Blair County Newspaper Articles
News, obituaries, birth, marriage and death notices, by date.
Items from The Evening Mirror, Altoona, Pa.,
March 27, 1876
Grandest Affair of the Season. - The Fair of the Mountain City Band, to be held in the Latta Guard Hall, commencing April 11th, and continuing until the 18th, promises to be a grand affair. We hope the citizens will kindly tender their patronage toward us, and we will remember them in the future. We have several articles to be chanced off and contested for. First, to be contested for, is a silver B flat cornet horn. Contestants, Lowry Mathews and David Espenlaub. One Past Grand Officers suit of Knights Templar. Contestants, Jack Hurd and John Frazier. One chamber suit, by four little girls, and one gold ring, by the ladies connected with the Fair. The following articles will be chanced off: One set of carpenter tools, (can be seen in Turner & Metzgar's show window) one silver watch, (can be seen in window of jewelry store below postoffice,) and other articles too numerous to mention, such as wax flowers, dishes, vases, glass ware, dolls, etc. Any person desiring to run on the Knight Templar suit we would be glad to hear from them, as we would like to have one or two more competitors, and we hope the citizens will assist the contestants in their work.
J. B. BURKET & M. M. RUSH, Committee.
Evening Mirror, Altoona, Pa., March 27, 1876, page 1
Accident. - On Saturday evening about 5 o'clock, William Euker, aged sixteen years, had his right arm badly crushed while and other boys were "dropping down" cars on the siding at Lilly's Station. The arm was amputated near the shoulder joint. The boy was a runaway, having left his home in Huntingdon some five weeks since.
Sleighing on the Mountain. - Mr. Michael Burns, the liveryman, returned on Saturday from St. Augustine, Cambria county. He reports sleighing on the Alleghenies excellent, and advises all who want to enjoy the luxury of a ride behind a dashing team in a stylish cutter over a good bed of snow to call at his stables, and he will them how to go and where.
Meeting of the Committee on Surveys. - In response to a call of Chairman Harkins, the Committee on Surveys of City Council met in the Mayor's office Saturday evening and considered the propriety of employing an engineer. The Committee finally decided to authorize Mayor Gilland to employe J. B. Haupt, whenever his services may be required, until the next meeting of Council. Persons needing the Engineer will find him at his office in the municipal building.
Tax Exonerations. - The special committee appointed by council to examine the duplicate of Rupert Leader and allow such additional exonerations as he is entitled to, held a meeting on Saturday evening in the Engineer's office, and commenced their tedious work. Chairman Metz was present, and with Messrs. Koch and Hauser, progressed favorably in the work. The time which has elapsed since the duplicate was placed in Mr. Leader's hands makes the labor of the committee much more onerous.
Fire in the Opera House. - Yesterday afternoon some gentlemen who were passing the Opera House noticed smoke issuing from several places in the basement. On examining the cause thereof they found some boys and tramps sitting around a fire which they had kindled in one of the rooms in the basement. The gentlemen attempted to capture some of the boys but the latter escaped. Mr. Kreider, the janitor, was notified and promptly extinguished the fire. The probabilities are that the building would have been destroyed had the fire not been discovered. Ingress was obtained through one of the windows.
Personal. - Hon. George Boyles, late a member of the constitutional convention of Colorado, was in this city Saturday evening and a portion of yesterday. He was on his way home from Washington and stopped in Altoona to see some of his old friends, he formerly having been a resident of this county. Mr. Boyles now resides at Trinidad, about two thousand miles west of this city, a town of some four thousand inhabitants. The Rio Grande narrow gauge railroad has just been completed to that town and has developed vast deposits of coal, which it is expected will cause the place to grow rapidly in importance and wealth. Although but a young man, Mr. Boyles has risen to eminence in his far off western home, both in his profession as a lawyer and as a politician. He has promised the MIRROR an occasional letter, which we are sure will be perused with interest by our readers. He resumed his journey westward on limited Mail yesterday afternoon, and will arrive in Trinidad in about four days.
Hon. Frederick Douglass, the celebrated colored orator and statesman, arrived in this city Saturday evening on the Fast Line and remained at the Logan House until yesterday morning, when he continued his journey westward.
VIGIE BANQUET AND RE-UNION.
A Pleasant Evening - A Princely Supper - Toasts, Responses, etc.
The second annual re-union and banquet of the members of the Vigilant Steam Fire Engine Company took place on Saturday evening at the St. Charles Hotel, at nine o'clock. Many of the firemen attended the citizens' meeting in the Council Chamber, after which they met in the spacious engine room below and proceeded in a body to the hotel. The time intervening between their arrival and the supper hour was pleasantly whiled away in the parlors, all being evidently in the best of spirits and determined upon having an evening of genuine pleasure. When the hour for supper arrived the company filed down stairs and into the commodious dining hall of the hotel, where a number of tables were provided with delicacies and substantials, temptingly abundant and invitingly arranged. Judge B. F. Rose, President of the Vigilant company, presided at the banquet and announced the toasts. After fully partaking of the good things of the banquet, the Judge arose and announced the first toast, as follows:
Executive of our city. Honored and respected because of his impartial decisions, his gentlemanly deportment and his generous disposition.
