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Clarion County Centennial

1840 - 1940

August 26th to September 2nd, 1940

TO THE hardy pioneers, the men and women who braved the rigors and hardships of the early days, to clear the wilderness, to establish homes, and lay the foundations for local self-government, we express our undying gratitude and respectfully dedicate this booklet.

Clarion County

by Gerall G. Dovenspike, Shippenville, PA

By request, Gerall G Dovenspike, Shippenville, Pa,. wrote the following poem to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Clarion County.

Centennial Committees

N. E. Heeter, General Chairman, Clarion
R. K. Atchison, Vice-Chairman, Rimersburg
R. R. Whitmer, Treasurer, Clarion

Program Day-by-Day

[Segment Pending]

The Cavalcade of Clarion County

Clarion County Centennial Ass'n Presents

The Cavalcade of Clarion County

A John B. Roger Production

Clarion County Fair Ground

Wed. -- Thurs. -- Friday -- Sat. -- Mon.
Aug. 28-29-30-31 Sept. 2

Richard Mahar, Pageant Master
W. Frederic Reider, Associate Director
Ruth Mahar, Costumes
Theo L. Wilson, Historian
R. R. Whitmer, Narrator

Clarion High School Band, Directed by Donald Graff

Prologue

Through an avenue of flags held aloft, the Queen of Clarion County's Centennial Celebration, accompanied by her Guard of Honor, arrives to welcome Clarion's guests. Miss Columbia arrives, attended by a loyal daughter of each of the forty-eight states, and is royally welcomed by Her Majesty, the Queen of the Celebration.

Synopsis of Cavalcade of Clarion County

Scene One: The Ballet of Creation

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and the earth was wase and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and God said ‘Let there be light,' and gradually there was light."

In the form of the beautiful ballet there is symbolized before us the appearance of life. At first everything is lifeless, then gradually as light slowly appears, the urge toward rhythmic movement is felt and becomes more rhythmic as its speed steadily increases expressing the glory of life.

Scene Two: Rene Robert Cavalier de la Salle

Rene Robert, Cavalier de La Salle, the first white man to explore the Allegheny River, is seen with some of his men in a temporary camp along the Allegheny, where they have stopped for the purpose of exploring and to get a much needed rest. The time is 1670.

Scene Three: The Red Man

At a temporary Indian village along the Allegheny, the Indian braves are seen whooping and shouting as they dance around the campfire while their squaws are engaged in their customary occupations.

Scene Four: The French Make Formal Claims Along the Allegheny

Captain Pierre Joseph Celeron de Bienville, assisted by de Contrecoeur, de Villiers, de Joincaire, Jr., Father Bonnecamp, and others bury a lead plate bearing the inscription of France, thereby taking formal possession of the land in the name of the King. The time is 1749.

Scene Five: Christian Frederick Post

Christian Frederick Post, the first white man known to have arrived in Clarion County, along with Pisquetumen, an Indian Chief, and an Indian guide, prepare a camp for the night in the region of what is now known as Clarion County. The time is 1758.

Scene Six: The Revolutionary War

Captain Brady and his favorite Indian guide, whose name is Nanowland, make their way silently and cautiously to spy on the camp of Chief Bald Eagle. They are seen leaving and returning at daybreak to engage in battle. Bald Eagle is killed during the lively fight that ensues and the balance of his braves flee.

Scene Seven: The Arrival of the Pioneers

Pioneer families from the central part of the state arrive to take up sites in Clarion County. They are visited by the old Circuit Rider, who conducts a religious service as they camp on a temporary site.

Scene Eight: An Early School

Education was not neglected in the early days of Clarion County. Compare this scene of a crude frontier school with the great modern plants that comprise the county's educational system of today.

Scene Nine: The First Church in Clarion County

It is Sunday morning in the year 1808. The congregation, though small gathers to attend a religious service. Dressed in their best, they sit stiffly on crudely made benches and devoutly listen to their pastor. The place -- on the site of the Seceders Church, near Mechanicsville.

Scene Ten: The War of 1812

We depict the departure of the "minutemen" for Erie, under the command of Capt. Henry Neely.

Scene Eleven: The First U. S. Post Office in Clarion County

Men, women, and children arrive at the first U. S. post office at James McGonagle's, east of Strattanville, to get their mail. Josiah Copley, the postman, appears on the scene with his precious burden of mail. The time is 1818.

Scene Twelve: Public Auction of Lots at Clarion

There is pictured in this scene, the commissioner and the crier offering lots for sale. The scene is dotted with men and women who have come by horse and wagon to the county seat at Clarion to purchase land.

Scene Thirteen: The War Between the States

Mass convention at Strattanville. The time is October 25, 1860. Citizens carrying torchlights assemble around the speakers' stand anxiously awaiting the appearance of Abraham Lincoln. Upon his arrival, the crowd goes wild, cheering and waving handkerchiefs. Hats are thrown into the air and the band breaks into a lively tune. Young men and the lovely young ladies entertain Mr. Lincoln by breaking into a Virginia Reel.

Scene Fourteen: Industries of Clarion County

A panorama of industrial progress in Clarion County. This tableau is a representation of the industries that are responsible of the county's success and progress.

Finale

Our picture would hardly be complete without dedicating a scene to the youth of the community. Let us picture for you, the Youth of Today who will hold in their hands the future of Clarion County, and carry it on to further glories. Through their veins flows the blood of many nations, now united in one mighty nation, America.

