Volume 27  Issue 1   Winter 2007

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Ebensburg and the William Penn Highway

  The system of national auto trails was an informal network of marked routes that existed in the United States and Canada in the early part of the 20th century. Marked with colored bands on telephone poles, the trails were intended to help travelers in the early days of the automobile. It has been said that anyone with enough paint and the will to do so could set up a trail. Trails were not usually linked to road improvements, though counties and states often prioritized road improvements because they were on trails.

            In 1926, the National Auto Trails were replaced in the United States with the system of numbered United States highways.

            The William Penn Highway was an auto trail that generally ran from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. It served as the eastern end of the Pikes Peak Ocean-to-Ocean Highway.

            The William Penn Highway Association of Pennsylvania was organized in 1916 to promote a road parallel to the Pennsylvania Railroad and as an alternate route to the Lincoln Highway.

            When Pennsylvania assigned its first traffic routes in 1924, the William Penn Highway became Pennsylvania Route 3. Two years later it became U.S. Route 22.

            Found in the files of our Society is a 1916 pamphlet prepared by the William Penn Highway Association of Ebensburg and published by the Cambria Freeman newspaper with photographs by local photographers Deck Lane and Orville Jones.

            Well-written and wonderfully illustrated, the purpose of the  pamphlet was to promote the towns, recreational opportunities and scenic beauty of the Cambria County section of the newly constructed highway. A cryptic sentence in the pamphlet states that the idea of the William Penn Highway originated in Ebensburg but it does not go on to explain. 

Excerpts from: Ebensburg and the William Penn Highway:

Ebensburg, Pa.– The other day it was predicted that in 1917 a thousand cars a day would pass east and west over the William Penn Highway and that by 1919 the automobiles would number not less than two thousand each day.

It is a particularly pleasing thought that these trans-state tourists will have the pleasure of visiting Ebensburg, admittedly the brightest star in the galaxy of Pennsylvania mountain towns.

Since 1755 trans-state overland travel has passed though Ebensburg. First, the lumbering stage coaches; and now automobiles find the going at all times to their liking. Kossuth, the Hungarian liberator, was charmed with Ebensburg and its surroundings.

With its many days of bright sunshine, its paved and tree-arched avenues, its pure artesian well water, its health-giving atmosphere, its splendid surroundings– absolutely free from smoke and dust, Ebensburg is a town which attracts hundreds of visitors each week during the spring, summer and fall months; and the dry cold of winter, when the town is remarkably free from the ills which plague so many localities, bids fair to make Ebensburg a winter as well as summer resort of the first magnitude.

With the Ebensburg Inn, three modern brick hotels and scores of boarding houses, Ebensburg is well able to care for all visitors. There is no prettier mountain hotel than the Ebensburg Inn, situated as it is in the midst of an immense park,  and boasting tennis courts, a golf course, shaded porches, a beautiful sylvan  retreat and hotel accommodations which are on a par with those found in the larger cities.

The ultimate completion of the William Penn Highway means, of course, that automobile travel will be heavy over this thoroughfare; and Ebensburg is well equipped  with garages and service stations to care for all the cars that come.

Golf and Tennis– A golf course situated on the grounds of the Ebensburg Inn is open to the guests of this popular hotel. A tennis court is also free to guests; and there is also a court at the Y.M.C.A., as well as several private courts in town.

Fishing and Boating– There are trout streams within easy distance of Ebensburg; and in the Cambria Steel company’s dam along the William Penn Highway, 35 minutes by auto, the bass abound in great numbers. For the children there is the fishing in Lake Rowena; and even the grown-ups find pleasure in angling and boating on this pretty body of water.

Wopsononock– This is a high point in the Allegheny Mountains, a short drive from Ebensburg; and from it can be seen a wonderful panorama embracing seven Pennsylvania counties.

The Loop– A beautiful automobile drive around northern Cambria county, over excellent roads and covering a distance of about 90 miles; a highly enjoyable drive for an afternoon and evening, with little inns here and there noted for excellent “home” cooking.

The Sanitarium– Distant about nine miles from Ebensburg, along the William Penn Highway, at Summit. Here the state of Pennsylvania has erected an enormous institution which is doing a world of good.

Carriage Drives– For those who prefer horses and carriages to the automobile, there are shady drives in every direction along thoroughfares not frequented by auto tourists. Saddle horses or carriages may be procured of the liverymen in Ebensburg at reasonable rates.

Johnstown and Altoona– These cities are within easy distance of Ebensburg, the roads to both being very good. Altoona is a Pennsylvania Railroad town; Johnstown is the home of the Cambria Steel Company, until its purchase by Midvale in the spring of 1916, the largest independent steel plant in the United States. The Fort Stanwix Hotel is the largest and best hotel in western Pennsylvania, outside of Pittsburgh; and tourists from Ebensburg find the evening drive home after dinner at the Fort Stanwix a delightful one.

Pittsburgh– The city of Pittsburgh is three and one-half hours from Ebensburg on the William Penn Highway; and the William Penn Hotel is one of the finest in the United States. The drive between Pittsburgh and Ebensburg is an enjoyable one; and week-end parties at the Ebensburg Inn find the overland drive a pleasurable one indeed.

The Mines– For those who know nothing of the mines or the mining of bituminous coal, or the lives of the men engaged in this hazardous occupation, a trip to the mining towns of northern Cambria County is a revelation. Colver is the nearest of these towns, lying eight miles from Ebensburg.

Band Concerts– The Ebensburg Band, a truly meritorious organization, gives frequent evening concerts during the summer months.

