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Rev. Jonathan W. Miller
HISTORY
— OF-
Frackville, Schuylkill County, Pa.
BY
The Rec. Jonathan W. Miller, Rector
^'ro
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
ILLUSTRATED
Miners' <bsj^^^«^ Journal
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
17898B
ASTOK, LENOX AND
TIU>£X ■"
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TO MY FATHER AND MOTHER
HENRY AND CATHERINE MILLER
THIS WORK IS
AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED
BY
THE AUTHOR
Tne author wishes, in this public way, to express and ac-
knowledge his gratefulness to rhe following persons, and
sources, for information so kindly furnished him in the prepara-
tion of this work: History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania,
1881; John, F. S.. and David P. Haupt; Rev. H. T. Clymer; J. C.
McGinnis; Rev. T. J. Bowers; Rev. H. J. Illick; Rev. William J.
Scheifly; David Christ; Prof. I. G. Miller; Thomas M. Reed;
Mrs. Robert C. Hunt; Walter S. Sheafer; John L. Williams; L.
C. Anstock; and the Records of Council.
PREFACE
The object of the author in the preparation of this wovk
is simply to furnish the citizens of Prackville, and surrounding
comnmnity. with such facts as every one ought to know. Knowl-
e;1ige is essential to interest. This is as true in the relation of
the citizen to the community as it is in any other. The more
knowledge we possess of the facts which enter into the makeup
of the community in which we live, the more intere t will we
have in that which tends towards its welfare. But besides the cre-
ating of a greater interest in the boi'ough of Frackville by a bet-
ter knowledge of its history, it is always well to have at hand
a l)ook of historiial reference. In this not only the town as
a whole, but a majority of its i.istitutions, such as the churches,
schools, &c. are very deficient. With a view of at least partially
meeting these demands the author sends forth this work in the
hoix' that it may accomplish the mission foi' which ir is intended,
and asks the kiu.l consideration of an ever indulgent public.
J. W. M.
Frackville. Pa., March, 1903.
History of Frackville, Pa*
CHAPTER I.
TOPOGRAPHY OF FRACKVILLE.
It is indeed a matter o\^ honest doubt, whether there is
another locality in the State of Pennsylvania whose surface
features are more peculiar and interesting than that upon which
the borough of Frackville now .'tands. and its immediate sur-
roundings. And just as the mother always antedates the child,
in time, so does the locality the town, and therefore we shall
naturally present this phase of our subject first.
Broad Mountain, a plateau some eighteen hundred feet
above tide water, having an area of between seventy and eighty
square miles, is one of a succession of mountain chains running
nearly parallel, from northeast to southwest, through Schuylkill
County, Pennsylvania. These topographical features being the
result of 'a wave-like movement in the early geological formation
of the earth's surface, are peculiarly interesting both to the man
of science, aJid to the artist. Nowhere can he find a more fruit-
ful field for his research, or in which to inspire the highest
ideal of the beautiful in nature.
As the artist goes forth in quest of the beautiful, he here
finds spread out before his enraptured mind a perfect panorama
of the most sublime in nature. From almost every rocky ledge
he beholds the deep gorge, ever widening into a broader valley,
as it gently slopes away from the ragged steep. He views with
rapture the mountain torrents as they roll down the rocky cliffs,
ever growing into sparkling streams as they meander through
meadows, forests and thriving towns. While before his won-
dering gaze there stretches out into the distance a beautiful and
diversified landscape.
In many places the rock strata are exposed to such an
extent 'as to afford the geologist an excellent opportunity for
sttidying their nature, and measuring their thickness. The
uiitcropp'n^ of the coal yein is a patter of great interest to the
TOPOGRAPHY OF FRACKVILLB
scientifically inclined. At some of these, the coal bed being
exposed, we have a distinct record ot the ancient life during the
Carboniferous age.
This mountain forms the dividing line which separates
the great southern from the middle coal basin. Upon its sum-
mit, however, there are found but sr?all areas of coal measurers.
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Hence under tluil immediate portion uixm which liie boruu^ii
of Frackville stands there are no coal deposits. Therefore,
Frackville is built upon a sure foundation, a rock that can not
be moved. A new mining interest, however, has been recently
opened up, about one niiU" soutUepst of f^mcHvijle, uncjer the
TOPOGRAPHY OF FRACKVILLE
name of the Broad Mountain Colliery, operated by the Crystal
Run Coal Company. But as this enterprise is yet in 'ts infancy,
nothing definite can be said, at this time, as to the exact quality
and quantity of coal to be found here. We might, however, say
that those who are most directly interested, and therefore thi
most capable of judging, are quite saiguine as to the success
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of this new enterprise. And it is to be hoped that all the expec-
tations of even the most sanguine may be fully realized.
Broad Mountain forms the water-shed for that legion of
country lying between the Susquehanna, Lehigh and Schuylkill
rivers. The streams which drain the northwestern, western,
8 TOPOGRAPHY OF FRACKVILLE
and southeastern empty into the Schuylkill, while those of the
eastern and northeastern find their way into the Lehigh.
Some seventy odd years ago this mountain was covered with
a dense forest of heavy timber, consisting chiefly of yellow pine,
oak and hemlock. But this has long since been cleared off. and
used mainly in and around the various collieries in the adjaceat
valleys.
So far as is known this region Was never permanently
occupied by any particular tribe of Indians. The waters of the
Delaware on the east 'and those of the Susquehanna on the west
afforded the savages greater attractions than the mountainous
interior, with its comparatively small streams. The Lenapes
tribe, or Delawares, as they were afterwards called by the
whites, who were under the control of the Mingoes, occupied
the region bordering on these iwo rivers, from which they
would frequently roam into the forests of the interior. The first
white settlers who came to this region, about 1774. were Ger-
mans, who either came direct from the Fatherland, or were
former residents south of the Kittutinny. The sturdy disposi-
tion and sterling quality of these people not only withstood the
tryiag ordeal of pioneer life, but also the threatening invasions
of the s'dvages around them. And the descendants of these early
settlers have well sustained the honor due their ancestry. Never
yet have they been called upon to exemplify the spirit of true
patriotisrn, whether in defence of their homes or country, but
what they responded most cheerfully and without reserve.
During these early days fish were found in abundance in the
larger creeks and rivers, while every mounfain stream fairly
sparkled with spreckled trout. Deer and bear, as well as quail
and occasional flocks of wild turkeys, roamed freely through
the forests.
CHAPTER II.
PUBLIC DRIVE ROADS.
In speaking of this class of pnidic highways, we shall first
of all refer, briefly, to the pioneer roads of this section of the
country. This is necessary becau.-io these roads not only form
the first outlet, by means of wagons, for this region, hut also
the h^-ckhone iritp wh-cli many of l]ip later rof^flp convevge,
PUBLIC DRIVE ROADS
1st.— THE READING AND SCJNBURY TURNPIKE.
The first public highway th'at passed' through what is now
Schuylkill County was what is known as the Reading and Sun-
bury Turnpike. This road was esiablished as early as 1770,
and exteided from the former to the latter town, passing through
Port Clintoi, Orwigsburg. Schuylkill Haven, Pottsville. Miners-,
ville, and on about five miles west of Ashland to Sunbury. But
as thi ' road was only kept up by voluntas y labor, it was scarcely
passable at aiy time, except on horseback and foot. Hence
this road never became much of a thoroughfare.
2nd.— THE CENTER TURNPIKE.
It was not, however, until about the year 1805 that a number
of individuals conceived the idea of forming themselves into a
stock company for the purpose of extendiig the pike between
Philadelphia and Reading through to Sunbury. This Company
was therefore duly incorporated, by the Stale authorities, on the
25th day of March. 1805. Immediately after the necessary pre-
liminary arrangements had been made, the work of construction
was begun and completed, however it did not, at all points, fol-
low the line of the old Reading and Sunbury Turnpike. But we
shall only note those dieviations which occur in that section
with which we are at this time concerned. From Port Clinton
this Turnpike passed through Orwigsburg, on through Centre
Street, Pottsville, New Castle', across Broad Mountain, within
two miles of Frackville, Fountain Springs, Ashland, and from
thence to Sunbury. This public highway, being owned and
under the management of an incorporated Stock Company, was
not only substantially well built, but kept in good repair, until
its usefulness was superseded by a better and more rapid method
of transportation. Hence it soon became the main outlet for the
produce of this nortliwestern section of the country, and the
inlet for the merchandise from Piiiladelphia. It was not long,
therefore, until the bu:lness of this public highway h'ad reached
enormous proportions. And as those were the days of the old
"Conestoga Wagons." drawn by from four to six head of horses,
it was not an unusual sight to see a line of teams, on this
Turnpike, from two or three miles in length, either on their way
to Philadelphia with produce, or on their return with merchan-
dise, but for all manner of travel. As early as 1812 we al-
ready find a permanently established stage line making its
regular weekly trips between Philadelphia and Sunbury, An(t
10
rUBLIC DRIVE ROADS
by the year 1S29 the travel along ;his highway had i icreiased to
such an extent that it required three daily Lnes. running the
entire distance, to meet the demand of tlie traveling public.
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As the cou.ilry Ihioufili whicli this e;iirly axciiuc of liavrl
passed, was yel in its inl'aucy, Ihc'e were bni lew lowus along
PUBLIC DRIVE ROADS 11
its route. This necessitated the establishing of hostelries, or
places of entertainment for those who made use of this public
highway. These places were always known, and spoken of.
as "Taverns". And in almost every instance the "Old Landlord"
was one of those geaial old souls, with whom everybody enjoyed
taking a meal, or spending a night. Kind, jovial, and accommo-
dating he was almost universally called uncle, while his no less
genial, "better-half, was called aunt, by the traveling public.
One of these stopping places, kept by Nicho Allen, was located
on the summit of Broad Mountain c ily a few miles distant from
the present borough of Frackville.
3rd.— ROAD SOUTH TO ST. CI>AIR.
The jiublic road south of Frackv lie leading to St. Clair
was built about the year 1836. This road was constructed at
the expense and by the authority of Norwegian Township, Nev/
Castle not having been formed from it until 1848. Throu3h al-
most its entire distance this public drive road was built upon
the bed of the old abandoned Danville and Pottsville Railroad.
From the time of its completion lo the eslablishment of the
Mahanoy and Broad Mountain Railroad this t.ujroughfai c I'oimci
one of the main outlets to all points south of the mountain
This road passing through such beautiful 'aid romaniic moun
tain scenery, and being constantly kept 'in good repair, has
ever been regarded as one of the three most favorite drives iu
this community.
4th.— THE ROAD ACROSS BROAD MOUNTAIN, SOUTH TO
NEW CASTLE AND NORTHEAST TO MAIZEVILLE.
The next road of importance, opening up the south no less
than the north, was built a few years later. Beginning at New
Castle th's road crossed the mouniain through the Haupt farin.
from thence through the present iawn of F. S. and .John Haupt
at ai angle from southwest to northeast, and from there on
down the mountain to Maizevllle and over the Second moun-
tain to Shenandoah. This road was important to Fiackville,
because it opened up a way of communication to the north no
less than to the south. Si. ice the formation of the borough of
Frackville a large portion of the ro'ad south of the town has
been abandoned. But the northern portion still forms one of
the main outlets for thjs conimunity in that directioji,
12 PUBLIC DRIVE ROADS
5th.— ROAD WEST TO ASHLAND.
The public highway leading westwain from Frackville.
through Fountain Springs, to Ashland was opened up for the
use of the public about the year 1S41'. Thi.s road was built by
Hany township, Butler, through which the road now jjasses.
at that time being yet a part of Barry. The importance nf
this road lies i i the fact that it is the only direct conimunica-
lioii for Frackville to the country 'and towns lying west from
here. This is another of the three roads in this community
that affords a most delight fui drive.
t;th.— THE ROAD TO MAHANOY PLANE.
In the year 1865 a road, intersecting with the one leading
to Maizeville al a point a short distance north of the Pliila-
delphia & Reading arch, was built down the mountain to Maha-
noy Plane. This opened up a short and direct route, not only
to the, western ward of the borough of Gilberton. l)ut to that
entire section of country.
7lh.— THE ROAD, EAST. TO MAHANOY CITV,
The last of these public highways was buiU aliout 1 Mt 1 hy
West Mahanoy, and Mahanoy, townships, east from Frackville,
through Morea to Mahanoy City. This road, therefore, forms
the outlet to the east. And as it follows the summit of th'^
mountain, and is almost perfectly level its entire length, fi-om
many points of which there is a magnificent view, it has ev( r
been regarded as one of the three great drives in this com-
munity.
CHAPTER III.
RAILROADS.
Broad Mountain for a long time appeared an insurmount-
ahlc bari'ier to the projectoi's of jinblic higliways. ]?ut the jx-r-
sistent stiidcs of i)ioneer life, aiul the rapiil (b'vidopiiicnt of
the coal iiidnslry in this locality, inailc ii I'vi.lciit, lo tliose in-
terested, that this barrier wouhl, soo.icr or later, have to be
overcome, it was not. however, until after the discovery of the
rich coal deposics in the Mahanoy auij Siieuandoah valleys tliat
ilie aitsolute necessity of l)nil.linL^ sudi roads was forced upon
ilie minds of tliose who \vere, al that time, interested in the
RAILROADS 13
development of this region. la order that the rich deposits of
this Middle Coal Field, as it has since been desigaated. might
be worked to best advantage there must be a direct transporta-
tion, however difficult it may appear to accomplish, to the east-
ern markets. This was the conclusion already arrived at in the
early history of the coal operations in this locality.
As the pioneer movemeat in this section of the country was
from the southeast, we must look mainly in that direction of the
compass for the early outlets of this locality, as well as for
the approach of all subsequent improvements. The Schuylkill
river, with its various tributaries, was naturally the first out-
let for the products of this region. And as the mountains and
valleys were covered with a dense forest of oak, pine, beecn,
maple, poplar, hemlock, chestnuc and gum, coal not having
been discovered until long after, lur.iber was the first, and only,
marketable staple which was sent down these streams to the
eastern markets by means of rafts.
This means of transportation was superseded by the
Schuylkill Navigation Company, which was incorporated by an
Act of the Assembly and approved by the Governor of the State
(Snyder) on the 8th day of March, 1815. The object of this
company was to establish an improved condition of transporta-
tion to Philadelphia by means of a system of canals and slack-
water navigation. The work, however, was not begun until in
the spring of 1817, and after many vicissitudes, was finally coia-
pleted, the entire distance, in 1824. As the years rolled by,
this highway of transportation was extended and improved
to meet the demands of a rapidly growing trade, until the
freshet of June, 1862, destroyed the dams and seriously injured
the canal, when it was abandoned, and the right of way finally
sold to the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company.
In the meantime, however, coal having been discovered and
the country more fully developed, the demands for transporta-
tion had increased to such an extent that nothing short of rail-
roads would be able to keep pace with the rapidly growiag
trade of this community. The first railroad, in this locality,
was built by Abraham Pott, as early as 1826. Thlis road extend-
ed from his coal mine to the head of navigation at the mouth
of Mill Creek, a distance of one-half mile, and was used exclu-
sively for conveying the coal from the mine to the boats on
the waters of the Schuylkill. Although to-day this would be
U RAILROADS
regarded a short and inKignificant load, yet there is connected
with it a fact that at once brings il into historical importance.
It is the first, or pioneer, railroad, not of this county alone, but
of the State, and the second, if not the first, iin the United
States, antedating the historic Switchback by one year. From
1828 to 1830 seems to have been wiiat might be termed the
Great Railroad Building Period in this immediate locality.
During this period no less thai fiv<:' roads, of more or less im-
porta.ice. had been built. On the 24lh of March, 1828, Governor
Schulze granted a charter to the Mine Hill 'and Schuylkill
Haven Railroad, which extended through the coal fields from
Schuylkill Haven, by way of Min'>rsville. nortli of Broad Moun-
tain. The Norwegian and Mit. Cai bon road was built during
this period, and extended from Mt. Carbon to several coal miu's
northwest of Pottsville. The Little Schuyikill comes under this
head, and extended from Port Clinton to Tamaqua. a distance
of twenty-two miles. The Schuylkill Valley Railroad was begun
in 1829 and completed in 1830, an 1 ran from Port Carboi to
Tuscarora, a distance of ten miles. While the Mill Creek
Railroad was commenced in 1829, and extended from Port Cav-
bon to the vicinity of St. Clair. These roads, however, icom-
paredi with the highly improved ones of to-day. would be regard-
ed very crude, and almost useless structures. There seemed
to be no standard gauge; the r'c'ils were of wood, stiapped
down with flat bar iron; the cars had a capacity of about on '
and a half tons; and as railroad engines were yet an un-
known quantity, the cars were di-a'* n l)y liorse or mule power.
Vcl (luring their day they served their i)uii)ose well.
The reader will observe that thus far we have simply
spoken of the railroads that were l)uilt immediately soutli of
Broad Mountain. We have done so. first, because the ad-
vanice guard of inijjrovements made their caiiiest ai)peaiance
from that side, 'and second, because of tlic important relation
these railroads sustain to the deve]oi)m('ni of that particular
part of Uroad Mountain upon whicn Ibe borough of Frac'kville
is now located.
I 1 the year 1S30 the first attempt was made to connect the
middle Willi the southern coal fie'd by nunms of a railroad.
Because of Ibe steepness of the grade, both north and soutli of
Broad Mountain, ibis involved the most difficult raiilroad engi-
in'i'rin.n Ni'l niideitakeii ;iii\' wliere iii I bat day. This great en-
RAILROADS
1§
terprise was uadertaken by Stephen Girai\l, a m'an of wonder-
ful biiKiness energy and perseverance, and one to whom this
community is greatly indebted for the rapid progress of the.
early development of this community. The difficult task of con-
structing this road was placed uader the skillful direction of
Moncure Robinson. It was decidi-d that this road, connecting
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with the Mill Creek Railroad at St. Clair, should cross tae
mountain in a series of planes and levels, and would thereafter
be known as the Danville and Pottsv'lle Railroad. Like the
roads already referred to, it was built with wooden rails,
strapped down with flat bar iron. In crossing the mountain
there were no less than five planes, four on the south and otK'
16 RAILROADS
on the north side. The first of these pl'anes. on the south side,
\ras at Wadesville; the second, at Darkwater; the third, at Mor-
ris .Jinulion: the fouit'.i. at Kaufman's Dam; the fifth, just north
of Fracl\ville. descending into Malianoy Valley. Between these
series of pl'anes the cars were drawn by horse or mule power,
while on the southern planes they were brought up by means
of the return trip, and on the nonh plane by a tank filled with
water. But owing to the imperfection of this plan of hoisting
the cars the planes could not be si:ccessfully worked. So that,
after a shipment of thirteen thousand, three hundred and forty-
seven tons of coal, the road was abandoned in 1836, and re
mained idle for some twenty odd years. We do not for this
reason, however, regard this stupendous undertaking as, in
every respect, a failure. It was the beginning of what after-
wards became a glorious achievement.
