used for the purchase of books and period- icals from year to year. The citizens are erecting the library building, and will meet the running expenses. It will be of brick and two stories high. Nearly $2,000 has already been subscribed. The following persons were selected as incorpo- rators, whose. names will appear upon the charter : Mrs. C. F. Rockwell, W. C. Culbertson, A. M. Clark, Mrs. R. S. Bat- tles, A. R. Smith, S. S. Ely, Mrs. U. P. Rossiter, and J. C. Murphy. Five directors to serve for the ensuing year were elected, viz .: Frank May, C. F. Rockwell, R. S. Battles, Geo. W. Kibler, and O. D. Van Camp. The directors will select a building committee, president, secretary, etc., and have gen- eral supervision of the affairs of the association.
The cornerstone of the Wilcox Library was laid the 17th of October. After the singing of "America" by the public school children, prayer was offered by Rev. C. D. Shipman, and appropriate remarks were made by Dr. O. Logan. Mrs. C. F. Rockwell read a list of the contents of the box to be de- posited under the stone. A contractor of Greenville has charge and good progress may be expected.
Mr. Wilcox contributed largely to the M. E. church of Girard, in which he was a trustee. He had a good common school education and much business capacity, and largely in- vested in real estate in Erie and Chicago. The Wilcox House in Erie was owned by him. He was born in New London, Conn., in 1811, but came to Girard about 1834, and did a large business working at his trade, which was coopering.
Mr. Wilcox also donated $10,000 for an annex to Allegheny College. The foundation is nearly complete, and, if the work goes on without interruption, the building may be ready for occupancy by the opening of the winter term.
The funds for the building were obtained partly by bequest and partly by subscription. Mr. Robertson Wilcox, formerly of Girard, Pa., left the sum of $5,000 to the college for this
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purpose, and in honor of him the building will be known as the Wilcox Hall of Science. It is to be devoted entirely to the departments of physics and chemistry, and is being built on a plan especially chosen for the purpose. It will be 40x61 feet on the ground floor, and two to four stories in height. The basement will contain shops ; on the other floors are lab- oratories, recitation rooms, and a lecture room, seated like a medical lecture room, so that every student can look down upon the experiment table. This will seat about one hundred students. In all there are to be twelve rooms above the base- ment, and the cost will be between $10,000 and $12,000.
Would that many wealthy citizens would imitate his noble example !
John Weis, a highly respected citizen of West Millcreek, died in 1892, leaving an estate estimated at from $50,000 to $75,000. By his will he provides that a library be built and furnished within the boundaries of Fairview township, or Mckean or in West Millcreek. The ground is to be purchased and library opened as soon as possible. The best of books must be provided. Like many of his generation, he felt the absence of an early education, and it was his aim to do all in his power for the education of the young. After the expenses connected with the library are met, the trustees were directed to use the income to assist young people in literary and scien- tific pursuits. No sum to be paid greater than $100 per year for each person. His father, Jacob Weis, was a typical representa- tive of the Pennsylvania German, and came to Erie from Lan- caster about 1797, with the first settlers. First he resided at West Millcreek, but afterwards purchased the Moses Barnet farm, in Fairview township. The site thought the most de- sirable for the Weis library is in the southern corner of Mill- creek, a very healthful as well as beautiful locality. It was undoubtedly the intention of the testator to locate it there. Attorney Henry Riblet was his counsel and near friend. His mother was Elizabeth (Ebersole) Weis, and his sister, Mrs. Hershey, alone survives. John Weis was born January 7, 1819.
In 1888 the Erie Herald Publishing Company issued an il- lustrated, choice paper, "City of Erie, Pennsylvania," and among other items said Erie never had a hurricane, a cyclone,
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an earthquake or a flood. We trust the first two calamities never may visit us.
