Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 62

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Number of Pages: 1036

USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Altoona > Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 62

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"Just beyond Schell Run, which is the pres- ent borough limit, is the tract of land known as the Denlinger, Poorman & Co. addition. They have about sixty acres lying between the river and the main public road, which here runs parallel with the Juniata river and the Pennsylvania railroad. They have sold a good many lots. Were it not so close to the heart of the town, this would be the ideal truck farm. For working men's homes and for those of larger means, who delight in" gardening, it is the choice portion of Tyrone. No work or expense is needed to make a build- ing site. The rich bottom soil is ready for the plow or spade and is very productive. The river supplies a perfect drainage and con- tributes in return to the moisture and is not destructive in floods.

"Following the old Tuckahoe road in nearly a straight course for about a half mile from this addition, we come to Graziersville. On the way we pass Cold Spring Forge, so named from the cold water that issues from the ground by the river side, but more famed for the fires by the side of which for forty years skilled workmen hammered iron, and for the factory which later turned out four hundred axes per day. Graziersville was founded about the same time as East Tyrone, and though unincorporated, has a village-like as-

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pect. It occupies a level site, having three streets parallel with the railroad and several crossings, these at right angles. In respect of business and post office it is part of Tyrone, but it has the convenience of a railway station of its own.

"Thomastown lies at the foot of Brush Mountain on the right bank of the river in going from Graziersville to Tyrone about one mile from the station. The inhabitants of this hamlet, like those of Cold Springs, opposite, sitting 'every man under his own vine and fig tree,' enjoy their semi-rural life, where they have substantially the conveniences of the town and the independence of the country. The shady grove and running water and range for themselves and cattle are the com- mon property of all, while church and schools and stores are within easy reach.

. "Continuing along the railroad we are soon at the starting point, from which all these hives have swarmed out; the nest from which most of the birds have flown, but not far, to build for themselves nests contiguous to that of the mother bird. "Tyrone Forges' is the mother of all this brood. The Upper Forge has 'gone under,' the Lower is still 'on top,' and as a vigorous centenarian, smiles upon the swelling brood of its descendants. The real Tyrone is not narrowed within the pres- ent borough limits. The Tyrone of today, as the lineal descendant of the old Iron city of Juniata, has succeeded to its name, and in- herits all its estate and honors. Hence it is that our census of the town, while detracting nothing from the population of neighboring towns, embracing all of that which the genealogical tree bears upon its branches to- day.

"The old town which 'growed up' in ruder days has, it must be confessed, an unkempt look about it, but the infant suburb of Neal- mont in its picturesque cradle on the other side of the river, like a young Moses ready to embark upon a career of honor, takes away the reproach from the historic site. 'As pretty as a picture,' is the involuntary exclamation as we look from the railroad bridge which crosses

the bend of the river where it sweeps around a curve and then describes another in an oppo- site direction, enfolding the snug cluster of houses that is called Ironsville. Looking up the track on one side we see Nealmont with its regular streets and fresh neat homes, and on the other 'Elkhurst.' In the background on all sides the walls of green, sloping towards the sky. Just room for river and railroad to thread their way through into the two valleys adjacent which are the basis of supplies for this hive of industry.

"Beyond the Little Bald Eagle creek which bounds Tyrone on the north, a short distance from the paper mill on elevated ground is Northwood. It is well situated for residences and is steadily advancing."

Schools .- The public schools of Tyrone have a high standing among the schools of our commonwealth. In the infancy of the town, the first principal of the schools was J. M. Calderwood. He taught in an old building on Washington avenue. The Logan Avenue house was erected in 1868. It contained ten rooms, however, only six were occupied. S. C. Laird was the first principal in the new building. The house was twice enlarged.

"There are now three large buildings with improved furniture, well lighted and ventil- ated, the total cost of which is $79,000. The Logan avenue building has eighteen rooms, the Adams avenue eight rooms and the Park Avenue four rooms. A good course of study is laid out and followed, including besides the ordinary branches, the elements of natural science, some of the higher mathematics, Latin and some branches of business. An average of seventeen graduates yearly have been turned out since 1891. Among other facilities, there is a good set of apparatus for illustrating physical science and a library of 500 volumes."

