VISITING NEWSPAPER WRITERS
The Woman's Press Club of Pittsburg* Visit Wopsononock
According to the announcement heretofore made in the MIRROR,the Woman's Press Club of Pittsburg arrived in this city last evening,
the members having left Pittsburg in a special car at 12:50
yesterday and tarried at Cresson for two hours and a half.
On arriving here they took up quarters at the Logan House,
where they passed the night, and this morning, between 9 and
10 o'clock, they took the street cars for Juniata,
where at 10 o'clock, the ascent to Wopsononock was commenced.
This trip to the mountain's summit was made by invitation
of the Wopsononock Improvement Company, and while
the visitors did not have such a day as could be desired
for a good view of the surrounding country, they did
doubtless find out how it felt to be in cloud land,
with the valleys blotted out of sight. The excursionists
will return to their homes in Pittsburg on Fast Line this evening.
From the ALTOONA MIRROR,
Thursday, June 18, 1891:
Improvements to Wopsononock
The directors of the Wopsononock Resort Improvement Company
held a meeting on the grounds yesterday and let a contract
to have an addition built to the dance pavilion forty feet square.
This will make it three times larger than at present.
A contract was also let for the building of a station house
at the present terminus of the railroad.
A broad board walk from the station to the hotel grounds
and up to the dance pavilion has been laid.
A new band stand, providing greater accommodations
for the musicians, will also be one of the improvements.
Lookout avenue and South avenue are being improved
by a large force of men, the intention being to
make a good driveway on either side of these avenues,
with a sodded space and shade trees in the center.
Mr. O'Brien, manager of the hotel is winning golden opinions
because of the courteous manner in which he cares
for the guests, who are becoming quite numerous.
From the Altoona Mirror, June 12, 1891:
OPENED TO TRAVEL
ALL ABOARD FOR WOPSON-
ONOCK
The First Regular Trains Run Yes-
terday-Almost One Hun-
dred Visitors Take a
View From the
Mountain
Height.
and the work of construction was commenced in July of the same year.
In the month of December the work was suspended for the winter
and again commenced about the middle of March last. From this time on it was
pushed forward with great energy until Wednesday of this week, the 11th,
when grading reached a point almost in front of the hotel at Wopsononock,
and in one-half hour afterward the last rail was laid to the same point.
The same day the company announced that trains would commence
running regularly yesterday, and when the first one left Juniata in the morning
there were about two dozen passengers on board to make the ascent
of the mountain, and at 2 o'clock in the afternoon when the second trip
was made the car was comfortably filled with gentlemen and ladies
anxious to be among the first to test the new road and view the valley
from old Wopsy's noble brow.
A MIRROR scribe was a passenger on the afternoon train,
and as it left the station at Juniata he took a pardonable degree
of pride in the reflection that the MIRROR had put faith in the
promoters of the enterprise, and that now both our and their faith
in the ultimate success of the venture had been vindicated.
On leaving Juniata, the road takes an almost due north westerly
course for about two miles when it strikes the foothills of the Alleghenies,
and then making a complete horseshoe curve, the first bench is
reached through the deepest and longest cut on the line.
The road then curves around considerably in order to get
from bench to bench and thus the ascent is gradually made
until Sandy Gap is reached, where at present a switch back is located,
and after that it is onward and upward, sometimes at a gradient
of four feet to the hundred, until at the end of the eighth mile,
the engineer pulls the rope, the whistle shrieks,
the bell clangs and lo, we are at Wopsononock.
At this point, the mountain top presents a broad and almost level surface.
On the right a Y is in process of construction, and close beside
it is a base ball ground of ample dimensions, while quarter of a mile
away can be seen the stars and stripes floating over Point View lookout,
from whence can be seen with the naked eye Altoona, Hollidaysburg,
Bellwood, Tyrone, and at least portions of the counties of
Blair, Cambria, Clearfield, Bedford, Fulton and Huntingdon.
set in the midst of ample grounds and surrounded by stately
monarchs of the forest. There are walks and drives, a spacious cafe,
dance pavilion and the roomy porches surrounding the building itself
are wonderfully suggestive of perfect rest from life's cares on a hot summer day.
It would take a versatile pen indeed to describe the emotions
of each visitor as he or she arrives at this beautiful retreat provided
by nature and made accessible by the hand of man, and we do not
propose to essay the task at the present time, preferring to allow
each one of our readers to draw the veil from the picture themselves,
because no other course will give adequate satisfaction to any.
