LOCAL HISTORY: STOREY, Henry Wilson. HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY PA. Vol. 1
The Lewis Publishing Co., 1907.
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Martha Humenik.
There is an HTML version of this book, with page images,
on the county web site: http://www.camgenpa.com/books/Storey/v1/
Copyright 2006. All rights reserved.
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_______________________________________________
CHAPTER XII
THE CITY OF JOHNSTOWN.
The charter original for Johnstown, was not issued by virtue of government
authority, as municipal corporations are now created, and such as was granted by
Governor Beaver when it became a city of the third class, bearing date of
December 18, 1889, but it was given by a solemn pledge in writing by Joseph
Johns, the founder. The dedication thus given was as follows:
"To All People to Whom These Presents Shall Come:
"Joseph Johns, of Quemahoning Township, in the County of Somerset, in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, yeoman, sends greeting.
"Whereas, The said Joseph Johns hath laid out a town on the tract of land
whereon he now lives, situate in the forks of, and at the confluence of,
Stonycreek and Little Conemaugh rivers, known by the name of Conemaugh Old Town,
in the township and county aforesaid, which said town contains at present 141
lots, ten streets, six alleys and one Market Square, as by the plan thereof will
more fully and at large appear:
"Now, know ye, that the said Joseph Johns hath laid out the said town on
the principles and conditions following, viz.:
"First, The said town shall be called and hereafter known by the name of
Conemaugh,
"Second, The purchaser or purchasers of each lot in the said town, upon the
payment of the purchase money agreed upon, shall receive from the said Joseph
Johns, his heirs or assigns, a deed regularly executed for the same lot, free
and clear of all incumbrances, except the payment of a ground rent on each lot
so sold of one dollar in specie on the first of October annually forever.
"Third, The said Joseph Johns hereby declares the said Market Square,
streets and alleys, public highways, and guarantees to the future inhabitants of
the said town of Conemaugh a free and undisturbed use of them henceforth
forever.
"Fourth, The said Joseph Johns hereby gives and grants to the said future
inhabitants two certain lots of ground situate on Market street and Chestnut
street, in the said town, marked in the general plan thereof No. 133 and No.
134, for the purpose of erecting school-houses and houses of public worship,
free and clear of all incumbrances whatsoever.
"Fifth, The said Joseph Johns hereby further gives and
241 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
grants to the inhabitants aforesaid, free and clear of all incumbrances
whatsoever, a convenient spot of ground at the upper end of the said tract of
land, not less than one acre, for a burying ground for the inhabitants of said
town and neighborhood, which said spot of ground shall be mutually determined
on, surveyed, and laid off by the said Joseph Johns and the several purchasers
of lots in the said town, or such of them as may there be present on the first
day of May next.
"Sixth, The said Joseph Johns reserves the square on Main street,
containing the lots Nos. 49, 50, 51 and 52, for a county courthouse and other
public buildings, and he hereby engages, as soon as the said town becomes a seat
of justice, to convey the same to the county for that purpose, free and clear of
all incumbrances whatsoever.
"Seventh, The Said Joseph Johns hereby further declares that all that piece
of ground called the Point, lying between the said town and the junction of the
two rivers or creeks aforesaid, shall be reserved for common and public
amusements for the use of the said town and its future inhabitants forever.
"In testimony whereof, the said Joseph Johns hath hereunto set his hand and
seal the third day of November, one thousand eight hundred.
"JOSEPH JOHNS (L. S.)
"Sealed and delivered in the presence of
"ABRAHAM MORRISON,
"JOHN BERKEY, and
"JOSIAH ESPY.
__________
"Somerset county, SS.
"On the third day of November, one thousand eight hundred, personally came
before me, the subscriber, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the
county aforesaid, the above named Joseph Johns, and acknowledged the above
instrument in writing to be his act and deed.
"Witness my hand and seal.
"JOHN WELLS. (L. S.)
"Recorded Nov. 4, 1800."
The one hundred and forty-one lots, each four rods wide and sixteen rods in
length, were west of Franklin street.
The land within the city of Johnstown remained in Conemaugh township until
January 12, 1831, when Governor George Wolf approved a special act of the
General Assembly incorporating "the town of Conemaugh, in Cambria County, into a
borough."
The limits of that borough began at the corner of Franklin and Washington
streets, thence down the north side of Washington street to the north corner of
Walnut street, thence to
Vol. I-16
242 HISTORY of CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Union street, thence to the north corner of Conemaugh street, thence to
Stonycreek street, thence along the south side of Stonycreek street to Chestnut
(now Carr), thence south 22 degrees east 16 perches, thence north to Market
street, thence to the south corner of Franklin, thence to the Bedford road,
thence
[Drawing]
ORIGINAL PLAN OF CONEMAUGH OLD TOWN
AS FILED BY
JOSEPH JOHNS
to the east side of Main street, thence to Feeder alley, thence to the north
side of Basin street (now Railroad street), thence to Franklin street, the place
of beginning.
By a special act of Assembly approved by Governor Wolf on the 14th of
April, 1834, the name of the Borough of Conemaugh was changed to that of
Johnstown.
243 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
The limits of the municipality remained as we have stated until February
25, 1851, when Governor William F. Johnston signed a bill extending the boundary
lines so as to include the Fifth, Sixth, and part of the Fourth and Seventh
wards, as follows:
Beginning at a white walnut tree on the bank of Stonycreek near the
township road leading to Millcreek Furnace, thence along Yoder Hill, on the
present city line, to "a post on the land of Jacob Benshoff," above Alderman
Graham's residence; thence across the Stonycreek river to a white oak on the
land of Jacob Horner, thence to the Bedford road, thence along the southwest
line of Bedford road to a point "near the said Horner's barn," thence across the
road to the corner of Johnstown and Conemaugh boroughs, on Green Hill, above and
near Adam and Main streets.
All this territory, as well as that included within the boundary lines of
1831, composed the borough.
By the Act of 1831, incorporating the borough of Conemaugh, it was provided
that "in the general and electoral elections the citizens of said borough shall
not be separated from the citizens of Conemaugh township, * * * but shall remain
connected with said township * * * and also in support of the poor."
On January 19, 1844, an act of the General assembly was passed over the
veto of Governor David Rittenhouse Porter, whereby the place of holding the
election for Conemaugh township was changed to the "schoolhouse on lot No. 77,
on the Island," but on May 8, 1844, the Governor approved another act, changing
it back to the place where "borough elections" were held in Johnstown. The
borough of Johnstown and the township of Conemaugh remained a single election
and school district until 1844.
The municipality of Johnstown was a borough without division by wards until
April 8, 1858, when George Nelson Smith, of this city, was speaker pro tem. of
the House of Representatives, and a bill was passed dividing it into four wards,
in the following manner:
"So much of the westerly part of said borough as is bounded by Franklin
street, Main street, Market street, Washington street, the Conemaugh river and
Stonycreek, shall be one ward and be called the First Ward; so much as is
bounded by Main and Market streets, the Canal Basin and Canal Feeder shall be
244 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
the Second Ward; so much as is bounded by Franklin and Main streets, Conemaugh
Township on the east and south and the Stony creek shall be the Third Ward, and
so much of the borough south and west of the Stonycreek, commonly called
Kernville, shall be the Fourth Ward."
By this act the select and common councils were authorized, to consist of
two members from each ward in select council, and four members in common
council. But this system was not satisfactory, and it was abolished on April 4,
1861. During the time of its existence the councils met in a room over the
postoffice, in the building opposite the present Tribune office; quarters were
then procured on the third floor of the Scott House, afterward the Merchants'
Hotel. Political jealousies ruined the dual legislative bodies; if select
council passed an ordinance common council declined to approve it; if common
council originated an ordinance and passed it, select council would put a veto
to it. So things went from bad to worse until such a system was abolished. The
Act of April 4, 1861, changed the division lines of all the wards and created
the Fifth Ward. The First, Second, and Third were made practically the same as
they are now, with Main and Franklin streets the division lines, and the Fourth
Ward the same also; excepting that the Seventh Ward has been taken from it. The
Fifth Ward included all the territory on the South Side, and each ward had three
members of council.
This single legislative body, with the addition of three members from the
Sixth and Seventh Wards, when they were admitted, constituted the council of the
borough of Johnstown until the incorporation of the present city government in
1890.
By the Act of February 4, 1861, the boundary lines were slightly extended.
The Fourth and Fifth Wards remained as they had been, but in the Third Ward the
line began on the north side of Basin street, which was abutting on the old
Basin, "thence down the middle of the stream or channel carrying the water of
said Basin to the (Little) Conemaugh river, to the said river, thence down the
(Little) Conemaugh river to its junction with the Stonycreek, thence up the
middle of said Stonycreek to a point in said creek immediately opposite," which
would be a continuation of the north-eastern line of Market street; "thence by a
straight line to the place of beginning" at the white walnut tree on the
Millcreek Furnace Road.
On the 11th of February, 1868, Governor Geary approved
245 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
an act dividing the Fifth Ward and creating the Sixth Ward of the borough of
Johnstown, which included all that portion lying west of the Stonycreek and
south of Dibert street. Notwithstanding the petition of Samuel Douglass,
Burgess of Johnstown, presented January 8, 1852, to the Court of Quarter
Sessions of Cambria county, praying for the extension of the general Borough Act
of April 3, 1851, to the said borough, and a decree made by Judge Taylor, with a
saying clause "that the provisions of the former charter be annulled, so far as
they are in conflict with the provisions of said act," the courts did not have
authority to divide boroughs into wards or subdivide wards. That had to be
created be special acts of the assembly.
As heretofore referred to, the Sixth Ward was created by an Act of Assembly
February 11, 1868, and included that part of the Fifth Ward south of Dibert
street to the boundary lines.
On September 10, 1900, that part of Yoder Hill beginning at Dibert street
and extending up the hill above Hamilton's, thence south near the sharp curve in
the public road, thence to the first alley south of Everhart street was annexed.
But the laws had been amended, and on petition to our court the Fourth Ward
was divided, and on June 7, 1851, the Seventh Ward was formed, including all
that portion of the Fourth wand lying between the Bedford road and the
Stonycreek river, southeast of Brooks' Run between Hausman's Hall and
Emmerling's brewery.
On January 3, 1888, the Court of Quarter Sessions made a decree thereby
annexing a portion of Stonycreek township to the Seventh Ward, which began at
the "white oak" on the east bank of the Stony-creek and ran up to Conrad Tross',
to the Von Lunen road, thence followed the westerly line of said road to the old
borough line.
The old lines between the city and the township of Stonycreek, and Dale
Borough was always indefinite and caused considerable trouble. The true line ran
through some of the dwellings on the south side of Bedford street, and in other
places it was uncertain whether the sidewalk was in the city or the borough,
which prevented both from maintaining good pavements. To meet these obstacles
the city and borough officials presented a petition to the Court of Quarter
Sessions to No. 90, March term, 1903, requesting that Commissioners be appointed
to fix the boundary line. Thereupon Joseph Hummel,
246 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Enoch James, and Frank D. Baker were appointed and located the disputed line,
between Horner street and the Von Lunen road, a distance of 3.135.15 feet.,
twelve inches south of the south rail of the railway company on Bedford street.
Therefore, all the property and sidewalks southwest of that line are in the city
of Johnstown.
The executive officers of the municipal government have been as follows:
1831--Burgess, George W. Kern; Clerk, Adam Bausman.
1832--Burgess, Adam Bausman; Clerk, George W. Kern.
1833--Burgess, James McMullen; Clerk, George W. Kern.
1834--Burgess, James McMullen; Clerk, George W. Kern.
1835--Burgess, James McMullen; Clerk, George W. Kern.
1836--Burgess, George W. Kern; Clerk, James P. White.
1837--Burgess, George W. Kern; Clerk, Moses Canan.
1838--Burgess, George S. King; Clerk, Moses Canan.
1839--Burgess, Frederick Sharretts; Clerk, Moses Canan.
1840--Burgess, John Royer; Clerk, Moses Canan.