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The Flood of May 15-18, 1893 .- Mill Creek was swollen and raging from the constant and heavy rains of the previous few days. A boy thirteen years of age, Jacob Heberla, was drowned on the 16th, near Twenty-fourth and State streets' while attempting to grapple some floating wood. The force of the powerful current drew him into the stream before he real- ized his danger or could release his hold. A rope was thrown him, but he disappeared at Twenty-third Street culvert, and his body was not found for some days. His recently widowed mother had also lately lost a child by diphtheria, making a grievous affliction. At midnight many women, children, and some invalids were removed to places of safety in a pouring rain. Buildings were picked up, swung around, and carried down stream, often blocking the way. In Erie, French and Holland streets were receptacles for overflow waters. Lakes, pools, and canals were found in unheard of places, and nu- merous wet cellars and ruined foundations were the result. Sewers at Eighth and Poplar, Eighteenth and Cherry, Tenth and State, Eighteenth and Poplar, were greatly damaged. The Hook and Ladder Company was at E. Eighteenth Street and at Twenty-sixth succeeded in breaking up a jam after midnight. A skating rink on Tenth Street, being an immense structure, was turned about and twisted in an extraordinary manner. Watson's Paper Mill, City Iron Works, Jarecki's and Stearns' were closed for repairs for some days, or iso- lated by the water and unapproachable, though boats and rafts were useful and in demand. Some rowed over their hitherto beautiful gardens, and many used for entrance and exit second-story windows. Much soil was plowed, and car- ried down by the rush of waters. Railroad travel was in- terrupted for days, and the electric car tracks impeded. Bridges and abutments in Glenwood Park disappeared at a great loss. Garrison, Trout, and Brandy Runs, and Elk Creek, Gingrich, and Culbertson dams were partly carried away. Through the county the loss was great at Northeast, Waterford, Wellsburg, Albion, Girard, Lockport, and Fair- view. Fortunately there was no loss of life to record, except-
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ing in one case. Many animals, however, perished. The loss of property to the county and city taxpayers, to individuals, for foundations, cave-ins, interruptions in business, railroad companies, etc., was unparalleled.
About 1878 Mr. Jas. Dodsworth and a daughter fifteen years of age, living in a cottage on Eighth Street, were with the house carried down Mill Creek during the night, and the bodies not found until some days after. The storm and overflow were of very short duration, and the catastrophe scarcely had wit- nesses. Union City, June 5, 1892, suffered by the flood which was so disastrous to Oil City and Titusville. The citizens of Erie made a collection of $6,229.77, $3,736.87 being donated to Titusville and $2,492.90 to Oil City. At Oil City 105 houses were destroyed and many damaged. Titusville and Oil City, according to figures, lost 129 persons in the fiery deluge. It is said the loss to Erie was equal excepting the loss by fire.
The greatest rainfall recorded in the history of Erie com- menced on the night of the 15th of May 1893, and ended at about 6 a. m. on the 18th, 6.33 inches of rain having fallen during that period-about fifty-five hours. During the flood, 4.71 inches of rain fell in twenty-four hours. However, two inches of rain fell in Erie in two hours, viz .: from 7:40 to 9:40 a. m., August 25, 1873.
SECTION VI.
Water Commissioners-Hon. W. L. Scott-Palatial Residences- The Wadena-Ore Docks-Trestle-Metric Metal Co .- Railroads- County Roads- Freight Report - Banks --- Disasters - Storage - Homeopathic Hospital-A Synopsis-World's Fair Awards.
THE Board of Water Commissioners realize the importance of bettering the supply of drinking water which is used by the citizens of Erie, and, as true servants of the public, are doing the best they can to obtain it. An intercepting sewer from the vicinity of the Villa Maria Academy to the water front and thence east to the neighborhood of the Soldiers'
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Home property at a cost of less than $100,000, was proposed as a measure of immediate relief. A vote for increase of debt for defraying the expense of constructing such a sewer re- sulted as follows : 1,833 in its favor, and 2,194 against ; ma- jority opposed, 361. Judging from this vote (and it was the second upon the subject) the people are not thoroughly aroused to its importance. Notwithstanding the health officer and physicians have recommended to boil the city water used for drinking purposes. Several citizens have written ably upon the subject, and we do not doubt but that a plan will be de- vised ere long by which the difficulty will be corrected. May it shortly prove an exception to the poet's lines,
"'Twixt truth and error, there is this difference known, Error is fruitful, truth is only one."
FUNERAL OF WILLIAM L. SCOTT.
From the Evening Herald.
Mayor C. S. Clarke issued the following proclamation :
"The death of. Hon. William L. Scott, a former mayor of this city, has occasioned universal sorrow in the community, and in view of his eminent services as an official, citizen, and business man, it is fitting that all due honor should be paid to his memory.
"Therefore I, Charles S. Clarke, mayor, request that all un- necessary business be suspended in this city from three to six o'clock on Thursday, September 24, the day of the funeral, in order that all may have an opportunity to participate in the burial services.
"Given under my hand and the seal of the city of Erie this twenty-third day of September, A. D. 1891.
"CHARLES S. CLARKE, Mayor."
