ILLUSTRATED BOOKLET
The history of
Cambria County, PA, is recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and
factual data in this NEW 32 Page Booklet, reprinted primarily from three hard-to-find books: the
1843 edition of Historical Collections of the State of Pennsylvania
by Sherman Day, An Illustrated History of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
by William Egle, M.D., and Pennsylvania, a Guide to the Keystone State,
a WPA project published in 1940. The spiral-bound booklet is printed one-sided
on 60# paper, with the print enlarged for easier reading. A clear vinyl
sheet has been added to protect the front cover.
The communities mentioned include: Johnstown,
Ebensburg, Loretto, Munster, Beulah (Beula), Cresson, Cresson Springs, Carrolltown,
Conemaugh, East Conemaugh, Millville, Franklin, Summitville, The Summit,
Woodvale, Coopersdale, Prospect, Chest Springs, Adamsburg, Belseno, Revloc,
Barnesboro, Spangler, Dividing Ridge, Windber, Ferndale, St. Lawrence, St.
Bonifacius, St. Augustine, Gallitzin, Fairview, Munster, Plattville, Hemlock,
Portage, Lloydsville and Nanty-Glo.
The Day and Egle
histories cover the early development of this area, while excerpts from
the WPA book, give a nostalgic glimpse from a 1940 vantage point, including
interesting historical notes, especially as they relate to sightseeing possibilities.
There is occasionally some duplication of material, but often with a different
slant or additional details.
Among the many and diverse subjects in the booklet are: Early
settlers and their hardships: hard weather, wild animals and savage Indians;
a "concert" during court; Rev. Demetrius Gallitzin, a princely cleric; a
most atrocious murder; Floods in Johnstown (site of Indian town of Kickenapawling);
Allegheny Portage Railroad, designed by Sylvester Welch; Journey of "The
Hit or Miss"; Coal Mining; The Cambria Iron Works and Bessemer Steel; John
Hart and the Kittanning Path; Resorts for summer visitors; "Unknown Plot"
in Grandview Cemetery; two famous sons: Charles M. Schwab and Robert E. Peary;
the Ghost town of Beulah; the "shook" business and other interesting bits
of history and trivia.
ILLUSTRATIONS include the Village of
Ebensburg; Johnstown and the Cambria Iron Works; Cresson, on the Allegheny
Mountains; View on the Old Portage Road; Catholic Church at Carrolltown; and
St. Aloysius College in Loretto.
