Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 63

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 63

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During the year ending March 31, 1897, the expenditures for all objects was over $6,500, more than $1,000 of which was for benevolence.

German Lutheran Church .- This congrega- . tion, as the name indicates, was composed of German people. They at first met for worship in the schoolhouse, and later on in the United Brethren church. Their number increased and in 1863 they erected a house of worship on Logan street at a cost of $1,800. The member- ship increased, but when an English Lutheran was formed it greatly reduced their number, as the English speaking people united with them.

First Lutheran Church .- This church was organized March 25, 1872. Its first pastor was J. Kistler, up to 1877. The first house of wor- ship was erected in 1882 and was dedicated in August of that year. It was constructed of brick and had a seating capacity of 300. It was found in 1897 to be too small for the grow- ing congregation, the membership at that time being about 275. In 1904 a new and commo-

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dious house was erected at a cost of about $20,000.

Baptist Church .- The Baptist church was or- ganized in 1870, and had for its pastor J. L. Holmes. In the same year a house 35x55 was built at a cost of $3,000. Up to 1876 the mem- bership increased from thirteen to fifty-four. Various causes contributed to the reduction of the membership, and no resident pastor to care for them, in about 1881 very few remained. Later on the church was again revived, and in 1897 the membership had increased to about seventy, and Sunday school of 100 was regu -. larly held.

Church of the Brethren .- The first services of this body were held in the homes of the members. Later on a hall was rented and services were held regularly every Sunday. A Sunday school was started with encouraging results. The mission board of Pennsylvania took charge of the work as a mission and erected a house of worship 30x45 feet. An organization was effected June 24, 1894, with nine members. Up to 1897 the membership in- creased to thirty-eight. The Sunday school numbered 110. A parsonage was erected in 1897. At the present time the membership has increased to 100. The Sunday school has an enrollment of 200. The church property is valued at $4,500.

African M. E. Church .- This organization was effected in 1888. A handsome and com- modious chapel was erected in 1894. This church started with a membership of one and now numbers thirty-two. The Sunday school has an enrollment of forty-two. The church property is valued at $3,600.

Protestant Episcopal Church .- This church started a mission here prior to the Civil war. Services were held at irregular intervals. In more recent years an organization was effected and meetings were held in halls and in the pub- lic school building. A lot was purchased in 1888 and steps taken for the erection of a house of worship. It was completed and serv- ices held in 1894. It has a seating capacity of 200. It is worth about $6,000. At present the membership numbers seventy-five, and the Sun-

day school has an enrollment of eighty. A new pipe organ was installed in 1894. A new rec- tory was purchased in 1908. The total value of the church property is about $10,000.

Young Men's Christian Association .- There was a branch organized in 1870. It did a good work for several years and then declined. It was again revived by the railroad company contributing liberally for its support and devot- ing its energies especially to railroadmen. It was furnished with a suite of rooms, including parlor, bath, game, audience and closets. The reading room was liberally supplied with papers and magazines. The rooms were heated, lighted and furnished with telephone connec- tions. , A Sunday school was maintained with good interest, and other services.

In 1903 the Pennsylvania railroad company gave a lot and contributed liberally towards erecting for the association a suitable building. It was built the same year at a cost of $13,000. It is 40x75. Including the dormitories, the front part is three stories and the back two. It is divided into a reading room, two parlors, game room, gymnasium, auditorium and five bath rooms, and containing two tubs and three shower baths. It is supplied with hot and cold water. The auditorium has a seating capacity of 250. There is a membership of 370. The reading room is supplied with a library and all the leading daily newspapers. The building is heated throughout, and lighted with electricity. And in addition to this, the railroad company, through the influence of J. K. Johnson, super- intendent of Tyrone division, donated and fitted up twelve acres and ground in East Tyrone as a park for the special use of the association. It is beautifully arranged and no expense spared to make it attractive and convenient for the purposes for which it is intended. It contains a ball ground, a running track of one-fourth mile in a circle, a hurdle race track and a jump- ing pit. These are set and sodded in a way that they must be seen to be appreciated. When it is considered that the town was called from chaos into the order and wealth it now enjoys, principally by the railroad, and leans heavily upon it for its support, and when one

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sees how it provides for the comfort and men- tal and moral improvement of its employees, it is something to be justly proud of and there is just reason to doubt if there ever was a better era or golden time in the annals of the world to exceed what Tyrone enjoys today.

