Tyrone of to-day : the gateway of the Alleghanies, Part 11

Author: Wilson, W. H
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Tyrone, Pa. : Press of the Herald
Number of Pages: 206


USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Tyrone > Tyrone of to-day : the gateway of the Alleghanies > Part 11


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THE MEDICAL FRATERNITY of Tyrone are as follows, those first in the list being the older :


G. W. Bnrket, Tenth street and Logan avenue.


C. M. Ewing, 1047 Logan avenue.


D. J. Appleby, 1251 Penn'a avenue.


J. T. Wilson, Logan avenue and Eleventh street.


F. K. Fickes, 1305 Pennsylvania avenne.


W. L. Lowrie, 861 Washington avenue.


L. F. Crawford, 110 West Tenth street.


R. L. Piper, 935 Logan avenue.


B. J. Fulkerson, 1117 Penn'a avenue.


W. L. Musser, office at 1050 Logan avenue.


G. F. Wise, office at 105 West Twelfth street.


J. M. Gemmill, P. R. R. Surgeon, 1215 Logan avenue.


J. B. Lincoln, P. R. R. Relief Physician, Pruner building.


WALTON & ACKLIN


I. P. WALTON, AND BUILDING.


13


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WARD HOUSE.


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DENTISTS.


Elmer Crawford, office in Odd Fellows' building.


J. A. Witter. office in Study building.


Thadeus Stine, office in Blair Co. Bank building. A. R. Markle, office in Flynn building.


J. T. Swartz, office in Sneeringer building.


ENGINEER AND SURVEYOR.


J. L. Henry, Herald building, Pennsylvania avenue.


J. S. Cunningham, 820 Washington avenue.


Since the previous chapters were put in type, there have been growth and enlargement in Tyrone which necessitate the addition of a few paragraphs here.


The public spirit of our citizens has been manifested in a spontaneous movement to improve the much traveled and picturesque road along the river to Birmingham. Cut into the steep hillside as it had to be with great labor and at much expense, the road has been in some places too narrow for teams to pass with safety. It seemed, indeed, as if it must be so. But a live and growing community is not satisfied that it should continue to be so. With some co-operation and assist- ance from the county. but mainly by private contributions, the highway has been widened and a permanent guard fence placed on the river side for the protection of travelers, and other improvements made at a cost of about $2500. In this. work the largest credit is due to H. A. Gripp whose energy and liberality made practicable what many had wished but had not dared to hope for. The Pennsylvania R. R. Co., not willing to be outdone by local enterprise, have contributed their share towards the good work by removing obstructions at the Lewisburg and Tyrone R. R. bridge. Finally, the state authorities have waked up to the construction of a new bridge over the river just above Birmingham, where the old one was carried away by a summer flcod.


The march of improvement is visible in our public schools. Since October 1st, two new courses have been inaugurated in the High School. A full Commercial course is conducted by Mr. George S. McClure, and a course in Shorthand by Mr. H.


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M. Sausser. The number of students in these courses is 45. The enrolment in all of the schools for November was 1285.


The Tyrone Post Office is booming and, if it continues to do so at the present rate, the energetic postmaster will ere long be obliged to add more space for increased business. If the exigencies of politics or the good of the country shall call for a new broom to sweep the office, it will need to be of picked material and best workmanship to hold up to the standard of the present administration. On November 26, a shipment of 200,000 stamped envelopes was received, making two large loads for a team of horses to haul from the station. The last annual report shows a stamp business amounting to $22,423.81. But in the twelve months ending November 30, it reached a total of nearly $28,000. This office stands at the head of second- class post offices in the United States in the amount of Money Order business. Two additional carriers have been set to work, making five engaged in delivery now, and a sixth will be added before long when the East Tyrone office will be merged into that of Tyrone. Ten new street boxes have been added since our account in Chap. V was printed.


Four new societies have to be added to the list given in Chap. VI. F. M. C., or Fraternal Mystic Circle meet in Mystic Hall on second and fourth Tuesday evenings. For further unfolding of this mystery we refer to the Professor, James L. Beyer.


The Knights of Malta, an order fraternal, religious and beneficial. have just organized with a membership of about 100.


The P. M. A. A., or Paper Mill Athletic Association, is but a fledgeling of a month old, a lively one, however, num- bering about 120 members. Its object is the physical, mental and moral improvement of the men who work in this great industry. Rooms have been engaged in the Walsh building just adjoining Blair County Bank. There is a Reading Room on the second floor, and on the third floor a Game Room and the Gymnasium, which is to be fitted up with the best appli- ances for physical culture. The officers are : President, Richard Beaston; Vice President, M. J. Wike; Secretary and Treasurer, S. P. Eby.