To all those who have so willingly given of their time and effort to make this production worthy of the event it celebrates, we express our gratitude. Without the loyal cooperation of the cast and members of the various committees, The Cavalcade of Clarion County, would not have been possible.

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Richard Mahar, Pageant Master

First Highways of Clarion County

by Land Marks Committee, D.A.R.

The first highway to enter the present bounds of Clarion County was the military road running from Sunbury to Erie. It was surveyed and built in 1803, on almost the present roadway of the Susquehanna and Waterford Turnpike, or Route 322. The road was completed and opened for travel in 1806.

The next public road was one to Gardner's Ferry, near Callensburg, and was know as the "Old Stone Road." This was opened about the same time as the old Susquehanna and Waterford Turnpike.

The earliest local road was the one from the Samuel Frampton farm through Curtisville to Parkers Landing.

In 1812, a company was formed to build or rebuild the old turnpike, the State taking one third of the stock in the company. The survey began in 1818, and as each mile was surveyed, a milestone was set up as a marker. In all a distance of 104 miles was surveyed, and 104 stones set up. These stones were landmarks for many years. The ravages of time have destroyed all except seven of them. These have been replaces in their original locations.

In 1934, Mrs. John M. Myers, Regent of the Clarion County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, appointed a special committee, headed by Mrs. George A. Duffield, to locate and replace as many of these old markers as possible. Seven have been restored with concrete bases and on three of them a beautiful bronze plate has been placed, indicating their place in history. The last one to be restored and marked with a bronze plate, is on the corner of the Country Court House lawn, and will be unveiled during Centennial week.

The turnpike was started in 1821, and completed in 1822, in five mile sections. To defray expenses, toll gates were set up at intervals and toll taken for the privilege using the highway.

The first toll bridge over the river, a single span, was built in 1821.

This turnpike played a most important part, and was one of the vital factors in the settlement of Clarion Count. Its history should be preserved as the beginning of our vast system of State Highways.

Just south of the Lake-to-Sea Highway, at a point about one mile west of Strattonville, stands a large spreading oak tree under which stood the cabin in which Thomas Young, the first male white child in Clarion County was born. The tree is listed at Harrisburg among the "Famous Trees of Pennsylvania." Thomas Young was born on June 13, 1802. Photo by Mrs. Irene Furman Rogers.

Origin of the Name Clarion

by Land Marks Committee, D.A.R.

The origin of the name Clarion was long a mystery, but has finally been cleared up. In 1817, the legislature appropriated $200.00 to improve the navigation of Toby Creek, and $100.00, for the same purpose on Redbank Creek. The river was then called Toby Creek, and all called by many Stump Creek.

In 1817, the legislature passed an Act, authorizing the survey of a state road from Indiana to Franklin. The surveyors selected were David Lawson and Daniel Stannard. While lying in the tent one night, along Toby Creek, which was heavily fringed by a wall of close and massive timber, they noticed the wall condensed and reflected the murmur of the stream, giving it a silvery mellowness. Stannard remarked, "The water sounds like a distant clarion." "Why not call this stream the Clarion River?" replied Mr. Lawson. Their survey was filed in Armstrong County and gave the stream the name of Stump Creek, but the name Clarion gained favor and was finally officially adopted. These men deserve the gratitude of the county for the refreshing change from Toby or Stump Creek to the Clarion River. The town of Clarion and the county were named for the river.

The county has been blessed by an abundance of names. The Indians called it "Tobeco," the French "Rivere au Fiel," the pioneers "Toby" and "Stump," and finally its present name, the Clarion.

Cook Forest State Park

Photo by Carl and Don

The dense virgin pine and oak of Cook Forest State Park in which the sound of an ax has never been heard. This is the largest stand of virgin pine east of the Rocky Mountains.

The Only Industry in the County a Century Ago

This is the old Buchanan furnace, located near Turnip Hole, west of Callensburg. This is one of the best preserved furnaces remaining in the county. Thousands of Tons of pig iron were shipped from this furnace to the Pittsburgh market. Photo by Norma Arnold.

The base and outlet of Tippecanoe furnace, located on the creek near Wentlings Corners in Beaver Township. Unfortunately the dressed stones were used by the Township in building piers for a highway bridge, and the historic ruins destroyed. Photo by Norma Arnold.

Century-Old Landmarks

All that is left of a former thriving industry of almost 100 years ago. This is the stone arch for the water wheel, which furnished the air blast for the furnaces. It is the only arch left in Clarion County, It may be seen at the old Monroe or Fulton furnace, between Reidsburg and Mechanicsville. Photo by Norma Arnold.

The old Brady's Bend furnace, near East Brady. This was one of the largest iron producing furnaces in this section. It is still in a good state of preservation. Photo by Norma Arnold.

A Century

by Grace Ray Clough, Clarion, Penna.

By request, Grace Ray Clough wrote the following poem in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Clarion County.

Hills of Clarion County

Panoramic view of the rugged hills and farm lands of Clarion County, from near Callensburg. Photo by Norma Arnold.

Trees, by Joyce Kilmer

[Segment Pending]

Time Table of the Early Seventies

[Segment Pending]

Transportation Through Clarion County in the Early Seventies

A Pittsburgh and Western train on the old bridge over the river near Clarion. Notice the old covered turnpike bridge several hundred feet up stream. This is the site of the present Lakes-to-Sea highway bridge.

