Directories: Clark's Directory, Altoona, Pa., 1890, pp. 1-56.
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____________________________________________________________
CLARK'S DIRECTORY
of the
City of Altoona, Pa.
for the year
1890.
Being a complete and accurate register of all the male inhabitants of the City of
the age of 18 years and upward, and all females who are heads of families, widows,
or engaged in any trade or profession; and the name of all business firms, with a
statement of the kind of business carried on and the location, all arranged in
alphabetical order. In addition to which is given a complete classified Business
Directory of the City - pages 381 to 412. Also a classified Business Directory of
Hollidaysburg and Tyrone and the county outside of Altoona. A Historical Review of
Altoona, a Directory of the Churches, Lodges, Societies, etc., of the City; to which
is added in an appendix the latest revised list of Post Offices in the State of
Pennsylvania, &c. See table of contents, page 15.
Compiled, published and copyrighted for the benefit and convenience of the citizens
of Altoona and the business men of Central Pennsylvania.
By
CHAS. B. CLARK,
IN APRIL, 1890.
Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1890, by C. B. Clark,
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D.C.
We strive in all things to excel,
With what success the work must tell.
ALTOONA, PA.: N. C. BARCLAY & SONS, STEAM POWER PRESS PRINTERS, 1890.
[1-12 advertisements]
[14]
Population of Altoona and Suburbs, April, 1890.
We, the undersigned canvassers for C. B. Clark's Altoona City Directory for 1890,
on our oaths and affirmations declare and say that we have thoroughly canvassed the
wards and districts set opposite our several names, have visited every house in said
ward or district and obtained from the head of each family, the lady of the house or
other reliable person, the name of each head of a family, all males over 18 years of
age, females engaged in business, or any trade or profession, boarders and
servants. Also, the total number of inmates of each house, and have inquired
whether they were owners or tenants only of the premises, and the information thus
obtained have carefully written down for C. B. Clark, Publisher of said Directory.
And that the population of each ward or district as herein set down by our own hand
is true and correct as we verily believe.
David Miller,
J. H. Walter,
E. G. Flood,
W. C. Barclay,
S. S. Fluke,
M. L. Gibboney.
Population of 1st ward 2,988 W. C. Barclay
" 2d " 4,655 David Miller
" 3d " 3,051 E. G. Flood
" 4th " 3,381 S. S. Fluke
" 5th " 4,297 M. L. Gibboney
" 6th " 4,822 S. S. Fluke
" 7th " 1,938 J. H. Walter
" 8th " 4,522 S. S. Fluke
District contiguous to Fifth ward and commonly called Millville, 717. - M. L. Gibboney.
Population of district North of Fifth ward, along and near Dry Gap road, Newberg and
vicinity, and Loudon's Hill, outside of city limits, 490. - M. L. Gibboney.
Population of district south of Sixth ward to old Allegheny Furnace on the pike,
376. - S. S. Fluke.
Population of Collinsville, including the valley from line of Twelfth street,
Southwest to Allegheny Furnace, 458. - S. S. Fluke.
Population of Logan township, contiguous to city and South and East of Eighth ward,
982. - S. S. Fluke.
Population of Juniata, 409. - S. S. Fluke.
Population of township between Seventh ward and Juniata, 199. - J. H. Walter.
Population of Fairview and vicinity, Oakton and suburbs of First and Third wards,
1,212. - J. H. Walter.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, Jacob Snyder, a Notary Public in and for Blair
county, Pa., this 21st day of April, A.D. 1890.
Jacob Snyder, Notary Public.
It will be seen from the above that the population of the City proper is 29,654,
and the Suburbs is 4,843, making a total of 34,497.
[15]
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Abbreviations and key 65
Additions and corrections 53
Advertisements 1 to 12 and 57 to 64
Advertisers' index 16
Blair county officers 28
Board of Trade statistics 47
Building and Loan Associations 417
Business Directory of Altoona, classified 381
Business Directory of Blair county, classified 420
Car and machine shops of P.R.R. Co. 412
Cemeteries 40
Churches 32
City government, officers and councilmen 27
Explanations 18
Fire Department 38
Fire alarm signals 39
Historical Review 41
Hospital 40
Index to advertisements 16
Improvements and buildings 45
Information for strangers 49
Lodges, societies, etc. 432
Manufacturing establishments, etc. 412
Masonic directory for 1890 432
Mechanics' Library 37
Names and addresses of citizens 65 to 380
Oath of canvassers 14
Pennsylvania State Government 28
Planing mills 413
P.R.R. officials 31
Post Office, Altoona 28
Population of Altoona 14
Postoffices of Pennsylvania 439
Preface 19
Schools 37
Sewerage 44
Streets and avenues 21
United States Government 29
Wards of Altoona 25
Water works 44
Business men who don't take a Directory 20
[16-17]
Advertisers' Index
[Name, page]
Adams W. L. groceries, 12
Altoona Lumber Company, 5
Ambrose & Johnson, insurance and real estate, 57
Baltzell Bros. dry goods, carpets, shoes, etc., 59
Brenaman J. A. painter, 5
Buechele E. soap factory, etc., 8
Bunker, Orr & Fleck, builders and lumber, inside front cover
Bunn James M. physician, 6
Calver J. L. groceries and provisions, 6
Canan J. A. & Co. builders' material, inside front cover
Casanave G. harness and saddlery, 6
Clabaugh Andrew, iron fence 6
Clark Chas. B. attorney-at-law, 12
Cornman H. J. clothing and gents' furnishing, 5
Crain J. E. barber and baths, 11
Davis H. P. & Co., general store, 8
Dazin Adrian, dyeing and carpet cleaning, 58
Feltwell J. H. hardware and stoves, 4
Finley Johanna S. physician, 6
Forney & Bro. lumbers and gas fitters, 57
Forney E. S. insurance, etc., 7
Gable William F. dry goods and notions, see foot lines
Goetz A. E. merchant tailor, front cover
Goetz & Schneider, Oakton lots, back cover
Greevy & Patterson, attorneys, 64
Halton John, coal and builders' supplies, 1
Hammond W. S. attorney-at-law, 12
Heess A. F. steam bakery, front cover
Howard George, photographer, front cover
Hoyer S. M. coal and builders' supplies, 4
Independent Loyal American, printing, etc., 58
Ingold Leopold, Wurtemmberger Hof., 7
Irwin W. H. druggist, front cover
Jackson George F. furniture, 63
Kerr R. A. O. insurance and shipping, 63
Kessler G. W. druggist, back cover
Latshaw Job, flour, feed, etc., 60
Loudon Will C. book bindery, 59
Mackey M. H. planing mill, inside front cover
Madden James J. Hollidaysburg boiler shop, etc., 63
March Samuel, clothing, 7
Marshall J. H. architect, 9
McGrath M. B. coal, hay and straw, 253
McNamara H. B. upholstering and carpet cleaning, 8
Miller F. M. general insurance, front cover
Mirror, printing, etc., 60
Moore W. H., contractor and builder, inside front cover
Murray Wm. & Son, dry goods, carpets, etc., 1
Neaffer Hiram, rags, old iron, etc., 8
Neff & Hicks, attorneys, 10
Nixdorf Harry, restaurant, ice and ice cream, 64
Oswald Jacob, wagonmaking and repairing, 10
Pfannenschmidt Herm, slate roofing, 9
Piper C. M. family groceries, 63
Piper George, insurance and mortgages, front cover
Price George Dr. physician, 11
Riling A. K. contractor and builder, 9
Second National Bank, 11
Seidel F. J. groceries and provisions, 4
Shellenberger W. L. terra cotta pipe, etc., 9
Shimer W. S. veterinary surgeon, front cover
Shultz Porter W. merchant tailor, 10
Snyder Jacob, merchant tailor, back cover
Snyder, Stinson & Co. insurance, 58
Taylor C. S. druggist, 10
Tipton E. B. undertaking, 57
Times Publishing Co. printing, etc., 61
Tribune, printing, etc., 62
Tussey H. C. coal, etc., 57
Vaughn J.A. harness making, etc., 64
Warshawski R. jewelry and watchmaking, 4
Wogan C. E. dentistry, 64
Woodcock W. L. attorney-at-law, 63
Wylie D. practical plumber, front cover
[18]
EXPLANATIONS.
The names in a Directory are arranged in alphabetical order the same as words in a
dictionary, those beginning with letters nearest "A" coming first and so on to letter
"Z," therefore in looking for any name be sure you know the proper spelling, and if
you don't find it where you expect to, look in the list of names of similar sound.
Many names, similar in sound, are spelled very differently, and, in fact, some
people do not know how to spell their name, and if the wife or mother gives it at
the house, the person himself may give it at his place of employment quite
differently, and coming so far apart in the compilation, occasionally the same
person's name will be printed twice with different spellings, but this is no
disadvantage, and only makes the name easier to find. The same name may begin with
a different letter, as Kuhn, Coon; Crider, Kreider; and MacDonald is also written
McDonald. There are cases were brothers purposely spell their names differently,
and some children think they have improved upon the spelling of their father's
name. In obtaining information for a Directory one must take facts as given him by
the parties to whom he goes, and is occasionally misinformed, either inadvertently
or purposely, in either of which cases the Directory Publisher should not be held
responsible. No one could make a Directory from his own personal knowledge,
consequently a systematic method must be pursued in obtaining the necessary
information; and every effort is made to get all names and get them correct, and if
any are missed it is due to the fact that absolute perfection and accuracy, however
desirable, has never yet been achieved by man, and errors are occasionally
unavoidable; and as our system knows no distinction of persons we are just as likely
to miss the most prominent as the humblest citizen.
The letters o h, for owns the house, and r h, for rents the house, before house
numbers to distinguish owners and renters is a new feature for directories, as we
believe, and we think it is a valuable one, likely to be more fully appreciated as
time passes. When you want to find anything in this book turn at once to the table
of contents on page 15.
[19-20]
PREFACE.
The continued favor with which my Directories have been received by the general
public is alike a source of gratification and just pride, especially to one who
finds his highest recompense in the confidence and approval of his fellow men, and
prefers that to mere pecuniary considerations when both are not to be obtained. This
confidence I have tried to deserve and retain by honest and painstaking endeavor in
the preparation of this work, and I can assure the indulgent reader that while
occasional errors and omissions may be discovered, they are not the result of
carelessness or indifference on the part of the publisher. I endeavored to secure
the very best assistants to be had in the preparation of the work, of making the
canvass and securing the other facts herein recorded, and after the work had been
done, I examined it and corrected all the errors discoverable at the time, spending
at this work many days and nights of hard labor and making frequent trips to
different and distant parts of the city to obtain additional information, or verify
that already secured whenever there was any doubt as to its correctness. A work of
this kind must of necessity be hurried in order to get it out in a reasonable time
after the names have been taken and with so many things to look after at once; every
sentence, word and letter in a Directory being a fact stated, it would he little
wonder if occasionally some error or omission passed unnoticed, which in more
leisure hours I will see and regret. I expended more than $50 extra on this edition
by requiring the names to be written twice by the canvasser, first in a book in the
order the houses were reached on the streets and avenues and then from the books on
slips for compilation, and in addition to that subsidized the letter carriers to
report to me any changes of residence taking place after the canvass was made and up
to the time of printing, and this cost $25.00 more. The cost, however, I do not
regret, and should be willing to duplicate it if it would ensure absolute accuracy.