The Chautauqua– For two weeks in the summer a Chautauqua brings the best platform talent to Ebensburg. Institutes for teachers are featured in August.

Trap Shooting– The Ebensburg Gun Club’s range at Woodland Park is the scene each week of clay bird matches; and the use of the traps may be had on payment of a small fee.

Parks– Woodland Park is a purely rural picnicking grounds on the Southern Cambria Electric road, which connects Ebensburg and Johnstown.

Automobiling– Cars may be engaged very reasonably and there are drives in every direction. The Ebensburg Automobile Company’s garage is a fire-proof structure in the center of the town. Other garages are those of the Rosensteel, Brown and Boney companies.

Beautiful Homes– Ebensburg contains many beautiful homes. Among them may be named those of D.E. Park, C.H. Barker, F.H. Barker, A.W. Buck, M.D. Kittell, Webster Griffith, Fred D. Barker, F.J. Hartmann, B. Frank James, Maj. D.C. Phillips, F.C. Fitler, and Judge John W. Kephart.

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IN THE NEWS

A Dickens of a  Weekend

A first for Ebensburg and a first for our Society– and by all accounts the Dickens of a Christmas weekend was a smashing success.

At the A. W. Buck House visitors had a variety of activities to attend throughout the three-day event, including the second year of the art exhibit CambriaScape: A Victorian Holiday. This is a collaborative event between our Society and the Ebensburg Art Alliance. This year’s show featured over 30 art pieces. 

On Friday evening, the museum was aglow with the candlelight of 250 luminaries. Christmas music was heard and several costumed characters greeted visitors at the door. Society friend, Bob Friedhoff, told “train stories” and President McKenrick played the 1886 organ in the parlor.

Saturday was devoted to visitors, decked out in their Victorian finest, who stopped in to have an old-fashioned portrait taken in front of our Christmas tree. The photographer, seen sporting a dapper derby, was our own Bill Rogers.

The “Dickens” event on Sunday was our annual Holiday Open House. As they enjoyed refreshments, hundreds of people were treated to the delightful music of “Sounds from the Porch.” Chris Collins entertained the crowd with a Jimmy Stewart tribute featuring scenes from It’s A Wonderful Life.

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RECENT ACCESSIONS

Books

Centennial Book- St. Joseph’s Church 1852-1952,

Johnstown, PA - donated by Melvin Singer

Genealogies of Pennsylvania Families From the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine – four-volume set  –donated by Margaret Kist

Lucky Walter by Walt Wood – donated by Walt Wood

Yearbook – Bishop McCort High School Memories 1963, Johnstown, PA – donated by Melvin Singer

Yearbooks – Central Catholic High School Memories 1952, 1961, 1962, Johnstown, PA – donated by Melvin Singer

Genealogies

Sheehan-Shahen-Shehan Families of Pennsylvania and Ohio compiled by Robert K. Sheehan, Patricia E. Shahen, and Timothy Shahen – donated by Timothy Shahen

Thanks Mom and Dad a Family History by Walt Wood – donated by Walt Wood
This book tells of the George family and the Wood family. It speaks to conditions of their lives, the work they did, the wars they fought in, household help, etc. The author spent thirty years researching in the U.S., in England, and in Scotland.

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OUR SAUERKRAUT FACTORY IS O.K.

The Csamer Plant in Cambria City

Manufactured Over 160 Tons Last Year

ALL CABBAGE HOME RAISED

            Johnstowner’s ate over 100 tons of sauerkraut made by the Csamer factory in Cambria City last year, and all the cabbage was furnished by farmers and hucksters from surrounding townships.

            L. J. Csamer, the proprietor of the factory, says he made in the neighborhood of 160 tons of kraut in 1906 and in addition put out at least twenty-five tons of horseradish, beets, and turnip kraut, the greater portion of which was sold right here in Johnstown. This factory was built three years ago and has been adding machinery constantly since.

            The year just past was the most prosperous one since the factory was opened and Mr. Csamer intends to double his present machinery to make kraut for the fall trade this year. He intends purchasing cabbage as theretofore from the farmers of Somerset and Cambria counties and has contracted with them to furnish several hundred tons in 1907. Their price is higher than he would have to pay for the shipped article in car loads, but Mr. Csamer says he can thus get fresher and better cabbage than the Western and Southern markets can furnish.

            The cabbage furnished to the factory last year came from the following well-known farmers: William S. Stutzman, forty-three tons; Abram Hostetler, twenty-five tons; S. T. Blough and J. S. Stutzman, ten tons apiece; Christ Palliser, ten tons; the Messrs. Mishler, nine tons; A. Blough, five tons; John Stutzman, ten tons; Mrs. Peterson, fourteen tons; Mr. Teeter, five tons; Mr. Croyle, six tons; Mr. Mishler, three tons.

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Boxing Great

"Terrible Terry" (John Terrance) McGovern was born on March 9, 1880, Johnstown, PA.

            One of the first fighters to use persistent body blows to set up an opponent for a knockout, McGovern became a professional boxer in 1897. He won the world bantamweight championship by knocking out British titlist Pedler Palmer in 1899, at Tuckahoe, NY.

            In 1900, McGovern became world featherweight champion. McGovern won 69 bouts, 34 by knockout. Nat Fleischer, a noted American boxing writer, ranked him as the #1 All-Time Featherweight. Charley Rose ranked him as the #1 All-Time Bantamweight. McGovern died in Brooklyn, NY in 1918.

 Websites for more reading:
    http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/mgovern.htm

    http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/mcgovernterry.shtml

   http://www.mcgovernonline.com/ttery.htm