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Tyrone Ministerial Association was organized on Dec. 6, 1897, for mutual improvement and co operation in doing good. The number constituting the association was the apostolic number of eleven, all good disciples and no Judas to carry the bag. It was deemed proper, however, to elect a President, F. L. Bergstresser, and a Secretary, W. H. Wilson. The num- ber will soon be increased, it is expected, to sixteen. The autumnal Conferences have brought about changes in the pas- torate of two of our churches, the U. B. and A. M. E., the former being now ministered to by Rev. W. W. Rymer and the latter by Rev. A. Smothers.


That our readers may be informed correctly and up to date, we here apprise them of another change. The Tyrone Elks would appear to be a migratory order of animals, or a company of about 80 strong going into winter quarters. They are headed for the Smith building on West Tenth street, opposite Templeton's store. We are informed that this is not because of the change of the season, nor is it a change for a season, but rather a seasonable change; and the elaborate preparations they are making warrant us in assuring our readers that, at all seasons for years to come, they will be found comfortably domiciled in their new habitation.


The staid old comrades of the G. A. R. have also decided on a change of front and, having heard that "Westward the course of empire takes its way," they are on their way onward and upward to the third floor of the Blair Co. Bank building.


The Royal Arcanum has been making rapid growth and has "passed the century mark."


We are happy to add that the church interests of the town are not lagging behind in the general advancement.


The Baptist Church Edifice on North Logan avenue, has been renovated both inside and out, making it practically a new building. Separated from the Audience Room by a slid- ing glass partition is a room 24x20 feet, used for the Primary School and for Prayer meetings. New roof, new vestibule, new paint and paper, new and handsome windows, new car- pets, new opera chairs for large room and folding chairs for


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small room, new brass chandelier and side lights, new steam- heating equipment-seem to denote that "all things have be- come new." If now there be added "a new heart and a right spirit," (and the signs indicate that these are coming) then, like the Baptist of Bible days, they will do their part "to prepare the way of the Lord." Generous help has been given towards this work by many citizens, not of this faith.


The First Lutheran Church has taken a step in advance by adding to the pastor's salary the sum which he was paying annually as interest on the Parsonage Loan, a preliminary skirmish to the more arduous achievement which another summer will doubtless witness, the building of a larger edifice of worship.


The Presbyterian Church is preparing to plant a colony in one of the upper wards, and already talk of building a chapel for the new enterprise. For a church as strong as this is, the way to multiply is to divide. In union is strength, no doubt, but in amicable separation with co-operation there is the putting forth of strength, which is better.


Meanwhile, in the Seventh Ward, the Columbia avenue M. E. Church and the German Baptist Brethren are enlarging the border of their tent to embrace new converts. Similar reports come from the outstation of the U. B. Church, East of the borough.


The First M. E. Church is gathering up its energies for the campaign and may be depended upon to make a good record not inferior to any.


The W. C. T. U. are increasing their number. The present active membership exceeds 40. The new officers are : President, Mrs. B. Jones Bell ; Vice President, Mrs. Robert Stewart; Secretary, Mrs. D. R. Harris; Treasurer, Mrs. T. A. Goodno. They are sustaining a sprightly column weekly in "The Herald."


The hill overlooking the Railway Station has become a scene of activity. The new Shoe Factory has been running at full capacity and the light from its windows by night has become a familiar sight to the dwellers in West Tyrone.


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Many of the citizens visited the factory on November 17 and were interested in witnessing the successive operations of making a shoe, dexterously and rapidly performed by the aid of improved machinery.


Koons's Confectionery has likewise spread itself over into the adjoining building and now occupies the upper floor over Z. B. Gray's in addition to the four floors of its own building.


The Star Ointment Company will be found at 1209 Penn- sylvania avenue.


Some men want the earth, it is said; and some men say they want heaven. But what shall be said of the man who is not satisfied with land, even, but covets the waters that are under the earth ? Who would have thought that under the smiling face of R. S. Seeds there throbs so covetous a heart ? Nevertheless he has almost completed a large three-story building which "straddles" the Little Bald Eagle Creek. “If the waters could speak as they flow along"


We expected to present views of several handsome resi- dences of our town; particularly those of A. G. Morris, J. L. Mitchell and the exceptionally elegant building of F. W. Ack- lin, only just completed. Partly on account of cloudy days, but chiefly because of the rush of business with our photog- raphers, we have failed to obtain them in time for the issue of this volume. We can only say to strangers who may read these pages. come and see for yourself. You will find very few towns showing a higher average of neatness in the dwell- ings of their people, of cleanliness in their streets and of busi- ness in their stores. Commercial travelers often say, as we overheard one tell on the cars the other day, "Tyrone is the best town between Harrisburg and Pittsburg." Our little map following the title page shows how convenient a place it is to get to and from. Twenty-six trains arrive and 26 de- part every twenty-four hours from the station.


