USA > Pennsylvania > Warren County > Warren > Warren centennial : an account of the celebration at Warren, Pennsylvania July 2d, 3d, and 4th in commeration of the first century after the laying out of the town of Warren > Part 10
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Charles Dinsmoor, Esq., was called on to speak for the schools, and his response was as follows :
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : The system of Warren schools is still doing business at the old stand. For nearly forty years, for more than a third of a century, it has stood, as it still stands, toiling
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faithfully in your behalf, led by a spirit that has for its shibboleth the battle-cry of progress, culture and intelligence.
The school did not form this people ; the people created it. And I am happy to say that here, where it was formed, in the wisdom of the fathers, here it still lives, in the strength of its manhood and fulness of its original spirit. If it has seemed to grow with unwonted vigor, that growth has only paralleled the growth of our people in virtue and intelligence. If it has done good, that good has sprung from the noble and generous impulses of the people who sus- tain it. If it shall do good in the future, that good must come from the same abundant source.
And so with honest purposes, with absolute con- fidence in the support of the community in all things worthy of support, we approach the threshold of the coming century, moving to the command sounded all along our lines, " Forward-March !"
The Rev. Dr. George H. Humason, when called on to speak, stepped to the front of the platform and delivered a strong address that was full of good, healthy facts. He said, in substance, that he con- sidered it a great honor to be present on an occasion such as occurs only once in a hundred years to any one audience. He congratulated Warren on the good name it bore, both at home and abroad, and said he believed that if it had been called by any other name (submitting a few as samples), things might have been different. The memory of Dr. Warren was recalled in glowing terms, and the
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speaker thought his good name and sterling quali- ties had much to do with establishing the town's good character. He was glad his lot was cast here, where he found nothing but a feeling of public spirit manifested when anything for the good of the town or the betterment of humanity at large was proposed. The men and women here were at all times ready to sacrifice and toil to make success in place of failure out of all things taken hold of. The Cen- tennial will do good in after years. He said he was touched by the words of Logan, for they came from the heart instead of the head. He was sad at times when he thought that his forefathers had wronged those of Logan, but was somewhat consoled when he thought of the great kindness and honesty of William Penn. He said that many of the wrongs the Indians had sustained were due to dishonest agents.
He called the attention of the visitors to many of Warren's attractions, among which he mentioned the oldest Mason in the State and the second oldest printing-press. As illustrating Warren county's philanthropy, he mentioned the Rouse hospital, the asylum for the insane, and the library building. In concluding, the speaker took occasion to hope that the result of this Centennial would be the erection of a monument in the form of a hospital. His re- marks were loudly applauded.
After listening to music by Logan's Band, the Rev. J. W. Smith, of the Presbyterian church, was introduced and closed the speech-making.
He said he was in the position of the colored preacher who, when called on for a speech after
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three men had already spoken, said that he was a little afraid, as one speaker had already talked on liberty. another on power, and all he could think of was God be merciful to the next speaker. In his case, religion, medicine, the schools, the asylum for the insane, and everything but the jail had been talked about. He paid the ladies of both Franklin and Warren a neat compliment, saying that he thought they all grew better-looking as they grew older. He hoped all would be here the next Centennial, and closed by extending the hope that the coming generation may be left a heritage of character by the present one that all may be proud of, and that the stamp of Christ might be imprinted on all.
There was singing by the glee club of one hun- dred voices led by Dr. W. W. Freeman, and at the conclusion of the speaking the benediction was given by the Rev. G. H. Trabert, of the Lutheran church. The Indians then took possession of the platform, and a most interesting ceremony not down on the program took place.
The Council of the Seneca Nation, to show their appreciation of Messrs. Crandall, Allen and Talbott, decided to adopt them as brothers into the Nation. In a brief speech from the stand Mr. Logan, on behalf of the Council, announced that the Indians wished to more firmly cement the bond of friend- ship by adopting, before leaving, their three especial friends, the Indian Committee.
For Mr. Allen the name of Skan-dyo-goradi, liter- ally, a brother to all, was chosen. With chants and dances, in which the blushing young man participated,
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the ceremony was gone through with, and at its end he was shaken by the hand by the numerous repre- sentatives of the Bear clan.
Mr. Logan then stated that as Mr. Crandall was engaged in the oil business, an appropriate name would be selected for him, and therefore, after the marching, chants and hand-shakings of the ceremony were over, Charlie was the possessor of the name "Gar-no-gwah," meaning dripping oil. This was the name of a noted chief who died some years ago, and the name had been held in reserve until the present occasion. He was of the " Wolf clan," the same as Cornplanter.
