USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Altoona > Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 64
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It seems that the government was not prop- erly administered and after a trial of about twelve years the charter was revoked and no corporate officers were elected. The total as-
sessed valuation of the town at this time was $58,082, and on this a tax of $160.55 was levied.
The merchants counted among their custom- ers residents within a radius of fifteen miles, and having the advantage of the canal, the best means for the cheap and speedy transportation of goods, and also gave them equally good fa- cilities for shipping all kinds of produce, it made their business remunerative and brought prosperity to the town.
About 1830 David Bender and Henry Hub- ler carried on an extensive business in the Williamsburg woolen mills. They gave em- ployment to from ten to fifteen men and boys. It was the largest mill of the kind in the county.
In the Hollidaysburg Aurora, under date of September, 1834, they advertise that "carding, spinning, weaving of every description, blue- dyeing and fancy coloring for carpeting, etc., also the manufacture of broadcloths, satins, flannels and blankets, the full breadth, coverlets and carpets would be performed in a workman- like manner." They offered to receive grain in payment, which could be delivered at mills or stores in the neighborhood where people lived, and their offer extended to Sinking valley, Woodcock valley, and Morrison's cove. Ben- der & Co. were succeeded by the Whiteheads who continued the business until the death of one of the firm. The mill has disappeared from the face of the earth.
A bank was established September 15, 1873, with a capital stock of $30,000 as a branch of the First National bank of Hollidaysburg. It was controlled by Messrs. Jack, Blair, Watson, Morrow & Co., and William Jack was elected as president and John Clark cashier.
Soon after the completion of the canal a foundry was established but by whom we have not been able to learn. Later on it was oper- ated (and perhaps owned) by the Reileys. For a time they did a thriving business. Much of their products was used in repair work about the canal. It seems after the building of the furnace by Neff, Dean & Co., the foundry was absorbed by that firm.
After some five or more years a Mr. Kemp
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obtained control and continued operations for three or four years when the works were en- larged and sold to George Fay & Co., in 1868. They organized the Williamsburg manufactur- ing company. The company operated the works for about eight years when they ceased and were dismantled. James M. Kinkead be- came the owner of the site. There were several tanneries, one owned by James K. Neff, the other by Adolphus Patterson, but no informa- tion as to when they were built or how long they continued is obtainable. After the aban- donment of the canal Williamsburg experienced a time of decline. Improvements ceased and property depreciated in value and the popula- tion diminished.
On tht tenth day of May, 1909, the Farmers' and Merchants' national bank was organized with a capital of $25,000. The organization consisted of George G. Patterson, president ; C. R. Fluke, cashier; John B. Stroup, first vice president, and D. T. Ketring, second vice president.
Williamsburg was organized as a borough and incorporated for the second time in 1898. The population in 1840 was 637, and in fifty years it had increased but little more than two hundred, being 888 in 1890. In 1900 it was 935. Since the establishment of the paper mill, the construction of the Petersburg branch of the Pennsylvania railroad and the opening of the stone quarries in the surrounding country, the population has increased rapidly, and the figures of 1910 will doubtless show an amount almost double those of 1900.
The following interesting bit of history was contributed by C. E. McKernan :
"The first house erected in Williamsburg is still standing. It is a small stone house on the first street opposite the residence of the late Dr. W. P. Wilson. In early days it was occu- pied by a family by the name of Duck. Mr. Duck was a blacksmith, and his wife made gingerbread for sale that was noted far and wide as the real thing.
One among the first houses was that of John Mitz, deceased, which has since been remodeled. It was the first or among the first hotels in the
town, and it was called the Spring Hotel, no doubt because it was close to the "big spring."
Until very recently it contained a veritable dungeon in the cellar, with a door so concealed that only the initiated could locate it. It has been stated that the proprietor sold a lot of "corn-cob-twist-your-hair" bitters that made some of his customers go crazy for a day or two until they would get accustomed to that sort of "tipple," and while in that condition he would pen them up in the dungeon until they would regain their senses.