From the time the Danville and Pottsville, or Girard, Rail-
road was aban;loned in 1830 there was no further effort made
to connect the southern with the Middle Coal Field, through
this community, until 1859. It was on the 29th diay of March,
1859, that the Mahanoy and Broad Mountain Railroad Com-
pany was incorporated by an Act of the State Legislature.
This act of incorporation gave the said company the right to
build, and operate, a railroad from the northern terminus of
the Mill Creek Railroad, on the south, at what is now kaown
as Broad Mountain Station, over the mountain through what
has since ibecome the borough of Fracii^ville, into M,ahanoy
Valley on the north. The work of building this road began ia
the year 1860. with George G. Roberts as chief engineer. Hut
it was not until the year 1862 that the entire road, inelud'ing
M'ahanoy Plane, was completed. Scarcely had it been com-
pleted, when in the mo.ith of June of the same year, a freshet
washed out the (ulvcrt just south of the plane. This caused
a considerable delay in the operation of the road. It was,
therefore, in the winter of 1862-'63 that the present arcliway
was constructed. When the road was thus completed it was
at once leased by the I'liiladcjijliia & Reading Railroad Com-
pany, under whose jurisdictloa it has ever since remained. The
first shipment made over this road was a car load of coal from
the Connor and llamuioiid loliifiy in the month of May, 1863.
There \v<'i-<', liowrviT. n<> accoiiiiiinihil ions (oy tra\('l on tliis
road, lor alxaii six years from thio time. The road was used
Railroads i7
exclusively for the transportation . of coal. But as the coal in-
dustry, in the valleys below, was rapidly developing, and as the
present location of Fraekville, the most desirable in which
to live, there was a rapid influx of people into this commun-
ity. And in proportion to the increase of population did the
demand for passenger accommodations grow. The first effort
madje by the Company in this direction was what was then
popularly known as the "Monkey Box" system. This was a
square, four-wheeled box cai^. attached to a coal train, every
WedLiesday and taken as far as St. Clair and back again, for
the accommodation of those who wished to visit, or do shop-
ping in the latter place. Some time later a workman's train was
placed! on the road, Which ran from the towns south of the
mountain to Fraekville every weekday morning and back again
in the evening. It was not, however, until late in the fall of
1SG9 that, through a petition sent in by John Haupt, the Com-
pany placed a regular pasisenger train on the road. This train
at first only made two round trips, from St. Clair to Fraek-
ville, e'ach day, the one in the morning a:id the other at noon.
Some time after this an eveni.ig train was added. But as these
trains only came as far as Fraekville there was no connection
between this latter place and Mahanoy Plane. And by this
time not only local, but through travel, had grown to such pro-
portions that a demand for a stage line between these two
points, became a necessity. Hence D. P. Haupt, being in the
livery business, acted upon this suggestion and established a
regular stage line between Fraekville and Mahanoy Plane. Mr.
Haupt began this line on the 10th day of January, 1870, and con-
tinued operating the same for about thirty years. Since the
end of that period the line has ceased Oiperations, only as oc-
casional demand requires. January 29th, 1886, the Philadel-
phia and Reading Company sustained a great loss in the de-
struction by fire of the plane house and machinery. The build-
ing, which caught by accident, was discovered on tire about
10:30 in the morning. This, of course, caused another delay
in the operations of the road, which continued until the plant
was again rebuilt. In the meantime, however, a very import-
ant enterprise was undertaken in the building of the "LK>op," or
the extending of the railroad, on the north, down the mountain
into the valley below. This event was especially interesting
because of the war that was waging between the Philadelpliia
18
RAILROADS
and Reading and tlie Pennsylvania Railroad Companies, all the
way fiom Philadelphia up eiu'h striving- to get into the coal
fields first. On February !tth, ISSd, the Philadelphia and Read-
ing Compa.iy sent a small squad of men here to begin the woi k
o- grading, and en the night of the 10th. knowing that the
" Malianoy Plane "
i' nnsylvania Company would attempt to interfei'i' wiili ilieni.
they already began laying the ties ahd spiking down thr rails.
About I 'U or eleven o'clock that night the Pennsylvania Com-
pany rusln (I ■.! scpiad of their men in who, after a s])lrit(l tu--
iLile. pieU (1 up {\\j whole business, men, rails, ties and all, and
RAILROADS 19
dumped them down the mountain-side. During this bitterly-fought
battle there was considerable shooting done, but no o.ie was
killed. The Pennsylvania Company then erected a temporary
building on the spot, in wMcli they kept a number of police for
a time, after which they completed the road through to Shen-
andoah. In the meantime, however, the building at the plane
was completed, and operations were again started in September,
1886. It was then that these two companies decided to work
together^ at least to the extent as to allow the Pennsylvania
Comipany to run its trains over the Philadelphia and Reading
road from Wetherill Junction to the "Loop", north of Frack-
ville. The Lehigh Valley Company having in the meantime
leased the right of way on this roa.l, ran the first passenge'-
train over the route on Monday, November 22nd, 1886. From
this time on the citizens of this community enjoyed the accom-
modations of three roads, — the Pennsylvania, and Lehigh Val-
ley through, and the Philadelphia and Rea.ding to this point.
Finally the Philadelphia and Reading Company realized that
they could only compete with the Pennsylvania roa.l by con-
necting their southern trade with the north. They, therefore,
entered into an agreement with, the Pennsylvania Company to
run over their "Loop," into Mahanoy Valley, an,d there connect
with their own road aid thus open up to them a northern out-
let.
This road, from its southern to its nortnern limit, winding
through canyon and rugged cliff, and ascending in several
points at a grade of one hundred and seventy-five feet to the
mile, with a series of short curv3s, required the most skillful
engineering. During the construction those were not wanting
who look<?d upon this enterprise as a hopeless undertaking.
There were, indeed, not a few who predicted that not even an
empty engine would be able to make its way up the steep ascent.
But the sequel of about twenty years of successful operation has
pi oven both the wisdom and skill of its projectors.
CHAPTER IV.
COAL MINING INDUSTRY.
The origin and subsequent growth of a town is almost uni-
versally the result of some industry -which, centers in that par-
20 COAL MINING INdSTRY
ticular locality. Frackville being no exception to this rule
must, therefore, be the result of some enterprise, which caused
the early settlers, in such goodly and ever increasing numbers
to locate on this particular spot. We find this particular enter-
prise to be the Anthracite Coal industry. And it is this indus-
try alone that is responsil)le foi- ili.^ existence of Frackville to-
day. But as Anthracite coal siuslains such a peculiarly import-
ant relation to the comfort and happiness of the human race,
it will be of interest to go beyond the simple production of this
material, as an industry, and t)riefly touch upon the remark-
able discovery, and wonderful development of thi? useful pro-
duct.
The presence of Anthracite coal within the region now in^
eluded in the southerni and miiddle c-oal fields must have been
known as early as 1770. As Scull in his map, published during
that year, indicates several localities, especially along the head
waters of the Schuylkill, as being the depositories of the
•Black Diamond." But ithe first discovery of Anthracite coal
in Schuylkill County, of which we have any record, was acci-
dentally made by Nicho Allen in 1790. This man, having come
into this comimunity, as a lumberman!, from one of the New
lOngland States, and living with his wife in a little cabin on
Broad Mountain, led somewhat of a vagrant life. One nig'.it
during this year while out on a hunting tour, he kindled a fire
amid a mass of rocks, and; then laid down beneath the over-
ha.iging branches of several trees to sleep. Some time during
the night he was arousedi from his slumbers by an intense heat
a' his f<^et. Then it wasi that he observed a glowing fire, as
though the locks themselves were melting away in a w^hite
heat. This proved to be the outcrop of a coal vein, which Al-
len had accidentally ignited. Having from this time forth, tor
a iiunilicr of yi'ars, advocated the value of anthracite ooal, with-
out receiving the consideration due him lor the important ser-
vice he rendered, not only this community, but the world, he
finally left the region in disgust for his native home in New
England. Alihougii this was the first signal of the beginning
of an industry which would not only develop wonderful pro
l)orlions. l)Ut carry untold comforts 'and blessings to the world's
millions still unborn, yet it was not without great difficulty
that aiiilira<'ite coal was inroduccd into general use. It was
in tlf year 1 71'-', that it was lirst successfully used l)y a Mr.
COAL MINING INDUSTRY 21
Whetstone in his blacksmith sihop. In these early days of the
anthracite industry, this coal was known by the name of
"Black Rock," or "Black Diamond." It was not, however, until
the year 1808 that Judge Jesse Fell attempted to first introduce
the "Black Rock" on a wooden grate, the Judge declared that
he would continue its use only on condition it would consume
the grate. It is needless to say that the Judge continued its
use, but was soon compelled to acKnowiedge its superiority,
both as to convenience and comfort, over wood. But as yet it
had gained no reputation as a fuel, and its limited use was
confined to but a few enterprising persons, living within the
immediate comnmmity in which it was produced, who were
simply experimenting upon its usefulness. The first ouccessful
attempt to introduce Anthracite coal into the Philadelphia
m.arket was made by Colonel George Shoemaker in 1812. Af-
ter a great deal of difficulty the Colonel s-ucceeded in inducing
Messrs. Mellon and Bishop to give it a trial in their rolling
mills. The trial, of course, proved a grand success, the heated
metal, as the foreman put it, worked like lead. Colonel Shoe-
maker thus had the honor of not only introducing its use into
the Philadelphia market, but of establishing two facts: First,
that "Black Rock" was combustible; and second, that it, wasi
the best, or most effective fuel in the world. It was not, how-
ever, until 1822 that the first regular shipment of coal was
made. At this time there was one thousand four hundred and
eighty tons propelled down the canal by means of poles, there
being no towpath, as yet, to Philadelphia. It is true that there
had been one small shipment, of three hundred and sixty-five
tons, made in 1820, but this was more by way of experiment
than to supply a demand in the market.
From its eai-liest discovery to about the year 1822 we may
call the first great period in the coal industry. This was the
period of discoveries. First of all, the coal itself was discovered-
This was a slow and gradual process. Its presence in certain
localities was at least suspected as early as 1770. Twenty years
later an out-croping of a vein was accidentally set on fire by
Nicho Allen. And from this time on its presence in the earth
was gradually being found, until it became known that there
was scarcely a hill or valley that wasi not rich with veins of
"Black Rock."
And second, its qualities were also being discovered, That
2i
COAL MINING INDUSTRY
it could be used to great advantage for blacksmithing was first
ascertained by Wlietstone in 1795. In 1808 Judge Fell found, by
experience, that the:e was nothing equal to "Black Rock" for
heating purposes. And that there was no fuel better, or even
as gcod>. for smelting purposes, was fully demonstrated by
Messrs. Mellon and Bishop in 1S12. Thus. l)y the end of tills
-1 ^4^"^^'"%lf:^^
bJO
C
'5.
a
u
u
o
period of discovery, we alii'iuly lir 1 liial liie di'ijo.^ilorie ■ of an-
thracite (0:11 liave become ])i-ctty w«'ll known and ils ntility
firmly established.
Wood, being the f)nly rucl in ns:> np to the int ' oduction of
coal, and the demand ni)on ii liciiig very great for many other
l)ur]i()ses, became more sicarce and expensive eacli year. So that
€OAL MINING INDUSTRY 23
as early as 1825 we find that coal had already outstripped wood,
both as a fuel, and' in cheapnesJi.
As anthracite coal had now (1825) become a staple, not
only of this community, but in the commerce of the world, there
was a great influx of ope.vators and speculators into this region
•at that time. Pits were dug, shafis sunk, slope^ put down, and
gangways opened up. in almost every hillside and valley. Not
every one, hoiwever. who made the attempt, was successful.
Many a poor fellow sartk his hard earned saving? into the
ground never to be brought out foi' him again. Waile, on the
other hand, many, wlio brought into tiiis enterprise, iitelli^ence
and judgment, connected with prudent business tact, reaped a
rich harvest from thsir new venture. This success fanned the
flame of excitement to such a pitch that lands were bought,
road'ti laid out, mines opened, railroads projected, and towns
sprung up everywhere like mushrcoms. Tracts of Ia"d that
could have been bought in 1827 for five Iiund-ed dollars, were
ready sale in 1829 at the enormous price of sixteen thousand
dollars.
The first nuethods of mining were very crude and simple.
An ordinary pit was sunk on an elevation, and the coal drawn
up by hand, with a common windlass and bucket. As there was
no means of handling the water at this time, when the pit would
fill up it was abandoned, and a new one dug. The first advance
made along this line was the introduction of the Gin, worked
by horse power. This was regarded, at that time, a great im-
provement. It was about this time that the method of opening
the veins by drifts from the ravines at the foot of the hills
came into practice. This enabled the operators to remove the
water from the worki igs by natural drainage. While this method
of operating w^as in vogue, the coal was, at first, taken out by
means of wheelbarrows. A little later tracks v/ers laid in the
gangways and cars, drawn by horses or mules, were used. The
modern appliances of breakers, machinery and engines were
as yet unknown. The only machinery in use was the pick, the
hammer, the shovel, the riddle and the wheelbarrow until later
when the cars were introduced. Coal at this time was subject
to no other preparation than the lemoval of dirt and slate.
When thus prepared, it was hauled from the mines to the land-
ings, along the Schuylkill river, by means of ordinary road
wagon-. During the year 1829. this- was changed by the intro-
24 COAL MINING INDUSTRY
duction of railroads into almost every mine in the region. In
th-e year 1832 two important associations were effected. The
first of these was the "Coal Mining Association of Schuylkill
Couaty," with Burd Patterson as its president. The second was
the organization of a "Board of Trade." It was then found
that the capita] invi'stcil. up to this time in the coal of Schuyl-
kill County, was no less than $7,106,000. ir at this time (1S32)
an operator was ahle to ship fiv- or six thousand tons annu-
ally he was regarded as doing a good business. In 1835 a num-
ber of slopes were sunk, and among them we find the one at
Bt. Clair. The pioneers in this class of work were Henry C. Carey
and Burd Patterson. On the 30th day of August, 1837. the first
attempt to ship coal from Pottsville direct to New York was
made by Colonel John M. Crossland. This shipment was made
down the Schuylkill, Delaware, and Raritan Canals. Imi lor
some reason or other got no further ihrni New Brunswick, where
!ip sold out. But not being satisfied, the Colonel made the sec-
ond attempt about the middle of October of the same year,
which resulted in his successfully reaching New York. 0;i his
return he did not claim to h'ave been arou;id the world, Itut
that he had seen a great, deal. In 1838 the first coal company
w^as incorporated by the state legislature, over the Goveinor's
veto, under the name and title of ' Offerman Mining C()nii)aiiy."'
But for some reason, unknown to the writer. I lie charter never
became operative.
The first iron ore that was smelted by antliracite ( oal was
In the year 1839. It was about this time that the "Pioneer
Furnace" at Pottsville was built, being the fiist anthracite fur-
nace erected in the United Sfates.
On January 31st, 1842, we already find on,. Inmdred and
seventeen mines in oix'ration. with a capital investment of
$17.r>2fi.i)0(l; thirty steam engines in use, twenty-two of wliich
■were made in the county; and seventeen thousaiul men. women
■and children dependent upon th(> coal industry.
The completion of t.he Philadelphia and iJeadin.i; I{ailroad.
at this lime, was of paramount interest to the coal industry. (!
revolutionized the entire modus operandi of the coal trad;'. The
greatest (h-pth reached, uj) to this tim(\ was one hundred an.l
firty-three feet |)ci pcnd icuiarly bcdow the level ol" iii(> Schuylki'il
river. It was in the year 1844. that |lie ijrsi l)reaker was erected
»)y r.idfon B;is|. at his col]-ery )ie<;ir Minersville. .And it was not
COAL MINING INDUSTRY 25
long after, until this make of breaker was adopted and used
throughout the entire coal region. The machinery was driven
by a steam engine, and consisted of two or more cast iron rollers
with projecting teeth, revolving towiard each other, through
which the coal passed, and from thence conducted into a revoiv-
iig circular screen, which separated the different sizes, each
dropping into a separate set of sheets, and from which, by the
raising of gates, it wias run into railway cars. Sufficient eleva-
tion was always secured so as to be able to run the coal through
the breaker, and dump it directly into the cars, by gravity.
Such is the general plan of our modern breaker, with perhaps
here and! there a slight modificatiou by way of an improvement.
With these modern appliances the operator is enabled to liandle
a thousand or more tons per day.
Having, thus far, taken a birds-eye view of the early histo-y
of that industry which is responsible for the existence of hun-
dreds of flourishing towns to-day, we shall now turn our atten-
tion more directly toward those particular openations which are
responsible for the existence of the borough of Frackville to-day.
ST. CLAIR COAL INDUSTRY.
As civilization with its accompanying industries approached,
and passed over, this region from the south we naturally lock
in that direction to find the first operations in this great enter-
prise. And in doing so, we find that as early as 1828 a small
drft was opened, by John Offermau and a Mr. Wheitroff, on a
crop of the Mammoth vein, in a place known as "High Germany"
at St. Clair. But the first regular coal operation begun here
was on the Orchard vein, by John Pinkerton and Company, in
1830. This vein was so called because the drift was opened
in an 'apple orchard. And it was from this colliery that the
first coal was shipped from St. Ciair. It was this same year
(1830) that the Primrose vein was opened, also by Pinkerton
and Company. This drift was opened near where the depot now
stands. L'ater it passed through va:ious hands, until 1843, when
Alfred Lawton took charge, who was 'again followed by Frank
Parvin, and he in turn by the land owners, after which it was
abandoned.
John Holmes, 'a native of Dublin, Ireland, arrived in St.
Cl^ir in 1841. In 1846 he discovered the vein since bearing his
26 ST. CLAIR COAL INDUSTRY
iianic George W. McGinnis ()])ened a drift on this vein, in the
eastern pait of the borough, with Holmes as superinteiuleni.
After operating for a time McGinnis sohl out. It was then
closed until 1872. when it was re-opened by Adam .Jackson. In
1878 it came hito possession of .lo-epii Atkinson, wlio oj^erated
il from that rime on. This was called the St. Clair Colliery.
The Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Comuany was
incorporated during the year 1870. and. at the same time pur-
chased seventy thousa.id acres of coal land. Thus came into
existence one of the greatest organizations, for the production
of coal, in this region.
In 1870. David Vipen opened a drift a short distance south of
the Si. Clair collier.v. on the souuiom di]) of tiiis same veil.
Thomas Bedford and Tnomas Burke leased the coal, from the
Philadelphia and Reading Ccal and Iron Company, in 1876. They
at once built a breaker, with a capacity of forty tons per day. i!l
a cost of $1. ()()(). (H). In 1878 Burke bought out Bedford's intere.st.
and "at once dirove a new tunnel, seventy yards, three gangways,
and six breasts, doing all the work with his own hands.
In 1830 the .Mammoth vein vv'as discovered by Isaac Beck.
While he took out consid^'rable coal, yet he made no rciiukii-
opening. This coal was leased i)y .lohn Pinkerton in 1835. wim)
opened' up two drifts and a sloi).'. And by dr ving a tunnel
sixty yards, he found the Skidmore vein. As muh as one
hundred thcuisand tons per year were shipped from this colliery.