Eagle's Nest Furnace

[Segment Pending]

"Squire" J. H. Sweeney

[Segment Pending]

Clarion River

That Clarion County is one of the scenic counties of Pennsylvania is well proven with this view of the Clarion river. The view is unexcelled, looking up stream from a short distance above the Clarion river bridge, on Route 322. Photo by Carl and Don

Toby Creek

A view of Toby creek where it empties into the Clarion river near the upper bridge. The entire Clarion river was formerly named Toby creek, afterward receiving the more appropriate name of Clarion river. The view shows the old road or highway known as the "Toby Hill" road. Obstructing brush has been cut away on two places on Route 322, to enable tourists to enjoy this view, and hundreds of cars stop there daily to photograph and admire this beautiful view. Photo by Carl and Don.

Early Boatbuilding Along the Clarion

The Barr Brothers boatbuilding operation at Piney. Photo from True Tales of the Clarion River.

A Finished Boat at Piney

Photo from True Tales of the Clarion River.

An Old Time Flour Burr

[Transcription Pending]

Piney Dam

[Transcription Pending]

One of the largest of the Clarion County furnaces, located on Leatherwood Creek near New Bethlehem. This furnace was the only one in the county, using neither charcoal nor coke. The coal veins found near that location furnished satisfactory fuel using straight coal only. This saving of timber used for charcoal, was quite extensive. It is estimated that each furnace, running full blast, used all the timber for charcoal found on a 250 acre tract each year. Photo by Norma Arnold

Seven of these old mile stones which marked the Susquehanna and Waterford Turnpike, now Route No. 322, were located by Mrs. George Duffield. These stones have been set in concrete bases and marked by the Clarion County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

History of Callensburg Borough

by Mrs. D. B. Rhea

Callensburg borough was laid out in 1826 by Hugh Callen, who conceived the idea of founding a town on his farm.

The first house was erected by Hon. L. Reed, in 1826, on land now owned by the H. C. Heeter heirs. It was all woodland with the exception of three log cabins, build by Reed, McCallenter, and Thomas Getins.

A quarter of a century elapsed from the laying out of the town and its incorporation as a borough in 1851, at which time officers were elected on March 21, 1851.

The first store was owned by Henry Alexander. The second house built had a tannery in the basement. Then, too, there was a buggy shop and a blacksmith shop in the early days.

Callensburg Academy was incorporated in 1858, and was considered one of the best institutions of learning of the time. The first principal was Orr Lawson. Many pupils from nearby towns attended, walking a number of miles. The building crumbled and fell a number of years ago. The lot is used as a ball park at the present time and is owned by the town.

Previous to laying out the town in 1825, Hugh Callen reserved three acres to build a Presbyterian Church. This included a cemetery. The first sermon was preached in the grove where the Presbyterian Church now stands. The first church was started in 1831, and was completed in 1838. A Methodist class was established in the Public School house. A church was built in 1852 in the west end of town.

A few months previous to the laying out of Callensburg, a survey was made up the Clarion River, then called Stump Creek, sometimes Toby Creek, the names of two Indian trappers. These trappers went up the river every winter in a canoe, returning in the spring, laden with furs. The survey was made to locate the Pennsylvania Canal which afterwards was located along the Kiskiminetas.

History of Clarion Borough

by L. W. McEntire

Clarion is not an artifically made town – Dame Nature took care of that. The writer has been told by many persons who were among the first settlers that the site where the town of Clarion now stands was a vast wilderness before the advent of man. Then along came man with a saw and a hatchet and carved the town, Clarion, out of the dense forest. Few of the county seats of the Commonwealth arose under circumstances similar to those of Clarion. Its origin was purely political, the site having been determined by the county commissioners. A town erected under such circumstances, with a forced growth, is one of the rare exceptions to the rule which makes a rapid rise followed by a rapid decline.

Sometime in the fall of 1839, probably early in October, the town plot, containing two hundred acres, was surveyed by John Sloan, Jr. There were 275 inlots and 50 outlots.

The public sale of the lots began October 30, 1839, and continued three days. The lot now occupied by the Clarion Furniture Co. brought the highest price, $757.50, and was purchased by William Jack of Westmoreland County. The next in value was the lot now occupied by the Hahne building which sold for $560.

Early in May, 1840, a rather large cabin stood on what is now the southwestern corner of South Street and Sixth Avenue. Who built it and when it was built, is uncertain. James Brinkley and his family occupied it until the winter of 1839, and gave accommodation to some of those who attended the sales. Then it seems to have been deserted until it was occupied by William Clark in the spring of 1840, after which time it was used as a boarding house.

Samuel Garvin, in the early ‘30's, erected a small frame house on a lot now belonging to The Tri-Motor Company. This house and the South Street cabin were the first houses worthy of the name on the site of Clarion. It is doubtful to which belongs the priority.

In 1841, a voluntary census revealed a population of 714.

On April 6, 1841, the village was incorporated into a borough. While Clarion has not been a boom or fast growing town, its growth has been deliberate and steady. The 1940 census shows a population of 3793. Now the town of Clarion stands like a monument to the vision, courage, and perseverance of those old pioneers who had the will and initiative to do things big and they did them.

