USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Braddock > The unwritten history of Braddock's Field (Pennsylvania) > Part 15
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. THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
Cleveland "Plain Dealer". He was also connected with the Pittsburgh "Christian Advocate and the old "Alleghanian", and later with the "Record" of the East End, Pittsburgh. He was a brilliant member of the old school of newspapers writers.
Following the celebration of Independence Day of 1884, July 5th, to be exact, the "News Net" made its appearance on the streets of Brad- dock. It was printed as a weekly paper, a five-column folio, by Thomas Lawry, at Robinson street and Bell avenue, North Braddock. Mr. Lawry is now an attorney, and resides in Rankin. For two and a half years the "News Net" gathered every happening of local interest in the upper and lower sections of the town, removing to Franklin street, between Anderson and Robinson streets, the following year.
In January, 1886, Mr. Lawry, who had left a lucrative position at the Edgar Thomson Steel Works converting mills, to try his hand at what the layman calls "journalism", decided to change the name of his youngster while it was yet young, to the "Braddock Journal". As such it grew out of its swaddling clothes until the first of the following year, when the name was again changed to that of the "Braddock Daily Journal." The "Daily Journal" flourished until September, 1887, when Mr. Lawry sold the paper to Harry L. Eisenbeis, a son of Col. Eisenbeis, already referred to as the founder of the Braddock "Times" of 1877, and Joseph L. Campbell, Sr., later justice of the peace in North Braddock for several terms. Mr. Campbell had been for a year or so advertising mana- ger and circulation-maker combined, with the paper on Franklin street.
The "Braddock Journal" again changed its name, in deference to Harry L. Eisenbeis' sentimental tribute to his father, by calling their paper the "Evening Times". The location was changed from Franklin street, North Braddock, to 920 Ninth street, Braddock, the old homestead of Peter Seewald and his family, between the Seewald Building at Ninth street and Braddock avenue, and the later Seewald home at Ninth street and Wood alley, now used as a club-house.
On the second floor of the building occupied by the "Evening Times", in that year, 1887, was published a musical periodical, the "Musical Mirror," by William H. Large, which had moved there about a year before, from Braddock avenue between Tenth and Eleventh streets, after having been established by Mr. Large late in 1885.
The "Evening Times" was published for several months on Ninth street, when its new owners became financially discouraged, and asked the former owner of the "Daily Journal" to take the property off their
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THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
hands, which condition of relief he extended. After a short period, Mr. Campbell induced William H. Large to try his hand at daily journalism, and the paper moved from its location on Ninth street, to a one-story frame building owned by Justice Louis F. Holtzman, at 960 Braddock avenue, adjoining the old office quarters of Justice Holtzman, and only several yards from the former office of the Braddock "Times" founded in 1877. The "Evening Times" was printed there almost a year, Mr. Large in the meantime having suspended the publication of the "Musical Mirror", and his death brought another change in the ownership of the paper.
For a second time Mr. Lawry was called into executive council, and he took over the plant and again operated it, but retained its name, the "Evening Times". The publishing office was taken from Braddock avenue near Tenth street, to a frame building at 444 Library street, near the Pennsylvania Railroad, owned by the late Edward Lawrence. There it was printed with Mr. Lawry as its owner, for a year or two, the later months of its existence overlapping the first two or three months of the publication of the Braddock "Daily News" by Mr. Mills and Ellsworth Calderwood.
The printing "furniture", type, and presses, of the "Evening Times" were acquired by the "Daily News" in 1889, and the latter newspaper become the only daily newspaper printed in Braddock until January 31, 1893, when the Braddock "Evening Herald" made its appearance. George K. Anderson, a son of a pioneer oil operator of the Franklin and Oil City regions of the early oil days, came from his home in Franklin, Pa., and established the new paper. The writer, who began his printing and news- paper career on Mr. Lawry's "News Net", following its fortunes through the various changes as "Journal", "Daily Journal", "Evening Times" and the "Daily News", gave the name to Mr. Anderson's venture on the storm- tossed sea of Braddock newspaperdom, and became its city editor for the first 16 months of its life, when located in the Stokes Building at 731 Braddock avenue.
There was a change in the ownership of the paper about that time, May, 1894, and while Mr. Anderson remained with the paper for several months as manager, Frank C. Lowing was editor for some 10 months, with C. A. Stokes as president of the publishing firm, which was composed of a number of Braddock business men as stockholders. George W. Penn who came to Braddock from Ohio in 1895, following Mr. Lowing in charge of the news work on the paper, and Elmore E. Greeg, then residing in Brad- dock, the same year took charge of the "Herald", and remained at the
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THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
head of affairs until March, 1898, when he severed his connection. C. A. Stokes again took charge of the plant until the spring of 1899, when Arthur F. Emmons became manager for a couple of months, retiring June 24, 1899.
