VOL. LXXIV. HISTORICAL NOTES. By MR. J.D. MURRAY. The commencement of the village of Centre Hall proper dates from the year 1846. The land that is now within the limits of the borough was owned by three different parties: That portion of land lying north of the Brush Val- ley road, now Church Street, and west to the turnpike, belonged to Frederick Stover, father of Samuel Stover, of this place, who at that time owned a large tract of land east and southeast of Centre Hull. The land across the pike west aud north on Church Street was owned by Moses Felmlee., Mr. Felinlee was a very old residenter, and kept a hotel on the hill, on the very spot where the Jacob Ripka house now stands, at present occupied by Samuel Rowe. The exact date when Mr. Felmlee started in the hotel business on that site cannot be given, but it was about the time this turnpike was being made aud that was in the years 1833 and 1534, In 1853 Mr. Felmlee died at the age of ninety-three years, and was butied in the old grave yard a half mile east of Centre Hall, towards the mountain below where George Emerick now lives. Shortly after the death of Mr. Felmlee this hotel took fire and was entirely consumed. After that the heirs commenced to sell off lots on both sides of the pike as far down as their land extended. All the land south of the Brush Valley road to the Manor line, and from Arney’s line to the Lingle line west. This tract as described, contained five hundred acres and was owned by Christian Hofler, u native of Lebanon coun- ty, Pa., who emigrated to this county in 1834; also a man by the name of Phil- ip Krider. Together they bought this tract from a man by the name of Lyons, who was engaged in the iron busivess at Penpsylvania Furnace. He made some improvements on the land; built the brick house now occupied by J. J. Arney, also two barns; the one where J. J. Arney lives was always called th yellow barn, and where 8. W. Smith lived the red barn. He also cleared some | land and put it in such condition that it eould be eultivated; this land was] such as belonged to what was called plains land however, not to . ~ > gn The following are ext & from the Dj 3 JPROGNOS I ICATION . i fie role PH y hn n i) \ ap Je We , fnte of ar from time o tin VOL. XCIV. Daily Centre Reporter. hl F rond extended tendent J. D. Murray BED Wrote Br B. W, SMITH Ten Bau ey, A880 raf : isn Hall Lawyer Ha slrong meg date tar cong % the Reprblions nomination is hope of his The Democratic majority Centre county is steadily At the last election tion it is estimated for shertth, will « The appointmen Judgs of Centre Bower to the 8 is commented by the lending sour Who ne south side Wer sO ma trade There was at that time very little timber six b: supposed that this land was denuded of its trees by the woodman’s axe, but | by the regular course of nature. It was at this time covered by a growth of | small oaks raging in height from two to three and four feet. The plan | adopted to clear this land of this brush was somewhat unique. They had a plough of more than ordinary size made of all wrought iron, very sharp, and tastened this plough to the front carriage of a strong wagon; hitched two to three yoke of oxen and one span of horses to it. This plan reqetred three men to work the plough, w hich would liit most of these little oaks out of root; they would be left a month or two until tolerably dry, then they set fire to them, followed with the harrow and pulled out the roots, then gathered those roots on piles and burned them; they were ready then to put out the wheat crop, which was always done on newly subdued land. This plains land, of which Centre Hall now occupies a portion, was not as some might imagine, a big country. From what can be learned, there was a spot where Centre Hall is located about four miles north and south and as many miles east and west. Over about Potters Mills there was some very fine white pine timber, also some very good oak timber. In spotsalong the foot of the mountain there was fairly good timber. Mr. Lyons lived in the brick house now owned by J. J. Aruey and Michael Homan lived io the old 8. W, Smith house. This man Homan was Mr. Lyons’ principal farmer, but un- frrtunately for both men it was at the time the war of 1512 was going on, and Mr. Homan was drafted, but only for nine months. It suited him, a farmer, very badly; they came to the conclusion that Mr, Homan should hire a substi- tite, but as he was a man in very moderate circumstances, that did not suit him. Mr. Lyons was a rich man, and together the substitute was hired, snd y the way, that substitute was my father, George Murray. This was in 1813, Mr. Lyons went on clearing land and making some other improvements | with the view of making a gréat place out of it, a model country home. Long | before he had accomplished what he had intended doing he became very tired | of bis job and moved back to where part of his iron business was going on; | Mr. Homan