Clarion was at one time the terminal for a narrow gauge railroad, The Emlenton, Shippenville, and Clarion. In the early days of Clarion there was a chair factory, operated by James Sloan, located on the Mainland Dairy Store lot; a painting shop, operated by Adam Mooney, located near Meisinger apartments; a furniture factory operated by Nichols and Ross, later by Enoch Alberson; three foundries, one of which was established by Charles R. Waters on the lot of James Boggs, two tanneries, two potteries, one of which was operated by Thomas West and Jesse Love on the northeast corner of Wood Street and Seventh Avenue, present site of B. C. Mooney residence; a brick yard, a creamery, and a stave mill. There were three blacksmith shops, one of the first being owned by Peter Aldinger on the J. T. Rimer property at the corner of Seventh and Wood. There were two wagon making shops, three breweries, the original brewery, built about 1845 by a German names Peters, stood near the head of Knapp's run on the east end of Main Street. The first barber shop was presided over by Alexander Johnson, a colored man, who opened it in 1844 in a small frame building where Dieffenbacher's News Room now stands. Mrs. J. B. Loomis first ministered to feminine fashionable wants as a milliner and mantua maker at the Loomis Hotel. John Beck was the first watchmaker, his shop stood on the Kaufman block. The first regular store was that of John Potter on what is now known as the Clarion Hotel lot. R. and J. McGuffy opened the first drug store in what is now the Amato Fruit store.

On the corner now occupied by the Clarion Furniture Store, John Hysung, a German, opened a bakery and pastry shop in 1841. This later became known as "Brimstone Corner" because of the many heated discussions which took place here. J. B. Loomis kept the first livery stable on the rear of the lot now occupied by the A & P Store. At an early date there were three hotels, among which was the Loomis House established in 1840, tailor shops, billiard rooms, butcher shops, and other establishments. At an early date Clarion had a fair ground with a one third mile track. In 1877, the present one half mile track was graded and used for horse racing only as a member of the Iron and Oil Racing Circuit. Several years after the track was built, and horseracing failed to materialize financially, The Clarion Fair Association took over the grounds in 1882, and used them for county fairs.

Clarion's first periodical, the Republican, (Democratic in politics), was first issued in May, 1840. Its rival was the Visitor, issued by another faction of the Democratic party. Following the demise of the Visitor, the Iron County Democrat was started in September, 1842. Finally the Iron County Democrat and the Republican were consolidated under the name of Democrat.

The Register, the Whig organ, issued its first number April 26, 1843. In 1852 it was enlarged and its name changed to the Independent Banner. In 1869, C. W. Gilfillan, the Republican nominee for Congress in this district was opposed by Young, the owner of the Banner. In order to get rid of this enemy and have the Republican press unanimous in his favor, Gilfillan bought out Young in 1869 and changed the name of the paper to the Republican.

Clarion now has eight churches as follows: Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, Free Methodist, Christian and Missionary Alliance, and Church of God.

The Methodist was the first organized denomination in Clarion. In 1840, John R. Clover formed a society of this church here. The Presbyterian Church was organized in the upper story of the jail building on May 15, 1841, by Rev. J. Core of Licking Church and D. Polk of Brookville. In the early days of Catholicism in Clarion, Mass was held in a little building on the corner of Wood Street and Third Avenue, afterwards used as a residence. In the winter of 1876, Rev. D. W. Swigart, a Baptist preacher and pastor of the Strattanville Church, held meetings in the court house. He was a powerful and persuasive speaker and many persons accepted the Baptist faith. The church at the corner of Seventh Avenue and Main Street is a monument to his ambitions and efforts.

Clarion's first financial institution, the First National Bank, was chartered January 18, 1865. The bank occupied the building now leased by J. C. Penney Company, until 1882, when it moved to its present location. The Discount and Deposit Bank, later known as the Second National Bank, was established in 1871, the Citizens Trust Company in 1904, and the Thrift Corporation Bank in 1937.

Clarion has a State Teachers College, a Parochial school and three public schools. The State Teachers College is the grandchild of the old Carrier Seminary, a Methodist institution. The corner stone of the Seminary building was laid sometime in June, 1868. The building was opened for classes in the fall of 1871. The college is also an offspring of the once prosperous Clarion State Normal School. The parochial school has three divisions, primary, grammar, and commercial. In 1869 the old Academy school house stood where the present Junior High building now stands. It was a four-room brick structure. However, only two rooms were in use, one on the first floor and one on the second floor. The first floor was known as the Primer school and the second floor as the Grammar school. Today, the schools occupy twenty-eight rooms, contain an auditorium with a seating capacity of 600 and a stage 40x70, and employs thirty-one teachers. The public school also has three divisions: Elementary, Junior High and Senior High. There are approximately 900 children of school age in Clarion borough.

The first session of court held in Clarion County, was held in the front room of the Capt. Robert Burber building, known now as the Banner building. The first court house and jail were built in 1843. The court house was destroyed by fire in 1859. The construction of a new court house was started in the same year. This court house was also destroyed by fire September, 1882. The present court house was built in 1883-84 and occupied in January, 1885. The present jail was built in 1873-4 and occupied in January of 1875.

In the year of 1940, Clarion is the terminal for a standard gauge railroad, The Lake Erie, Franklin and Clarion, has one of the largest milk bottle factories in the United States, employing hundreds of people. There are ten big garages where automobiles are sold and repaired. Today, we have paved streets, electric street lights, traffic signals, two policemen, a sewage disposal plant, water works, and an efficient volunteer fire company with modern fire apparatus.

Clarion has approximately sixty-five stores and three wholesale houses, two newspaper offices, both doing job work, and two job offices in Clarion, contributing to the printing trades, three plumbing and tinning shops, five hotels, light saloons, and thirteen places where food is served, a government liquor store and two wholesale beer distributors.

