HISTORY: William F. Gable Company 30th Anniversary Souvenir, 1914, Altoona, Blair County, PA
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja
Copyright 12/2001. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/1picts/gables/gables30souvenir.htm
_______________________________________________________________________
Gable's 30th Anniversary Souvenir.
A Brief History of Altoona and the People's Store.
ALTOONA, PENNA.
New York City, 2 Walker Street
Chemnitz, Germany, 25 Theatre Strasse
Paris, France, 3 Cite Trevise
Manchester, England, 66 Faulkner Street
St. Gall, Switzerland, 16 Rosenberg Strasse
[1]
William F. Gable
[2]
A View of the Drapery Section
The People's Store And Its Employes
In making our plans for the 30th Anniversary of the People's Store, we
had under consideration many different things to use as a souvenir. We
wanted something that would he representative of the store and yet would be
appreciated by our patrons. After giving the matter much thought, we decided
that a booklet containing a brief history of the City of Altoona and
portraits of our employes, together with a few facts regarding the store,
would make a souvenir that would be in keeping with the importance of our
30th Anniversary and which the people would be pleased to receive.
The very interesting groups of pictures on the following pages are the
result of this decision. Practically every employe of the big store on duty
at the time the photographs were prepared, is represented. In fact we made a
special effort to have every member of the store family included, in some
instances making special arrangements to have absent ones report so they
could be included in their proper group. All of the photographs have been
taken in our new Photographic Studio and the excellence of the finished
pictures is a fine recommendation of the quality of the work done in the
Studio, which we are told is the largest and most up-to-date Studio between
New York and Chicago.
There are approximately 375 employes represented in the different
groups, but there are certain seasons of the year when our store family is
much larger, the high water mark being reached at the Christmas season when
there are as many as 500 people working to serve your interests. It is the
aim of the firm to have every one who visits the store treated with the
utmost courtesy. We take great pleasure in recording the fact that time and
again we are complimented on the manner in which our customers are treated
by, the salespeople, which shows that it is their aim to make it just as
pleasant for those who trade here as the firm desires it should be. In fact
we doubt if there is any store anywhere, whose employes as a whole, are more
courteous or give more attention to the trade than is accorded those who
come here either as buyer or visitor.
Every one of the 375 employes of the big store add their welcome to
that extended on the first page of this booklet, and thank you for having
honored us with your presence on this 30th Anniversary of the People's
Store.
[3]
Gables Executive Dept.
[H. King MacFarlane, Advertising Manager; Jesse M. Fay, Floor Manager &
Buyer of Linens; J. George Anspach, Manager; Howard M. Fleck, Buyer of
Women's Coats & Suits; William B. Parker, Buyer of Underwear and Hosiery.]
[4]
Auditing, Bookkeeping and Mail Order Depts.
[AUDITING DEPT. Miss Norine Mountz, Miss Margaret Swoyer, Miss Ruth
Fitzgerald, Miss Leota Wagerman. MISS LAURA M. RENNER, Auditor of Sales.
JESSE H. WRIGHT, Book-Keeper. BOOKKEEPING DEPT. Clyde C. Cox
(Stenographer), Miss Rebekah E. Hill, Miss Bertha Alberts, Mrs. C. W. Smith,
Miss Blanche E. McCummons. MAIL ORDER DEPT. Miss Alberta K. Ward, Clair
Wishart, Miss Jane A. Craig. MISS HELEN R. MURRAY, Manager of Mail Order
Dept.]
[5]
Laces, Dress Trimmings & Glove and Advertising Depts.
[LACES, DRESS TRIMMINGS AND GLOVE DEPTS. Miss Rachel Kelley, Miss Mareta
Miller, Miss Gertrude Craig, Miss Ada Henshey, Miss Ruth Kelley, Miss Rose
McNellis, Miss Garnett Dreisbach, Miss Myra Fasick, Miss Mary Gerhart, Miss
Julia Ellis, Miss Edith Curry, Miss Stella Metzler, Miss Mary Heacox, Miss
Regina Wilkinson, Miss Agnes McCaffrey, Miss Mary Hetrick, Miss Eulalie
Klise, Miss Mary Renner. MISS ANNA A. PLANK, Buyer of Gloves, Dress
Trimmings, Laces, Etc. ADVERTISING DEPT. Luther K. Lotz, Joseph H. Sharer,
Miss Amalia Pfeffer, Miss Amelia F. Ewing, Miss Grace Mills. H. KING
McFARLANE, Advertising Manager.]
[6]
Millinery, Women's Coats & Suits and Alterations Departments
[MILLINERY DEPT. Mrs. Moorehead, Miss Madeline Hipp, Miss Adelaide Heverly,
Miss Doris Wood, Miss Julia Skees, Miss Barbara Seidle, Miss Clare Eastman,
Miss Helen Metz, Miss Belle Beegle, Miss Emelia Auer, Miss Marcella
Heilmeier. J. E. MILLER, Buyer of Millinery. H. M. GLECK, Buyer of Women's
Coats & Suits. WOMEN'S COATS AND SUITS AND ALTERATION DEPT. Miss Martha P.
Hickey, Miss Ruth Willis, Miss Annie Shaffer, Miss Ellen Oatman, Miss Ada E.
Brewster, Miss Ostella Garner, Miss Jessie M. Wolf, Miss Julia A. Farrell,
Miss Elsie Kieswetter, Miss Laura Reaigh, Miss Madge Miller, Miss Allie
Powley, Miss Eleanor McKerihan, Miss Kathryn Myers, Miss Cora Fry, Miss Emma
W. Leppert, Mrs. Ida Hooper , Miss Mayno Kepner, Miss Nell Rodkey, Miss
Annie Smouse, Miss Edythe B. Griffiths, Miss Mary C. Behe, Miss Margaret H.
Maines, Miss Annie M. Waite, Miss Margaret Kissinger, Mrs. Lutie Sissler.]
[7]
Dept. of Muslins, Sheetings, Blankets, Etc., Silverware, Jewelry and Arts
Goods Depts. and Notions and Toilet Goods Depts.
[DEPARTMENT OF MUSLINS, SHEETINGS, BLANKETS, ETC. Miss Edith Thompson, Harry
E. Bible, Miss Emma Schmelzlen, Arthur A. Reffner, Miss Mary Ryan, J. E.
Skyles, Miss Mary O'Brien, Max Lykens. A. J. CARMANY, Buyer of Muslins,
Blankets, Etc. J. G. HARRIS, Buyer of Art Goods, Jewelry & Silverware.
SILVERWARE, JEWELRY AND ART GOODS DEPT. Miss Belle McClelland, Miss S. May
Border, Miss I. Helen Westover, Miss L. Pearl Turnbaugh, Miss Margaret
Brotherton, Miss Lavenia Whitfield, Miss Margaret McDonnell, E. R. Miller,
Miss Nora Raugh, Miss Lillie Holt. NOTIONS AND TOILET GOODS DEPT. Miss
Margaret Leader, Miss Mary McCormick, Miss Marguerite McNaight, Miss
Margaret Craig, Miss Lillian Moore, Miss Grace McMullen, Miss Cora Jackson,
Leo Schmidhammer, Miss Margaret Tipton. ANNIE M. HILL, Buyer of Notions &
Toilet Goods.]
[8]
Underwear & Hosiery, Undermuslins & Corset, and Linens Depts.
[UNDERWEAR AND HOSIERY DEPTS. Miss Anna Lambour, Miss Violet Worley, Miss
Rebecca Armstrong, Miss Florence E. Miller, Miss Sadie Smith, Miss Margaret
Tiernan, Miss Ruth Wilson, Arthur Pannebecker, Raymond Stewart, Paul Moran.
WILLIAM B. PARKER, Buyer of Underwear & Hosiery. MISS ELVIA L. WAGNER,
Buyer of Undermuslins & Corsets. UNDERMUSLINS AND CORSET DEPT. Miss Kathryn
Pfeffer, Miss Edna Wolf, Miss Rachel McCurdy, Miss Edna Davis, Miss Emma
Hufford, Miss Anna Medley. J. M. FAY, Buyer of Linens. LINEN DEPARTMENT.
Miss Isabel Bice, Miss Agnes DeTemple, Miss Catharyne Lowe, J. A. Smith,
Miss Meda Robb, Miss Edith Parsons, Miss Ethel Shiffler, Harry L. Miller
(Assistant Buyer), Miss Bertha Russell, Miss Agnes Wilkinson.]
[9]
Accounts, Cashiers, and China & Crockery Depts.
[DEPT. OF ACCOUNTS. Miss Margaret Miller, Miss Anna Brown, Miss Geraldine
Brown, Miss Amy Brenaman, Miss Mabel Kinsel, Miss Alma Leader, Miss Helen
Wertz. D. G. HURLEY, Manager, Dept. of Accounts. CASHIERS. Miss Nannie
Cunningham, Miss Theresa Stehle, Miss Irene Pressell, Mrs. Julia M. Warner.
