The Bicentennial Year- President’s Message
As we blow out the candles on this year’s bicentennial birthday cake, let me say how grateful I am to the hundreds of volunteers who pulled this celebration together and the thousands of people who attended the many events.
Our goal from the beginning was to conduct a celebration that would create an awareness of where we came from and where we are headed. To this extent, we have accomplished our mission.
The seed for the year-long celebration was planted in the offices of the former county commissioners in the summer of 2002. The newly elected commissioners stepped right in and continued to fully support the celebration.
A very talented and dedicated group of community leaders coming from a wide range of backgrounds gathered together to form the Bicentennial Steering Committee. These teachers, bankers, historians, civic leaders and businesspeople from throughout the county came together with a wealth of ideas. Eventually the group concentrated on five major events.
At the risk of diminishing the work of the other committees, I was very proud of the Education Committee’s efforts in the area school districts. Their work will extend for many years beyond 2004. It was extraordinary to see the enthusiasm of the students who lent their talents to the many projects presented to them.
Highlights of the year’s events for me personally were the visit of Governor Ed Rendell, the unveiling of the Bar Association’s Kiosk in the rotunda of the courthouse, the wonderful concert given by the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra and the great turnout at the Bicentennial / Firemen’s Parade in August.
We never dreamed all of this could come together so well. We are very satisfied.
Bicentennial Timeline
Early Summer of 2002-
An informal discussion between the Cambria County Commissioners and our Historical Society leads to authorization of a task force to prepare for a bicentennial celebration to be held on March 26, 2004. The seed is planted.
August 1, 2002-
Along with seven members of the Historical Society , community leaders from throughout the county form committees and begin meetings in Ebensburg.
Winter of 2003-
A large number of activities are discussed by the Bicentennial Committee. They include:
• Development of a logo.
• Creation of a website
• Concentration on 4-5 major events
• A mission statement
• A promotional video
• Submission of a funding grant
• Promotional items such as plates and history reprints
March 26, 2003–
A public meeting is held in courtroom number one of the Cambria County Courthouse exactly one year prior to the founder’s day celebration. The meeting is attended by civic organizations, school superintendents, county officials, historical groups and private citizens.
April 2003-
An E-Bicentennial Newsletter, authored by David Knepper, is published on the Bicentennial website.
June 2003-
Four public meetings are conducted at area schools.
Summer of 2003-
Ideas developed by the Education Committee include art murals, field trips, oral histories and a county history curriculum.
October 2003-
Dave Huber publishes his book The People of Cambria County and it is endorsed by the Bicentennial Committee.
March 26, 2004-
Founder’s Day at the Cambria County Courthouse
Program includes:
• Picture the Past photo exhibit
• Displays from local historical societies
• Bicentennial Items for sale
• Dedication of the Cambria County Bar Association’s kiosk listing all resident attorneys since 1804. Presented by Judge D. Gerard Long and researched by Atty. Lewis H. Ripley, Jr.
• A visit by Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell, who unveils the kiosk.
• Founder’s Day Ceremony in Courtroom # 1 featuring a video presentation developed by Dave Huber.
• Reception compliments of the Cambria County Commissioners.
May 8, 2004-
Bicentennial Concert featuring the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Maestro Istvan Jaray at the Central Cambria High School auditorium, the musical selections included Jubilee, The Pennsylvania Polka and God Bless America. The evening also featured “Painted History”, the art murals created by area high school students.
August 8, 2004-
Firemen’s Bicentennial Parade
A perfect summer’s day hosted what has been described as the largest parade to ever march down the streets of Ebensburg. Organizer Ron Springer coordinated the two-hour spectacular which featured ten marching bands, two dozen floats and numerous fire companies.
September 18-19, 2004
Aviation Weekend at the
Ebensburg Airport
Threatened by a torrential downpour the night before, the sun came out, and so did the crowds to this two-day bicentennial event.
Organizer, Karen Corran, featured the county’s aviation past on Saturday and its future on Sunday. The weekend also featured plane rides and a car show.
^Top
|
|
Elmer Dailey-
Sports Figure & Hotel Owner
A few days before he planned to leave for a trip to Brazil with his friend Randolph Myers, Elmer Daily died unexpectedly at age 79. Born in Vanceville, PA in 1889, Mr. Daily was known nationally as a sports personality and locally as a hotel owner and civic leader.
Elmer Daily began his long career in sports as a professional baseball player in 1910, when he signed with Shamokin of the Central Penn League. He then went to Williamsport of the former Tri-State League; Wilmington, DE; and Altoona, also of the Tri-State.
For many years, Elmer was president of the Middle Atlantic League, a position he held until it disbanded in 1953. He served as Commissioner of the Little League World Series and was active in organizing the Pennsylvania State Baseball Association, which he helped operate from 1934 to 1942.