In August of the same year, Joel H. Dietrich, a native of Shenan- doah, Pa., and John L. Sechlar, the latter a hotel owner of South Fork, Pa., bought the "Evening Herald" from its firm of business men, and these brought the paper to a high state of efficiency, Mr. Dietrich being a news- paperman of ability and experience, a co-worker in his earlier years with the late Morgan E. Gable, who at the time of his demise last fall, was directing editor of the "Gazette Times", and had been almost from the inception of the old "Pittsburgh Times" owned by the late Christopher L. Magee, its managing editor, and until the merger with the old "Commer- cial Gazette."
The "Evening Herald", placed on a firm foundation by Messrs. Dietrich & Sechlar, was bought in June, 1903, by Addison L. Petty, now an attorney, residing in Swissvale, and his brother, Joseph Dawson Petty, now of Fishkill, N. Y., connected with New York newspapers, in recent years. The Petty brothers, before embarking in their newspaper canoe in Braddock, had been the owners and editors of the Mckeesport "Morning Herald" for a couple of years. In April, 1906, the "Evening Herald", which had changed its location from 731 Braddock avenue when bought by the Petty brothers, to 520 Braddock avenue, opposite the Third ward school building, was merged with the Braddock "Daily News", A. L. Petty leaving for Mexico that year, but retaining his interest, as did his brother, Joseph D., in the "News-Herald" as the merged papers became known. In May, 1907, the firm name became the "News-Herald Publish- ing Co.", and Melville Clyde Kelly took active charge of the merged papers.
Daniel J. McCarthy, successor to Charles Mills in the ownership of the Braddock "Daily News", left newspaper work for politics in 1896, and the paper became the property of Frank E. Louis, who published it until April 1st, 1899, when Messrs. John C. Loughead and Edward E. Lantz bought the paper from Mr. Louis. Mr. Loughead came to Brad- dock from Jeannette in the fall of 1893, to assume the foremanship of the composing room of the "Evening Herald", soon after its founding. The autumn of the following year, Mr. Loughead purchased a half interest from Winslow Nicholls in the Eureka Printing Co., a job printing office at 717 Braddock avenue. The following spring, 1895, the publication of a weekly newspaper, the "Weekly Observer", was begun, and the same summer, Mr. Nicholls retired from the business and Mr. Loughead became the sole
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THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
owner of the printing company and the "Observer".
The "Observer" and the "Daily News" became consolidated through the partnership of Mr. Loughead and Mr. Lantz and a few months after acquiring possession of the "Daily News", Mr. Lantz retired from the business, and the publication of the "Observer" was discontinued. On April 1st, 1900, Samuel T. Shaw of Greensburg, a brother-in-law of Mr. Loughead, bought a half interest in the "Daily News", and assumed the position of business manager. Early in 1902, Mr. Shaw sold his interest in the paper to Mr. Loughead.
During the next several years, the "Daily News" forged to the front, and again assumed its place in Braddock newspaperdom, which position it had lost for a time. In January, 1904, one of the latest model linotype, or type-setting machines of the Mergenthaler invention, the first of its kind in the lower Monongahela valley, was installed. The addition of this wonderful machine gave the "Daily News" superior facilities. On May 1st, 1905, Mr. Loughead sold the "Daily News" to L. F. Ross of Mc- Keesport, then connected with the Mckeesport "Evening Times", but the following August, Mr. Ross became financially involved to such an extent that Mr. Loughead was compelled to take the plant over again, with a large indebtedness accumulated during Mr. Ross' brief ownership.
A few days later, Mr. Loughead leased the plant of the "Daily News" to the present congressman from the Thirtieth Congressional District, Melville Clyde Kelly, and Winslow Nicholls. May 1st, 1906, Messrs. Kelly and Nicholls bought the "Daily News" plant outright, and Mr. Loughead returned to Jeannette to assume the editorship of the Jeannette weekly "Dispatch", which position he held with a brief interval, until recently, when he became editor of the Greensburg morning "Review".