MISS RACHEL SHELLENBERGER, Cashier. I. J. RIVELY, Buyer of China, Crockery,
Etc. CHINA AND CROCKERY DEPARTMENT. Miss Emma C. Smith, Miss Beulah
Arbogast, Mrs. Sue Bryant, Miss Mabel Helsel, Mrs. J. F. Stirk, Miss Ruth
Powell, Miss Flo McCann, Miss Nellie Fawber.]
[10]
Buyers and Floor Managers.
[William H. Fisher, Floor Manager; Richard J. Hall, Floor Manager; J. J.
Hamilton, Floor Manager; Nellie Twitmire, in charge of Patterns; A. S.
Mills, Floor Manager; Mrs. A. R. Titzel, Buyer of Pictures; Mrs. Martha M.
Bradley, Picture Dept.; Elizabeth A. Koelle, Telephone Operator; Joseph F.
Herbert, Display Manager; Russell R. Burchfield, Card Writer; L. Arthur
Tipton, Assistant Display Mgr.[
[11]
Dress Goods, Silks, Infants' Wear, and Wash Dress Goods Depts.
[DRESS GOODS AND SILKS DEPT. Miss Josephine Kephart, Miss Edna Koelle, Miss
Naomi Gorsuch, Miss Marguerite Irwin, Miss Jane Wilson, W. J. Russell, Miss
Edna Reimer, Miss Gertrude Work, F. M. Vaughn. E. S. McGAW, Buyer of Dress
Goods & Silks. MISS PAULINE O. ROTH, Buyer of Infants' Wear. INFANTS' WEAR
DEPARTMENT. Miss Ruth I. Henry, Miss Sarah J. Taylor. I. TRUDEAU, Buyer of
Wash Goods. WASH DRESS GOODS DEPARTMENT. Miss Anna Feser, Miss Oriveda
McNally, Miss Anna M. Snyder, Miss Margaret Craufurd, Miss Edna Murphy, Miss
Annie R. Martz, John V. Gasdorf, Miss Anna Breslin, Miss Mary Miller.]
[12]
Men's Furnishings, Men's and Boy's Clothing, and Shoe Depts.
[MEN'S FURNISHING DEPARTMENT. Palmer Hahn, G. L. Moran, Francis Wilt, D. P.
Miller, George P. Gable, John Steedman. F. B. WOODWARD, Buyer of Men's
Furnishings. FRANK M. DERSTINE, Buyer of Men's & Boy's Clothing. MEN'S AND
BOYS' CLOTHING DEPT. Archie Sandrus, Peter Lancia, Miss Ella Feeney, J. A.
Wertzberger, W. S. Little, H. R. Kettl. JOHN S. GINGERICH, Buyer of Shoes.
SHOE DEPARTMENT. Claude G. Files, D. C. Haines, H. E. Ruehr, C. L.
Bollinger, Miss Myrtle Crawford, Miss Helen V. Rossman, Miss Hattie Orange.]
[13]
Book & Stationery and Grocery Depts.
[BOOK AND STATIONERY DEPT. Michael A. Cerully, Miss Viola B. Cole, Miss
Irene Fischer, Miss Margaret Boyles, Miss Verna H. Giarth, Miss Charlotte
McIntosh. ROBERT B. GABLE, Buyer of Books & Stationery. M. T. BERRINGER,
Assistant Buyer of Books. J. G. ANSPAGH, Buyer of Groceries. ARTHUR F.
BRUCKMAN, Assistant Buyer of Groceries. GROCERY DEPT. Miss Minnie Parkes,
Harper Price, Earl Kelley, Ralph Schroyer, Walter Reed, Miss Viola Doyle,
Miss Edith Ergler, Miss Margaret Stamm, Mrs. Marie Hare, Miss Agnes Stehle,
Miss Frances Haggerty, Charles Fawber, Elmo Fasic.]
[14]
Furniture, Carpet & Rug, and Drapery Depts.
[FURNITURE DEPT. Harry J. Kerlin, J. Calvin Stiles, W. C. Ferguson, Lewis N.
Edwards. F. A. ROMICH, Buyer of Furniture. A. W. WEIDNER, Buyer of Carpets
& Rugs. CARPET AND RUG DEPARTMENT. Joseph Thompson, T. A. Sharbaugh, Harold
Riley, Miss Alma Neuhart, W. P. Gwin, Earl Lotz. MISS BLANCHE I. HAKE,
Buyer of Draperies. DRAPERY DEPT. Miss Lottie Brotherton, William Huber,
Philip Rudacile (Shade Maker), Miss Ruth Killinger, Miss Margaret W. Marks,
Monroe Wharton, Miss Mame E. Breslin.]
[15]
Photographic Studio
[Entrance to the Photographic Studio. ROBERT B. GABLE, Manager Photographic
Studio. Photographic Studio Reception Room. The Photographic Studio.
CHARLES C. NEFF, Assistant Manager Photographic Studio. PHOTOGRAPHIC
STUDIO. E. J. Spalding, H. W. Detrich, Roy R. Altman, A. S. Makamura, J. K.
Donaldson, Miss Verna Giarth, D. M. Peck.]
[16]
Restaurant and Store Messengers
[RESTAURANT EMPLOYES. Miss Ethel Steele, Miss Mary Healey, Miss Anna
Flanagan, Miss Clementine Smithmyer, Mrs. Johanna Vondran, Miss Frances
Schreiner, Miss Pearl Ott, Miss Helen Steele, Miss Mary Shoenfelt, Miss
Jennie Dengler, Miss Lillian Young, Miss Marie Hammond, Miss Helen McFalls,
Miss Kate Brunhuber, Miss Catherine Achatz, Mrs. Lena Wagner, Miss Martha
Benton, Miss Helen McIntosh, J. P. Resig, Mrs. John Bath, Miss Anna Morning,
Dessie Schermerhorn, Miss Regina McHugh, Miss Belle French, Miss Elizabeth
Kunsman, Miss Pearl Shoff, Miss Julia Dunegan, William Glasgow, Maxwell
Schroyer. LEWIS ADAMS, Manager of Restaurant. STORE MESSENGERS. Homer
Replogle, Ralph McConnell, Archie Landrus, John Shute, Walter Roth, Francis
Clark, James Hickey, Paul Hayward, Sidney Koch, Charles Fawber, George
Grassmyer, William States, Albert Holland, Arthur Burket, John Hess, C. A.
Arthur, Charles Herr, Glen Streightiff, William Fischer, George Neiman.]
[17]
Candy and Housefurnishings Depts.
[CANDY DEPT. Miss Kathryn Shiffler, Miss Ruth Powell, Spencer Orange, Miss
Catherine Arthurs. MISS ANNIE M. STIFFLER, Buyer of Candies. JOHN P.
BANZHOFF, Buyer of Housefurnishings. HOUSEFURNISHINGS DEPARTMENT. Miss Emma
Raichle, Miss Mae Gorsuch, Russel F. Lightner, Miss Mary Embrick, Miss
Esther Warner, Francis S. Clark, Harry Brumbaugh, Miss Mary Ward, Miss Mary
Hanson, Miss Daisey Lathero, Miss Priscilla Byrne, E. G. Kelly, Miss Mary
Lucas, Paul Mackey.]
[18]
Clerks, Watchmen, Fireman and Mechanics.
[G. W. Cross, Fireman; Thomas I. Ernest, Shipping Clerk; D. J. Schlemmer,
Assistant Shipping Clerk; Blair K. Myers, Store Mechanic; George M. Werner,
Picture Frame Maker; A. A. Hildebrand, Watchman; George Sammell, Head
Watchman; David Grove, Watchman; Elmer Gray, Watchman; D. A. Wyerman,
Watchman.]
[19]
Porters and Matrons
[Miss Mabel Brown, Matron; Albert Jackson, Porter; A. E. Carr, Porter; Mrs.
Ella Jackson, Matron; Lewis Tillery, Porter; Eugene Alexander, Elevator
Man.]
[20]
Dress Goods & Silks
[21]
Cloak & Suit and Glove Depts. and Main Floor
[22]
Drapery Dept., Soda Fountain & Restaurant and Carpet & Rug Dept.
[23]
Furniture, China and Grocery Depts.
[24 - 25]
The Store in 1884 - Thirty Years Ago
On March 1, 1884, the store was opened in a small room at 1300 Eleventh
avenue, occupying a space of about 20x40 ft. in size. The beginning was on
a very small scale, the force at that time numbering but ten or twelve
salespeople, while the average department of the present store contains more
goods than was shown in the entire store on Opening Day, thirty years ago.
The business soon out-grew this small room, and in the Fall of the same
year the store was moved into larger quarters on Eleventh Avenue (pictured
at the left) where it continued to grow at such a rapid pace, that in 1892
it was necessary to provide a new and larger home.
The New Store Home, Occupied December 8, 1892
Preparations were completed which led to the erection of a modern three
story building at 1320-22 Eleventh Avenue (pictured in the upper right hand
corner). The new home was occupied December 8th, 1892, the stock of goods
being moved the night before, on baggage trucks, and the new store opened
the following morning without a particle of interruption to business.
