Excerpts from Old Newspapers

During the past year we have had opportunities of reviewing old newspapers seeking various sources of material. We copied a number of items, which were amusing, and informative, yet, had no connection to the data we were seeking. Therefore, we decided to include in this issue some of these items which we hope you will enjoy.

One item of particular interest was about a proposed electric railroad from Altoona to the Bedford Springs. A trolley line was surveyed in 1910. The engineers who conducted this survey reported the general conditions and grades were satisfactory, however a permanent survey and possible construction would be made at an early date. The survey indicated the trolley line would have an overhead crossing at the P.R.R. tracks and pass through Bedford on Richard Street to the Springs.

An issue of 1903 carried a commentary on gold coins. Denominations of the $2.50 and $3.00 were becoming scarce. One owner of a $10 piece, minted in 1790, had refused an offer of $150 for it. The old $50 octagonal coin, once quite common in California, was made of pure gold.

Next we found a copy of a letter written March 4, 1904, from the president of the Berlin (Pa.) Board of Trade, asking the people of Bedford if they were desirous of securing factories in Bedford. He thought he could place a shoe factory here that would be worth $6,000. This shoe factory would be organized on a working basis with one hundred people employed. To operate such a plant, a building had to have six to eight thousand feet of floor space and a working capital of eight to ten thousand dollars. Profits in this business would yield 10 to 20 per cent.

If you had money to invest, a local Broker was offering first mortgages on Kansas farms from $300 to $2,500. Time limit was seven years and the interest was five to six per cent.

A news report on January 8, 1903 carried a story about the Bedford business block being scorched. The following businesses or stores were damaged: Kate Deal's, Mardorf's Tin Shop, - Metropolitan Clothing, R.N. Oppenheimer's building was badly damaged. The stock was not insured. Estimated damage was not stated.

The Honorable William Jennings Bryan was in Bedford in February 1903 to give a lecture in the Assembly Hall. His subject was "A Conquering Nation".

Weddings and deaths announcements were given unusual labels. Those who died were "over the hill", over the river", Death's harvest", young and old", "silent summons", death roll" or death record". Weddings were headed "cupid's realms," "cupid's captives", "cupid's afield", "cupid's kingdom" or "captured by cupid".

The September 4,1903, Gazette carried a story of several couples out on a Sunday walk in the mountain near Bedford. They suddenly found they had walked into a den of rattlesnakes. Dozens of rattlers were heard everywhere about them. After killing a large number, the couples escaped unharmed.

The issue of August 31, 1909 carried a story of a severe electrical storm, which hit sections of the county. In one community, lightning hit the telephone wires. Switches connecting Somerset and Bedford phones were melted. Objects on shelves near the phones were blackened and nearly set on fire.

In the advertising sections, in 1902, the Brice Hardware Co., had new harness sets and buggies for sale, and F.H. Brightbill had the greatest machine on earth for setting cold tires. They could be set in 20 minutes. These tires were steel rims on wagons and buggies.

Certain merchants were giving U.M.C.P. Company Trading Stamps. Over 250 worthy premiums were redeemable. One could send for a 68-page catalogue. Four cents had to be enclosed with the request to cover postage.