Alfred Lawton leased the coal on the St. Clair tract in 184:5,
and 'at once began the erection of i!ie St. Clair shaft. But before
c>cmpleting the work, he failed. In 1853 Enoch W. .MiGinns
leased the coal, and (•onipl"t('d Die shaft, whii li reaciied Mii'
Primrose at one hundred and tweniy-two feet, and the mammoth
at four hundred and twenty-eight feet. After operating it until
1864 it came into possessio i of the St. Clair Coal Company. Tlii.-;
"Company only oijcratcd it for about two years, when it was tak u
.charge of by .lohn C. Norlhall in the year 1866. Between this
time, and 1871 as much as one thousand tons per day were
shipped. In this I'atter year the Philadelphia and Rt'adiiig Coal
and Iron Company bought tiic land ; n<l began oijcralin.:^;. Tliere
w( ]•(■ ilufc- iireakers at thi's shaft. \\\n df wiiich were atti'rward.^
burned.
Ist — .lOii.XS iO.ACl.l': ("OLLIICiO'.
Oeoi'ge Wagner having discovi red a (hiachi d liasii nf coal,
NEW CASTLE COAL INDUSTRY 27
took a three year prospective lease, bearing date of 1845. He
opened a drift on the "Seven-feet" and sunk a shaft on the
Mammoth vein. When this leas? expired, William H. and
Thomas Johas secured a twenty years' lease. From 1853 Wil-
Jiam H. Johns became sole proprietor, and continued opei'ations
to the end of the le'ase, when George W. Johns and brother took
a fifteen year lease. In 1876 it produced ten thousand tois per
month, find employed thiree hundred men and boys. There
were three breakers at this colliery, one of which was tlie larg3it
in the region at that time. As much as one hundred and thirty-
eight thousand tons of coal were mined at this colliery in one
year. It was burned down in May. 1878, but was since re-built.
This was one of the most prosperous and pi-ofitable mines ia
the entire coal region. While it is true that these operations
were very remotely responsible for the existence of Frackville,
yet they gave a business impetus to this community that aided
very materially in making the town a possibility.
NEW CASTLE COAL INDUSTRY.
As we consider this industry in the order i;i which its in-
tiuence increases toward this^ end, we next come to contemplate
the operations in and around New Castle. And in doing so we
have:
1st— EAST PINE KNOT COLLIERY.
This colliery was opened as a drift in 1830 by John E.
Offerman. It was .at first known as the Greenberry mines. But
was aftei wards given its present n.ime by Robert Adams, who
began operating here in 1848. The annual output of this col-
liery was over one hundred thousand tons. Some years after it
took fire, and therefore was drowned out.
2nd— REPPLIER COLLIERY.
Repplier colliery was opened, west of the railroad station,
as a drift, by Nealy Brothers. About the year 1840 Joseph Law-
ton began operating, and n'amed it the Mammoth Colliery, after
the vein worked. In 1847 he started a slope and built a breaker,
with a capacity of seven hundred and fifty tons per day. Lawton
failed in 1850. It was then bougiit by George Repplier, whose
name it has since borne. In 1862 Repplier united with him D. H.
and John L. Geiger, and F. R. Morgan, as partners, who were
former e^^xioyees,
28 NEW CASTLE COAL INDUSTRY
3rd— ELLSWORTH COLLIERY.
This c-olliery was opened on the IManmioth vein in 187:5 hy
John R. E'avis. Some lime after thio the hreaker was burned, hut
immediately rebuilt, with a capacity of one hundred tons per
day. Since the building of tliei second breaker, this colliery has
jnoduced over several hundred thousand tons of coal.
MAHANOY VALLEY COAL INDUSTRY.
We are now ready to scale ihc Broad Mou.itain, :;nd pass,
in our considerations of this great I'asin, on the nort>.. And as
we make this transitioa, we are approachi ig that industrial
power, which has been the direct means of creating and estab-
lishing the borough of Frackville. The first operatlc^n. withi i
that portion of Miah.anoy Valley with which we are iiow <'()n-
cerned, that we shall consider is
1st— GILBERTON COLLIERY.
This colliery was opened by Kendriek and Tyson in tlic
year 1862. The following year (IS;!!) this company l)uilt a small
breaker, and shipped the first co'il from this section. I,i the
Spring of 18G4 the Gilberton Coal Company was organized, wirh
James Sturgis as its first president. After operating for about
ten years with the small breaker built l)y Kendriek .and Tyson,
^ much largtr and better equipped one was erected in 1872.
The Gilbeiton Coal Company, after having operate;! for some
time, failed, and this interest went into the hands of irustec.s.
In March, 1879. it became thn property of the Philadelphia and
^loading Coal and Iron Company, .\bout this time (18S0). the
coal in the vein operated, having been exhausted, it was idle,
until tunnels were dirivein into new veins, when the work was
resumed again. This colliery at tliMt lime ciuploycd alioui two
hu:i(lr( d men and boys.
2nd — DRAI'KR COLLIIOHV.
We next come to the Drap.M' Colliery, which was Mist
opened as a drift l)y a Mr. Smith i.i LSt;:'. Sonii- time later it was
sold to ihe Maminolli X'ciii Consulidatcl Coal C()in]>any. !ii
IKd!) the first slope was sunk, to a do|)tli of four hundred feel.
Not long afK'i-. this comi)a;iy reorganized .is ilic Ili<;<oi'y Coal
Conipaiiy, willi C. \V. Draper as |/resi<le:il. afici' wJKini it has
been uauK'd. ()ii liw failure of this conipauN- in 1 S7t). Ihe <'oi-
liery ])assed into the hands of trustees. It since became
tlie projx'ity of Oliver ])itsou and II. L. AVilliatris. who o])er:itc(l
MAHANOY VALLEY COAL INDUSTRY 29
far a time, and then sold out to the Philadelphia and Readiag
■Coal and Iron Company. The veins worl<ed are the Mammoth
■and Primrose, at a vertical depth of over seven hundred feet.
Two hundred and nine men and boys were employed at that time.
3rd— GILBERTON WATER SHAFT.
This shaft constitutes one of the objects of interest in con-
-nection with the mining industry. It was sunk some years 'ago,
and has a depth of one thous'and and seventy feet. The first
superstructure was made of iron, which was destroyed, by being
drawn over by the. engine, on the morniag of the 26th of March,
1902. It was, however, immediately replaced by a wooden struct-
ure, which was completed on April 20th, of the same year. This
structure contai.is four large tanks, each with a capacity of two
thousand four hundred gallons, hoisted by two five hundred
horse power engines. Three mines 'are draixied by this shaft, .
two at Gilberton, and the Draper. The greatest number of tanks
hoisted in any one hour was one hundred and twenty-two, makiag
a total of two hundred and ninety-two thousand eight hundred
g'allons drawn from these three collieries through the shaft in
one hour. Nine men are employed in and around the shaft.
4th— BEAR RIDGE COLLIERY.
To this colliery there were two distinct and separate opera-
tions, originally known as Nos. 1 and 2. It was owned by Myers,
McCreary and Company. No. 1 was opened in 1865 by Morris
iRobinson and Company. It was under the coatrol of this com-
pany until 1870, when it was sold to the Bear Ridge Company,
who had charge of it until 1879. No. 2 was opened by the Bear
Ridge Coal Company In 1874. But auite some years before this,
Stephen Girard had driven a tunnel one hundred and twenty-two
yards, without any material results. From this time on there
wast notliing done here until 1873, when the Bear Ridge Coal
•Company drove the tunnel eighty yards farther and struck the
Mammoth vein. The average output of this colliery was about
one thousand tons per day.
5th— LAWRENCE COLLIERY.
This colliery was first opened during the year 1866. But
very little was done until it was leased by Jacob S. Lawrence,
F. C. Lawrence, Michael Merkel and Philip Mongold on .lanuary
1st, 1868. It was during this year that the first breaker and
lother buildings were erected. These breakers had a capacity
^0 MAHAiNOY VALLEY COAL INDUSTRY
of about seve.i hundred and fifty tons per day. The workings
extended from one 'and .a half to two miles from the foot of
the slope, which is some three hundred and thirty yards deep,
and constitutes the north slope of the Broad Mountain. These
workings embrace within their operatioas the Holmes, Mam-
moth, Skidmore. and Buck Mountain veins. The first coal
shipped from this colliery was in November, 1868, and was con-
signed to Joseph C. Asher, of Philadelphia. The largest output
in any one year was in 1888, when no less than one hundred and
thirty-two thousand two hundred and thirty-nine tons were
shipped to the markets. The number of men and boys employed
both inside and outside, were four hundred and twenty. After
Lawrence, Merkel and Company had operated for some years,
'they transferred their lease to Lawrence and Brown, who con-
tinued until their failure \a 1892, when the colliery again became
the property of the land owners, and has since been operated
by the executors of the estate of P. W. Sheafer, deceased. This
mine was finally drowned out by the freshet of April. lv<02. since
which time it has remained idle.
There was no industry that did so much toward making the
l;orough of Frackviile a possibility, and added^ so much to its
growth and ])rosperity, as did the Lawrence collery. During the
fiist five months of the year 1900, no less than fifty seven thous-
and nine hundred and fifty-two doU'ars and thirty-eight cents,
net, were paid to the employes of iliis colliery, the largest por-
tion of which, directly or indirectly, benefitted the borough of
Fracicville. Hence it was a great loss to this horough, when
it was finally flooded to such an extent that further operations
became an impossibility.
Gth— STANTON COLLIERY.
This colliery is located a short distance north of Maizeville.
and was fiist opened by Miller, Hoch and Company, 'n 1870.
B\it ai)ii.are.itly never operated on a very large scale. A new
breaker has been recently erected, and ilie t'unire outlook of litis
(olliery is (|uitc encouraging. There are two slopes, sunk about
eight hutidicd led on a secoiul lift. The vein worlaMl is the
Mammoth.
BROAD MOUNTAIN COLLIERY.
This is an eitirely new interest, located al)()ut one halt mile
southeast of ltn' lioiongli of i''rackvi!]e. Some years ago a slope
was sunk here, and considerable woik done, as well as large
BROAD MOUNTAIN COLLIERY Si
sums of money spent, when it was ab'andoned and fell to ruins.
Recently it was again taken hold of. and work, begun November
11th, 1901. The first work done was to clean out the old slope,
and build the breaker, all of which was completed by the begi.i-
ning of February, 1903. The first coal run through the breaker,
from the slope, was on February 9ih of this year. The long de-
lay in completing this work was due to the strike of 1902, which
began on the 12th of M'ay, and continued for five months. These
workings will be known as the Broad Mountain Colliery, and
operated by the Crystal Run Coal Company. Its main office
will be in the Morris Building, Pottsville. The officers of the
company are: President, A. J. Womelsdorf, Pottsville; Secre-
taiy and Treasurer, H. P. Womelsdorf, Pottsville; Vice Presi-
dtnt, ard Geneial Manager, John L. Williams, Frackville. The
following being the directors: John L. Williams. Frackvile;
IThomas H. Williams. Mount Carniel ; A. J. Womelsdorf, Potts-
ville; H. P. Womelsdorf, Pottsville.
The veins worked are the Mammoth, Skidmore and Buck
Mountain. If everything turns out as is expected, when the
colliery ships coal to its full capacity, the company hopes to be
•able to employ between three and four hundred rae.i and boys.
This property contains eleven thousand acres of virgin soil, the
largest tract of its kind, at present, in the state of Pennsylvania.
Hence if the Bioad Mountain Colliery proves a financ'al success
the future of the borough of Frackville is as bright as any town
in the entire coal region. If the coal is in the ground, with the
push, energy, and perseverance, coupied with the large experi-
ence of the present management, the citizens of this town can
rest assured that it will be mined, and that in large quantities.
But not only this ; there being such a large territory upon which
to operate, there is no telling what developments may take
place, along this line in the future, to the great advantage of the
borough of Frackville.
According to the most reliable authorities there still remains
sufficient coal in the earth to meet all the demtands of the human
race for the next seven hundtred years, at the present rate of
iconsumption. But as the demand doubles every sixteen years,
the last lump of coal will be mined .about the year 2053.
It will doubtless be observed that with but two or three ex-
eeptions, we have confined ourselves to the early history of the
icoal industry; up to a certain time^ and then dropped it. The
32 BROAD MOUNTAIN COLLIERY
reason for this must be evident to all, as we are not writing a
history of the coal industry, only in so far as it h'ad to do with
the starting and building up of the borough of Fraekville.
CHAPTER V.
BOROUGH OF FRACKVILLE.
Prior to and during the year 1S50 the territory now occu-
pied by the Borough of Frackville all belonged to James C.
Stephens, and was nothing but 'a "howling wilderness." The
only building in this community at that, time, was a sawmill,
which stood over the pond west of the arch on North Lehigii
Avenue. Daniel Frack, Sr., of St. Clair, having purchased one
hundred and sixty-six acres of the land which a large portion
of Frackville now occupies, converted this sawmill into a dwell-
ing and hotel building. Into this building Mr. Frack moved,
from St. Clair, in 1852, andi here continued to live and conduct
the hotel business from 1852 until 1861. During the latter
year J. B. Nice took charge and kept the hotel but one year,
when the Philadelphia and Readiig Company bought the prop-
erty and tore down the building. About this time a small
building was erected, at the head of Girard Plane in which Mrs.
John B. Meredith, daughter of Daniel P^'rack, lived. In I he
year 1861 Mr. Frack laid off a part of his land into town lots,
and at once (jpened up all the streets now in that portion of the
borough. This tract includes all that portion of the present
borough which lies east of the alley, running north and south.
between Balliet and Nice streets, and was from the beginning
known as Frackville.
On the 16th day of September, 1854, Saniufl Haui)t. of
Pott.svillc. bought one liundicd and eighty acres of land lying
dii-ectly west of. and joining the Frack Estate, from James C.
Stephens. This land was also yet in its primeval state, except
one or two acres, which had been cleared off and cultivated as
a garden and potato paidi. a.ul u|)nn wliicli there stood a snVall
old house, with but one room down and one up stairs, and also
a building that was intended to answer the purpose of "a barn.
To this i)lace Samuel Hatipt. with his five boys. Andrew G., David
I', l'\ S.. Samuel R.. and later .bjhn, tame in 1S.')I and re-
BOROUGH OF PRACKVILLE 33
mained until 1861. clearing off 'and ic.ultivating the land. Dur-
ing this time, however, Mrs. Haupt remained in Pottsville, look-
ing after the interests of the home there, and preparing food
for the mea in their yet wild mountain home. In the latter
part of the year 1855 they began erecting the present house,
which was completed in 1856. And four years later, 1859-'60,
the I'arge and commodious barn, as it now stands, was built.
This is now known as the "Haupt Farm" or "Homestead." Hav-
ing thus during these seven years, 1854-1861, not only brought
considerable land under a state of cultivation, but erected large
and) comfortable buildings for both man and beasts. Samuel
Haupt moved his entire possessions into his new home oa the
first day of April, 1861. It was in the summer of this year that
Mr. Haupt laid out a portion of big land into town lots. This
tract includes all that portion of the present borough lying west
of the 'alley running north and south between Balliet and
Nice streets. To this tract the owner first gave the name of
Planeville. Some of the first deeds were made in this name.
Nice and Centre streets, running north and south, and Piae,
Spring, Washington and Frack streets, running e'^st and west,
were at once opened. The latter part of the year 1861 and the
beginning of 1862 J. B. Nice erected a large house at the north-
ern end of Nice street. This property now belongs to the Phil-
adelphia and Reading Coal and lion Company. The "Frack
Homestead," on Balliet street, i.ow occupied by Mrs. Mere-
dith, was erected during the years 1861-'62, by Mr. Frack. The
Prackville hotel, now kept by George Ernst, was built at the
same time. The first store was started here by F. S. Haupt in
the fall of 1865, and was kept in the small building on Pine,
east of Nice street. A little later J. and J. Foeller, railroad
contractors, started a small store in a little building standing
on the southwest corner of the jiond, west of the arch. lu
1868 the third store was started o.r Price and Brother, on the
northwest corner of Nice and Pine streets.
From the year 1865 to 1875 the development in this com-
munity had been very rapid. In these few short years it was
changed from the most uninviting wilds of an unhabited
mountain to one of the most desirable mountain villages in the
State of Pennsylvania. So rapid had the growth, as well as the
improvements, been during these years th'at Incorporation had
already become a favorite theme during the year 1874. About
this time the name of the Haupt tract was changed from
34
BOROUGH OF FRACKVILLE
"Planeville" to "Mountain City." wiiile the name of the portion
owned by Daniel Fraclv continued to be Frackville. In view of
the fact that the territory to he ircluded witliin the newly i.i-
corporated borough was i i two liislipct iracts. eaeli known l)y a
different name, created quite a contest when it came to fixing
the name for the new borough. Th^ survey was made, a.id the
" Property and Business Place of A. S. Seaman "
plaa drawn ui). by .lolin Haujit. The borough includes within
its limits three iiundred and sixty-six acres. It was finally dc-
cidied that the ''Mountain Ciiy" iiiaii would bi' adoiit<'d tor ib;ii
of t'.ie borough, an 1 i.iat M would bi' dnisi ii-d Frackville. Tlu;
charter was gi'a.ileil on llic UMl: day of Ajnil, ISTC, aiul from
BOROUGH OF FRACKVILLE
35
that day Prackville became an iacorporated borough. The first
election under the charter was held on the 25th day of May,
1876, when the following offices were filled: Chief Burgess,
D'avid P. Haupt. Members of Council, Henry Parton, A. Zone,
Reuben Wagner, Robert McNealy, William E. Deislier and H. C.
Wagner. Council met on June 3rd, when H. Parton was elected
a
CO
c
W
P
3
President, and H. Wiederhold, To>vn Clerk. George D. Haugh-
awout, of Ashland, was then chosen borough solicitor; J. D.
Hadesty, Treasurer; Benjamin Chi'istian, supervisor; F. J. Kef-
fer, tax collector, and .John Haujit, borough surveyor. From
June 10th to August 14th, 1876, Council met every Saturday
3(5 BOROUGH OF FliACKVlL.Li2
evening at 7 o'clock. On the latter date it was decided to meet
the first Monday evening of each ironth. All roads, lanes and
alleys were, by ordinance, declared pnblic highways on the
14th day of August, 187H. It was u]x)n this date that the grade
of Lehigh Avenue, between Frack and Arch streets, was adopted.
During this year, 1876, a number of ordinances, were gradually
drafted and adopted, so as to bring the control of the borough
under a clearly defined system of government. April 2nd, 1877,
the following changes in the borough offices went into effect, as
the result of the spring election: Chief Burgess, Joseph Beatty;
President of Council, Reuben Wagner; Town Clerk. William F,
Payne; Supervisor. Peter Hoffman. The latter part of this same
year a portion of Balliet street was graded. January 1st, is78,
W. F. Payne resigned as Town Clerk, and Otto Speidel was ap-
pointed to fill the unexpired term. On the 2nd day of April. 1878.