About the period mentioned, while the "Evening Herald" and the "Daily News" were both flourishing under separate managements, the third daily newspaper made its appearance in Braddock, the only time in Braddock's history that such a condition existed, and the only time that it is likely such a condition were possible in Braddock's newspaper field. The new daily was the Braddock "Evening Journal", established on Oc- tober 24th, 1905, by James Leland Quinn, in what is now the Leighton Building, at John street and Maple way. With Mr. Quinn was associated his brother-in-law, Charles F. Kramer. The daily "Journal" continued its existence until June, 1908, when the daily was discontinued, and the week- ly "Journal" took its place, which is still published by Messrs. Quinn and Kramer, the publication office being on Eighth street, near Talbot avenue.
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THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
In December, 1902, the same year that Mr. Loughead acquired full ownership, following the retirement from the paper of Samuel T. Shaw, Melville Clyde Kelly took charge of the news department of the "Daily News". He remained with the paper until the late summer of 1904, and in September of that year established the Braddock "Leader", a weekly paper, with its plant at 444 Library street, the old office of the "Evening Times", published many years before by Thomas Lawry. In September, 1905, Mr. Kelly bought the "Daily News" plant, and merged it with the "Leader", the office being at 317 Seventh street, the former home of the "Daily News".
As already told, the "Evening Herald" then owned by Messrs. Addison, L., and Joseph D. Petty, and the "Daily News", were consoli- dated in April, 1906, under the firm name of the "Braddock Daily News Publishing Co., Incorporated, as publishers, the plant of the merged papers being at 520 Braddock avenue. Mr. Kelly has been president of the com- pany since the merger in 1906, and has continued also as its editorial. manager since that time, even during the period that he served the Tenth Assembly District of Pennsylvania, at Harrisburg, from January 1911, to January, 1913, and also during his first term in Congress as a member from the Thirtieth district, from March, 1913, to March, 1915.
The various weekly and daily newspapers of Braddock, from 1876 down to the present day, have all done a goodly share in the upbuilding of the community, and have given freely, valuable space in their columns, as do practically all newspapers, to further not only the public welfare, but to aid in semi-private enterprises that in a way, may benefit the com- munity, and for which they never get the slightest credit or thanks, and which, invariably, is accepted as the public or private due, something never expected from any other private enterprise or business.
Of course, some of the newspapers have done more than others along the line of local progress, urging in season and out of season, certain public enterprises, and movements that would benefit the whole people, or in some cases, at least most of the community. In this respect might be mentioned all the public improvements that have been made since the Braddock water works plant was built, and incidentally, the splendid man- ner in which certain Braddock newspapers fought for the people at the time the original street railways were after rights-of-way franchises through the community, the railway companies demanding rights without any benefits or recompense to the public. The financial and alleged graft scandals of those days, were all fought by the newspapers, and the citizens
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THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
of the present day receive the advantages in decreased taxes.
The present Braddock General Hospital is one result of the activities of the newspapers of Braddock, especially of the old Braddock "Daily News", and in later years of the "Evening Herald", which unselfishly took up the project of the "Daily News", for public weal, for the project origina- ted in the old "Daily News" office during the early years of Mr. McCarthy's ownership, in 1891, to be exact, while the writer was then in charge of the news department of the paper, and a volume in columns of space, was given over a period of some years, to this project, to stir the public mind to the necessity of such an institution, and it might be stated here, with none to question, that in those days the project was bitterly fought, and ridicule from certain quarters was heaped upon the discussions and pleas for a hospital. The writer conducted the propaganda for the project, during the years he was connected with the newspapers of Braddock in an editorial capacity, and knows full well what it meant for the newspapers to take up a project that was unpopular for some years, apart from the support of the noble women who formed the Braddock Hospital Association. It was only in late years, after the way had been hewn out by the old "Daily News" in persistent arguments over years, for a hospital in Braddock, that the hospital idea became a popular one.
The same also was true of the suggestion made by the writer in a series of articles in 1890, written for the "Daily News", while Mrs. Mary Mills was the owner of that paper, that the battlefield on which Gen. Braddock fought, in 1754, be marked by a suitable monument or bronze tablet. In those days there was not the sympathy apparently, between the English-speaking peoples, that there has since developed, especially in re- cent months, and the suggestion was contemptuously denounced by answer- ing articles in the "Daily News", stating that there was no call for a mon- ument to mark a defeat of a general representing a nation that years af- terwards was at war with this country.
The writer of this chapter was threatened with bodily violence in his office many times, by a number of over-enthusiastic, but questionably patriotic citizens, if he did not desist in his propaganda for a monument for the battlefield. The old files of the "Daily News" will show this state of affairs. Still, the world changes, and the acrid sentiments of a genera- tion may be forgotten within that generation, to such an extent that after repeated discussions, in the press, for a monument marking the battle- field of Braddock, of 1754, tablets commemorative of these important events will be unveiled within the coming year.