The Rev. John Huske and Rev. William Price conducted the funeral services of the Episcopal church. A quartet composed of Mrs. F. W. Britton, of Cleveland, Mrs. Eggleston, Messrs. Little and Barnhurst, sang "Nearer My God to Thee."
The honorary pall-bearers were ex-President Grover Cleve- land, Gov. Robert E. Pattison, Mr. George B. Roberts, Mr. Marvin Hughlett, Mr. E. S. Chapin, Mr. John W. Sterling, Col. Daniel Lamont, Gen. McClelland, Mr. James McCrea,
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Mr. Robert Neilson, Capt. John P. Green, Mr. Joseph Wood, Mr. Charles Watts, Mr. J. Twing Brooks, Mr. J. M. Kimball, Capt. Orris A. Browne, Mr. John B. Larkin, Mr. F. F. Marshall, Hon. G. A. Allen, Maj. J. W. Reynolds, Hon. F. F. Adams, Mr. A. R. Lee, Mr. John W. Little, Mr. John Clen- ens, Hon. E. Camphausen, Hon. C. M. Reed, Col. J. Ross Thompson, Maj. John W. Walker, Hon. F. A. Mizener, Mr. John R. Saltsman, Mr. C. F. Allis, and Mr. Robert J. Salts- man.
The active pall-bearers were Capt. J. S. Richards, Mr. Henry Shannon, Mr. W. S. Brown, Mr. L. M. Little, Mr. M. H. Taylor, Hon. Joseph McCarter, Mr. W. Brewster, and Mr. F. B. Whipple.
Col. J. Ross Thompson addressed the city councils after reso- lutions of respect had been passed for the loss of "Erie's fore- most citizen."
The floral tributes were the finest ever seen in this section of the country and were mostly furnished by Thorley, of New York, who sent his representatives here to look after the flowers.
The emblems which came from Thorley's are as follows :
A four-foot floral mat composed of lilies of the valley, pink roses, white roses, maiden hair ferns with a large white rib- bon bow, bearing the card, " From the surviving members of the firm." The casket cross of orchids and lilies of the val- ley with a lavender knot bearing the name of Mr. John S. Richards. Flat bunch of American beauties with a bow knot of white ribbon from Mr. John E. Payne. A large crescent and wreath of lilies of the valley, la France roses and Scotch heather, tied with lavender ribbon from the Second National Bank.
Five Sago palms and violets tied with lavender ribbon from Hon. Joseph McCarter. A cross from Mr. and Mrs. Geylan, of Philadelphia. Large wreath of white roses from Maj. J. W. Walker. Twelve loose bunches of flowers from Messrs. E. S. Chapin, J. W. Sterling and others of New York.
Those from the Erie florists were a large sheaf of wheat with a ribbon bearing in gilt letters the legend : "Erie Dem- ocratic Society, We have lost the leader of Our County." A
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pillow from W. F. and F. M. Hayes, a crescent of white pinks and Marechal Niel roses from Mr. F. F. Marshall, a pair of palm leaves and bunch of white roses from Dr. and Mrs. C. U. Gravatt, U. S. N., a wreath from Mr. H. C. Shannon, an anchor from the trestle employees, a lyre from the Erie Maennerchor, a harp from the Erie Liedertafel, a wreath from the Mueller Battery, afterwards known as Battery B.
The Philadelphia & Erie Express brought the casket in which Hon. William L. Scott's remains will repose. The coffin, which is from an original design, required the united efforts of the entire force of workmen of the undertaker to complete it in twelve hours. In the construction of it seventy- six pounds of solid silver were used, forty yards of broadcloth, about thirty pounds of silk, and ten pounds of eiderdown. The casket, which is made of Florida red cedar, has straight sides, and heavy fluted columns at the corners. The entire casket, columns, molding, and all, is covered with the heaviest grade of fine black broadcloth, tightly stretched. Along the entire length of each side extend heavy bars of solid oxydized silver. Each one of these bars contains 28} pounds of pure coin silver. At each end are shorter bars of the same material and design, each one weighing 9} pounds. The plate on top, which is also of solid silver, is handsomely engraved with the inscription :
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Born July 2, 1828. WILLIAM L. SCOTT. Died September 19, 1891.
The casket is lined throughout with Bengaline silk. This material is draped with what is known to the professional undertaker as "artistic carelessness." The filling in and all the upholstering is eiderdown.