The Altoona and Wopsononock road is of course a new one
and it must not be expected that (it) is equal in all its appointments
to the great Pennsylvania, but the fact remains that for a mountain road
completed one day and opened to travel the next,
it is an exceedingly good one. While it has many curves and the grade
is in places steep, both the ascent and descent is made with ease
and safety, the trip up yesterday afternoon being made in 56
and the downward in 51 minutes with quite a number of short stops.
The engineer is John Fisher; fireman, Joseph Shiffler, and conductor, George Adams.
At present the company has in use one engine and three passenger coaches,
the later being painted the standard Pennsylvania color, comfortably
seated and upholstered and capable of seating fifty passengers.
Another engine, ten tons heavier than the one now in use and
an observation car have been purchased and are now on their way here.
The road has cost thus far $8,000 per mile, including equipment,
and for the greater part of the way is already ballasted with stone,
which abounds all along its course.
Plans are now ready and a station will soon be built at a point
opposite the Juniata shop gates. It will be a one story frame
building with a covered platform 130 feet in length.
(Eventually, a smaller two-story station was built)
The coal that is used to make steam in the engines is taken
from the Daugherty mines which are but a short distance
beyond Wopsononock, and through which lands to Frugality
the road will be eventually extended. This coal is of excellent
quality and there is a large body of land already
developed, which contains the deposit.
Following are the officers of the company: President, F.G Patterson;
Vice President,W.L. Shellenberger; Treasurer, S.J. Westley;
Secretary, H.J. Davis; Superintendent, W.T. Forsythe.
Directors- Andrew Kipple, John Loudon, William Loudon,
A.C. Shand, C.A. Wood, W. L. Calvert, Scott Gwinn,
Thomas Bell, W.W. Yon, John A. Canan and W.J. Heinsling.
The Fourth at Wopsononock
and arrangements are now about completed for a game at that place on the
Fourth of July between two nines selected from the clerical forces of
William F. Gable & Co. and Baltzell Brothers great establishments.
Wopsononock is not only attractive but it is becoming famous
and there is no doubt but that it will be well patronized on the Fourth,
and the word is gone out that the accommodations are amply
adequate and a welcome awaits all well disposed persons
who may desire to become its visitors.
Formal Opening
of the
Altoona and Wopsononock Railroad
Wopsononock railroad was to be formally opened, quite a number
of guests, together with officers and stockholders of the company,
braved the elements and made the ascent. Arriving at the summit the rain greatly
interfered with the full enjoyment of the occasion, but the big porches
of the hotel came in quite handy until it was time to adjourn to the
dining room, where the manager, Mr. O'Brien, and his capable corps
of assistants, fully demonstrated that the right ones were in charge
of this healthy and health-giving resort.
Fortunately after dinner there was a sufficient break in the clouds
to repay a trip to Point Lookout, and all journeyed thither to feast their
eyes upon the beautiful panorama spread out below.
So much has been said and written lately about the beauties of
Wopsononock that we will forego any words upon the subject at present,
but will simply say the trip was one of great pleasure to all the participants.
The Altoona and Wopsononock railroad can now be said to have
fully started upon its career, but what progress yet remains to be made
the future will better tell. Already arrangements are being made for the
extension of the road to Frugality through the splendid coal,
stone and wood lands intervening, and this line will be made standard gauge.
A third rail will also, it is said, be laid between Wopsononock and Juniata,
and the probabilities are that ere long the new mountain climber will
be standard built throughout and a feeder of no mean capacity
to the great Pennsylvania system.
From the Morning Tribune, July 3, 1891:
FORMALLY OPENED
THE ALTOONA AND WOPSONON-
OCK RAILROAD
Officials of the Compnay, With
Invited Guests,
Journey to the Top of the Mountain on the
New Narrow Gauge Road and Have
a Very Pleasant Time - Dame
Nature Was Kind.
THE RAIN CHASED AND THE SKY CLEARED
And the Visitors Thus Had an Oppor-
tunity of viewing the Magnifi-
cent Scenery.
The Altoona and Wopsononock railroad
was formally opened yesterday, and in re-
sponse to the special invitations sent out by
the company quite a number of invited guests
took part in the official trip to the mountain
top. Of course, it rained. Did ever an
event occur in which Altoona was particu-
larly interested that it did not rain? Yet
those who did not brave the rain of the
morning missed a very pleasant trip. The
journey up the mountains was begun shortly
after 10 o'clock from Juniata, and forty-
eight minutes later the party was safely
landed at Hotel Wopsononock. Still it
rained, and the spacious porches of the hotel
were taken possession of by the visitors, who
divided off into groups and discussed various
affairs until the summons to dinner was
heard.