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THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
Braddock newspapers have taken the unpopular side of many move- ments, because they believed they were right, or for the public welfare, or for the town's good fame, and the true test of a real newspaper is not always following the lead of the people, but leading the people to see the right, or accepting projects and movements for the general public welfare, and moral, social, political and spiritual welfare.
JOHN L. SECHLAR.
A. L. PETTY.
HON. MELVILLE CLYDE KELLY
THOMAS J. LOUIS
JOSEPH DAWSON PETTY.
ELMORE C. GREGG.
GEO. W. PENN.
FRED W. OAKLEY.
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SOME OF THE CHURCHES OF BRADDOCK.
1-First M. E. Church. 2 -- Muhlemian Memorial Church, North Braddock. 3 - United Brethren Church. 4-Sacred Heart Polish Roman Catholic Church. 5 - St. Michael's Greek Catholic Church, Rankin. 6 -- St. Peter and Paul Greek Catholic Church. 7-St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Braddock. 8-St. Thomas Roman Catholic Church.
9-Congregational Church. 10-Calvary Presbyterian Church. 11-Swedish Lutheran Church.
CHURCHES.
BY REV. JAMES VERNON WRIGHT. (1)
A history of Braddock! And that for fifty years! So many are the influences that go to make up a city ; its development, its strength, and its permanency ; that care must be taken that all of these be recognized and traced in a survey such as this history claims to make. The Church minis- ters to the spiritual and moral wellbeing of individuals and communities. The men and women who have made Braddock what it is today-and they are not just a few, who are far-famed, but many humble toilers in mill and shop-were inspired and helped by the sacred ministries of the Church. Our social and industrial development was paralleled by religious fervor and devotion to the ideals of Christianity. The Church has laid deep and broad the foundation of our splendid history. And today our heritage is enriched by the constant appeal of the Churches of this com- munity to the fine things of the spirit.
What makes a city great and strong ? Not architecture's graceful strength, Nor factories' extended length, But men who see the civic wrong And give their lives to make it right, And turn its darkness into light.
What makes a city full of power? Not wealth's display nor titled fame, Not fashion's loudly-boasted claim, But women, rich in virtue's dower, Whose homes, tho humble, still are great Because of service to the state.
What makes a city men can love ? Not things that charm the outward sense, Nor gross display of opulence, But right, that wrong cannot remove, And truth, that faces civic fraud And smites it in the name of God.
This is a city that shall stand, A light upon a nation's hill, A voice that evil can not still, A source of blessing to the land; Its strength not brick, nor stone, nor wood, But justice, love and brotherhood.
(Author Unknown.)
(1) The work of preparing this article was originally assigned to Rev. Percy H. Gordon. Dr. Gordon collected data and had the matter well in hand when, on advice of his physician, he was compelled to relinquish all work and go away for several months for complete rest. Dr. Wright then very kindly took Dr. Gordon's data and pre- pared the article. (Ed.)
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THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
CHURCHES-BRADDOCK, NORTH BRADDOCK AND RANKIN.
Name. Location.
Date Organization.
Present Pastor.
First Christian, Braddock Ave. at Fifth Street 1830 Rev. Henry Mahon.
First United Brethren, Jones & Hawkins Aves. 1854 Rev. E. B. Learish.
First M. E., Library St. & Parker Ave. 1855 Rev. J. Vernon Wright.
First United Presbyterian, Parker Avenue
1864 Rev. W. H. MePeak.
First Presbyterian, Library Street
1872 Rev. P. H. Gordon, D. D.
Free Methodist, Hawkins Avenue. 1874
Rev. H. I .. Speer.
First Baptist, Jones Avenue. 1881 Rev. Thomas Elliott.
St. Mary's Episcopal, Lillie Avenue 1881 Rev. F. Welham.
First English Evangelical Lutheran, Fifth St. 1886 Rev. C. H. Stein.
Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran, Fifth Street 1886 Rev. F. Englebert.
Swedish Evan. Lutheran Bethel, Fourth St. & Mills 1887 Rev. Morten Parsons.
Trinity Evan. English Lutheran, Fourth & Holland 1887 Rev. S. K. Herbster.
First Congregational, Talbot & Sixth St. 1888
Rev. J. C. Clarke.
Calvary Presbyterian, Sixth Street 1892 Rev. T. C. Pears, Jr.
Swedish Methodist Episcopal, Comrie Avenue
1892 Rev. A. P. Lakeberg.
First Methodist Protestant, Kenmawr Ave., Rankin .. 1893 Rev. B. K. Bierer.