Tannery .- In the early settlement of a place among the first industries were tanneries. Soon after Tyrone was laid out, Mr. Stover and Mr. Ettinger erected a small tannery thirty by forty feet. The bark was at first ground by horse power, but in 1874 Stephen

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HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY

Lehner purchased the plant and operated it by steam. It was purchased by Henry Vail and its capacity increased to 1,800 hides per year. It is no longer in existence.

The Bald Eagle Tannery .- This plant is located close to the depot. It was erected in 1870 by Daniel P. Ray. From the start the business was successful, but a reverse overtook it in February, 1873, when the buildings were destroyed by fire. Mr. Ray proceeded at once to rebuild and increase the size to double what it was before. He resumed the tanning in June, although the building was not com- pleted until September, 1873. He died March 24, 1881, and his business went into the hands of his sons, John K. and Daniel P. The main building is 42 by 283 feet, two stories high. It contains 126 double vats. It is equipped with all necessary machinery and appliances to expeditiously produce good leather. The engine is forty horse power. The steam is generated in two boilers forty-two inches by twenty feet long, and no other fuel is used but spent tan bark. The capacity of the mill is two tons of bark per hour. Both rock oak and hemlock bark are used, and stock sufficient to keep the work running for one year is stored. Its capacity is ninety-five hides per day. The leather produced ranks as the best quality. When put on exhibition, it has been awarded the highest commendations. At Philadelphia and Vienna expositions, medals have been awarded. It is one of the substantial in- dustries of the town, and gives employment to about forty men. Among the unknown num- ber of tanneries, formerly existing in Blair county, this is the only survivor. Not an- other one is even standing. On May 1, 1893, it was sold to the Elk Tanning company.

The Tyrone Paper Mill .- The paper mill was built by Morrison, Bare & Cass, proprie- tors of the Roaring Spring paper mills. It was commenced in March, 1880, and some parts completed by October. It is located at the north end of town on the Bald Eagle creek, from which it receives its supply of water. John S. Morrison was its first manager, but he having died a few years later, the superin-

tendence passed into other hands. The busi- ness was continued and greatly prospered up to the present without any change in the firm name. The following is given from Wilson's "Tyrone of Today":

"A busy hive is that which inhabits the square extending from Sixteenth street to the creek, where it forms the northeast line of the borough and between Pennsylvania and Lo- gan avenues. This is the site of the paper mill, its building covering the whole length of the block along Pennsylvania avenue and Six- teenth street, a total frontage of 825 feet. In the enclosed eight acres of land almost all the space is occupied with substantial brick structures where various departments of the work are carried on. With the exception of the railroad interests, which were the start of Tyrone, this is the largest industry of the place, giving constant employment to about 225 persons. The business was begun in 1880 but the company, as at present constituted, was incorporated in 1889, under the name of the Morrison & Cass paper company, with a capital stock of $500,000.

The plant includes all the latest and best appliances for the manufacture of a superior quality of book and writing paper, and the prod- ucts are in constant demand, both in the United States and in foreign countries. The firm has never closed its works, except for needed repairs. The two tall chimneys which attract the notice of the visitor walking from the station up Pennsylvania avenue, give forth a stream of the black vapor day and night from the fires which run its twenty-four steam boilers and furnish power to its eight steam engines. Fifty cords of wood are re- ceived daily and by ingenious contrivances and manifold processes transmuted into the clean, light, smooth paper which passes out of the mill to the amount of thirty tons per day. The wood, in five-foot lengths, is thrown into the jaws of a giant "chipper," whose teeth or knives of steel, with incredible speed "chew" it into little bits of semiform size and 'pass these into its throat, a trough conducting this hard, dry food into ten boilers, which form

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, TYRONE

FIRST METHODIST EPISCO- PAL CHURCH, TYRONE

PARK AVENUE SCHOOL, TYRONE

LOGAN AVENUE SCHOOL, TYRONE

CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SCHOOL, TYRONE

JUNIATA RIVER, POINT VIEW, PA.

