A Bimonthly Publication of the Freeport
Area Historical Society August/September, 2003
MEETINGS
Coming up: August 14
and September 11
7 p.m. both nights at the Mill
LOOKING FOR HER ROOTS
Maureen E. Sweeney is
researching a branch of her family that lived in Freeport during
the mid to late 1800s. John Minehart (born about 1840 in Hesse-Darmstadt,
Germany, died 26 Jul 1884 in Freeport). He was married to Martha
Hosack (born about 1836 in Freeport) in 1860. They and their
10 children-all born in Freeport-appear in the 1870 and 1880 census
for Freeport. Maureen would greatly appreciate any help you can
give her. Contact her at Blumling & Gusky LLP, 1200 Koppers
Bldg., Pittsburgh 15129; 412/227-2500 or by Email-msweeney@Blumlinggusky.com.
LOOKING FOR HIS ROOTS
Ken Fennell is trying
to do research on the Booher family that lived on Todds Island.
Joseph Booher who died 9/14/1924, married to Emma Willson Booher,
who died 4/18/1924. Ken knows they are buried in Lots 50 & 51 at Freeport Cemetery but has been unable to find the graves.
FAHS has a map and will try to get a list from the Cemetery Association.
If you can help Ken with other information, contact him at fennell1@nb.net.
If you are not on line, let the FAHS know and we will contact
Ken for you.
FROM JOHN SHOOP'S WEATHER BOOK
1848 - 1870
The first steem (Boat)
that com up in the fall of 1859 was 14 November...the river (raised)
6 feet from the 19 to 22 Nov 1859 the lumber run thick & the
wether was pleasant...the river raised 3 feet on the night of
Dec 2 1859 it was cold...the river was very hi Dec 8 1859...the
first ice we had on the river was the 10 of December 1859 &
very cold we had wether the forepart of Dec 1859...Ember Day 14
Dec 1859 it snowed all day & was moderate & cam...2 Ember
Day was cloudy a little son & moderate...3 Ember was clear
worm very Pleasant...their was a foot of snow fel on the 20 Dec
1859...the river closed with ice on the 24 Dec 1859 the first
time that fall...the canel closed on the 19 Day of Dec 1859...We
had very cold wether from the 10 December to the 25 when it got
soft a good Snow lay on the groung it was tremendiou icy &
slipry on the 30th & 31 of Dec 1859 the streets could not
be walkd...it was tremendious cold weather on ther first Jan 1860
my thermomertor stood 3 Degres below zero very cold...We had hard
winter wether from the 10 Dec 1859 to the 7 Jan 1860 & the
best Slaing we had for 4 years...Dick Muldoon was kiled by faling
of the canel bridg Feb 14 1860...the Publick School commenced
in the New School House on the 9th Day of January 1860*...Their
was 14 rafts went down the river adrift in the ice on the 11 Jan
1860 when the ice broke up...John Alter Died on the 25 January
1860.
*This was a two-story brick schoolhouse. In 1860 Freeport had four schools and four teachers, one male, three females. The average school year was 4 months; see Smith, A History of Armstrong County, p. 425
Editor's Note: Spelling, punctuation and grammar are as written by John Shoop.
HEIRLOOM RECIPES
Oatmeal Cutout Cookies
2 1/2 C. flour 2 T. milk
1 t. baking powder 1 egg
1/2 t. salt 1 t. vanilla
3/4 C. margarine 1 C. oatmeal
3/4 C. sugar
Mix ingredients, roll on floured
board. Use cookie cutters. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes.
Decorate.
This recipe was given to me from my husband's grandmother, Virginia
Hill VanDyke
-LuAnn Keener
GENEALOGICAL SURVEY
By Pat Collar
We are asking that members of the Historical Society, and others who read Grist for the Mill, submit their own genealogies for themselves and spouses. This is something you can do for posterity. Page 3 is a simple chart that is easy to complete. It shows an individual's lineage back to your Great-Great Grandparents. Feel free to photocopy the chart. Submit as little or as much as you want to about your ancestry. These charts show direct line. You may also include other information, such as known military service, occupations, town/state of residence, etc. Extra copies will be available upon request.
FAHS plans to collect these genealogies and put in a binder. This will become a wonderful resource book in our collection and will become more valuable each year. Information can be shared when we get requests such as those mentioned on page 1. Completed charts can be turned in to the Society at a meeting or mailed to FAHS, P. O. Box 107, Freeport, PA 16229-1223. Please participate!
WHAT IS THAT ON THE ROOF?
You can't see it unless
you are on the hill, but progress is being made on the new roof.
All the old tin has been pulled off the northern end of the roof-the
part that was in the worst shape. The northern end is now done.
The southern end of the roof will be started August 8 and if
the weather cooperates (a big "if" this summer), it
could be done within a week. All the metal, screws, caps, etc.
have been purchased for $2,020 and this money has come from dedicated
members and friends who have made wonderful donations. PRIVATE
DONATIONS WERE USED.
Gordon Brenneman headed up the volunteer crew which also included Jim McCurdy, Elaine Brenneman, Eric Brenneman, Don Collar, Dave Rowley and Al Bennett. They worked in some very hot and humid weather, ducking storms to get the work done. Words cannot adequately express our appreciation. Pat them on the back when you see them!
OPEN HOUSE
The Mill was again open
to the public for a donation on Saturday, July 26, from 11 to
5 during the Freeport International Baseball Invitational. About
100 people visited and about $400 in donations was accepted.
THE OLD SWIMMING HOLE
By Rod Chapman
Swimming equals great exercise and lots of fun. When I was a boy there were several places around to get wet and have fun. We could walk up the railroad tracks through Laneville and on past where the brickyard was located on the other side of Buffalo Creek. There were some large table rocks there and the water was deep enough to swim. We could "skinny dip" at this spot. Then there was Mickey's Mill, right in Laneville, where the kids could also swim. Of course, here we did have to wear a swim suit!
During the late 1920s a large raft, complete with diving boards, was situated in the Allegheny River at the old bridge; it was quite an attraction. A large rope was attached to the bridge and the guys would swing out and drop into the river. Some daredevils would jump off the bridge, but no one ever got hurt.
I don't know what year the town council decided to have a raft built at the beach located at the foot of Fifth St. but Paul Flemm was the first lifeguard hired for the safety of the swimmers. The beach was all sand, even into the river. It became a popular spot in the valley. Each summer day the place was packed. The steamboats, E. K. Davidson, Wakota and Elizabeth Smith, are some I can remember going down the river then. They were paddlewheel powered and they made big waves. Everyone swam out to ride the waves back to shore. Those were some real fun summer days.