Women's Christian Temperance Union .- The first organization of in 1895 .- "Since the time of their organization they have not al- lowed the public to forget that there are laws both human and divine, which condemn dissi- pation, and command sobriety. They have lifted up their protest as a barrier against the violations of those laws. They have labored to educate public opinion by voice and press. They have urged the indoctrination of school children in the truth that, more than any other, touches their own lives in mind and body. They have helped to tone up conscience in churches and in politics. They have done a noble work through one woman, Mrs. J. Har- vey Wilson, among the railroaders. Another woman, Mrs. W. H. Wilson, has sustained for about two years a weekly "Temperance Col- umn" in the "Tyrone Herald." They have planted a fountain as their memorial on the main thoroughfare, where might be inscribed as a good motto, these words :

"Drink, weary traveler; drink and pray,

Water, not wine; 'Tis woman's way."

HOTELS.

Tyrone has from an early day in its history maintained a number of hotels. Only a pass- ing notice of the principal ones can be given. The first inn was kept in an old abandoned log schoolhouse. The first regular public house was the "City hotel." It was erected in 1851, but not fully completed utnil 1853. It was built by John D. Stewart and Jacob Burley. It is an L-shaped building, each wing being sixty feet and three stories high. In 1859 William Irvin became the owner; in 1862 John Weightman ; in 1865, Thomas Moore; the same year he sold it to S. M. Aults. In 1872 he sold it to Mrs. Mary Weston, and from her it passed to Charles Wooden, Emory McGowen and Pat- rick Kelly, the present owner. It has been kept

in good repair and has always been a licensed house.

The Leonard House was built in 1854 by Leonard Feuchter, but was later replaced by the "Eagle hotel." In 1861, C. Seeger became the proprietor and in 1868, J. H. Eckenrode. In 1873 it passed into the ownership of Gabriel Fleck and was greatly enlarged.

The Ward House .- This house was built by Mrs. Mary Ward in 1859 to 1862. It is lo- cated at the station of the Pennsylvania rail- road. It is 75x100 feet, three stories above the basement. It passed from Mrs. Ward to J. J. Boyer, who in turn sold it to P. F. McIntire in 1873. From him it passed into the hands of John T. Fowler. Mr. Waynewright took pos- session of it to satisfy a mortgage and it is still in his hands. Its location makes it one of the most important public houses of the town.

Central Hotel .- Two accounts are given of this house, and we are unable to decide which is the correct one. We give both.

It was built in 1852 or '3 by Joshua Burley, and by him sold to Jonas Settler in 1868, who in 1870 added another story.

The other account says that it was built (no date given) by A. C. Toner and was intended originally for a store and did not become a hotel till 1884, and that it still belongs to the Toner estate. It is still kept up as a hotel and is one of the licensed houses of the place.

Carmen Hotel .- All that we could learn of this house is that it was built by Crist Sager and passed from him to Harry Daughenbaugh and from him to Allen Garman, the present owner.

Arlington Hotel .- This house was built in 1864 by Jacob Burley and is one among the best hotels of the town. It is about 50x80 feet, three stories above the cellar. . In 1868 it was purchased by Jonas Stutterer and passed from him to his son-in-law, David Hagaan, the present owner.

The Keystone Hotel .-- The Keystone was built in 1862 by Cyrel Miller and kept by him up to 1885. After his death it was rented for several years and then his son, F. J. Miller, be-

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came the owner in 1893, and he has continued the business to the present time.

The Myron Hotel .- This house was built for a storehouse but in 1898 it was remodeled and changed to a hotel. It was built by Jacob Cohn and is now owned by Myron Cohn.

The Pennsylvania Hotel .- George Trout- wine was the founder of this hotel in 1861, and the present owner is his son, Leonard Trout- wine.

ELKHURST SCHOOL OF COMMERCIAL ART.

Established June 4, 1880.