The American Legion has a home, also the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Spanish American War Veterans have a Camp.

Clarion has many social and fraternal organizations including two Women's Clubs, Onized Club, Moose Club, and V. F. W. Club, Men's Club, Kiwanis Club, and a Chamber of Commerce. There are two planing mills, one concrete blox factory, eight barber shops, three dry cleaners and a number of beauty parlors.

Clarion has three bus lines to care for travelers who wish to travel by motor power.

The scenery around Clarion is sublime, entrancing. The broad, shaded streets, fine residences and well-groomed lawns makes it Clarion, The Beautiful.

Since nineteen hundred forty is the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Clarion County, it is eminently proper that we should celebrate it as the centennial of a prosperous and eventful life. What the next hundred years will be to Clarion, nobody knows. But we of the present day should not leave only a religious and a industrial record behind us, but a patriotic record also, that future generations will be proud to emulate.

History of Curllsville Borough

by Mrs. D. B. Rhea

Curllsville is a village, located in the southwestern corner of Monroe Township, and mainly on the right bank of Big Licking Creek.

In the early 1790's, John and Henry Benn, brothers, came from Northumberland County to this vicinity, and built the first hewn log house in Clarion County. Many town lots were laid out from the Benn farm.

In 1818, Philip Kaster brought his family here. He built the first stone house which was later torn down.

Hon. William Curll, in 1824, at the age of 14, came to America, from County Antrim, Ireland. He built a log house, using it for a home and store. Later he built, for his son William D., the farmhouse occupied by C. V. Curll. By appointment, Mr. Curll was postmaster, March 18, 1842; Justice of the Peace, February, 1825; Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Clarion County November 10, 1851.

At the heydey of Curllsville, there was no Sligo, it just being an iron furnace with homes for the employees. Their mail was delivered by a special messenger sent by them to the Curllsville post office.

In 1859, at the age of three, Mr. H. C. Craig, who was one of a family of thirteen, came to Curllsville to make his home with his grandfather, Major Means. He still resides near Curllsville.

In the early days, there were three licensed hotels operated at the same time. They were conducted by Con Dwyer, Dan Hamm, and John Mooney. With so much liquor in one town, a lockup was necessary.

A daily line of stage coaches, known as the "Rockaway," drawn by four horses, traveled between Clarion and Kittanning. This trip was made once each day, changing horses at the Sheridan house barn, (the Sheridan House was operated by Dan Hamm). After the oil excitement at Parker, a daily line was established to that place. This necessitated a blacksmith shop, which was built and operated by Sim, John, and Sam Jones.

The old Methodist Church, with adjoining cemetery, stood on the hill. Later, it was torn down, moved to its present location, which was donated by another pioneer, Tom Riley. The church was built in 1869 or '70.

The Grace Reformed Church was built in 1873. The first pastor was Rev. Shumaker.

A school house was located near the Methodist Church. Later, the I.O.O.F. hall was purchased and used as a school building until razed by fire several years ago.

Curllsville has had several well-known physicians, namely, Reichardt, Beck, Spencer, Brown, Howe, Rimer, and Woods.

The following are some of the pioneers and their occupations:

John E. Kaster and Andrew Lee, stove makers; Reuben Stopp and Jim Varner, shoe shop; Charles McCafferty, furniture and undertaking; John Autner, furniture painter; Cal Autner, photographer, oil paintings; John Greer, tin shop; Robert Thorne, insurance agent; James and Moses Anderson, wagon shop; Henry Swarm, brick maker; Hamilton and sons, pottery; John Hamilton, tannery, harness and shoe shop; Frank Knight, skimming station; John Kirk, tailor; Amos Hunter, undertaker; Susie Rimer, tailor; Mrs. Lowry and Mrs. Logan, milliners; Michael Turney, flour mill and saw mill.

The Leatherwood Telephone Company had an office from 1905-1906, until its removal to Sligo, recently.

The Western Union Telegraph Company had offices here during the time Jacob Hodil was a storekeeper.

With the building of the railroad through Sligo, Curllsville's population dwindled; many people left to start business in Sligo.

The Anti-Horse Thief Association, which reimbursed members whose horses were stolen, disbanded twenty-five or more years ago. The money remaining in the treasury was given to Curllsville borough to build good roads.

NOTE -- Some names and businesses may have been inadvertently omitted. Largely through the kindness of H. C. Craig and A. C. Coleman, has this article been made possible. Accept my sincere thanks, friends.

History of East Brady Borough

[Transcription Pending]

History of Foxburg Borough

[Transcription Pending]

History of Hawthorn Borough

[Transcription Pending]

History of Knox Borough

[Transcription Pending]

History of New Bethlehem Borough

[Transcription Pending]

History of Rimersburg Borough

by Kenneth J. McCormack

Rimersburg, Clarion County's third largest town, is located in the southwestern part of the county. Although founded on the site of the old Waterson-Brookville Road, by settlers in the early decade of the nineteenth century, the town itself was not laid out until 1839, when John Rimer with the aid of several land owners laid out the community into building lots to be sold at $6 and $8 each. As an inducement to settlers, the town was to be named after the first man to build a home in the new community. To James Pinks went this honor with the southern part of the town becoming Pinksville with Mr. Pinks as the first postmaster, while the northern end of the community was named Rimersburg after its early settlers. When the town, in 1853, was to be incorporated, the selection of a name itself a story, it became known by its present name, Rimersburg.