As a baseball, football and basketball mentor, he coached at various times at Waynesburg College, Fairmont West Virginia State College, West Virginia Wesleyan and Saint Francis College, where he served as director of athletics for several years until he retired in 1932, concluding his work in school and college sports.
Throughout the years, he made thousands of friends in the sports world, many of whom visited in his Ebensburg home. In 1965, he was named to the Cambria County War Memorial Arena Sports Hall of Fame.
After his career in college sports, Elmer Daily became a popular hotel owner in Ebensburg, having moved there five years earlier. He purchased the Penn-Eben Hotel, formerly the New Exchange Hotel, from the Hott family in 1934.
The Penn-Eben was a “traveler’s hotel” designed for families and salesmen driving in automobiles. Prior to this time, hotels were generally used for vacationers. The hotel boasted a French chef, maids, barbers, laundresses and bell hops. The bar had a running water trough at its base used to replace spittoons.
Many of Elmer Daily’s sports friends, including baseball greats Cy Young, Honus Wagner, Tommy Heinrich and Lefty Grove, were guests at the Penn-Eben.
From 1941 to 1960, Mr. Daily owned and operated the New Ebensburg Inn. This large yellow brick mansion was once the summer home of David E. Park and was located on a hill west of town. When Elmer Daily bought the mansion in 1941, he named it the Elmer Daily Hotel and later the New Ebensburg Inn. Later it became known as Aquinas Hall as part of Bishop Carroll High School.
^Top
|
|
Tidbits
Three Cornered Cherrytree-
The rare distinction enjoyed by the little town of Cherrytree, along the Susquehanna, was emphasized the other day by a marriage license application which arrived at Ebensburg. The groom’s residence was given at Cherrytree, Indiana County; the bride’s residence at Cherrytree, Clearfield County, and the application was made before a Justice whose address is Cherrytree, Cambria County.
Mountaineer-Herald April 7, 1904
No Ban On Cider Says Revenue Collector-
“Cider of any degree of alcoholic strength may be manufactured and sold by anybody, under war prohibition laws,” says Revenue Collector Riordan. “However, when the constitutional amendment becomes effective, it will be unlawful to manufacture or sell cider whose alcoholic content equals or exceeds one-half of one per cent of alcohol by volume.”
Mountaineer-Herald November 20, 1919
Moonshine Stills at Revloc
Six arrests were made Wednesday of last week at the mining town of Revloc, near Ebensburg, by Constable Frank W. Jones and Special Officer Clyde W. Adams.
Five stills, three of which were in operation, were confiscated, together with a large quantity of “moonshine” whiskey, which were brought to Ebensburg by the officers and are being held for evidence.
Mountaineer-Herald July 21, 1921
Johnstown’s January Temperature Records Go Smash– Fifteen Below Zero, Official.
Mr. Lorentz’s Government Thermometer Told That Story and Other Reports Range Down to 34 Below at Cherrytree.
The Ice King swooped down Monday evening and took this valley and all the country around in his vice-like grip, where he held it grimly until almost noon Tuesday, since which time he had been loosening his hold by degrees until this morning. . . All known records for January weather in Johnstown went to smash. Every thermometer had its own story to tell . . .
Johnstown Tribune January 8, 1904
^Top
|
|
Recent Acquisitions
Artifacts
Jackknife/Tool Kit – Anonymous
Mother of bride dress and shoes of Erma Boehm (Westmont) - Jan D. Reynolds
Navy officer’s uniform and overcoat of Duane Dunkle - Jan D. Reynolds
Photographs, Barnesboro, Hanson’s Store, children of John and
Hildur Hanson – George Hanson
Photographs, collection of 12 (Westmont)- Jan D. Reynolds
Photographs, collection of 24 photos – Donald Hildebrand
Photographs - Vernon Blough, Edward and Carrie Blough – Ruth Colburn
Soda pop bottle, E.E. Goss, Twin Rocks, PA – Patricia Criste
Wedding dress of Erma Boehm (Westmont) - Jan D. Reynolds
Women’s high button shoes – Debra Yablinsky
Books
Atlas of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania - Margaret Kist
Cemetery Records Volume I Somerset-Cambria County - Margaret Kist
Combination Atlas of the County of Butler and the State of Pennsylvania - Margaret Kist
Sandyvale Cemetery - Margaret Kist
Johnstown - Images of America - Lyndee Jobe Henderson
Newspapers
Johnstown Tribune microfilm (1929-1940, 1942, 1949)
^Top
|
|
The
Heritage is published quarterly and mailed to CCHS Members. A few
of the articles will be published here.