David P. Haupt became Chief Burgess for the second time.
John O'Halloi'an, President of Council; William J. Richards.
Town Clerk; Peter Hoffman. Supervisor; George R. Kaercher,
Borough Solicitor. The only change in the borough officers the
following year, 1879, was that M. M. L'Velle was elected So-
licitor. In the meantime, however, the borough had grown to
such an extent that it became necessary to unite the eastern
and western sides of the town with 'an overhead bridge. It
was finally agreed that the bridge should be l)uilt on Oak stree;,
and that if the borough would meet one thousand, lour hundred
and fifty-eight dollars of the expense, the Philadelphia and Read-
ing Railroad Company would pay the balance. In order to pro-
vide the means necessary for the building of this bridge, on
February 3rd, 1880. the Council issued bonds to the amount of
one thousand, five hundred doUais. These bonds were taken
by Bernard Dolan. of Ashland, at six per cent., paid semi-annu-
ally. Five of these l)onds of one hundred dollars e'ach. fell due
Ociolicf l.st. 1881; five more ()ctol)er. 188;?. and the remaining
five Oclobei*. 188.^. On April 5th, 1880, the following changes
took place anio.ig the officers of the borough: Chief Burgess. P.
Ziiuinei-nian ; Town ("Icrk. Otto Si)eidel: Treasurer. John A.
Laiick; Supervisor, .lacob Rodrian. Work was Ix'gun on !lii'
bridge about October 1st, 1880, 'and conii)l('te(i by I he following
March. IS81. The changes in the borough ofiices that went into
elfcci April lih, IKSl. were: Chi(>f Hui-gcs.. .Jacob Ranch; Pr(>s-
idi'Ul of Council. A. .1. Klinails; Tm asurcr. \. S. Seaman; Su-
pervisor, George Dillnian. .\ tax of I wo mills was at this time
BOROUGH OF FRACKVILLE 37
'assesses! to meet the bonds issued for the building of tlie bridge
as they would become due. In the meantime, however, consider-
able work having been done on the streets, and otherwise, the
floating debt had increased to such an extent that on January
2nd. 1882, it was decided to issue coupon bonds to the amount
of one thousand, six hundred dollars to meet this indebtedness.
Hence sixteen bonds of one hundred dollars each, were issued,
one of which became due on the 1st day of April of each year,
beginning with April 1st, 1883, and the last o le falling due April
1st, 1899. To meet these bonds an annual tax of two and one-
h'alf mills was assessed upon all taxable property. The only
changes in the borough offices April 3rd, 1882, weie: Chief Bur-
gess, John M. Thomas, and Borough Solicitor. S. G. M. Hollo-
peter. April 3rd. 1883, J. B. Nice became Chief Burgess, and
L. C. Anstock President of Council, the other officers remaining
the same as last year. During the summer it became necessary
to erect a fence on one side of the roads leading to Maizeville
and Mahanoy Plane, and to make other Improvements. In order
to do this another loan of one thousand, five hundred dollars
had to be made, which was effected July 2nd, 1883, by the issu-
ing of fifteen bonds of one hundred dollars each, the first one
falling due July 1st, 1884, and the last one July 1st, 1898. And
in order to be able to meet these bonds as they became due, a
tax of one and one-half mills was laid upon all taxable property.
April 7th. 1884, William Taylor became President of Council;
W. C. Richards. Town Clerk; William A. Marr, of Ashland,
Borough Solicitor; John Harkins, Supervisor; and
, Chief Burgess. While on March 2id, 1885. Frederick
Sanner entered upon the duties of Chief Burgess; Abraham
Taylor. President of Council; William H. Keffer. Town Clerk.
During the early part of the present summer. 1885, the Council
erected a borough building, east of the railroad back of the
engine howse. The first story was provided with cells, to be
used as the borough lock-up, while the second story was fitted up
as the Council Ch'ambers, &c. This building was completed and
paid for July 2nd. 1885. On March 1st. 1886. all the officers of
the previous year were re-elected with one exception. The
southern portion of Broad Mountain Avenue was, by Council,
authorized to be cut to grade, on the 25th of May, 1S86. While
on June 3rd of the same year. F. S. and John H'aupt were
awarded the contiact to make Pine street to the profile of John
Haupt for the sum of two hundred and twenty-five dollars. At
38
BOROUGH OP FRACKVILLE
the same time John Haupt was authorized to make a profile of
the following streets: Frack a.id Market to Centre. Balliet from
Frack to Arch. Oak from Lehigh Avenue to Balliet, and Penn
Alley from Spring to Arch Street. On .June 19th. 1886, Council
appointed a committee to ascertain from both the "Mountain
John K. Berk, M. D.
City" .luil Die "Anthracite Water Companies" whether they
wfjuld runii.sh (he l)<)i()ni;h witli water. After sonn' negotiations
the whole matli'r came to iKdhinj. iieginning with .July 1st.
considerable woik was doiu' o.i Kailioad Avenut', wliiile m
October, ISSC, Balliet botweo.i Oak and FracK Streets was cut
BOROUGH OF FRACKVILLE 39
down from twelve to fifteen inches, and 'a number of stumps
removed from Lehigh Avenue. December 20th. 1886, Council
decided that the grades of Market. Chestnut, Laurel, Spruce.
Spring and Arch Streets sliould be taken from the level of the
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. At the organization of
Council March 7th, 1887, the following persons were inducted
into office: Chief Burgess, Thomas Irvin: President of Council,
George Burchill; Town Clerk, Thomas Richards; Treasurer,
A!ex. Scott; Solicitor, William A. Marr, and Supervisor. John
Harkins. On the evening of March 11th, 1887, the Keystone
Hotel burned down. All property owiers on Broad Mountain
C. A, Bleiler, M. D.
Avenue were, Apr'l 7th, ordered to put their sidewalks to the
grade.
A Sanitary Committee was appointed by Cou icil, on the 7th
day of July, 1887, consisting of the following persons: John Me-
Bar:cn, Edward Bateman and George W. Ernest. At a meeting
of Council held! Sept. 19th, grades for the following streets were
adopted: Pine, from Philadelphia and Reading Railroad 'o
East borough line; Spring, from Philadelphia and Reading Rail-
road to East borough line; Frack, from Philadelphia and Read-
ing Railroad to E'ast borough line; Chestnut, from Philadelphia
and Reading Railroad to East borough line; Arch, from Phila-
delphia and Reading Railroad to East Borough line; Balliet,
from Arch to Laurel Street; and Leliigh Avenue the entire
length froin the southern to the nonhern borough line. March
40 BOROUGH OF FRACKVILLE
nth. 1SSS. the following fhanges took place in the borough offices:
Chief Burgess, Robert Coxon; President of Council, C. C. Wag-
ner; Borough Solicitor, M. M. L'Velle; Supervisor. J. Rodrian,
Sr. The town clock, in the high school building, was ordered
by council, on August 2nd. from Green and Son. at a cost of
six hundred dollars complete, except the bell. On January 3rd,
1889, the property holders on the following streets were ordered
to have their sidewalks curbed and paved; Lehigh Avenue, be-
tween Pine and Chestnut Streets; Balliet. from Pine to Chest-
nut; including the cross streets. Spring, Frack, Oak, and Chest-
nut, between Lehigh Avenue and BalTet Street, 'all to be com-
pleted by .July 1st. 1889. March 4th, of this year, J. Folk assumed
the duties of Chief Burgess; Edward Batemaa. President of
Council; E. Breckons. Solicitor; John F. Harris, Supervisor; and
Jacob Rodrian, Jr., Town Clerk; the other ofRJoers remaining the
same 'as the year previous. Action was taken on the 4th day
of April adopting a four foot crossing for all principal thorough-
fares, and a three foot crossing for all other streets. Quite a
number of sidewalks were curbed and paved during the year
1889.
On March 3rd, 1890, the following change took place: Chief
Burgess, Daniel Kiefer; President of Council, George Burchill;
H. S. Thompson having done considerable surveying duri ig the
early part of this year, the Council on the 3rrt day of April. 1890,
accepted the profile, and ordered the following streets graded:
Nice, from the norther i borough line to Frack Street; with the
following cross streets between Nice and Balliet, Spring and
Frack. The 1st day of May, of this same year. Railroad Avenue
was ordered opened from Oak (at the bridge) to Chestnut Street.
The grades of Washington and Spring Streets between Nice and
Centre were adopted June fith. IS90. On the 3rd day of July
the Frackville and Gilberto;i Liglit. Heat, and Power Company
were granted the privilege to erect poles and- put up wires
through the streets of the borough of Frackville. We find that
on January 8th, 1891. the bonded indebtedness of the borough
had reached four thousand, one hniulicd dollars. The only
change which occurred in the i)orough offices, on March 2nd.
1891, was: Chief Burgess, William W. Wertz. On June 8th.
the Council considered' and adopted twenty^wo ordinances for
the better management of the borough. At the organization of
the Council on March 7th, 1892, .Tames Kelly became Chief Bur-
ge.ss; and Reulien Wagner, Preside-if of Council, while the other
BOROUGH OF FRACKVILLE 41
officers remained the same as before. The financial committee
was instructed on September 1st, 1892, to have the names of the
streets painted on boards, and nailed on the corner houses at
every street crossing. And the name of the Sanitary Committee
was changed, on February 2nd. 1893. to the Board of Health.
E. J. Douden became Chief Burgess March 6th. 1893, while the
other changes were: John Dunlop. President of Council;, and
William W. Wertz, Supervisor. By action of Council the Finan-
cial Committee was at first constituted the Board of Health,
which was afterwards changed so as to include the entire Coun-
cil, in conjunction with the iChief Burgess. lAn ordinance was
passed, June 1st, 1893. granting the Pennsylvania Telephone
Company the right to occupy the streets with a sufficient num-
ber of poles and wires to conduct its business ia the borough
of Frackville. In this ordinance the Council reserved the right
of making use of these poles at anv time it might be necessary
for fire alarm wires. The total valuation of the borough in the
latter part of the year 1893 was three hundred and ninety-three
thousand' and' six dollars, while the regular taxation was one
thousand nine hundred and sixty-five dollars aad three cents, of
which amount one thousand one hundred and seventy-
nine dollars and two cents wa-s borough, and the re-
maining seven hundred and eighty-six dollars and one
cent special taxes. The first regularly constituted Board of
Health was appointed by Council January 9th. 1894. Those
whom the President appointed were David Taggart. M. D.. to
serve five years; C. C. Wagner, four years; A. Berdanier, three
years; Thomas M. Reed, two years; and Robert Frew, one year.
No changes were made in the borough officers on March 5th,
1894, save that Samuel Winn was elected President of Council.
During the early part of the year 1894, a number of ordinances
were adopted looking toward the better government of the bor-
ough. On the evening of October 4th, 1894. Council decided to
introduce electric light into the borough, and to secure te i are
lights, to be distributed as Council might determine. These
lights to burn every night in the year from dusk to daylight.
The contract to furnish these lights was given to the Frackville
and Gilberton Light. Heat and Power Company, and on October
18th the agreement between the Council and Company was
mutually accepted, and the proper officers authorized to sign
the same, There was no change whatever in the personnel of
BOROUGH OP FRAOKVILLE
the borough officers. Avhen Coiuifil was org'anized on the 4th day
of March. 1895. Duri.ig the moiitas of May and June, of this
year. Railroad and Broad Mountain Avenues were graded. Ami
on September 3rd. an additional arc light was placed at the
intersection of Lehigh Avenue and Arch Street, thus niakii);^,
at this {.mv. a total of eleven within the borough. The Schuyl-
kill Telephone Company having asked for the right to erect poles
and put up wires through the streets of the borough, was granted
that privilege on the evening of September 5th. 1895. At this
R. A. Reick, Attorney-at-Law
time the Chief Burgess, K. .J. Doudaa. resigned, and on the 7th
day of the following November George W. Wagner was elected
to serve to the end of the unexpired term. After the organiz.i-
linii of Council on Marcii L'nd, 1 Siid. we lind llic following officers
occui)ying their various ])osilions: George \V. Wagner, Chief
Burgess: George Bnrchill. Preside.it of (\)un(il; .1. Rodrian. .)r..
Town Clei'k: W. S. Saniier. Tri-asurei-; William W. Wertz.
Sui)er\isor: and .M<ilcni\- Willnlin. |{oi-oii.i;h Solicitor. Dinin.s;
the follow ing .June iji,. noithein «nd of Nice Stret was graded,
BOROUGH OF FRACKVILLE
43
On the 4th day of February. 1897, Council entered into a con-
tract with the Frackville and Gilberton Light. Heat and Power
Company to furnish the borough with light for a period of five
years. The only change which occurred among the borough
officers on March 1st. 1897, wei-e, Reuben Wagner, Chief Burgess;
and John S. Thom.as, president of Council.
Richard Francis Fennessy
During the month of May. 1897, an additional arc light was
placed at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Pine Street,
and in June, of the same year, one at Nice and Oak Streets,
thus making a total of thirteen arc lights in the borough of
44 BOROUGH OF FRACKVILLE
Frackville at the present time. At a meeting of the Counril
held September 10th. 1897. twenty-five ordinances were reviewed
and finally adopted. The old bridge at Oak Street having become
unsafe, the Council on the 8th day of December accepted the
offer of the Horsehead Bridge Company of Horsehead. New
York, to replace the old structure with a new and improved Pin
Bridge for the sum of one thousand six hundred and seventy-
five dollars. The bridge was satisfactorily completed on Febru-
ary 11th. 1898. On March 7th. 1S98. we note the following
changes in the borough offices: President of Council. .loan
Dunlop; and Supervisor. William James. The latter part of thi.s
year (1898) the total valuation of the borough is three hundrc(l
and fifty-six thousand one hundred and forty-two dollars, with
a total taxation of o.ie thousand six hundred and two dollars and
sixty-four cents. On the 6th day of March, 1899. we find the
following men e;iter upon the duties of their respective offices:
Reuben Wagner. Chief Burgess; John Pauley. President of Coun-
cil; J. F. Carr. Town Clerk; W. S. Sanner, Treasurer; McHcnrv
Wilhelm. Borough Solicitor; William James, Supervisor. March
5th. 1900. the following changes took pl'ace: Ch'^ef Burgess, H.
H. Price; President of Council, David Thomas; and Borough So-
licitor. R. A. Reick. During the month of June of this year
Nice between Frack and Oak Streets, was considerably im-
proved. About this time, and later, several franchises were
asked for by differeat parties granting them the privile??e f)f
operating their particular line of business in the borough fjf
Frackville. Among these, on October Itli. 1900. an ordinan-e
was adopted granting the Shenandoah and Pottsville Street
Railway Compaay. its successors and assigns, the right to build
and oi)erate an electric railway on certain streets i:i the boroui;h
of Frackville. January 12th. litoj. Council took action submit-
ting the question of increasing the borough debt over and above
the I wo i)er centum of the assessed valuatio.i allowed by law to
the qualified electors of the borough, on Tuesday, February 19th.
1901, being the day of the regul'ar spring election, the aniouut
of said increase to be seven thousand doilar.s over and above
the two per cent, allowed.
On March 4th, 1901, tlir r<)ll()\viu.t; ciiaiigcs look i)la('(' ii t.he
borough offices: President of Council, Samuel liurchil!. During
the year ("idf Hurgess Price resigned, •.lud Clayton Huichill was
ai)i)ointed. by tb" Court, to serve oul llic unexpired term. The
f)nly change llial took place on March :!r(i. 1902, was that CJ-eorge
BOROUGH OF FRACKVILLE 45
W. Sebold became Preside.it of Council. The present borough
officers, who entered upon their duties March 2nd, 1903. are:
Cliief Burgess, John Madara; President of Council, Samuel
Moore; Town Clerk, J. F. Carr; Treasurer, Alex. Scott; Solici-
tor, R. A. Reick; Supervisor, William James; and Tax Collector,
Daniel Breslin.
The borough of Frackville has to-day, 1903, a population of
two thousand eight hundred inhabitants, and enjoys two weekly
newspapers, one theatre, twenty-eight stores, fourteen hotels and
saloons, one livery, one coal yard, one lumber yard, one under-
taker, Milliners, Tailors, Bakers. Blacksmith shop, two Express
Offices, Telegraph Offices, two railroads, electric light and water
plant, three physicians, one lawyer, five resident clergy, twelve
schools, seven ichurches, telephones, shirt factory, building and
loan association. Board of Trade, seven lodges, a band and
orchestra.
CHAPTER VI,
THE CHURCHES.
The most essential institution to the well-being of any com-
munity is pre-eminently the Church of Christ. It is that which
infuses into every community spiritual tone and character, and
so modifies the evil tendencies of mankind as to make it possible
for men to dwell together in peace and unity. The church is
the great unifier of all the diversified interests of human life.
It holds out to each individual not only that which is of eternal
interest to him, but at the same time, throws around him an at-
mosphere of security in the prosecution of his daily duty among
men. The deeply rooted consciousness of the brotherhood of
man, not only in the relation of one individual to another, but
of each class to all other classes, is the offspring of the Christian
church. To deprive a community of every vestige of the church's
influence would, to s'ay the least, make it intolerable to both
man and beast. Not even the most Godless would wish to cast
his lot in such a community. And therefore all men, regardless
of their belief or unbelief in the church as the only depository
of divine grace, recognize this important phase of its influence
upon men. Hence one of the first interests to claim the atten-
tion of those who are concerned, is the establishment of the
46 THE CHURCHES
Christian cliurch in their midst. The necessity of this is shared
in alike by the originMl lam] owner, and the prospective settler.
So important a factoi- is tlu' chuicli in enhancing the purchasing
price of real estate that every such land owner, with perhaps
very rare exceptions, is glad to donate, in fee-simple, one or more
of his best lots for this purpose. And so thoroughly is he con-
vinced of its importance that in order to make it a permanent
institution in the community he invariably places a clause in the
deed whi(h ever prevents its being used or sold for any other
purpose. This being the principle upon which the early found-
ers of the borough of Frackl)ill(. acied. this lown and community
to-day enjoys the privileges and i)lessings of no less than seven
churches. And we shall now proceed to consider the history
of each one of these separately.
And first of all we shall chronicle some of the facts which
enter into the history of that church which can trace its origin
to the Reformation of the sixteenrh century in Switzerland, at
the head of which stood Huldrcich Zwin,^li. a <'haplain in the
Protestant army of that counliy. This ( hurch was originally
known as the "German Reformed Church in the United States".
Uut as the years rolled round the language of their Fatherland
was gradually superseded, unlil their services were almost uni-
versally rendered in tlie Engli.-h language. Hence the name
became misleading, and tin i,. fore, some years ago. by an action
of the General Synod, Ih ■ word German was dropi)ed. and this
Christian body has since been known as (he "i{eloi nied Cluireh
in the Uniied States".
1— ST. PETER'S REI<Y)RMEI) CIIURCII.
