HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Linda Russell Lewis **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. **************************************************************** History of Blair County, Pennsylvania. J. Simpson Africa. Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts; Press of J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1883. Page 69 United States Hotel, and a company was formed and a determination evinced to procure a good engine. But no engine was procured, and the company organ- ized proved to be nothing more than a "bucket bri- gade." In the winter of 1840-41 the Diamond Engine Company was organized, and really this wee the first fire company of the borough. It was then resolved to procure two good engines. A vote on the subject errs taken, and the tax-payers were almost unanimously in favor of the purchase; therefore, in July, 1841, the Council, through its committee, pur- chased of John Agnew, of Philadelphia, two fire engines, for which they agreed to pay Mr. Agnew the sum of nine hundred and fifty dollars' each. These engines were named the "Juniata" and the "Allegheny." The "Juniata" arrived, via the canal in September, 1811, but the "Allegheny" was not received until April 9, 1842. These engines, when kept in good repair, performed efficient service for many years, but at last the people desired something better, and in the spring of 1871 the steamer "Phoenix" was purchased of its manufacturers, L. Button $ Son Waterford, N. Y., at a cost of two thousand and twenty-five dollars. It has rendered excellent ser- vice, and is now in charge of a company composed of some of tile best citizens in the borough. Besides the Phoenix organization, the town boasts of the Allegheny Hook-and-Ladder Company, who have a good truck of modern style; tte Good Will Hose Company, with a first-class carriage; and also a hose-carriage, managed by the Phoenix steamer company. Taken all in all, the Hollidaysburg fire Department is not only quite complete in its equip- ment, etc., but is a credit to the borough and those having the management of corporate affairs. THE PHOENIX STEAM FIRE-ENGINE COMPANY was formed March 1, 1871, and incorporated May 4th of the same year. Among its corporate or original members were John W. Goodfellow, William S. McClain, John T. Akers, Thomas W. Jackson, Dr. W. C Roller, John R. Bonn, L. L. Reamed, Thomas B. Rea, S. P. Barr, James D. Hopkins, Philip Williams, W H. H. Young, Frank Glessner, A. R. Traugh, James Lingafelt, C. H. Dannals, C. S. Ellen, Frank West, George Gibbs, Charles Reed, Clarence Simpson, S. G Barr, William S. Buxton, S. M. Rhule, John Murray, Hugh Craig, J. D. Hemphill, A. C. Milliken, James Dunn, William Crafford, I. Bollinger, Frank Mc Gillan, John McKay, and William Ritz. The present members (September, 1881) are G. B Bowers, president; C. A. McFarland, first vice-presi- dent; J. L. Brawley, second vice-president; S. M Rhule, secretary; A. C. Reed, financial secretary J. W. Goodfellow, treasurer; Frank McGillan, first engineer; J. A. Rohrer, second engineer; E. F White, third engineer; Dr. W. C. Roller, T. H. Lewis, P. W. Snider, E. Seasoltz, A. M. Roller, J. C. Mc- Cahan, F. W. Thompson, H. H. Wright, A. R. Traugh, R. E. Brawley, G. Y. Barr, J. D. Hemphill, A. J. McKee, William P. Wood, J. C. Akers, T. O. Johnston, J. A. Baird, I. W. Bollinger, G. C. Mc- Cahan, M. A. Bollinger, J. C. Adams, Thomas Rooney, Thomas Gorley, 0. M. Gardner, H. H. Jack, Joseph Rollins, H. K. Babcock, H. M. Henshey, P. H. Walker, C. H. Smith, J. M. Wright, Craig Ham- mond, John T. Akers, E. Gerst, H. A. Miller, 0. Fay, James P. Stewart (2), W. Irvin Woodcock, and John Cliber. THE ALLEGHENY HOOK-AND-LADDER COMPANY was incorporated June 18, 1872. Its present officers, elected in February, 1882, are William Hartsock, president; James Quinn, vice-president; William Hays, secretary; John McGraw, treasurer; John O'Connor, recorder; James Quinn, Charles Woods, David Wallace, John O'Connor, Peter and William Faunan, directors; John McGraw, L. Heilmire, and J. Meintel, trustees; John Hart, George Miller, Charles Wood, David Wallace, and John Filtz, elect- ing committee. THE GOOD WILL HOSE COMPANY was incorpo- rated Dec. 20, 1880. On the 1st of September, 1881, the name was changed by order of court to that of "The Good Will Steam Fire-Engine and Hose Com- pany, No. 2, of Hollidaysburg." Notable Conflagrations.-- Although Hollidaysburg has had its share of fires and fire-alarms, it has until quite recently been peculiarly fortunate respect- ing the losses sustained. About four o'clock P.M. on the l4th day of April, 1880, a fire, evidently the work of an incendiary, originated in an unoccupied barn, formerly used as a livery-stable by Charles Hewit, located on Wayne between Allegheny and Mulberry Streets, which for a time threatened the destruction of a large portion of the town. The buildings destroyed were the double cottage house owned by the Rollins brothers; green-house, photograph gallery, and dwelling of Frank Proctor; the large brick house on the corner of Allegheny and Penn Streets, owned by Dr. C. Irwin, and occupied by Dr. D. S. Hays; also two frame houses adjoining, owned by Dr. Irwin, and a brick house owned by William Thomas, of Altoona, and a small house owned and occupied by the Widow Lewis; also stables of A. L. Holliday, J. Berckheimer, Samuel McFad- den, Hon. Thaddeus Banks, Samuel Milliken, Wil- liam Williams, A. F. Osterloh, William Gardner, James Patton, Mrs. Reynolds, Col. John A. Lemon, G. I. Davis, J. M. Kinport, C. G. Lowry, McFarlane heirs, the stables on the Dr. Irwin lots, and the Wil- liam Thomas lots, and two others. A large number of out-houses, sheds, grape-arbors, fences, etc., were also either broken, burned, or sadly damaged. The (1) As late as 1863 only one-half of the Agnew claim had been paid (2) James P. Stewart has served as chief engineer of the Hollidaysburg fire department since November, 1877. His Predessor was James F. Milliken, Esq.