To Mr. Talbott was reserved the honor of being presented with the name of a former famous chieftain of the tribe, and again the marching, chanting and hand-shaking were gone through, and at its end Mr. Talbott belonged to the Hawk clan, and re- joiced in the appellation "Oa-go-gah-rah," the man on the other side of the multitude. The Indian chief who formerly bore this name was one of the most honored men of the tribe. At the conclusion of the ceremonies the "new Indians" were the recipients of hearty hand-shakes from their new brothers.
The display of fireworks in the evening was the finest ever seen in Warren, and was furnished by the celebrated Paine Fireworks Company, which furnished the fireworks at the Columbian Exhibition at Chicago. It was preceded by the descent of an illuminated fleet of boats from the W. N. Y. & P. R. R. bridge, all the canoes and small boats in town,
13
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numbering fifty or more, under the direction of Willis Cowan, being in line, and brilliant with lanterns and colored fires. The river was smooth as glass, and the effect of the illuminated boats, floating double, boats and shadows, was magical. The fireworks were given from a stage in the river near the bank on the Pleasant side, and were com- fortably seen by the thousands of spectators who covered the high banks on the Warren side, filled every window and balcony, and every temporary stand erected for the occasion, and dotted the hill- sides back of the town.
The performance lasted nearly one hour and a half. concluding with the firing of a large set piece on which was emblazoned in big burning letters the following :
1795
WARREN'S CENTENNIAL
1895
The special trains began to pull out at 1 1 o'clock. and by midnight most of the thousands of visitors were on their way home, tired but happy, and the great Centennial was at an end.
The " celebration department," with D. U. Arird, Esq., as chairman, had gloriously succeeded, and Warren could not expect to celebrate on such a scale again for another hundred years.
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The work of clearing away and settling up was immediately taken up by the several officers. All bills were audited by W. W. Wilbur, Esq., and the secretary and treasurer, after having been approved by the head of the proper department. So far as known nothing was lost, and nothing of consequence injured, but those to whose kindness the manage- ment were indebted for the loan of articles received them again uninjured. After settling all bills there remained the sum of $1710.76, which, in accordance with the resolution of the Association at the begin- ning, was turned over to the Warren Library Asso- ciation and set apart as a special fund. The card catalogue, so long vainly desired, has been paid for out of this fund.
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List of the Contributors to the Fund for the Celebration of the Warren Centennial.
Mrs. Anna W. Syms. . $150
C. W. Stone, 100
Struthers, Wells & Co., 100
L. D. Wetmore. . . 100
Pennsylvania Gas Co .. . 100
National Transit Co., 100
George H. Leonhart, 75
M. Waters. . 50 .
Warren Water Co., .
50
Warren Street Railway, 50
Mrs. C. W. King, 50
O. W. Beaty, 50
D. W. Beaty, 50
John Smutz, -
45
William Moran, .
40
J. E. Madden, .
40
J. M. Bauman, .
40
J. D. Woodard, 25
J. B. Eddy. 25
b. Shear, 25
Morck Bros .. 25
Hood. Gale & Co.,
25
M. & E. M. Schwing. 25
H. A. Jamieson, . 25
Pickett Hardware Co .. . 25
F. H. Rockwell. . 25
A. Hertzel, . 25
C. H. Noyes, 25
Keystone Glue Works, .
25
William D. Brown,
25
A. J. Hazeltine, .
$25
Eliza I. Henry, 25 .
J. H. Grey, 20 .
Jacob Stricker, .
20
G. N. Parmlee, 20
A. D. Wood, .
20
M. Mead, 15
Emil Meyer, .
15
C. Schimmelfeng, .
15
G. Geracimos,
.
15
Seigfried & Co., . .
15
C. Smith,
15
Warren and Chau. Gas C'o., 15
Mitchell & Shawkey, 15
W. M. Lindsey, 15
M. B. Dunham. 10
Fehlman Bros .. . . 10
C. P. Northrop, IO
Isaacs & Morningstar, IC
T. O. Slater & Co .. 10
A. A. Davis & Co .. -
10
George Ball. 10
O. H. Hunter & Son. . 10
George F. Yates, . . 10
Dr. A. C. McAlpin, 10
Mrs. Laura M. Scofield, IO
Dr. W. M. Baker. IO
D. I. Ball, .
-
IO
O. C. Allen,
.
IO
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Newmaker & Reed, . ŠIO
W. W. Winger,
. IO
R. B. Orr & Co., 5
L. Gleason, . .
. 10 Ackley & Wheelock, 5
D. A. Swanson,
5
J. E. Blair, . .
IO
S. T. Neill, .
5
Berger & Hall, .