1841--Burgess, John Royer; Clerk, Moses Canan.
1842--Burgess, Frederick Leyde; Clerk, Moses Canan.
1843--Burgess, Jacob Levergood; Clerk, Moses Canan.
1841--Burgess, Jacob Levergood; Clerk, Moses Canan.
1845--Burgess, Peter Levergood; Clerk, Moses Canan.
1846--Burgess, Peter Levergood; Clerk, Moses Canan.
1847--Burgess, R. B. Gageby; Clerk, Moses Canan.
1848--Burgess, R. B. Gageby; Clerk, Moses Canan.
1849--Burgess, Emanuel Shaffer, Clerk, Moses Canan.
1850--Burgess, Emanuel Shaffer and John Flanagan; Clerk,
Moses Canan.
1851--Burgess, Samuel Douglass; Clerk, Charles Beilstine and
John F. Barnes.
1852--Burness, Robert Hamilton; Clerk, T. L. Heyer.
1853--Burgess, John Flanagan; Clerk, Samuel Douglass.
1854--Burgess, John Flanagan; Clerk, John P. Linton.
1855--Burgess, William Orr; Clerk, John P. Linton.
1856--Burgess, Samuel Douglas; Clerk, J. Bowen.
1857--Burgess, Peter Levergood* and Samuel Douglass; Clerk,
Samuel Douglass and John P. Linton.
1858--Burgess, Samuel Douglass* and George W. Easly; Clerk,
J. K. Hite and James M. Swank.
1859--Burgess, George W. Easly; Clerk, John P. Linton and
J. K. Hite.
1860--Burgess, George W. Easly; Clerk, John P. Linton and
John H. Fisher.
1861--Burgess, William McKee; Clerk, John H. Fisher.
* Resigned
247 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
1862--Burgess, William McKee" and William C. Leiws; Clerk,
John III. Fisher.
1863--Burgess, George S. King; Clerk, J. M. Bowman.
1864--Burgess, George S. King; Clerk, J. M. Bowman.
1865--Burgess, William Orr; Clerk, W. H. Rose.
1866--Burgess, A. Kopelin; Clerk, J. W. Bowman.
1867--Burgess, A. Kopelin; Clerk. J. M. Bowman.
1868--Burgess, Irvin Rutledge; Clerk, J. M. Bowman.
1869--Burgess, W. H. Rose; Clerk, J. M. Bowman.
1870--Burgess, J. S. Strayer; Clerk, J. M Bowman.
1871--Burgess, J. S. Strayer; Clerk J. M. Bowman.
1872--Burgess, J. S. Strayer; Clerk, John H. Fisher.
1873--Burgess, J. S. Strayer; Clerk, John H. Fisher.
1874--Burgess, J. M. Bowman; Clerk, John H. Fisher.
1875--Burgess, George W. Easly; Clerk, John H. Fisher.
1876--Burgess, George W. Easly; Clerk, John H. Fisher.
1877--Burgess, Irvin Rutledge; Clerk, John H. Fisher.
1878--Burgess, James King; Clerk, John H. Fisher.
1879--Burgess, S. J. Royer; Clerk, John H. Fisher.
1880--Burgess, S. J. Royer; Clerk, John H. Fisher.
1881--Burgess, Irvin Rutledge; Clerk, John H. Fisher.
1882--Burgess, Irvin Rutledge; Clerk, John H. Fisher.
1883--Burgess, Henry W. Storey; Clerk, John H. Fisher.
1884--Burgess, Henry W. Storey; Clerk, John H. Fisher.
1885--Burgess, Henry W. Storey; Clerk, Torn H. Fisher.
1886--Burgess, Henry W. Storey; Clerk, John H. Fisher.
1887--Burgess, Henry W. Storey; Clerk, John H. Fisher.
1888--Burgess, Chal. L. Dick; Clerk, John H. Fisher.
1889--Burgess, Irvin Howell; Clerk, John H. Fisher.
1890--Mayor, W. Horace Rose; City Clerk, James Taylor.
1893--Mayor, James K. Boyd; City Clerk, William S. O'Brien.
1896--Mayor, George W. Wagoner; City Clerk, William S.
0' Brien.
1899--Mayor, Lucian D. Woodruff; City Clerk, John W. Cramer.
1902--Mayor, John Pendry, jr.; City Clerk, George E. Hamilton.
1905--Mayor, Charles Young; City Clerk, George E. Hamilton.
The compensation of the burgess was the same as fees allowed to justices of
the peace until 1877, when a salary of $600 per year was filed by council in
lieu of fees. Mayor Rose received $2,500 per year during his term as mayor, but
in 1893 the salary was reduced to $1,700.
On September 6, 1889, the Board of Trade appointed as a committee to
consider and promote the consolidation of the several boroughs, Herman Baumer,
Scott Dibert, Peter S. Fisher, John Hannan, Thomas E. Howe, Tom L. Johnson,
Charles J.
248 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Mayer, George W. Moses, A. J. Moxham, James McMillen, John M. Rose, H. W.
Storey, George T. Swank, L. D. Woodruff, and B. L. Yeagley. On September 16th
the committee met for organization, whereupon Herman Baumer was chosen
President: John M. Rose, Secretary; Peter S. Fisher, Thomas E. Howe, and George
W. Moses an executive committee.
A special committee, consisting of George T. Swank. John Hannan, and George
W. Moses, was appointed to consult. Senators Don Cameron and M. S. Quay, and
Edward Scull, member of congress, in reference to national legislation affecting
the public streams. Another committee, to consider the most economical means of
keeping wagon communications open during the winter between all the boroughs,
was composed of A. J. Moxham, B. L. Yeagley and Scott Dibert.
On September 24th the committee of fifteen met in the office of Dick &
Murphy, Alma Hall, when the committee on bridges made an elaborate report,
providing blue prints, estimates, etc., for lattice girder bridges at Franklin
street, Lincoln bridge (now known as Walnut-street), Woodvale, and Cambria, at a
cost of $6,400.
The report was accepted, and a committee, consisting of John M. Rose, A. J.
Moxham, and H. W. Storey, appointed to call a public meeting of the citizens of
all the boroughs on Saturday, September 28th, to consider the question of
bridges and the Consolidation of the several boroughs.
At 3 o'clock on Saturday afternoon a large meeting was held on Market
street, at Main. The officers were: President, James C. Quinn; vice presidents--
Dr. W. W. Walters, Johnstown; Emanuel James, Millville; John Dowling, Cambria;
Edward Barry, Prospect; Samuel Vaughn, Coopersdale; John F. Seigh, Morrellville;
William Cuthbert, Conemaugh; John Gruber, Woodvale; Robert Niz, East Conemaugh;
John B. Fite, Franklin; Daniel Luther, Grubbtown; Johnson Allen, Moxham; George
Suppes, Upper Yoder; Dr. C. Sheridan, Lower Yoder; Secretaries--George J. Akers,
John E. Straver, and C. H. Laughry.
Mr. Moxham presented the following set of resolutions to the committee on
bridges, etc.:
"That the several districts contiguous to Johnstown represent a population
of 10,000 people; that the following principles should govern the question of
bridges:
“A--That there now exists no reason why the proper depth and width of our
rivers, to prevent the periodical floods that
249 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
have of late years visited us, should not be at once taken up and settled.
"B--That this community will not sanction the rebuilding of permanent and
costly bridges until this question has been properly settled.
"Resolved, That as some central authority is positively necessary in order
to receive and pass upon the proposed plans and reports on the question of our
rivers, it is the sense of this meeting that consolidation of the various
boroughs at the November election is the most feasible means to this end."
The resolutions also authorized the expenditure of sufficient funds out of
certain money which had been collected by the local Finance Committee to erect
permanent bridges of the proper width, if consolidation was agreed to. These
resolutions were adopted.
Then, inasmuch as a system of permanent bridges had been adopted at this
public meeting, the following resolution was passed:
"Resolved, That the Chairman present a copy of the resolutions in reference
to temporary and permanent bridges to the President of the Council of Johnstown
Borough, with the request that he take such action as is necessary to the end
that the Edgemoor Bridge Company will stop for the present any further expense
to the permanent bridge at Franklin street until the pending questions as to our
streams are definitely settled."
On Tuesday, October 22d, the Board of Trade adopted the following
resolutions:
"Whereas, The Johnstown Board of Trade is composed of citizens of the
several corporate municipalities, and it deems proper that it should take some
action by which the citizens may be assisted to rebuild their homes with comfort
and safety to their families, and that our commercial interests may be restored.
To that end we believe that these declarations are truths that will solve the
problem of the permanent situation:
"First--We admit that the benevolent people of the world have done more for
us than a suffering people could expect, and it is now time that we turn from
the consideration of our personal affairs to those which affect the public
interests.
"Second--We believe it is essential to consolidate under a city charter for
these reasons: neither borough can raise a sufficient sum to restore its public
property; the several separate municipalities seeking public aid to dredge our
rivers and protect their embankments weakens a just claim; consolidation
250 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
would enable us to better protect our rivers and prevent encroachments upon
their banks; therefore, and for these reasons, consolidation is a necessity.
"Third--If we operate under a city charter we will then be able to
negotiate a loan, payable within thirty years. This fund can be used to build
all necessary bridges within the proposed city limits; to construct all public
buildings and school houses; to open and improve the highways, rivers, sewerage
systems, and fire departments."
On Saturday afternoon, October 26th, a public meeting in favor of
consolidation was held at the Burgess' office in Conemaugh borough.
Peter S. Friedhoff, acting burgess, was chosen chairman, and the vice
presidents were John Campbell, Henry F. Hudson, John Seibert, Adam Roland, Frank
Taylor, John J. Devlin, Benjamin Kist, Joseph Reiser, Henry O'Shea, George C.
Miller and Frank Thomasberger; M. J. Carroll was secretary, and Colonel John P.
Linton and A. J. Moxham were the speakers.
On Monday, October 28th, the same speakers addressed a public meeting in
Millville, where Burgess Thomas P. Reedy was elected chairman and W. C. Bland
secretary. Other meetings were held in Minersville, Grubbtown, and Cambria.
Other speakers were L. D. Woodruff, John M. Rose, Chal. L. Dick, A. J. Haws, and
George J. Akers.
The Committee of Fifteen, of which Herman Baumer was chairman, in addition
to arranging for public meetings, published by posting and advertisements the
advantages of consolidation, founded on the principles declared by the Board of
Trade. On the question of taxation the following appeared:-- Indebtedness, etc.,
in 1888:
Assessed
Bonded In- Valuation of
debtedness. Property.
Johnstown $30,000 $1,173,236
Conemaugh 12,000 334,524
Millville 8,000 754,297
Cambria 1,200 161,182
In addition, the rules for assessing property, and for the payment of the
respective items of indebtedness by each district, were published.
At the general election held November 5, 1889, eight boroughs voted for
consolidation and two against, as here given:
251 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Johnstown Borough For. Against.
First Ward 243 1
Second Ward 115 6
Third Ward 126 ..
Fourth Ward 155 ..
Fifth Ward 191 ..
Sixth Ward 368 1
Seventh Ward 192 10
Cambria Borough--
First Ward 77 22
Second Ward 124 61
Conemaugh Borough--
First Ward 243 103
Second Ward 108 91
Coopersdale 53 17
East Conemaugh 30 114
Franklin 11 95
Grubbtown 53 29
Millville Borough--
First Ward 169 11
Second Ward 112 67
Prospect 90 13
Woodvale 73 13
----- -----
Totals 2,533 656
Majority for charter, 1,871.
East Conemaugh and Franklin boroughs voted against being a part of the
proposed city, and Coopersdale was in favor of it, but not being contiguous to
the city, it could not be joined without adding a strip between the two
districts.
On Friday evening, November 22, 1889, the officials of the several boroughs
which were in favor of consolidation met in the Board of Trade rooms to make
arrangements for organizing the new city government.