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the stomach of this system. Tl.ere under pres- sure of steam, and by the aid of alkalies, the process of digestion is carried on, requiring about six hours, and the resulting soft sub- stance is submitted to other operations of washing, bleaching and sizing. A certain pro- portion of rags is worked up and incorporated with the wood pulp. This is now ready for the paper machines, four in number. It is kept in constant motion, 'on endless aprons of wire cloth of felt, to strain the water out of it, and drying the process is completed by steam- heated cylinders, round which the sheets are driven. They are now ready to be calendered, or run through rolls, which act upon one an- other giving the closs and finish that mark the output of this mill. To describe these processes in detail, or even to mention all the parts of the complicated mechanism would fill many pages. It ought to be said, however, that the company has an enviable reputation, not only for the work which it turns out, but also for the treatment of its workmen, whose comfort and welfare are studied. There has been no cut of wages under the plea of hard times, but with unvarying regularity $10,000 in wages is turned into the hands of its employees and finds its way into the channels of trade in the town every month. A relief associatoin of the employees has 219 members who are entitled to a weekly allowance in case of sickness or ac- cident and a death benefit of $100.

Each season witnesses some additions and improvements to the property of the Tyrone paper mill. The president of the company is Joseph K. Cass; J. G. Anderson, vice presi- dent and treasurer; Richard Beaston, secre- tary; Harry Henry, superintendent; M. J. Mike, superintendent of the pulp mill.

The mill is the largest in the country, giving employment to 300 men and has a pay roll of $15,000 per month. Eighteen thousand cords of wood are kept in stock and the daily output is sixty tons of calendered paper. No smoke es- capes from the stacks, as it is automatically consumed. Negotiations are now going through through which it may soon pass into other hands. The industry is one of the most

important to the support of the town that it contains, and apparently one of the most per- manent.

Mining .- In May, 1879, a company was formed consisting of E. L. Sturdy, Robert A. McCoy, P. Sneeringer and James L. Shultz, for the purpose of mining iron ore on the Shoenberger lands in the vicinity of Hunting- don furnace. The Rock Hill Iron and Coal company was admitted as a partner in 1879. E. L. Sturdy died in 1880, and his interests passed into the hands of H. J. Cornman. S. S. Blair of Tyrone was also admitted as a partner. To prepare the ore for market after it was taken from the mine, it was put through a proc- ess of washing. For this purpose the water from Warriors' run was conveyed into a pipe line about one and one-half miles to the wash- ing machine. The output was about 120 tons per day. It was then conveyed to the main line of the Pennsylvania railroad by a narrow- gauge railroad about three miles to Shoenber- ger. The capital invested was mostly from Tyrone, and it was managed by the members of the firm from that place. While in operation the plant gave employment to about sixty men. Operations have been discontinued for a num- ber of years.

Foundries .- James Louden, James Redding and George W. Rose built a foundry in 1863 and continued in business up to 1870, when they sold out to W. H. H. Nevling. In 1873 he connected with the foundry a machine shop, and carried on a general machinist trade. In 1874 a company consisting of W. H. H. Nev- ling, Davis Jones, Samuel McCamant and George W. Hoover was formed for the manu- facturing of white lead, called the Tyrone Lead and Zinc company. Machinery for the purpose was installed and was operated under what was called the Hannum process, James Hannum himself being the manager. He died before the work was fairly started. The enterprise was not a success and was discontinued. The building was unoccupied for several years. In the spring of 1878, W. H. Pauling utilized them in the manufacturing of boilers and tanks. The property was purchased in 1879 by J. M.

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Kelly, and were operated for a time by Mr. or electric motors; they can be either direct Nevling. When operated by Mr. Pauling it connected, belt driven or driven with silent gave employment to about twenty men. The chain. plant has ceased to be.

A. G. Morris & Sons erected a foundry and machine shop between the river and railroad half a mile below town. It is 300 feet in length. Its equipment for work is completed. "They built stationery engines and have re- cently constructed a stone crusher of their own invention, of which three are in successful oper- ation, each capable of making fifty cars of furnace or twenty-five cars of ballast stone per day. Another piece of work just turned out of the shops is a newly patented brick ma- chine, the invention of George C. Davison, which is likely to come into use extensively. The foundry is an indispensible element in the business of the town, whose mechanics depend upon it to realize in working form the plans which have been wrought out in their brains. The firm has just begun the manufacture of the Burley steam and hot water heaters, re- cently patented, but already in use in several buildings in Tyrone."