This Krovvlug a.iil inllii-nl ial i|c,] iiialiou is v>'ry faithfully
represented in the borough of Frackville l)y St. Peter's Reform-
ed Churdi. The first ;sei-vices wei\> held here, by tho Rev. T.
J. Bower, then located at St. Clair, in the spring of 1890. On the
29th day of .Inly, IMiu, Uev. Mv. Hower and a number of Re-
formed i)eop]e assembled in tiie Iioine of Franklin Brown, and
alter services organize il I Ik iiiseUvs into a congregation. This
organization was effected i)y ti lection of the Rev. T. .J. Bower
as missionary in charge: .lonatlian and William Roeder as El-
• lers: Lewis M.iiiei-, ,.\dam Reed. Kianklin Brown, and James
Roeder. Deacons. In lookini; for ;. name by which this interest
i^tioiild lie known in Hie conminii ii v. it was decided to name it
after that vigoi-ous Apostle, St. Peter. Thus St. Peter's Reform-
ST. PETER'S REFORMED CHURCH 47
ed Church with but eight communicants, started on its life's
voyage.
A hall, on Frack Street, was at once rented in which they
worshiped for almost two years. In August, 1890. the Sunday
School was organized with twenty-eight members; the first
officers, Lewis Miller, Superintendent; Jonathan Roeder, Secre-
tary. And as every church soon learns that the women are an
indispensible factor to the success of every phase of its work,
this congregation at once marshalled Its best forces to the front
by organizing the Woman's Aid Society during the year 1890.
It is to the credit of this Society that much of the success of the
congregation is due. Early in the spring of 1892 a lot. fifty feet
front by one hundred and fifty deep was bought from William
Haupt, on the east side of south Nice street, upon which to erect
a church building. On the 6tli day of May of this same year
(1892) ground was broken for the fC'Undation of the new church.
The wall having been completed within one month from the first
beginning of the work, the corner stone was laid on June 5th,
1892. The ministers present on this occasion were the Revs.
Robert O'Boyle, O. H. Strunk, A. R. Bartholomew, and the mis-
sionary, Rev. T. J. Bower. The sermon was preached by Rev.
O'Boyle. So rapidly did the work of building the new church
progress that by the latter part of October of this year the
building was entirely completed. Hence the church was dedi-
cated on the 30th day of October, 1892. The pastor, the Rev.
T. J. Bower, was assisted on this happy occasion by the Revs.
S. S. Kohler, O. H. Strunk and A. R. Bartholomew. The Rev.
S. S. Kohler preached the sermon. The building when complet-
ed cost the congregation four thousand two hundred dollars. The
Holy Communion was celebrated in the new church for the first
time on November 5th. 1892, whe.i r.o less than sixty-five partook
of the Lord's Supper. It was during this year that the children
were organized into a Mission Band, and have since done most
effective work. So rapidly and substantially had this mission
grown within the first two years of its organization that they
were not only able to purchase a lot and build a church, not a
chapel, during this time, but to provide for and call a pastor, and
thus constitute themselves a regularly organized congregation.
The Rev. T. J. Bower, of St. Clair, having organized the mission,
and served them faithfully up to this time, was extended the call
to become their pastor. Having accepted the call, the Rev. Mr.
Bower moved to Frackville on the, 21st day of October, 189.2.
48 ST. PETER'S REFORMED CHURCH
in the year 1897 a society of Christian Endeavor was organized.
So well and complete was the cli'ircli orisinally bnilt, that the
only improvements since necessary was the reseating of the
infant room with chairs, in June, 1900; the replacing of the old
bell, which had been cracked, by a new and larger one. of beau-
tiful tout', in .Inly. 1!K»1: and the recarpeting of the church on the
2;!ni day of May, Utu:i.
During the twelve or thirteen years of its existence the
congregation has continued to grow, until to-day it has a com-
municant membership of one hundred and forty-five, with the
following as its present officers: Rev. T. J. Bower. Pastor;
Samuel Endy. Francis Houser, Geo''ge Miller. Elders; Charles
Seitzinger. Charles Christ, William Wertz, Joseph Eiler, Harry
Morgan, and William Hummel, deacons. The Sunday School was
no less healthful and rapid in its growth, during these years,
numbering at this time one hundred and fifty members. The
present officers are: Superintendent. Samuel Endy; Assistant
Superintendent, George Miller; Secretary. Sallie Steinbach:
Treasurer, Mrs. Samuel Endy; Librarians, William Troutman and
Bertha Hicks.
2— ZION'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
We next come to speak of the Lutheran church. This
church is the outgrowth of the German Reformation of the six-
teenth century, and has ever borne tlie name of Luther, the
prime factor in this great German movement. The first Lutheran
settlement we find in this country, was in the city of New York
as early as 162L Although their gic.wth i.i this country was at
first slow, yet during the past sixty or more years their progress
has been very rapid. So that to-day they stand third or fourth
among the Protestant bodies as to size. This is one of the
great denominations that seems most capable of meeting the
spiritual wants of our German iHii)nlati()n. And tne power
which it exercises, for good, over this large class of our people
is of inestimable value. And as the citizens of Frackville are,
to a considerable number, made up of Germans and their de-
scendants, it is ijcifectly natuial liiat this Christian body should
have an eaiiy representation in this community.
This rcitri'sentation we find in Zion's Evangelical Lutheran
("hiiicli. The organization of this congregal ion was idTected by
the Rrv. .John (inililci-, llitii located at Shenandoah, i'a.. under
the auspices of the Lutheran Ministerium of I'eunsyivauia, ia
ZION'S EVANGELICAL LL'THERAN CHURCH iU
the year 1872. The first officers were, Daniel Frack. Alexander
Buck, Christian Reese. Carl Miller, Reuben Wagner, and Pereival
Zimmerman. Services were at that time held, by the Rev.
Gruhler, in the small frame school house on the east side of
North Nice street. Feeling the in-portance of fostering the
spiritual interests of their children, a Sunday School was organ-
ized this same year (1872). It was the latter part of 1872, or
the first part of 1873, that Daniel Frack. one of the pioneer lan<l
owners of this community, presented this newly organized co.i-
gregation with a beautiful lot. fiitv feet fi'ont by o.ie hundred
and fifty deep, centrally located, on South Lehigh Avenue. Wal-
ter Nice was given the contract for the building of the new
church, which was begun during the year 1873 and completed
in the following year (1874), when it was dedicated. The mis-
sionary. Rev. Gruhler, was assisted on this occasion, by the
Revs. G. Hinterleitner and D. Sann"r. During the year 1875 the
Rev. John Gruhler resigned, as mi-sionary, but was followed
in the same year by the Rev. John Nicum. The Rev. Nlcum was
therefore the first pastor loci this congiegation had, and re-
mained such until the year 1878, wben he resigned. From this
time on, for a period of four years, this people were irregularly
supplied with services by ministers residing at Mahanoy City,
and Schuylkill Haven. But notwithstanding this fact the con-
gregation and Sunday School continued to grow. In the year
1882 they called, as their pastor, I he Rev. G. C. H. Haskarl. It
was during this year that the parsonage on the east side of
South Balliet street was purchased. After serving this people for
about two years, the Rev. Haskarl resigned in 1884, which agam
left this flock without a shepherd. The Rev. W. C. L. Lauer
became pastor ia 1885, and served this people faithfully for four
years, resigning in 1889. They were then without a pastor uniil
the 30th day of November. 1890, when the Rev. H. T. Clymer.
the present incumbent, having received and accepted a call,
assumed the duties of this office. In the following year (1891)
the Luther League was organized, which has ever since been
doing most effective work. About this time, or a little later, it
was learned that the church building was beginning to give way,
owing to the fact that some of the timbers near the foundation
had begun to decay. By the early part of 1894 it became very
evident that the present church building must be replaced by a
new o.ie. Hence July 1st, 1894, Henry Haupt and Samuel IVIoyer.
tne contractors, began the work of removing the old building.
50
ZIONS EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
Having piislied (he work very rapidly, th'> corner stone of the
new church was laid on the 19th liay of August. 1894. The pas-
tor. Rev. H. T. Clynier. was assisted on this occasion by the
Revs. John Gruhler. J. H. Uml)enhen. and D. Sanner. It was
not. however, dedicated until October 20th. 1895. The ministers
present at these services were, the i)astor. Rev. H. T. Clymer,
and Revs. F. J. F. Shautz. .John Gruhler. and H. A. Weller. This
(hurcli was (>rectcd at a cost of five thousand dollars. The
Rev. H. T. Clymer
only ini|)rovenu'nt since made was l.lie replacing of the old bell
by a lai-ger and bettei- toned one.
During all liiese years this congr(>gation continued to grow
until its present communicant membership numbers no less than
two liu;idred. There are still three sermons delivereed each
iHonili ill I he German language. lis ])resent officers are: Rev.
II. T. CIvMiei-, Pastor: C. C. Wagiiei. {'resident: H. K. Reich,
S.^ereiary; F. .\. 1 )i.'l lidi, Treasurei-: and A. S. S(>aman, C. C.
Wagner, and IbMiy Crabe.N', Trustees. In (be meantime the
ZION'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
Sunday School has been keeping steady pace with the growth of
the congregation. The Sunday School, at present, numbers one
hundred and seventy-five sc-holars. The officers at the present
time are as follows: Rev. H. T. Clvmer. Superintendent; C. C.
Wagner, Assistant Superintendent; H. A. Wagner, Secretary;
and Caroline Wagner, Treasurer.
3— TRINITY UNITED EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
Another important institution in the borough of Frackville
is the United Evangelical Church. This denomination has its
Rev. W. J. Scheifley
origin from a movement made by Jacob Albright abotit the year
1796. Albright was originally a member of the Lutheran
church, but later identified himself with the Methodist Episcopal
church. In the year 1796 he began preaching, and in 1803 his
followers ordained him to the office of the ministry. But as the
Methodist Episcopal church made no effort among the German
speaking people, and his lal)ors were confined exclusively to this
particularly class, they banded together and constituted them-
52 TRINITY UNITED EVANGELICAL CHURCH
selves a separate .lenomination. In ISO? they elected Jacob
Albright their first Bislioi). and ilnis sailed foi-th into the world
as a separate and independent denomination. They were first
known as the "Albright People," but a few years after his death,
which ()(■( urred in 1808. they adopt/^d the name of "Evangelisciie
Gemeinschaft vo,i Nord Ani(M'ika." the '•Evangelical Association
of North America." As tlieir labors were at first exclusively
among the Germans, they are sometimes popularly called the
"German Methodists." Their first general conference was held
in Union County. Pennsylvania, in 1816. But in later years they
began wuikin« among tlie English speaking people, and since
that time their growth has been very rapid, so that there Is
scarcely a hamlet within the limits of this, and many other
states, in wiiich they are not represented either by an English
or German congregation, or l)oth. And their influence for good
is felt in every community in which they are represented.
'Just when this Christian denomination first began holding
services in the borough of Frackville we could find no record.
It was. however, in the spring of 1874, that the Trinity United
Evangelical Congregation was organized with six members, by
tlie Rev. G. H. Laury. At this time the above name was adopted
l)y whicli this church has ever since been known in this com-
munity. The first Trustees elected were: William Antrim, John
Kaley. Jacob Lethler, Aaron Bei'. Daniels, and W. T. Rosier.
About this time, the spring of 1874, they bought the frame church
of the Methodists, on the west side of north Balliet Street. It
was during the sumuKM- of 1S74 tliai the Sunday School was or-
ganized witli eighty members. As this is one of the denomina-
tions wliicli practices the itinerant system, the change of pastor
is more frequent than it would otherwise be. Hence we shall
here give the names and dates of the changes of pastor.
Rev. G. H. Laury, from Marcii, 1874, to March. 187(;.
Rev. .]. X. Metzger. from Marcii. 187(i, to March, 1879.
Rev. L. N. Worman, fiom Marcr\. 1879, to March. 1882.
Rev. .]. \{. Heusyl, from Marcii. 1882. to March. 1884.
Rev. N. A. Ban-, from March, 1S84. to March, 188r>.
Rev. J. M. Loiigsdorf, from March, 1885, to March, 1888.
Rev. Stephen iJuntz. from March. 1888. to March, 1889.
Rev. ]•'. 1). (!( ry, from March. I ss;t. lo Mai-ch. 18!»(i.
Rev. !•:. 11. UdMiig, fi-oni March. l,S!t(). to Marcii. 18ii;5.
R^-v. W. 11. Scliuler. from Marcii, I8:(;!. to Marcii. 1895.
R'V. .1. C. lUiughtei-. troni Marcii 1895, to March. 1899.
TRINITY UNITED EVANGELICAL CHURCH 53
Rev. W. J. Scheifly. from March. 1899, to March, 1903.
Rev. S. W. Cooper, from March, 1903. to —
In the year 1885 the Ladies" Aid Society of this congregation
was organized, nnder the pastorate of Rev. J. M. Longsdorf. The
church building was remodeled in 1888, at a cost of three hun-
dred and sixty dollars. The Senior Keystone League of the So-
ciety of Christian Endeavor was organized in the month of April,
1890. In the spring of 1901 the congregation bought the lot
adjoining their present property on the north, from Mrs. Con-
well, upon which to erect a new church. During the month of
May, of this year, the .lunior Keystone League of the Society nf
Christian Endeavor was organized. The erection of a new
church having been agreed upon, the following persons were
appointed the building committee: Rev. W. J. Scheifly, G. \V.
Sebold, C. Berger. J. .1. Kehler, Harry Berkheiser, Harry Speidel
and A. Kurtz. The contract for the new church building,
which was to be brick, was awarded to D. M. Fruhafer.
Ground was first broken in July 1901. The foundation having
been completed the corner stone was laid September 22nd, 1901.
Besides the pastor. Rev. W. J. Scheifly. those present on this
occasion were the Revs. A. W. Warfel and D. F. Kreidler. The
sermon was preached by the Rev. A. W. Warfel. In about four
and one-half months after the laying of the corner stone the
church was completed. The new church was. therefore, dedi-
cated on the 9th day of February, 1902. This joyful occasion was
participated in by Bishop W. M. Stanford and the pastor. Rev.
W. J. Scheifly. Bishop Stanford preached the sermon. This
beautiful and substantial church, as it now stands, was erected
at a cost of nine thousand dollars. But besides this the frame
building, which formerly occupied this lot, was moved to the
rear of the old church building anti so remodeled as to make
a very cosy and comfortable dwelling; and a beautiful cement
pavement was put down the whole length of the south side of
the new church, all at an additional cost of seven hundred dol-
lars. It is further contemplated to convert the old chui-ch inro
a parsonage during the coming summer.
During the twenty-nine years of its existence this congrega-
tion has grown from six to one hundred and fifteen members. Its
present Trustees being: .]. .1. Kehler, President; Hariy D. Berk-
heiser, Vice President; .lohn W. Krecker, Secretary; William .1.
Miller, Treasurer; and F. S. Herb. The class leaders nre: F. S.
Herb, Richard Moll. J. .J. Kehler, and Harry Speidel. At the
54 TRINITY UNITED EVANGELICAL CHURCH
Kame time the Sunday School lui 1 srowu from eighty to one
hundred and eighty members, with the following as its present
Trinity United Evangelical Church
om'tTs: .1. .1. Krlilii. Su|i.i-inlcMidiiil ; !•'. S.
Supciinlcndtiii : Hairy l!ci kiids t. Si'crcliii'y
Treastirer; and iiia M, Milli-r, Organist,
lli'i-h. Assistant
.lolm Kreeker.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 55
4— METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
One of the strongest and most influential factors at work in
the United States is what is known as Methodism. It derives its
origin from that great religious movement inaugurated in Eng-
land by .John and Chaides Wesley. It was already while thPse
joung men were students at the University of Oxford, that be-
ciiuse of the regularity of their nabits of study and mode of life,
they were jestingly called Methodis^ts. The influence of this
movement was. however, neither stationary, nor temporary, but
.spread like wildfire, the momentum of which is felt to this dav.
The fiv'it to come to America, who had been brought under its
influence, were a number of German refuge??, who left th9ir
lish heme In the Palatines of Court Mattress, Kiiliheen. and
IJr.lIigariane, and landed in the city of New York on the 10th day
Oi August, 1760. Among them was Philip Embury, a class-
leader, and local preacher. The first MethtKlist service was held
in Embury's house, he h.mself being the preacher, in 1766. In
1770 a site on John Street, New York, was purchased, upon
which the first Methodist Churcli in America was erected.
Embury formed a class of seven in the city of Philadelphia in
1767. and in 1770 built St. George's Methodist church. It wa.-;
in this 'hurch that the first conference was held, on the 1 Ith
day of .July, 177.3, there being ten members present. In 17S4
Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Vasey weie ordained Elders,
ard Tnomas Coke, a presbyter of the Church of England, was
set apart as the Bishop. These men arrived in New York No-
vember 3rd, 1784. At a conference held in the City of Balti-
more, December 24th. 1784. the Methodist Episcopal Church was
formed by the appointment of Coke and Embury as its first Bish-
ops. Frcm this time on the growth of this church has perhaps
exceeded that of any of the other denominations. This large
and influental denomination has a faithful representation in
this community.
C. Jj. Chilso.i, formerly of Mahanoy Plane, was the first res-
ident Metnodir-t of this place. Through his influence a lot, on
the west side of North Balliet stieet, was donated by Daniel
Frack. upon which a frame chureh building was afterwards
erected. But having passed through many vicissitudes, owin,.?
to the smallness of their membership, the i)roperty was finally
sold to the Evajgelical people. From this time on Methodism,
in Frackville, existed foi- a few years only in a dormant condj-
56 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
lion. Bill iliiougli till" earnest zeal and consecrated devotion of
C. L. Chilson. the spark of Methodism, which had been smolder-
ing for a auaiber of years, was. In the year 1881, again fanned
into a glowing flame. The year 1881 is, therefore, the starting
point of the permanent establishment of Methodism in the l)or-
ough of Frackvillc, Tlic congregation at once assumed a more
stable and pcrma.unt aspect. It was early in the spring of
this year that the Rev. W. W. Wisegarver was placed in charge
of this work, who at once appointed the following persons the
first l)()ar(l of Iruslees: C^ L. Chils<jn. Thomas T. Vaughn, Wil-
liam .lames, Richard .Morgan, .lohn E. Weiderhold, Morgan I..
Griffiths 'and S. H. ls.upp. Having in the meantime purchased
the lot on the east side of South Balliet street, they at oine
began the erection of a new church building, at a cost of up-
wards of one thousand doilars. The church was completed aid
dedicated in the fall of 1881. Bishop Matthew Simpson and Pro-
siding Elder Dr. William Swindells preached tlie sermons o;i
this occasion. The Sunday School, which, up to this time,
seenu'd ahuosi a Ijurden to its own existence, revived and took
upon itself new life. In view of the great achievements of this
year as compared to those of the past this was indeed a season
of great rejoicing for Methodism i'l Frackville. From this time
forth the congregation was regularly supplied with the following
pastors: Revs. W. W. Wisegai-ver. T. T. Mutchler. .lohn Mc-
Quaid. A. M. Vivian, .lames Sampf;on. R. C. Wood, E::;w;ird
Townsend. .1. .1. .To.ies, S. C. Carter, C. E. Radcliff, Ephraim
Potts. David Lord and the i)resev.t incumbent. H. .J. Illick.