In the earliest days, two tanneries, and a grist mill composed the town's industries. In the latter part of the 1850's a furniture establishment, a foundry, a harness shop, and a wagon factory were listed among the town's manufactories, while the earlier industries were on the decline. At the present time only one plant is found in the town, that of Lindenpitz Truck Body Works.

Rimersburg has always played an important part in the county's development, being a stopping place for the Underground Railroad, the site of the old Clarion County Institute founded in 1858, and the center of the coal producing area of the county. During 1938, The Keystone Mining Company alone, produced over 70 per cent of the total coal mined in the county and employed 926 men or 60 per cent of the men employed in the county's mining industry in digging over 800,000 tons of the Black Diamonds.

As early as 1835, Rimersburg had a public school system which continually expanded until today the town supports one of the most progressive school systems in the tri-county area. The old Clarion County Institute, a classical academy, was opened in 1858 and continued to serve the county and community's secondary educational needs until 1899 when the building was sold at a public sale. Many of our county tradesmen can point with pride to their early training in this institute.

Rimersburg supports four churches at the present time, the Associate Presbyterian, the Presbyterian, the Methodist, and the Reformed Church, all of which are older than the town and county themselves. Construction is now underway for a Catholic Church on Purity Avenue, to be known as St. Richards, giving Rimersburg an excellent religious background.

Rimersburg serves a shopping area composed of approximately one-third the county's inhabitants, and possesses some of the finest stores of the county. Its first store, that of James Pinks, conceded by many to be the first store in the county, was operating as early as 1812. Here calico could be had at 50 cents per yard, coffee at 75 cents a pound, tea at $4 a pound and salt at $5 a bushel. From this humble beginning the town has constantly supplied the mercantile needs for the surrounding area and is at the present time one of the most progressive communities in western Pennsylvania.

History of Shippenville Borough

R. LR. Snyder

Our Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is very closely connected with all of the world's progress, and our county of Clarion has furnished its share of this history.

In its primeval state, the entire county was probably a dense forest, inhabited by savages of the red race, who to some extent tilled the land, raised crops of corn, wheat, tobacco, and beans, and made sugar from the sap of the maple trees. They had many villages throughout the country and especially near Shippenville where the remains and signs of several are found in the form of arrow heads, stone axes, stone spear heads, and other such relics.

In 1681, Charles II, King of England, granted to William Penn the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Shortly after this, Penn made a grant of the section where Shippenville is located to the Holland Land Co., and they in turn deeded it to the Huidekoper Land Co., who in turn made a deed to the Shippen family.

The first settlers came here on account of road conditions being favorable, the settlement being on the famous Susquehanna and Waterford Turnpike, extending from Philadelphia on the east to Waterford near Lake Erie on the west. On this famous road the DuPonts of Delaware shipped and transported the powder which enabled Commodore Perry to win that decisive naval battle of Lake Erie, who when his English opponents signaled to him if he were going to surrender, sent back the historical message "We have not yet begun to fight."

Valuable deposits of iron ore were discovered all over the county and near Shippenville three furnaces, "Soap Fat," "Mary Ann" and "Blacks" produced many tons of high grade iron which was shipped to Pittsburgh by way of boats on the Clarion river. The mining of this ore, hauling it to the furnaces; mining limestone for flux; making charcoal and the cutting of wood employed hundreds of men in and around Shippenville.

The discovery of the vast iron ore beds in Lake Superior put an end to this industry, but shortly thereafter, oil was found and the town speedily became a busy place again, being one of the oil centers of the county.

The first railroad to operate here was the Emlenton and Shippenville Railroad, a narrow gauge, which did a heavy business through the oil excitement, the northern terminus being Shippenville. Afterwards, new management purchased the road. It was extended to Mt. Jewett and was known as the Pittsburgh and Western R.R. Afterwards it was owned and operated by the B.B. & K. for two years and then sold to the Baltimore and Ohio. They made a standerd [sic] gauge road of it and still operate it.

In 1905, the New York Central began the construction of their New York to Chicago "cut-off" and built through Shippenville, at tremendous expense, the Franklin and Clearfield Railroad which is still in operation, although never being operated as a main line as was intended.

In November, 1905, the First National Bank of Shippenville opened its doors for business and is now recognized as one of the strongest banks in the county.

The Susquehanna and Waterford Turnpike became known as the Lakes to the Sea Highway and was among the first to be improved by concrete construction; next the Fryburg and Warren road Route No. 66 was improved and then later the Knox-Emlenton road, Route 218, was improved, all of which gives the town four outlets to the north, east, south and west.

In 1921, the citizens desiring to give their children better school facilities, build a modern, brick high school which ranks among the highest in the county; in 1936 the directors built a modern auditorium, gymnasium and class rooms, which ranks most favorably with any such structure in northwestern Pennsylvania.

Shippenville is blessed with four churches, all well attended; Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Rev. H. J. Behrens, pastor; The Methodist Church with Rev. J. L. Peck, pastor; The Emmanuel Lutheran Church with Rev. A. Floyd Burns, pastor, and the Free Methodist Church with Rev. Roy Ion, pastor.

Shippenville is noted for the excellence of its stores and as a trading center. With good roads, the best of educational facilities, and excellent class of citizens, good churches, a good bank, and two railroads, it is an ideal place in which to live.