This, however, all directory publishers have found to be impossible with every
precaution taken, and I can only hope that my work will be nearer perfect than that
of any other. I shall make note of all errors I discover hereafter and shall also,
as far as practicable, keep a record of all changes of residence and new-comers, and
my office will be open to all patrons of the directory and strangers to the city,
whom I shall take pleasure in giving any additional information in my power whenever
they call. I regret that all the business men in town are not subscribers for the
directory, for all have more or less need for it, and I am creditably informed that
many who are too penurious to buy do not hesitate to borrow from their more liberal
neighbors who, I am happy to say, lend to them cheerfully. Every business house in
the city is advertised in this book by having the location of store and kind of
business stated. This is all that any advertisement can give and is worth at least
the price of the book. So I take some consolation in the fact that while I have a
very small margin left for profit, after paying the expenses of the publication, I
have several hundred dollars justly due and owing me by the aforesaid business men
who are not subscribers, many of whom will cheerfully pay $3 to $5 and $10 for a
card in some throw-around sheet that is only glanced at and thrown away simply
because they are importuned by some sleek-tongued stranger who often falsely
represents himself as in the employ of a resident printer or newspaper firm, but
when I ask them to patronize me to the extent of $2.50 for a really valuable work, a
public necessity, "can't afford to," or "don't need one." I had seriously
contemplated publishing in an appendix the names of some of the meanest of these,
but I forbear, believing the compunction of conscience, if they have one, and the
society of themselves is a sufficient burden for them each to bear without being
held up to public ridicule and contempt. Furthermore I shall keep several extra
copies of the book which I shall cheerfully loan to them whenever they wish to
borrow.
Directories in other cities of the same population as Altoona are issued yearly,
are sold at $3.00 per copy and are well patronized by advertisers, although they
contain no extra matter such as is found in mine, and they are not printed on so
good paper nor in such typographical perfection. I mention this by way of contrast
and as a prelude to the statement of my own conviction that Altoona ought, in her
present flourishing condition, to support a directory yearly and give the publisher
a cheerful and liberal patronage. And believing I shall endeavor to ascertain,
before the first of next April, how many of my patrons wish a new edition yearly and
if there are a sufficient number the want shall be supplied and the honor and dignity
of Altoona, as one of the most important inland cities of the state, be fully
maintained in this direction.
Sincerely grateful to all patrons and friends, I am, very respectfully,
CHAS. B. CLARK,
Publisher.
[21-24]
Streets and Avenues.
The public thoroughfares of Altoona are divided into streets and avenues, most of
which have numerical names, beginning in order from the base line.
FIRST AVENUE is about on the Southeast line of the city, and theoretically it
extends the entire length of the city from its intersection with First street, at a
point about one mile East of the Post Office, Northwest to Twenty-seventh street to
a point about the same distance South or Southwest of the Post Office; and FIRST
STREET extends from the same point Northwest to the line of Eighteenth avenue, which
is about on the Northwest line of the city. The city may be considered as bounded by
First Avenue on the South and Eighteenth Avenue on the North, and by First Street on
the East and Twenty-seventh Street on the West, one mile and a quarter broad by two
and a quarter in length, which is nearly enough correct for most purposes.
The avenues are about 280 feet apart from centre to centre, and the streets 450
feet. Two parallel streets and avenues enclose each square, through which should run
an alley 15 feet wide parallel to the avenues, and the square, if of the regular
size, will contain 10 lots, each 50 by 120 feet, and each fronting on an avenue and
having an alley at the rear.
There are some exceptions to this general rule. Every full lot is entitled to two
numbers - that is, each 25 feet counts a number, and these are counted back and
forth across the street so that the odd numbers are all on one side of the street,
and the even ones on the other side, and this rule holds good all the time, so that
when one is going along either a street or avenue, in the direction of higher
numbers, i.e., going away from First Avenue or First Street, the even numbers will
be at the right hand and the odd ones at the left, and vice versa when going the
opposite direction, and any number which is between 100 and 200 is between First and
Second Streets or Avenues, as the case may be; numbers between 200 and 300 are
between Second and Third Streets or Second and Third Avenues, and so on. Remembering
this will aid one very much in going to any desired locality in the city. For
example, it you are desirous of finding the residence of any person and the number
is given 1622 Eighth Avenue, you know at once it is between Sixteenth and
Seventeenth Streets, and on the right hand side as you go from Sixteenth Street
along Eighth Avenue. If the number given is 613 Seventh Street you know at once it
is between Sixth and Seventh Avenues on the street, and is on the left hand side as
you go from Sixth Avenue.
Going along an avenue from street to street the hundreds and parts of hundreds are
used up to 30 and 31 and sometimes 35, then you come to another street and another
hundred begins. On Eleventh Avenue, going from Twelfth Street West, 1230 is the
highest number on the right hand side before reaching Thirteenth Street, and across
Thirteenth Street the first number is 1300, the numbers between 1230 and 1300 being
dropped. Between Fourteenth and Fifteenth Streets the square is larger and the
highest number is 1435 then Sixteenth Street is reached, and the next number on the
same side of the avenue is 1501, the numbers between 1435 and 1501 being dropped.
This plan of numbering has been followed in most parts of the city, but some
variations occur on Seventeenth Street and Washington Avenue. A large number of
houses are incorrectly numbered, and in such cases the publisher could do no better
than give the number on the house, although he knew it to be a wrong one.
FIRST AVENUE extends from below First Street Southwest to Twenty-fourth Street, and on
the same line between some other streets, but is not a continuously open thoroughfare.
FIRST STREET extends from below First Avenue to Seventh, and from Chestnut to Cherry.
SECOND AVENUE extends from below First Street to Twenty-seventh Street, but is not
graded all the way.
SECOND STREET extends from beyond First Avenue to Seventh, and from Chestnut to Cherry.
THIRD AVENUE extends from below First Street to Twenty-seventh Street and beyond.
THIRD STREET is similar in extent to Second Street.
FOURTH AVENUE is similar in extent to Third Avenue.
FOURTH STREET extends from beyond First Avenue to the railroad at Ninth Avenue and
across the railroad and car shops yard by foot bridge, then by wagon road to Fairview
suburb and the country beyond.
FIFTH AVENUE is very similar to Fourth Avenue in beginning and extent and is the
next parallel avenue North.
FIFTH STREET extends from beyond First Avenue to the railroad at Ninth Street only.
SIXTH AVENUE is similar in extent to Fifth Avenue.
SIXTH STREET is similar to Fifth Street.
SEVENTH AVENUE is similar to Sixth Avenue, and open the entire length of the city
and beyond.
SEVENTH STREET extends from beyond Crawford Avenue to the railroad, over which it
crosses by a wagon and foot bridge, and on to Howard Avenue.
EIGHTH AVENUE extends from Fourth Street to Twenty-fourth and beyond on same line.
EIGHTH STREET extends from Crawford Avenue to Ninth Avenue and from Eleventh
Avenue to Howard Avenue and beyond a short distance, ending at Fairview Cemetery.
NINTH AVENUE extends from Fourth Street to Union Avenue and Twenty-fourth Street
and on, parallel with the Hollidaysburg Branch railroad.
NINTH STREET extends from Crawford Avenue to the railroad, across that by foot
bridge and by wagon road to city line and beyond the suburb of Fairview.
TENTH AVENUE extends from Ninth Street to Twenty-fifth, but is not open for
vehicles much of the way.
TENTH STREET extends from First Avenue to Eighth Avenue, and from Eleventh Avenue
to Sixteenth, where it coincides very nearly with Ninth Street as at present followed.
ELEVENTH AVENUE extends from Seventh Street to Union Avenue, and from Eighteenth
Street to city limits.
ELEVENTH STREET extends from Third Avenue to Ninth Avenue, and from Tenth Avenue
to Eighteenth and beyond.
TWELFTH AVENUE extends from Eleventh Street to Sixteenth Street, and from
Seventeenth Street to city limits.
TWELFTH STREET extends from beyond First Avenue to Ninth, across the railroad by
foot bridge only, and then by wagon road to Seventeenth Avenue.
THIRTEENTH AVENUE extends from Eleventh Street to Sixteenth, and from Eighteenth
to city limits.
THIRTEENTH STREET extends from near First Avenue to Ninth Avenue, and from Tenth
Avenue to city limits.
FOURTEENTH AVENUE extends from Eleventh Street to Sixteenth, and from Eighteenth
to city limits.
FOURTEENTH STREET is similar to Thirteenth in extent.
FIFTEENTH AVENUE extends from Eleventh Street to Thirteenth.
FIFTEENTH STREET is similar to Fourteenth in extent.
SIXTEENTH AVENUE extends from Ninth Street to Sixteenth.
SIXTEENTH STREET extends from beyond First Avenue (from Collinsville, in fact), to
and beyond city limits at further side of town, except that it is closed at the
railroad, and vehicles and pedestrians must diverge to the left half a square and
cross the track at Bridge Street. This street was an old country road most of its
length.
SEVENTEENTH AVENUE extends from Ninth Street to Sixteenth Street.
SEVENTEENTH STREET extends from near First Avenue to opposite side of city, but is
closed at the railroad, and vehicles cross at Bridge Street, which lies between
Sixteenth and Seventeenth Streets.
EIGHTEENTH AVENUE is on the northwest line of the city, and extends from Ninth
Street to southwest city limits, but is not yet graded.
EIGHTEENTH STREET extends from near First Avenue to Ninth Avenue, and from Union
Avenue to Tenth Avenue at the P.R.R. culvert to above Fourteenth Avenue.
NINETEENTH STREET extents from near First Avenue to Pine Street and the P.R.R.
main line, and from Tenth Avenue to city limits.
TWENTIETH STREET extends from near First Avenue to Ninth Avenue, and from Tenth
Avenue to city limits.
TWENTY-FIRST, TWENTY-SECOND and TWENTY-THIRD are similar to Twentieth in extent.
TWENTY-FOURTH street extends the entire width of the city, crossing the railroad
at grade.
TWENTY-FIFTH, TWENTY-SIXTH AND TWENTY-SEVENTH STREETS lie in order beyond
Twenty-fourth, but are only graded and opened part of their length.
BEALE AVENUE extends from Union Avenue parallel with Broad Street and the
Hollidaysburg Branch of the P.R.R.
BEECH AVENUE is parallel with Pine and next North; has the same extent; had one
building on it May 1st, 1890.
BELL AVENUE lies next beyond Crawford, to which it is parallel, and its extent is
about the same.
BROAD STREET extends from Union Avenue and Margaret southwest to and beyond city
limits and suburb of Millville at Allegheny station, Hollidaysburg Branch railroad.
CHERRY AVENUE is in the Seventh ward, parallel to Willow avenue and next northwest
of it, only opened for a short distance.
CHESTNUT AVENUE extends from Eleventh Street to northeastern city limits and
beyond toward Bellview.
CHESTNUT STREET is the next parallel street west of Broad Street, and extends from
Twenty-fourth Street southwest to Millville.
CRAWFORD AVENUE lies outside the city line, it is next beyond and parallel to
First Avenue, extending from about Tenth Street to and beyond First Street.
FAIRVIEW AVENUE lies along the northwest line of Fairview cemetery. It is nearly
on the line of Eighteenth Avenue.
GREEN AVENUE extends from Eleventh Street to Seventh, parallel to and lying
between Eleventh and Chestnut Avenues.
HIGH AVENUE is in Fairview suburb and extends from Ninth Street eastward.
HOWARD AVENUE has the same extent as Lexington and is the next parallel street
northwest. Both of these are in the First and Seventh wards.