In tracing the evolution of the P. R. R., we purposed to mention that Tyrone Division has in its service a veteran of the late Portage R. R. (making respectful mention of a de- funct enterprise) in the person of Joseph Parks, the Road


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Foreman of Engines, who. with mature experience, supervises the iron steeds and their drivers that rum on the branches. Also we should have called attention in our walk about the station to the Adams Express office in the N. W. room of the first floor ; a very important factor in the handling of the large trade of Tyrone, and very acceptably managed by the agent, F. L. Hahne.


A significant fact in support of the claims of "The Cen- tral City" is this, that the railroad company is now at great expense excavating a tunnel underneath their main line tracks so as to better accommodate the passenger business at the sta- tion. This tunnel begins just opposite the Ward House front and runs some distance into the bank on the other side, affording a safe passage to and from the waiting room on the South side.


On the ascending slope across the tracks the Blair County Bank is preparing to open up streets and lay out lots for build ing purposes, adjoining the Shoe Factory.


So the Central City bids the world Welcome. Her seven and a half thousand say to all good people, Come. She has room for other thousands. She has yet room to grow. More room for the great railroad to spread herself ; room for more railroads to ascend the mountains ; room for other profitable industries. Room in the great valley of the Juniata ; room in the smaller valleys worn by prehistoric floods through the mountain ramparts ; room at the top for illimitable expansion, where the air exhilarates and the prospect pleases.


The people of Tyrone know that they are citizens of no mean city, and wish to let others know about it. The author has made close observation of men and things in the last few months, which impels him to give expression to his own opinions as to some conditions of a healthy growth. There are certain business virtues which need to be cultivated.


One of these is Sobriety. We have an excellent average of moral qualities among our business men, but more of this virtue would help our town, as it helps every town wherever it is practised. It would not be difficult to predict the future of some now fairly prosperous men, in whom habits of dissi-


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pation are making themselves visible to everybody, but them- selves. We have a Women's Temperance Society. There should be a Ten:perance organization which would take hold of men; and he would be a benefactor to the community who would be the leader in establishing one and making it suc- cessful.


Another important virtue is Courtesy. In this we are not below the average, but it is to every man's interest to be above the average. There are some who lose a letter from the word and spell it curtesy. Such men cannot attract and, in their dealings with others, are doomed to failure.


A farther requisite to success is Co-operation. There are those whose political creed is high protection, but they make a miserable failure in the application of it to their own town. Foster the home industries, encourage by your patronage home enterprises, give your support to your own merchants. But candor compels this writer to say that business men them- selves are, in this respect, the most flagrant offenders, assum- ing the right and the privilege to purchase supplies outside of their own line in foreign markets; while they claim that, in their line, their townsmen should support them. So the Irish parson of hilarious habits used to say to his parishioners, "Don't do as I do, but do as I tell you to do." Let merchants pledge themselves to buy of each other at home; then with good grace they may lecture the common people on supporting home trade.


Our work is now completed but, ere we bid farewell to the reader, let us relate to him


THE DREAM OF LOGAN.


THE HERO.


On Alleghany's heights the evening sun


Long shadows o'er the lonely vale had thrown, And mirrored on the pool a stalwart frame,


The dusky chief who gave that vale his name.


With head upraised the circling hills to scan,


And face whose lines bespoke no common man, One eye swept round from sun to river's narrow ; One sightless orb, pierced by the foeman's arrow. 1


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Flooded with glory of departing day, The mountain's rift, the valley's gateway, lay. Awhile he gazed ; then turned him to the East, Where stately pines adorned Bald Eagle's crest.


Beyond those hills, from Susquehanna's wood, The warrior's feet five weary days had trod, A chief disowned ; for the one arrow's stroke That dimmed his eye, his scepter rudely broke.


The day retires ; the night comes creeping on. Another look before the light is gone Northward, where rise the terraced slopes that shed The waters fresh from heaven's fountainhead.


That eye that never quailed before a foe Now films with grief ; his feathered head bends low ; His heart is bowed ; his bosom heaves with sorrow. This vale he called his home, he leaves tomorrow.


And why should cruel fate pursue the brave, Whose feet had hasted white men's lives to save From torch and sword and traitor's tory band, When war and pillage Weston basely planned ?


No baser heart in breast of traitor beats Than his, who true and trusting manhood cheats. By law, (not right, ) the wigwam's site was sold. The land of Penn betrayed her friend for gold.