Alexander Kennedy, of Johnstown, was chosen to preside, and W. S. O'Brien,
of Millville, was made secretary. Thomas P. Keedy, of Millville; H. W. Storey,
of Johnstown, and David Barry, of Prospect, were appointed a committee to have
general charge of the arrangements, and were authorized to have an outline map
of the proposed city prepared for the use of Governor Beaver.
A finance committee, consisting of Herman Baumer, John N. Horn and Samuel
Vaughn, was appointed.
At this time it was definitely decided that the name of the new
municipality should be the "City of Johnstown." The only
252 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
opposition to this was on the part of some who wanted to go back to the Indian
name of Conemaugh, the original name of the borough in 1831.
On Monday, December 18, 1889, by appointment, W. Horace Rose and H. W.
Storey appeared before Governor James A. Beaver, Secretary of the Commonwealth
Charles W. Stone, and Deputy-Secretary J. H. Longenecker, and filed an
application for a charter, with the election returns, maps and certificates.
It was the first application for a city charter under the Act of May 23,
1889, and the first one in the department where seven boroughs desired to
consolidate, which was never contemplated by the Assembly that passed the Act of
1889, nor by the Wallace Act of 1874. The difficulties were many, as to
harmonizing school, ward and election districts. It was finally agreed, after a
consultation with Attorney-General Kirkpatrick, that the boundary lines of the
wards should remain as they were: Therefore the first seven wards of Johnstown
should be the first seven in the city; Grubbtown, the Eighth; First ward of
Conemaugh, the Ninth, the Second ward, the Tenth; Woodvale, the Eleventh;
Prospect, the Twelfth; the First ward of Milleville, the Thirteenth, the Second
ward, the Fourteenth; the First ward of Cambria, the Fifteenth, and the Second
ward, the Sixteenth ward of the city of Johnstown.
The charter for the city of Johnstown is as follows:
"In the name and by the authority of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, James A.
Beaver, Governor of said Commonwealth,
"To All to Whom These Presents Shall Come, Sends Greetings:
"Whereas, In and by an Act of the General Assembly of this commonwealth,
entitled, `An Act for the incorporation and government of cities of the third
class,' approved the twenty-third day of May, Anno Domini one thousand eight
hundred and eighty-nine, it is, among other things, provided in the first
section thereof that `cities of the third class shall be chartered whenever a
majority of the electors of any town or borough, or of any two or more
contiguous towns or boroughs, situate within the limits of the same county,
having together a population of at least ten thousand according to the last
preceding United States census, shall vote at any general election in favor of
the same'; and in the second section of said act it is further provided that `if
it shall appear by the said returns that there is a majority in favor of a city
charter, the governor shall issue letters patent, under the great seal of the
commonwealth, reciting the facts, defining the boundaries of the said city, and
constituting the same a body corporate and politic.'
253 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
"Whereas, It appears by the returns of elections held in the several
boroughs of Johnstown, Grubbtown, Conemaugh, Woodvale, Prospect, Millville and
Cambria, in the County of Cambria, on the 5th day of November, A. D. 1889, that
there was a majority in each of the said boroughs in favor of a city charter;
and,
"Whereas, It appears that said boroughs have together a population,
according to the last United States census, of at least ten thousand; and,
"Whereas, The requirements of the said Act of May 23, A. D. 1889, have been
fully complied with:
"Now, know ye, that I, James A. Beaver, governor aforesaid, in compliance
with the provisions of the said Act of the
[PHOTO]
The Charter and Seals for Johnstown.
General Assembly, and by virtue of the authority in me vested, do hereby declare
the aforesaid boroughs of Johnstown, Grubbtown, Conemaugh, Woodvale, Prospect,
Millville and Cambria, in the County of Cambria, to be and for the City of
Johnstown, and do hereby define the boundaries of said city as follows:"
Then follow the boundaries and the subdivisions of wards as heretofore
mentioned.
"And I do also by these presents which I have caused to be made patent and
sealed with the great seal of the state, hereby constitute the same a body
corporate and politic by the name of the ‘City of Johnstown,' and by the said
name to be invested
254 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
with all the rights, powers and privileges, with full force and effect, and
subject to all the duties, requirements and restrictions specified and enjoined
in by the said Act of the General Assembly approved the twenty-third day of May,
Anno Doinini one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine.
"Given under my hand and the great seal of the State, at Harrisburg, this
eighteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and eighty-nine, and of the Commonwealth the one hundred and fourteenth.
"By the Governor:
"CHARLES W. STONE,
"Secretary of the Commonwealth."
W. Horace Rose, mayor-elect, called the members-elect to the select and
common councils to meet on Saturday evening, March 1, 1890, for the purpose of
making preliminary arrangements for the organization of the new city government.
They met on that day in the temporary building on the northwest corner of
Market Square. The mayor-elect presided, and Edward A. Barry was chosen
secretary. The result of the meeting was the appointment of the following
committees:
Committee on Ordinances, more especially those relating to the public
peace--W. Horace Rose, George W. Moses, Dr. B. L. Yeagley, Edward A. Barry,
Richard Davis, and Thomas Matthews.
Committee to Secure a Suitable Place of Meeting--H. W. Slick, Charles
Brixner, and John Neary.
Committee on Finance, one member from each borough--Andrew Foster,
Johnstown; Thomas J. Fearl, Conemaugh; A. L. Miltenberger, Grubbtown; John
Gruber, Woodvale; John Neary, Prospect; Charles Brixner, Millville; James P.
Greene, Cambria.
On Police--H. Y. Haws, P. J. McLaughlin, Samuel Arthur, John Gruber, Thomas
McConnell, and Edward A. Barry.
On Salaries, etc.--Alexander Kennedy, L. L. Smith, William Hochstein, Emil
Beaujohn, and Henry O'Shea.
On Printing--William A. Donaldson, Peter Buser, Benjamin Kist, Alfred
Slater, Adam Huebner, and J. M. Davis.
The committee to prepare ordinances met at the office of Mayor-elect Rose,
on Saturday, March 15, 1890, and outlined a criminal code, so as to rush it
through as soon as the city was in full life, on the first Monday of April. All
the old laws had expired with the borough, and there was no authority to enact
new ones.
255 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
The Committee on Police met March 21, 1890, and decided there was need for
twenty-five policemen, their salaries to be: For the Chief, $80 per month; the
Lieutenant, $70; patrolmen, $60.
The Committee on Officers and Salaries met on the same evening and
suggested the following schedule: Mayor, $1,800; Controller, $900; Treasurer,
$900; Engineer, $1,300; Assistant Engineer, $500; City Solicitor, $800; City
Clerk and Clerk of Select Council, $700; Clerk of Common Council, $250; City
Assessors, each, $250; Marketmaster, $1 per day for time employed and ten per
cent of collections.
The Mayor-elect called a joint meeting of the Councils to consider the
reports, on Monday, March 26, 1890. Alexander Kennedy was chosen chairman and
Edward Barry secretary. The reports were practically approved, excepting that
the Solicitor's salary was reduced to $600 and subsequently that of the Mayor
was increased to $2,500, but in 1893 it was reduced to $1,700.
On Monday, April 7, 1890, the day set for the inauguration, rain fell until
after high noon, but this did not prevent the officers-elect from turning out
for duty, nor interfere with the prearranged program.
The officers-elect met on the Market Square, where a platform had been
erected for the occasion. Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Barry, councilmen-elect, and who
were the temporary officers, reassumed their positions. The meeting was called
to order, all the city officers and councilmen being present. Chairman Kennedy
introduced Judge Robert L. Johnston, who spoke cheerfully and in a
congratulatory vein on the occasion of the community becoming a city. Judge
Johnston administered the oath of office to Mayor Rose and most of the others.
The mayor delivered his inaugural address, and Colonel W. D. Moore, of
Pittsburg, also spoke to the assemblage of residents and visitors from near-by
places within and without the county.
At the conclusion there was a parade of the citizens and visitors, with
displays of our industrial works, and Johnstown was duly started as a city of
the third class.
To preserve the autonomy of the election, ward, and school district of the
new city, the first seven wards of the Borough of Johnstown were made the first
seven wards of the city, as we, have given them.
256 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
THE EIGHTH WARD-GRUBBTOWN.
The Eighth ward was formed out of the borough of Grubbtown, which had been
incorporated June 5, 1882, being taken from Upper Yoder township. A remonstrance
was filed at the time, praying that the name be changed to "Georgetown," but the
remonstrators were not successful, and on March 3, 1884, another effort was made
to change the name, but it remained to the memory of William Rinaldo Grubb.
The territory in Roxbury borough, excepting the Roxbury park, was annexed
to the Eighth ward by an ordinance approved April 6, 1901.
The borough of Roxbury was incorporated March 12, 1894, and on January 2,
1901, the council and burgess passed and approved an ordinance favoring
annexation, which included the park, but on an appeal to the court of common
pleas the park was eliminated. There are two election precincts in this ward.
NINTH AND TENTH WARDS--CONEMAUGH BOROUGH.
The Ninth and Tenth wards were formed out of the two wards of Conemaugh
borough, which was the second borough to be chartered by the name of Conemaugh,
by an act of assembly passed March 23, 1849, entitled "An Act to Incorporate the
Island, in Conemaugh Township, Into a Borough, to Be Called Conemaugh."
The act of assembly incorporating the boroughs of Johnstown and Conemaugh
is rather unique, when considering the scramble for office which takes place
now. It reads thus:
"That if any person elected to the office of Burgess, member of Town
Council, or High Constable, shall refuse or neglect to take upon himself the
duties of the said office, he shall forfeit and pay for the use of said borough,
the sum of ten dollars. But no person shall be compelled to serve more than once
in any term of five years."
Conemaugh borough was made a separate school district, being taken from
Conemaugh township, and on May 3, 1850, it was made a separate election
district, to "hold their general and borough elections at schoolhouse No. l,"
and "that George W. Easly is hereby appointed Judge, and David Prosser and John
Headrick Inspectors for the first election." By a special act of January 26,
1854, all the borough and township elections in Cambria county were held on the
third Friday of February.
257 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
The borough continued undivided until March 20, 1862, when it was made into
two wards as follows:
"All that part of said borough bounded by the Canal Basin on the north,
Coal street and a line extending from the mouth and center of said street to the
basin on the east, Main street and the borough line on the south, and the Canal
Feeder on the west shall constitute the First Ward, and all the remaining part
of said borough, not embraced in the above boundaries, shall constitute the
Second Ward."
The First ward, as above described, is now the Ninth ward, and the Second
ward is the Tenth ward of this city.
Henry Scanlan's survey of the boundary lines, streets, and alleys was
approved by the borough officials and confirmed by an act of assembly passed May
5, 1871.
ELEVENTH WARD--WOODVALE.
The Eleventh ward was formerly the borough of Woodvale, organized in March
term, 1870, by a decree of the court of quarter sessions. The first election was
held July 19, 1870, and George W. Easly was elected burgess. It includes the
territory north of the Little Conemaugh river, and extends up the river to a
point just east of the new Maple avenue bridge.
TWELFTH WARD--PROSPECT.
The Twelfth ward was the old borough of Prospect, organized by a decree of
the same court on December 9, 1863. Its territorial limits include the land
north of the Little Conemaugh river and east of the Ebensburg road, and a
portion above Tuttle and Masters streets, in Peelorville, west of the road. It
joins the Eleventh ward on the east and the Thirteenth on the west.
THIRTEENTH AND FOURTEENTH WARDS--MILLVILLE BOROUGH.
The Thirteenth and Fourteenth wards were the two wards of Millville
borough, which was also organized as a borough by a decree of the court on July
16, 1858, when William Canan was elected burgess.
On the 12th of March, 1873, a special act of assembly was passed, wherein
it was set forth that the original plot of the boundaries, streets, and alleys
in the borough of Millville had been lost, and that the borough officials had
directed that a true and correct plot of the borough be made by William Slick,
jr., which had been executed, approved, and was by the said act confirmed.
Vol. I-17
258 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Millville borough was divided into two wards in 1875. The division line
begins in the center of the Conemaugh river, about the center of the northwest
side of the Stone bridge.