At this time, there were only 42 employes - today the business requires
the service of 375 to 500 employes.
This new building was the largest, most modern, and by far the best
constructed building of its kind erected in Altoona up to that time.
One Annex Added in 1898, Another in 1900
Still Another Addition Was Made in 1902
As shown in the different pictures, additions were made from time to
time as the growth of the business demanded more space until the Store Home
has grown into the magnificent four story and basement building, shown in
the center picture.
The Home of Gable & Co., 1914
[26]
Our New Modern Sanitary Kitchen
When plans were being made for the latest addition on the Fourteenth
Street side of our building, we included specifications for a new kitchen
for our restaurant and determined that everything pertaining to it should be
strictly sanitary as well as modern in every detail.
As a result we now have a kitchen that cannot be excelled anywhere for
cleanliness and modern, up-to-date methods of preparing food. As a first
means of sanitation we had the walls and ceiling cemented and then finished
with a heavy coating of white enamel. The floor is what is known as a
Mineral Floor which is not only strictly sanitary but is superior to cement
and has a resiliency that makes it more comfortable to walk on.
A modern Sturtevant Ventilating System, operated by a 15 horse power
motor, was installed and which changes the air every four minutes, the foul
air being carried into a 4x4 foot stack, which extends to the roof of the
building.
A modern Refrigerator with opal glass lining, the most sanitary
refrigerator that can be had, is used for storing meats, vegetables, etc. It
has an ice capacity of 1,000 pounds. The cooking is done on a large Range of
the latest type specially made for natural gas and over which a canopy is
suspended to collect all odors, which are carried direct to the ventilator.
Connected with the range is a modern, natural gas Broiler.
A large, 10 foot Steam Table keeps the meats, vegetables, etc., good
and hot, ready to be served to our patrons. A triple set of Coffee Urns, of
the latest type, with 20 gallon capacity, heavily nickel plated, provide
delicious coffee that cannot be excelled.
The Baking Oven is of the latest type and is heated by natural gas. All
pastries, etc., on sale and served in the restaurant, are baked in this
oven. The baking is all done under daylight, brought into the kitchen
through prisms laid in the sidewalk on Fourteenth street. Three Cabinets
made of galvanized iron, one of which is steam heated, provide space for
storing the dishes and glasses.
Sandwiches and other prepared foods are kept in good condition in metal
cabinets.
A modern Blakeslee Dish Washer enables us to wash the dishes in a
thorough manner, at the rate of 4,000 pieces per hour. The dishes are placed
on a rack, suspended by a chain over the washer and dropped into one tank
where the water is kept in motion by an electric blower; after having been
thoroughly cleansed the rack is placed in another tank of boiling water for
rinsing. Thus the dishes are thoroughly washed and cleansed, without the use
of dish cloths or being washed by hand. A separate table is provided for
washing and polishing the glasses. All glasses used at the Soda Fountain are
washed here also.
In arranging the Kitchen we made an effort to have every piece of
equipment made of metal, in order to make it as sanitary as possible.
Twenty-seven tungsten electric lamps make it practically as light as day. An
Elevator Shaft has been provided to bring all supplies direct from the
street to the kitchen and refrigerators.
With the completion of the New Kitchen and enlargement of the Dining
Room, we are enabled to make our here-to-fore excellent restaurant service
much better and we invite you to come and see how well prepared we are to
serve you now.
Our patrons are invited to inspect our new kitchen.
[27]
A Few Historical Facts About The Store
This is the 30th Anniversary of the William F. Gable & Co., Store and on the
preceding pages we have presented many interesting pictures that give you
much information in regard to the store and its employes. We are now going
to mention a little store history, giving facts as remembered by our store
historian, William B. Parker, and which we thought would be of interest to
our patrons. Mr. Parker has been with the store almost continuously since
1887.
When the new store of Gable & Co., was opened March 1, 1884, the
Altoona of that time was far different from the splendid city that is here
on the store's 30th Anniversary. Then it contained just about one third of
its present population. Instead of its miles of well paved streets, the lone
block on Eleventh avenue between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets was the only
bit of paving the city could boast of. The remainder of the streets, not
even excepting Eleventh avenue, were ordinary mud roads and it was no
uncommon sight even on Eleventh avenue, to see wagons stalled hub deep in
the mud. Instead of our present well lighted streets, there were only small
gasoline lamps every here and there, which gave a very uncertain light to
the pedestrian who found it necessary to be out after nightfall. There were
no trolley cars at that time, simply the old horse cars which traveled a
route extending from Chestnut avenue and First street to and over the
Seventeenth street bridge to Eighth avenue and down to Fourth street.
Instead of the excellent transportation service we now have both night and
day, one often had a long wait before the means of transportation would
arrive and instead of being able to go from one side of the city to the
other at all hours of the night, the last chance to ride from the west to
the east side was at 9.30 p. m., as the last car left the turnout at
Eleventh avenue and Eleventh street at that hour.
In 1884, gas was the most up-to-date method of illumination, but there
were more people using kerosene lamps than gas. In the Fall of 1886, the
Edison Company, now the Penn Central Light and Power Co., established the
first electric light system, although the Pennsylvania Railroad Company had
been using electric light for certain portions of its plant, before that
time.
By comparing the Altoona of today, about which we give much interesting
data in the latter part of this booklet, with the Altoona of 30 years ago as
described in the above brief sketch, one can see the wonderful advancements
that have been made in this comparatively short time. But the People's Store
has advanced even more rapidly, both in size and its ability to serve its
ever increasing clientile with entire satisfaction to each customer.
However, the one important feature of giving satisfaction with every
transaction, which was the foundation stone upon which the business was
started, i5 still the same today.
Thirty years ago there were but ten or twelve clerks in the little
store at 1300 Eleventh avenue, today there are 375 to 500 employes according
to the season. The number was gradually increased until in September, 1887,
there were eighteen clerks, 2 cashiers, one floor manager and three cash
boys. After 26 1/2 years there remain of this force, Miss Anna A. Plank,
Miss Annie M. Hill, H. King MacFarlane, the latter having been one of the
three cash boys, Jesse M. Fay and William B. Parker. At that time the cash
boys attended to all messenger service in the store, such as passing
customer's pur-
[28]
chases from counter to counter, etc., delivered all of the packages and,
after the store was closed, swept the floor. For delivering the goods
purchased by our customers it is now necessary to provide a delivery
department consisting of fourteen horses, ten wagons and sixteen employes,
while it requires the services of five men working continuously from the
time the store closes until it opens the next morning, to clean up the
floors of the present store and get them ready for the next day's business.
When, in 1892, it was found necessary to erect a new and larger home
for the store, ground was bought and a building constructed at 1320-22
Eleventh avenue. When the store was moved to its new home on the night of
December 7, there were just forty-two employes to go from the old store home
to the new. Of that number there are ten remaining in the store service,
which is nearly 25 per cent of the entire force - a fact that is considered
by many people, as being quite a compliment alike to employer and employe.
In addition to those mentioned on the preceding page, the ten employes
include, J. George Anspach, Miss Eleanor McKerihan, Blair K. Myers, Howard
M. Fleck and Miss Cora Jackson.
At this time, 1892, the new building consisted of two floors and
basement, 50x120 ft. and a third floor 50x50 ft. In 1898 a 25x120 ft.
addition was made to the west of the main building; in 1900 another 25x120
ft. addition was added to the east of the main building. In 1902 another
25x120 ft. was added to the west, but the old buildings were allowed to
stand and used temporarily until 1906 when a new structure was built and the
third floor extended back to the alley. In 1910 a new building 50x90 ft. was
added at the corner of Fourteenth street and a fourth floor extended over
the entire group of buildings fronting 175 ft. on Eleventh avenue. In this
same year a three story warehouse, 50x90 ft. was built on Twelfth avenue and
connected to the main store by a tunnel and overhead bridge. In 1913 still
another addition 30x50 ft. was added to the rear of the Fourteenth street
front, giving the complete store a frontage of 175 ft. on Eleventh avenue by
120 ft. on Fourteenth street, embracing four floors and basement -
practically three acres of floor space, counting warehouses, etc.
The goods we offer our patrons are gathered from every market of the
world and are of the very best grades it is possible to secure. Buying, as
we do, in large quantities in connection with fifteen other big stores, we
secure advantage of many price concessions that mean savings for our patrons
that other stores cannot offer. We have a permanent buying organization in
New York City and connections in Paris and other Continental cities, which
enable us to bring to our customers the new styles as soon as they appear.
The Gable & Co. "Quarter Century Club"
This unique organization was formed a few years ago and all employes,
as they round out 25 years in the store's service are entitled to
membership. It was established in order to show, in a marked manner the
firm's appreciation of the faithfulness of those employes who by such a long
term of service, show true loyalty to the store's interests. Upon the
completion of 25 years in the employe of the firm, each member of the
Quarter Century Club is presented with a gift of $100 in gold. The present
members of the Quarter Century Club include Miss Anna A. Plank, Miss Annie
M. Hill, H. King MacFarlane and Jesse M. Fay.
[29]
Our Men's and Boys' Clothing Section
Brief Facts About The People's Store
There are forty-five or more Separate Departments, each a complete
store in itself.