Old Graveyard .- The oldest graveyard in this place seems to be the German Reformed and possibly the first church was the Reformed. The graveyard on which the church stood is on East Second street.
Not many of the tomb-stones are now left, though there were at one time a considerable number. It is even stated that some of the stones were carted away and used for paving purposes. Some of the stones, notably of Aaron Burns and his wife Mary Ann, are very good yet, and the lettering on them is very legi- ble, which can not be said of some of more modern make in some of the other graveyards here.
Perhaps not a half dozen people in town know that the simple inscription on one of the stones which reads thus: "Adam Lauer, died June 16, 1833, in the seventy-eighth year of his age," commemorates the name of a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and who spent with Washington and his heroes that cold and weary winter at Valley Forge over 100 years ago. Such, however, is the case, and this year for the first time his grave will be decorated by the Grand Army post. The fact of his being a Revolutionary soldier was ascertained by the writer only recently, which accounts for the neglect of the past. Had the Grand Army post known the facts his grave would have been decorated with others. For the facts here given we are indebted to Mrs. A. E. Garner.
Mr. A. Lauer of Campus, Ill., a grandson of the old hero, came to Williamsburg some time ago and erected a very handsome stone, and built a neat fence around the grave.
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The stone church which stood on the grave- yard has been taken away. It had not been used for church purposes for many years prior to its removal.
The Baptist Church .- The following is taken from Africa's history of Blair county :
"This church was organized with twenty members in 1829 and received into the Juniata association the same year. Thomas Williams was the first Baptist preacher to hold meetings here. Those who followed him were David Williams, 1834-36; W. M. Jones, 1841-42; W. B. Bingham, 1843; J. R. Morris, 1846, and J. B. Williams, 1844-50. As mentioned in the histories of the Presbyterian and Methodist churches, the small brick building erected in 1816, the first edifice erected in the village, finally became the property of the Baptists, and was used by them as long as they maintained an organization.
. For some years the church reported by let- ter, but by removals very few were left and in 1862 it was dropped from the rolls of the association. A few years afterwards the trus- tees sold the material of the old house of wor- ship, but held the lot. The whole number bap- tized during the existence of the church was eighty-five, sixteen of them prior to 1830. Jesse R. Hampson, who was born in Hunting- don county in 1804, and died in 1838, after hav- ing attended school at Haddington, and under appointment as a missionary to Burmah, was from this church."
Lutheran Church .- It seems that there is a difference of opinion as to the tradition of Jacob Ake's gift of land for the purpose of hav- ing thereon erected a union church. Priority was given to the Methodist church by some au- thorities, and now others claim that the Luth- eran church led off in this movement. With- out pretending to definitely settle this point, one thing is doubtless true, that all the churches represented at the place used this house for a number of years. In 1823 the Lutherans and Reforms united in building a house which they jointly used up to 1835. At this time the Lutherans decided to build their own house, which was completed in 1836.
This house continued in use up to 1880, when it was replaced by another. This one continued to be used up to 1907, when it was torn down and such material as could be used was applied to the present beautiful edifice, with the parsonage connected. The entire cost was $25,000. The present membership numbers 240. The Sunday school has an enrollment of 359.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- The early history of this church it would seem was not re- corded and can not at this late date be given with any assurance of certainty. Tradition points back to about 1800. Jacob Ake, the founder of the town, arranged the second story of his dwelling as a place of worship, and for a time it was used by them exclusively. It seems that Mr. Ake was of their faith. There num- ber increased and a class was formed, and in 1816 they joined with others in erecting the Union house. . They continued to use this up to 1830, when it was purchased by the Bap- tists. In 1831 the Methodists erected a brick house 40x60 feet. This they continued to use until 1854 when it was torn down and another was erected on its site at a cost of $10,000.