The Thirteenth ward lies east of the river and northeast of the Stone
bridge, taking in a portion of Fulton street, thence along the line of the
Twelfth ward to a point in the river in the rear of the Penn Traffic store.
The remaining parts of the old borough, north and west of the Stone bridge,
are the Fourteenth ward.
FIFTEENTH AND SIXTEENTH WARDS--BOROUGH OF CAMBRIA.
The Fifteenth and Sixteenth wards were the two wards of the borough of
Cambria, created by a decree of the court on April 5, 1861. Francis Gallisoth
was elected burgess. The borough was divided into two wards in 1877, the
dividing lines being the center line of Third avenue, the portion east of it
being the Fifteenth ward and west of it the Sixteenth ward.
THE SEVENTEENTH WARD--MOXHAM.
The Seventeenth wand was taken from the Seventh ward of the borough of
Johnstown. In the fall of 1889 the land included in the Seventeenth ward was
joined to the old borough of Johnstown, and was part of the Seventh ward at the
time of the election held in November, 1889, but in 1891 the Seventeenth ward
was created by a decree of the court.
On March 27, 1899, an ordinance was approved annexing a part of the Alonzo
Rodgers' farm to the Seventeenth ward. The part taken consists of 33 acres and
119 perches, of which 5 acres and 136 perches were under water and formed a part
of the Stonycreek river.
MORRELLVILLE ANNEXATION--EIGHTEENTH, NINETEENTH, TWEN-
TIETH WARDS.
In 1897 there were about four thousand people in the borough of
Morrellville, and a large majority of them desired to be annexed to the city of
Johnstown, while the sentiment in the city was overwhelmingly in favor of the
project.
On August 29, 1897, in response to petitions from three-fifths of the
citizens of Morrellville borough, council passed a resolution favoring
annexation. This proceeding properly certified by M. V. Fry, president, and R.
H. Overdorff, clerk, and approved by W. D. Galbreath, burgess, was duly
presented to the select and common councils of the city. There was no
259 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
opposition to it in either branch, and the officials were apparently going with
the sentiment of the people.
The ordinance annexing Morrellville was introduced in the city legislature
by W. H. Repp, September 21st, and unanimously passed by both branches of
council, October 12, 1897, but vetoed by the mayor. The question was taken
before the court and July 29, 1898, President Judge Rice filed an opinion
sustaining the lower court, which confirmed annexation. The case is reported in
7 Superior Court Reports, 532.
The Counsellors for the annexation were: Philander C. Knox, M. E. Olmstead,
Thomas M. Marshall, H. W. Storey and M. B. Stephens. Those opposing were: George
A. Jenks, W. Horace Rose, F. J. O'Connor and Horace R. Rose.
EIGHTEENTH WARD.
The borough of Morrellville was incorporated October 8, 1890, and was
subsequently divided into three wards. It was named for Daniel J. Morrell, who
was our most distinguished and useful citizen for over thirty years. Mr. Morrell
died in Johnstown, August 20, 1885.
The First ward included the territory between the Sixteenth ward of the
city of Johnstown and the south side of Fairfield avenue, and became the
Eighteenth ward.
On December 1, 1900, that part of Lower Yoder township, consisting of 15.13
acres, between an extended line from Ninth avenue up the hill to the first alley
in the rear of Virginia avenue, a part of the McConaughy plan of lots, was
annexed to this ward.
The first representatives from, the Eighteenth ward were: Select council,
F. E. Alter; common council, Alexander Wilson, and school controller. W. P.
Davis.
NINETEENTH WARD.
The Second ward of Morrellville was that part lying north of, or below,
Fairfield avenue and west and south of, or above, Chandler avenue up to the
boundary line, and became the Nineteenth ward of the city. The first member of
select council was Louis Leckey; common council, M. V. Frey; and the first
school controller was James A. Dick.
TWENTIETH WARD.
The Third ward included the territory lying east and north
260 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
of, or below, Chandler avenue, and north of, or below, Fairfield avenue, down to
the center of the Conemaugh river and became Twentieth ward of the city.
The first representatives were John L. Bash, select council; John F. Seigh,
common council; and Albert M. Geer, school controller.
TWENTY-FIRST WARD--COOPERSDALE.
In the days of the Pennsylvania canal Coopersdale was known as the village
of Perkinsville, and was the proud possessor of a lock, known as Perkin's lock,
for raising and lowering boats.
The borough was incorporated by the old district court, October 7, 1869,
and named in honor of James Cooper. Its burgess then was Jeremiah Vaughn;
council, M. A. Brown, Caleb Butler, Leonard Boyer, G. W. Gageby, and John
McCurdy.
The people of this municipality were always in favor of a greater
Johnstown, and at the election held November 5, 1889, to determine whether the
several boroughs would consolidate and make a city, they voted 53 to 17 in favor
of being a part of a new city. But as their boundary lines were not contiguous
to the city, being cut off on the one side of the river by Morrellville and on
the other by a strip of West Taylor township, the governor could not see his way
to make it a part thereof.
However, as soon as the legal contest over the annexation of Morrellville
was decided favorably, more than three-fifths of the citizens of Coopersdale
presented a petition to their council, praying for action toward annexation at
once. On January 15, 1898, such an ordinance was passed and approved by Morgan
L. Williams, president; C. F. Schramm, clerk, and A. B. Cooper, burgess, and
promptly presented to the councils of the city of Johnstown, whereupon the
common council approved the ordinance of annexation on March 22, 1898, and the
select council on March 24, 1898, and it became the Twenty-first ward.
The first member of select council was A. B. Cooper; of common council, M.
L. Williams, and school controller, Samuel Vaughn.
A foregoing plan (page 242) is an exact reproduction, on a smaller scale,
of the original plan of what has since grown to be Johnstown city, but was
designated Conemaugh, by Joseph
261 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA County.
Johns, its founder, having previously been known by the Indian name of Conemaugh
Old Town. The lots, it will be observed, are all numbered, and those set aside
for school and church purposes, as well as for a courthouse and other public
buildings, are so referred to in the charter printed elsewhere.
The acre reserved for burial purposes is what is now known as the old union
graveyard. It does not, however, coincide with the description "at the upper end
of the said tract of land," as found in the charter, and the only conclusion is
that when the people came together on the 1st day of May, 1801, in pursuance of
the terms of the charter, they prevailed upon Mr. Johns to allow them to select
another site for the graveyard. As will be seen, the town as originally laid out
extended up the rivers only as far as Franklin street.
There has been no way of learning how many people, if any, lived within the
limits of the proposed town at the time the plan was made; possibly none as yet
since the lots would seem to be laid out on an unbroken tract, but there were
several residents in the close neighborhood. Joseph Johns' own house, which had
already been built six years, was not in the new town, as will be observed by
reference to the picture of the house and the accompanying description, printed
elsewhere in connection with a sketch of Joseph Johns.
The method of numbering the above lots is worthy of notice. The lots were
four rods wide and sixteen rods long.
Ever since 1844 the borough, and afterward the city, of Johnstown, was a
separate school district. Until the Seventh ward was created in 1881, the school
board consisted of six directors, who were chosen from any part of the borough,
the subdivisions of wards being disregarded in their selection. Afterward,
because the borough exceeded six wards, each ward elected one director until the
incorporation as a city, when a new board of school controllers was formed of
one member from each of the sixteen wards. Now there is a controller from each
of the twenty-one.
Following are the votes in February, 1889, the last election held before
the flood, and the general election held in November, 1889, the first one after
the flood, excepting the ballot on the amendment to the constitution prohibiting
the manufacture of liquor, which was held June 18, 1889:
262 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Feb., 1889. Nov., 1889.
WARDS. Rep. Dem. Rep. Dem.
First 242 113 181 60
Second 141 81 84 36
Third 74 107 39 87
Fourth 89 67 101 58
Fifth 158 90 115 73
Sixth 216 93 245 113
Seventh 89 123 83 128
----- ---- ---- ----
Totals 1,009 674 848 554
Majorities 335 294
The June election recalls the deplorable condition of the town and the
manner of holding elections. The election on the constitutional question was
eighteen days after the flood, and the people were scattered over the country,
while some were living in tents and shanties in the vicinity. In the Second ward
the polls had been in the office of the late 'Squire Strayer, at Market street
and Locust alley; but it, with every other house in the ward, except probably
five or six, had been swept away. Even the cellars had been filled with sand and
debris, so that it was difficult to locate the polling place. The town was
practically under martial law, but not by an order of any authority. On the
morning of the election a sufficient number of the former residents of the ward
were found to hold the election. They had difficulty to find the place, but
finally, after consultation and taking the angles of the streets and scraping
away the dirt and sand, they concluded they had found the late residence of
'Squire Strayer, and, using one of the government's tents, with the guards
marching around in uniform with muskets on their shoulders, the vote was cast as
peacefully and as freely as it ever was.
263 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
[PHOTO]
CITY OF JOHNSTOWN, 1906.
264 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
THE VOTE FOR MAYOR.
The following is the vote in Johnstown for Mayor:
( 1) Keedy, Republican
( 2) Rose, Democratic
( 3) Boyd, Republican
( 4) Wagoner, Democratic
( 5) James, Republican
( 6) Wagoner, Democratic
( 7) Linton, Republican
( 8) Woodruff, Democratic
( 9) Pendry, Republican
(10) Young, Democratic
(11) Shryock, Republican
(12) Young, Democratic
(13) Barnhart, Peoples
( 1) ( 2) ( 3) ( 4) ( 5) ( 6) ( 7) ( 8) ( 9) (10) (11) (12) (13)
1890 1893 1896 1899 1902 1905
First Ward 163 140 321 93 318 158 297 182 345 171 290 264 2
Second Ward 71 51 116 38 159 46 148 76 181 72 141 95 2
Third Ward 21 98 43 66 58 87 64 94 51 90 48 90 1
Fourth Ward 98 115 129 61 104 86 106 84 137 88 67 171 2
Fifth Ward 134 143 235 136 223 182 240 188 281 153 267 193 6
Sixth Ward, No.1 217 241 318 138 254 209 294 195 362 209 185 144 3
Sixth Ward, No.2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 149 126 1
Seventh Ward, No.1 126 296 177 152 150 229 203 230 230 234 161 222 1
Seventh Ward, No.2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 135 110 3
Eighth Ward, No.1 58 41 94 49 65 53 106 53 245 75 111 58 6
Eighth Ward, Roxbury .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 84 53 12
Ninth Ward 58 308 109 234 96 281 79 320 95 304 74 347 ..
Tenth Ward 40 180 83 175 59 201 47 257 71 223 46 232 ..
Eleventh Ward 22 75 47 76 47 86 59 110 75 99 76 155 ..
Twelfth Ward 32 102 67 118 73 146 89 140 101 135 101 124 1
Thirteenth Ward 125 96 161 59 162 87 160 73 155 70 130 105 ..
Fourteenth Ward 67 134 59 111 50 139 46 138 50 133 33 140 ..
Fifteenth Ward 5 121 13 90 16 117 11 128 11 162 14 124 ..
Sixteenth Ward 33 248 50 208 35 274 43 304 40 300 46 273 ..
Seventeenth Ward .. .. 209 127 136 189 212 168 311 181 364 253 23
Eighteenth Ward .. .. .. .. .. .. 127 41 162 60 141 99 12
Nineteenth Ward .. .. .. .. .. .. 131 49 175 61 152 61 21
Twentieth Ward .. .. .. .. .. .. 191 81 198 69 138 113 12
Twenty-first Ward .. .. .. .. .. .. 135 16 134 18 113 28 9
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Totals 1270 2389 2229 1931 2005 2570 2788 2927 3410 2907 3066 3580 117
Majorities 1119 298 565 139 503 514
The vote for the other city officers for 1890 was: Treasurer--Samuel M.
Miller (Rep.), 1,569; George C. Miller (Dem.), 2,075. Controller--E. T. Carswell
(Rep.), 1,709; John Dowling (Dem.), 1,939. City assessors--Emery West (Rep.),
1,501; Irvin Rutledge (Rep.), 1,320, and August Hammer (Rep.), 1,571: Joseph
Kuntz (Dem.), 2,229; Gottlieb Bantly (Dem.), 2,189, and John O'Toole (Dem.),
2,046.