From 375 to 500 people are employed, according to the requirements of
the season.
The latest model in Cable Cash Carriers, operated by electricity, is
installed to transfer money to the cashiers and quickly return change to the
customers. Ninety stations are in operation. Ten Delivery Wagons are
required to transfer the customers' purchases to their homes in Altoona and
surrounding towns.
A modern system of steam heat keeps the entire building comfortable on
the coldest day of mid-winter, while the many windows and doors allow a free
circulation of air to keep the summer heat to a minimum.
It is located on Eleventh avenue, just one and one-half blocks from the
P. R. R. Passenger Station, and trolley lines from all parts of the city and
suburbs pass its doors.
The One Price System that enables everyone to buy at the same price, is
strictly enforced.
Its prices are the "Lowest East or West of the Alleghanies" - one
reason why the store has grown so rapidly in the 30 years of its existence.
It is a homelike store and visitors are always welcome, regardless of
whether they come to buy or simply to see the goods.
It is protected from fire by a Modern Overhead Sprinkler System that
renders the entire building practically fireproof.
Is equipped with a first-class modern electric elevator.
Buying for cash and selling for cash, has, in a large measure,
contributed to the wonderful success of this "Store of the People" since its
inauguration, thirty years ago.
Our New Photographic Studio
It is the largest between New York and Chicago. During the daytime
daylight is used to make the sittings - the sky-light being 18x11 ft., and
is the largest in the city. At night tungsten and nitrogen electric lights
are used - thus doing away with the undesirable flash. The dark rooms and
finishing rooms are equipped with the very latest photographic apparatus;
large slate sinks and tanks are used instead of the ordinary woolen ones,
and the floors are all of rubber cement. The Studio equipment includes three
of the largest and latest model portrait cameras, which make three sittings
possible at one time.
The Commercial Photographic Department is equipped and ready to make
pictures at a moment's notice - the equipment includes View, Banquet,
Graflex and Cirkut cameras, and the latest smokeless flash light apparatus,
so that pictures can be made "any size, any place, any time."
[30]
The People's Store Delivery Department, 1914
Thirty years ago it consisted of three cash boys and a push cart. The
faithful "helpers" in the centre group see that your purchases reach your
homes promptly.
[THOMAS McGOUGH, Head of Delivery Dept. DELIVERY DEPT. J. Frank Dunkle,
Stanley Moore, George Burley, Malcolm Housel. DRIVERS. Regis Weakland, Earl
Lykens, George Shultzberger, Paul Cherry, Ira Parsons, Roy Woessner, Ralph
Creighton, George Bunn, Baker Reed, Earl Neiman, Charles Campbell.]
[31]
Harry L. Johnston
A Brief History of Altoona
Written Specially for Gable & Co.'s Thirtieth Anniversary by Harry L.
Johnston
ALTOONA, PA., is one of the most unique cities in the United States. Altoona
is a city of workers, where there is neither the very rich nor the very
poor; a city of homes and home owners; a city of railroad shops, and rolling
stock and motive power; a city of ideas and ideals; a city of stability and
dependability; a city of progress and of expansion; a city of promise, with
confidence in itself and faith in the future; a city without hate, without
fear; a city where people live and laugh and labor and love.
Altoona has a romantic location, on gently sloping hills, at the base
of the Alleghany mountains. On every hand the mountaintops kiss the azure of
the sky by day and meet the stars by night.
Altoona lies at the head of the picturesque Logan valley or Tuckahoe
valley, as it was commonly called in the pioneer days, and is elevated 1168
feet above tide. It is situated about thirty miles from the geographical
centre of Pennsylvania.
The city derives its name from the liquid and expressive Cherokee word,
"Allatoona," literally "high lands of great value." The name was bestowed by
Archibald Wright, of Philadelphia, long a resident of the Cherokee country
in Georgia, and an admirer of the musical names of that Indian language.
Some writers have stated that the name was derived from the Latin word
altus or the French word alto, but J. Simpson Africa, in his history of
Huntingdon and Blair counties, gives the Cherokee derivation on the
authority of the person who bestowed the name, Mr. Wright. Strickland Kneass
suggested that the name was too long and it was shortened, by omitting the
second syllable, "la," to Altoona.
In 1849 Altoona was part farm, part wilderness and largely swamp.
Indeed, there were three farms, owned respectively by William London, David
Robison and Andrew Green.
Robison owned the middle farm on which the original village was laid
out in that year. It came into his possession ten years earlier. It
contained 223 acres and included that portion of the city now extending from
Fourth to Fourteenth avenues and from Eleventh to Sixteenth streets.
Archibald Wright purchased the Robison farm, through Mr. Cadwallader,
but he subsequently presented it to his son, John A. Wright, after whom the
public school in the Third ward was named.
Robison lived in a farm house built of logs, which was erected near
where the Logan House now stands. Mr. Wright had ascertained that he would
be willing to accept $6,000 for his farm. On the day when Mr. Cadwallader
arrived to close the deal, Robison was butchering. While the negotiations
were pending a letter dropped from Mr. Cadwallader's pocket. This letter
authorized the bearer to pay $10,000 for the farm, rather than permit the
deal to fall through. It was picked up by Mrs. Robison, and, like a good
wife, she acquainted her husband with its contents, with the result that Mr.
Cadwallader was forced to yield to the demand for $10,000, instead of
getting the farm for $6,000.
Andrew Green owned the farm lying east of Eleventh street and much of
it was covered with virgin timber. After Altoona was laid out he con-
[32]
cluded to start a rival city, which he called Greensburg. He foolishly
declined to make the streets of his town conform to the general plan of
Altoona, which is responsible for the unsightly and inconvenient offset in
the avenues at Eleventh street, between Eleventh and Sixteenth avenues.
William Loudon owned the farm west of Sixteenth street, which he
purchased from Eli Hastings in 1838 and occupied a year later. It contained
204 acres. The homestead, the usual log house, stood near where the
Eighteenth street culvert passes under the main line of the Pennsylvania
railroad. When he learned that the new railroad company intended to locate
its shops here he laid out a portion of the tract in lots.
It is said that the officials of the Pennsylvania railroad really
preferred Hollidaysburg as its headquarters at the foot of the eastern slope
of the Alleghanies, but that the property owners there demanded prohibitive
prices for their land, so another site was sought. Hollidaysburg at that
time was a flourishing community and had been for some years by reason of
the canal. It was also the county seat and is yet.
Mr. Wright encouraged the railroad to locate its shops and offices in
Altoona by donating thirty-five acres of the Robison farm to the company. In
truth, he may have been the agent of the company in buying the farm. At all
events the railroad accepted the gift and Mr. Wright appointed Clement
Jaggard his representative to sell off the remainder of the farm in lots.
Mr. Jaggard became one of the new town's most important men. The Jaggard
mansion, erected on Sixth avenue, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets,
years afterwards, stood in a grove which many hoped the city would buy for a
park. The High School now occupies a portion of the plot. Feb. 18, 1914, the
Altoona school board authorized the purchase of three additional lots
fronting on Sixth avenue, including the old mansion, and the estate donated
a lot 50x120 feet on Fifth avenue.
Feminine appellatives were bestowed upon the streets of Altoona as
originally plotted. After the village had been laid out by John A. Wright, a
number of civil engineers and others held a little celebration. Mr. Wright
was asked if he had yet named the streets. He said that he had not.
Whereupon they proposed to name them after their sweethearts, which
proposition met with favor. And thus it was that the streets came to be
called Virginia, Emma, Harriet, Adeline, Rebecca, etc., which included the
names of several of Mr. Wright's family.
The original street names and their present designations follow
Present Name Former Name
Fourth avenue Elizabeth street
Fifth avenue Rebecca street
Sixth avenue Helen street
Seventh avenue Adeline street
Eighth avenue Harriet street
Ninth avenue Branch street
Tenth avenue Main street
Eleventh avenue Virginia street
Twelfth avenue Emma street
Thirteenth avenue Claudia street
Fourteenth avenue Mary street
Eleventh street Katherine street
Twelfth street Annie street
Thirteenth street Julia street
Fourteenth street Caroline street
Fifteenth street Clara street
The first building erected on the original site of Altoona after Mr.
Wright came into possession of the property, was a frame structure for the
use of Strickland Kneass and the surveyors of the railroad. It was used as
an engineers' office and was located near the railroad, probably at what is
now Tenth avenue and Twelfth street.
But in the immediate vicinity, indeed in what is now included within
[33]
Views Taken in and About P.R.R. Altoona Shops - 1
[34]
the boundaries of the present city, were several other buildings. As early
as 1825 John McCartney, a native of Franklin county, was living in a cabin
which he built on what is now the Cricket field at Chestnut avenue and
Seventh street. Much of his time was spent in clearing what later became the
Seventh ward of the timber and converting the land into a farm. In 1828 he
married Charlotte Christman, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Christman,
and moved on the farm, where eight children were born to them. When the city
outgrew its original lines, he laid out the farm in lots, and established
the suburb of McCartneyville, subsequently known as Logantown. His eldest
daughter, in 1851, married John A. Smith, venerable and respected citizen,
living today (1914), and they settled on the northwest side of the city.