History of Sligo Borough

by Mrs. George J. Heeter

Sligo had its beginning about the time of the formation of Clarion County (1840), and became a thriving community during the Iron Era (1845 to 1873). The first settlers of whom we have record were the Craig and the Reynolds families. At this time, furnaces for the manufacture of pig iron, were being built at various points in the county. William Lyon, Colonel J. P. Lyon and Anthony Shorb built the Sligo furnace in 1845. The name was taken from the Furnace Company's iron works near Pittburgh, Pennsylvania, which had in turn received its name from a county in Ireland. The town at that time consisted chiefly of the homes of the Lyons families and their employees, which houses the Millers now occupy.

As the population was steadily increasing, the Furnace Company in 1871, laid plans for a new section. Thomas Berrean, Sr. (landscaper for the Lyons families), built the first house which still stands near the railroad station. The Furnace Company constructed the brick building now known as Hodil's store. Two years later the Sligo Hotel was erected. In the same year, the Sligo Branch Railroad was built. A row of houses stood along the railroad tracks and another on Irish Hill. The Methodist and the Presbyterian churches were built in 1873-74, and a two-room public school building was completed in 1875. In 1878, the borough was organized.

With the decay of the furnace, Sligo began seeking new enterprises. About this time it became apparent that the old county jail would have to be replaced and a strong attempt was made to have the county seat moved to Sligo. A bill was introduced in the Senate Committee, but failed to pass.

Several wells were drilled at the time of the oil excitement in the county. No oil was found but the wells produced some gas. At one time the Atlantic Pipe Line Company shipped oil at this point. Near the railroad, J. B. Miller operated a firebrick plant. In later years the inhabitants depended upon the mining of coal and private business for sustenance.

Two schools were in the vicinity around 1871. The one is now Methodist Hall. The other was located on the Ben Miller farm. In 1875 a two-room school was built to which additions were made until in 1924, a four year high school course was offered. As the school progressed, need was felt for a more modern building, which was erected in 1927. More recently the Logue Memorial Auditorium was added.

Prior to the building of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches (1872-73), services were held in one room school building. At one time the Catholics met on the fourth floor of the brick store. The Nazarene and the Church of God were since established.

The bank was organized in 1907. At first a Grange Bank, it later became the Sligo National Bank.

George Washington is reputed to have been through this section in 1753 and remarked that the county north of Kittanning would never be fit for human habitation.

History of Strattanville Borough

by Mrs. Custer Strattan and Mrs. Mary Kirby

Strattanville, one of the oldest towns in Clarion County, located on the Susquehanna and Waterford Turnpike, is twelve years older than the county. In 1807 ten men, William Young, Philip Clover, John Love, James Potter, John Roll, James McFadden, John C. Corbett, Samuel Wilson, William Smith and Philip Clover Jr., settled on what was known as the "Bingham Land."

The land on which the town stands was included in warrant number 3,529, warranted by Bingham, December 4, 1792; afterwards purchased by Herman Skiles, May 7, 1811; then sold to Peter Clover, April 21, 1817; then to John Strattan Sr., September 15, 1826, who laid out the town in 1828. The town was later named in his honor. Strattanville was at that time in Armstrong County and remained a part of that county until 1839, a period of eleven years.

The town was incorporated a borough by an Act of Assembly in 1850, and came under the general borough act of 1851, by a decree of court in 1877. The town was then surveyed and laid out. Three long streets run east and west and shorter streets run north and south. The central street, running east and west was part of the turnpike. It was named "Central Avenue."

Strattanville was the center of gravity for the business of the county and was considered the principal place of business between Meadville and Bellefonte, Center County. John Ray erected the first building, a mud and log house and blacksmith shop, where the Samuel Wilson stable now stands. The second was built by Captain Barber, a log house, on the corner of the lot, where the James Jones home burned in the fire of 1904. The log structure was removed in 1846 and J. R. Strattan erected a stone house on the same ground. Later W. H. Lowery and Samuel Wilson built homes. Samuel Wilson opened the first store in 1834. This was the only store between Brookville and Franklin except one at Shippenville.

At an early period, Strattanville had a diversity of industries. Three iron furnaces, two threshing machine shops, one steam grist mill, three hotels, five stores, one land office, a lumber office, three blacksmith shops, two tailor shops a hat factory, a cabinet shop, a machine shop, a planning mill, a saddler shop, two shoemaking shops, a tannery, two physicians offices, an undertaking and coffin establishment, a turnpike keeper and other places of business were located here. These pioneer industries were later moved to the county seat. It was, at one time a question, whether the county seat would be located in Clarion or in Strattanville. Many of the fist county officials were men from this borough.

The first school erected in the county was on the Ferguson farm on the southwestern boundary of the borough. Two frame structures were later erected. John R. Strattan taught the borough school in 1837. Hetty Keatley taught the Academy and was considered a teacher of great ability. William Young was a very able and strict teacher of the early school. Alonzo B. Furman was singing master. In 1875, he directed the first band. Later Howard Strattan directed the band until 1892.

During the years of progress, Strattanville did not forget the spiritual side of life. Two churches were erected. The land for the Baptist Church ground was donated by the Johnsons, and the church was erected in 1852. The land for the Methodist Church was donated by the Strattans, as was the land for the cemetery and the school. The Methodist Church was built in 1848. Rev. Wharton was an early minister. The cemetery is the burial place of many of the pioneer settlers and the veterans of early wars.