During all these years the various j^astors wi>re well supported
not only by their official lloard, bni also l)y llic Ladies' Aid So-
ciety. Epworth League. .Junior l']pwortli League, Siuiday School
and all the individual nu'mlxMs. So rapidly had Ibis ( o i-
gregation grown that in the s])ring of 1!M»1. under the leaderhij)
of Rev. David Lord, it became uec essar.\- to remodel and en-
large the old cluiich liuildiu.g. Tlu' followiu.n hiiildi,ig eomiuil
tee was accordingly appointed at lii.n tini": V. K. Harris, Cliarl 's
Purnell, William Purnell, ('. M. Philips, Thomas T. Vaughn,
Henry Dingle, Charles Lawicnec, I'^tank Mieck, E.lward Hincks,
Samuel Uerrett, Henry Pearce. William Oaks. I)a\i(l Ta.ggait. 1\I.
D.. .loseph fJough and th(> pastor. Ki v. David Lord. .As t'ne (on-
gregation owned the lot on the noitheasi corner of Halliet and
Oak streets it was decidrd ilial wiiile tiu'v were remodeling and
enlarging tli<' ehiMcb, tlie,\ u(iiil(l al lb<' sanie lime build a
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
parsonage, and thus save the rent they were paying for a
house. But to do all this would incur an expense of about five
thousand dollars. And with a heroism that rarely finds dn
equal they set about raising the necessary funds. Sunday,
May 26th, 1901, stands out prominently as the "Red Letter Day"
in the history of this congregation. This is due to the fact
that on this day the pastor. Rev. David Lord, assisted by the
Rev. James Sampson and J. W. Powell, raised three thousand,
seven hundred and sixty-nine dollars and fifty cents. This was
accomplished by the issuing of bonds of the value of thirty-six
dollars ea.ch. which were to be redeemed, with interest, within
three years from date of sale. These bonds were sold to indi-
viduals, Sunday School classes. Ladies Aid Society, Epworth
League, &c., to the above amount. And the work of remodeling
and enlarging the church was at opc<^ begun. In the meantime
the services of the congregation were held in the Park Theatre.
On the 13th day of October, 1901, the cornerstone was laid. The
pastor was assisted in these services by the Revs. J. SwindeiL:,
H. H. Kinney and O. E. Stogden. The work having been com-
pleted, the church was rededicated January 12th, 1902. This re-
modeling a.id enlarging of the church was done at a c(;st of up-
wards of four thousand dollars. Immediately upon the comple-
tion of the church, work was begun on the parsonage. But be-
fore its .completion a change of pastors took place, the Rev.
David Lord being succeeded by the Rev. H. J. Illick. The par-
sonage was, however, leady to be occupied in the early part
of the summer of 1902. This beautiful and comfortable building
was erected at a cost of about one thousand, five hundred dol-
lars. This congregation, therefore, owns property that is to-
day worth about eight thousand, five hundred dollars. The pres-
ent board of trustees is composed of the following members-
C. B. Philips, Thomas T. Vaughn. C. E. Harris, Henry Di.igle,
Edward Hinks, Samuel Berrett, Charles Lawrence, C. C. Reik
and Daniel Philips. But during all these years the congregation
had a healthful and steady growth, so that its membership to-
day numbers one hundred and' thirty, with a Sunday School of one
hundi'ed and sixty-nine.
5— THE CHURCH OF GOD.
We next come to consider whav is known as "The Church
of Go<l." This denominatif)n had its beginning i:r a movement
inaugurated by Rev. John Winebrenner, a German Reformed
58 THE CHURCH OF GOD
minister, in the year 1820. Hence these people are sometimes
called Winebrennerians. Rev. Winebrenner was at this rime
pastor of four Reformed congregations, oin' of which was locat-
ed in Harrisbiirg. Pa. A series of revivals were, at this time.
inaugurated in his congregations, which excited consideraljlc
opposition on the part of the church to which he was amen'dble.
In 1825 he and liis followers separated from th(> ReforuK^l
Church. Bui it was not until the yehr 1829 that the first congre-
gation called "The Church of God" was organized. The fir^^t
Conference, or Annual Eldership, was held the following yea;-,
1831*. at which the distinguishing tenets of this newly formed
denomination were clearly set forth. As the church grew, there
finally came into existence a General, or Triennal, Eldersiii)),
which meets every three years. This body, as the name imijlies.
represents the entire church, and is the highest judicial and
legislative authority. It has control of the denominational ac-
tivities and benevolences of the churc-h. Its ministers are desig-
nated as Elders. The doctrines to which "The Church of God"
ad'heres are: those which are popularly k lown as i)nrely ev.in-
gelical. They emphasize the three ordinances, Baptism, th.-
Ixjrd's Supper, and feet-washing, as being perpetual and essenti il
to the Christian life. Although "The Church of God" is one
among the smaller denominations, yet it is steadily growinoj.
and its influence for good is felt in every community in which
it is located. In not a few of our cities do we find lar..?e and
imposing churches.
The first serviiCe held in Frackville by llii.s Christian p<'oph'
was in the month of December, 1897. This service was li(>ld by
Rev. .1. M. Fahl, of Auburn, in Kehler's hall. On the 2nd day oC
April, 1898, the congregation was organized with (deven meml)e;s.
The first officers were: Rev. .1. M. Fahl. pastor: KraiiKliu .b)n''...
Elder; Charles Fetherolf and Franklin Mengel. Deacons; Frank-
lin Fetherolf, Francis Mengel. and Franklin .lones. Trustees;
George Stein, Secretaiy: Francis Mengel. Trt>asurer. il'aving
purchased a lot, lifty l)y one li'inlred and lifly feci, rroni tli'
Frack estate, on South Balliet Street, tiiey first broke gionnil
on Labor Day. r.Hil. Tlie corner stone was laid on 0( tol)(>r Sih.
1901, when Ibc I{<>v. M. A. Zyner pleached the siMinon. Having
about c()iii|)lc'ir(| lilt' ni'W Imildin^. the rnr.iiture was nuived I'roui
Kehler's hall into liie church. December r>ih. jliuj . Thi'ee days
later, oi' on the- siii. i|ic ili'diciitioii took i)lace. when ihe sormoti
THE CHURCH OF GOD 59
was preached by Rev. J. M. Fahl. This church was built at a
cost of about one thousand seven hundred dollars.
The Sunday School was organized February 28th. 1898. witii
twenty-six members. The first officers were: .John Mengel, Su-
perintendent: Charles Mengel, Secretary: and Francis Mengel,
Treasurer. There are at present thirty-five members in the
school with the following as its officers: Robert H. Mengel,
Superintendent; Riley Hopple, Secretary; D'aniel Mengel. Treas-
urer; Ivy Mengel. Librarian; and Oscar Christ. Organist.
The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was or-
ganized April 2nd. 1898, with the following officers: Robert H.
Mengel. President; Charles Fetherolf. Vice President: Mrs. Al-
fred Behney, Secretary; Mrs. Frances Mengel. Corresponding
Secretary; Mrs. Franklin Fetherolf, Treasurer; and Lizzie Beh-
ney, Organist. At the time of organization there were thirteen
members, while at present there are seventeen, with the follow-
ing 'as its officers: Oscar Christ, President; Richard Kaup, Vice
President; Robert H. Mengel, Secretary; Mrs. Franklin Fether-
olf. Treasurer; and Robert H. Mengel, Organist.
This congregation has at present a membership of twenty,
with the following as its officers: Rev. J. M. Fahl, of Auburn;
and Rev. William Gangloff. of McKeansburg. Pastors; Robert
H. Mengel 'and David Christ. Elders; Oscar Christ and Daniel
Mengel. Deacons; Robert H. Mengel, Secretary; David Christ.
Treasurer; and David Christ. Robert Mengel. Francis Mengel,
Franklin Fetherolf. Samuel Morgan, Trustees.
6— ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The Roman Catholic Church, popularly so called, is a branch
of the one Holy. Catholic and Apostolic church, that can trace
its lineage bac'K to the days of the Apostles. The correct and
full title of this Christian body is "The Holy. Catholic, Apostolic,
and Roman Church." Its most distinguishing characterstic is its
recognition of the Pope of Rome as the divinely appointed head
of the church on earth. Her history is rich, most interesting and
remarkable. She stretches in unbroken succession back to, and
beyond the palmy days of heathen Rome, has outlived all the
governments of Europe and will live when Macaulay's New
Zealander. "in the midst of a vast solitude, shall take his stand
on a broken arch of London Bri;lge to sketch the ruins of St.
Paul's." Nor has any other church ever exercised greater in-
fliienfp over the masses than. Romanism. No sooner bad the
60
ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
mays of emigration tiiratd toward America, than the Dioceses of
Seville and Rouen were enlarged, so as to bring within their
jurisdiction this newly discovered continent. All the Spanis.i
Colonial settlements were placed ui-der the spiritual supervision
of the Archbishops of Seville, and continued so tintil 1513 and
Tlie Rev. Fattier J. A. Hogan
1519, when ilir suffragan Sf;s of Santo Doiniigo and Tlascala
were respectively created. A little later Florida, and Spanis^i
Louisiana, came und«'r I lie conlrol of the Hisho)) of Santiago do
Cuba, where they rfuiaiurd uuiii the cicat ion of ilie See of
Havana in 17S7. And from ihc y.ar HhI until ITSU all the
ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 61
French settlements from Maine on the north, to Louisiana on
the south, were under the supervision of Bishop Laval of Quebec.
While the British colonies were sub.iect to the English Vicars
until 1784, when Dr. Carrol was made Prefect Apostolic of the
United States. In 1789 the See of Baltimore was created, when
its jurisdiction extended to the whole of tlie Republic.
During the year 1793 a subdivision of jurisdiction in the
church in the United States began by the placing of Louisiana
and Florida under a separate Bishop. The important Sees of
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Bardstown, Kentucky, were
all erected in the year 1808. And thus Romanism continued ex-
panding, by natural growth as well as by immigration, until
to-day there is not a community, however small, in the United
States, but that is under the jurisdiction of this church.
This Christian body is represented in Frackville by St. .Jo-
seph's Church, located on the east side of Broad Mountain Ave-
nue. St. Joseph's Mission was at first started only as 'a Sunday
School, and was constituted a part of the parish at Mahanny
Plane. But as the Sunday School grew the church membership
increased until fin'ally it was felt that it would be greatly to
the advantage of the people of Frackville to have the services
of the church in their own town. And with this end in view, the
first mass was celebrated in Frackville on the Feast of the As-
sumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August loth, 1893. A
short time after this a meeting of the parishioners was held at
which a committee of five, consisting of J. C. McGinris, R. F.
Fennesy, D. J. Kiefer, Charles Hillenbrand, and John D. Lawlor,
were appointed to wait upon the Archbishop and secure, if pos-
sible, the regular services of the church in Frackville. In the
spring of 1894 the east side school house, having been put up
for s'ale by the school board, was purchased by the committee
for three hundred and ninety dollais. This building was at once
remodeled and converted into a comfortable church, at a cost of
one thousand five hundred dollars. It was not, however, until
in January, 1896. that the untiring efforts of this committee were
crowned with success. At this time the Archbishop "appointed
the Rev. Charles Prendergast. just ordained and commissioned
as Curate, to the Rev. John Loughran, at Mahanoy Plane, in
charge of the work at Frackville. From this time forth, St.
Joseph's Mission was regularly supplied with the services of
the church. In June, 1897, there was a change of Priests at
Mahanoy Plane, the Rev. James A. Hogan succeeding the Rev.
G2
ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
John l.ouK^iraii. Tlu' Rev. Prendergast coiil ininMl as Curate for
a time iki.Iit Fathci' Hotiaii. I)ni was al'tciwards succeeded by
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ST. JOSEPHS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Hogan the building, originally purchased and remodeled by the
committee, became too small to accommodate the ever increasing
membership, therefore an addition of thirty feet in length and
twenty-six in width was erected to the building, with a gallery
for the use of the choir. Hence the church at present is ninecy
feet deep by twenty-six in width, standing upon a lot fifty by
one hundred and fifty feet.
The Sunday School was organized in the old public school
house the first Sunday in Advent, 1870. Here they continued
their sessions until a number of years later, when Houghton's
Hall was rented and used for a time. The first superintendent
was James Cowan. In September, 1883, John C. McGinnis was
•appointed to that oflfice. and has continued to serve in that ca-
pacity to the present time. The school numbers to-day one
hundred and twenty-one children and sixteen officers and teach-
ers.
The Rosary and Altar Society was organized during the
month of Janu'ary, 1896. with Bernard Leddy, Prefect, and John
D. Lawlor, Secretary, and had a memtoership of forty-nve. Tiii;-;
society has grown so that at the present time it has a member-
ship of one hundred and fifty-six. with Miss Mary Huth as Pre-
fect, and .John C. McGinnis. Secretary.
Thus St. Joseph's Mission, under the spiritual supervision of
Father Hogan. a])ly assisted by Father Dooley, has increased so
that to-day it has a church membership of over six hundred
souls, with a Sunday School of one hundred and thirty-seven, a
Rosary 'and Altar Society numbering one hundred and fifty-six
members.
7— CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The next, and last. Christian body to claim our attention is
Christ Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church in the United
States is a branch of the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church, being
able to trace her history back through England, in unbroken
succession, to the days of Christ and His Apostles. It is a wcdl
authenticated historical fact that Christianity was introduced
into Britian either by St. Paul himself, or one of his disc.iple.s —
Pudens, Linus and Claudia, all of whom were Britons. We find
the British Bishops not only present, but taking a very prominent
and active part, in the great Church Councils of Aries, A. D. 314,
Nice. A. D. 325, Arimnum. A. D. 359. Therefore the Christian
Church, with its Apostolic Ministry, Scriptures, Sacraments, and
64 CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Creed, existed in Britain long l)ef<)re tlie coming of St. Augus-
tine, with liis Monies, into the Britisli Isles. But the Church >f
England, being a branch of the Holy Catholic Church, never suf-
fered any foreign influence to completely deprive her of that
rich inheritance bequeathed her by Christ Himself through His
Apostles. One of her chief characteristics has ever been, th'at
when error presents itself she has never yet failed to become,
sooner or later, a protesting church. From this comes the mis-
nomer in the title Protestant Episcopal. Thus the history of the
Church of England rolled on for centuries, in varied sunlig7it and
darkness, until the ascension of King Henry VIII. to the throne,
when simony, bribery, false teaching, luxurious living, and greed
of temporal power, had become so cumulative that the Godly
and more spiritual element, iu'dnding Archbishops, Bishops.
Priests, Deacons, and Laity, arose as one body in protestation
against these inro'ads of evil. Hence the Reformation was not
brought about, as some suppose, by King He'.iry VIII. The move-
ment of the Reformation was so strong that it carried him along
with it. at first evidently against his will. The church, like the
human body when diseased, can best be restored to its normal
condition by curative processes from within. This left the church
of England the same after the Reformation that it was before,
save that it was now purified of the evils that had been accuma-
lating for centuries. Thus under the reign of Kings Htnry VIII.
and Edward VI.. and finally Queen Elizabeth the Church of Eng-
land was restored to her ancient Catholic usages.
The first clergyman of the Church of England known to
visit America was the Rev. Albert de Prato, who arrived at St.
John's, New Foundland, August, 1527. In the ye'ar 1578 the
Rev. Wool fall landed in the county of Warwick's Sound and
celebrated the first English Communion on American soil. The
first Baptism administered in the New World was i)y a Church
of English clergyman to Manteo. an Indian chief, in the colony
of Virginia, in the year 1587. And as early as August, 1(507. the
services of the Church of England were regularly (■(>lebrated by
the Rev. Richard Seymour on the southern coast of Maine, hi
1()40 the first Episcopal church, in the United States, was or-
ganized and hnilt at i'oi-t smouth. New Hampshire, by the Rev.
Richard (Jihson. Wliile in 1682 King's Chapel, Boston, 'and in
Itilt."', Tr'inity Clnnch. New York City, were duly organized. Tluis
the church coniinnr,! to spread until May. 1784. when the first
meeting for oigani/.uiit)ii was held iit New Brunswick, N. J. In
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 65
the meantime the Rev. Samuel Seabury, of Connecticut, was
recommended for the office of Bishop, and was consecrated at
Aberdeen, Scotland, November ith, 1784, by Bishops Kilgour,
Petrie, and Skinners. At the convention held in Philadelphia
during the month of September, 1785, the '"Proposed Book" was
drawn up, and a constitution framed and adopted for the church
henceforth to be known as "The Protestant Episcopal Church."
On the 4th d'ay of February, 1787, the Revs. .William White, D.
D., of Pennsylvania, and Samuel Provost, D. D.. of New York, and
on September 14th, 1790, the Rev. .lames Madison. D. D., of Vir-
ginia, were consecrated Bishops, by the Archbishop of Canter-
buiy. assisted by the Archbishop of York, and the Bishops r)f
Bath, Wells, and Peterborough, in the Chapel of Lambeth Palace,
London. At the triennial convention held in September, 1789,
the present Book of Common Prayer was adopted, and the
church entered fully upon her. career, under the leadership of
Bishop White, who stood the acknowledged head of the church
for a period of forty years.
This is the church of which Chrigt Episcopal Mission.
Frackville, is an integral part. The fiist services were held here
by George Rogers, a Lay Reader, from the Holy Apostles, St.
Clair, in the early part of the year 1876. These services were
held in a small building standing on the lot now owned by Cor-
nelius Caulf, North Nice Street. In the meantime the small
school house on North Nice Stieet was rented, and the first
regular service celebrated, by the Rev. Daniel Washburn, of
Ashland, December 25th, 187(5. It was through the influence oi
Rev. Washburn that the present lot. on the east side of Souih
Balliet Street, was donated to the Mission by Daniel Frack. Sr.,
some time dtiring the year 1877. During this same year the
Mission moved into the school building where the present Hi^h
School now stands. Here they worshipped for a short time,
when the Rev. Mr. Washburn resigned. The small building on
North Nice Street, now occupied by Davis' drug store, was then
rented in which the services were held for about ten years. The
first service was held in this building the latter part of the yenr
1877. by the Rev. H. P. Chapman, of St. Clair, who was then
pieced in charge of the work here. On tne 16th day of May,
1878. this Mission elected .Jcjhn Bateman and William .Jones its
first Wardens, and adopted the name of "Christ Church Mission. '
This Mission, at that time, • numljeied about six communicanls
and about the same number of baptized members. In the early
66
CHRIST EPlSCUl'Al. CHURCH
part of the summer of 1S82. the Rev. ^\r. Cliapniau resigned. In
Noveml)er. of this s'ame year, the Rev. Charles A. Marks, also
of St. Clair, was placed in charge. At this time the members of
the mission l)egan feeling the necessity of having a home of
their own. Hence in the month of neccnil)er, 188(5, they began
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the erection of a small < liiir<'ii huil.liiif;. iwcnty l)y forty fi'ct, on
the lot secured by Rev. Washburn, al a cosl of about one thous-
and doUai-s. This building was completed I he latter part ()f
February. 1SS7. While this church was being i)uili. services were
h.-lii ill 11:.- hoMif of Robert C. lliMil. and Mrs. W. S. Sanner.