That night in shelter of his humble hut, His blanket wrapped about him, Logan slept. Nor fear nor care disturbed his resting frame, But to his soul a gentle vision came.


THE DREAM.


He stood as at eve by the Spring, where it rose From cavernous depths, whence it issues and flows To join the blue river that sweeps to the sea, Shedding mountain top blessings on homes of the free.


He gazes again down the waterworn gap ; The vista with splendor of sunset lit up. It darkens ; the stars twinkle down from the jet, Like sentinel lights in the canopy set.


F


VIEW OF THE NARROWS FROM CEMETERY HILL.


E. J. PRUNER.


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Then a spirit low whispers in dreams of the night; A scroll from the sky is unrolled to his sight; Down the vista of time his enrapt spirit flew, And a century's lapse brings a new world to view.


He saw through the pass eager multitudes throng; On foot and in wagons they hurry along; To the stroke of their axes the grim forest yields, And the smoke of their cabins curls up from the fields.


They delve in earth's bowels to mine the rich ore; They melt it and mold it with furnace's roar; Forth leaps the live metal ; it crawls on the ground ; Fiery monsters glide o'er it with thunderous sound, And wind through the valley, and coil round the hills ; But each monster a man sways and guides as he wills.


The secrets of ages they haste to unseal. The depths of the mountains dark dungeons reveal, Where forests primeval, no woodman had felled, (The might of the sunbeams, a prisoner held), From sleep of millenniums rudely bestirred, "The strength of the hills" offer up to their lord.


The dauntless Cayuga, amazed at the sight, With quickening pulses beholds a strange light Illumine the valley ; like torches below That paled with their brightness the firmament's glow.


The voice of the chieftain the quietness broke ; ·


For he saw at the bend of the river a smoke, As from pillar of fire, soaring up to the sky ; And mad whirring wheels the swift waters defy.


"What is this ?"' he demanded, and forth from the ground An answer returned, as from caverns profound :


"The race that have brought the sunbeams from the mine. Here have stabled the lightning, and caused it to shine, Like torches of war o'er the valleys afar Where the white man has harnessed the sun to his ear."


"And across Juniata, high up in the air, Another smoke bursts from a chimney-top there. Great houses surround, made of boards from the wood, And their bark peeled and piled; spirit, say, for what good ?"'


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"Red son of the forest, the paleface is wise. Skins of oxen, a hundred a day he supplies That his feet may be shod over rock-paths to tread ; And to toughen the skins, with this bark they are fed. See, yonder, a hundred bright windows look down And send merry greeting to dwellers in town. There a hundred hands join and, with movement like song, White men's footwear, a thousand a day, pass along."


"But, spirit, behold where the stream rushes through From the Eagle's Divide to the town ; there are two Tall chimneys, and buildings thick cover the ground. With their hum, as of beehives, the hilltops re ound. Within them what monsters voracious, whose food Is black stones from the mountain and trees from the wood ?"


To the questioner eager the spirit replies,


"Said I not, chieftain, the white man is wise ? His feet tread the ground, his head mounts the skies, And distance and difficult things he defies. Your sachems great multitudes swayed with their voice; He his messages sends round the world without noise. The trees of the forest for him tidings bear As carrier birds wing their flight through the air. By teeth into shreds the hard timber is torn, To the maw of the monster resistlessly borne; As food in our bodies is changed into blood, By a magical process comes milk from the wood;


Into sheets thin and even the fluid is whirled, To carry the stamp of man's thoughts round the world."


"'Good spirit, enough. My heart sinks within Such prodigies vast with strange thoughts crowd my brain. But where is the race of my fathers, oh, where,


Who through valley and hills tracked the beast to his lair ?"


"'No more in these waters their paddles are heard ; No more in these forests they chase deer and bird. Far beyond Mississippi their tent stakes are driven, Like Ishmaelites finding no rest under heaven."


"Do the white men adore a Great Spirit above And tell, as I heard, that the Spirit has love To the children he fashioned and breathed into life ? If one common father, why should there be strife ?"


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Such was the dream to the slumberer given. Awakened at morn by the sunlight from heaven, Forth from his wigwam a fugitive driven, He camped by the bank of Moshannon at even ; The next, Susquehanna's fair waters beside ; There made him a home ; and there Logan died.


In the soil he loved best the white man drew furrow, And planted his farm, heeding not Logan's sorrow. A century passes ; the dream is fulfilled ; In its midst a rude village is born in the wild. "Setting up for herself" when a six-year-old child, What need we her forty years' record to gild ?


In Tyrone of To-day, the mountain-girt borough We hail the Gate City, Tyrone of To-morrow.


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