During the period of progress of the borough, the latter settlers built up a strong lumber and mining center, especially the drilling of oil and gas. Some of the later settlers were: Arnolds, Barbers, Basims, Benns, Beattys, Burkholders, Boyles, Canaans, Confers, Coaxs, Crooks, Cochrans, Corbetts, Concers, Dillenbecks, Elliotts, Eisenmans, Fraziers, Framptons, Fultons, Furmans, Fergusons, Floods, Gahagans, Gillens, Guthries, Greens, Georges, Hulings, Haines, Humphreys, Jones, Johnsons, Johnstons, Kinches, Keatleys, Lanes, Lowerys, McKees, McGonagles, Mohneys, Mooneys, O'Neills, Owens, Planks, Rays, Rittenhouses, Rulofsons, Russells, Steels, Shermans, Showers, Sowers, Stewarts, Smiths, Trainors, Walkers, Wanners, Wetters, Wynekoops, Williams, Wilsons, Youngs and Zinks.

In the borough and on its borders many historical events took place. The pioneer newspaper, The Republican, was printed here April 1, 1839, by James McCracken, later it was moved to Clarion, 1840. A worn stone monument marks the grave of the first white man born in the county, in the Methodist cemetery near the borough school. Mr. Young was born west of the town. A large oak tree now marks the place of his birth. Many of his descendents live in this borough. The pioneer post office was at the home of the James McGonagle east of Strattanville. The second death in the county occurred here when Paul, the infant son of Philip and Sarah Clover passed away. The independent Order of Odd Fellows is the pioneer organization of the county. One of the greatest demonstrations of the Civil War in western Pennsylvania, prior to the election of Abraham Lincoln, took place in Strattanville. The Strattanville camp grounds, under the jurisdiction of the Erie Conference, was a center for religious, social, and recreation purposes. Hundreds of people came to the grounds by stage, carriage and on foot. Prominent families of the county had beautiful cottages on the grounds.

Men from the early settlement, were drafted in the War of 1812, all returned. At the time of the Civil War, a large number off men were drafted and Dr. C. B. Strattan was appointed a captain. The Major Henry Wetter Post No. 391, of the Grand Army of the Republic, was formed and had headquarters in the borough. The World War veterans on their return, formed the Richard C. Kirby Post of the American Legion No. 249.

The borough celebrated its centennial in 1928, with probably the greatest celebration in the history of Strattanville.

A gain of 116 people has been made in the borough since the census of 1930.

St. Petersburg Borough

by Mrs. Della Fillman and Miss Mabel Bostaph

St. Petersburg, a boom town of the oil excitement days in the early "seventies," is situated in the western part of Clarion County, on a ridge rising between the Allegheny and the Clarion Rivers, about three miles from Foxburg. The earliest settlers in the community came about the year 1808. The most prominent of these pioneers were the Ashbaugh, Collner, Dittman, Foust, Fink, Ritts, Shoup and Vensel families. The land which St. Petersburg now occupies originally belonged to a tract of land owned by Richard Peters, a noted jurist residing in Philadelphia. For this reason and the fact that Judge Peters donated five acres to the village for church and cemetery purposes, the town was named in his honor. When the village was incorporated as a borough, February 23, 1872, Barney Vensel was chosen the first burgess of the town, and a council comprised of G. C. Fink, Joel Fink, D. S. Herron, Nelson Vensel, C. H Wilton, and Daniel Whitling were elected. To assist in keeping law and order, a twenty-four hour police force of eight to ten were employed.

When Markus Hulling drilled the first oil well in this territory on the Ashbaugh farm at the east end of the town in 1871-72, St. Petersburg became historically important. Almost over night the population rose from less than 100 to nearly 10,000, making it the largest town in the county. Of the noted personalities who then visited and transacted business in the town, probably the most important was John D. Rockefeller who organized among the local oil men the Antwerp Pipe Line Company.

Business kept steady pace with the growth of the population. Four hotels and three large boarding houses were frequently unable to accommodate all the transients, and people were often forced to seek shelter for the night under board walks or in barns. No less than fifty business places existed, which included not only food and clothing stores, but the various enterprises necessary to the development of the oil industry. For a time, four oil companies had offices in the town, and an oil exchange was located here. The St. Petersburg Savings Bank was established at this time with J. V. Ritts, President and C. H. Martin, Cashier.

The social, educational, and spiritual interest grew in accordance with the industrial progress. Four lodges, Masonic, Workman, Odd Fellows, and Knights of Pythias, had charters in the town. An opera house with a seating capacity of 800 to 1,000 was built, which staged the best shows of the day. Three newspapers were published, the earliest being the "Crude Local," first edited by F. H. Tozer in June 1872. Seven school buildings were necessary to accommodate those of school age. Six churches existed in town, the oldest of which were the Reformed and the Lutheran, the former having been built in 1834, and used jointly by both congregations until 1854. Besides these were the Presbyterian, the Methodist and the Catholic Churches, and a Jewish Synagogue.

St. Petersburg, now is essentially a residential community, with a population slightly over 500. The marked period of industrial activity which began to show considerable decline by the end of the "seventies," now belongs to the past and most of the buildings have been destroyed by fire, the most destructive occurring in 1892, and burning the opera house and twenty-eight other buildings. Today the community has but four churches and a business section limited to the needs of the population. Nevertheless it boast of having one of the most modern ten room schools in the county, erected jointly with Richland Township in 1930. Besides this, it is gaining popularity as a summer settlement.