Manager M. O'Brien deserves all the
praise which has been bestowed upon him
for his admirable administrative qualities as
a hotel-keeper. The viands were well-
prepared, the service was perfect and every
one enjoyed the meal. During the dinner
the clouds which had obscured the sky be-
gan to break. Here and there patches of
blue appeared and finally, as the party left
the table, the sun came forth from behind
the clouds and its heat soon put the road to
the "Lookout" in good condition. Every-
body took advantage of the opportunity and
in a few moments all were on their way to
the objective point. It well repaid the visit.
Although along the brow of Brush moun-
tain there hung a remnant of the rain in the
shape of light clouds, and a haze obscured
portions of Altoona, yet mountain ranges in
five neighboring counties could be seen, as
could also the magnificent valley at the
head of which the Mountain City is located.
After feasting their eyes on this beautiful
scenery all returned to the hotel and at
5:15 began the trip down the mountain.
Much has been written and more has been
said of the beauties of Wopsononock, but
the building of the railroad which now links
it to civilization has caused new beauties to
be seen. These cannot be described. No pen
could put on paper words adequate to bring
to the mine's eye the passing panorama of
forest and field, of bustling towns and quiet
farm houses. The railroad is a succession
of horseshoes. Down the gorge which
leads to "Wopsy" the engine and car leaped.
On each side of the road towered the hills.
Then a break; the mountains divide and the
train skims round a curve. Gradually the
valley widens, the centre of the curve is
reached and the journey down at the other
side of it is begun. To the right for miles
and miles the country unfolds itself. Then
another curve is made and a similar scene
presents itself to view. The "switch-back"
is reached, and on down the steep grade
the train goes. Lever and brakes work well
and the passengers enjoy themselves.
Cleared fields dotted with daisies, mountain
sides covered with laurel, purling brooks
hurrying down the ravines, all are passed in
quick succession. From many of the fields
mild-eyed cattle look up wonderingly at the
flying train as it goes by; the daisies seem
to nod and bend to the current of air caused
by it, and the brook has all the appearance
of endeavoring to distance steam and reach
the meadows below first. Here a crossing,
there a culvert and finally the level is
reached, and like a race horse the engine
goes on down the line to Juniata and the
journey on the "Wopsy" railroad is ended.
To experience the delights of the trip, you
must take it.
The Altoona and Wopsononock railroad
was chartered May 27, 1890, and the grad-
ing was begun June 15, of the same year.
On the 8th of August the laying of the track
was begun, the spike being driven by
the president of the road, F. G. Patterson, esq.
By the 24th of December, 1890, four and
one-half miles had been graded and three
miles of track had been laid, when there fell
a snow of such depth as to cause a cessa-
tion of work. It was not long, however,
till pick and shovel and rail-spike and ham-
mer were brought into play again, for on
February 15, 1891, active operations were
begun again. Rapidly the mountain was
ascended and at 10 o'clock on the night of
May 27, 1891 - just one year from the time
the charter was granted - the last spike
which connected Wopsononock with the
outer world was driven home. It is not the
last spike which will be driven, how-
ever. The road has already been
surveyed to Frugality - distant eight
miles - and to that point it will be extend-
ed. Not only that, but this extension will
be made of a standard gauge and a third rail
will be laid between "Wopsy" and Juniata.
The extension will develop a country rich
in coal, timber and stone, and will also be
a short route to the main line. The pres-
sent road is eight miles in length and was
built at an average cost of $6,500 per mile,
exclusive of rolling stock and engine houses.
The road is now equipped with two engines,
five passenger cars and three freight cars.
Observation cars, built by J. G. Brill, of
Philadelphia, giving passengers an excellent
opportunity to view the scenery, are much
patronized. It is the intention of the com-
pany to begin on August 1 next the con-
struction of fifty additional freight cars.
The engine, which has been here for
some days, will in all likelihood, be on the
road by July the Fourth and the manage-
ment will thus be prepared to handle a large
crowd.
The road was begun with but one hun-
dred shares of stock taken. Now there is
more money in the treasury than when the
work of grading commenced. Many were
the people who believed it would never be
built; that it was an impossibility and that
the project was not begun in good faith.