Theo. Messner,
M. D. Hall, .
5
W. W. Wilbur,
IO
A. W. Jones, .
5
James Clark, IO
C. C. Thompson,
G. H. Strickland, .
5
B. W. Rogers, 10 .
I. H. Lockwood, . .
IO
C. Dinsmoor, .
.
5
E. T. Hazeltine, . .
IO Samuel Peterson, . .
5
D. M. Howard, .
IO Warren Table Works,
5
Hinckley & Rice, IO
J. P. Johnson, .
5
J. N. Bemis & Son, IO Wyman & Conarro, .
5
Kopf & Henry, .
5
W. M. Lott, .
5
A. E. Boeschlin, . .
5
H. M. Putnam, .
5
Jacob Keller, 5 .
A. M. Rogers, .
5
W. D. Todd, .
5
5 D. L. Geronld, .
5
F. R. Scott, .
5
F. K. Russell,
5
C. J. Marker, .
5 F. T. Parker, .
5
L. Hutter, . .
5
A. T. Scofield, .
5
William Schnur. .
5
5 S. A. Wetmore, .
3
C. W. Shawkey, .
Ray W. Norris, .
5
D. Carmichael,
3
Humphrey & Neihmeyer, 5 H. Wills, 3
G. Offerle & Son, -
5 A. B. Nesmith, 2.50
5 Warren Chair Works, 2
Charles Chase, 5 Dr. W. V. Hazeltine, I
N. Greenlund, . P. M. Smith, .
5
5 Total, . . $2351.50
5
W. Jarvis, .
F. E. Hertzel, .
5
W. McCray, 10
J. H. Fuelhart, .
5
Morris & Mullen, .
IO John F. Kercher, . .
5
S. Keller, 5
E. E. Allen, .
5
James O. Parmlee, .
H. W. Pickett, .
5
J. K. Weaver & Co .. 4
H. A. Booth, -
5 Louis Meyer, 3
W. A. Graves, -
Allen & Langley, $5
J. R. Baldensperger, .
10
J. S. Bayer, . . 10
5
COMING DOWN FROM YANKEE BUSH.
. EG.W.DIETRICH-ARCAT. * 18 BROADWAY NYC
NEW EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
GREATER WARREN
THIS memorial of Warren's Centennial would be incomplete without a description of the Warren which appeared to her visitors at the end of her first century. Our description will, however, be as of the time of the publication of this volume, rather than the exact date of the celebration.
Warren became "Greater Warren " in 1895 by the annexation of the village of East Warren, lying in Glade township, east of the Conewango, by which her territory and population were increased nearly one-half. The borough now extends along the north bank of the Allegheny river a distance of about two and four-tenths miles, and is divided into two unequal parts by the Conewango, which is spanned by two substantial iron bridges and a wire foot-bridge. The Allegheny, noted for the beauty of its scenery, sweeps down from the eastward, leaving to the northward a wide, level flat, once beautiful farms, now covered by thriving factories, and laving with its crystal waters the very feet of
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the green hills which form its southern bank. Just where it receives the waters of the Conewango, and the hills recede to give place to the charming wood- land long known as "Irvine's Grove "-now grow- ing into the village of Richland-Oakland Cemetery rises in beautiful terraces from the water's edge; and here the dead, whose lives have been woven into Warren's history, sleep, overlooking the town they loved so well. The cemetery is the property
:
PLEASANT BRIDGE.
of the Odd Fellows, by whose benevolence and fore- sight it was established in 1863. Just below the mouth of the Conewango the Pleasant bridge crosses the river with a single span of 48o feet. This bridge, originally built by a corporation in 1871, but now free, is a feature of the landscape, its grace- ful proportions adding beauty to the view from any point from which it is visible. Below the bridge the river sweeps in a lovely half-moon curve past the town, which is built upon the high plateau on the
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south bank, the buildings along Water street being confined to the north side, leaving the bank of the river open, to be converted in the near future into a pleasure-ground for the enjoyment of the people. Water street, Short street and the business portions of Second and Liberty streets are paved with hard brick. Opposite the town the little village of Rich- land is rising amid the trees, and to the west of this lies the enclosure of the Warren County Fair Asso- ciation-where the Centennial Exhibition was held- in full view from Water street. At the junction of Water and Third streets is a small, triangular park, shaded by flourishing maples planted years ago by Judge R. P. King and George N. Parmlee, Esq., both of whom still live to enjoy their shade. Behind the town to the north rise the beautiful hills -- a rest to the eyes in summer, and, with their groves of oaks and chestnuts, supplying to some extent the lack of public parks. The easternmost, which de- scends to the Conewango, is " Tanner's Hill," a noble monument to one of Warren's early benefac- tors ; next west is a loftier eminence, which, if it has no settled name, is commonly spoken of as " Sco- field Hill," thus perpetuating the memory of one of the most distinguished of the men who have lived and died in Warren, Glenni W. Scofield, the col- league and trusted friend of Stevens, Blaine and Garfield in Congress, Register of the Treasury, and later Judge of the Court of Claims. The prominent point to the west of the town will go down in his- tory as " Stone's Hill," for in full view stand the cot- tage and log-cabin, and a little back are the farm
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buildings of another of Warren's distinguished sons, the President of the Centennial.