Responded to by Mayor Gilland in a neat and sensible manner. The second toast was then announced, as follows:
Chief Engineer of the Fire Department. Chosen from our midst because his ability and punctuality have rendered his services indispensable.
Responded to by T. B. Patton, Esq. Third toast:
Assistant Engineer, eastern district. May his usefulness increase with his experience and his loss be ever felt in his absence.
Response by Harry Bowers.
There was also a toast announced for the Assistant Engineer of the western district, but we failed to obtain it. Response by B. M. Craine. The following was the fifth toast:
The Altoona Steam Fire Engine Company. Although not connected with the department, we regard them as brothers, and in all their actions have proven themselves gentlemen.
Response by Mr. A. Kipple. Sixth toast:
The press of our city. Our advocates and defenders in whom we can always rely.
Responses by M. Edgar King, of the Radical, G. J., Akers, of the MIRROR, and H. C. Dern, of the Tribune. Seventh toast:
The Good Will Steam Fire Engine Company. Their name is their motto and their works prove them worthy of their name.
Responded to by Mayor Gilland on behalf of the company. Eighth toast:
The Empire Hook and Ladder Company. A noble band of daring firemen.
Response by B. Berkowitz. Ninth toast:
The Excelsior Hose company, a worthy auxiliary to the fire department of the city.
Response by John Schenk. Tenth toast; proposed by a member of the company:
To the first and present President of the Vigilant Steam Fire Engine Company. Deserving of honor because he has ever been a faithful worker in behalf of the institution of which he is a representative.
Response by Judge Rose. Eleventh toast:
To our former chief of fire department. May his active duty in the future continue as profitable to the department as in the past.
Response by Ed. Mountney. Twelfth toast:
To our third fireman. May he never sit on the fire box and let the steam go down to five pounds at another fire.
Response by William Pimlott.
Toasts were also proposed to the legal profession and the City Council, and responded to by Thos. H. Greevy and N. Cunningham, respectively.
The generous host, Mr. M. Fitzharris, was not forgotten, and a toast was offered, thanking him for the splendid banquet he had prepared. Mr. F. briefly responded. Another toast, to the lady waiters, was announced and Jim McKee called upon for a response, but he declared himself unequal to the emergency. A letter was read from William H. Reed, of Pittsburgh, regretting his inability to be present, and also expressing the regrets of Mr. Miller. The following letter was read:
ALTOONA, March 25th, 1876.
To the President and Members of the Vigilant Steam Fire Engine
Company.
GENTLEMEN: - Having been invited by one of your active members to participate in your banquet and re-union, I am exceedingly sorry to state that it is impossible for me to be with you, on account of indisposition, but I shall be with you in spirit, as I always have been hitherto. In conclusion, gentlemen, permit me to tender you my sympathy and good wishes, hoping that you may have a "good time'' to- night. Finally, may you ever be "Vigilant" when duty calls, and thereby elicit the "Good Will" of the citizens of "Altoona." Then, with a lofty, undaunted courage, make "Excelsior" your watchword, whilst westward the course of "Empire" takes its way. Yours, very respectfully, H. FETTINGER, Sr.
After the banqueting was over, the happy party again repaired to the parlors, and, after the interchange of friendly greetings, dispersed. The following persons were present: D. A. Gilland, Mayor; T. B. Patton, H. Bowers, B. M. Craine, A. Kipple, W. W. Smith, Chief- of-Police; N. Cunningham, member Council; H. C. Dern, Editor Tribune; J. A. Schenk, M. E. King, Editor Radical; B. Berkowitz, J. S. Mann, John Hileman, S. Reamey, G. W. Kessler, J. Weiss, J. Hurd, W. S. Bitner, J. O'Conner, J. H. Freidly, J. M. Stonebraker, W. C. Pimlott, James Johnston, J., Paiseley, J. Adams, A. Graham, D. Fulton, B. Storey, R. J. Tweedy, W. C. Galbraith, City Treasurer; H. C. Bennett, C. Steece, T. H. Greevy, W. Johnston, J. T. Patton, W. A. Adams, W. Renner, W. Hallock, Ed. Mountney, J. W. McKee, W. S. Lyon, B. F. Rose, W. M. Rose, A. P. McDonald.
CITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD.
- A public hall is about to be erected in Ebensburg.
- Rev. Father Walsh, the new pastor of St. John's delivered his inaugural sermon yesterday.
- Messrs. Cliver & Elway have their Centennial frame on exhibition at Hollidaysburg now.
- The streets and avenues are in a very muddy condition and will doubtless remain so until after the spring "thawing out."
- Elegant weather to travel around in search of local news and succeed in getting wet feet and clothing, and "nary" news, ain't it?
- The eclipse on Saturday was a failure, if we may judge by the view obtained of old Sol's surface by the inhabitants of this sublunary sphere.
- We are glad to record the fact that Dr. Miller is receiving very liberal encouragement in the dental profession since his return from college.