The borough of Johnstown had in 1840 a population of 949, and adjoining it
around the basin there were 328 additional; in 1850 the population was 1,269; in
1860, 4,185; in 1870, 6,028; in 1880, 8,380, and in 1890 the city of Johnstown
had 21,805. The borough was divided into wards in 1858, and the city
organized in 1890. Since the former date the population by wards, according to
the United States census, has been as follows, the census of 1880 not reporting
by wards:
265 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
WARDS. 1860. 1870. 1890. 1900.
First 1,625 1,621 1,480 2,253
Second 882 1,003 507 1,118
Third 662 817 412 595
Fourth 1,016 862 1,002 1,115
Fifth .. 1,065 1,413 2,036
Sixth .. 660 2,469 2,635
Seventh .. .. 3,774 2,627
Eighth .. .. 628 960
Ninth .. .. 2,252 2,429
Tenth .. .. 1,304 1,692
Eleventh .. .. 683 1,127
Twelfth .. .. 889 1,420
Thirteenth .. .. 1,098 1,254
Fourteenth .. .. 1,180 1,726
Fifteenth .. .. 943 2,288
Sixteenth .. .. 1,771 3,011
Seventeenth .. .. .. 2,774
Eighteenth .. .. .. 1,111
Nineteenth .. .. .. 1,255
Twentieth .. .. .. 1,701
Twenty-first .. .. .. 809
------ ------ ------ ------
Totals 4,185 6,028 21,805 35,936
In 1850 Conemaugh borough had 842 white persons and 12 colored; in 1860,
1,866 white and 8 colored; in 1870, 2,336; in 1880, the First ward had 1,561,
the Second 1,937, a total of 3,498. In 1890 Conemaugh, Cambria, Millville,
Prospect, and Grubbtown boroughs were merged in the city of Johnstown.
Millville had, in 1860, 1,683; in 1870, 2,105, and in 1880, 2,409.
Cambria had, in 1870, 1,744, and in 1880, 2,223.
Prospect had, in 1870, 576, and in 1880, 700, and Woodvale, in 1880, had
639.
The number of inhabitants in the boroughs contiguous to Johnstown were:
East Conemaugh in 1890, 1,158, and in 1880, 756; Franklin, 1890, 662; in 1880,
734; Coopersdale, 619, and in 1880, 409. The following were villages:
Morrellville, in 1880, had 559, and in 1890, 2,827; Brownstown, in 1890, had
550; Dale, in 1900, 1,503; in 1890, 1,014; and Walnut Grove, in 1890, 535.
THE POPULATION OF THE CITY OF JOHNSTOWN AND SUBURBS.
The city directory finds the population of the city of Johnstown to be
61,888 in 1905, distributed as follows:
266 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
1903. 1905.
First ward 2,490 2,422
Second ward 1,199 1,172
Third ward 630 585
Fourth ward 1,051 1,252
Fifth ward 2,432 2,560
Sixth ward 3,363 3,547
Seventh ward 3,015 3,644
Eighth ward 2,030 2,181
Ninth ward 2,540 2,998
Tenth ward 1,960 2,137
Eleventh ward 1,674 1,924
Twelfth ward 1,498 1,639
Thirteenth ward 1,246 1,289
Fourteenth ward 1,917 2,149
Fifteenth ward 2,848 2,934
Sixteenth ward 4,439 4,867
Seventeenth ward 3,452 3,788
Eighteenth ward 1,633 1,845
Nineteenth ward 1,256 1,343
Twentieth ward 1,785 1,890
Twenty-first ward 751 772
------ ------
Population of city 43,209 46,938
In the suburbs:
Brownstown 800 904
Daisytown 433 315
Dale 1,833 1,853
East Conemaugh 2,484 3,425
Ferndale 234 257
Franklin 1,029 1,364
Rosedale 412 327
Westmont 737 854
Sheridan 223 218
Walnut Grove 946 1,089
Conemaugh township 435 604
East Taylor 238 250
West Taylor 846 1,013
Upper Yoder 316 391
Lower Yoder 862 1,429
Stonycreek 285 657
------ ------
12,113 14,950
1893. 1894. 1896. 1899. 1901. 1903. 1905.
City 24,544 25,039 25,992 32,479 38,520 43,209 46,938
Suburbs 11,600 11,949 12,736 9,340 10,009 12,113 14,950
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
36,144 36,988 38,728 41,819 48,529 55,322 61,888
267 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Total population in Cambria county:
1810 2,117 | 1860 29,155
1820 3,287 | 1870 36,569
1830 7,076 | 1880 46,811
1840 11,256 | 1890 66,375
1850 17,773 | 1900 104,837
The total vote in the borough and city elections:
1840 71 | 1880 1,149
1850 80 | 1890 3,654
1860 434 | 1899 5,715
1870 917 | 1902 6,346
| 1905 6,763
TAXABLE PROPERTY IN THE CITY.
1900. 1907.
First ward $1,141,900 $1,295,940
Second ward 883,235 1,033,855
Third ward 1,035,505 1,324,440
Fourth ward 924,710 1,158,240
Fifth ward 737,913 871,190
Sixth ward 766,367 920,730
Seventh ward 745,429 1,270,740
Eighth ward 326,525 654,315
Ninth wand 565,490 583,400
Tenth ward 689,730 797,715
Eleventh ward 304,938 427,635
Twelfth ward 153,028 180,015
Thirteenth ward 231,490 254,140
Fourteenth wand 2,366,605 2,352,250
Fifteenth ward 312,240 437,575
Sixteenth ward 466,955 637,210
Seventeenth ward 1,167,512 1,605,545
Eighteenth ward 230,135 322,395
Nineteenth ward 236,945 273,555
Twentieth ward 367,035 394,542
Twenty-first ward 198,300 203,765
----------- -----------
Totals $13,851,987 $16,999,172
SURVEYS.
The Doran map of 1854 and the Brawley survey of 1859 are the two landmarks
for the establishing of corners and division lines. There are very few of the
Doran maps in existence, as they were almost all destroyed in the flood, but
there are occasional copies to be seen, which are of much value.
In pursuance of an order of the borough, John Brawley made a survey of the
land lying between the two rivers, from
268 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
the Point to Green Hill, by which the center lines of all streets and alleys and
the division lines of lots were established, "and caused stone blocks to be
permanently fixed in the center of the streets where they cross each other, for
the purpose aforesaid." This was approved by the borough officials, and by a
special act of assembly of April 11, 1859, it was confirmed and directed to be
recorded, and a certified copy of it would be "sufficient evidence of the same
in any court of this commonwealth."
When the employees of the Johnstown Water Company were making the
excavations for their main, on the introduction of their gravity system in 1868,
the stone monuments on Main street were dug up and thrown away, excepting, it is
said, one near the sidewalk line at the southeast corner of Main and Bedford
streets.
In 1893 John Downey, the city engineer, completed a. map of the city, which
is, with additions made by Emil Goldstein, a later city engineer, the only real
survey of the city as it is now.
On the organization of the borough of Johnstown in 1831 the council met at
early candlelight wherever accommodations could be found. On March 19, 1831, it
met at the house of Mary Scott, and at other times at Crow's Mansion house,
Graham's hotel, and the dwelling of Michael McGraw. In 1858, when there were a
select and common council, these bodies met in the Osborne house, on Franklin
street, opposite the Tribune building. Prior to this, and also subsequently, the
council had regular quarters in the little old stone "lock-up," which was built
in 1846, on the northeast corner of the park, opposite the Franklin Street
Methodist Episcopal Church, and in 1872, in the public building erected on the
corner of Market Square, where the new city hall stands. It had a market place
on the first floor and a council room, burgess' office, and lock-up on the
second. The market house was destroyed in the flood of 1889, with all the
records and minute books, excepting the minutes beginning in 1885.
The council meetings after the flood were, like those of 1831, held
wherever it would be convenient, until temporary quarters were erected on the
northwest corner of Market Square. But in 1890 the city leased the second floor
of the Rose building, next to the Lutheran Church, and used it for offices for
all the city officials and councils, excepting the police department, until the
new city hall was ready for occupancy in
269 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
October, 1902. The city hall cost $66,484.17, exclusive of the ground, and the
cost of furniture about $1,000.
THE PUBLIC SQUARE.
Nestled in the heart of Johnstown is the Public Square, rich in being the
one place of reminiscences of bygone days of a public nature.
It was originally a piece of ground 264 feet square, but now is 240 1/2
feet, bounded on the north by Locust street, and on the south by Main, on the
east by Franklin, and on the west by Park place.
The people who have enjoyed it for one hundred and seven years owe a debt
of gratitude to Joseph Johns, the founder and the generous owner of the
vicinage, for the benefits accruing therefrom.
When Founder Johns laid out the village of Conemaugh, on the 3d day of
November, 1800, he applied his natural business qualifications, and believing
that the village which he was then starting, with its valuable natural
advantages, would some day be a city of some importance, he expected, also, that
his town would be the site for the county capital, and gave the Public Square as
a site for a court house.
In addition to the Public Square, he gave the people the oblong square at
Market and Carr streets, for a public school and church services; the old Union
graveyard, the Diamond at Main and Market streets, which in that day was
considered necessary to every well established town, and "The Point" for a
parade ground for the militia and public sports.
The Public Square had always been used for all popular demonstrations and
play grounds from its inception to 1880, when it was completed as a park.
From the earliest period the Square seems to have been clear of trees and
all vegetable matter, excepting that in the first days of its use some
promiscuous shrubbery was permitted to grow along the Park place side of it.
For many years there had been a contention about the ownership of the
Square, and on the 20th of May, 1880, the borough paid Daniel J. Morrell the sum
of $2,000, which gave the corporation an absolute title. Mr. Morrell had
purchased the claim in the interest of the borough.
It was the favorite location for the exhibitions of Dan Rice, Van Amburg,
and all other circus managers until their
270 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
modern aggregations became too large for the space; when they crossed the creek
to Dibert's field, or the old race track, in what is now the Sixth ward, lying
between Dibert and Morris streets, now Franklin, and the Stony creek river; and
when it was abandoned and laid out in town lots, the menageries went to The
Point and to Fronheiser's field in the Seventh ward.
The first circus that visited Johnstown came in 1833, and located on the
Public Square. An incident occurred on that occasion which corroborates the
theory of the power of an elephant's memory. David Ditwiller, a citizen, was
among a crowd watching the animal feeding before the afternoon performance
began, and, having dovetailed a potato skin together, after extracting the
heart, held it out to "Bolivar," who took and ate it. After the circus programme
had been finished, Ditwiller went back, with a large number of visitors, to see
the animal and, with remarkable quickness, "Bolivar" broke for Ditwiller, caught
him, and threw him up to the roof of the tent, and, when he fell, placed his
tusks over Ditwiller's body on either side, and held him in that uncomfortable
position until the keeper took the beast away.
The first building of a permanent character erected on the Square, although
it was nothing more than a rough shed, sixteen by sixteen feet, and ten feet in
height, was built for the housing of a hand fire engine. It was put up on the
Franklin street side in 1832, nearly opposite the Union National bank.
In 1838 Thomas Sharp and Frederick Tesh, butchers, were given permission by
council to build a meat market on the square, which they did, placing it a short
distance north of the engine house with the entrance on Franklin street. The
building was sixteen by twenty feet, and was large enough to accommodate these
two enterprising business men. It was the second building on the Square.
The fourth building was the successor to the Sharp and Tesh meat market.
The village of Johnstown had prospered and in 1849 a larger and more pretentious
market was needed, when the borough officials erected the second market house,
on the corner of Main and Franklin streets. It was a one-story frame building,
sixty feet long, with an interior space twenty feet wide and the overhanging
roof extending ten feet on either side, making the entire width forty feet.
The entrance was through large doorways in the gable ends, the main doorway
being off the Main street sidewalk.