then moved over and occupied the brick house. Mr. Lyons now | offered the entire property for sale, Lut it was a slow seller: the buildings were | thought to be too expensive and the tract was large. No opportunity to sell | presented itself until 1834 when Christian Hoffer and Philip Krider came from | Lebanon county and bought out the entire tract, five hundred acres. They di- | vided the property, Mr. Krider getting the east end and Mr. Hofler the west, | the division line running north and south. Mr. Krider became dissatisfied | with his home and traded it to old Mr. John Irvin for some property about | Linden Hall and Mr. Irvin in his old age moved down and occupied the brick house. He did pot like the place and prevailed on Mr. Hofler to buy him out, | Mr. Hofler finally agreed to buy, and by this purchase he was in possession of | all the land from the Arney line west to the Lingle line and from the moun! tain south to the Manor line containing five hundred acres. At that time there was no building here except an old log school house | which stood on the corner where the hotel now stands,” and on the opposite | errner, where the Bank building stands, there was a blacksmith shop. After] the school law was passed in 1534 this school house was converted intoa dwell-| ing for a blacksmith. The first smith who came here to work at his trade was | a man by the name of Swarm; the next man who worked here was George | Harpster; after]Harpster there was a man by the name of Peter Zeigler smithed | thers. He was fond of whiskey and was in the habit of going out to the Old Fort to get his drinks. One cold winter night he went out and after having inibibed freely he started for home but only got as far as where Lyman Bmith's house now stands; there he either lay down or fell and before he was found he was so badly frozen that he died in a short time. Mr. Hofler was all this time trying to get a town started: as he owaed tie land on both sides of the pike south to Manor line he was prepared to offer building lots for sale, and he was anxious to get some one to come and build a hotei and start a store as he believed it would be a good place for both and a great convenience to the farmers, as all on this side of the valley had to go a long distance for anything they needed. Mr, Henry Witmer, a brother-in-law of Mr. Hoffer, lived in Aaronsburg, where he conducted a store and a hotel. The Hoffers went to Aaronsburg for the principal part of their supplies for a number of years. Mr. Hoffer was at this time farming on a pretty large scale, There were many cattle buyers with droves of cattle going east and they would call on Mr. Hofler for pasture for their cattle, and as there was no place to en- tertain the men and their horses it would necessarily devolve on the Hoffer family, and as this was not their business they did not like to do it; therefore, they wanted some person with means to come and build a hotel and start a store, Those were the years 1836, 1840, 1845, 1846; about 1844 Mr. Witmer made up his mind to come to this place and build, At this time there was not one house here, but when Mr, Hoffer was certain phat Mr. Witmer was coming, in order to encourage the movement, he went’ work and built the house in which the Reporter Is now printed. This a short time before Mr. Witmer began operations, and when he did, this printing office building was used for a boarding house to board Mr. Witmer's working men. This boarding house was run by a Mrs. King, the grandmother of the young man, Jesse King, who shot himself a week ago in Millheim. Bo you observe, the printing office was the first house built, and the hotel next. Iu the fall of 1846 Mr. Witmer had, his hotel about completed with some other buildings, such as stables and sheds and he and his family and Mr. William Wolf, his clerk, moved from Aarons burg to this place, and they had a grand opening. This was a grand and festive oceasion, and the surrounding country was well represented by all the lads and lasses of the sparsely settled country fully equipped in their best bib and tucker, to welcome the two accomplished young daughters who had just recently left the Female Seminary at Lititz, Lancas- ter county, and Mr. William Wolf, who held the position of chief clerk to Mr. Witmer, and who was a young man of unimpeachable character. These Tuese three young persons were considered quite an advantageous accession to their rural homes and district, they therefore conceived the true idea that & warm reception would engender a mutual fellowship between them, and even ripen into something more, and we hope it did. It was not on these young people Mr. and Mrs. Witmer had their eyes fixed; it was the middle aged men sud matrons. He knew they were the bone and sinew of these plains; to them he would have to look for patronage, and in his business and to him the farmers would look for accommodations and honest dealing, and the hard-fisted