In November, 1907, the property and busi- ness passed into the hands of J. C. Stine & Co., and while they now do general foundry work they make a specialty of incline plane machinery and centrifugal fans for use in mining and the Burley heaters. Mr. Stine is the inventor of the fan, and in his circular he says: "The Stine patented disc fan is offered where a large volume of air is needed at water gauges of from one to one and one-half inches, and ow- ing to its simplitity and cheapness, both in erecting and operating can be confidently recom- mended. For thirteen years we have been man- ufacturing these fans; thousands of them have been sold throughout the United States, Can- ada, Mexico, and in fact, they may be found wherever mining operations are in existence. Nearly every large coal corporation in the country has one or more of them in use, some having as many as twenty in their different plants. We have them from four to twelve feet in diameter, inclusive; we furnish the fans complete with steam engines, gasoline engines

"This type of fan, especially the smaller sizes, is used extensively inside mines to "boost" or stimulate the ventilation at the splits or face. Being compact and mounted on a substantial iron base, they require no attention excepting starting. Every fan is supplied with ring oil- ing bearings which will run for weeks with ab- solutely no attention. Their capacities run from 20,000 to 150,000 cubic feet per minute, enough to ventilate any ordinary mine, and then their efficiency makes them the most de- sirable fan within their capacity. Let us refer you to prominent people using them. Our disc fan works both as a force and exhaust without doors or other contrivances. Our motors and engines are built especially for mine service, and the most dependable on the market."

The incline plane machinery is used for conveying the coal from the mouth of the mine to the tipple, and can be set either vertically or horizontally, and work on any grade where gravity can be used and can be easily controlled. The plant gives employment to fifty men when worked to its full capacity.

Planing Mills .- It seems that the first saw- and planing-mill erected in Tyrone was by a stock company with John D. Stewart as an act- ive promoter and F. D. Byer as the active operator. This beginning was in 1865. In 1868 the property passed into the ownership of Samuel McCamant, John Elist, David T. Cald- well, William Stokes and John M. Harper, un- der the firm name of McCamant, Elist & Co. In January, 1871, the company was dissolved and Samuel McCamant and J. M. Harper be- came the owners. The mill was enlarged and its capacity increased. It gives employment to about twenty men. Samuel McCamant died March 30, 1901, and the business is now con- ducted by his son, Andrew H. McCamant.

Byers Planing Mill .- Perhaps no one man did more in his day to promote the welfare and growth of the town than F. T. Byers. After selling his interest in the planing-mill in 1868, he proceeded in company with Mr. Guyer, in

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1870, to erect another mill on Glen and Lin- coln avenues. On the thirteenth of May, 1873, the mill and lumber yard was destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of $20,000. They rebuilt immediately and had the machinery running again before the close of the year. The mill is large and well equipped to do first-class work, and they do an extensive building and contract business. The firm also operated in connection with the planing-mill, a saw-mill with a capac- ity of 15,000 feet per day. Mr. Byers has also engaged in an extensive lumber trade in Clear- field county. He died in 1908 and his business passed into the hands of his sons.

The old forge and axe factory at Cold Spring was resurrected in a glass factory in 1896. The enterprise was promoted by the wide-awake board of trade. Mr. George W. W. McGraw, an experienced glass worker was the first superintendent. The goods produced are various kinds of hollow ware, including jars and bottles. The plant gave employment to about fifty hands. After a few years of un- successful operations, the business was discon- tinued, and the plant dismantled. A brick yard has now taken the seat of this historic spot, but its history is in the future.

The first train on the Pennsylvania railroad passed through Tyrone on the seventeenth of September, 1850. Its growth dates from that time, and though it was slow at that time it be- came more rapid and permanent after the com- pletion of the Bald Eagle Valley and Clearfield roads. In fact the growth became so marked that it was difficult to keep pace with a direct- ory. There was growth and expansion on every hand. New enterprises were springing up, strangers taking their places as citizens and a general demand for more supplies, churches and schools. Some of the original stores have been kept continuously in the same place and the humble little buildings have developed into immense blocks of brick or stone three stories high. Stores of every kind, fully up to date and unsurpassed by any interior towns are to be found in the business part of town. Here are to be found general stores, dry goods, de- partment, hardware, drugs, furniture, shoes,

groceries, confectionery, jewelry, stationery, millinery, tobacco, agricultural implements, to- gether with bakeries, laundries, marble works, harness shops, barber shops, meat markets, in- surance agents and any and all articles handled in commerce are kept in stock to the amount of thousands of dollars in each place of business. Professional men as architects, physicians, law- yers, artists, engineers, surveyors and teachers found here a beautiful field for their opera- tions.