Thousands of people who followed the remains of Erie's distinguished citizen to their last resting place looked for the first time with wonder upon the imposing edifice he had built for himself and family for their last sleep. . The mausoleum, covering 1,000 square feet, rises majestic-
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ally and stands fifty feet high. The beautiful Gothic structure has the form of a Greek cross and was en- tered from the east. The granite approaches from the east terminate in a portico which is supported by polished pil- lars. The ashlar faced Hallowell granite walls, supported by massive buttresses at the corners, rise to the height of seven- teen feet. The wings are finished in Gallic panels. The ex- terior above the buttresses shows a rise of receding granite slabs, one above another till they reach the dome of the mausoleum, This dome is of most exquisite design and on each side has two Gothic niches or windows with polished columns. The dome is in pyramidal shape, terminating in a purely-executed cross-shaped finial. The beautiful polished columns, 22 in number, about the base and at the top of the structure, with their composite capitals in darker granite than the main structure, give the edifice a grandeur that is strik- ing. At the entrance of the rotunda are two standard solid bronze doors. The rotunda, which is eleven feet square, has arranged on the right and left the catacombs, 24 in num- ber, At the west side over the altar there is an apsis of colored designs, and through these a soft light streams down upon the rotunda, Light also admitted from the dome or ventilator shows with fine effect the geometrical patterned marble floor, The walls and wainscot in Florentine, French, African, and native marble are strangely beautiful and artistic.
Erie has palatial residences which merit particular descrip- tion, as those of Mrs. C. H. Strong, H. F. Watson, M. H. Taylor, H. Shenk, and more than twenty others. Its many business houses and societies must also be passed by for want of space.
The pleasure yacht Wadena of Cleveland called for a day at' Erie, having crossed from Port Colborne on account of thick and heavy weather. The Welland was passed on November 21, 1892, During an absence of over a year the Wadena made a voyage of over 25,000 miles. After a winter spent in the Mediterranean, the Wadena left for the North Sea. While lying outside of Hammerfest harbor the party, at midnight on July 24, saw the setting sun skirt the horizon and begin to rise again. North Cape, the farthest point to the north, was
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reached on the following day, and after a visit to the Holland fiord, with its famous black ice, 180 years old, Mr. Wade and his guests turned southward again, skirting Europe, and reaching Gibraltar on September 6. Returning across the Atlantic, Charleston, S. C., was the first United States port touched. This was on October 12, and on the 18th the yacht arrived at Brooklyn. A week later she left for Cleveland. The trip was leisurely taken, stops being made at Halifax, Port Mulgrave, and Quebec-the latter port being reached on October 30. Other stops, generally over night, were made at Charlotte, Valley Field, Cornwall, Lachine, Farran's Point, Morrisburg, and Odgensburg, the yacht being pontooned through the St. Lawrence canals. At Oswego, Fairhaven, and St Catherines, calls were made. The Wadena, the property of Com. Wade, of the Cleveland Yachting Club, is about the size of the pleasure yacht Mystic of this port.
The Pittsburg Docks in Erie Harbor .- No. 1, the middle dock of the group, so called because first built, is 1,050 feet long, 190 feet wide, and was built in 1864 ; much of it has since been rebuilt, and the channel on each side deepened and widened.
No. 2 is the west dock, and second built (1868), with trestle and shutes to load soft coal. This practice was abandoned in 1878, trestle and shute taken away, dock widened and ex- tended 500 feet, making its length 1,500 feet, and the width 150 feet. This was in 1882.
No. 3 is the shore dock, running between Nos. 1 and 4, and is 550 feet long by 250 wide, and was built in 1870. This has also been rebuilt, and the channel and basin dredged and deepened.
No. 4, or what is called the Carnegie dock, was built in 1870 and 1871 ; it is 1,100 feet long, and 350 feet wide. This, how- ever, is but one half the size which the Pennsylvania Com- pany intend to make this dock, as the original plan called for 1,100 feet by 741 feet, and when there is a demand for the other half it probably will be built.
Heavy Ore Shipments .- (1892)-" The work of shipping ore from the Carnegie docks in this city, which was almost sus- pended during the long strikes of the summer at the Carnegie
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mills, has been resumed. The daily shipments are about 100 cars. Sometimes it is out of the question to get cars, and the shipments are then retarded. The force of men at work on the Carnegie docks is about eighty, and they will have work all winter, something rather unusual at the ore docks. The shipments from the Erie & Pittsburg docks are slow, and do not run over eight or ten cars a day. There are almost a million tons of ore on both docks at the present time, but it is the intention of the Carnegies to get their ore all off the docks before the opening of navigation. The new donkey hoists on the docks are a great assistance in the handling of ore, and make the work comparatively light.
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