Altoona grew slowly at first. Prospective inhabitants awaited
developments. John B. Westley was the town's first contractor and builder.
He erected the first house in the fall of 1849, for the use of Mr. Worrall,
an engineer employed by the Pennsylvania railroad, at Eleventh avenue and
Fourteenth street. Local histories credit Mr. Westley with building the
first house in 1851, on Tenth avenue between Thirteenth and Fourteenth
streets, but this is incorrect, although he may have erected a structure
there in that year. Prior to 1852 he had erected these other buildings:
Residences and storehouse for John Loudon on Eleventh avenue, between
Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, residence for Enos M. Jones at 1406
Eleventh avenue, shop for Thomas Elway, a tailor on Twelfth avenue, dwelling
for Joseph Boone, a lumber dealer, on Gospel Hill, house for Henry Eicholtz
at Eleventh avenue and Thirteenth street and a house for William Payne on
Ninth avenue, between Ninth and Tenth streets. Mr. Westley died at his home,
Seventh avenue and Tenth street, April 6, 1900.
The year 1850 is a most memorable one in Altoona's history. It was the
year the first train of cars reached the city over the newly constructed
Pennsylvania railroad. Oddly enough there does not seem to have been much of
a demonstration over the event, epoch-making though it was. Perhaps there
were not enough people here then to make much of a fuss.
On Sept. 17, 1850, the first train was run through to Duncansville,
which was then the terminus of the Middle division. What is now the
Hollidaysburg branch was part of the main line for the time being. The cars
crossed the mountain over the Old Portage, which had been used to haul canal
boats from Hollidaysburg over the mountain to Johnstown,
On Dec. 10, 1850, the first train ran through Altoona to Pittsburgh.
Meantime the present main line over the Alleghanies was being laid out and
built. It was used for the first time on Feb. 15, 1854. It was a great
engineering feat and gave the famous Horse Shoe Curve to the world.
Altoona was now made the western terminus of the Middle division.
Originally the railroad track was laid along Ninth avenue, and the first
station established at Ninth avenue and Twelfth street. But the main line
was changed to parallel Tenth avenue and the station was moved to Tenth
avenue and Thirteenth street. For a time the ticket office and waiting room
were in the Logan House. Later a building was erected on the present site of
the depot. It sufficed until 1871, when a new station was erected. In its
day it was an imposing structure, but it has since been considerably
altered.
Enos M. Jones, grandfather of the present state senator, Enos M. Jones,
located in Altoona in 1851, purchased the lot at 1406 Eleventh avenue and
built a home there. It is still in the family. Mr. Jones was employed by the
Pennsylvania Railroad company. Five years after his arrival the lot on which
the Brant House now stands was offered for $250. In 1913 it was sold to the
railroad company for $80,000 including, of course, the present hotel. For
some reason the people were rather pessimistic in those early days
[35]
Views Taken in and About P.R.R. Altoona Shops - 2
[36]
Portion of P.R.R. Classification Yards at East Altoona - Largest in The
World
and did not think Altoona had much of a future. Otherwise, they might have
bought up the choice lots, held them and amassed fortunes.
In 1851 Altoona consisted of a dozen houses. In addition to those
previously named there were Adlum & Irvin's store, Benjamin Figart's store,
Dr. Gabriel Thomas' residence, and the Exchange hotel, the latter located on
Tenth avenue between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets. A brick building was
in course of erection on Virginia street (Eleventh avenue) for railroad
offices.
Few streets had been laid out and none of them was graded. Trees
covered the present site of the First National bank. Where the Logan House
now stands was a pond in which the boys went swimming in summer. Deer passed
through the straggling village in their migrations to and from the "licks."
With the advent of through passenger traffic it became necessary for
the railroad company to furnish accommodations for its patrons, so it was
decided to erect a hotel here. The Logan House was the result. It was begun
in 1854 and rushed to completion the following year. The stone was obtained
from the William Bell farm. The hostelry did not extend back to Eleventh
avenue as it does now, but it was nevertheless a great building at the time,
located in the midst of a wilderness. It attained fame all over the country
later, and was the scene of the conference of loyal war governors on Sept.
24 and 25, 1862, at which it was decided to uphold the hands of President
Lincoln in the vigorous prosecution of the war. It is said that this
conference was one of the most momentous events of the Civil war and that it
very largely contributed toward the preservation of the Union of states.
Establishment of the Railroad Shops.
With the advent of steam transportation it became necessary to
establish shops for the manufacture and repair of motive power and rolling
stock. Accordingly the Pennsylvania Railroad company began the erection of
its original shop unit in 1850 at Twelfth street. It consisted of a
two-third
[37]
round house, with eight tracks, for storing locomotives. One portion of the
building was partitioned off for a paint shop and another for repairing
freight cars. A long one-story building contained a locomotive repair shop,
machine shop, car shop and foundry. When the road was opened from
Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, these constituted all the shops at that time.
Today none of the original buildings remains. In their stead, in the same
vicinity, have been erected what are known as the Altoona Machine shops,
where locomotive repairing is a specialty.
Anticipating the need for expansion, the "lower," or Altoona Car shops
were erected below Seventh street. The third unit, the Juniata shops, one of
the most complete plants of its kind in the world, was started in 1889.
Originally intended to erect 150 locomotives a year, enlargements now give
it a capacity of one locomotive a day. Much of the experimental construction
is also done at the Juniata shops. Following the completion of the
classification yards in 1902-03, what might be termed another shop unit was
established with the construction of the mammoth East Altoona roundhouse,
with the necessary departments for repair work. The last great shop unit
here is the South Altoona foundries, erected in 1903. It is one of the most
modern plants in the country, with a capacity of 900 wheels a day.
These shops contain many departments, include one hundred buildings,
and occupy fifty acres of ground space. Their estimated value, including
equipment, is $18,000,000. In normal times between 15,000 and 16,000 persons
are employed in the shops, yards and offices. Middle division records show
that 2,162,895 cars moved past Denholm in 1913. The number of loaded cars
was 1,307,790.
Incorporation of Altoona.
Altoona became a borough Feb. 6, 1854. The population was 2,000. The first
election was held on March 10, 1854, John I,. Piper, Herman L. Lombaert,
George R. Everson, Jacob Hesser, and Thomas McCauley being chosen to
council. George W. Patton was chief burgess. In 1855 Greensburg was taken
into the borough. In 1857 a building was erected at Thirteenth avenue and
Twelfth street for a lock-up, the second floor of which was used for council
meetings.
Altoona became a city on April 3, 1868. The population then was over
8,000. In 1885 two branches of council were established - select and common,
one representative from each ward being elected to select and two
representatives from each ward to common. Early officials had much to
contend with. Many perplexing problems confronted them. Still, these public
servants managed pretty well, for they evolved a city out of an overgrown
village. And no one was unnecessarily burdened with taxation. Altoona today
owns property valued at $2,500,000, including the water system, with a net
bonded indebtedness of $1,607,556.86. The assessed valuation of property is
$26,232,000, which is probably two-thirds its real value, and the tax rate
(city) is 10 mills. Altoona has 36.54 miles of paved streets, nine miles of
main and sixty-six miles of lateral sewers, and owns a sewage filtering
plant costing $100,000 and is about to build another worth $150,000. The
death rate for 1913 was 11.71 per thousand of population.
The old order obtained until Monday, Dec. 1, 1913, when the bicameral
form of government was superseded by the commission form of government, a
body of five men, including the mayor, composing council, and combining both
the legislative and executive functions of the government. Hereafter the
people will elect the commissioners and they will appoint all the employes
of the government, save only the city controller, who is the people's
representative to guard the city's expenditures.
[38]
Present Board of City Commissioners, 1914
Top: Frank E. Rooney, Ira J. Shelley
Bottom: H. J. Cornman, S. H. Walker, George W. Kuebler
Burgesses of Altoona.
George W. Patton 1854 to 1855
Thomas McCauley 1856
James Lowther 1857
Enos M. Jones 1858 to 1859
W. C. McCormick 1860 to 1861
John Allison 1862 to 1863
William Leonard 1864 to 1865
John Baer 3 months in 1866
Henry C. Dern Balance of 1866
Henry Fettinger 1867
All are dead.
Mayors of Altoona.
*George Potts 1868 to 1872
David Kinch 1872 to 1874
*D. A. Gilland 1874 to 1878
Thomas Hurd 1878 to 1880
*William T. Howard 1880 to 1884
*C. J. Mann 1884 to 1886
*S. J. Breth 1886 to 1888
*E. H. Turner 1888 to 1890
Theo. Burchfield 1890 to 1893
S. M. Hoyer 1893 to 1896
H. C. Barr 1896 to 1899
E. F. Giles 1899 to 1902
S. M. Hoyer 1902 to 1905
S. H. Walker 1905 to 1908
S. M. Hoyer 1908 to 1911
S. H. Walker 1911 to date
*Deceased.