It would seem from the fragmentary records from 1841 onward that it was the starting point of Methodism in the county, as nearly all other places were included in the Williamsburg cir- cuit. It even included Hopewell, Loysburg, Woodbury and Sarah furnace. Quite a num- ber of changes took place in the pastoral force and the church prospered.
Presbyterian Church .- Among the early set- tlers in the valleys around Williamsburg were people of the Presbyterian faith. They were mostly of the Scotch-Irish. Prior to the organ- ization of any churches or the erection of edi- fices for special church service, traveling or sup- ply preachers visited the scattered members as early as 1770. These visits were doubtless con- trived at irregular intervals, holding the meet- ings at private houses. Among those early pioneer ministers and perhaps the very first, were John King and Mr. McDonigal.
In the year 1784 there was a church organ- ized in Hart's Log valley and out of it the
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church at Williamsburg sprang. Rev. James Gilbrath who was stationed at Hollidaysburg, and doubtless preached in the surrounding country, organized a church in Williamsburg on the first day of May, 1816. The member- ship at the time numbered about thirty-five. The first elders were David Stewart, Alexander Nesbit, Hugh McKillip and John Fergus.
The first house of worship built in the town was a union house and was used by all the dif- ferent denominations. This was in 1816. In later years it was called the "Baptist church," no doubt having passed into their hands.
In 1824 David Stewart, John Stewart, Rob- ert Campbell, Joseph Roller and William Spear were appointed a committee to select a site and erect a house of worship. Jacob Ake, the origi- nal proprietor of the town, donated a lot to each denomination for church purposes. The committee, however, thinking that the title would be more secure, paid him one dollar.
They then contracted with Adolphus Patter- son for the erection of a brick house 35x50 feet, for $800. This house, though never very substantial, continued in use up to about 1840. In 1839 a building committee consisting of Joseph Roller, Joshua Roller, John Clark, Sr., and Maxwell Kinkade, was appointed, who purchased two lots from John Higgins for $500 and awarded a contract to David S. Rhule and Samuel F. Cooper to erect a house for $2,300. The additions and changes when completed swelled the amount to $3,500. It was com- pleted in 1841.
In 1860 the house was remodeled. A new spire and new bell took the place of the old ones, and the pews and pulpit were recon- structed. The cost was $1,000.
The parsonage was purchased in 1849 by James M. Johnston, Joseph Fay, John K. Neff, Samuel Dean and Joshua Roller, paying $100 each. The remaining $300 of the purchase money was made up by the congregation. The present membership is about 225, with an en- rollment in the Sunday school of 150. During 1909 about $800 were spent in repairs and painting.
A number of enterprising residents of Will-
iamsburg a few years ago conceived the idea of establishing some enterprise that would revive the industrial progress of the town, and a paper mill, it was decided, would be more suited to the place than any other line of manu- facture. A careful canvass of the territory that would be directly benefitted by the step was successful in securing the co-operation of a number of persons, but the amount of capital that was required was not immediately forth- coming.
With this condition confronting the projec- tors of the mill, the idea was conceived of bringing the matter to the attention of Mr. Charles M. Schwab, the great steel king, and soliciting his assistance. Mr. Schwab is a na- tive of Williamsburg, and has always had pleasant recollections and a warm spot in his heart for the town of his birth. The project in due time was carefully laid before him, with the result that he was interested and imme- diately agreed to render all aid in his power to help his former townsmen. With his support assured, no time was lost in bringing the plans to a successful fruition.
On May 19, 1903, the corner stone of the in- dustry that is destined to bring Williamsburg to a position of importance was laid, with ap- propriate ceremonies. One of the greatest crowds ever gathered in the hospitable town was present, demonstrating the greatest inter- est that centered in the event. Among those who rejoiced in the changed outlook of the town was Mr. Schwab. At the dedicatory ex- ercises he renewed his pledge to stand by the town, and informed an appreciative audience of his friends that they should proceed with their plans, and any help they might need, they could could rest assured, would be forthcoming. That he made good his word in every partic- ular is evidenced by what the visitors to Will- iamsburg will see today.