Elkhurst is a beautiful suburb of Tyrone, embracing an estate of 450 acres of land, com- prising a large expanse of ground and pictur- esque scenery. It lies close to the main line of the Pennsylvania railroad and in view of the blue Juniata river, and has abundant supply of fine mountain water, tested by the United States government, and found to be of an excel- lent quality. Five large buildings, well equip- ped with modern improvements, provide for the instruction and accommodation of the students. Two well cultivated dairy farms furnish whole- some and healthful food for the school. Elk- hurst has, in fact, every advantage and facility that the cravings of an artist and student might desire. This school was established by H. A. Grip, who for a time did more to make Tyrone famous than perhaps any other man who be- came a resident of the place. He came from Germany and landed in New York in 1889, and while assisting some of his countrymen in adjusting some of their effects he had the mis- fortune of having his right arm broken. This unfortunate circumstance consigned him to a hospital for a while. When released he found himself - penniless and friendless in a strange city. Even the few things that he brought with him were removed so that he never recovered them. For a time he found shelter in some of the buildings on Central park and subsisted on pieces of bread that were distributed to poor children. Through the assistance of a stranger he was helped on his way to his sister in Ty- rone. When his arm regained strength to do some light work he obtained employment in

picture copying. In a short time he set up a studio of his own, which, to use his own words, "consisted of one chair, one easel, my crayons and paints and brushes, and a window full of nice flowers and a determination to get a busi- ness and a home of my own. I then began to send out my first agent, Mr. Patrick Sweeny, a young Irishman of good address. He sold my work on the installment plan."

In 1882 he was established in the buildings erected in connection with the Tyrone forge by the Gloninger firm, one mile east of town. This he named "Parkhurst," and here com- menced a business that in its leaps and bounds to success is not often surpassed. His adver- tising was extensive. He spent in this alone from $100,000 to $150,000 annually. The highest in any one month was $50,000. His reputation was world-wide. At one time his students numbered 20,000. His daily mail consisted of from 20,000 to 30,000 pieces. It required the assistance of sixty clerks to handle it. Fully three-fourths of the income of the Tyrone postoffice was from his business. Up to the time of the Spanish-American war he had amassed a princely fortune. He belonged to the Sheridan troop of Tyrone, and such was his devotion and patriotism to his adopted country that he discontinued his art school and left his palatial home and joined his compan- ions to avenge the destruction of the "Maine." After his return from the army he never re- vived his school. He purchased a fine resi- dence in Washington city, and a number of farms around "Parkhurst," and is now enjoy- ing the fruits of his industry and shrewd busi- ness management.

Mr. Wilson says (1897) : "It is tribute enough to say that though not yet forty years of age and beginning with no capital, but that of brains, he stands in the front rank among the capitalists of our town, and at the head of them all in the net gains of his business through these dull times. The splendid establishment at Parkhurst shows the growth attained in six- teen years from the seed of an idea, first con- ceived in the brain and then nourished by the indomitable energy and genius of this remark-

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able man. And in making his own fortune he helped hundreds of his less fortunate fellows. The pictures which have made the name of Grip famous, are beautifully finished by hand in crayon. He teaches his method in the school by personal supervision and through assistants, who are under his supervision. To others who cannot attend, he gives instructions by mail. He has pupils from every state and many from foreign countires .. Many who have undertaken the work have not succeeded, but candid and careful examination compels us to say that the cause of failure is not in the method taught nor in the method of teaching. The sufficient proof of this is that many right here are finding it practical and paying-people of all sorts and classes, not one in ten of whom had either any previous training or any natural talent in the direction of art. For a very moderate fee the needed instruction is given to all who apply, and to all who prove competent, employment at their homes is given. Hundreds of men and women are constantly at work on these pic- tures and the hugh packages of mail that arrive and depart daily, keeping a horse, wagon and driver constantly busy, are evidences of the magnitude of the work. There are of students and others needed to keep the business running, 130 persons employed about the premises. When to these are added the much larger num- ber of workers scattered all over the continent, the soliciting agents who send in the photo- graphs, those who are engaged in enlarging the pictures, the others who manufacture the mail- ing tubes and the increased government force required to handle 'Grip's mail,' we can see how wide-reaching is the influence for good that radiates from one man's idea has fructified in blessings to many besides himself."