[39]
Commissioners of Altoona.
S. H. Walker, mayor; director of Public Affairs; Ira J. Shelley, vice
mayor, director of Accounts and Finance; George W. Kuebler, director of
Public Safety; Frank E. Rooney, director of Streets and Public Improvements;
H. J. Cornman, director of Parks and Public Property.
The terms of all expire on first Monday of January, 1916.
Formation of Blair County.
Blair county was erected from portions of Bedford and Huntingdon
counties on Feb. 26, 1846, on which date Governor Francis R. Shunk signed
the bill, but the formation cannot be said to have been concluded until the
following June. The county was named after John Blair, a son of Captain
Thomas Blair, soldier in the Revolutionary war, who located in Blair's Gap
in 1785. Hollidaysburg was chosen the county seat because it was then the
largest town in the county. Governor Shunk appointed these officers to serve
until the next election: Associate judges, George R. McFarlane and Daniel
McConnell; district attorney, John Cresswell; sheriff, Benjamin Betts;
prothonotary and clerk of the courts, Jeremiah Cunningham; register and
recorder, John M. Gibboney; commissioners, Valentine Lingenfelter, William
Bell and William C. McCormick.
Judge Jeremiah S. Black, later chief justice of the Pennsylvania
supreme court, and also attorney general of the United States, held the
first term of court on July 27, 1846, in the Methodist church. Forty-nine
lawyers were sworn in that day and three more the day following. Oddly
enough, the first suit entered was for a divorce - Mary Armstrong vs. John
Armstrong, subpoena issued June 23, 1846. The divorce was granted March 25,
1847. The entire costs were $7.75. Divorces come higher today.
On Oct. 13, 1846, an election was held, these county officials being
elected: Sheriff, Samuel J. Royer; prothonotary and clerk of the courts,
Joseph Smith; register and recorder, Louis H. Williams; commissioners, John
K. Neff, Edward McGraw and William Bell; auditors, Charles E. Kinkead,
William P. Dysart and James Wilson; treasurer, Joseph Morrow; coroner,
Joseph C. Morgan.
The contract for a court house and jail to be erected on the site of
the present court house, was let July 4, 1846, to Daniel K. Ramey, at his
bid of $11,998.50, and both were ready for occupancy in June of the
following year. The contract for the present jail was let to Jonathan Rhule
in 1868. It cost about $100,000. Bids for the present court house were
advertised Aug. 11, 1875, and twenty-three were received, the contract being
let to John Schreiner, of Pittsburgh, for $100,003. The building was
completed July 2, 1877, and was made the occasion of a celebration, at which
judge John Dean delivered the historic address. At a cost of $242,000, the
court house was remodeled and enlarged and it was rededicated Oct. 4, 1907.
Judge Black continued on the bench until April 5, 1849, when the
judicial districts were changed, and in the same month George Taylor, of
Huntingdon, was appointed president judge of the Twenty-fourth district, to
which Blair county belonged. He served until 1851, when the judiciary was
made elective. He was chosen for ten years, being re-elected for a second
term. He died in 1871.
John Dean, of Hollidaysburg, was his successor, having been elected in
October, 1871. He was twice re-elected for ten years each, but in November,
1892, he was elected an associate justice of the Pennsylvania supreme court.
He died May 25, 1905.
Hon. A. S. Landis, of Hollidaysburg, was appointed to the vacancy, Jan.
2, 1893, by Governor Robert E. Pattison, and served one year, when he
[40]
was succeeded by Martin Bell, also of Hollidaysburg, who was re-elected in
1903. Judge Bell died Jan. 2, 1910.
Governor Edwin S. Stuart appointed Thomas J. Baldrige, of
Hollidaysburg, to the vacancy on Jan. 12, 1910. Judge Baldrige was elected
for ten years in 1911.
Associate Judges of Blair County.
George R. McFarlane, appointed June 8, 1846.
David McConnell, appointed June 8, 1846.
George R. McFarlane, appointed March 11, 1847.
Davis Brooke, appointed Jan. 28, 1848.
James Gardner, appointed April 10, 1851.
James Gardner, elected October, 1852.
Levi Slingluff, elected October, 1852.
James D. Rea, appointed July 25, 1854.
James L. Gwin, appointed March, 1855.
David Caldwell, elected October, 1855.
John Penn Jones, elected October, 1855.
Adam Moses, elected October, 1860.
Samuel Dean, elected October, 1860.
Adam Moses, elected October, 1865.
B. F. Rose, elected October, 1865.
George W. Patton, elected October, 1870.
Joseph Irwin, elected October, 1870.
Charles J. Mann, elected October, 1875.
Samuel Smith, elected October, 1875.
Robert Stewart, elected October, 1880.
Robert L. Gamble, elected October, 1880, (Died Sept., 1881.)
Joseph Fichtner, appointed Sept. 18, 1881.
Gas and Water For Altoona.
The Altoona Gas and Water company was incorporated April 9, 1859, to
supply the new town with gas and water, the privilege having been granted by
the state legislature by Act of May 2, 1855. The officers were: President,
W. H. Wilson; treasurer, William M. Lloyd; secretary, B. F. Rose; managers,
John Shoemaker, Enos M. Jones, Charles J. Mann, Rev. A. B. Clarke and George
B. Cramer. The Pennsylvania railroad evidently had a joint interest in the
water rights, for both the company and the city obtained a supply of water
from Pottsgrove, and distributed it from the old reservoir at Fifteenth
avenue and Twelfth street. Stockholders in the gas and water company did not
have much faith in the future of the city, for they contented themselves
with laying 4-inch mains, which were later replaced by 8-inch mains.
Both gas and water were introduced in Altoona on Dec. 15, 1859. Later
it was discovered that the old arrangement could not be continued, so the
city finally decided to establish its own water system, bought a site at
Kittanning Point and in 1871 built a reservoir, simultaneously erecting the
Prospect Hill distributing basin. In 1872 the city purchased the water
system from the gas and water company for $20,000, the railroad company took
over the Pottsgrove plant and the Altoona Gas company was formed May 8,
1871, retaining the gas portion of the concern.
This was the beginning of Altoona's splendid water plant, which today
includes the reservoir, impounding dam and Lake Altoona at Kittanning Point,
the Prospect Hill and Oakton distributing basins and a site for a reservoir
in Riggle's Gap, together with the water rights of Riggle's Run,
[41]
with an aggregate value of $2,160,500, or more than four-fifths of all the
property owned by. the city. The capacity of the city reservoirs in gallons
is as follows
Lake Altoona 600,000,000
Impounding dam 360,000,000
Kittanning Point reservoir 65,000,000
Oakton basins 6,000,000
Prospect Hill basins 10,000,000
Total 1,041,000,000
Lake Altoona has cost the city about $600,000, but $300,000 more will
be required to complete it, when it will have a capacity of 1,600,000,000
gallons.
The Altoona Gas company continued the old name until 1913, when it
adopted the name of the Altoona Gas Light and Fuel company. Gas sells for
$1.20 per thousand cubic feet, with a discount of 10 cents per thousand
feet. Natural gas, introduced in 1913, retails at 35 cents per thousand
cubic feet.
Organization of Fire Department.
When Altoona began to assume the aspects of a town, fire protection
became a necessity. So in April, 1859, the Good Will Fire company was
organized, with Alexander A. Smyth, A. H. Maxwell and A. C. Vauclain as the
prime movers. The hand engine of the Good Will company, of Philadelphia, was
purchased and arrived here Oct. 22, 1859. There being no water in the town
at that time, the celebration was postponed until Dec. 15, 1859, when both
water and gas were introduced, and made the occasion of a "big" parade. W.
W. Smith and Andrew Kipple, members of the original company, are still
living. The Empire Hook and Ladder company was organized Sept. 14, 1866, and
purchased a truck, ladders, etc., from the Empire company, of Lancaster. The
following year the Pennsylvania Railroad company bought the first steam fire
engine for Altoona, and installed it in the car shop yard. The Vigilant
Steam Fire Engine company was organized March 26, 1868. Council, having
authorized the purchase of two steam fire engines for the Good Will and
Vigilant companies, the engines were ordered and arrived July 4, 1868.
Subsequently a number of other volunteer companies were organized and there
was great rivalry between them to see who could be the first to respond to
the fire alarm. The volunteer department continued in service until 1895,
when the agitation for paid fire fighters culminated in the organization of
the present department on May 1, of that year, with J. N. Tillard, as the
first chief. In 1896 Mr. Tillard was succeeded by William P. Pimlott, who
served six years, when Theodore W. Allemann was appointed chief by Mayor S.
M. Hoyer, and is still in the service. H. C. Graybill is assistant chief.
The department consists of six engines, two hose and one chemical company
(including two Pennsylvania railroad companies), and two. truck companies.
All told there are seventy men in the department, not counting the firemen
paid by the railroad company.