Warren is served by three lines of railroad, the Philadelphia and Erie, operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company ; the Dunkirk, Allegheny Valley and Pittsburg, operated by the New York Central ; and the Western New York and Pennsylvania. The Western Union and Postal Telegraph lines and the New York and Pennsylvania Telegraph and Tele- phone lines enter the town, and there are two ex- press companies, the Adams and the American. Two natural-gas companies supply "wild" gas for fuel and light. Artificial gas is also supplied by an- other company, and electricity for light and power by the Warren Electrical Light Company. Water in abundance is supplied by the Warren Water Company, the principal source of supply being a mountain stream about two miles above the town. West of the Conewango a complete system of sewers is laid, and the eastern wards are about to be sewered. An electric railroad traverses Water street from the west line of the borough to the Conewango, and, crossing, proceeds out Pennsyl- vania avenue to the bridge at Glade run, with a branch out Market street to the village of North Warren, two miles north, where the State hospital for insane is located.
Lying at the foot of the hills, with its two beauti- ful rivers, its abundant shade, and its pleasant. solidly-built streets, Warren is easily the prettiest, as it is one of the brightest towns in Western Penn- sylvania. It has many things to be proud of, but
COURT-HOUSE AND JAIL.
1
-
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the feature which most impresses the visitor is the character of its homes. There are many fine and costly mansions, and green and well-kept lawns ; but it is not these, but the great number of trim, comfortable residences, clearly indicating moderate but adequate means, and taste and cultivation in the inhabitants, which is most striking. He who walks over the entire town, traversing the most out-of-the- way streets, will find no squalid poverty skulking in dirty alleys, or dilapidated shanties sheltering a mis- erable and degraded population. Warren has its poor, and a small degraded element ; but its atmos- phere is wholesome and elevating, and those who can- not rise into better conditions do not find it congenial.
The Warren post-office ranks sixth in the State, outranking many larger boroughs and some cities. There are three daily newspapers, all issued in the evening-the Mirror, News and Democrat; one semi-weekly, the twice-a-week Ledger, and three weekly papers-the Mail, Mirror and Democrat.
Warren is the county seat of Warren county, and the court-house and jail stand on what was once the public square, at the intersection of Market and High (now Fourth) streets. The court-house is a fine and imposing structure, built of pressed brick, with stone trimmings, and was erected in 1876. The town-hall stands on the corner of Third and Hick- ory streets, and is a substantially built two-story brick-and-stone building, occupied by the borough officials and the fire department. The borough has also a hose-house of brick on Water street, opposite the Struthers Iron Works, for the use of the Struthers
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Hose Company, and a fine new one in the Sixth ward for the Centennial Hose Company. On the corner of Liberty and Third streets stands the Struth- ers Library Build- ing, erected in 1883 by the late Thomas Struthers at a cost of about $80,000, and donated to the Warren Public Li- brary, which occu- pies the second floor of the front build- ing. The library
STRUTHERS LIBRARY BUILDING.
was founded in 1871, and, except the rents of the library building, has been always main- tained by the voluntary subscriptions of the people of Warren, though until 1892 fees were charged for the use of books taken from the library room. The library contains nearly 10,000 volumes of well-se- lected books, has about ISoo registered borrowers, and circulates about 50,000 volumes annually. The building also contains the post-office, Masonic Hall, Struthers Theatre in the rear. and a store-room for rent.
CHURCHES.
The largest and finest church edifice in Warren is that of the First Presbyterian Church, just com- pleted at a cost of upwards of $80,000.
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GREATER WARREN
This church stands on the site of the mansion occupied for more than half a century by the late Thomas Struthers, corner of Market and Third
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
streets. It is built of stone, and is one of the most beautiful and serviceable church-buildings in the State.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church on Third
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WARREN CENTENNIAL
street is a fine modern structure of brick and stone, and its young daughter, Grace M. E, Church, in the Sixth ward, has a pretty chapel which will be all too small in the near future.
NEW FIRST M. E. CHURCH.