LEXINGTON AVENUE extends from Eleventh Street between Thirteenth and Fourteenth
Avenues, to Seventh Street, and from near Fourth Street to and below First Street.
LLOYD STREET lies next beyond First Street, parallel to it and outside city limits.
MAPLE STREET is in the Fifth ward and extends from Twenty-fourth Street southwest
to Millville. It is the second parallel street to the west of Broad Street.
MARGARET AVENUE is in the Fifth ward, and extends from Sixteenth Street southwest
to Broad, which continues on nearly the same line to Millville suburb.
OAK AVENUE is in Fairview suburb and extends from Ninth Street eastward.
OAK STREET is in the Fifth ward and extends from Twenty-fourth Street southwest to Millville.
PINE AVENUE is parallel with Cherry and is the next avenue north, extending from
Fifth Street east. No dwellings along it May 1st, 1890.
PINE STREET is in the Fifth ward between Union Avenue and main line P.R.R. It
extends from Nineteenth Street southwest one square.
PINE STREET in Allegheny suburb is parallel with the P.R.R. main line and extends
from Twenty-seventh Street westward.
SPRUCE STREET is in Allegheny suburb and extends from Twenty-seventh Street
southwest parallel with Walnut Street.
WALNUT AVENUE extends from between Fourth and Fifth Streets to and beyond First
Street. It is next northwest of Howard Avenue.
WALTON AVENUE is the next avenue south of Bell, and extends from Oak Ridge
cemetery to eastern limits of the city and beyond.
WASHINGTON AVENUE is the name given to what was long known as Dry Gap Road. It
extends from corner Sixteenth Street and Thirteenth Avenue nearly west to city
limits and the country beyond, and the mountains of Cambria county.
WEST WALNUT and WEST CHESTNUT AVENUES and OAK and MAPLE AVENUES are parallel to
Broad Street and lie partly in the city and partly in Millville, as it is commonly called,
or Allegheny, as it is designated in the recorded plot. They are recorded as streets.
WILLOW AVENUE extends from Ninth Street to First Street and below city limits, and
is next northwest of Walnut. Along the cemetery it is improperly called Fairview Avenue.
[25-26]
SUB-DIVISIONS OF ALTOONA.
WARDS.
Altoona is divided into eight wards, each of which, except the Seventh, have [sic] two
voting precincts. The First, Third, Fifth and Seventh wards are on the northwest or
Eleventh avenue side of town, and the Second, Fourth, Sixth and Eighth on the
southeast, or Eighth avenue side.
FIRST WARD is bounded by Seventh street on the northeast, and Twelfth street on
the southwest and on the other two sides by Tenth avenue, and northwestern city line
about Eighteenth avenue.
SECOND WARD is bounded by Ninth avenue on the northwest, Seventh street on the
northeast, Twelfth street on the southwest and city line on the southeast.
THIRD WARD is bounded by Twelfth street on the northeast, Sixteenth street on the
southwest, Tenth avenue on the southeast and city line, which is about on the line
of Eighteenth avenue on the northwest.
FOURTH WARD is enclosed, and bounded by Twelfth street and Sixteenth street, and
Ninth avenue and southeastern city line.
FIFTH WARD includes all of the city southwest of Sixteenth street and northwest of
the Hollidaysburg branch of the P.R.R., the city line being about on Twenty-seventh
street at the southwest and Eighteenth avenue on the northwest. This ward should be
divided and the territory embraced within the triangle formed by the main line of
the P.R.R. and the Hollidaysburg branch made a separate ward.
SIXTH WARD includes all of the city southeast of the Hollidaysburg branch and west
of Sixteenth street.
SEVENTH WARD, familiarly called Logantown, being so named before it was taken into
the city, includes the territory northeast of Seventh street and northwest of the
main line of the P.R.R. to city line about First street on the northeast and Cherry
avenue on the northwest.
EIGHTH WARD lies on the opposite side of the P.R.R. from Logantown or Seventh
ward, and is bounded and enclosed by the P.R.R., Seventh street, First avenue and
First street.
The city having been laid out in conformity to the line of the railroad, which
does not follow the cardinal lines of the compass, the streets and avenues
necessarily extend on the intermediate lines northeast and southwest by northwest
and southeast, while the city line as now established does not keep directly with
the streets and avenues.
The original borough of Altoona was bounded by and embraced within the present
Eleventh street and Sixteenth street and Fourteenth avenue and Fourth avenue, all of
which then had names instead of numbers. Tenth avenue was called Main or Railroad
street and was considered the most desirable part of the town.
Eleventh avenue was called Virginia street, Twelfth avenue was Emma street,
Thirteenth avenue was Claudia street, Eleventh street was Katharine street, Twelfth
street was Annie street, Thirteenth street was Julia street, Fourteenth street was
Clara street, Ninth avenue was Branch street, Eighth avenue was Harriet street,
Seventh avenue was Adeline street, Sixth avenue was Helen street, Fifth avenue was
Rebecca street, Fourth avenue was Elizabeth street.
After Altoona had become something of a town a Mr. Green, who owned a farm in the
north and west, conceived the idea of immortalizing his name by founding a town, and
he laid out a plot adjoining Altoona and extending from Eleventh to Seventh street
and from the railroad north to near Fairview cemetery. This he modestly named
Greensburg in honor of himself, and the avenues Green, Chestnut, Lexington and
Howard, which he purposely laid out to not coincide in line with Eleventh, Twelfth
Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth avenues of Altoona have still retained their
original names. The intersection of Ninth street and Chestnut avenue was the centre
of Greensburg and here the street and avenue was widened in each direction, making a
square 100x150 feet, to which was given the name "Union Square," but no one speaks of
it as such now, yet the time may come when the name will be revived and it become a
popular part of the city, the location of fine business blocks, as it is the only
part of the city where there is room to stop with teams without blockading the
street. The streets, with the exception of Broad, which is 60, being but 50 feet
wide from building to opposite one.
[27-30]
City Government.
City Hall and Council Chambers Twelfth street corner of Thirteenth avenue.
THEO. BURCHFIELD, Mayor, R.
Treasurer - Harry E. Ferguson, R.
Controller - George W. Harpham, R.
Chief of Police - Thomas Weir.
Street Commissioner - C. N. Atkinson.
Water Superintendent - S A. Gailey
SELECT COUNCIL.
First Ward - J. K. Patterson, R.
Second Ward. - John Currie, R.
Third Ward - A. J. Anderson, D.
Fourth Ward - Jacob Adams, D.
Fifth Ward - Jerry Davis, R.
Sixth Ward - S. M. Hoyer, D.
Seventh Ward - E. A. Zeek, R.
Eighth Ward - George W. Slayman, R.
COMMON COUNCIL.
First Ward - D. A. Lyttle, R., Harry Bennett, R.
Second Ward - R. F. Bankert, R., E. C. Reese, R.
Third Ward - J. W. Robeson, D., George A. Baer, D.
Fourth Ward - H. A. Hoffman, D., D. L. Peightel, D.
Fifth Word - John M. Hileman, R., James R. Flannagan, D.
Sixth Ward - M. J. Shiffler, R., Thomas Moore, D.
Seventh Ward - C. W. Emeigh, R., George Breisacher, D.
Eighth Ward - J. C. Adams, D., P. E. Coll, D.
The new members of Select Council from the even numbered wards serve for four
years and those from the odd numbered wards serve for only two years. In Common
Council the new members serve for one year from the odd numbered wards and those
from the even numbered wards for two years.
School Board - L. B. Reifsneider, President; H. J. Cornman, W. S. Douglass,
Secretary; George F. Jackson, Louis Walton, Thomas W. Cole; D. S. Keith,
Superintendent; office in Fourth ward school building, Fifteenth street corner
Seventh avenue. Dr. J. W. Findley succeeds H. J. Cornman after June 1, 1890.
Altoona Post Office.
T. BLAIR PATTON, POSTMASTER.
REAMER HOKE, Assistant P. M.
Office in Odd Fellows (formerly Masonic) building, Twelfth street between Tenth
and Eleventh avenues. Office hours, 7 A.M. TO 8.15 P.M., except Sundays and legal
holidays. Sunday hours, 9.30 to 10.30 A.M. Money order department open from 8 A.M.
to 7.30 P.M. Free mail delivery in the city and suburbs.
Letter carriers, in order of their districts, are: E. O. Babcock, No. 1; G. W.
Amheiser, No. 2; J. C. Hagerty, No. 3; George E. Gracey, No. 4; J. M. Stevens, No. 5;
John D. Yerger, No. 6; John F. Costelow, No. 7; C. McMullin, No. 8; W. A. Black,
No. 9; Adam Leake, No. 10; sub-carriers, John A. Beaver, Thomas G. Herbert.
BLAIR COUNTY OFFICIALS.
(Blair County constitutes the 24th Judicial District.)
President Judge - Hon. JOHN DEAN, Hollidaysburg.
Sheriff - John Orr, of Altoona.
District Attorney - Martin Bell, Hollidaysburg.
Prothonotary and Clerk of Orphans' Court - Charles Geesey.
Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds, &c. - J. Lee Plummer.
Treasurer - Martin Grafius.
Surveyor - H. C. Love, Tyrone.
Coroner - M. Poet.
Mercantile Appraiser - Levi Knott.
County Commissioners - John Wighaman, Hollidaysburg; J. B. Cowen, Altoona;
C. Blythe Jones, Hollidaysburg.
Poor Directors - John Loudon, John A. Crawford, A. J. McKee.
Auditors - Geo. R. Stiffler, Frankstown township; A. J. Filler, Newry; David Koch, Altoona.
Superintendent of Schools - H. S. Wertz, of Duncansville.
PENNSYLVANIA STATE GOVERNMENT.
Senators - J. D. Cameron, of Harrisburg; M. S. Quay, of Beaver.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
Governor - James A. Beaver, R. Salary, $10,000.
Lieutenant Governor - William T. Davies, R. Salary, $3,500.
Secretary of the Commonwealth - Charles W. Stone, R. Salary, $5,100 and fees.
Attorney General - W. S. Kirkpatrick, R. Salary, $3,500 and fees.
State Treasurer - H. K. Boyer, R. Salary $6,200.
Secretary of Internal Affairs - Thomas J. Stewart, R. Salary, $3,500.
Auditor General - Thomas McCamant, R. Salary $4,200.
Bureau of Statistics - Albert S. Bolles, R., Commissioner. Salary, $2,500.
Superintendent of Public Instruction - Dr. D. J. Waller, Jr. Salary $2,500.
Adjutant General - D. H. Hastings, R. Salary, $3,500.
Insurance Department - J. Montgomery Forster, D., Commissioner. Salary, $3,000.
State Librarian - W. H. Egle, R. Salary $1,800.
Superintendent of Public Printing - Barton D. Evans. Salary, $2,000.
Superintendent of Public Buildings and Grounds - W. H. H. Stackpole, R. Salary $1,400.
State Printer - Edward K. Meyers, D.
THE JUDICIARY.
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania - Term of office 20 years.
Chief Justice - Edward M. Paxson, Philadelphia, elected 1874
James P. Sterrett, Pittsburgh, " 1878
Henry Green, Easton, " 1880
Silas M. Clark, Indiana, " 1882
H. W. Williams, Wellsboro, " 1887
James T. Mitchell, Philadelphia, " 1888
J. Brewster McCollum, Montrose, " 1888
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
Executive Department.
BENJAMIN HARRISON, of Indiana, President.