Establishment of Street Car Service.
Street car service was established in Altoona July 4, 1882, by the City
Passenger Railway company, of which John P. Levan was president. The line
extended from First street up Chestnut avenue to Eleventh street, to
Eleventh avenue to Bridge street to Seventeenth street to Eighth avenue to
Fourth street. It cost $35,000 to build and $10,000 to equip with six cars
and thirty horses. July 4, 1891, the road was electrified. In 1892 the
Altoona and Logan Valley Electric Railway company was formed to construct a
line
[42]
Altoona High School. Erected 1905-06.
Photo Made From Architect's Drawing by Gable & Co.
to Hollidaysburg, and service was established June 23, 1893. The following
year a line was built to Bellwood and opened July 1, 1894. Tyrone people
financed a trolley line between Tyrone and Bellwood, and subsequently sold
it to the American Street Railways company, which, in 1901, had acquired the
City Passenger and Logan Valley companies. All the lines were placed under
one local management. The system now consists of eleven branches, with
fifty-two miles of tracks and has 400 employes. S. S. Crane, of Altoona, is
the general manager and operating head. J. J. Sullivan, of Philadelphia, is
president of the American Railways company.
The Schools of Altoona.
The public school preceded the church in what is now Altoona. In 1815 -
almost a century ago - a log school house was erected at what is now the
southeast corner of Fourth avenue and Twenty-fourth street, in the midst of
the primeval forest. It was known at first as Beale's school, but later its
name was changed to Black Oak Ridge school. Fine spring days some of the
boys would play "hookey" and fish in the stream that then ran through what
is now the Sixth ward. This building served until the Union school was
established, in 1838, at what is now Union avenue and Sixteenth street.
Barton Hastings was the first teacher in the new building. He taught
spelling, reading, writing and arithmetic. In 1854, the year Altoona became
a borough, the county superintendency was established. John Rutherford was
the only applicant for teacher in Altoona. He got the job.
A one-story school house was erected in 1855 at Seventh avenue and
Fifteenth street for about $1,000, and John Rutherford chosen teacher of the
boys and Miss Cordelia White teacher of the girls. The pupils numbered 158.
During the same summer the second building was erected at Fourteenth
[43]
HON. E. F. GILES, POSTMASTER and Postoffice
Government Building and Postoffice, Chestnut Ave. and Eleventh St.
Photo by Gable & Co.
avenue and Thirteenth street. Thus began Altoona's public school plant. When
the city was incorporated, in 1868, there were seven school houses and ten
school rooms. In 1914 the school buildings number seventeen, including the
High and Central Grammar schools, and there are 178 rooms in the grade
schools. There are 240 teachers employed. The value of the school property
owned by the district is estimated at $1,094,900. The enrollment is 7,995,
and the annual cost per pupil is $21.96.
The office of city superintendent was established in 1869, and only
four men have held the position, as follows: Professor John Miller, who died
Sept. 3, 1875; Professor D. S. Keith, who served thirty-one years, or until
1905; Professor H. J. Wightman, who served until 1908, when Professor Henry
H. Baish was chosen and still holds the office.
All that is now known of the first school board is that Thomas K.
Burchinell was the first president. Minutes of the early meetings have been
lost, and the first board of which there is any record is the one in 1867,
when the members were: J. L. Reifsneider, president; J. H. Dysart, R. A. O.
Kerr, A. J. Kelley, H. W. Snyder and R. P. Johnston.
The present board is composed of William F. Eberle, president; M. H.
Canan, J. D. Hicks, D. S. Keith, A. S. Stayer, M. D., W. E. McKee, J. S.
Fleck, Thomas G. Magee and F. A. Bell.
Rev. John Tuigg established the first parochial school in 1853, with
Mary Levi as teacher. Today there are seven parochial schools, with
fifty-eight rooms, and an enrollment of almost 3,000.
Altoona Postoffice and Postmasters.
Robert McNamara was the first postmaster in this vicinity, having been
appointed Nov. 11, 1817. The office was then in Collinsville, Huntingdon
county. He was succeeded, Aug. 3, 1830, by David Y. Hileman, who held the
job just two months, when McNamara took it back. McNamara was then in turn
followed by these postmasters on the dates given: Esther Denlenger, March
18, 1834; Michael Hileman, April 25, 1835; Benjamin Figart, March 24, 1846;
George Boozel, Dec. 21, 1848.
[44]
On Nov. 1, 1850, George C. Ferree was appointed and the office moved to
Altoona. After Thomas Elway was appointed on June 29, 1852, he moved the
office to 1402 Twelfth avenue, and after Henry A. Sellers was appointed May
21, 1853, he moved the office to 1408 Eleventh avenue. John Shoemaker was
appointed Sept. 20, 1856, and located the office in the old Masonic temple,
now the Hotel Bingham, 1012 Twelfth street. Jan. 7, 1861, the office was
made a presidential appointment, and Shoemaker re-appointed on that date.
George W. Patton was appointed May 6, 1861, and established the office on
the site of William F. Gable & Co.'s present store, but soon afterwards
reoccupied the old Masonic temple, where the position of postmaster was
successfully filled by the following gentlemen: Frank B. Stewart, April 5,
1869; T. B. Patton, Feb. 8, 1877; (resigned, May, 1891); Albert P. McDonald,
May, 1891; (died Nov. 22, 1895); Reamer Hoke, (acting), Nov. 22, 1895;
Hambleton P. Wilson, Feb. 1, 1896. During Mr. Wilson's incumbency the new
postoffice building at Chestnut avenue and Eleventh street was begun March
7, 1901, and occupied Sept. 30, 1902. George Fox was appointed postmaster
March 1, 1905, and Ellsworth F. Giles May 20, 1913.
The steady growth of the office is shown by the increasing receipts
during the past thirteen years
Year Receipts
1900 $ 48,550 18
1901 51,878 13
1902 54,925 91
1903 68,019 53
1904 73,491 43
1905 79,330 76
1906 86,979 23
1907 93,623 60
1908 95,443 40
1909 98,718 57
1910 106,030 06
1911 109,700 21
1912 112,710 68
1913 116,161 80
Churches of Altoona.
In the old Black Oak Ridge log school house, at what is now Fourth
avenue and Twenty-fourth street, was organized, in 1834, the First Lutheran
congregation. The school preceded the church, the church antedated the city.
Rev. Henry Baker, pioneer divine, was the first pastor, accepting the call
in 1846, and for thirty-five years thereafter ministered to his growing
flock. The congregation later worshipped in the Union school house, then in
Collinsville and eventually bought two lots of ground on Eleventh avenue,
above Fourteenth street, where its first church was dedicated in 1854.
Closely following the Lutherans came the First Baptists, early known as
the Pleasant Valley Baptist congregation, organized in May, 1842, in the
Union school house, with seventeen members.
The Presbyterians held meetings in the Union school house as early as
1841, but the First Presbyterian church was not organized until some time
later. The first deed made in the new town, as the records at Hollidaysburg
show, was on Feb. 11, 1851, for two lots at the corner of Twelfth avenue and
Thirteenth street, to the First Presbyterian church, the price being $100. A
church was built and on Nov. 3, 1851, arrangements were made with the
Hollidaysburg Presbyterians for the services of their pastor on alternate
Sundays. The church was destroyed by fire in 1855, and in December of that
year the lot was sold for $3,000. The Murray residence now occupies the
plot. Later a church was built on Eleventh avenue between Twelfth and
Thirteenth streets.
[45]
While the United Brethrens held services as early as 1844 in this
locality it was not until 1851 that the First church was organized and not
until 1856 that the site at Eighth avenue and Twelfth street was purchased.
The first mass said in Altoona was at the home of Mrs. Catherine Lynch,
so history records. Prior to 1852 occasionally services were held by
Catholics. In that year St. John's Catholic church was organized and two
lots at the present Thirteenth avenue site purchased. In 1854 Rev. (later
Bishop) John Tuigg was installed as rector. The present church was dedicated
in 1875.
The Methodists were among the earliest residents and met with some
regularity as early as 1850, but it was not until 1853 that a separate
charge was formed and became the First Methodist Episcopal church.
Altoona has always been a very religious community. Members of
congregations have contributed liberally towards the erection of handsome
houses of worship. The congregations at present include: Baptists, 4;
Brethren, 2; Catholic, 7; Church of God, 3; Episcopal, 1, (and a mission);
Evangelical, 2; Hebrew, 2; Lutheran, 8; Methodist, 9, (and an Italian
mission); Presbyterian, 5; United Presbyterian, 2; Reformed, 4; United
Brethren, 3; and one each of the following: Church of Christ, Disciple,
Christian and Missionary Alliance, Christian Science, International Bible
Students, Mennonite Gospel mission, Union Pentecostal, Seventh Day
Adventist, First Church of Christ, Salvation Army and Gospel Workers.
Altoona's Financial Institutions.