The Wilson Chemical Company, Cloverine. -In about 1897, George C. Wilson com- menced with an oil stove and one pot to pre- pare an ointment called Cloverine. He claimed for it on his labels and advertisements a very high curative virtue for diseases and disorders of the skin, and as it found its way into the marts of trade and was tested, his high claims were verified as the demand for it increased so

that he was compelled to enlarge the capacity of his plant and hire additional help. And it proved that the more he put in the market, the more the demand increased. In addition to the ointment, he also manufactured pills and soap, all named Cloverine. These gained the same favor as the ointment and in ten years from the time of starting he had erected a commodious building and installed an eight-horsepower boiler and three twenty-five gallon kettles for cooking his preparations. No machinery is required and no noise is made in the process of manufacturing or packing. The room, with all its belongings, is scrupulously clean. Three or four men and twenty-four girls do the work. The output of ointment alone is eighty gross per day. Orders are received from every con- tinent and the islands of the seas. It is sent cut by mail, express and freight. The mail or- ders are immense. Mr. Wilson pays in post- age alone $15,000 per year. His business in postage, like that of Mr. Grip's, represents three-fourths of the income of the Tyrone post office.

Under the efficient management of L. C. Berkstresser, the superintendent, the business is moving noiselessly along and its future no one can foretell.

Post Office .- The first post office in this part of Blair county was at Tyrone forges with John T. Matthews postmaster. The Tyrone office was established during President Pierce's administration and F. M. Bell appointed post- master. In 1857 John B. Stewart became post- master, and he was succeeded by Harriet Stew- art. In 1861 James S. Plummer was appointed and held the position until 1877. He was suc- ceeded by Captain F. M. Bell. In 1870 the of- fice was moved into the Caldwell building, where it remained until July 8, 1880, when it was. destroyed by fire. In December of the same year it was established on the same site in the Flynn block. Fisk Conrad was appointed in 1893 and served till August 31, 1898. John G. McCamant was appointed September I, 1898, and retains the place at the present time. It became a postal money order office in 1867. From the beginning the town has been very

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fortunate in having good and capable men in its mail service. The local mail with the growth of the place has increased enormously, besides it is an important distributing point on account of the connecting railroads. The office ar- rangement and fixtures ranks among the best in the interior of the state.

Shoe Factory .- In 1897 a stock company was formed with a capital of $40,000, for the manufacture of shoes. The officers consisted of W. L. Hicks, president; E. C. Poorman, secretary; J. W. Howe, manager; N. A. Hughes, superintendent. The factory located on the hillside close to the railroad ware- house and has a front of 100 feet. A specialty was made of the bicycle shoe from mercury- tanned leather. The whole process of making a shoe was accomplished by machinery. The plant gave employment to about fifty men. The enterprise did not meet with success, and it was recapitalized several times and was finally given up as a failure. The money invested was a dead loss to the stockholders. In 1903 the property was purchased by the McClintock & Musser company for the manufacturing of candy. They had commenced their business in 1901 in what is known as the old Symington building on Tenth street. The firm is com- posed of energetic young men and they are

turning the defunct shoe factory into a profit- able business which is developing with the years of its operation. Their products are hard and fine chocolates and jobbers of fruit syrups and imported novelties. The nature of their trade and the sharp competition requires time to develop it, and they are meeting with en- couraging success.

First National Bank Building .- This occu- pies the old study block on the corner of Tenth street and Pennsylvania avenue. It was built in 1905 at a cost of $150,000 and is one of the finest buildings in the town, and ranks among the finest in the interior of the state. It is a four-story house-constructed of stone and brick, in the most artistic and substantial manner known to architecture.

The Blair County National Bank is also a fine four-story brick building, erected in 1902. Its appearance adds beauty and importance to the town.

The Academy of Music, located at 200 East Tenth street, is also a fine building, 60x100 feet. It cost $18,000. It will easily seat 1,000 people. It is owned by the Tyrone opera house company. It is up to the best city theatres in its seating arrangements and stage room.

CHAPTER XXX.

HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG.