- Judging from the interest manifested at the citizens' meeting on Saturday evening, the Fourth of July celebration will be a complete success. A good set of officers were elected.
- We recently announced the birth of triplets, two boys and a girl, to Mrs. Ream, who resides in Conemaugh township, Cambria county. We are sorry to announce that two of them died on Thursday night last and the other one is not expected to live.
- John H. White, a one armed printer, is in the city to-day. He hails from Baltimore and came via Bedford and Hollidaysburg. He says he can set 6,000 "ems" brevier per day, without much trouble. How he manages to do it astonishes the two-armed members of the craft. He leaves for Bellefonte this evening.
- The heaviest claim against the Opera House building is a mortgage held by Mr. Watson, of Huntingdon, for $20,000. He will doubtless be the purchaser, as it is generally thought that sum covers the real value of the building. Should Mr. W. purchase it he will make some considerable improvements. The sale takes place on Wednesday, the 29th instant.
- "Bet a half a dollar I shall fall down! Bet half a dollar I shall fall!" murmured an old chap as, loaded to the muzzle with forty- rod whisky, he was reeling his way down street. "Bet half a doll- ." Just here the old boy's heels flew so high into the air that his head and shoulders beat them back to the ground. Rising to a sitting posture he took up his hat, rubbed the back of his head, and then said: "Won the money! And it is the first bet I won this year."
MILITARY MATTERS.
Inspections and Election of Officers.
On Saturday evening at 4 o'clock the Juniata Rifles, company F., N. G. [National Guard] was inspected at Hollidaysburg. The inspection was highly creditable, we understand, in all particulars. After the inspection an election for officers was held, which resulted as follows: Captain, Wilkins, vice, James Rodgers, resigned; First Lieutenant, James Rodgers; Second Lieutenant, Frank West.
The Latta Guard.
At half-past seven the same evening the Latta Guard, of this city, company D, N. G., was inspected, by Captain Statler, of Bedford, Col. D. S. Elliott having been called home in the afternoon by the illness of a child. The inspection took place in the armory in the presence of a number of distinguished military men and others, among the number the following: Col. James F. Milliken, Adjutant Brotherline, Capt. Wolaslogle [sic], of Wilmore; Capt. Jones, of Tyrone; Major John R. Garden, of this city; Capt. Guthrie, late of the Duquesne Grays, of Pittsburgh, and others. After the inspection Captain Statler complimented the company very highly, saying that it was the most proficient in discipline, etc., of any in the regiment, so far as the companies in the regiment had been inspected. There were forty-two men present at the inspection and three officers of the company, Capt. Burchfield, and Lieutenants Valentine and Munson.
CITIZENS' MEETING.
The First Step Towards a Centennial Fourth of July Celebration.
On Saturday evening, a large number of citizens - in response to a call by Mayor Gilland - assembled in the council chamber to take steps towards a Centennial Fourth of July celebration. Upon his Honor calling the meeting to order and stating the object in view, an organization was at once effected by electing the following permanent officers: Mayor D. A. Gilland, Chairman; J. Cloyd Kreider, Secretary; Col. F. B. Stewart, Treasurer. Hon. B. F. Rose, as a representative of the Vigilant Fire Company, addressed the meeting, stating that there would be nothing lacking on the part of the fire companies to make the coming Fourth of July demonstration one that would be a credit to the Mountain City.
It was stated by a gentleman that the Altoona Relief Association and also other of our home talent would give entertainments for the benefit of a Fourth of July celebration, if so requested by a legally constituted committee or meeting.
A motion was then made by F. P. Tierney, Esq., and agreed to, that the Chair appoint a committee of sixteen (two from each ward), to be called a Committee of Ways and Means, whose duty it shall be to solicit contributions and make other necessary arrangements. The following gentlemen were appointed:
First Ward - G. M. Metz, S. I. Fries.
Second Ward - H. B. Huff, Peter Moore.
Third Ward - H. J. Cornman, James Harkins.
Fourth Ward - F. P. Tierney, (chairman) David Kinch.
Fifth Ward - George Hawksworth, Jr., Christ Hauser, Sr.
Sixth Ward - Joseph R. Long, John O'Tool.
Seventh Ward - John Frazier, A. C. Rickabaugh.
Eighth Ward - M. J. McCoy, George L. Freet.
A motion was made to the effect that we have a grand parade on the Fourth of July in the forenoon and illumination and fireworks in the evening. This motion was discussed at considerable length and unanimously agreed to.
The meeting then adjourned to meet on Tuesday evening week. - J. CLOYD KREIDER, Sec.
It is to be hoped that the citizens will turn out en masse on Tuesday evening week, and if they have any suggestions to make they will be gladly received. Let us join hands - one and all - go to work at once, and not put it off, and say "it is a long time yet until the Fourth of July." There is a great deal of work to be performed, and if we desire - which we do - to make the celebration a success, we must go to work promptly. Don't stay away from the meeting and say "there is a committee appointed to attend to the arrangements." There are other committees, just as important as the committee of ways and means yet to be appointed, as it is not the intention to ask the one committee to do all the work.
Evening Mirror, Altoona, Pa., March 27, 1876, page 4