Altoona's first banking institution was established by Bell, Johnston,
Jack & Co. In 1857-58 William M. Lloyd, who had been a member of the firm,
absorbed the interests of the other three and reorganized the bank as
William M. Lloyd & Co., which went out of business during the 1873 panic.
In 1863 the First National bank was organized, capital $150,000. It was
followed in 1870 by the Mechanics' Savings bank, now the Union bank, capital
$125,000; in 1872 by the Altoona bank, now the Central Trust Company,
capital $250,000; in 1882 by the Second National, capital $100,000; in 1901
by the Altoona Trust company, capital $250,000; and in 1905 by the Mountain
City Trust company, capital $250,000.
The bank clearances for last year, 1913, follow:
Month Amount
January $ 2,469,822 02
February 1,999,010 91
March 2,425,882 92
April 2,559,214 32
May 2,444,075 66
June 2,493,163 61
July 2,765,184 12
August 2,404,335 02
September 2,611,656 81
October 2,793,318 51
November 2,608,519 58
December 2,707,464 78
Total $30,281,648 26
The resources of Altoona's six banks and trust companies total in round
figures $9,500,000. The deposits total in round figures $7,450,000. The bank
clearances above referred to do not include the annual payroll of the
Pennsylvania railroad, nor the amount spent for raw material used in the
railroad shops.
In addition to its banks, Altoona has thirty-two building and loan
associations, each with a capital of $1,000,000, and with assets close to
$6,000,000.
Pioneer Business and Professional Men.
In 1849 Bernard Kerr opened a store in a log house on Tenth avenue.
[46]
View of 11th Avenue Looking East from 14th St.
The same year Adlum & Irvin began merchandising. Aug. 10, 1850, John Loudon
established a store at Eleventh avenue and Fourteenth street, and the year
following Clement Jaggard embarked in business on Tenth avenue between
Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets. In 1852 Henry A. Sellers. erected a
building at 1408 Eleventh avenue, where he kept store. George W. Kessler was
the pioneer druggist, his place of business being on Eleventh avenue, above
Thirteenth street. William O'Donnell opened the first hardware store. Mangus
Bender was one of the first coal dealers. Samuel Ettinger conducted the
first clothing, store, but sold out to Harry Tuck in 1858. Richard Smith is
said to have been the first tailor, opening in 1851 or early in 1852. Thomas
Elway began tailoring in the latter year. Benjamin Figart was the first
shoemaker. It is a question now whether Nick Agnew or Samuel Yingling was
the pioneer butcher. Agnew peddled meat in a wheel barrow. Yingling's
slaughter house was under a pine tree on the Dry Gap road, in 1851. Howard
Larcomb is reported to have been the first telegraph operator. In 1852,
Miles R. Jones, son of Enos M. Jones, was private operator to Thomas A.
Scott.
Dr. Gabriel Thomas located here in 1851. Dr. J. T. Christy came in
November, 1854. He amputated the first leg taken off in Altoona, which was
also the first leg lost through an accident on the Pennsylvania railroad.
Dr. William R. Findley opened an office in October, 1858. He brought a
letter of introduction to Thomas A. Scott. When he presented it, Colonel
Scott said: "Doctor, I'm glad to see you in our growing little town, and
heartily glad you have come. Why, let me tell you, sir, Altoona contains
today 4,000 souls, and I believe you will live to see its population 7,000."
William Stokes was the pioneer lawyer, followed by Lewis W. Hall. D. J.
Neff, hale and hearty today, nestor of the Blair county bar, was the fourth
lawyer to locate here, arriving in 1860.
[47]
The first newspaper, the Altoona Register, was established in 1855 by
William H. and J. A. Snyder.
The Daylight Store.
The Daylight Store, William F. Gable & Co., proprietors, ushered in a new
epoch in merchandising in Altoona. It began its career in a room, 20x40
feet, at Eleventh avenue and Thirteenth street, on March 1, 1884, in a snow
storm. It was too hardy to be nipped in the bud by any such elemental frost
and for thirty years it has been growing, growing, until now its forty-five
or more separate departments, each a complete store in itself, finds a home
175 feet long and 120 feet deep, with five floors for business, none too
large - very often too small.
The secret of this success is service. The Daylight store has been,
still is and will continue to be a store of the people, by the people and
for the people. No demand is too great to be satisfied, no request too small
to be overlooked. Nothing is left undone, nothing is ignored, nothing is
postponed. Service, to be of real value, must be prompt and efficient. That
is the only kind acceptable to The Daylight Store. Customers make their
wishes known to the capable and courteous clerks and the goods are ready for
delivery. Between 375 and 500 people, according to the requirements of the
season, are necessary to maintain a service of this character, but it is
worth all it costs in the satisfaction it gives the patrons.
Next to service there is personality, plus ideals, in The Daylight
Store. Emerson says that every great enterprise is the lengthening shadow of
one man. The personality is big enough to take an interest in every
individual customer - in every individual visitor. And the ideals are high
enough to eliminate mere competition and make co-operation a dominant
factor. The Daylight Store co-operates with the people to the latter's
advantage. It is helpful in a thousand ways. It brings the offerings of the
markets of the world to Altoona. The counters that panel its almost three
acres of floor space are rich in the profusion and variety of its wares.
And then there is the matter of confidence. Confidence has been a large
element in the building up of The Daylight Store. It was never more in
evidence than today. Every statement made by the firm bears the trademark of
truth; every promise of a bargain is backed up with the goods; every word of
advertising is printed with the ink of honesty. When you see it in Gable &
Co.'s ad, it's so.
Service, Personality, Ideals and Confidence are the cornerstones on
which a great and beneficent enterprise has been reared for the people of
Central Pennsylvania.
Miscellaneous Information.
The Mechanics' Library.
The Altoona Mechanics' Library and Reading Room association was
organized Sept. 13, 1858. Prime movers in its establishment were such
distinguished men as Thomas A. Scott, fourth president of the Pennsylvania
railroad; Andrew Carnegie, iron master and philanthropist, and Robert
Pitcairn, great railroad man. Nov. 13, 1858, the library was formally opened
in an old building that stood across the railroad tracks from the present
ticket office at Thirteenth street and had been used by the master mechanic.
Later the library occupied a room over the ticket office of the Pennsylvania
railroad for twenty-five years, then moved to the Eleventh avenue addition
to the Logan House, and is now located in the old First Presbyterian church
on Eleventh avenue. Over 52,000 volumes are on the shelves.
[48]
Hospitals.
The Altoona hospital was incorporated Nov. 26, 1883. H. J. Cornman is
president, Miss Anna C. Wray superintendent. Capacity, 150 patients.
Mercy hospital was opened in July, 1910. J. A. Elder is president, Miss
Laura M. Hamer superintendent. Capacity, 30 patients.
Population of Altoona.
The population of Altoona at each census from 1860 to 1910, inclusive is as
follows:
Year Number Increase
1860 3,591
1870 10,610 195.8 Per Cent.
1880 19,710 85.7 "
1890 30,260 53.9 "
1900 38,973 28.5 "
1910 52,127 33.8 "
1914 58,000 (Estimated)
Blair County.
1900 85,099
1910 108,858 27.9 Per Cent.
Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber of Commerce was organized several years ago, but was
re-created in the fall of 1913, after an enthusiastic campaign. It now has
over 500 active, energetic members. Its officers are: President, W. C.
Westfall; vice presidents, H. K. McCauley, Bertram Leopold, Dr. W. Frank
Beck, W. E. Russell and E. B. Greene; secretary, H. J. Seads; treasurer, C.
F. Anderson; manager, George H. Mosser.
Newspapers.
Altoona has four daily and four weekly newspapers, all of them above
the average, as follows:
Altoona Tribune, morning, daily, except Sunday; Weekly, Saturday;
editor, W. H. Schwartz.
Altoona Mirror, evening, daily, except Sunday; president and founder,
Harry Slep ; managing editor, Harry L. Johnston.
Altoona Times, morning, daily, except Sunday; editor, Charles M.
Kelley.
Altoona Gazette, evening, daily, except Sunday; editor, R. J. Kaylor.
Deutscher Volksfuehrer, weekly, Friday; editor, L. G. Lamade.
Deutscher Wacht, weekly, Friday; editor, G. H. Hemminger.
Land and Labor, weekly, Saturday; editor, F. H. Hall.
Commerce and Industrial.
In 1913 a total of 1,482 mercantile licenses were issued and the total
volume of business was, in round numbers, $22,500,000.
In the Altoona industrial zone there are sixty or more industries, with
an output of approximately $52,000,000 annually. Three silk mills employ
1,100 operatives. The Altoona Iron company employs between 300 and 400.
In a work of this character it is difficult to determine where to draw
the line. Delving into the records unearths many interesting historical
features. But where the exigencies of space demand brevity it becomes
largely a matter of condensing the chief facts into the smallest compass.
Hence, this sketch has been confined only to the more important steps in the
development of Altoona.
[inside back cover]
When you come to "THE PEOPLE'S STORE" we want you to feel perfectly at
home and free to inspect the goods and ask for information, regardless of
whether you wish to buy or not.
ALTOONA, PENNA.