Salary, $50,000.
Vice-President - Levi P. Morton, of New York. Salary, $8,000.
Secretary of State - James G. Blaine, of Maine. Salary, $8,000.
Secretary of the Treasury - William Windom, of Minnesota. Salary, $8,000.
Secretary of War - Redfield Proctor, of Vermont. Salary, $8,000.
Secretary of the Navy - Benjamin F. Tracy, of New York. Salary $8,000.
Postmaster-General - John Wanamaker, of Philadelphia. Salary, $8,000.
Secretary of the Interior - John W. Noble, of Missouri. Salary, $8,000.
Attorney-General - William H. H. Miller, of Indiana. Salary, $8,000.
Secretary of Agriculture - Jeremiah M. Rusk, of Wisconsin. Salary, $8,000.
Commissioner of the General Land Office - Lewis A. Groff, of Nebraska. Salary, $4,000.
Commissioner of Patents - Charles E. Mitchell, of Connecticut. Salary, $5,000.
Commissioner of Pensions - Green B. Raum, of Illinois. Salary, $5,000.
Comptroller of the Currency - Edward S. Lacey, of Michigan. Salary, $5,000.
Commissioner of Indian Affairs - Thomas J. Morgan, of Rhode Island. Salary, $4,000.
Treasurer of the United States - James N. Huston, of Indiana. Salary, $6,000.
Commissioner of Internal Revenue - John W. Mason, of West Virginia. Salary, $6,000.
Register of the Treasury - W. S. Rosecraus, of California. Salary, $4,000.
Solicitor-General - O. W. Chapman, of New York. Salary, $7,000.
Commission of Customs - Samuel V. Holliday, of Pennsylvania. Salary, $4,000.
THE JUDICIARY.
UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.
Chief Justice - MELVILLE W. FULLER, of Illinois. Appointed 1888. Salary, $10,500.
There are eight Associate Justices, who each receive $10,000 a year salary and
hold office during life. Their names, with date of appointment, follow: Samuel F.
Miller, Iowa (1862); Stephen J. Field, California (1863); Joseph P. Bradley, New
Jersey (1870); John M. Harlan, Kentucky (1877); Horace Gray, Massachusetts (1881);
Samuel Blatchford, New York (1882); Lucius Q. Lamar, Mississippi (1888). Clerk,
James H. McKenny.
[31]
Pennsylvania Railroad Officials.
President - George B. Roberts, Philadelphia.
General Manager, Charles E. Pugh, "
General Passenger Agent, J. R. Wood, "
General Freight Traffic Agent, John S. Wilson, "
Robert E. Petit - Gen'l Supt. P.R.R. Div., Altoona.
(Resigned to take effect July 1st, 1890.)
C. A. Wood - Chief Clerk, "
Theo. N. Ely - Gen'l Supt. Motive Power, "
W. H. Rohrer - Chief Clerk, "
F. L. Sheppard - Supt. Motive Power, P.R.R. Div, "
W. E. Blanchard - Chief Clerk, "
D. J. Neff - Solicitor. "
M. W. Thomson - Engineer M. of W., "
John R. Bingaman - Chief Clerk M. of Way, "
Wm. S. Humes - Chief Clerk of Transportation, "
A. C. Hippey - Supt. Altoona Division, "
W. L. Pennock - Chief Clerk, "
W. C. Snyder - Train Master Altoona Division, "
W. F. Taylor - Chief Tel. Opr. Altoona Div., "
Geo. N. Anderson - Yard Master Altoona Yard, "
R. L. O'Donnel - Supervisor Altoona Yard, "
D. Steel - Asst. Trainmaster Pgh. Div., "
Jas. H. Cramer - Asst. Trainmaster Middle Div., "
Dr. Chas. B. Dudley, Chemist, "
A. Vogt - Engineer Tests, "
B. F. Custer - Chief Clerk Motive Power, "
C. P. Worthington - Clerk of Motive Power, "
Altoona offices corner Eleventh avenue and Twelfth street and corner Twelfth
avenue and Twelfth street.
G. W. Strattan - Master Mechanic Altoona Machine Shops; office Ninth avenue corner
Twelfth street.
John P. Levan - General Foreman Altoona Car Shops; office at car shops, Chestnut
avenue and Second street.
[32-36]
Churches.
Altoona has thirty-two churches, equal to one for about every 500 adults, and in
this respect, as well as in the character of the church edifices and ability of her
ministers, will compare favorably with any city of her size in the Union.
The aggregate value of church property is about $800,000; seating capacity,
18,000; and the total number of members, including in case of the Catholic
congregations, the entire family, 15,000.
All the churches hold a morning service at 10.30, and most of them have Sunday
school in the afternoon at 2 o'clock and preaching again in the evening, the evening
service beginning at 7 o'clock during the months from October to April, and at 7.30
the other months.
Seats are free in all and strangers welcome to attend.
FIRST METHODIST CHURCH, Twelfth avenue, corner of Thirteenth street, is a brick
building two stories high. Seating capacity, 600; membership, 530; pastor, Rev. D.
S. Monroe, D.D.; Sabbath school membership, 350; A.C. Lytle, superintendent. The
church owns two full lots, on which are erected, in addition to the church, a fine
parsonage and another large dwelling. Value of church property, $35,000.
EIGHTH AVENUE METHODIST CHURCH, corner Eighth avenue and Thirteenth street, brick,
two stories high. Seating capacity, 700; membership, 600; number of members in the
Sunday school, 550; Rev. H. R. Bender, pastor; Joseph Davis, superintendent of
Sunday school; parsonage 1422 Sixth avenue. Value of church property, including
parsonage, $30,000.
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, located on Eleventh avenue, between Fourteenth and
Fifteenth streets; a fine two-story brick building; Rev. E. D. Weigle, pastor;
parsonage adjoining the church; seating capacity, 750; membership, 1,019; Sunday
school membership, 814; T. B. Patton, superintendent; value of church property,
$45,000.
SECOND LUTHERAN CHURCH, Seventh avenue, between Eleventh and Twelfth streets, is
of brick, two stories high, a new brick parsonage adjoining the church; Rev. J. F.
Hartman is pastor; seating capacity of church, 600; membership, 475; J. P. Herring
superintendent of Sunday school; value of church property, $40,000.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Eleventh avenue between Twelfth and Thirteenth
streets. Brick building two stories high; seating capacity, 500; membership, 550;
Sunday school scholars, 557; parsonage corner Twelfth avenue and Fifteenth street;
Rev. J. W. Bain, pastor; T. H. Wiggins, superintendent of the Sunday school; value
of church, $45,000; parsonage, $10,000.
SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Eighth avenue between Thirteenth and Fourteenth
streets; built of brick; capacity, 1,200; chapel at rear of church, built of stone;
parsonage 1430 Sixth avenue; pastor, Rev. A. W. Spooner; membership, 750;
superintendent of Sunday school, J. Chester Wilson; membership, 425; value of church
property, $65,000; parsonage, $10,000.
SIMPSON METHODIST CHURCH, corner Sixth avenue and Twenty-third street; is a new
structure, built of brick one story high; its seating capacity is 550, and a
membership of about 350; the Sunday school numbers 400; John McKerihan,
superintendent, pastor, Rev. R. E. Wilson; parsonage, 2302 Seventh avenue.
FIFTH AVENUE METHODIST CHURCH, located on the corner of Fifth avenue and Fourth
street, one-story frame building; seating capacity, 500, with a membership of 400;
Rev. R. H. Colburn is pastor; parsonage, 512 Sixth street; Sunday school membership,
400; W. H. Wolf, superintendent; value of church property, $4,500.
MILLVILLE LUTHERAN CHURCH, located in the suburb of Millville, on West Chestnut
avenue, a one-story frame building; seating capacity, 600; membership, 125; pastor,
Rev. E. J. Metzlar; parsonage, 2905 Maple avenue; value of church property, $4,000.
FOURTH LUTHERAN CHURCH, is situated in Seventh ward (Logantown), corner of Howard
avenue and Third street, and is of brick two stories in height, and is now furnished
throughout; seating capacity, 450, and a membership of 148; Sunday school membership,
275; pastor, Rev. D. R. P. Barry; parsonage at rear of the church on Third street; M.
Stover is superintendent of the Sunday school; value of church property about $20,000.
CHESTNUT AVENUE M. E. CHURCH, is on Chestnut avenue at the corner of Tenth street;
was built in 1874; is of brick and two stories high; seating capacity of audience
room 750, and of lecture room, 500; membership, 220; pastor, Rev. A. R. Miller;
parsonage at rear of church; two Sunday schools with 300 scholars; superintendent,
A. W. Snyder and Frank Mason; value of church property, $28,000.
FIRST UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH is located on the corner of Eighth avenue and Twelfth
street; frame building two stories high; seating capacity, 475; church membership,
500; parsonage at rear of church on Twelfth street; Rev. J. N. Munden, pastor;
Sunday school membership, 400; C. B. Shay superintendent; value of church and
parsonage, $16,600.
SECOND UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH, built of brick two stories high; located on Fifth
avenue between Second and Third streets; lecture room only completed and seats 600;
membership, 250; Sunday school, 350; pastor, Rev. T. P. Orner; parsonage 323 Fifth
avenue; superintendent of Sunday school, G. W. Burket; value of church property,
when completed, about $15,000.
THIRD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, located on the corner of Fifth avenue and Second
street, is a one-story frame building, with a seating capacity of 300, and a
membership of 107; Rev. J. E. Irvine, pastor; parsonage 324 Sixth avenue; Sunday
school membership, 224; J. D. Irvine, superintendent; value of church property
(estimated), $3,000.
ST. JOHN'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, Thirteenth avenue between Thirteenth and
Fourteenth streets, is a brick structure two stories in height and has a seating
capacity of 1,200; membership 4,000; Rev. Father Edward A. Bush, pastor, with Rev.
J. B. O'Connor and Rev. Francis McKenna assistants. This church has also connected
with it a male and a female school; the former numbering about 300 and the latter
about 550 pupils. Total value of church, school and other property of the church
about $200,000.
ST. MARY'S GERMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, corner of Fifth avenue and Fourteenth street;
pastoral residence at 1405 Fifth avenue. It is built of brick and two stories high;
capacity of audience room about 800; Father William Holtapple, pastor, and Rev.
William Jordan, assistant. Attached to the church is a fine brick school building
three stories high, just being completed, at a cost of about $30,000, making a total
of church property worth about $65,000.
ST. LUKE'S EPISCOAL CHURCH, corner of Eighth avenue and Thirteenth street, is a
one-story stone building. Seating capacity, 600; Rev. Allan Sheldon Woodle, rector;
rectory adjoining the church on Thirteenth street; Sunday school numbers 300 scholars
and teachers. Value of church property, including rectory and parochial school,
$50,000. Rector's Warden, Theodore N. Ely; Secretary, James Mallett; Treasurer,
George H. Curtis.
GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH, located on the corner of Eighth avenue and Fourteenth
street, is a new two-story brick structure 58x90 feet in size, with a spire,
including the weather vane, of 159 feet in height. Seating capacity of 750, and a
membership of 600. The Sunday school numbers 350; Rev. H. J. H. Lemcke is pastor,
also superintendent of the Sunday school; parsonage adjoining the church, 1407
Eighth avenue. Value of church property when completed and the church furnished
will be about $35,000.