271 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
The interior, as well as the space under the projected roof, was furnished with
blocks, tables, racks, and cranes, for the accommodation of the butchers, and
divided into stalls, where most of the butchers assembled for business on
Wednesday and Saturday mornings. The meat markets in that day were con-
[PHOTO]
Market House and Lock-up, 1865.
ducted in a very different manner from those of today. They did not have ice
houses and refrigerators to keep their meats juicy and sweet as now, and in the
early days one or two beeves per week was a sufficient supply for the demand.
The housekeeper could not get a porterhouse or a tenderloin at any hour of the
day, as now, but, on the contrary, would go to market
272 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
at any time from 1 to 6 o'clock on market mornings to get a choice piece of
meat, as the rule was "first come, first served."
Many of the grandfathers and grandmothers, fathers and mothers of today
remember with delight how they played around the "old" market house, as they
called it; swinging on the cranes. climbing the racks, rolling marbles on the
long tables, and playing mumblety-peg on the butchers' blocks.
The old market house was a favorite place for the bill-posters to look at
the notice, "Post No Bills," then put up a poster announcing that the "Fairy
Queen" or the "Prince of Monte Carlo" would entertain the public in the Arcade,
the hotels, or Fronheiser's hall.
On the Franklin and Main street sides of the Square would be lined up the
farmers' wagons, with their fresh and crisp vegetables, and until the numerous
mining towns sprung up in the country lying around the town, truck farmers drove
in from Bedford, Somerset, Indiana, and Westmoreland counties, and, some from
the southern portion of Clearfield county.
In 1855, when William Orr was burgess, the borough officials commenced the
erection of a municipal building on the Square, near the lock-up. The foundation
was made for a one-story building, but the opposition to it, led by Peter
Levergood, was so strong that the idea was abandoned. The principal objection
was the expense.
The second market house was taken down in 1872, when the new brick
municipal and market building at the corner of Main and Market streets, was
completed, which was destroyed in the flood of 1889.
The third permanent building on the Square was the little one-story stone
structure on the corner of Franklin and Locust streets, standing twelve feet
back from the former and about on the line of the latter, as it was then,
although Locust street has since been widened.
It was the first prison in the southern portion of Cambria county, and was
erected by Martin Hannan, father of the Hon. John Hannan, in 1846. Prior to its
erection, it seems, there was no adequate provision made for violators of
borough ordinances if they had no property, or would not voluntarily pay their
fines, and, if it was necessary to keep a commonwealth defendant in Johnstown
over night, before starting to Ebensburg on foot, horseback, or by wagon, the
prisoner was tied in a stable or some outbuilding, and the constable, with his
273 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
assistants, I kept guard over him until daybreak, and then started with him to
the county jail.
Prior to 1842, when imprisonment for debt was abolished, some of the
prominent citizens of the town were victims of that unholy law and the object of
relentless creditors was taken to Ebensburg because he had contracted a debt and
could not pay it.
One very prominent citizen refused to go. The constable bad his commitment
and the Shylock urged its execution. The debtor was placed on a horse and his
feet tied together thereunder. He could not get off, but he could and did turn
his body under the horse The constable had no authority to injure a prisoner
under such circumstances and the result was that the debtor did not go to jail.
The lock-up was divided lengthwise, with its door opening off Franklin
street. One window in front and one at either end opened into the front
apartment, which was the office of the burgess and the council room. The rear
portion was divided into two cells, with no window except a barred opening in
the door, through which the prisoner in the front cell could observe and hear
the proceedings before the burgess and the action of council.
The minutes of the council contain evidence that the burgess' office at one
time needed to be supplied with a table and "seven chairs, one of them with
arms."
The entrance to the second or dark cell was through the first cell, and was
rather a dismal place. Subsequently these were changed, and the rear portion was
made into four cells, opening into the burgess' office, but the window in the
southerly end was closed, and little openings under the eaves were made in the
wall.
The "lock-up," as it was always called, was the last permanent building
placed on the public square until the erection of the music pavilion in 1891,
which, however, was removed in 1906. The "lock-up" was taken off the square in
1873, which was then cleared of all buildings, and was thereafter used as a
play-ground and for public demonstrations until converted into a park in 1880,
although trees had been planted and walks laid out prior to that, time.
In addition to these permanent buildings, temporary structures were
sometimes permitted to be located thereon.
A daguerreotype room occupied a small space below the
Vol. I-18
274 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
market house, fronting on Main street. It was known as the "picture gallery," as
"daguerreotype" was most too difficult for popular pronunciation, and the
photographic process had not been introduced.
PUBLIC MEETINGS.
The Public Square was the popular place for political meetings. The
Democrats, the Whigs and the Republicans used it, and sometimes two parties
occupied it on the same day or evening. The Whigs, or Republicans, would have a
platform near the market house, facing toward Locust street, and the Democrats
theirs near the lock-up, facing Main street. At other times there would be but
one platform, which both parties would use at their convenience. During the war
a platform was
erected near where the G. A. R. hall now stands, and from which many Union
speeches were made, and there the departing and returning "Boys in Blue" were
entertained and received.
The boys and girls were always certain of having a bonfire on the Square
when the election returns were announced, no matter which party succeeded. Tar
barrels, bores, crates and wood of every description--many front doorsteps and
gates even were missing--would be piled in the center of the square, and at dusk
the match applied.
Before the "electro-magnetic telegraph" was brought to town, in 1851,
election returns were somewhat tardy, and our people depended on the packet
boats and Portage cars to bring the latest news.
The Public Square was the place where the quack doctor, the soap dealer,
the razor sharpener and fakir of every description plied his vocation and where
the flim-flammer would convert a ten-dollar bill into a one-dollar note in
making change for the unsuspecting ones.
Many prominent men of national reputation have made speeches on the Public
Square---Andrew G. Curtin, governor; John Covode, congressman; Colonel A. K.
McClure, state senator and editor; Lorenzo Danford, congressman; William Bigler,
governor; Heister Clymer, congressman and candidate for governor; George Francis
Train, philosopher; Carl Schurz, general and senator; Morton McMichael, mayor of
Philadelphia and editor; Francis Jordan, secretary of the commonwealth; Lewis W.
Hall, congressman; W. H. Kountz, Congressman; S. S. Blair, congressman, and John
W. Geary, general and governor, the latter of whom also resided in this town, in
1841,
275 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
in a dwelling on Canal street, above the residence of the late John Ryan. In
addition to these gentlemen, who made their addresses on the Square, George
Mifflin Dallas, vice-president, shortly after he cast the deciding vote for the
Free Trade Bill in 1846, made a speech at the "Bennett House," where St. John's
Catholic Church now stands, as did Richard M. Johnson, vice-president under Van
Buren; also R. B. Haves, who 'was subsequently elected president, and James G.
Blaine, in 1886, were here, and President Harrison, who, with Mrs. Harrison and
part, spent a few hours in the city in 1890. Winfield Scott and Horace Greeley
spoke in this place in their presidential canvasses. President Johnston, General
U. S. Grant, Admiral David G. Farragut, and Secretary of State William H. Seward
arrived at the Pennsylvania Station about 11 o'clock, September 14, 1866. An
immense audience was awaiting them, when Senator Edgar Cowan introduced the
president, but before he began to speak the platform fell, causing the death of
three persons and injuring three hundred and eighty-eight.
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1840.
The presidential election when Harrison and Van Buren were the candidates
was close, something like the Hayes-Tilden affair. In 1876, when we had the
telegraph, it was reported Hayes one day and Tilden the next; but in 1840 it was
Harrison one week and Van Buren the next, and here it was not known that
Harrison was elected until cold weather had come; then there was a big time on
the Square--bonfires, speeches and parades. One of the prominent celebrants was
Old Daddy William Cole, who served his years of hardship with Washington in the
Revolutionary war. Dressed for the occasion, he was the principal guest of the
town. He was also present at the Fourth of July celebration in 1842, when the
day's exercises were held in the Public Square, and was the hero of that day
which he had helped to make one of rejoicing. Daddy Cole, who lived alone in
what is now Morrellville, has been dead for many, many years.
ATLANTIC CABLE.
Of the many demonstrations of a public nature held on the square, one of
the most popular and enthusiastic was the celebration of the laying of the
Atlantic cable, in August, 1858.
Of that event the Tribune of August 21, 1858, says that "on Monday evening
last the Queen's message of congratulation
276 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
to President Buchanan was received by telegraph," whereupon the previous
demonstration arranged in anticipation of the event was commenced. "A great
bonfire was kindled in the center of the Public Square, while the fence
surrounding it was studded with lighted candles, and crowds of men, women and
children flocked to the scene. All the bells in town united in ringing out a
merry peal. * * * The fire apparatus was brought out and illumined with candles,
and drawn through the principal street amid the shouts of the populace and the
strains of rich music."
At that time a post and "top-rail" fence surrounded the Square, having been
put up by the municipal authorities to prevent unlawful trespassing. On this top
rail three nails were driven in a group, and these groups placed about twelve
inches apart around the Square. The candles placed in each of the holders thus
made were lighted when twilight had passed, and the bonfire in the center of the
Square was started ablazing.
In 1860 the Union hall, but known as Zouave hall, was erected on the lot
now owned by John Fulton and W. B. Tice, It was headquarters for the militia and
the Union soldiers and the Square was the drilling ground. On the 24th of
December, 1863, while the Catholic congregations, with a splendid exhibit, were
conducting a fair within the, hall, the building and its contents were destroyed
by fire.
The first hay scales were erected in 1837 on Main street, in front of the
present site of Hohmann's music store. Adam Fockler was the weighmaster, but in
1855 it was moved to the east side of the Square, on Franklin street, and twenty
years later it was removed to the present location on Vine street.
In the sixties the Hon. Robert S. Frazer, of Pittsburg, a president judge
on the common pleas bench, then in his youthful days, was a clerk in his
father's drug store, and one of the many persons who attended to the scales.
When the hay dealer brought in a load of hay on a wet day it was Mr. Frazer's
duty to go across the street in the rain to weigh it. Such instances impressed
themselves upon him, and he declared that there was always more hay to be
weighed on wet days than at any- other time.
Subsequently an office, about six by eight feet, was placed at the
northerly end of the market house for the weigh office, where Henry Kratzer was
weighmaster.
When baseball became the national game, in the sixties, the
277 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
public square was a favorite place for the "Kickenapawlings" and the "Iron"
clubs to practice. It was not large enough for a game, but a splendid place for
throwing, catching and some batting. The batter and catcher stood in the rear of
the market house and batted toward the G. A. R. hall. The late Captain William
R. Jones was an enthusiastic player, and when the "heats" would be nearly done
he would go around the mill and quietly tell a player that he thought the work
was about over and that they would have a little game; one by one the players
would leave, and in a short time there would be two nines on the Public Square
ready for business.
William Callan, the contractor for the municipal building, finished
it in 1872, and in the following year the old buildings were removed and a
landscape engineer laid out the ground in walks. The Public Square, which had
been so long a favorite place for everyone, from the little ones who wanted to
play "ring-around-rosy," to the politicians who used it for great popular
demonstrations, was a thing of the past.
In 1874 the officials of the borough had it laid out in straight diagonal
walks, from corner to corner, with serpentine footways between them in a circle
around the fountain, which stood in the center of the park and at equal distance
from the corners on the two main walks. There were twenty-four silver maple
trees planted on the four sides, within the park, and between these and the
respective walks and the fountain were planted other species of trees.
The trees planted within the Public Square, in addition to the twenty-four
water maples, were tell American mountain ash, ten Norway maples, eight horse
chestnuts, four American lindens, and four American white elms--sixty-four trees
in all.
The fountain in the center was adorned with a half dozen galvanized iron
swans, but it was not satisfactory and was removed.
In 1876 the council planted thirteen trees, to represent the original
thirteen states, on the Main and Franklin street sides of the Square, with
"Pennsylvania" on the corner. At that time there were eighteen councilmen, and
they, with some of the other officials, planted a "Morrell" tree, a "Kennedy," a
"Kountz" or a "Speedy" tree, as it might be, around the Locust street and Court
place sides.
