Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-29
AMONG OTHER BUILDERS.
VAST AMOUNT OF REPAIRING


The work of other builders, and the vast
amount of repairing done to the houses
that remained standing, will swell the
totals of all to a good-sized aggregate for
the operations of the first year in Johns
town. This repairing is something that
cannot very we'll be particularized or esti-
mated in cost, for the reason there is no
general record kept. A man who, though
a bookkeeper, may himself be something OF
a carpenter or mechanic, buys nails, lum.
ber and tools. and himself probably puts
from 500 to $500 worth of work on his own
house.
The churches are another example of this.
Every church which was left standing was
absolutely Quilted of its furniture and
ruined inside BY the water. All have been
reftted since the food, and this refitting
probably cost 500, 900 in the aggregate. 1t
was generally done by popular subscription
among congregations of the same denomi-
nation in Western Pennsylvania.
DETAILS OF RECONSTRUCTION.
But to describe some of the details of
Johnstown's new growth would be interest
ing. Begin at Main street and go westward.
On the right hand side of this thoroughfare,
between jackson and Adams street, there
are several new brick buildings, much bet
ter than those that stood there before. Di-
agonally opposite them two frame shanties
mark the site of John Gels' large brick
mansion, which was swept away in the flood.
James Quinn's brick residence was also
fine structure prior to the flood. The lot is
still vacant. Where Mrs. V. Luther's
brick dwelling once stood there are now two
frame stores one story high. Jacob Swsnk's
extensive brick block, which was carried
- h.
structure. 1t covers the same large territory,
but is only one story high. Near this John
Henderson has also put up a large two-story
frame building for his furniture and under
taking business. His building, which was
swept away, was brick.
ALONG MAIN STREET.
A rather substantial three-story frame
store building, owned by Fisher & Co.,
stands on the spot where Strum & Fisher
once owned two-story brick. At the cor
ner Of Clinton and Main streets is a two
story brick building. Before the food it
was also brick, owned by Jacob Wild.
Jacob Fend has never rebuilt his large
three-story brick block, which was all
washed away. Two or three little frame
stores occupy a portion of the lot now.
Louther & Green's block has been repaired.
Ellis building, which used to be a big RAM
shackle, was washed away, and a substan-
tial brick, three or four stories high, is now
being built there. The Merchants Hotel
was torn down. The lot is still vacant.
Another vacant lot beside it shows where
the brick building of George Umverzagt
stood. A tinv frame storeroom has been
built on Mr.. Luckhart's lot, next to it.
AN HISTORIC CORNER.
Scott Dibert's boot and shoe house, corner
of Main and Franklin streets, is one of the
handsomest buildings in town. 1t is four
story brick built since the food. At the
time of the disaster the lot was already
cleared !or the foundation. The Gallaghers
are building three-story brick just beyond
the corner. Nathan's Standard Store,
which was formerly two-story building, is
now one of the small frame structures. On
the next square of Main street the buildings
on the left hand side going down still
plainly show the high water marks. The
savings bank and Alma Hall have never
been repainted. The Y. NJ. c. A. occupies
a one-story ornamentej front frame build
ing.
THREE EMPTY CELLARS,
beside the Presbyterian Church have
never been touched. Along the park front
temporary storerooms put up by the State
are still occupied. Nearly 40 OF them were
built right after the food on the condition
that they might remain 1S months. An
effort is being made by some of the citizens
to have them taken away long before that
time expires. Tenants have the use Of them
free of rent, and other merchants contend
that time for their usefulness is past. The
popular tendency is to resurrect the park.
DIR. Lowhmsn's handsome residence on
Main, below Franklin, has been entirely re-
paired at cost Of 81, 900. But three empty
cellars next to it show that no person was
left to make repairs
MoURNFUL BLANK.
From this point to the foot of Main street
that thoroughfare is still blank. Long
stretches of ruined foundations on either
side of the street are grown up with grass.
The cellars are still filled with debris, just
as the water left them. In the distance of a
quarter of mile not more than a dozen
residences are now standing. Mr.. Fend,
turning his residence into the Windsor
Hotel, has utilized the adjoining two dwell
ings as adjuncts to his hostelry. Frank
Hay has repainted his house with deep red
to cover up the scars of the disaster. The
walls of the Cambria Clubhouse have been
repaired, but the structure has not been re-
painted, aad it is without its little iron
fence that used to ornament the place. Mr..
house still stands half in ruins. 1