Saturday, October 3, 2026
Friday, October 2, 2026
August 1888 - Coopersdale Boy Struck by Lightning at Ten Acre Bridge in Cambria City
Stephen S. Merritts - son of a widow in Coppersdale struck and killed by lightning at Ten Acre Bridge in Cambria City.
March 1906 - Black Hand (Mafia) Suspects in Jail & Morrellville Boy Killed By Train
Black Hand Members - Cambria County - Philip Maletta, John Treo, Joe Cook and Peter Smorto along with Joseph Cornelia
6 year old John Bukowski of 603 Virginia Avenue hit and killed by train at Brownstown.
CIVIL WAR - Spring 1863 - The Battle of Fredericksburg and the Local Political Fall Out - Copperheads vs Union League in Cambria County
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought from December 11 to 15, 1862. It was a significant clash between the Union Army of the Potomac, led by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside, and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by Gen. Robert E. Lee. Despite having a numerical advantage, the Union forces suffered a soul crushing defeat, with approximately 12,653 casualties out of nearly 200,000 combatants, making it one of the largest and deadliest battles of the war. And it hit Cambria County troops hard with loss of life, wounded and prisoners. Some families lost all their sons...The battle is remembered for its futile frontal assaults by Union troops against well-entrenched Confederate positions, particularly at the infamous "sunken wall". This defeat had a profound impact on Union morale and set the stage for subsequent battles in the Civil War.
Because of the crushing defeat - this stirs up Northern feelings about how the war is being conducted - from Copperheads (Northern Democrats who opposed the Civil War and sought a negotiated peace with the Confederacy and opposed the draft and Emancipation Proclamation) and the Union League (who promoted loyalty to President Abraham Lincoln, combating anti-war sentiments, playing a significant role in the political landscape of the time).
And this Copperheads vs Union League played out on the local front as well - with local newspapers taking sides to even personal attacks with riots and fights on the streets. With both sides not backing down. One local group even attacked a local newspapers office - feelings were that strong.
The following clippings are taken from two different Cambria County newspapers - The Democrat & Sentinel (pro-Copperhead) and The Alleghanian (pro-Union League). They are in no particular order.
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Thursday, October 1, 2026
Old Lower Mill - 1860 - Millville - Iron Street
Cambria Iron Rolling Mill around 1860 or so. In the foreground - the area where Roosevelt Blvd is now. Across the bridge is the old Rolling Mill. Many time rebuilt and as you can see here - still built in wood - they would later rebuild it all in brick after one too many times of having to keep rebuilding it - they finally learned their lesson. The only building left standing from this picture to this day is the structure just across the bridge on Iron Street - arrow pointing down. I do believe this was taken before the old blacksmith shop was built because I don't see it on here - but that's not the say it might not be tucked away behind something else. Just wish the picture was of clear quality.
Monday, September 28, 2026
Sunday, September 27, 2026
The Letters - December 21, 1919 - To Anna Hay from Clara R. Austin - This is simply a beautiful letter between two loving Grandmothers!
Mrs. Anna Hay with grandson George Austin Hay.
Below is Mrs. Clara R. Austin the letter writer and also the proud grandmother of Austin and Mariana Hay which are mentioned in this letter.
Johnstown, Pa., Dec. 21. 1919 - (Clara is currently living in Johnstown with her daughter Mary - wife of George Hay - son of Mrs. Anna Hay).
My dear Mrs. Hay,
I think I promised to write to you occasionally without waiting for a reply: so here. I am again acting as the family (unreadable). We have had solid wintry weather continuously for over a week with everything covered with snow. The thermometer has not been very far above zero. The most unfortunate thing about it was the weak flow of (natural ) gas which gave out entirely several times and you know what that means.
We have had colds, but nothing serious, so we think we are very fortunate as there has been and still is quite an epidemic of measles. "Uncle Charlie" Austin stopped off to see us a couple of weeks ago on his way east from visiting his son in Ohio. He enquired for you and left his regards. He baptized the children while he was here: he seemed to be the most suitable one to do it (he was a minister). He talks of going to California this winter in instead of Florida.
Mrs. Suppes—next door—left for California last Monday, with her sisters I believe. I met her downtown the week before & she said she had been sick with grippe (flu). I have been having trouble with my teeth necessitating frequent trips to the dentist and now have comparative relief.
We learned by cable of the arrival of a little son in Madrid on the 29th of November, but no letter has come to give us details. We received a letter yesterday written on the 25th. You will probably see in the paper the sad news of the death of Frank Rosensteel . George (Anna's son and Clara's son) has learned no particulars except that he was seen on the street about eleven o'clock and at four was found dead in his apartment.
The most engrossing entertainment to us is the life of the children. Baby sister (Mariana Hay Caldwell 1918-2018 - died at 99 years old) weighted 19 ½ lbs a week ago, probably is 20 lbs now. She has four teeth with more coming, by the way she bites her fingers. She does not walk but stands pretty steadily. It is not safe to leave her alone anywhere but in the cariole (I looked it up and it says it is some kind of small cart). She sleeps at night in the little bed, but Mary (daughter of Mrs. Calara R. Austin) has found her in the morning reaching for things on the bureau so she can not be trusted there in the daytime. She stands up in her coach and the nursery chair and can only be in them by using the safety strap.
She can "pat-a-cake", "so big" and wave her hand—when so disposed and laughs uproariously sometimes to see her brother play. When asked his name he says George Austin Hay (Modern note - 1915 - 2018 - he lived to be 102 years old and adding to that - their dad Dr. George Hay 1880-1970 lived to be 90 years old and their mother Mary lived to be 94 years old) very plainly but in speaking about himself he always says "boy". He says "grandmother" very plainly; in fact has no trouble with any letter but "S" which he still lisps. Mary took him downtown the other day and he enjoyed seeing all the toys. He did not ask for them but wanted "just to touch them". He does not want to go near any "Santas".
All "funny faces" seem to terrify him, although he likes to see the pictures of Santa in the papers. He still carries around the basket of tracks & trains though he does not play with them quite as he used to do. As the cariole is a safe place for the baby, he plays in that room more than any other. His games of birds and animals (with separate heads) are still favorites & he insists on including them in his evening prayer!
I was at the Bazar & Bake Sale held on Thursday in the Franklin Cafeteria. Mrs. Entwisle (Hay relation) & others enquired for you. Mrs. Kuhn (Hay relation) was there for her luncheon. We are still suffering a shortage of sugar. Penn Traffic, Thomas' & Cupp's seldom have any. Mary has been going to the A & P Tea Store in Moxham & they told her the days they were likely to have it. Then later she signed a card by which they promised to save one or two pounds of sugar everytime they get a supply & they save it for her till she goes for it.
I can not think of any special news. I keep my membership in all the things I was interested in in Oak Lane and hear occasionally from my friends there. Mrs. Roberts is still a shut-in, so I try write to her pretty regularly. Give my love and hearty Christmas greetings to each member of the family and accept this as a Xmas letter from your loving friend
Clara R. Austin
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