yeomanry did make themselves conspiecu- ous with their wives and smaller children, and (his pleased Mr. Witmer. gut aC ive in Alexan pr Bohool, w tendency of © aid while sory ing the Was appointed »f Ql Ly Lover dri Cipai of as Cailed ADJOURNMENT IS GREAT WAY OFF, PASTOR GIVES AWAY MONEY Those Who Attended Epworth M3 nt Jersey Sh The Legislature May Not End Present Ses. sion Until July Chareh ire Hevelved 8 Penns the Senate apd the House ad Wedoesday. Both Jourpned Baturday The indications now at jouroment will not be far into June, and possibly until July. The House has enough bills calendar to keep it working steadily (fice to its utmost « The is practically cleared, uptil a ¢ that inal | until resche d On 3 apacity. for two months Senate's calen- was carried out dar aud that with tm work by holdiog three or four sessions | a week, while the House keeps plug. or's unique pl ging away at the rate of three sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thurs- * twenty -fift the parable days and one session on Mondays and relitg in a far Fridays, The the completion © shifted from the Nenate to the The Fox bill has passed and will be taken up by the House I'b ' over he ft scene of controversy he Capitol has been House Meniale, the next week for second reading. © bill has been amended by the House commitiee to provide that the archi tect for the building shall be a Penne svivanian, and that the State shall el t I to him, and wireh from its present debt an supply its own heat and light, suggested itself The Legislative apportionment bill, increasing the membership of House from 204 to 207 members, was read the first time on Wednesday in the House and sent back to com mitiee for amendment. The Senate Congres | sional apportionment bill will be taken up to-day for third readiug and final passage. It 14 1 ber of Congressional districts from 28 to 34 The Hall oleo bill, the sale of oleomargarine aud permits it to be colored in imitation of butter, will come up in the House for second reading to-day. The Boyder bill, restricting the sale of oleo and prohibiting its coloring to imitate butter, has passed the House and is being held up in the Beuate and sanitation committee for a hearing EE Nol Ne!! The capital removal episode is dead. Representative Voorhees, who in- troduced the bill, declared that so far as he was concerned (here was noth- lightoing struck several trees in Lock ing more to be done. He said: — | Haven, one of which was near Agar's “The members of the House of Reps! park. resentatives seemed to think that Lightning struck the barn owned they were to inhabit the legislative by (i. (. Stiver, one mile west of Mill halls forever. They voted in the be- Hall. The building with a few im- lief that at every recurring session plements was destroyed. Mr. Stiver they would be members. The inci- gud his two sons had been in the barn | dent is closed. Harrisburg will re- a few minutes before it was struck. main the capital city, but those who There was no insuratice. opposed the proposition of removal The lucomplete new house of A will live long enough to regret their FE. Cheeseman in Harmon's addition, | action.” Lock Haven, was also struck, but the Ap { Minister's Leg Broken, house did not catch fire. Two dogs! Rev W. F. Noble. of State College | that were in the cellar were Killed, . oR, y 3 A Pp, he ¢ "i tributed in ih tha Ti “iid LEE ed to follow the ¢ xample « the who in the parable dis Foods, P.ye ry person © church was then handed an envelope contain. 3 i £1 : ig Lhe stnaliest possible amount —oue ¥ 1%. On these envelopes were print ed, “This is your talent. Don’t wrap but i. Yo love for the success of the cause will be it up in a napkin, use ur increases the determined by your efforts, Harpess up this talent and make it pull in oth. which legalizes ers.” Rev, Karns explained that pected the penny to be so that it would bring a retarn #3, $5 or §10 by September bext, : Rev. Karus'| unique plan worked like a charm ! far as securicg a crowd i Af na —— HEAVY stow Barn and House Siruck by Clinton County A heavy storm passed over Clinton County Saturday eveniog, the rain conlioving for several hours. The Lightning in 1921. DEATHS Mrs. Katharine Keen al her home in Mifflinb d urg ay evening of *iXtiv-niine ie FEVen and Penn was a Keen, months born iy, Years, i. Nhe was in and Sarah days township, this coun dsughter of George and She was married to Gutelius in 1849, and for the first few Years \ moving to Mifflinburg, where they since resided. Death was the result of heart trouble he is survived by a husband, five sons and 34 orge lived in Millheim, later four daughters, ———™ i ————— Shippiog W. Boob. Hall, las: erders, oy eo Yorelgn Countries the week 1 up \W. wheelman, at received two { Helign # of which was from and the South Australia for goods to ti} © Mr. Boob adver paper, ia publistsed in all paris of the United Sta‘es, and in foreign papers, and when there is trade he gets