CHURCHES.

It is said that the first sermon preached in Tyrone was in 1851, at the house of William Andrews, by a colored man.

Methodist Church .- In 1851 the Methodists commenced holding a prayer meeting at the house of William Burley. The first preaching service was held in the log schoolhouse, con- ducted by George Guyor. Services were also held in the City and Central hotels. In 1855, through the efforts of John D. Stewart and Caleb Guyer the first church edifice was erected at a cost of $7,000. It was a two-story brick, 45×75 feet. In 1881 the membership was 335-

In 1885 a large and elegant sanctuary was built on Logan avenue, corner of Twelfth street. The membership in 1897 rose to 700. The Sunday school had an enrollment of 715. The value of church property was about $30,- 000. During that year the expenses were about $3,000. The missionary collections amounted to $750.

Columbia Avenue M. E. Church .- This church is the outgrowth of a class organized by Rev. Thomas Barnhart in 1871, a chapel be- ing built on Twenty-first street. The first leader was Zane B. Gray. In 1873 and again in 1884, Rev. George Guyer became pastor, serving in all five years. The present edifice was begun in 1891, and dedicated in 1893. It has a seating capacity of 500. The member- ship in 1897 was 300 and the Sunday school had an enrollment of 500. Epworth league about 100 members. The training school of the church numbered about 216 members.

Free Methodist .- This church was organized

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in 1906. From a small beginning the member- ship increased to eighteen, when they pro- ceeded to erect a house of worship in 1909. It was completed in 1910 at a cost of $5,000. The Sunday school numbers twenty-five. Rev. Davidson is the present pastor. The history of this church is in the future.

Catholic Church .-- James Bradley, of Newry, visited and ministered to the spiritual wants of a few families at this place from 1851 to 1853. In the spring of the latter year a lot was secured and the work of erecting a house of worship was commenced. The house was dedi- cated September 24, 1854. It was 40x70 feet, with a steeple rising from the front. Rev. J. C. Farren was continued as pastor for twenty- seven years, and the membership rose from a small number to about 500. In 1880, prepara- tion was made for the erection of a new edifice. The church comprises a whole square, bounded by Eleventh street, Cameron avenue, Twelfth street and the borough line. There are grouped the rectory, schools, convent and the stately sanctuary, which was dedicated on December 8, 1896. It is constructed of brick with trim- mings of white sandstone. At the corner is a tower 125 feet high. It is 65x108. The audi- torium is 60x80 feet. The whole structure cost $35,000. The parochial schools have an enrollment of 106.

First Presbyterian Church .- Mr. Wilson gave the following concise history of this church in 1897:

"This church was organized April 7, 1857, in the old United Brethren building. Services were held previously in the old schoolhouse on Spring street. Their first house of worship was finished in the same year at a cost of $3,500. They were very weak then and the property, largely paid for by friends in the presbytery, was held by a board of trustees rep- resenting that body, the permanency of the newly-constituted society being regarded as doubtful. In the early days of the church acted as sexton without charge and for ten years they had but a feeble existence, being ministered to by non-resident ministers. Not until 1867 did the church enjoy the full serv-

ices of a pastor. Since that time the following ministers have had charge of the church: Rev. J. C. Clark, three years; Rev. S. M. Moyer, under whom the number increased from seventy-eight to 323, seventeen years; Rev. J. R. Davies, six years, the membership growing to 503; Rev. H. G. Furbay, three years, at the end of which there were 609 members. In 1896 Rev. A. J. Weisley accepted a call and upwards of fifty have since been added. The present fine edifice on Logan avenue and Thir- teenth street was built in 1882 and enlarged in 1891. The seats are so arranged that all eyes converge towards the pulpit ; a gallery extends nearly around the room; the windows are large and ornamental. The lecture room, seating 500 communicants with the audience room, so as to form, when desired, one large auditorium. Adjoining the church is an elegant manse, built in 1894, the whole property being valued at $48,000. The Sunday school has over fifty officers and teachers, and enrolls nearly 700 scholars. There is a Young People's society of Christian Endeavor of 120 members, a junior society and several women's societies.

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 62

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Number of Pages: 1036

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Number of Pages: 1036