The old library.
Friday, January 23, 2015
Glessner's
The old Foster Department Store - then the Hub Store - then Glessner's before it was torn down for the Senior Center which now occupies the spot.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Old YMCA Building
This is the YMCA as it looked around the turn of the century. The building was then on Main Street, located where Grants was on Main Street. The Y's history in Johnstown goes back 150 years.
Records indicate the first YMCA here was established in the 1860's, but ceased to exist October 17, 1875 (I don't the reason why).
The old YMCA that used to be at the corner of Market and Vine Streets is a direct outgrowth of the reorganization of the YMCA in the spring of 1885. In June of that year, a room was rented in Alma Hall. Rooms were also rented in the old B & O buildings in January 1886.
The four story building in the above picture was first used March 20, 1893. Among the various rooms, it contained an auditorium with seating for 490, a banquet hall on the third floor and storerooms on the first floor. Liggett's Drug Store occupied part of the building until the 1930's.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Capital Hotel
VJ - Repeat - The Cambria Club House was erected at the intersection of Main and Walnut Streets by the old Cambria Iron Company for the use by its high ranking officials. It was the scene of many fine events: banquets, dances and meetings. The clubhouse was in existence as far back as 1881. The outgrowth of this building is what was known as the Capital Hotel.
Col. Jacob Higgins of the 22nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry came to Johnstown in 1881 to take charge of the Cambria Club House as its manager for the Cambria Iron Company.
Col. Higgins had an outstanding Civil War record and had also served in the Mexican War. A native of Blair County, he was in the hotel business in Hollidaysburg and Henrietta before coming to Johnstown.
In 1891, Jacob Higgins bought the clubhouse and continued as the manager. He later sold the Cambria Club House to P.L. Carpenter who took charge December 2, 1892 and renamed it the Capital Hotel.
During the first year, the hotel averaged only one guest per day. By 1900, the average was 100 guests daily. The hotel was developed into 100 rooms during Carpenter's ownership. Added were 12 private rooms and baths for female employees.
During one of his visits to Johnstown, Gov. Hastings was forced to sleep in the hotel parlor because of the crowded conditions. Billy Sunday, the noted evangelist was another well-known guest at the hotel.
January 21, 1944: Reds Attempt to Entrap Germans Near Leningrad
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The Johnstown Tribune - January 21, 1944
To read larger - CLICK HERE.
Local Waves:
Martha McHugh
Catherine Campbell
Rita Bischof
Elizabeth Evans
Ellen Horn
Rhoda Samuel
Doris Waring
Jane (Duryea) Lebo
Catherine Spanogle
Mildred Wisor
Helen Friedline
Mardelle Redrick
De Vonne Melker
Mary Keelan
Mary Port
Cambria G.O.
The old Cambria Iron Company was chartered in 1852 to operate four old-fashioned charcoal furnances in and about Johnstown, which was then a village of 1,300.
The original plant was built in 1853.
The above building is the old Cambria General Office Building - one of the few buildings to survive the 1889 Flood.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
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