Fourth Street M. E., Fourth Street 1895
Rev. J. J. Buell.
United Evangelical, Baldridge Ave. 1904
Rev. F. W. Barlett, D. D.
Muhleman Mem. German M. E., Grandview Ave ..
1914
Rev. D. Worthmann.
St. Luke's Reformed, Fourth & Camp Ave.
Rev. W. S. Harman.
Brinton Ave. United Presbyterian, Brinton Ave.
Rev. E. H. Carson.
Corey Ave. A. M. E., 514 Corey Ave.
Rev. J. L. Jackson.
New Hope Baptist, Sixth Street
Rev. J. D. Burke.
St. Thomas' Roman Catholic, Braddock Ave. 1854 Rev. Robert McDonald.
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic, John Street 1877
Rev. F. J. Eger.
Saint's Peter & Paul Greek Catholic, John St. 1896
Rev. Stephen Gulovich.
Sacred Heart Polish R. C., Talbot & Sixth 1897 Rev. J. A. Rykazewski.
St. Michael's Greek Catholic, Third St., Rankin 1900. Rev. C. Roskovics.
Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic, Washington Ave ... 1916
Rev. J. K. Antonoff.
St. Brendan's Roman Catholic, Holland Ave
Rev. P. Molyneaux.
St. Isadore Greek Catholic, Talbot & Seventh.
Rev. C. Abromaites.
St. Michael's R. C., Braddock Ave. & Frazier.
Rev. A. Kazinczy.
St. Barnabas' R. C., Kenmawr Ave., Rankin
Rev. J. L. Shearinger.
St. Mary of Mt. Carmel, Margaretta & Sixth
Francisco Beneventano.
Synagogue Agudath Achim, 1023 Talbot Ave. 1894 Rev. J. L. Hillkowitz.
Synagogue Ahavith Acham, 432 Sixth Street
Rev. A. Meyerowitz.
Rev. John Gallo.
St. Paul's Slovak Evan. Luth., Halket & 11th. 1891
Rev. C. V. Molnar.
Free Gospel Mission Church, Hawkins Ave. 1902
Rev. F. J. Casley.
Slovak Presbyterian, Braddock Ave. 1908. Rev. J. V. Kovar.
Mt. Olivet A. Baptist, Fourth Ave., Rankin
Rev. L. E. Keiser.
Emanuel A. Baptist, Third Ave., Rankin
Rev. A. D. Brown.
Italian Baptist, 508 Braddock Ave
Rev. Luke De Amore.
Hungarian Baptist
Rev. Louis Stumpf.
Slovak Congregational Mission Church, Talbot Ave ... 1890
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THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
CHURCHES OF BRADDOCK.
The history of Braddock could not be written without considerable mention of her Churches, whose buildings and equipment are a credit to this thriving industrial center. There are about forty-five Churches and Missions in this community and in their work, they reach most of the nationalities represented in our cosmopolitan population. Long before there was any municipal organization for this community, ministers visited this region and formed the people into Church groups. Sunday Schools were organized, Church buildings were erected, and as the popula- tion increased the influence of the Churches became more evident in the upbuilding of the City.
This short chapter has been written from what material has come to the hands of the compiler after most careful and persistent efforts to secure information from each Church in the territory covered by this vol- ume of historic data.
Several congregations trace their history back beyond the year 1850, although the formal organization of the Church may not have taken place until a later date. The First Christian Church is recognized as the oldest Church organization in Braddock. The name of Mills is associated with this Church from the beginning, for it was in the home of Isaac Mills, Sr., where the first preaching was done and the first organization consummated. This was about the year 1830. For eight years these serv- ices were held in the Mills home, David Estep, George Forester, James Darsie, and Isaac Erret walking out from Pittsburgh to do the preaching. About 1838 a Church building was erected at Eleventh Street, which after a few years was destroyed by fire. Undaunted by the loss of their build- ing, the congregation decided to build another Church on the same site, which building still stands, occupied now by the Slavonic Catholic Church. After the disposal of this property the present building on Braddock Ave. between Fifth St. and Corey Ave. was erected. This property is valued at $45,000 and is free of debt. In later years the Church started and fos- tered Churches at Turtle Creek, Wilkinsburg and Homestead. Under its auspices was also organized in 1912 the Italian Christian Church. There are still to be found representatives of the old families in the present or- ganization in such names as Mills, MeCune, Shallenberger, and Strathern. The present membership of the Church is 250 and 240 in the Sunday School.
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