Tli»' uiH-ning services wir lu'id .Mar( ii I'.ili. INST, when the Risliop
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 67
of the Diocese, the Right Reverend Nelson S. Rulison. D. D., and
the Rev. James F. Powers, D. D.. of Trinity, Pottsville, and the
Rector, the Rev. Marks, were present. The sermon was preach-
ed by the Bishop. Henry Moyer had charge of the work as con-
tractor. In .June, 1896, the Rev. Mr. Marks resigned, and the
Rev. Paris B. Stauffer. his successor, took charge .July of the same
year. The Mission had by this time grown to such an extent
that an enlargement of the building became necessary. It was
decided that the addition should be a- chancel and sanctuary,
twenty by thirty-two feet, with a vestry ten feet square. The
contract for this work was awarded to Henry Haupt. Work was
begun in the month of January, 1897, and completed the latter
part of the following summer, at a total cost of nine hundred
dollars, including various donations to the amount of three hun-
dred dollars. The first services were held ia the newly enlarged
church, June 27th, 1897, at which services the Missionary, the
Rev. Stauffer, was assisted by the Rev. James F. Powers. D. D..
the Rev. James B. May, and the Rev. Otho Brant. D. D. In
March, 1890, the Rev. Paris B. Stauffer resigned as Missionary
whereupon the Bishop of the Diocese, the Right Reverend Ethel-
bert Talbot, D. D., L. L. D., appointed Richard Whitehouse. a
student in the Theological Seminary, New York City, in charge.
Mr. Whitehouse began his work June, 1899, and continued for
three months, when he again returned to his studies. Upon Mr.
Whitehouse's leaving, the Rev. Otho Brant. D. D., of Mahanoy
City, supplied this people with services until the prese.it incum-
bent, the Rev. Jonathan W. Miller, assumed charge, by appoint-
ment of the Bishop, November 1st. li'99. The Rev. Miller was the
first Rector loci Christ Church had.
The Sunday School was orgarized about the year 1S76.
with twelve members, Joh.i Bateman being the first Superin-
tendent. A society of "The King's Daughters " was organized
in the e'aily history of this Mission, which was very active. It
was this society that purchased th ? present church organ. But
as '-The King's Daughters" is not an integral part of the Epis-
copal church, it was on the 3rd day of April, 1891. reorganized
into a Woman's Auxiliary. The first officers were: Mrs. W. 3.
S'anner, President; and Mrs. Louise Nice, Secretary. On January
8th, 1900, the Rector appointed the first Vestry Christ Church
ever had, which was composed of the following persons: Norman
L. Ranck. Senior Warden; Robert C. Haupt, Junior Warden;
Clever M. Tiley, Secretary"; George Fertig, Treasurer: John
(iS CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Haupt. Samuel Williams. Owen Lawrence. .John Eckersley, and
Albert H. Berdaiiier, Vestr.vmen. The Parish Guild was organ-
ized January 6th, 1902. with the following officers: President.
John Richards: Secretary. Mrs. .John Richards: and Treasurer,
Mrs. John Haupt.
During these years Christ Churcli Mission has grown from
six communicants, and the same number of baptized members,
to seventy-eight communicants, with sixty-eight baptized mem-
bers, notwithstanding the many removals which the church has
suffered. The present officers are: Jonathan W. Miller. Rector :
Norman L. Ranck. Senior Warden: John E. Beddow. Junior
Warden: Daniel H. Frack. Secretary: and M(iss Elizabeth Scotr,
Treasurer. There is an Altar Gu'ld composed of Misses Eliza-
beth Scott. Edna P. Miller, and Katharine Sanner. The Cross-
bearer is Walter H. Pierce. While the Sund'ay School officers
are: Norman L. Ranck, Superintendent; Miss Elizabeth Scott.
Secretary; and Mrs. Thomas Beddow, Treasurer.
CHAPTER VII,
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Among all the institutions of this great Republic of ours,
the Free Public School System stands next to the Christian
Church in value and importance. In an enlightened age like ours
it is unnecessary to argue the fact, ?o universally acknowledged,
that the very nature of man make's him susceptible to the slight-
est impressions. These impressions are constantly made upon
him from a three-fold standpoint, physical, intellectual, and ethi-
cal. And as this threefold natur(> in man is at no time so sensi-
tive, and the iniijrcssions made so lasting, as in infant y and
childhood. llicr(f()i(' Hie importance of an fdu'cation, d\uing this
formative period of life, that grows out of the True, the Beauti-
ful, and the Oood. The (ulucation that fails to recognize and
sui)i)]y. the demand of ihis threefol.l nature of human life will
hui end i.i the most disastrous l\ulrre. Hence wiiat tlic nature
of all the accumulated forces of matured life is, depends uj)on
the kind of education each particular person received. An edu-
cation, ill \\\i' liighesi sense, is not, therefore, a cramming of
tile human inieljcci with the greatest possible number of facts.
A walking encyclopedi,! ina,\ he ilie very acme <if a fool, the
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 69
worst devil in the community, a being of the basest type. While
a true education ever holds before itself, as the crowning glory
of all its attainments, the unfolding of the highest manhood and
womanhood ii its threefold aspect of body, mind, and spirit.
That this is the underlying principle of the entire public school
system is evident from the fact that not only the laws of physical
health are studied, but in many schools practiced, while at the
same time the intellect is being filled with useful knowledge.
and along with this the ethical side of human lift' 1? also re-
ceiving its proportionate attention. The hope of our future
Iiomes, nation, and church, depend upon the education the chil-
dren of to-day are receiving. So that education becomes a matter
of Interest not only to parents, but to the public in general. As
soon, therefore, as a community is established in waich there are
children the public interest is at once enlisted in providing the
best possible means for their education. Scarcely had the fir.st
settlers been more than located in t.iis community when a
movement was set on foot that has since developed into a sys-
tem of Public Schools that is not sui passed by any borough, ()f
equal size, in the State of Pennsylvania.
The first school started, in what is now the borough ot
Frackville, was in the fall of 1861. It was held in a small build-
ing standing on the back pait of the lot, now occupied by Cor-
nelius Caulfe. at the north end of Nice Street. There w-ere at
that time but nine pupils, who were taught by Miss Sallie Gil-
bert. Early in the spring of 18<i2 Samuel Haupt. one of the
pioneers of this community, donated a lot. on the east side of
North Nice Street, to the school beard of Mahanoy Township, of
which the present borough was yet a part, for school purposes.
Upon this lot the Board at once began the erection of the first
frame school building, and which was completed and ready for
occupancy in the early fall of the same summer, 1862. Hence
in the fall of 1862 the public school opened its session in the first
building of its own in this community. In the year 1868 the lot.
one bundled by one hundred and fifty feet, on Frack Street,
where the high school building now stands, was purchased by
the school board from John Hadesty. A two-story, four-roomed,
frame building was erected upon Ihi? lot. At its completion this
community had two public school buildings, of its own, with a
total of five rooms. During this time the number of children had
increased to such an extent that ir was deemed necessary to
grade the schools. Jn 1870 the number' of i)upils lia<l already in-
70
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
creased to seventy-four, and hence were divided into tliree
grades. The teachers at this time were W. W. Wood, Ella Kaup.
and Emma Jonts. On the incorjxjration of the village into a
borough, in the year 187t), W. W. Wood was elected the first
Principal ot" t.ir ]Mihlic schools, ami served fi-om .inly 1st, 1876,
Prof. I. G. Miller. Principle
until .\ugusi 2:',r,l. issd. Duriii.i; ilie e:ii-l.\ spi'in.L; of ISTlt the
Board purchased, from Daniel Frack, the lol on llie east side' of
Broad Mountain Avenue, at present the i)roperty of the Roma i
Catholic Chur( h. ui)on which the first school iiousi' was i>rected,
on ilie east side of tiie borough, in the .siinuner of 1879. This
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 71
building was used for school purposes from the fall of 1879 until
the year 1893, when it was bought by the Romans and converted
into a church. By the year 1880 the number of pupils in the
borough hart grown to three hundred and eleven, hence it be-
came necessary to increase the number of grades from three to
five, with an equal number of teachers. The term of W. W.
Wood, as Principal, having expired o;i the 23rd day of August.
1880, S. Shipman was elected his successor, and served until
June 26th, 1882. The first Board of Directors, of which we could
find any record, was in the year 1881, and was composed of the
following members: Thomas Beddow, Thomas Philips. William
Clifford. — Beatty, .John Eckersley. and — Taylor. S. Ship-
man's term, as Principal, haviag expired on June 26th. 1882. and
H. H. Browamiller having been elected, served in that capacity
\mtil the 17th day of June. 1886.
During the following four years, from 1882 to 1886. the
number of pupils within the borough had again outgrown the
possibilities of the public school buildings. Hence it was decid-
ed, by the Board, to remove the two story frame structure on
the southeast corner of Frack and Balliet Streets, and erect a
more commodious brick btiilding in its stead. It was. therefore,
in 1886, that the Board, composed of Dav'd laggart, M. D.. Harry
Evans. A. A. Seaman. William Wagner. Thomas Philips, and
— Cowan, gave the contract for the erection of the preseit
seven roomed high school building to Messrs. Call and Garst,
of Reading. This commodious an] well equipped building was
completed and occupied the following year. 1887. at a cost of
eleven thousand one hundred and fifteen dollars. The borough
now owned three ptiblic school buildings, with a capacity of nine
rooms. At this time H. D. Gise. a graduate of Millersville State
Normfal, b3'Came Principal and served from June 17th. 1886.
to May 17th, 1888. He was succeeded in office by I. K. Witmer,
also a State Normal School graduate, whose term expired on the
9th day of June. 1893. The year previous, or in 1892. the Board
purchased the lot, one hundred bv one hundred and fifty feet,
on the southwest corner of Frack Street, and Broad Mountain
Avenue, from Hadesty and Parfit. Upon this lot a two story.
four roomed, frame building was erected the summer of 1893.
The Board at this time was composed of C. A. Bleiler, M. D.,
Henry Dingle. Evan Thomas. Simon Moore. Richard Morgan, and
H. D. Berkheiser. The contract fo,- the erection of this building
was given to P. J. O'Neil, })ut failing to carry out his part of^ the
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
r
High School Huiliiiiit;
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 73
agreement it was completed by the Board at a cost of six
thousand eight hundred and thirty-four dollars. In the meantime
the Board offered the original school property, on Broad Moun-
tain Avenue, for sale, which was purchased by the Roman Cath-
olic Ch\irch. This gave the borough three school propertie;^,
the High School, the East Side Building, and the one on Nice
Street, with a sum total of twelve rooms. I. K. Witmer, having
about completed his term as Principal, the present incumbent,
I. G. Miller. M. A., Ph. B.. a graduate of both Kutztown and
Millersville State Normal Schools, and also the classical de-
partment of Wesleyan University, was elected and has served
from the 9th day of .June, 1893, to the present time.
During all these years, up to the present, 1904. the internal
has been keeping steady pace with the external growth. The
standard of education has been gradually raised until to-day the
average graduate of the High School can easily enter the senior
class of any of the best Normal Schools in the state, and from
which he can leceive his diploma at the end of the year. For
the past eight years no less than fifteen of our High Scho'd
graduates have entered the senior class of one of the different
Normal Schools in the state. And out of that number not one
failed to giaduate fom that institution at the end: of their firs:,
year. Besides these, five entered college, one the Sophomore
and four the Freshman class, and did credit to themselves and
the Public Schools of Frackville. At the present time, 1904.
the borough of Frackville owns three public school propertie;;.
•whose combined value is about' twenty-one thousand four hun-
dred and eighty-four dollars. These three buildings combin"d
contain twelve large and well equij>ped rooms in which twelve
teachers are engaged for nine months each year educating six
hundred and forty-seven children. A library, of about five h'ln-
dred volumes, is maintained by the High School for the use of
its members, which is being gradually increased each year. The
following are the present teachers;
Prof. I. G. Miiller, M. A.. Ph. B.. Principal.
Miss M. Nettie Ranck, Assistant in High School.
Miss Lillian G. Beard, Grammar Shool.
William R. Troutman, Giammar School.
Miss Minnie D. Oakes, Sub Gr;.mmar. ' '•.
Miss Bailjai'a A. Leiser, Sul) Gi ammar, ,''
Miss Annie V. Curry, Secondary. „
Miss Jane Dingle, Secondary.
74 THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Miss A. Renie Moyer. Secondary-
Miss Minnie I-^dwaids. Primary.
Miss Lizzie Penna. Piiniary.
Miss liettie D. Clark. Primary.
Miss Ethel Morgan, Substitiuc Toaclicr.
This entire institution is nndor t.ic ilircction and supervision
of the following Board of Directors: Alex. Scott, President;
Manrice H(\v\vood, Secretary: Henry Dingle. Edward Davis. Evan
Thomas, and Edward Hanks.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE BOARD O'r TRADE.
A boroiigh or city is an organized conimnnii ;•, covering a
definite amount of territory, within the limits of which there
are a greater or less number of irdividuals and families. And
generally speaking no such community jjossesses the natural
resources of support for its ever iiicrea:d.ig number of citizens.
Therefore it becomes the duty of every such coma: unity to pro-
vide, if possible, some industry which will give to its wage earn-
ing citizens profitable employment. But as this is a matter which
touches the welfare of the coinmi:nity as a whole, and on'y
effects the individual as it reaches him through the community,
the responsibility of securing and. at least in a degree, controll-
ing such industries rests with th'^ community. For numerous
reasons, however, which must be ; vident to all. it would be
impossible for any community, iis a whole, to act witli any
degree of satisfaction, uijon sucli n^atters. Therefore iliis duty
must be placed upon some person or i)i>rsons. who speak and
act not for themselves, bul for tht^ community. And as the
duties and responsibilities i)t' this work are too great to be
entrusted in iIh' liiiiids of any luit- individual, liowcver capable.
a number of ixuso.is are organized and incorijorated into a body
known as 1he Boa:d of Trade. This organization. th(-re!"ore. hav-
ing legal standing, speaks and acts with authority in ail nuitters
pertaining to the industrial intrri'sts of the (ommuuity, over
which it is given jurisdiction.
A number of thi' cnterprisiii.t; businrss hmii of l''rail\\ill".
r«'alizing the iniiiortancc of having some such intcicsts locati'd
in this c<)niniuuit\, liandcd t linuseivrs logcllicr, some years ago,
THE BOARD OF TRADE 75
for the praiseworthy object of industrially improving the town,
if possible. But as this was an informal Inxly without any legal
standing or authority, they were unable to accomplish anything
more than- to interest the community in the movement. This
body, however, succeeded in increasing the interest to such an
extent that on the evening of June 6th. 1899, a large number of
the business men of the borough met in the store room of
Thomas M. Reed to consider the advisability of regularly organ-
izing a Board of Trade. H. K. Reich was chosen chairman and
Thomas M. Reed. Secretary. After some discussion, it was
agreed to at once enter into such an organization. Whereupon
an election of directors was entered into, which resulted in the
choice of the following persons: F. A. Dietrich, H. K. Reich,
C. A. Bleiler. M. D., A. S. Seaman. W. S. Sanner. Samuel Winn,
Thomas M. Reed. C. B. Philips, W, C. Wagner. C. C. Wagner,
and David Taggart. M. D. The orgauization was then completed
by the directors at once electing the following officers: H. K.
Reich. President; Samuel Winn. Vice President: Thomas M.
Reed. Secretary; and C. C. Wagner, Treasurer. The Treasurer
and Secretary were each required to give bond, the former one
thousand dollars, and the latter three hundred. The capital
stock was fixed at five thousand dollars, to be issued in shares
of five dollars each. It was then decided that the proper office's
secure a charter. In the early part of June. 1899. the Board
purchased a lot, fifty by one hundred and fifty feet, on the Sovuh
West corner of Balliet and Laurel Streets, from A. S. Seaman.
On June 30th, of the same year, the directors entered into a
contract with E. K. Becker, of GirardviUe, for the erection of
a factory building, thirty by forty-five feet, two stories high,
with an addition nine by eighteen feet, one story high. Ai the
same time the following persons were appointed the buildi.ig
committee: C. A. Bleiler, M. D., Thomas M. Reed, F. A. Die-
trich. The charter, which had been applied for, was granted
on the 18th day of July, 1899. During the month of August a
well was sunk, which was partly dug and partly bored, to a
depth of one hundred and four feet, with an abundant supply
of water. On the 18th day of October, 1899, the building was
completed at a total cost of one thousand four hundred dollars.
It was during this same month that the Board leased the building
to Messrs. Sausser and Kern, of Schuyh-.iil Haven, to be used
as a shirt factory. After having fitted it up with the necessary
machinery they, used the building for nearly one year, when
76 THE BOARD 01 TRADE
they sub-leased it to C. F. Dyer, who continued the business only
for a short time, when he left the town. In January, 1901. the
Mtrvi.ie Brothers, of Higins. leased the l)uilding and occupied
it as a shirt factory for Iml i wo UK.nths. F^rom this time forth
until October 1st. 1902. the l)uil(lini; stood idle, when the Fracdv-
ville Shiit Company took i iiarj^e. fitted it up with thirty-five ma-
chines, and have since bee i niniiinu; it to its fi'.ll capjcity. Re-
sides lac ma:i. who is in (diarge of the work, there are at the
picscnt time thirty-four women and girls employed, some of
whom make as much as seven dollars per week. Since the pres-
ent part'e.-^ have taken charge of tht^ ])lant the fului-c otitlook
is mo.^t encouraging. And as it may be the nucleus of still
greater things along this line for Frackviile. it should ri'Ai'.VG
the generous support of tiie community.
CHAPTER IX.
THE MOUNTAIN RESORT ASSOCIATION.
The natural features of tlic localits' iipcn whicli the iiorouuh
of Fra(d\ville stands arc in ninny rt'^jjicts n u(ine. So luucli is
this the case that for some years back traveling men. an,l visi-
tors would speak of the great natural adva.itages Frackviile
possesses for a Mountain Resort. And not a few of the citizens
of the l)oi'ough have, at different times, spoxen and wriitivi u|i;)n
the sni)Ji (1. In the columns of tiif> Schuylkill Valley Industrial
Journal, pui)lished in Pottsville, we find as early as April 17rh,
1880, these words: '"As a summer resort, Frackviile offers ih(^
very best of i)urc air and water, and siiiiatid on tlie to|) of
Broad Mountain, is notably i)leasaiit and pictur./'sque." So tint
the thought is not a fad of soni" recent enthusiast, i)ut one
which the natuial features themselves have ever suggested to
the mind of liiose who are capable of seeing' the bcauiifiil in
the worhl of natuii'. Aiid in or. lei' to ascertain what miglit ho
done along this line, the following citizens assembled in the
store room of Thomas M. i{eed. on ihc evening of March 2Sih.