It was originally intended to expend about $250,000 for the plant, but as the work pro- gressed it was readily realized that this sum would be wholly inadequate, if the works were to be made up-to-date in every particular and in conformity with the ideals of the prospectors.
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It is stated that close on to a million dollars had been consumed in the various parts of the mill before they were ready for operation.
There may be larger paper mills in the coun- try than the Williamsburg plant, but there are none more adapted for the purposes for which it was constructed. The machinery is all of the latest and most improved pattern, enabling the product to be turned out at the minimum of cost, while at the same time maintaining a high standard of quality. The two large paper making machines, making paper 100 and I12 inches wide, respectively, have embodied in them the very latest ideas which experience has demonstrated to be essential and effective in the production of paper.
There are thirteen buildings used in the various stages of paper manufacture, but each of these are subjoined, making in reality one monster and continuous plant. Each building is interdependent of the others, but perform- ing its proper and independent part in the whole scheme of manufacture. Starting with the power room, where are located a battery of the very latest and most improved boilers, which is connected with a building containing a 1,200 horsepower compound engine, which supplies the motive power that runs an alter- nating generator that supplies all the power that is required to operate the almost intermin- able machinery, the various processes used in converting the logs of wood into the finest grade of super-calendered paper, can be traced until the finished product is packed in the ship- ping room and sent to various parts of the country, to be converted into books that will have an important part, perhaps, on the civil- ization and life of the world.
All buildings have been erected with an eye to their permanence and substantiability. Nothing has been done in a slipshod or care- less manner. - Those who conceived and suc- cessfully completed the project had in their minds' eye the future of the plant and the town which it will enrich, and natural growth has been provided for. Stone and brick are used almost exclusively in construction. All buildings are well lighted and well ventilated,
making the conditions of labor as pleasant as possible. Nothing that would contribute to the comfort and well-being of employes has been overlooked; while the very nature of the work is attended with unavoidable disagree- able features, these have been reduced to the smallest degree, and it is a conservative state- ment to say that there is no paper manufactur- ing plant in the country that excels it in this regard.
Wood is used exclusively in the manufac- ture of paper, the raw material being reduced to pulp by what is called the "soda process." Mr. H. A. Dariall, general manager of sales, who is a thorough paper man and intimately acquainted with the multiplicity of details that attend its production, has described minutely and in an interesting and enlightening manner the various phases of the work which appear in another article in this issue. A careful peru- sal of his "personally conducted tour" cannot but be of advantage to the reader.
Thousands and thousands of cords of raw material are stacked near the mill, the supply on hand being sufficient to keep the works op- erating to their fullest capacity for three years. Of course, as fast as this wood is converted into the finished product new supplies are be- ing received, it being the intention to always keep at least three years' supply ahead. This will obviate any necessity for closing the works on account of not receiving a sufficient quan- tity of wood to keep it in operation, the wis- dom here displayed by the management being in keeping with that which has characterized every phase of the enterprise.
The question of obtaining a sufficient supply of water is also one that will give no concern. The projectors have secured a spring of pure, sparkling water, with a daily flow of about 6,000,000 gallons. Water, in the manufacture of paper, next to the wood, is most essential; in fact, without it there could be no produc- tion. It is also quite necessary that water should be as pure and clear as possible. These conditions have been met in the supply secured. The spring never varies in the amount of flow, and the water is as pure as it is possible to se-
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cure it. The best evidence of this is the large trout that can be seen gliding through the water.
It is the desire of the management of the mill to give employment to as many home people as possible. Hereafter, instead of boys and girls looking forward to the time when they will be compelled to go out in the world and seek employment, they will have the con- solation of knowing that if they are industri- ous and temperate they will be enabled to earn a competency at home.
Of course, those who have been brought from a distance have added to the well being of the town. They have made imperative the erection of the large number of new houses, homes that will compare favorably with those found anywhere. The increase in population, incident to the starting of the works, will amount to several hundred souls, who will have to be fed and clothed, and business will be increased to that extent.