CHRIST REFORMED CHURCH, corner of Twelfth avenue and Fifteenth street, is a stone
structure, two stories high; seating capacity, 450; membership, 435; parsonage
adjoining on Twelfth avenue; pastor, Rev. D. S. Dieffenbacher; Sunday school
membership, 275; superintendent, W. C. Gerst; value of church property, $40,000.
SECOND GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH, now hold divine service in Mackey's Hall, corner
Eighth avenue and Eighth street, but the congregation have secured a lot at the
corner of Seventh avenue and Eighth street upon which to erect a church building
during the present summer season. Rev. Lloyd E. Coblentz is their pastor; a
membership of about 165, and a Sunday school of about 175; George L. Freet is the
superintendent.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, corner of Eleventh avenue and Fifteenth street; built of
brick two stories high; parsonage also of brick at the rear of the church, No. 1108
Fifteenth street; seating capacity of audience room, 500; church membership, 375;
Sunday school membership, 400; Rev. N. C. Naylor, pastor; Samuel Colclesser,
superintendent of Sunday school; value of church and parsonage, $30,000.
MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH, corner of Fifth avenue and Sixth street; frame building,
one story; seating capacity, 300, a membership of 75 and a Sunday school of 170
members; Rev. G. W. Downing is pastor, also superintendent of Sunday school;
parsonage 306 Fourteenth street.
GERMAN BAPTIST OR DUNKARD CHURCH, corner Sixth avenue and Fifth street, frame
building two stories high. Seating capacity, 350; value of property, $6,000;
membership, 100; Sunday school, 225. Pastors, Rev. J. W. Wilt and D. S. Brallier,
assistant; Sunday school superintendent, Jacob Kinsel.
EMANUAL CHURCH OF THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, corner Fifth avenue and Fifth
street, one-story frame. Seating capacity, 200; membership, 66; Rev. J. E. Moeller,
pastor; parsonage, 410 Fifth street; Sunday School membership, 90; Fred. Haller,
superintendent. Value of church property, $3,000.
THE CHURCH OF GOD (BETHEL), is a brick-cased building two stories high, located on
the corner of Fifth avenue and Thirteenth street, parsonage adjoining on Thirteenth
street. Capacity of church, 500; membership, 160; Rev. J. W. Deshong, pastor;
Sunday school membership, 175; R. A. Isenberg, superintendent. Value of church and
parsonage, $15,000.
METHODIST CONGREGATION, of Logantown, hold divine services in Woodcock's Hall, 315
Lexington avenue; Rev. L. F. Smith, pastor; also a Sunday school; W. Lee Woodcock,
superintendent.
THE JUNIATA LUTHERAN CHURCH, is a one-story frame building, and Rev. J. R.
Williams is pastor.
JEWISH CHURCH, consisting of about 25 members; hold service in the Arcade block,
but at present they are without a minister.
AFRICAN M. E. CHURCH, one-story fame, Sixteenth street near Eleventh avenue;
pastor, J. B. Till; parsonage, 1008 Seventeenth street; membership, 41; capacity,
160; Sunday school, 40; superintendent, D. C. Johnson; value of church property, $2,000.
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH, (colored) frame building located on Bridge street, No.
1010; built on leased ground, two stories high; valued at $2,000; capacity 200;
membership, 40; pastor, G. E. Ormes; Sunday school, 45 members; W. H. Washington,
superintendent.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, rooms in Woodcock's Arcade, Eleventh avenue
near Fifteenth street; G. L. Myers, President; W. C. Hoar, Recording Secretary.
RAILROAD MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, reading rooms in Jaggard's building, corner
Eleventh avenue and Thirteenth street, second floor; has a library of over 800
volumes, a large file of newspapers and periodicals, and is free to all railroad
men; open every week day from 9 A.M. to 10 P.M. They also have a well-equipped
gymnasium on third floor of same building, with 459 members; they expect soon to
have a new building of their own; A. C. Shand is President, and H. J. Aukerman
General Secretary.
[37]
Library.
ALTOONA MECHANICS' LIBRARY, occupies several fine rooms on the Eleventh avenue
side of the Logan House. The library contains over 10,000 volumes, and is open
every week day from 7 A.M. to 10 P.M. and on Sundays from 2 to 5 P.M.; President,
George W. Strattan; Vice President, Allan Sheldon Woodle; Treasurer, D. S. Keith;
Secretary, W. C. Leet; Librarian, Miss L. L. Snyder; assistant, Miss M. Gibboney;
any one may become a member by the payment of a yearly fee of $3, or by paying $5
and becoming a stockholder, after which the yearly dues are but $2. A course of
free lectures, very interesting and instructive, is provided for the members each
winter season.
Schools.
The public schools of Altoona are in a flourishing condition, there being ten
school buildings, all of brick, and containing in the aggregate 109 school rooms,
superintendent's office, etc. The number of teachers employed during the school
year now ending was 100, and the total number of pupils in attendance, 5,020. The
location of the school buildings with number of rooms in each is as follows:
FIRST WARD, corner of Tenth street and Lexington avenue, eight rooms.
SECOND WARD, corner of Sixth avenue and Tenth street, twelve rooms.
THIRD WARD, corner of Thirteenth street and Fourteenth avenue, eleven rooms.
FOURTH WARD, corner of Seventh avenue and Fifteenth street, fourteen rooms. The
high school is in this building and the office of the city superintendent of
schools, D. S. Keith.
FIFTH WARD, Margaret avenue and Nineteenth street, twelve rooms.
SIXTH WARD, corner of Seventh avenue and Twentieth street, twelve rooms.
SEVENTH WARD, Lexington avenue and Second street, eight rooms.
EIGHTH WARD, corner of Sixth avenue and Seventh street, ten rooms, and corner
Fourth avenue and Second street, eleven rooms, and a third, corner of First avenue
and Fifth street, with eleven rooms now building.
Of the teachers employed during the current year ninety were females and ten
males. The average salary paid was $40.36.
[38-39]
Fire Department.
As a protection from fires Altoona has a very efficient volunteer service,
consisting of three steam fire engine companies, three hose companies, one hook and
ladder company and a fire patrol, the combined membership being about 650 men.
THE GOOD WILL FIRE ENGINE AND HOSE COMPANY, NO. 1, has a membership of 100 men.
They have a LaFrance engine and 1,000 feet of hose. Engine house on the corner of
Sixth avenue and Thirteenth street.
THE EMPIRE HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY, NO.1, have two trucks, four horses and a
membership of 101 men. House on Tenth avenue between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets.
THE VIGILANT STEAM FIRE ENGINE COMPANY, NO. 2, has a LaFrance engine, one hose
carriage, four horses, 1,100 feet of hose and a member of 80 active men. Their
house is in city hall, corner of Thirteenth avenue and Twelfth street.
THE ALTOONA STEAM FIRE ENGINE COMPAN (P.R.R.), has a membership of 100 men, an
Amoskeag engine, two hose carriages and 1,500 feet of hose. Their house is on Tenth
street between Chestnut and Lexington avenues.
LOGAN HOSE, NO. 4, has forty members, a hose carriage, 1,000 feet of hose and two
horses, house at corner of Sixth avenue and Ninth street.
FRIENDSHIP HOSE, NO. 6, has sixty-five members, a hose carriage, 1,000 feet of
hose and two horses. Their house is on Twenty-first street, between Eighth and
Ninth avenues.
THE FIRE PATROL has forty members, a good team of horses, a patrol wagon, etc.
Their house is on Green avenue, near Seventh street.
F. P. Molloy is Chief Engineer of the City Fire Department, and J. H. Butler
assistant on the West Side and Frank Harmon on the East Side.
Location of Fire Alarm Boxes.
Union System. These numbers are struck with the bell.
WEST SIDE. EAST SIDE.
223 Howard Ave. and 2d St. 322 Broad Ave. and 23d St.
224 Lexington Ave. and 4th St. 323 Margaret Ave. and 17th St.
225 Walnut Ave and 4th St. 324 Seventh Ave. and 22d St.
226 Chestnut Ave. and 9th St. 325 Eighth Ave. and 20th St.
232 Howard Ave. and 10th St. 326 Fifth Ave. and 19th St.
233 Fifteenth Ave. and 11th St. 332 Seventh Ave. and 17th St.
234 Twelfth Ave. and 11th St. 333 Sixth Ave. and 16th St.
235 Eleventh Ave. and 12th St. 334 Eighth Ave. and 15th St.
236 Thirteenth Ave. and 12th St. 335 Fourth Ave. and 15th St.
242 Fifteenth Ave. and 13th St. 336 Seventh Ave. and 13th St.
243 Eleventh Ave. and 14th St. 342 Fourth Ave. and 13th St.
244 Eleventh Ave. and 16th St. 343 Fifth Ave. and 12th St.
245 Thirteenth Ave. and 16th St. 344 Seventh Ave. and 11th St.
246 Twelfth Ave. and 20th St. 345 Eighth Ave. and 9th St.
252 Tenth Ave. and 18th St. 346 Fifth Ave. and 9th St.
444 Car Shops 423 Sixth Ave. and 7th St.
424 Third Ave. and 7th St.
425 Eighth Ave. and 6th St.
426 Seventh Ave. and 4th St.
526 Fourth Ave. and Third St.
555 Machine Shops.
[40]
The Altoona Hospital.
Which is a public one under the control and ownership of a corporation chartered for
the purpose, is located on elevated ground near the corner of Seventh street and
Howard avenue. It was built in 1885 with funds contributed by the citizens and the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and an appropriation from the state of $15,000. The
value of the grounds and buildings is about $40,000. It was first opened for the
reception of patients January 1, 1886, since which time 792 cases were treated
inside and 1,421 outside, making a total of 2,213. John P. Levan is President; B.
F. Custer, Clerk; Theo. Wigton, Treasurer; A. J. Riley, Solicitor; John Fay, M.D.,
chief of Medical Staff; Mrs. A. M. Smith, superintendent in charge.
Cemeteries.
Altoona has three large cemeteries and several small ones. The largest and finest
is Fairview, on Ninth street between Fifteenth and Eighteenth avenues, and contains
some 20 acres of ground. It was opened for interments in 1857, since which time
4,655 persons have there been laid to rest. It is used almost exclusively by the
Protestant denominations of the city and no colored persons are buried there.
Robert Cox is sexton. Another Protestant cemetery is Oak Ridge on the opposite side
of the city, corner of Tenth street and First avenue. Miles Barto is Sexton. The
English and German Catholic cemeteries are on the line of Twelfth street beyond
first avenue, and here are laid the bodies of about 2,000 of that faith. In the
immediate vicinity also is a smaller one called the Eastern Light, used by the
colored people of the city.
[41-49]
Historical Review of Altoona.
Location and Surroundings - Rapidity of Growth, and Present Status.
Improvements Made and Making.
FORTY years ago this part of Logan valley was more than half covered with the
primeval forests in much the same condition as when the Indian tracked the deer and
bear from one mountain spur to another and saw no paleface or sign of his industry.