Time and the running of the train four
trips daily have disproved this. The officers
of the road are: Presiden, F. G. Patterson;
vice president, W. L Shellenberger; treas-
urer, S.J. Westley; secretary, H. J. Davis;
directors, John Loudon, William Loudon,
Andrew Kipple, W.K. Calvert, John A.
Canan, M. Scott Gwin, W. W. Yon, A.C.
Shand, C. A. Wood, W. S. Lee, W. J. Hein-
sling, G. T. Bell, George S. Adams. The
superintendent is W. T. Forsythe. John
Fisher and Thomas Molloy are engineers;
Joseph Shiffler and A. L Mauer, firemen;
George S. Adams, conductor, and Wells
Furst, brakeman
SIGHTS WORTH SEEING
Some Things Not Generally Known About Wopsononock
of money to reach foreign points with a view of seeing
something out of the ordinary and yet many of those
have not seen all that is of interest near their own homes.
We are led to make these remarks because of a
recent trip to the summit of Mount Wopsononock,
some of the conditions of which were rather unusual.
There are but comparatively few who have made
the pilgrimage to this resort which is so rapidly
growing in popularity except during the daylight hours
and to those who have not seen a sunrise from
old Wopsy's brow, we would say by all means try
to take in that sight at least once and then you
will be sure to want to do so again.
On the occasion spoken of, the ascent of the mountain
was made about 8 o'clock in the morning
when in the valley the air was almost oppressively warm,
but as mile after mile was passed, it grew colder
until a good overcoat became a luxury not to be despised.
Arriving at a point where a view of Altoona was secured,
a look in this direction was taken and the sight
was one never to be forgotten.
As is well known when looking down upon the city
from that height, it presents a flat appearance,
and in daytime without a good glass about all that can
be made out is a large mass of houses surrounded by
green fields and interspersed with trees, but at night,
the houses cannot be seen, and in their stead are the
many electric lights of the city and the railroad company
looking like so many stars set in the ground.
It was a beautiful and unusual sight,
but not much time could be taken for its enjoyment.
The summit must be reached so that the sunrise
in all its glory could be observed.
Day was just breaking when the
Wopsononock Hotel was reached.
All was quiet and it seemed as though we were in another world--
it was so different from the city we had left below
with the fleecy clouds below and around us.
But suddenly the scene changed.
The sun, which could not yet be seen,
was beginning to touch the clouds,
and with each instant the picture took on new
and more beautiful colors, until it seemed that this,
our new found world, was indeed a glorious place.
There are no words to paint the picture;
it must be seen to be appreciated, and then the eye will not be satisfied,
because it is all too short a time until the sun is entirely above the horizon,
the clouds and mist vanish, and we see spread out
at our feet the busy world to which we must soon return.
Viewing the picture from a distance, it is true,
but entirely too suggestive of work after viewing
the wakening of nature on the mountain top.
But there is another point of interest
which we desire to view in the early morning light,
and that is the look out into Cambria county from
the Highland Fling, and a brisk walk of about one mile brings us to this point.
The dwellers in the little settlement were still wrapped
in slumber, and without disturbing them we wended
our way to an elevated point in a large field,
and there, away miles and miles to the west,
were the wilds of Cambria county.
It was a noble view, and in plain sight on the opposite mountain
side was Carrolltown, on which the born sun
was just shedding its morning rays.
But suddenly our attention was called to something nearer home,
as by changing our position slightly, we found ourselves illustrating
a saying we had often heard, standing on top of the earth.
We were about the center of a space two hundred feet in diameter,
and on all sides the ground sloped down so abruptly and evenly
that we literally seemed to be standing on the very top of the earth,
with nothing but the atmosphere around us on all sides.
It was a new sensation, and like the sunrise,
has to be experienced to be thoroughly appreciated.
The mountaineers, like nature, wake early,
and it was not long until we found that others
than ourselves were around and having received
a cordial greeting from Charlie Staines,
it was but a short time until a good breakfast of
ham, eggs, potatoes, the best of bread, butter and milk
were placed at our disposal, dispatched,
and then with reluctant steps the return to the city and work was made.
When next you desire to behold something unusual,
go to Wopsononock to spend the night,
and get up in the morning before the sun.