In 1885, when the trees within had prospered and were beautiful in shape
and for shadow, park seats were placed about
278 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
them, making the place a great resort for men, women and children. But after
fifteen years of care and skillful attention, and when the trees were beginning
to spread their branches and break the hot rays of the sun on the tired visitor,
the flood of May 31, 1889, swept the spot clear and clean, and debris ten to
fifteen feet deep rested thereon. After the flood the Public Square was again in
use for bonfires, not for elation, but for the destruction of inflammable
rubbish and the cleaning up of the streets.
When the people endeavored to commence business, after the destruction of
the city in that great catastrophe, there were very few storerooms or offices
available, and in July, 1889, the Flood Relief Commission constructed two-story
frame buildings on the four sides of the Square, facing the respective streets.
But in the summer of 1890, after the several boroughs had been incorporated
into the City of Johnstown, these buildings were removed, and a park commission,
consisting of Dr. John Lowman, Charles Kress and John Fulton, was appointed by
Mayor Rose, who had the Square again prepared for park purposes. It is now
controlled by the city, through the Park Commission.
A view of the market house and lock-up was taken by Photographer Wesley
Green in 1863, when his rooms were on the third floor of the Dibert Bank
building, and, as the scene shows, the camera was pointing downward, and some of
the men, consequently, had their limbs cut off at the knees.
The second building was the burgess' office, council room, lock-up, and a
prison for commonwealth prisoners pending a hearing, or for temporary quarters
before starting overland to the county jail. The crowd around it was not an
unusual occurrence, as many noted and sensational prisoners have been confined
therein.
The next building was the office of Dr. Thomas McClure, a dentist, with an
open porch on the first floor, at the corner. The little log building with the
two little peep holes for windows, was one of the old houses of Johnstown, and
stood back from Locust street, as the fence indicates, and belonged to the log
house fronting on Franklin street, the property of John Buckwalter. The next one
was used by John Parke, a marble cutter. The residence of the Hon. George S.
King was on the lot adjoining it, to the left, but the artist failed to catch
everything.
The church is the second one erected by the Methodist Epis-
279 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
copal congregation on this site, finished in 1854, by Emanuel Shaffer. The first
one was built by Joseph Shaffer and George W. Easly in 1838, and was a one-story
brick, about 50 by 70 feet. The interior was in one room, which was used for the
delivery of sermons, Sunday-school, classroom and prayer meetings.
The second church was a two-story brick, with the main audience room on the
second floor; it was torn down in 1866, when the Rev. Cornelius H. Jackson, late
of Canton, Ohio, was the resident pastor. The third--the stone church--was built
under his supervision, and was dedicated in the spring of 1870, when the Rev. A.
H. Thomas was pastor.
The house on the corner opposite the church was the store and residence of
the late John Brady. Thomas Quinn, the father of James Quinn, resided in a brick
beyond, which is hidden by the foliage.
The house which stands in the roadway of Franklin street was the Simpson
House, afterward known as the Mansion House. It stood on the northerly side of
the Canal, but in 1868, when Franklin street was extended to Pearl street in the
rear of the Mansion House property, it was moved up and back in line with
Franklin and Broad streets.
The weigh scales were moved to Franklin street in 1855, and were placed
close to the northerly side of the first telegraph pole. On account of the
indistinctness of the picture, the scales do not show very well, but they were
there. The platform can be noted, and the bulge on the pole, to the right of the
gentleman's head, is the upright which contained the balance bar and weights.
In the distance is Prospect borough, which had been incorporated less than
two years before--December 9, 1863--and was not very large.
The foliage on the easterly side of the street is a fair reminder of all
the streets in the residential portions of the city prior to the flood of 1889.
One of the particularly beautiful spots was near the corner of Main and Walnut
streets; for a square or more; on both streets, and on either side, the shade
trees were as beautiful as any that ever grew. It was a bowery, not as the word
is now used, but as it was in its primitive purity.
1900. 1890.
Population of Cambria county 104,837 66,375
Adams township 3,613 1,037
Allegheny township 1,342 1,257
280 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Population-- 1900. 1890.
Ashville borough 393 289
Barnesboro borough 1,482 ..
Barr township 1,336 920
Blacklick township 1,622 624
Cambria township 1,160 1,069
Carroll township 2,284 1,226
Carrolltown borough 790 634
Chest township 674 508
Chest Springs borough 202 255
Clearfield township 1,135 1,205
Conemaugh township 778 764
Cresson township 1,572 ..
Croyle township 2,185 1,874
Daisytown borough 435 ..
Dale borough 1,503 ..
Dean township 373 501
East Conemaugh borough 2,175 1,758
East Taylor township 698 845
Ebensburg borough 1,574 1,202
East ward 528
West ward 1,046
Elder township 1,504 711
Ferndale borough 224 ..
Franklin borough 961 662
Gallitzin borough 2,759 2,392
Gallitzin township 1,473 1,076
Hastings borough 1,621 1,070
Jackson township 2,006 987
Johnstown city 35,936 21,805
First ward 2,253
Second ward 1,118
Third ward 595
Fourth ward 1,115
Fifth ward 2,036
Sixth ward 2,635
Seventh ward 2,627
Eighth ward 960
Ninth ward 2,429
Tenth ward 1,692
Eleventh ward 1,127
Twelfth ward 1,420
Thirteenth ward 1,254
Fourteenth ward 1,726
Fifteenth ward 2,288
Sixteenth ward 3,011
Seventeenth ward 2,774
Eighteenth ward 1,111
Nineteenth ward 1,255
281 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Population-- 1900. 1890.
Twentieth ward 1,701
Twenty-first ward 809
Lilly borough 1,276 915
Loretto borough 240 236
Lower Yoder township 2,194 4,290
Munster township 429 400
Patton borough 2,651 ..
Portage borough 816 564
Portage township 3,018 1,246
Reade township 2,980 2,235
Richland township 1,378 920
Rosedale borough 386 ..
Roxbury borough 808 ..
Scalp Level borough 450 ..
South Fork borough 2,635 1,295
First ward 1,311
Second ward 1,324
Spangler borough 1,616 ..
Stonycreek township 1,275 1,788
Summerhill borough 591 ..
Summerhill township 704 602
Susquehanna township 1,898 1,160
Tunnelhill borough 674 730
Upper Yoder township 943 1,325
Washington township 1,336 1,662
Westmont borough 499 ..
West Taylor township 1,206 1,277
White township 760 690
Wilmore borough 264 350
THE POSTOFFICE AND POSTMASTERS, ETC.
Prior to the appointment of Mr. Beaty, the first postmaster, the people of
this vicinity were served from the office at Stoyestown, and after the office
was established in Johnstown, on July 1, 1811, mail was brought from that office
two or three times a week by messenger service. In 1830 the mails were carried
by stage, messengers and canal, followed later by the railroad.
The name of the office was Johnstown until February 23, 1831, when it was
changed to Conemaugh, but on March 17, 1836, retook its old name. The first
office was in John Linton's log house on Main and Franklin streets, which was
burned in 1867. While Shepley Priestly was postmaster and before 1832, the
office was in his dwelling on the lot of the late P. C. Bolsinger, on Main
street. It was in this building that a bread
282 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
basket placed on a table was used to hold the mail. In the absence of the
postmaster the patrons were obliged to look over the entire mail and take such
as belonged to them. In 1832 the office was moved to the Zimmerman building on
Main street. In 1840, Mr. Renshaw changed it to the Exchange hotel building on
the corner of Clinton and Locust streets. In 1841, Harrison appointed Geo. W.
Kern who moved the office to the lot now occupied by P. S. Fisher, on Clinton
street. Jordan Marbourg took it to what is now the Foster corner at Main and
Bedford streets, and in 1849, George Savior moved it to the Thomas Gore building
on Main street, east of Franklin, where it remained until Mr. Boggs changed it
to the Osborne building on the corner of Franklin and Ebbert alley. There it
remained until the administration of Evan Roberts who changed it to the Tribune
building, where it stayed located until the term of Mr. Woodruff when it was
taken back to Clinton street, in the Ruth block on the corner of Clinton and
Locust. During Mr. Master's term it again found lodging on Franklin street in
the Franklin building, on the corner of that street and Locust, where it is at
present.
Two days after the flood of 1889, Postmaster Baumer secured the brick
building on the northwest corner of Main and Adam streets for the postoffice,
and continued it there until the Tribune building had been repaired and arranged
for the mails.
The first postage stamps used in the United States were issued in August,
1847, although they had been introduced in England in 1840. The government
issued but two denominations--a five and a ten cent stamp; the former was
characterized by a portrait of Franklin, in a bronze tint, and the latter by a
profile of Washington, done in black. In 1851 these stamps were withdrawn, and
eight new ones issued--of one, three, five, ten, twelve, twenty-four, thirty,
and ninety cents value.
But postage stamps were not popular, and less than ten per cent of all the
letters mailed were sent without them--having the word "collect" written on the
addressed side. This practice continued until 1855, when prepayment was made
obligatory.
Prior to this time letter sheets had taken the place of envelopes, which
were not in general use. The letter proper was written on one side of the paper,
which was folded and tucked in at the ends, then secured with wax. A common
thimble very often served as a seal, although many persons had those
283 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
of elaborate and individual design. The address was written on the back of the
sheet.
Until 1845 a letter meant a single sheet. If two sheets or a clipping were
enclosed, the rates were doubled. The postage on second class matter was
regulated by the size of the paper, magazine or periodical; if it contained
nineteen hundred square inches or less, the rate was one cent; if over that and
sent from the office of publication it was two and a half cents.
In 1838 the cost of an ordinary letter between Cambria county and Baltimore
was eighteen and three-fourths cents. In 1847 the rate for a single letter to be
carried under three hundred miles, and not exceeding half an ounce in weight,
was five cents; the same weight for a distance over three hundred miles was ten
cents. To send one from New York to California cost forty cents, and from New
York to Great Britain, twenty-four cents. The postage on a single letter was
subsequently reduced to three cents between any points in the United States, and
later it was still further reduced to two cents for each half ounce.
The following are the names of the postmasters of this city with the dates
of their appointments:
John Beaty, July 1, 1811; John Linton, July 17 , 1811; Shepley Priestly,
October 18, 1818; Shepley Priestly, February 23, 1831; Shepley Priestly, March
17, 1836; Samuel J. Renshaw, July 29, 1840; John K. Shryock, February 23, 1841;
George W. Kern. June 4, 1841; Jordan Marbourg, June 13, 1845 ; George Saylor,
April 21, 1849; Ephraim Buck, May 5, 1853; Henry A. Boggs, February 16, 1859;
Isaac E. Chandler, April 8, 1861; Evan Roberts, May 27, 1865; George Geddis,
June 7, 1870; George T. Swank, June 2, 1874; Herman Baumer, July 26, 1886; James
E. Ogle, July 29, 1890; Lucian D. Woodruff, January 11, 1895; Samuel Masters,
May 26, 1899 ; Levi J. Foust., December 1904.
JOHNSTOWN IN 1856.
One of the brilliant young men of Johnstown was Andrew Jackson Hite, a
gentleman and a first-class printer and writer. He started a job office in a
building where the Citizens' National Bank is now situated, and, as he said, not
having much to do, he published a paper-back book of fifty-eight pages under the
title of "The Hand Book of Johnstown for 1856, containing a short sketch of its
history, together with a general business
284 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
summary." The advertisements and the history alternated, page by page. In
referring to "The Present" he said:
"Johnstown * * * --familiarly,--it includes the Borough of Johnstown--
embracing as well as the town proper, the villages of Kernville, Sharpsburg, and
Hornerstown; the Borough of Conemaugh--embracing the borough proper, The Island,
and Goose Island; Cambria City, the Iron Works, Rheystown, Prospect, & C., with
a united population of over six thousand.