Scattered over the territory which is now Altoona City were then three or four rude
farm houses, mere log huts, surrounded by a few acres of cleared ground, on which by
constant labor the owners managed to grow sufficient crops to sustain life and but
little more. It was not fertile soil and for farming purposes would have been dear
at ten dollars an acre. Over the hill in Pleasant valley the soil was better and at
Collinsville, which was on the principal country road of the region, was a few
houses, a little store, post office, school house and church. Altoona was undreamed
of by some who are still living, and who by its growth have been enriched beyond
anything they could otherwise have hoped. Blair county had recently been organized
(in 1846), out of the western part of Huntingdon county, and Hollidaysburg, the
county seat, then containing some 1,200 to 1,500 inhabitants, was the largest town
in the vicinity. It was the only town of any consequence in the county, and as the
terminus of the western end of the middle division of the Pennsylvania canal bid
fair to become the metropolis of central Pennsylvania. About this time the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company was incorporated and contemplating a through rail
route from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, sought a location for shops and depot which,
being unable to secure at a reasonable price, either at Hollidaysburg or Huntingdon,
they resolved to build in a new place, and by chance this spot was chosen. Chance
because it so happened that the road could be built this way and the grounds here,
not being worth much for farming purposes, could be bought cheaply. Archibald
Wright, of Philadelphia, acting presumably for the railroad company, bought the farm
of David Robinson, consisting of some 240 acres, for $11,000. Fifteen acres of this,
now occupied by the machine shops, round house, depots, yards, etc., in the heart of
the city, was taken by the railroad company for their own use, and the remainder was
laid out in lots 50x120 feet, intersected by 50-foot wide streets and 15-foot
alleys, and offered for sale at reasonable prices to the employes of the company and
other settlers. Tenth avenue, then called Railroad street, was considered the best
part of the town, though Eleventh avenue, then called Virginia street, was the site
of the first store and soon assumed the aspect of a business street.
The growth of the town was continuous and rapid from its beginning in 1850-51 to
the present time, May 1st, 1890, when within the city limits 30,000 people are found
and 5,000 more reside in close proximity, find their employment here, come here for
post office, church, store and bank and are in all respects citizens of Altoona. In
1854 it was chartered as a borough with about 2,000 inhabitants, and in 1868 had
reached the dignity of a city and became incorporated as such with a population of
nearly 10,000. Schools and churches were early established. The St. John's Roman
Catholic, the First Presbyterian, the First Methodist Episcopal and the First
Lutheran all establishing themselves here as early as 1852. The Lutherans were here
first, coming from Collinsville where they had a church before Altoona had a
beginning. Soon other denominations followed. The Baptists, German Lutherans, German
Catholics and Protestant Episcopals have had churches and congregations here for many
years, and branches from the first churches have built for themselves till now there
are five Methodist churches, five Lutheran, three Presbyterian and in all over 30
church buildings with a membership of 20,000, and church property worth nearly a
million of dollars.
The schools have kept pace with the city's growth and wooden buildings given place
to brick ones, till now each ward has one or more commodious brick school houses
containing 8 to 14 rooms, and a high school department where instruction is given in
the higher branches of learning, without charge, to all children of the city who will
attend. The Catholics, both English and German, have their schools in connection with
their churches, and preferring these to the city public schools send their children
there for a small tuition fee. The cost being so small, indeed, and the instruction
so thorough that some Protestant children are also in attendance at the Catholic schools.
Altoona being eminently a city of mechanics and working people of moderate means
the architecture of the place has not been ornate, though it has been neat and
tasty. Few palatial residences have yet been erected and but a limited number of
large business blocks, but with increasing wealth, which continued prosperity
ensures, these things are coming and the near future will see many additions to the
small number of costly residences and pretensious business blocks now to be found in
the city.
The improvement of the streets was a matter long delayed, and until the beginning
of 1889 the only piece of a street that had any claim to city style was between
Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, on Eleventh avenue, and this the P.R.R. Co. had
paved with asphaltum at their own expense, being the owners of most of the property
abutting. Part of Eighth and Eleventh avenues had been macadamized after a fashion
some time in the 70's, but it afforded very little relief from the mud, and the
desperate condition of these and the other streets finally aroused the inhabitants
to the necessity of action, and during the summer of 1889 and fall and winter
following, good Belgian block, concrete or asphaltum has been placed on Eleventh
avenue front Eleventh to Bridge street, on Eleventh street from Tenth avenue to
Chestnut avenue, and down Chestnut to Seventh street, on Green avenue from Eleventh
street to Seventh, on Twelfth avenue from Eleventh street to Thirteenth street, on
Eighth avenue from Seventh street to Seventeenth, and on Twelfth street from Tenth
avenue to Fourteenth avenue, except a half square, which will be completed during
1890; and on Thirteenth street from Tenth avenue to Eleventh avenue. Also on Tenth
avenue from Eleventh street to Twelfth, and from Thirteenth to Fourteenth streets.
This has proven so satisfactory that although the cost has unjustly to be born by
the lot-owners fronting, while the street is used by the whole city, and the cost is
$3 per square yard, it is likely that several miles more of the streets will be
similarly paved during the present year - 1890 - the contract having already been
given out for Seventeenth street from Bridge to Eighth avenue, for Ninth street from
Eleventh avenue to Fairview cemetery; Twelfth avenue from Thirteenth to Sixteenth
street; Fourteenth avenue from Eleventh to Thirteenth street; Thirteenth street,
likely from Eleventh to Seventeenth avenue; and Sixth and Seventh avenues, from
Fourth to Sixteenth streets. When this is done Altoona need not be ashamed to
compare streets with other cities of her size. With regard to sidewalks, Altoona is
yet behind the times, though improvements are noticeable and will be likely to come
very soon.
Two years ago there was not half a mile of good sidewalk in the city - sidewalk
suitable for a city of its population. Most of it was of hemlock boards of every
conceivable width, grade and condition of repair, and for broken limbs and other
accidents chargeable to the bad walks the city has paid out many thousand dollars in
court costs, attorney's fees and liquidation of judgments. Some of the walks are of
brick, a greater abomination even than boardwalks, though not so dangerous. There
have been laid during the past year or two a few squares of flagstone, some sawed
stone and some concrete, the latter being the most desirable and likely to be used
almost exclusively hereafter. It now surrounds the square on which is the Logan
House, P.R.R. passenger depot and express office, and in front of some of the best
properties on Eleventh, Twelfth and Eighth avenues and nearby streets, and present
indications point to the laying of several miles more of it during the summer.
The water system of Altoona is excellent, the supply being very pure as obtained
from the Allegheny mountain streams and stored in a reservoir at Kittanning Point,
six miles west of Altoona, on the main line of the P.R.R., from whence it is brought
to Altoona through two 12-inch iron pipes. It is emptied from these pipes into a
storage reservoir on Prospect Hill, Twelfth street and Second avenue, and from there
distributed by force of gravity through iron pipes to all parts of the city. The
works are owned by the city and under direct control of Councils through the Water
Committee and a superintendent. The works have cost the people nearly a million of
dollars, some, perhaps, having been diverted from its proper channel by those to
whom was entrusted its care and expenditure; but that is long ago comparatively, and
the rogues have all gone West, leaving the management now in the hands of strictly
honest men who will faithfully discharge their duties - if watched closely.
There is little doubt that notwithstanding occasional leakages through the
dishonesty of public officers, the city has been better supplied and at less cost to
the citizens than it would have been by a private corporation or firm. We get the
service for its actual cost, and if it costs the city more sometimes than it would a
water company the profits they would want would more than equal the difference. Our
sewerage system has not yet reached absolute perfection but is fairly good. We have
a number of large mains and two now being completed on Ninth and Twenty-fourth
streets, will add very much to it. There are still some districts where the only
drainage is in open ditches, at the side of the street, which gives out a very
offensive smell in warm weather. This is likely soon to be remedied by the laying of
terra cotta pipes along all inhabited streets. Such improvements are costly and must
be made by degrees, as the people are able to pay for it. Forty years is a short
time in which to build and thoroughly improve all parts of a city containing five
square miles of territory exclusive of its suburbs. The lighting of the city by gas
and electricity is very properly in the hands of private corporations, since light
being cheaply produced with oil no one need patronize the gas or electric light
companies unless they choose. The Altoona Gas Company was established in 1857, and
has always served the people fairly and put the price of gas at a very reasonable
figure, especially since the advent of the electric light companies, of which we
have two, one established in December, 1886, and the other early in 1888.
As before remarked the growth of Altoona has been steady and with the exception of
a brief period, about the time of the panic of 1877, building has been constantly
going on at the rate of from 100 to 300 houses per year, some of which were to
replace old ones pulled down and others to repair the work of the incendiary or
accidental fire, but the majority of the houses built were on new sites and were
real additions to the city.
We have not counted the houses in the city directly, but counting the heads of
families of the entire territory canvassed for this directory, we find 3,392 who own
their houses or are buying, and 3,305 who are tenants only, making a total of 6,697
heads of families. A few of these keep house in rented rooms or parts of single
houses, so that perhaps 6,500 is about the actual number of dwellings, to which may
be added the business houses in which no families reside, which will swell the total
to whatever number the reader may choose to estimate it.
The most important improvements in the building line in Altoona during the past
two years, in addition to the 600 dwellings, which we estimate to have been erected,
are:
First, The Juniata locomotive shops, which are situated one-half mile northeast of
the city line at First street and Chestnut avenue, and though without the city are a
part of it. These cover several acres of ground and occupy nearly 50, and will, when
in full operation, which is likely to be by July 1st, 1890, give employment to 1,500
to 2,000 men and add largely to our present population.
Second, The completion of the silk mill, 50x250 feet, and two stories high, built
of brick. The completion of the Eleventh Avenue Opera house block and opening of the
opera house part and of the mercantile establishments on the first floor.
Third, The building of the Masonic Temple on the corner of Eleventh street and
Twelfth avenue. This building is of pressed brick, 50x120 feet on the ground, and
four stories high. It was begun in 1889, the corner stone being laid August 13th,
and it was completed ready for occupancy April 1st, 1890, at a cost of about
$60,000, exclusive of the lot, for which they paid $17,500. It is the property of
Mountain Lodge, No. 281, Ancient York Masons, and will be dedicated May 15th, 1890.
All the Masonic bodies in the city will meet in this building, the third and fourth
floors being fitted up for that purpose, while the first floor contains five store
rooms, each 20x50 feet, and the second floor is divided into rooms for office
purposes. Opposite the Masonic Temple stands the Mountain City Theater building,
which was completed early in 1888 and destroyed by fire a little more than a year
later. The walls were left standing in part and the building has been reconstructed,
but not on the same plan. It now contains two store rooms on the first floor, a
number of offices and a miniature theater on the second floor, and offices and lodge
rooms on the third and fourth floors. It stands on Eleventh street, facing Twelfth
avenue, and is really an elegant building in every respect, being one of the six
largest in the city. The other five are: The Masonic Temple opposite, Eleventh
Avenue Opera House, on the corner of Eleventh street and Eleventh avenue, but half a
square distant; the Logan House, on Tenth avenue, between Twelfth and Thirteenth
streets; Woodcock's Arcade, Eleventh avenue, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth
streets, and the Fifth ward school house, on Margaret avenue; corner of Nineteenth
street. The railroad company, owing to some unexplained cause, have not redeemed
their promise to build a new freight warehouse, but it is confidently expected they
will do so ere long. The German Lutheran congregation have nearly completed a
beautiful brick church on the corner of Eighth avenue and Fourteenth street, and the
German Catholics are just completing the St. Mary's Convent school building on the
corner of Fourth avenue and Fourteenth street, which is a large and imposing
three-story brick. The Second United Brethren congregation have built a large brick
church on Fifth avenue and Third street, and the Third Presbyterian congregation a
neat frame church on Fifth avenue and Second street. The First Presbyterian and
First Lutheran congregations, whose churches are now located on Eleventh avenue,
will likely re-build soon or dispose of their present buildings and seek a more
quiet location, Eleventh avenue being no longer a proper place for a church, the
bustle and noise of business disturbing the worshipers in their devotions.