The town people can rejoice that it possesses a number of far-seeing and energetic citizens, and also in the fact that it numbered among its `native sons Mr. Schwab. Without money, energy is practically useless ; and Mr. Schwab, after a career of achievement and success in other fields of endeavor, was in a position to extend the needed aid. That he was willing to do something for the place where he first saw the light of day, and has opened up for it a career of usefulness and prosperity, has en- deared him in the heart of every man in Will- iamsburg. He has helped the people into a position where they are able to help themselves, and his friendship for the town has caused to be erected to his memory a monument that will be more enduring than bronze or marble.
the recent industrial revival, the outlook, in- deed, is most promising.
Stirred by the success of the initial venture, the enterprising people will undoubtedly be spurred on to other efforts in the line of prog- ress, the careless and don't-care-what-happens feeling that is so frequently found in villages which have been atrophied by the sudden stop- ping of industrial activity, and with which Williamsburg was, until within recent years, not exempt, has been displaced by a laudable determination to a place of importance in the industrial world, and that they will succeed in their efforts is certainly assured by the accom- plishments of a few short years.
The town of Williamsburg, lying dormant and dead in an industrial sense since Civil war times, has had a great awakening, presaging a future of progress and prosperity, and to- day will officially mark the beginning of the new epoch. The Williamsburg Paper Manu- facturing company, which has revitalized and instilled new energy and vigor in the staid old village, giving hope to the inhabitants that great things are in store, will be formally opened, and to properly observe the occasion elaborate preparations have been made by a committee of enterprising citizens.
The day will probably be the greatest in the history of the borough, and it is expected that hundreds of former citizens, compelled to go elsewhere to seek a livelihood by the lifeless condition of their birthplace, will return and rejoice, with those who have remained, on the improved outlook.
For three years the people have thought and talked about little else than" the paper plant. It was so pregnant with possibilities and meant so-much to the town and its people that there is no wonder that this was so. With no indus- try worth mentioning and no future that would hold out hope, the older residents who place had watched with sorrowful eyes the'de- cay of the village. Vigorous and ambitious young men, finding all' roads to a successful career barred to them in their home town, were compelled to seek new fields for the dis-
The hope is frequently expressed by enthu- siastic residents of Williamsburg that in the very near future the place will take rank as the third town in the county in point of size and for various reasons had remained loyal to the industrial importance, and there is no reason for declaring that they are unduly optimistic. With many natural advantages, with a popu- lation noted for its industry and sobriety, and encouraged by the great impetus given it by
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play of their talents, and as soon as they were old enough went out into the world in the struggle with fortune.
This was the condition a few years ago when Mr. J. F. Ellsworth succeeded in con- vincing a few enterprising residents that some- thing should be done to reinvigorate the place. Had it not been for the fact that the accident of birth made Mr. Charles M. Schwab a native of the place, their efforts would probably have been fruitless, as it requires much enthusiasm and much happy optimism to induce people to expend in a comparatively unknown venture the amount of money that has been used to build and equip the paper plant.
Mr. Schwab, having been appealed to, read- ily assented to the proposition and pledged his fortune to the success of the undertaking. Nothing else was required, and work was en- ergetically started on the project, the success- ful completion of which is celebrated with great rejoicing.
There is not a town or city in the country that would not welcome with open arms such an enterprise as has been given to Williams- burg. It assures permanent and profitable employment to several hundred people, and with its inhabitants employed at remunerative occupation the town is bound to be prosperous. All lines of business are affected, and the money that comes through the paper mill will find its way through all the channels and ar- teries of trade, everybody receiving benefit and prospering in a greater or less degree.
Signs of a new era are everywhere apparent. On all sides in the village can be seen new houses recently erected or others in course of construction. In the western end of the vil- lage a new town has been laid out, with nearly a hundred up-to-date and comfortable villas. Rarely can one find workingmen's houses that are superior to these.
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