I:hi(I: \V. S. Sannrr, Daniel (Olini m, F. .\. Dietrich. D. P. Hiu:it.
N. h. HaniK, .\lcx. Scoii, Calvin H. I'hilips. .los 'id' .1. Isclib-r.
John llanpt. A. S. Sramaii. .lohn lOi kersley. F. S. llanpi. I'hailes
I lillanhi and, Tiioinas .M . Reeil, and Rev. .Jonathan W. Miller.
After a lull sialcu)int of llie obj'ci of tl)c micting had be.'U
TH)-: MOUNTAIN RESORT ASSOCIATION
77
made by the Rev. Miller, they at once entered upon an organiza-
tion by the election of W. S. Sanner. President; Thomas M.
Reed, Secretary; and D. P. Haupt. Treasurer. On the evening
of April 30th, 1900, an advertising committee, consisting of Rev.
Jonathan W. Miller, Daniel Coleman, and Robert C. Hunt, was
'■ Hotel Hillanbrand, " Charles Hillanbrand. Proprietor
appointed. An advertisement of fifteen lines was ordered placed
in the Philadelphia Press and the Philadelphia Inquirer, to ap-
pear in the Sunday issues of each of these papers during the
month of May, 1900. One thousand copies of an illustrated,
thirty-two -page booklet, written by Rev. Miller, descriptive of
78 THE MOUNTAIN RESORT ASSOCIATION
Frackville, was published by A. .1. Milliette Co., of Camden. N.
J. On the 13th day of July. 1901. the Rev. .lonathan W. Mider
and Norma.1 L. Ranck secured the lot on the southeast corner
of Frack andi Nice streets, from .Inlm Haujit. foi- a Lawn Tennis
Court. This lot, after being properly graded and marked off
by a number of the young men of the town, was used for that
purpose the remainder of the season. September 14th, 1900,
a number of the ladies of the l)oiough organized themselves
into a Woman's Branch of the Mountain Resort Association, by
the election of Mrs. .1. C. McGinnis. President; Mrs. .1. W. Miller.
Secretary; and Mrs. Charles Hillanbrand. Treasurer. The ladies
of the Woman's Branch of the Mountain Resort Association did
a most efficient and praiseworthy work, both by way of raising
funds to meet the expenses of the Association, and in creatia.g
an interest in this enterprise. Ear'y in the fall of 1900 the Rev.
J. E. .Johnson, of Philadelphia, wrote to the Association, making
inquiry as to the adaptability of Frackville for a Mountain Re
sort. The Rev. Mr. Johnson owned, and successfully conducted,
a resort in the White Mountains, New Hamiishire. for about
twelve years. So successful was he in this particular line of
business, that at the end of this time his patronage had otii-
grown the possibilities of the pla; e. And having an oiiportuiiity
of disi)osing of his property, he sold out, with a view of locating
in the same business, somewhere wiihin easy access of his home
in Philadelphia. Whereupon the Association at once sent him a
cordial invitation to visit Frackville. which he accordingly did
on November 10th. 190(1. Remaining from Saturday until liie
following Tuesday he met the members of the Association on
Monday evening, the 12th. and exi)lained to them both the ad-
vantages and disadvantages Fiatkville would present as a
Mountain Resort. Among the many things which he said w.is.
"that as the advantages far oiitiiiiinl)cr the disadvantages, there
is a bright fiitiir." for Fracdvville, along this line." Having co!i-
cluded his remarks. Rev. .Johnson made the following jiroposi
tion, that he wotdd locate here, build a stimnK r hotel cost! ig
about twenty thousand dollars, put up a iiiiiulici- of small port-
able cottages in different i)laccs on the grounds, and ihni hijjg
his patronage with liim. provided the land could be bought r;r
a very low figui-e. and the same be beautified and kept in ordt r
either by the hoioiigh. or some of Iter citizens. The location
selected, as the nujst suitai)le for the i)ur])ose. was the high
ground above the reservoir west of town. Toward this the land
'rHE MOUNTAIN RESORT ASSOCIATION
?9
owners offered the following inducements: F. S. Haupt agreed
to deed over to Rev. Johnson, and his successors, nine acres. In
X
o
ft
o
a-
3
O
■a
fee simple, to be used only for this purpose, while D. P. Hau;it
offered twenty acres, lying west of this, on the same condition.s.
But between these two tracts lay a bare strip of thirty-three
so
THE MOUNTAIN RESORT ASSOCIATION
acres owned by a Mrs. Harlow, whi.h was offered for six hundred
and sixty dollars. Thus making a total of sixty-two acres, to
be used only for a summer liotel and small cottages, at a cost
of six hundred and sixty dollars, all of which would have been
accepted, and the work i)ushed to completion, had it not been
discovered, at tiic very last moment, that Frackville is not free
from Hay Fi\(i. Hence, so far as the Rev. .1. R. .Johnson was
loiicciiied. all till' hopes of the Association, wi'ought up to the
very verge of realizing soinctlii i.^; ta.igible. wen' dashed to
jjieces. Hut not being dismayed a; (his sud'dcn and unexi)ecte,l
turn of events, the Assoclatioa still havin.g some money in their
THE WATt3R PLANT SI
Treasury, continues intact, ready to aid in any enterprise that
will improve the condition of the borough of Frackville.
CHAPTER X.
THE WATER PLANT.
There is nothing quite so essential to the well-being of a
borough as water. And the purer and more abundant such a
supply is, the better for every citizen, residing in the commun-
ity. This water, in order to serve all the varied demands of the
community, must be brought under such control that it can be
conveyed to where it may be needed, either temporarily or per-
manently. Hence neither springs, streams, wells, nor cisterns,
however pure and abundant the supply may be. will meet all
the demands of a thickly settled community. The only means,
therefore, by which this demand can be satisfactorily met. is by
a well equipped water plant, with an abunclant supply of pure
water, under sufficient pressure to carry it wherever it might
be needed.
On the 1st day of March, 1882. Francis S. and .John Haupt
began the construction of the plant that supplied the borough
of Frackville with water for within a few months of twenty
years. Upon that day ground was broken for the reservoir, on
a tract of land, owned by F. S. Haupt. lying northwest of town,
at an elevation of one hundred and fifty feet above its source
of supply. After the completion of the reservoir the trenches
were dug and the pipe line laid from the reservoir to the Little
Mahanoy Creek on the Haupt farm. There a large pump, wilh
a capacity of three hundred gallons per minute, was located.
From the reservoir a pipe line was extended down John street
to Nice, and down Nice to Pine. This was the limit of con-
struction during the first year, 1882. The first water was pumped
into the reservoir on .July ]st. of this year, and supplied to about
fifty consumers.
Whilst the first intention of F. S. 'and John Haupt. in the con-
struction of this plant, was to supply their own properties with
water, yet it was, at the same time, intended that in case any
other families should desire the water, they would be willing to
meet this demand. This demand had sufficiently increased dur-
ing the following year, that a company was duly organized with
THE WATER FLANt
a capital of twenty thousand dollars, and an application made
to the Governor of the State of Pennsylvania for a charter on
the 24th day of March. 1883. The stockholders, and the nuniher
of shares held by each, were as follows: Francis S. Hanpt. nine
hundred and eighty; John Haupt. five; Samuel R. Haupt, fivi.';
J. J. Kehler, Sr., Proprietor
William Haupt. five; and Henry Haupt. live shares. This or-
Kanization was incorijorated under the name of "The Mountain
City Water Company." and was re(;uire(l l)y said act of incor-
poration to supply the i)()r()ush of p'rai kville with water for all
doiMcstif purposes. The cliai-ter. which was granted on the
THE WATER PLANT
83
7th day of April, 1883, made The Mountain City Water Compa-
ny" a perpetual institution. And from this time on the pipe line
was, year by year, extended in order to meet the ever increasing
demand of the public, until finally all of the following streets
were laid with four inch pipes: Stephens, Pine, Second, Centre,
John, Nice, Frack. Balliet, Spring, and Lehigh Avenue. Thus
'The Mountain City Water Company" continued operating under
the charter until 1889, when, by mutual consent of the stockhold-
ers, the charter was allowed to become inoperative. In the
meantime work was b^gun preparatory to the changing of the
source of siipply from the Little Mahanoy Cre;k to Artesian
wells. Four of these wells were bored, three on one lot eighty-
two by one hundred and fifty feet on the east side of West Pine
Street. These wells are from twenty to one hundred feet in
depth. The water is pumped from them by a Cook Steam
pump, and three Aermotor Wind pumps, and by them the water
is forced through the pipes to the consumer, while the surplus
water backs up into the reservoir. The
capacity of the steam pump is from
fifty to sixty gallons per minute, while
that of each of the Aermotors is from
thirty to forty gallons per minute. On
the 1st day of August. 1890. th's work
was all completed and the pumps started.
The consumers at this time numbered
one hundred, which later oi increased
to one hundred and sixty. From this
plant thus equipped Messrs. F. S. and
John Haupt continued supplying the citi-
zens of the botough with water until
the month of February, 1902, from which
time the plant stood idle for more than
a year.
Early in the spring of 1901 William
//N\| ^^ Volkhardt, the chief stockholder and
rl \^ 111 representative of a New York Water
II I //IXA. \l\\ Company, visited FracKville and ofiered
to purchase the Haupt plant with a view
of both improving and enlarging it, and
distributing thirty or more fire hydrants
through the boiough, provided the borough pay twelve hundred:
dollars per year for fire protection. This Company was fully
AERMOTOR j
84 THE WATER PLANT
organized and chartered under the name of "The Frackville Wa-
ter Company." On the 12th day of August, 1901, a proposed! Or-
dinance was submitted, by Mr. Voikhardt, and considerably over
a year spent in negotiations, when the whdie matter was
dropped.
In the early part of the summer of 1902 another effort was
put forth, when a public meeting of the citizens was held, at
which it was decided to organize, if possible, a water company
whose stockholders were all citizens of Frackville. A few
months later such a company was formed by the election of W.
C. Wagner. President: C. A. Bleiler, M. D., Secretary; and John
Thomas. Treasurer. This newly organized company was char-
tered under the name of "The Citizens' Water Company". Late
in the fall of 1902 this company bored an Artesian well on the
electric Light property, in which they placed a pump. But being
unable to dispose of a sufficient amount of stock, and the council
and company not being able to agree upon an ordinance, they
were unable to accomplish anything further.
In the month of March. 1903, the Haupt plant was sold to
.1. .1. Kehler, who has since been operating it.
CHAPTER XI.
*
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT.
It bail I'or some linn' been felt l)y a large nunilier of the cili-
zens of Fi'ackvillc ihat the tinir liad conic when tlu^ buroiii;!!
sliould have its streets ligbted wil'i soinetbing better than the
old. antiquated, gasoline lamp disi ijbutcNl liere and there over
the town. With this end in view a |)ublic meeting was held in
Miiichiirs Hall in tin' nionUi (»t' November. 1899. After thor-
oughly discussing llie sub.ject it was decided to at once attempt
the organization of an Electric Light Company for the purpose
of supplying ihe borough of Frackville, and surrounding towns,
with light. This organization was effected by the election of
the following directors: Simon Moure, C. A. Uhjler, M, D., D,
THE ELECTRIC IJGHT PLANT
So
P. Haupt, J. E. McKeon, John Dunlop, George Burchill, David
Taggart, M. D., L. C. Anstock, and George Pulmer. Whereupon
these directors elected D. P. Haupt, President; J. E. McKeon.
Secretary; Charles C. Wagner, Treasurer; L. C. Anstock. Hu-
perintendent. It was decided that the full title of this organiza-
tion shall be "The Frackville and Gilberton Light, Heat, and
Power Company." and to be capitalized at forty thousand dollars.
From the time of the organization up until about the middle of
the following year there was very little done, save to get the
company itself in such a condition that would enable it to go
ahead with the work. In the mea,ntime application had been
made to the state authorities for a charter, which was granted
Electric Light Plant
August 25th, 1890. The charter grants the company the right to
furnish light, heat, and power to Frackville and adjacent towns.
Another year had almost rolled by before anything tangible was
accomplished. On the 14th day of July, 1891, the lots on the
corner of Railroad Avenue and Arch street, ninety-eight by two
hundred feet, were bought from Daniel Frack, Sr. It was then
decided to erect a one story frame building, forty-five by eighty
feet in size. E. K. Becker, of Gii'ardville, was given the contract,
who at once began the work, and completed the building during
the month of November, 1891, at a cost of one thousand five hun-
dred 'dollars. On its completion the building was fitted up with
86 THE ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT
tlie following machinery: one engine of one hundred and twenty-
five horsepower: one fifty light arc dynamo, thousand candle-
power: one alternating, six hundred and fifty light, incandes-
cent dynamo: and many other fixtures necessary to equip the
plant. In order to supply ilie jjlant with water a well was i)artly
dug and partly bored to a depth of seventy-two feet, which has
ever since given an ahundani supply. In the month of Decem-
ber, 1891. the Company received the contract to furnish light
to the borough of Gilberton. including the three wards — Maha-
noy Plane. Maizeville. and Gilberton. After considerable nego-
tiations with the borough council, on the evening of October 4th,
181)4. the Company was granted ihe i)rivilege of furnishi ig the
borough of Frackville with ten are lights, at one hundred and
eight dollar per year, to burn all night, and to be distributed over
the town as the council might determine. The poles and wires
having been put up. the streets of Frackville were lighted up
r<)i- the first time in the month of November. 1894. .lune Stlv,
1895, an additional light was ordered placed at the crossing of
Lehigh Avenue and Arch Street, but was not ready for use until
three months later. Having received the contract to light the
borough of Girardville in 189(j. an enlargement of the plant be-
came a necessity. Hence in December. 189t>. a wing, twenty by
forty feet, was added to the origin.il building. Upon the comple-
tion of the wing the inside equipment was enlarged by the addi-
tion of another fifty light arc dynamo, two thousand cantl'ie jjower.
and an alternating, fifteen hundred incandescent dynamo.
During the month of May. 1S97. an additional light was placod
at the intersectio;i of Railroad \vepue and Pine Street, and in
.luiie of the same year one at Nice and Oak streets. Thus the
borough of FracUvilh' has a total of ihirleen arc lights ai th>'
present time.
There ai'e eighty-seven arc lights on tlie system, while the
l)lant is capable of supplying one hrndred. The Thompson and
iionston make of are light is the on.- in use.
The present directors are: C. A. Bleiler. M. 1).. Garrett
Caton. Samuel jiailey. .lolin S. Thomas. Thomas Lalferty, David
Taggart. M. I), .lolm Dimloi). W. C. VVa;,'MM-, 'aid GcQ-.'je W.
.lohnson: with the following odicers: David Taggert. M. D.,
President: ('. A. Bleiler. M. I).. S(>cretary: C. C. Wagner. Treas-
urer: and I,. C. /\nstoek. Superiniend(>n(,
BROAD MOUNTAIN BUILDING AND LOAN ASSO'N 87
CHAPTER XII
BROAD MOUNTAIN BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION.
The Broad Mountain Building 'and Loan Association is the
only financial institution in the h<<rough of Frackville. This
Association was organized on the 30ih day of August, 1887. when
John C. McGinnis, Pres. B. M. B. and L. A.
the following persons were duly elected to the several offices:
George Spencer, President; Henry Snyder, Secretary; A. S. Sea-
man, Treasurer; Ch'arles E. Breckons, Attorney. A charter was
88 BKUAL) .MOUNTAIN HriLI)iN(; AND LOAN ASSO'N
granted the Association mi October 27tli of this same year. The
authorized capital stock was fixed at five hundred thousand
dollars. This stock is divided into shares, the matured value of
e'ach of wliich is rwo lunulred dollars. I'lu).! each of these shares
the holder pays one dollar per month, until the principal with
the accrued interest matures the stcudc. This money is invested
only on gilt-edged real estate, with the st<)cd<, held l),v the lender,
as collateral security. The Tr-^a.-^urer is required to give
a bond of eight thousand didlars, and tlie Serretary one of five
hundred.
As the assetiS and liabilities, as w(dl as the receipts and
disbursements necessarily vary fro;n time to time, we shall give
the last annual report of the Association to the Banking De-
partment of the rommonwealth of Pennsylvania, whiCh is as
follows:
ASSETS.
Real estate loans with stock as 'collateral $45,900 00
Cash on hand and in bank l.-'JSS 71
Real estate 2.900 00
Furniture and fixtures 50 00
Dues, interest, fines &c 808 89
Insurance and taxes advanced 11(> 10
Due on agreements 2,000 ul
Total $53.308 71
LIABILITIES.
Due on St ock «&c $45.()S 1 1 1
Bills payable &c 34 55
Unearned premiums 3.040 Ki
Advanced i)aymenls 289 >!7
Undivided profits 4,263 19
Total $53,308 71
RECEIPTS.
Cash on nand $ 1..593 28
Dues. Interest. i)remiums and fines " 15.2(57 SS
Admision fees &c 42 07
Mort.gage and stock loans lejyaid 354 85
Other loans re|)aid 125 00
Rents 279 00
Sale of real estati- 500 05
Insurance and taxes 9 00
Total 1 S.I 71 73
DISBURSEMENTS.
Hooks, stationei-y. nut <fcc $ 72 48
Salaries, commission &c 386 00
BROAD MOUNTAIN BUILDING AND LOAN ASSO'N S!)
Real estate and stock loans 300 00
Withdrawals &c 14,679 43
Insurance, repairs, taxes, &c 254 97
Legal expenses 5 14
Stock matured 700 00
Collateral repaid 200 00
Orders paid 5 00
Auditing 30 00
Total 16,653 02
Thomas M. Reed, Sec. B. M. B. and L. A.
The officers of the Association at the present time are us
follows: John C. McGinnis, President; Thomas M. Reed, Secre-
tary; Alex. Scott, Treasurer; R. A. Reick, Attorney.
Directors: J. C. McGinnis. .John Thomas, Richard Fennessey,
Jr., H. K. Reich, Evan Thomas, W. J. Miller, D. J. Kiefer, W. H.
Reirh, James Hicks, W. E. Scevenson, J. F. Price, David Taggart,
M. D., Harry Schaeffer, C. A. Bleiler, M. D., John Dunlop.
FINIS
178981]
90 TABLE OF COXTENTS
Chapter I. Topography of FracHviUe !i
Chapter II. Public Drive Roads <v
Chapter III. Rail Roads li'
Chapter IV. Coal Mining Indusiry KJ
Chapter V. The Borough of Frac-Aville 3Z
Chapter VI. The Churches 4
Chapt?r VII. The Public Schools G8
Chapter VIll. The Board of Trade 74
Chapter IX. The Mountain Resort Association VG
Chapter X. The Water Plant SI
Chapter XI. The Electric Light Pla.it S4
Chapter XII. Broad Mountain Building and Loan Association. .S7
/«
,ti
1
i
111
iii
East Side School Building
APR 2 1940
