Miscellaneous Newspaper Articles From the Past
Armstrong County Pennsylvania
Taken from the Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
August 1, 1821
New Roads Built in Armstrong County
Kittanning, July 7
It is with pleasure we state, that the part of the road from Kittanning to the mouth of Anderson's creek, which lies in the county of Armstrong, being upwards of seventeen miles, has all been sold out; and that the commissioners will have a surplus left of upwards of one hundred dollars, for making further improvements, such as widening and repairing the road, &c. Where digging is necessary, the road is to be made ten feet wide, the bridges twelve feet, and where no digging will be required, the road to be seventeen feet wife. Contracts have been made for building three bridges, two across Piney and one across Cowanshannock.
The commissioners in the other counties are making preparations for selling out the remainder of the road; and there is but little doubt, that with proper management, they may dispose of it on the same advantageous terms.
We understand that the commissioners for the Olean road, have disposed of that part of the road which lies in Armstrong county, on very favorable terms, and that they will have a balance left of six or seven hundred dollars, which they intend to appropriate to building bridges, &c. The extent of this road, in Armstrong county, is upwards of thirty miles, and nearly one-third of the distance to the state line. It is said, that the New-Yorkers have opened the road to the state line, about six miles, and that they are extremely anxious to see the road completed to Kittanning.
The importance of these roads when once opened, must appear obvious to the most casual observer. A good carriage road will be opened from the head waters of the Allegheny, at the point of embarkation, to this place, and from the river Susquehanna to the Allegheny, intersecting the great Northern Turnpike. Nor will the facility of traveling be the only benefit that will result from the opening of these roads. It will be the great means of settling an important section of the state, which is now a wilderness, and increasing its population and wealth with astonishing rapidity.
Taken From The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
April 15, 1833
Reward Offered for Arrest of Dr. John Gilpin
A reward of one hundred dollars is offered in a paper published in Armstrong county, Pa., for the arrest of Dr. John Gilpin, a practising physician, and Robert Cogley, his student, both of them late residents of the borough of Kittanning. It is stated in the advertisement that on the fourteenth of February last, Mrs. Jane Leighley of Kittanning, died of consumption, and was decently buried at the public burial ground of that borough, a few days after. On the night of the 18th, Gilpin, who had been her attending physician, assisted by his student, disinterred her remains; took her body to a garret convenient to the office of Dr. Gilpin, dissected it, and after doing so, deposited the head and one arm about the shop, where the same was found, and after cutting up and mangling the remaining parts of her body in a manner too horrible to relate, put the same into a box, and sent it adrift on the Allegheny river, in which it was found and identified about twenty miles below Kittanning. Even the teeth of the deceased, (as had been discovered) wre extracted by Cogley, and inserted in the mouth of his own sister. Hence the reward of 100 dollars is offered for their apprehension.
The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
April 1, 1844
Sale of the Great Western Iron Works
These extensive works, including 2000 acres of land, wree dols Monday last at Kittanning by the Sheriff of Armstrong county for $171,000, which covered a mortgage of $120,000 - the judgement creditors and some othe claims in the hands of Attorneys. The purchaser was Mr. Pray, of Boston - Pittsburg Goz..
Taken From the Warren Evening Mirror (Warren, Pennsylvania)
January 18, 1908
Fixes Prices of "Damn"
Kittanning Justice Rates Cuss Words at 67 Cents Apiece
Kittanning Jan. 18 - At a hearing before Justice of the Peace Isaac miller, Burgess H. J. Hays was fined for using three cuss words at the rate of 67 cents a cuss. Incidentally, Justice Miller decided the term "damn" is not profanity. The information against Hays was filed by Rev. O. H. Boughton, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church. The miniseter alleged that while he was talking in the street with a friend the burgess approached and remarked that preachers were "liars', interspersing his comments with words barred from polite conversation. The minister was sustained at the hearing, but the burgess protested that "damn" was not a swear-word. After considering the point the justice sided with him.
Adams County News (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
December 26, 1908
$1,000,000 Worth of Lumber Tied Up
Kittanning, PA, Dec. 24 - Nearly $1,000,000 worth of lumber is lying at dockes in the Allegheny river between here and Tionesta waiting for favorable conditions to send it to Pittsburg. Apprehension is felt as to its safety, for the lumber would be carried away by the spring freshets should the river freezer solid at this stage.
Taken From the Warren Morning Mirror (Warren, Pennsylvania)
March 2, 1928
Kittaning Fire Gains Headway
Kittanning, Pa., Mar. 2. - Flames were raging in the business section of this city early today, having broken out again after it was thought it had been extinguished. Six large buildings, comprising almost an entire block, had been destroyed while the fire burned unchecked, in the Linnon Hotel, a corner building. Fireman believed there was little hope of saving the hotel and were concentrating their efforts on averting the spreading of the flames to nearby buildings. It was believes the fire started from an overheated furnace in the King Shoe Store, the first building destroyed. The flames spread rapidly to the Deihl Clothing store, the Moesta clothing store and the H. H. Meyimer building. Shortly after 11 p.m. when it was thougth the fire was checked the flames leaped to the Linnen Hotel, in the basement of which the Farmer's National Bank is located. Another smaller building was also destroyed. All available fire fighting apparatus from surrounding towns were fighting the flames which at 1:30 a.m. today were still burning.
Taken From the Warren Morning Mirror (Warren, Pennsylvania)
March 3, 1928
Kittanning Damage Is Estimated at 285,000
A checkup of loss as a result of the fire which destroyed seven buildings in the business district here last night and early today brought the total to $285,000. The origin of the blaze, although not definitely determined was believed to have been an oeverheated furnace in a shoe store. Among the places damaged were L. E. Biehl Clothing Store, King's Shoe Store, the Moseta and Son store, J. L. Apple Department Store and the H. G. Luker company.
Six nearby towns sent apparatus to assist local fireman and fifteen streams of water were played on the burning structures for several hours before the fire was brought under control. The firemen came from Butler, McCain, Leechburg, Apollo and Vandergrift.
Taken From Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
April 15, 1939
Graeff - Sedwick
The marriage of Miss Isabelle Graeff, daughter of Senator and Mrs. Peter Graeff, 3rd, Worthington and Dr. Dwight Sedwick, Kittanning, will be solemnized at the Episcopal church at Kittanning Wednesday evening. Miss Laura Graeff, a cousin of the bride and a former student at Gettysburg college will be one of the bridemaids. Mrs. Fred Schwartz and daughters, Bonnie, Lenore, and Phyllis, and son Thomas, Steven street, will attend the wedding.
Warren Times Mirror (Warren, Pennsylvania)
March 7, 1958
Long Ice Gorge Near Kittanning Is Still Holding
Kitttanning, Pa. A six-mile long ice gorge in the Allegheny River 18 miles above Kittaninng was reported still holding fast today but a flood threat to Kittanning has diminished considerably. River forecaster Vernon Houghton at Pittsburgh said a 1 ½ mile channel has been cut through the gorge by the river. This has relieved pressure and the water level of the river is decreasing gradually. Houghton said there is a possibility the gorge may dissipate gradually. He plans on a personal inspection of the situation during the weekend.
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