A new brick school house has been built in the Eighth ward, on Fourth avenue and
Second street, and the Fifth ward school building remodeled and added to so that it
is now the largest school building in the city.
A new building, especially for a high school and industrial art school, is likely
soon to be built if a location can be fixed upon agreeable to all, some warmth of
feeling having been developed between the east and west side, each of which thinks
its claim for the building superior to the other.
Among the other improvements expected soon is an extension of the street car line
to Millville and Allegheny on the southwest and Juniata on the northeast, and then
the use of electricity instead of horses as the motive power. The street railway
line will be extended from Margaret avenue and Seventeenth street along Margaret to
Broad and down Broad to Thirtieth, and from the other end of the line as at present
existing from Chestnut avenue below First street along the public road to Juniata.
Another extension will be from Eighth avenue and Fourth street, along Fourth street
to Sixth avenue and down Sixth avenue to city line.
This improvement will be made without doubt, and is likely to be completed by
August 1st, 1890. A new line of railroad is projected, extending from Juniata, or
perhaps nearer the city, up the mountain to Wopsononnock, a favorite summer resort
for tired Altoonians. A public park in or near the city is also talked of. We have
nothing of the kind and the need for it is imperative, yet its consummation is
perhaps far distant. Another long looked for and more hopeful
improvement is a government building, in which shall be a post office in keeping
with the importance of the city, and a United States district court room. A bill
appropriating $150,000 toward the erection of such a building is now pending before
congress, and it is sincerely hoped they will see the wisdom of passing it - not
into the waste basket, but into a law - to take effect at once.
We will close this article by inserting a report embracing some statistics and
estimates prepared in January, 1890, by a committee from the Board of Trade and City
Council, said committee consisting of H. H. Herr, Esq., William Stoke, B. F. Custer,
L. Plack, C. W. Moore, D. K. Ramey and J. M. Barwis, all of which is correct, except
the estimate of population, which was somewhat overdrawn.
Present population of Altoona 35,000
Population in 1880 19,710
______
Increase in 9 years 15,290
Suburban population 8,000
City population 35,000
______
Population supplied through city post office 43,000
ALTOONA POST OFFICE IN 1889.
Received for stamps, cards, etc. $27,450 55
Received from box rents 300 00
Received from sale of waste paper 11 37
_________
Total receipts $27,841 92
Paid for salaries, rent, incidental expenses
and letter carriers $14,920 97
_________
Net profits $12,920 95
BUILDINGS ERECTED IN 1889.
Number of buildings erected 400
Their cost was $ 1,560,000
Wages paid 600,000
Capital employed 350,000
Number of hands employed, 950
OTHER INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING P.R.R., IN 1889.
Capital employed $16,624,000
Wages paid 4,750,000
Hands employed 8,000
Total output $11,500,000
CITY PASSENGER RAILWAY.
Length of road, three miles.
Capital stock $ 103,000
Number of passengers carried 410,000
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Value of real estate and furniture $ 315,000
Number of pupils 4,500
Number of teachers 100
Average salary paid teachers $ 42
ST. JOHN'S CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.
Value of school property $ 100,000
Number of pupils 900
Number of teachers 20
ST. MARY'S GERMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.
Value of school property $ 38,000
Number of pupils 400
Number of teachers 5
BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS.
Number of associations 27
Their loans for 1889 aggregate $ 2,185,000
ELECTRIC LIGHT AND GAS COMPANIES.
The Mountain City Electric Light Company,
Capital $ 50,000
The Edison Electric Light Company, capital 56,000
(Supplying the city with light by electricity).
Altoona Gas Company, capital $ 120,000
MINING AND SHIPPING OF COAL - OFFICES AT ALTOONA.
Capital invested $ 555,000
Output for 1887, tons 475,600
Number of men employed 1,000
CHURCHES.
Number of churches of all denominations 32
Value of church property $ 627,500
ALTOONA CITY HOSPITAL
Building and equipments $ 35,000
TOBACCO INDUSTRY, MANUFACTURING AND JOBBING.
Value $ 865,000
WHOLESALE JOBBING IN GROCERIES AND GENERAL MERCHANDISE.
Value $ 1,200,000
ALTOONA SILK MILL.
Capital invested $ 200,000
Output in pounds 90,000
Earnings 72,000
Employes 250
During the year 1889 three miles of streets were paved with asphalt sheeting,
asphalt block or Belgian block at a cost of $120,000. The indications point to
considerable more being done during the coming year.
[49-52]
INFORMATION FOR STRANGERS.
Altoona Suburbs and Points of Interest. How to "do the Town."
The stranger and new-comer to Altoona will hear frequent mention of Millville,
Juniata, Belleview, Fairview, Collinsville, Mudtown, Pottsgrove, Pleasant Valley,
Newberg, Logantown, Loudon's Hill, Gospel Hill, Oakton, Three Culverts, Allegheny,
etc. etc., and to satisfy his curiosity as to the meaning of these terms, and the
location of these places, we will explain.
Taking the vicinity of the post office, on Twelfth street near Eleventh avenue, as
the central point, the hub around which the universe of Altoona revolves.
MILLVILLE is the familiar name for all the suburb to the South of the city, and is
reached by going out Eleventh avenue to Union avenue, down Union to Broad street, the
widest street we have - 60 feet - and down Broad to the farthest point. The electric
street railway will soon be built along this street. This place is properly
"Allegheny," having been laid out and recorded as such by Dr. S. C. Baker, but a
small plot in the vicinity having been laid out by another property-owner and given
the name Millville, for some reason that name became the commonly accepted one for
all the district, and popular names are hard to get rid of. The Altoona rolling mill
and Allegheny Furnace station, on the Hollidaysburg branch, are near here, distant 1
3-10 miles from the passenger station at Altoona.
JUNIATA is the new name for Belleview, which is a suburb about two miles northeast
of the post office, and reached by way of Eleventh avenue, Eleventh street and
Chestnut avenue to city line on street car, and from there one mile on the country
extension of Chestnut avenue. The electric road will soon be extended to Juniata.
The new Juniata locomotive works are here and this suburb is growing rapidly.
FAIRVIEW is a delightful suburb, one mile north of the post office, and is reached
by way of Eleventh avenue to Eleventh street and Chestnut avenue, and down Chestnut
to Ninth street, and out Ninth street past Fairview cemetery. All beyond the
cemetery is commonly called Fairview.
COLLINSVILLE, or Mudtown, as it is frequently called, is a little village over the
hill from the south side of town and is seen from the corner of Sixteenth street and
First avenue, lying in a lovely valley which is known as Pleasant Valley.
Collinsville is older than Altoona and there was a post office, church and store
there before the railroad was built. The post office has long since been
discontinued and the place now presents a rather decayed appearance, but the whole
valley, above and below, will doubtless soon be occupied by new houses, lots having
been laid out, many sold, and some already built upon.
POTTSGROVE is almost directly east of the post office and may be reached by going
on Twelfth street to Eighth avenue, down Eighth avenue to Fourth street, out Fourth
street to Fourth or Third avenue, and down the avenue to beyond First street, then
along a country road for about a mile. A man named Pottsgrove settled here years ago
and erected a grist and saw mill on a little stream which comes from the Kettle, so
called, a fertile valley beyond Brush Mountain. The mills have ceased to saw and
grind but the old frames are still there and the residence of Mr. Pottsgrove, while
the stream has been dammed by the P.R.R. Co. and a large reservoir established from
which the Altoona shops are supplied with water. A good many people live in the
vicinity and the neighborhood is called Pottsgrove.
LOGANTOWN is now the Seventh ward of Altoona, It lies along Chestnut avenue and
Fourth street and that vicinity and is contiguous to the car shops or lower shops,
as they were called when first built from being at the lower end of town, in the
country, indeed, then. A small village soon sprang up on the North side of these
shops and it was called Logantown, doubtless after the valley, which extends from
Tyrone to Altoona, and although now embraced within the corporate limits of Altoona
it is likely to be known as Logantown for years to come. It may be remarked in
passing that this end of Logan Valley was known as Tuckahoe in the early years and
the term is sometimes heard even now. Altoona is on record at Hollidaysburg as being
situated in "Tuckahoe Valley."
NEWBERG is a name sometimes given to a little settlement out the Dry Gap road, now
called Washington avenue inside the city limits. The old Dry Gap road leads from
Sixteenth street and Thirteenth avenue to the mountain, to the Buck Horn, as a spur
of the Alleghenies is called, and farther on to Cambria county. The name Dry Gap was
doubtless given because there was a sort of gap in the mountain which was not the
channel of a stream of water of any consequence. It was a dry gap.
OAKTON is out Thirteenth street from Eleventh avenue to the vicinity of
Twenty-fourth avenue and is likely to become a popular building place ere long, lots
having been laid out and building already begun. The location is high, dry and
beautiful.
Gospel Hill is at the intersection of Fourteenth avenue and Fourteenth street and
that vicinity. A fine view of the city may be had from here and it is usually
thronged with sight-seers on summer evenings. The Catholic churches at the base of
the hill probably suggested the name, which is a pretty one and well befitting the
place.
LOUDON'S HILL, is the hill on which Twelfth and Thirteenth avenues cross
Nineteenth and Twentieth streets, and is so-called from being a part of the old
Loudon farm. A fine view of the city and surrounding country is obtained from here,
and on clear days the Court House tower at Hollidaysburg may be seen with the naked
eye.
THREE CULVERTS is a point on the main line of the P.R.R., a little more than a
mile West of the depot. There is quite a fill here, and the country road passes
under the railroad through one of the culverts.
The stranger who desires to see all of Altoona as soon as possible should on his
arrival at the passenger station of the Pennsylvania Railroad, which is on Tenth
avenue, between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, step into the Logan House, right at
the depot, the largest and best hotel in the city, though there are several other
good ones, and register, taking one meal here at least, so he can say on returning
home he "stopped at the Logan House." After this walk out and pass up Twelfth street
past the Post Office to Eleventh avenue, and he will be at the center of the city.
Pass down Eleventh avenue to Eleventh street, one square, and look at the Central
hotel on one corner and the Eleventh Avenue Opera House on the other. Go along
Eleventh street, to Twelfth avenue, one square and stopping on the corner observe
the Masonic Temple and Plack's Theatre building, which stand facing each other. Look
along Twelfth avenue and observe some of the finest residences of the city, and the
place where all would like to live. Then take the first street car going down
Chestnut avenue and ride to First street. Between Tenth and Ninth streets, he will
pass L. Plack's residence on the left and William Hare's on the right, Plack's being
the largest in the city. At Seventh street he will see on the right the new paint
shops of the P.R.R. and on the left the cricket ground and ball and tennis grounds
of the company, kept as a place of recreation for favored employes and their
families. Across the cricket grounds on the hill stands the Altoona Hospital, a
public institution in which Altoona takes considerable pride. To the right, all the
way down to the street car stables are the shops of the P.R.R. - car shops
department - where both freight and passenger cars are built and repaired by
thousands every year. A short walk along the road beyond the street car line will
bring him to the top of an eminence, from which may be seen the new JUNIATA SHOPS,
while right at his feet is the immense lumberyard of the company, containing
20,000,000 to 30,000,000 feet of the finest of pine and oak lumber. Returning to the
street car line, take a car back and ride to Eighth avenue and Twelfth street,
remembering that Eleventh avenue from Eleventh street to Bridge street is the best
business street of the city, being the location of the largest stores, the banks and
three churches, viz.- First Presbyterian, First Lutheran and First Baptist, reached
in the order named. Crossing the railroad at Bridge street he may see the round
houses of the company, and many locomotive engines in the yard. He will pass along
Seventeenth street to Eighth avenue, and on Eighth avenue, at Fourteenth street,
will see the German Lutheran church, and near Thirteenth street the Second
Presbyterian, the Second Methodist and the Episcopal. At Twelfth street leave the
car and walk over the Twelfth street foot bridge to Tenth avenue, passing the
machine shops of the P.R.R. Co., where over 2,000 men are employed, mostly skilled
mechanics.