Some of the Attractions of Wopsononock Are:
-
Capacious spring house
-
-
a village three miles distant, in constant motion -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
upon which to draw for edible supplies -
E X C U R S I O N S A N D P I C N I C S
Over - the - Altoona, - Clearfield - and - Northern - Railroad
By arrangements made with the Wopsononock Resort Improvement Company, the
grounds will be free. Shady groves, pure spring water, atmosphere always cool and
refreshing, panoramic scenery, all kinds of innocent games and amusements, lawn tennis,
croquet, base ball, shooting gallery, trap shooting, park, bowling alley, pool and billiards.
By means of additional motive power and rolling stock, and increased facilities, the company
is now prepared to accommodate the public. Excursion Rates will be made on
Tuesdays and Fridays of each week, at 35c. round trip, good on day of sale only.
For special rates or further information call on or address,
F. G. PATTERSON
A
CAROUSAL(sic), operated by
steam, has
been put up on the excursion grounds in
Wopsononock park and will one of the
attractions during the entire summer.
From the morning Altoona Tribune, Tuesday, June 7, 1894:
Many of Our People Spend the Day at
Wopsononock
Yesterday was not a bright day by any
means, but everything was all aglow at the
famous summer resort of the Alleghenies-
Wopsononock.
On the early morning train about forty-
five of our people enjoyed the beautiful
scenery along the Altoona, Clearfield and
Northern railroad and upon the arrival at
"Wopsy," all repaired to the large and
commodious hotel, which had been thrown
wide open to them.
The day was pleasantly spent in boating,
playing lawn tennis, baseball and dancing,
the latter being the most popular amuse-
ment.
De Cillo's famous orchestra furnished the
music for the occasion. The spacious
dining room fo the hotel was used exclusively
for dancing and the floor was nicely waxed
for the affair.
At high noon dinner was announced,
being served in the parlours. The tables fairly
groaned under the good things which were
heaped upon them.
To say the participants enjoyed this after
their exercises in the bracing mountain air
is putting it mildly.
Mrs. J. A. Rohrer chaperoned the party
and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks
for the elegant manner in which she
performed her duties.
The party left for Altoona on the 8:30 p.m.
train all pleased with the day's outing.
Our friend, Water Commissioner Clerk,
Charles Martin cannot be too highly
praised for his untiring and successful
efforts to amuse the party.
The following are the names of the
people who participated in the festivities of
the day:
Mrs. J. A. Rohrer, Mrs. O. F. Delo,
Mrs. E. M. Thomas, Mrs. S. H. Tuck, Mrs. Chas.
Martin, Misses Cora Bowers, Anna Few,
Rene Westbrook, Blanche Burns, Edith
Oler, Lou Fitzgerald, Mame Fitzgerald,
Anna Rohrer, Irene Kilgore, Blanche Stone,
Emma Cornman, May Rohrer, Bessie Hare,
Elsie Bonine, Annie Roy, of Lancaster, Pa,
Dora McCarthy, Kitz Dern, Messrs. George
Whelan, O.F. Delo, E.M. Thomas, S.H.
Tuck, Charles Martin, George Jacobs of
Hollidaysburg, Walter Clingerman,
William Leamer, William Gruver, William
Kane, Ralph Rohrer, Hal Okeson, Albert
Shomberg, Edward H. Murray, Harry
McLaughlin, Thomas C. Hare, John A.
Bender, William X. Benedict, Dr. S. E.
Findley and A. B. Clark.
From the Altoona Mirror, June 6, 1896:
On and after June 6, trains on the Altoo-
na, Clearfield & Northern railroad compnay
will arrive and depart daily, except Sunday,
as follows:
Leave Juniata for Wopsononock at 7:00
and 9:30 a.m., 2:30 and 6:20 p.m. Return-
ing leave Wopsononock at 8:20 and 11:20 a.
m., 5:20 and 8:30 p.m. Leave Juniata for
Daugherty at 7:00 and 9:30 a.m. and 2:30
p.m. Returning, leave Daugherty at 8:00
and 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Sunday trains leave Juniata for Wopso-
nonock at 8:00, 9:00, 10:00 and 11:00 a.m.,
1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Returning, leave Wopsononock at 9:00, 10:00,
11:00, and 11:30 a.m.,2:00, 4:00, 5:00. 6:00.
7:00, and 9:30 p.m.
F.G. PATTERSON, Sup't
From the ALTOONA MIRROR,
June 12, 1896:
How the Fourth Will Be Observed at Wopsononock
Manager Lutz of the Wopsononock Hotel is going to have an old-fashioned celebration at the mountain topsummit resort on Saturday, the glorious Fourth. He has secured Pritchard's orchestra for the entire day and
evening, and there will be free dancing for everybody in the beautiful park surrounding the hotel.