The Episcopalians are just finishing their new Trinity Memorial Church and Parish House on the site of the old one at the intersection of Water. Poplar and Third streets. It is of soft, creamy stone, unique and beautiful in design, and contains three memorial windows of great beauty. The decorations of the chancel include an exquisite
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mosaic of the throned Christ, and are most rich and tasteful. This work is a contribution by Mrs. Anna Watson Syms to the memory of her father, Col. L. F. Watson.
The Roman Catholic, German Lutheran and Evangelical denominations have substantial brick churches, the former possessing also a large brick building containing an amusement hall and gymna- sium, school rooms, and the like, as well as two smaller buildings used for parochial schools. The Baptist, Swedish Lutheran and free Danish con- gregations have comfortable frame churches, and there is also a small chapel belonging to the Swedish Method- ists, and another for the Swedish Baptists in process of erection.
On Liberty street the Young Men's Christian Association is finishing a stone- front three-story building, very grace- ful in design, 42 feet in width by 116 feet in depth, all of which will be occupied by the Association ex- WARREN PA SA PARQUET PROFT CLEILLANGO YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATT ?! AND WARREN PA - BUILDING cept one store-room on the ground-floor. There will be a gymnasium, swimming-pool, bowling-alley, baths of all kinds, and
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the various working-rooms of the Association, in- cluding a small auditorium seating about 475. The building will be completely equipped and up to date in every particular.
SCHOOLS.
Apart from the parochial schools maintained by the Roman Catholics, Smith's Business College- an excellent institution of its kind-and a private kindergarten, the schools of Warren belong to the public-school system, and they rank among the best in the State.
There are at present four school-buildings, two more being in contemplation. The high school is located in the Central building, and, while somewhat at a disadvantage because of the inadequacy of the building, it is well equipped, and pupils who have taken its four years' course are admitted to about twenty colleges and universities upon their certifi- cates .* The East-street building is the most modern, and is in every way ideal. The spacious halls, easy stairs, light, cheerful rooms, convenient furniture, and the perfect system of heating and ventilating, leave nothing to be desired.
The School Board of " Greater Warren " is con- stituted as follows : David I. Ball, Esq., President ; Mrs. Lucie C. Richards, Secretary; Watson D. Hinckley, Dr. William M. Baker, Mrs. Peoria A. Cowan, Dr. C. W. Arird, W. D). McLaren, James
** Since this was written a fine new high-school building has been begun on the site of the old Ludlow House, corner of Market and Second streets.
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GREATER WARREN
W. Crawford, C. W. Brown, Mrs. Ellen W. Beaty, F. G. Shreves, John M. Davidson. Superinten- dent, W. L. MacGowan.
EAST-STREET SCHOOL.
The various schools have in charge upwards of sixteen hundred pupils, and the board employs forty-two teachers - five men and thirty-seven
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women. Besides the common-school branches, which are taught according to the latest and most approved methods, the curriculum includes courses in Mathematics, Science, English, History, German, French, Latin, Greek, Philosophy, Political Science, and Business.
The course of study embraces twelve years, eight in the lower or common grades, and four years of high-school work. In addition to the ordinary school-subjects, instruction is given by special teachers in vocal music, drawing, writing, and manual training. The last embraces sewing for the girls, to which cooking will probably be added soon, and wood-working and carving for the boys.
Young men and women also get a thorough busi- ness education in the commercial department of the high school, where shorthand, type-writing, commer- cial law, book-keeping, etc., are taught.
A flourishing school savings bank is in operation throughout all grades. The pupils have upwards of $6000 in the bank, drawing four per cent. interest.
The school-buildings, with the exception of the Central, which will soon be replaced, are all modern structures, well-lighted, ventilated, and adapted to school purposes. Solid slate black- boards, single desks and seats, curtained and shaded windows with beautiful flowering plants, picture- hung walls, free text-books and supplies of all kinds, together with well-educated and experienced teachers, go to make life in the school pleasant and profitable.
As we write the workmen are busy removing the
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old "Ludlow House" to make room for the new high-school building, which by another year will stand on the corner of Second and Market streets. The plans show a handsome modern building fit for the twentieth century.
BOROUGH ORGANIZATION.
The following is a list of the borough officers at the date of the Centennial :
Burgess, James W. Wiggins; Town Council, Isaac S. Alden, President ; Henry A. Messenger, L. T. Borchers, James Brann, J. H. Humphrey, A. R. Kehr, John Masterson, Joseph Hill. Borough Engi- neer, D. F. A. Wheelock ; Street Commissioner, John Smith ; Treasurer, A. J. Hazeltine; Clerk, D. U. Arird.
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