He has now had a glimpse of most of the important business interests of the city,
but should take a walk to the summit of Gospel Hill, Fourteenth avenue and
Fourteenth street, from whence a view of almost the whole city can be obtained, as
well as the mountains surrounding it. After this take a livery rig and drive out
Broad street to see some fine residences and the Altoona Manufacturing Company's
works, and crossing the Hollidaysburg branch at Thirtieth street view the rolling
mill, and near-by a four-story stone flouring mill, which for some reason has not
been operated for ten years past. Near here are the brickyards of John R. Vaughn,
the Standard Oil Company's station, the silk mill, Whitbred's greenhouse, and other
brick-yards, while to the Southeast, on the Hollidaysburg pike, is the old Allegheny
Furnace, now out of blast, perhaps forever, but very picturesque in its ruins and the
surroundings. It was built by Elias Baker fifty years ago and a large stone house
which he built for a residence stands in dignified seclusion back from the highway.
Mr. Baker came from Maryland and bought a tract of land of some 6,000 acres extent,
a large part of which is yet held by his heirs. The grandeur of his residence and
the log houses surrounding the furnace, built for the use of his employes suggests
at once the old English Feudal system, with Southern slave-holding modifications,
though of course no slaves ever toiled on Blair county's soil. Returning to the
city, and with, perhaps, a drive the length of Fifth or Sixth avenues, a good part
of Altoona has been seen, and one who, after having made this round, is not pretty
well aware of its contents and style is deficient in imagination. There is little
else to be seen, yet this is so pleasing to those who live here that it never
becomes tiresome or monotonous, and if they go away for a while soon return
satisfied that few better places to live in are to be found on this mundane sphere.
[53-56]
Additions and Corrections.
Some people in Altoona change their residence frequently
and the following pages show how the change has been
going on since April 1, when work was begun on
this Directory. A few of these persons were
missed or are improperly given in the body
of the work, but the residence here
given is the latest report we
have of them.
Adams Ettaville, Seventh ave and Twenty-second st
Adams W. C. 2126 Seventh ave
Adams D. S. 2126 Seventh ave
Ake W. M. 404 Willow ave
Ake A. B. 404 Willow ave
Ake Ella Miss, 404 Willow ave
Allen Joseph C. Allen Glennie Miss, Dell Sallie Miss, 1211 1/2 Sixteenth ave
Altoona Ganister Co. Shoemaker & Knox, shippers of building stone, offices 809 Twelfth st and 1106 do
Altoona Gas Co. John Lloyd pres. (elected since printing the company on page 69)
Ammerman F. 125 Washington ave
Anderson Findley, First ave below Seventh st
Anderson John B. 1010 Fifth ave
Anderson Robert J. Pittsburgh
Arther M. C. 931 First ave
Atkinson Ira, cashier Barber Asphalt Paving Co. rooms 1011 Lexington ave
Barto Miles, sexton Oak Ridge Cemetery, r h do
Barto John, laborer, bds Miles Barto's
Beaver John, letter carrier, 432 Willow ave
Beaver William E. conductor, 430 Willow ave
Bell P. G. Rev. gone to 159 Bluff st, Pittsburgh
Bentley M. F. 1623 Eleventh ave
Bisley B. Fourth ave and Seventh st
Boone J. E. left the city
Boyles Margaret, Third ave bet Fifth and Sixth sts
Boyles Thomas, bds 326 Sixth ave
Brodbeck George, 601 Eighth ave
Brown John, 1119 Fifth ave
Brown William J. 1119 Fifth ave
Burgman Elmer, 1012 Chestnut ave
Burgman Mollie, 1012 Chestnut ave
Burns W. J. D. to Eldorado
Butler John H. 227 Willow ave
Carey John, laborer, 919 Twenty-third ave, Fairview
CLARKE W. L., manager Standard Oil Co. Altoona station, bds Logan House
Clove -, 1409 Seventh ave
Closson B. F. 1003 Eighth ave
Cowen Stewart, 1512 Tenth st
Cunningham J. J., 1531 Third ave
Cunningham W. to Johnstown
Davis Annie E. Mrs. 1409 Thirteenth ave
Davis James C. 1909 Union ave
Delaney James F. 1421 Sixteenth ave
Delaney Ella 1421 Sixteenth ave
Delano Charles, Fifteenth st and Third ave
Eby Alfred S. 914 Seventh ave
Ely H. F. insurance and loan agt, cor Green ave and Eleventh st
Etone Danl, 2512 Oak ave
Evans B. F. 914 Eleventh ave
Evans Ed. 1435 Eleventh ave
Fagan P.J. plumber and gasfitter cor Green ave and Eleventh st, r h 1020 Fourteenth st
Feltwell Jos. H. hardware merchant, res 608 Third ave
Few Joseph W. 906 Third ave
Fite J. J. 1408 Tenth ave
Fleig Gotleib, 1027 Third ave
Foster Harriet A. Miss, home 1015 Thirteenth st
Garden John R. and William, erroneously printed Gardner
Geesey John, cor Fourth st and Crawford ave, (printed Fourteenth st)
Gardner E. J. Mrs., Gardner Nettie Miss, Dougherty A. Mrs., 806 Eleventh ave
Gatton James, 2111 Ninth ave
Gettys Mrs. 2021 Seventh ave
Glass Samuel P. 72 Washington ave
Gtreen J. B. grainer, 511 Twenty-third st
Gross John H. to Allegheny City
Hall Mary Mrs. Woodcock's row, Logantown
Havelin Thomas, watchman, 1301 Eighteenth ave
Havelin Cora, 1301 Eighteenth ave
HEINSLING HARRY T., att'y-at-law Schenk block, 1400 Eleventh ave, r h 1319 Thirteenth st
Henchey H. L, 62 Washington ave
Hess John E. 1708 Third ave
Hicks Jackson, near cor Thirteenth ave and Twenty-third st
Hileman George, 2220 Beale ave
Hinton John, Hinton Walter, 2227 Beale ave
Hogue Clayton, 1435 Eleventh ave
House moving and raising done by B. M. Blake 1300 Fifth ave, and by Bair & Hoffman
Eighteenth st and Eleventh ave
Ihler L. 1714 Third ave
Irvine Walter S. 1228 Eighteenth ave
Johnson Arthur S. supt Barber Asphalt Paving Co. rooms 1011 Lexington ave
Johnson Charles L. 1112 Eleventh ave
Keim John W. driver McCullough's, bds Leonard House
Kennedy John, 1715 Fifth ave
Kennedy J. M. 1004 Howard ave
Kephart C. W. left 1002 Eighth ave
Killinger Wm. 1116 Seventh ave
Kime Harry M. brakeman, r h 811 Nineteenth st
Kime Harvey E. laborer, home 1906 Seventh ave
Kiner A. A. bds 1127 Eighth ave
Kirk Joseph L. 1516 Third ave
Kiser Thomas 717 Green ave
Kreider J. Cloyd, 914 Eleventh ave
Lacey Andrew, 2401 Beale ave
Lawver C. B. 1323 Fourteenth ave
Leaner Geo. W. rear 1206 Fifth ave
Lear Joseph, 1909 Union ave
Lewis Annie Mrs., Lewis E. C. Hogue Clayton, Evans Ed., 702 Lexington ave
Lewis E. S. 1435 Eleventh ave
Limes Joseph C. carpenter, r h 435 Eighth ave
Lockard R. S. 1231 Eighteenth ave
Long John, 1715 Sixth ave
Lotz Edward M. to Hollidaysburg
Lucas Elton, 2020 Sixteenth st
Lucas S. H. Mrs. widow, 2020 Sixteenth st
Marble Frank, 2705 Seventh ave
McClain Ed. 1416 Twelfth ave
Marsh Bros. watches and jewelry 1113 Eleventh st, Masonic Temple
Mattioli Fred. fruits and confections, 1204 Eleventh st
McConnell Samuel S. bds 1303 Eighteenth ave
McCullough Frank M. student, home 1201 Fourteenth ave
McGraw H. Al. constable, 508 Bell ave
McGregor John and Mrs. Susan, 1017 Seventeenth ave
McKinstry Jane, to Hollidaysburg
McManany George, 1105 Fourth ave
Miller Ellis, 1209 Tenth st
Deaver Oda, 1209 Tenth st
Isenberg Annie, 1209 Tenth st
Miller Dan, 300 Willow ave
Miller H. C. bds with R. S. Lockard
Miller Richard, 1913 Sixth ave
Mitchell Wm. B., 2020 Sixteenth st
Monser George, 1715 Sixth ave
Morgan Wm. 610 Eighth st
Murray David, 313 Third ave
Myers Harry L. 1329 Eighteenth ave
Myers Sophie, 1329 Eighteenth ave
Myton Frank B. Fourth st near Fifth ave
Myton Nancy Mrs. Second ave, bet Third and Fourth sts
O'Conner John, bds 612 Twelfth st
O'Dell James, bds 1021 Green ave
Perkins John, laborer, Eighth ave bet Sixteenth and Seventeenth sts
Pfeffer Catharine, widow Leopold, 203 Twelfth st
Postlethwaite North A. bds 1127 Eighth ave
Ragan Mary Mrs. 209 Howard ave
Reed R. N. druggist, 1613 Eleventh ave
RAMEY & CO. sold mill, stock, &c., Green ave and Eighth st, to G. W. Rhine. Fred
Ramey will contract for building, &c; office with R. A. O. Kerr.
RHINE GEO. W. has purchased the stock of Ramey & Co. and will continue the same business
Rider Jacob W. farming, beyond Fairview
Rider Wm. J. laborer car shops, r h Logantown
Robinson Frank, 1017 Fifth ave
Riffer G. H. fruits and confections, 1206 Eleventh st
Rupp Charles, 1027 Third ave
Rupp, Louis, res 1027 Third ave
Shields J. and W. (of Clearfield county) bottlers of sarsaparilla and other soft
drinks; Chas J. Shield, mgr, 321 Seventh ave
Smith W. R. Alderman, 1502 Eighteenth ave; office, room 7, Schenk block
Snyder N. H. 1005 Sixteenth ave
Spangler May, 1002 Eighth ave
Spangler Sophia Mrs., 1002 Eighth ave
Story Thos. Blacksmith, r h 1205 Eleventh st, 2nd floor
Travis Herbert, Oakton
Travis Myrtle Miss, Oakton
Travis Oscar, Oakton
Travis Priscilla Mrs., widow, Oakton
Ward Joseph, bds 1524 Fourth ave
Winslow & Gwin, lumber dealers (Harvey Gwin, Altoona representative), room 13, Masonic Temple
WORTHINGTON CASPER P., Motive Power clerk P.R.R. o h 1022 Howard ave
Young Lloyd K. moulder, 1116 Sixth ave
[57-64 advertisements; see pages 16 & 17 for index to advertisements]