There will also be all kinds of amusements for the children free of charge. In the evening, there will be
a grand display of fireworks and a number of balloons will be sent off. Ample provision will be made for
feeding the public at the hotel. No doubt Saturday will be a red letter day in the history of Wopsononock.
Trains will run every hour.
From the ALTOONA MIRROR, June 1, 1899:
Trains leave Juniata for Wopsononock and Dougherty
at 7 a.m. and 2 p. m. week-days. Sunday arbutus
train leaves Juniata for Wopsononock at 2 p.m.;
returning at 5:50 p.m
Evening Train to Wopsy
On and after June 9, a train will leave
Juniata daily for Wopsononock at 7 p.m.;
returning leave Wopsononock at 9:30 p.m.
WOPSONONOCK NOTES
Improvements at That Place About
Completed
A gentleman who came down from
the Wopsononock summer resort this
morning said that the improvements
under way at that place would all be
completed the first part of next week.
A new electric light plant has been
put up, which will illuminate the hotel
and groves surrounding it. A new 6 1/2
foot boardwalk has been laid from the
hotel to the Lookout. The plant that
furnished the electricity will also pump
water from the artesian well, which is
200 feet deep.
New fences have been placed around
the hotel property and the hotel has
been newly painted and remodeled
throughout.
The cooks and waiters for the hotel
arrived this morning on Pacific ex-
press and left at once for the moun-
tain resort.
Mrs. Harding, of this city, has
charge of the laundry department of
the hotel. This is her sixth season at
Wopsy, and she thoroughly under-
stands her business.
J.B. Caselbeer has charge of the
gardening and also furnishes milk
for the hotel.
Messrs. John Schenk, Heinsling,
Beyer, Tieme and others who have
cottages at Wopsy were up there yes-
terday arranging for the occupancy of
their summer homes.
From ALTOONA MIRROR, March 27, 1902:
Forest Fire at Wopsy
The mountain around Wopsononock
is on fire. Yesterday the cottages were
threatened with destruction and a force
of men were obliged to fight the flames,
which had ignited the stables of John
Schenk and T. D. Hughes. Mr. Case-
beer, manager of the Wopsy hotel, was
the leader of the gang. Part of the
boardwalk to the lookout was burned
Last evening, the men who succeeded in
turning the fire away from the hotel
and cottages, and all danger to them
had passed. *
|
The Wopsononock
Hotel
was completely destroyed by fire last Thursday afternoon entailing a
loss of $25,000. Forest fires had been raging in the vicinity for
a couple of days and it was feared they would reach the hotel, but it
was thought on Thursday morning that all danger was past. Shortly
after dinner, however, it was noticed that the fire was approaching the
house, being swept through the tree tops by a fierce gale of
wind. The fire first communicated with the bowling alley, barn
and house, attacking the latter in the upper story. Despite all
efforts to subdue the flames the buildings were destroyed.
Everything about the hotel was completely destroyed, including the
house itself, the farm house, hennery, ice house, barn, laundry,
restaurant, dancing pavilion, tables and seats about the picnic
grounds, grand stand, 15 swings, six miles of fence and all the trees
in the grove. The barn
contained
four wagons, a pony cart, six sets of harnesses and a merry-go-round,
all of which went up in the flames. All of the cottages were more
or less scorched and the stables and other outbuildings were
burned. The trap shooting gallery of the Altoona Rod and Gun Club
was also destroyed. It is believed that a spark from a locomotive
ignited the dry leaves and the high wind fanned it into a fiery tornado
that swept everything before it. The fire started at what is
known as the bear rock, four miles from Wopsononock, in a gully, and
swept up the gully. When it reached the top of the hill, it
spread and swept rapidly ahead, covering a wide area. It traveled
at the rate of about eight miles an hour, making it a most
difficult fire to fight, it being what is known to woodsmen as a high
rolling fire, the branches of the trees being attacked first, the
ground being burned over afterwards. It would have been
impossible for any number of men to have made a successful fight
against it. As it swept over the western slope of the mountain,
the coal tipple of the Harbison-Walker Coal Company at Dean, the coal
tipple at Dougherty, a barn at Doughty in which mules were stabled,
two log cabins below the Demering (sic) mill, a farm house, unoccupied,
situated about a mile north of the mill, and a farm house on the top of
the mountain back of Wopsononock were destroyed. The mules that
were in the stable at Dougherty were turned out and saved. The
burned hotel contained 75 rooms and the loss is placed at $25,000, with
only $2,500 insurance. It was erected in 1889 and to rebuild it
and the other buildings destroyed would require $30,000.