his share because people know he is in business, Monday Mr. Boob received another order from Jamaica, from a customer of seven years’ standing. Moat i 3 Africa, ner from Marrobel, One “order called amount of $600 00, tises in his home papers loa Boalsburg. Three of Boalsburg’s young ladies, Misses Mary Reish, Nora Miller and Saturday. Samuel Bailey was to the eounty seat Monday attending to busi ness at the commissioner's office, — James Fortney, of Pine Grove Mitis, was in town Mooday. Edward Woo- was on Friday last the victim of an | unfortunate accident which resulted | in a broken leg. The reverend gentle- man was preparing for a horseback | Noble from attending to his ministe- rial duties for some weeks, / Marricd, Bunday evening, M Lutheran parsonage, Centre Hall Johnathan Sheets, of Wolf's Store, and Mre. Busan Stoner, of Millheim, were united in marriage by Rev. J. M. Rearick, ay 5, at the Ce Continuing on piye four, bosom of third Sud Amat Sulumige) i Cows Killed by a Storm A severe hailstorm passed over day. The hailstones were as large as of six inches on the level. Beveral cows were killed and the farmers re. A DRITOW area. Ontile Diseased, A number of cattle are afllicted about Linden Hall with chest dropsy, or ss is usually termed yellow water. The disease Is one that should not create alarm, as it is not regarded contagious or necessarily fatal, | mer is building a. new portico to the | front of his house which adds greatly to its appearance, —Boalsburg is doing | considerable building and repairing. —————————— i] Oak Hall, | EB. Peters and wife transacted bus. iness in Bellefonte Saturday.—Wm Everhart, of the Branch, is frequently seen in town. —C, W. Hormun sod Clay Witmer, of Buffalo Run through town with young catt , On their way to Reitz's Gap, near Boalsburg. Homer Barr and wife were in town Saturday.— Mrs. John Close visited her mother, Mra, Meyers, daughter of George Homan, of he hall, visited her uncle, B. F, Homan, don Hail, Visited at the home of Mr n Hall, v ° Lonberger Su " { { < SUPERINTENDENT'S SALARY. | Tae New Bill if Signed hy the Governor, Will Decrease Compensation, | A bill passed both house and senate | fixing the salaries of © guperin. f dollars for within for each id not over rs for each provided | that the salary shall in no case be less than that in all | pquare miles ora | school term ¢ xeeeding seven and one | the super- than $1500, Centre Bjunle ¥ square area required to yy county { tendents of schools at ten {the first one hundred sehools | his jurisdiction, five dollars | #chool above one hundrec {two hundred, and two do {school above two hundred, | than E1006) Per annum nor more { Nn | 9400, and provide | further 3 4 1 ounties hav ing 1200 half months the salaries of 1 not be CR to the 1900 census T 5 i150) vento in 11 rank he of 1860 1 he sal- yy wad Gramiey at accord- Le 10ols, thus: hundred and : y sCchools accord. at of ont - COUNTY GRANGE. Hablers sday, May 28, entre County Hall Walker Tuesday, the trapsaction ly are d to vembers lake will Grange, ¢ ona (range tin The wrul irg «sir lust. of be Tes be are Lu neh for room atlend- aid 4 i 4lh Degree 1 Wii aa a * fof Decoration Services \ aiiey, orator, Farmers Mills, Hour Georges 0 a m.—Rev, m —Dr. Schuy- priog ie, 6 p.m Rev. Koon, Wo Vie Rebersburg, F. Fe riuey, orator, O n Pp. mI. Registrar Millbeim, Prof. Wm. Buckupeil r Fy Gretzinge College, Boalsburg, 6 orator, Houserville, 4: Branch, 2:30. Pine Hall. 5 Centre Hall, 6 p. m., Rev. orator, Sprucelown, 2 p. m. A Hn p.m. -W. A. Murray, 30 30. Wreck in Sagar Valley Early Thursday morning of last week a wreck oceurred on the Vinton nar row gauge railroad at the east end of sugar Valley. The particulars of the accident are as follows: The engine attached to three trucks, loaded with prop Umber running down a heavy grade jumped the track at a curve and landed on its side in a rocky brook be- low, Arch Beck, the engineer, Alex Lehman, foreman of the axe crew, and John Taylor, the brakeman, saw danger abead and jumped off in time to save their lives. The trucks were smashed to pieves and Lhe engine bad- ly crippled. ———— Centre Hill. J. D. Moore, wife and daughter Ei sie, of pear Centre Hall, wad Miss Florence Smith, spent Suuday st the home of J. C. Biblia, Miss Lola Strohm speat several days visiting friends in Bellefonve, J. OC. Goodhart is well pleased with hisdriving horse recently purchased, Miss Anna Holderman sud friend, of Bellefonte, spent Sunday at the home of James Sweetwood, Quite a small boy came to the home of Wm. Lytle Saturday moruiog, sod they say he may stay. Building New Road, The Linden Hall Lumber company, the main support of Boalsburg and Linden Hall, is rebuilding the tram road the entire distance from Linden Hull to the mountains and through its tracts of timber lands. The vast amount of hauling done proved too i much of a burden for the poor tion of the road. a
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