Location-Original Owners of the Land-The Town Plotted-Early Industries-Building of the Canal-Incorporation of the Town-Revocation of the Charter-Mills, Stores and Factories-Banks-Second Organization as Borough-C. E. McKernan's Reminiscences- Churches-The Paper Mill-Williamsburg's Awakening.

WILLIAMSBURG.

This town is located on the Juniata river in the southeastern section of the county. The land on which it stands was originally owned by John Canan and John Swift. It remained in its primitive condition up to about 1790. About this time Jacob Ake, a German from Washington, Md., purchased from Canan and Swift 600 acres of land. The price paid was $6 per acre. In 1795 he engaged Patrick Cassidy of Newry to survey and lay out a town plot. On the fourteenth of August the work commenced. It then contained 100 lots. The streets were named Front, Second, Hugh, Plumb and Spring. Mr. Ake adopted the plan of selling the lots on a lease of one dollar an- nually forever. And it is said that many of the lots are yet subject to that tax. The place was first known by the name of Aketown. A num- ber of lots were sold but the growth of the town was slow. It contained about twenty families in 1814. The leading business men at that time were Robert Province, a merchant, and also postmaster; William Entriken, mer- chant; John Martin, innkeeper; William Mc- Gimpsey, innkeeper. Among those who owned lots or lived there may be named Clark, Bell, Burns, Porter, Parker, Davis and Bardle. Up to this time the town had neither church nor school. Jacob Ake, the owner of the land, and the founder of the town, made the first provis-

ion for education. Seeing the necessity of edu- cational training among the young, Mr. Ake secured teachers and defrayed all expenses from his private purse. His word was re- garded as law with the youth, and when he issued a command the parentage acquiesced and the children rendered obedience. Thus it was when the pioneer established his first school. He visited village householders, brandished his staff and the children hied away to school. About fifteen years this system of instruction existed through the same channel, when sub- scription schools began.

The pioneer settlers in deciding on good lo- cations for towns were guided by such things as were hopeful resources of their day, not even dreaming that the developments of the country would introduce such modes of travel and transportation that might relegate their sites to the rear and build others in unexpected quar- ters. In addition to Williamsburg being on the Juniata river, it has also a large spring of pure limestone water. It has sufficient fall that only a few rods from its source it can give power to operate a mill. There was one built here at an early day, but by whom we have no account. There was a mill and a saw-mill built here about 1791 or '92. They were doubtless built by Jacob Ake, as he became the owner of the land about that time. There was also a dis- tillery about this time or soon after, but who owned or operated it we have no account. Its

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population in 1814 was equal to Frankstown, and far in excess of Hollidaysburg. An oil - mill, the only one the county can boast of, a tannery and distillery were among the first in- dustries of the county. The outlook for the town seemed flattering even before the building of the canal.

In 1829 Huyett & Neff bought the mill prop- erty and engaged in milling, merchandising and "arking." Arks were a species of boat for floating produce to the eastern markets at the time of floods. Mr. Neff was the head of the firm, Neff, Dean & Co., who in 1857 built the Juniata furnace at Williamsburg. It was through this firm that the Rome iron manufac- turing company of Georgia came into existence. Their furnace has shared the fate of all others in the county. A great heap of slag is the only mark of its site.

Hawley and Woodcock established a bucket factory in 1830, but of their success no record is left. The industry has long since ceased to be.

The canal, built in 1832, passed through Williamsburg, and like many other towns it seemed confident that the rubicon of the means of transportation was reached. However, soon after the abandonment of the canal in 1870, a railroad was constructed on its site and its ter- minus was at Williamsburg. And when the Petersburg branch was constructed across the Allegheny via the Portage, it followed the line of the Williamsburg branch from Holli- daysburg and the town now can boast of a double track road both to the east and west.

In 1827 the town was incorporated as a bor- ough. The officers elected in 1828 were George Slayman, Aaron Burns, Nathaniel Steel, Henry Lower and Frederic Menner, town coun- cil; Samuel Fluke, high constable; William Speer and Andrew Thompson, overseers of the poor; James A. Kerr, borough constable, and Christian Coutz and John Weaver, super- visors.

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 63

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