"The business of Johnstown is embraced in fifteen Dry Goods Stores, about
thirty grocer- and provision stores, four drug medicine and book stores, three
clothing, two watch and jewelry, two fancy and millinery, two variety, one hat
and cap, one hardware, one fur store, one eating house, four oyster saloons, one
wholesale liquor, one brewery, one billiard room, one ten pin, one wall paper,
one shoe findings, four paint shops, fourteen shoemakers', one tallow chandler,
fifteen plasterers, four tailors, eight or ten carpenter shops, four cabinet,
four barber shops, three tanneries, two newspapers, one job office, one
daguerrean gallery, one stoneware manufactory, one marble shop, three wagon
drops, one carriage manufactory, three sadler shops, twelve butchers, one cigar
manufactory, six blacksmiths, eight or ten bricklayers, seven lawyers, two
dentists, one banking house and twelve teachers."
The business men, their occupations and places of its transaction were as
follows:
Charles Ambrose, barber and hairdresser; Main street, four doors from the
Mansion House.
John F. Barnes, lawyer; office on Franklin street, two doors from the
corner of Main.
Bell, Smith &; Co., banking house. The partners were S. H. Smith and Daniel
J. Morrell of Johnstown, J. M. Bell of Hollidaysburg, R. B. Johnston, William
Jack and William M. Lloyd of the same place, Charles S. Wood and Richard D. Wood
of Philadelphia. (The bank occupied the site of the Citizen's National Bank.)
John Benton, carpenter and builder, Morris street, Kernville.
Casper Burgraff, grocer and confectioner, Clinton street, between Main and
Locust.
Daniel Burk, dry goods, clothing and groceries, corner of Clinton and
Locust streets.
William Burns, plasterer and stoker, Market street, opposite the Union
schoolhouse.
Elijah Butler, butcher, at stall No. 1, Market house, Public Square.
W. H. Canan & Co., The Yellow Warehouse, near the head
285 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
of Canal Basin. Wholesale and retail dealers in flour, bacon, fish, drygoods,
boots, shoes, salt, lumber and groceries. The partners were William H., Robert
H., and S. Dean Canan.
Levi B. Cohick, justice of the peace, Main street, nearly opposite the
Cambria House (now the Merchants' Hotel).
Moses Colin, ready-made clothing, Suppes New building, Clinton street.
John Conrad, lawyer, office on Clinton street, three doors east of
McMillan's hotel.
John Dibert, Main street, four doors east of the Mansion House; dry goods,
hardware, groceries, glass and nails.
Samuel Douglass, druggist and justice of the peace, corner Main and
Franklin, opposite the Public Square.
William Dysart, painter and glazier, Main street, three doors above the
Mansion House.
George Engelbach, Exchange Hotel, corner of Clinton and Locust streets.
Jacob Fend, grocer and confectioner, ice cream and ice, Main street,
opposite the Cambria House.
John Flanagan, manufacturer of saddles and harness, valises, etc., Clinton
street, two doors north of Good & Pershing's store.
Adam Fockler, grocer and confectioner, Main street, two doors from Clinton,
north side.
Frankel & Hart, clothing, corner Railroad and Clinton streets.
Jacob Fronheiser, dry goods, groceries, hardware, boots, shoes, and
building material, Railroad street, three doors from Clinton street.
Geis & Murphy, dry goods, groceries, hardware, queensware, hats, boots,
etc., Fronheisers' building, Railroad street, two doors from Clinton street. The
partners were John Geis and John J. Murphy.
G. O. Gibbons, furniture and cabinet ware, Arcade building, fronting the
mouth of Canal street.
Good & Pershing, wholesale and retail dealers in dry goods, groceries,
hardware, hats, boots, shoes, oil and lumber. Clinton street, opposite the mouth
of Railroad street. The partners were Samuel Good and C. L. Pershing.
S. L. Gorgas & Co., dry goods, groceries, hardware, hats, bonnets, boots
and shoes, and drugs and oils. The partners were Samuel L. Gorgas and George W.
Bern, on corner of Canal and Clinton street.
Gregg & Bolsinger, drugs, books and stationery, Clinton street, three doors
from Main.
Thomas S. Gregory, house, sign and ornamental painter, Franklin street,
nearly opposite the residence of D. M. Hay.
Hart & Bro., wholesale and retail grocers, Main street,
286 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
opposite the Cambria House. The senior member was Cyrus Hart.
Frank W. Hay, wholesale or retail manufacturer tin, copper and sheet iron
ware, stoves, etc., Canal street, one door below the collector's office.
Michael Hay, physician and surgeon, Franklin street, three doors from the
Lutheran Church.
Haynes & Young, manufacturers light carriages, and coach makers, Water
street, Kernville, immediately west of Stony Creek bridge. The partners were
John Wesley Haynes and A. S. H. Young.
Heslops' wall paper, painting and glazing, Main street. The partners were
James Heslop and Gale Heslop.
George Hinish, proprietor of the Mansion House, south corner of Clinton and
Franklin streets. (This is evidently an error, as the Mansion House was on the
southeast corner of Main and Franklin.)
Hite & Kooken, carpenters and builders, Market street, west of Main. The
firm was John Hite and Jesse Kooken.
Casper Hoerle's, furniture ware rooms and undertaker, Main street, above
Bedford.
Holmes & Young, watchmakers and jewelers, Main street. The members of this
firm were Joseph G. Holmes and James Young.
A. J. Hite's job printing establishment, after the first of April next will
be found in the building two doors below the Mansion House, on Main street.
S. Kimmell, surgeon dentist, Clinton street, one door south of the Exchange
Hotel.
John M. King, millinery goods, dress goods, etc. ladies' store. Main
street, one door above the Cambria House (near the Merchants' Hotel).
Charles Koehler, physician and surgeon, Locust street, two doors from the
Exchange Hotel.
John Kooken, carpenter, builder, and pump maker, Main street, two doors
from Presbyterian church. "Chain pumps always on hand and put in wells to
order."
Baltzer Kohler, groceries and provisions, Main street, German cigars, and
liquors by the quart.
Abram Kopelin, lawyer, Clinton street, one door west of Fronheisers' hall.
Henry Kratzer & Son, drugs and family groceries, corner of Main and
Clinton. (The son was John Kratzer.)
W. C. Lewis, Variety .Store, Clinton street, near the canal basin.
Valentine Louther, boot and shoe manufactory, Clinton street, two doors
east of Main street.
Elisha M. Luckett, millinery goods, dress goods and dress
287 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
making, Main street, west side, between Franklin and Bedford streets.
Louis Luckhardt, watchmaker and jeweler, Main street, below the Cambria
House.
Samuel B. McCormick, lawyer and county superintendent of schools.
Marbourg & Co., dry goods, groceries, hardware, etc., east corner of Main
and Clinton streets. (They were Alexander Frederick and Jordan Marbourg.)
Andrew Moses, merchant tailor, Main street, next to the postoffice.
William Murray, lawyer. (A son of Judge John Murray.)
John Parke, manufacturer of monuments, etc., Franklin street, between
Locust and Canal streets.
Pershing & Linton, lawyer, Clinton street, opposite the Arcade. (They were
C. L. Pershing and John P. Linton.)
Lewis Plitt, hardware and cutlery, iron, steel, etc., Clinton street, three
doors west of Locust.
James Potts, lawyer, Clinton street, two doors from Main.
Pringle, Rose & Edson, iron and brass founders, machinists and car
builders. (It was the Johnstown foundry, situated on the Island, now occupied by
Gautier works. It would be about opposite to Hudson street. The firm were John
P. Pringle, Wesley J. Rose and Walter L. Edson.)
Riley & Kennedy, boots, shoes and gaiters, Locust street, between Clinton.
and Franklin, south side. (The members of the firm were Cyrus Riley and
Alexander Kennedy.)
John S. Rose, family groceries and produce, Franklin street, near the Stony
creek bridge.
Rutledge & Co., wholesale and retail groceries, Canal street. (They were
Irvin Rutledge and William F. Boyers.)
James Shannon, justice of the peace, office on "the Island," six doors east
of the waste weir bridge, Conemaugh borough.
George Shaffer, carpenter and builder, Napoleon street, Kernville.
Cambria House, proprietors, Samuel Shaffer and A. J. Snyder, Main street,
north side. A line of hacks runs to Cumberland, via Stoyestown, Somerset,
Berlin, Wellersburg, etc., starting from this house at 5 A. M. and arriving at 7
P. M. every day.
George Spangler, butcher; every market morning, Wednesday and Saturday, at
stall No. 6.
J. Swank & Co., stoneware, Market street. (They were Josiah and Jacob
Swank.)
J. W. Thompson, hats, furs and straw goods, Clinton street, between Main
and Locust streets.
Jacob Treftz, butcher, at stall No. 4, every market morning.
Walters & Wehn, wholesale and retail dealers in dry goods,
288 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
groceries, hardware, boots, shoes, drugs, lumber and shingles, (They were Henry
Walters and John W. Wehn.)
Henry Yeagley, physician and surgeon, corner of Main and Bedford streets.
Emanuel Young, butcher, at stall No. 3 every market morning.
Charles Zimmerman, grocer and confectioner, Main street, four doors below
the Cambria House; also agent for C. B. Richard's Foreign Express, drafts,
money, etc.
Mr. Hite mentions the fact that there were two newspapers in this town but
as only one saw fit to patronize him the following notice is given:
SUPPORT YOUR OWN.
Cambria Tribune, an American Newspaper, is published every Wednesday, on
the second floor of the "Tribune Building," Main street, opposite the
postoffice. Terms of subscription, $1.50 per annum, in advance; $1.75, if paid
within six months; $2.00, if not.
As the Tribune has a much larger circulation in Johnstown and immediate
vicinity, than any other paper, it is therefore the best advertising medium for
Johnstown business men and others.
Terms of advertising: 1 square of 15 lines, 3 insertions, $1.00; ditto, 3
months, $2.50; 2 squares, 1 month, $2; ditto, three months, $1.00. Longer
advertisements in proportion.
JAMES W. SWANK, Editor & Publisher.
POSTOFFICE--EPHRAIM BUCK, POSTMASTER.
Eastern mail, daily--
Arrives. Closes.
11 A. M. 10 A. M.
12:24 P. M. 8 P. M.
Western mail, daily--
11 A. M. 10 A. M.
12:24 P. M. 8 P. M.
Stoyestown, daily--
Arrives. Departs.
7:30 P. M. 5 A. M.
Somerset, tri-weekly, Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday--
7:30 P. M. 5 A. M.
Berlin, weekly--
6 P. M. 5 A. M.
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD.
The car time was thus: Express trains, going east, 12:24 A. M.; going west,
10:30 A. M. Mail trains, Sunday excepted,
289 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
east, 11 A. M.; west 8:40 P. M. Fast trains, Sunday excepted, east, 5:54 P. M.;
west, 11 P. M.
The fares were: Conemaugh, 10 cents; Viaduct, 20; Summerhill, 30; Wilmore,
40; Portage, 45; Altoona, $l.; Philadelphia, $6.95; Conemaugh Furnace, 20 cents;
Nineveh, 25; Florence, 35. Every fare was the multiple of five, that being the
mode of fixing rates.
George W. Munson was the agent at Johnstown.
SNYDER & PICKING LINE OF HACKS.
Distance by Plank Road. Miles. Fare.
Johnstown to--
Davidsville 8 $ .50
Stoyestown 19 1.25
Somerset 29 2.
Berlin 36 2.50
Sandpatch 44 3.
Wellersburg -- 4.
Cumberland 64 4.50
Line of hacks connect with this one at Stoyestown, and runs through
Jennerville, Ligonier, and Laughlinstown, connecting with the Penna. R. R. at
Latrobe.
On the back of the cover of the pamphlet the following errata appears:
"Rhey's Furnace, mentioned in the foregoing pages, makes about 250 tons of
metal per month instead of 150. In speaking of the Union School, Mr. George
Shaffer should have been mentioned as the architect. Col. Emanuel Shaffer is the
contractor for the new engine house. The Cambria Iron Works can turn out nearly
100 tons of railroad iron per day."
Vol. I-19