|
NEWS NOTES FROM
THE HIGH SCHOOL
The Class of 1913 Outing to beHeld at Wopsononock on
Saturday, May 24
Class Outing at Wopsononock:
At a meeting of the senior class of the
high school on Friday afternoon, the
members voted for the place of the
annual outing of the class. After a
number of places had been suggest-
ed, Wopsononock was chosen for the
event which will occur on Saturday,
May 24. It is likely that a special
train will be secured for the class to
the mountain resort and the entire
number of 125 seniors will attend
the joyfest of the class. A number
of features are being arranged for
and the day will exidently eclipse
any previous outing held by any class
of the institution. A committee will
be appointed by the class president.
The class banquet will be held in
the Logan house during commence-
ment week, the committee being bus-
ily engaged in preparing for that
function at present.
Wopsy Railroad changed from narrow gauge to standard gauge
Three Locomotives Being Put in Shape
at Local Pennsy Shops
Three locomotives, purchased for the
Altoona Northern railroad from the
Pennsylvania Railroad company, have
arrived in the city and are being painted
and given a final overhauling at the local
Pennsy shops. The engines are of the
consolidated type, available for either
freight or passenger traffic, and are ex-
pected to give efficient service on the
newly standardized road.
The engines will be ready for use
within the next fortnight and it is ex-
pected that the work of substituting the
standard gauge tracks for the old nar-
row gauge tracks of the Wopsy will be
completed by March 1. During the month
just closed, the Wopsy handled a record
amount of coal, hauling 500 tons more
than in January of 1915.
From
the Hollidaysburg Register,
September 6,1893
A
Trip to Wopsononock
Recently the writer enjoyed
a
trip to that famous summer resort on the top of the Allegheny
mountains, which
is fast gaining a reputation for its health-giving air, excellent water
and
scenery unsurpassed by any in the
Taking an electric car in
the
diamond at Hollidaysburg, we were swiftly whirled over the road to the
We were conducted on our
arrival, to the hotel, only a short distance away.
This building is a large, handsome frame
structure, of modern architecture, and sets back in a beautiful yard
shaded
with large spreading trees. The lawn is
covered with grass and has a fine croquet ground, while hammocks and
rustic
seats scattered here and there under the shade of the trees afford the
weary
traveler a chance to rest his tired limbs. The hotel has comfortable
rooms,
larges halls, a pleasant dining room and handsome parlors, but its
chief charm
is the wide verandah which surrounds the whole house.
In the grounds, for the use of the
excursionists, are a row of swings and a large merry-go-round. An attraction also is the museum, which
contains two large sea lions, two wild cats, coons, monkeys, guinea
pigs,
rabbits, etc. The manager of this hotel
is Mr. Charles F. Brown of Hollidaysburg, and it is not necessary for
us to
expatriate on the culinary department, for Charley's reputation as a
caterer is
well known, and all those who have had the good fortune to dine at the
Wopsononock hotel, are loud in their praises of the excellent cooking
and
admirable services. Mr. Brown is a born
hotel man, always alive to the interests of his guests, careful,
obliging and
attentive, and the traveler who stops here at once feels at home. Frank Decillo's orchestra is located
permanently at Wopsononock, and at all hours of the day can be heard
the sweet
music of the famous orchestra. Frank
furnishes the music for the dances which occur almost every evening. It is unnecessary for us to speak of the
excellent quality of the music furnished by Mr. Decillo's orchestra as
this
musical organization is well known and has a fine reputation in this
community.
A walk of about
three-fourths of a mile takes one to the "Point Lookout" and this is
usually the first place the visitor goes after landing at Wopsononock. At this place the proprietors have just
erected an observatory. It has four
floors; the first to be used as a dancing floor is very large and will
easily
accommodate six or eight couples. Easy
stairs lead to the other stories from which can be had one of the
finest views
we have ever seen. Points in the
counties of Blair, Cambria,
Among the pleasant people we
met at the hotel were Thos. H. Greevey and Wm. M. Beyer, who are
staying here
with their families the heat of the summer.
Mr. Patton of