The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-10-19
SOMERSET COUHTYs EARLY
IRON INDUSTRY.
Interesting Letter From James N.
Swank- Something About
Harkleton.

of the American Iron and steel AsSo-
citation, appeared in n recent issue Of the
Johnst0wn Tribune:
have just spent a week at this
place, on the PittsbUrg Division of the
Baltimore K Ohio Railroad, ninety-four
miles east of Pittsburg, seeking and
finding absolute rest at the Markleton
Sanatorium. 1 write this letter partly
to call the attention of the readers Of
the Tribune to the pure and dry air,
abundant sunshine, pure mountain
water, and beautiful scenery Of Mar
kleton, and to the comfortable, home
like, and every way satisfactory features
Of the Sanatorium, which is the only
hotel at Markleton.
The Markleton Sanatorium was es-
tablished in 1892 and furnished with
all the appliances for the treatment Of
nervous and tired-out patients, rheu-
matte sufferers, convalescents from at
tacks of fever, etc, but not for the
treatment of contagious or infectious
diseases. AS matter Of fact there are
never very many really sick persons at
the Sanatorium, and these are of course
confined to their rooms and are never
seen by the other guests. In whole
week 1 have not heard the hollow
cough of one eonsumptive, although
there are nearly one hundred guests
here at the close Of the summer season.
The Sanatorium is open the whole year,
and this is one of its good features
Many, perhaps the large number, Of
the guests who come to MarkletOn
come simply for rest and reerea-
ton.
Markleton is situated in the extreme
southwestern part Of Somerset County,
on the beautiful Casselman River, and
200 feet above tide water. Its high
elevation aud its southern situation,
combined with its complete protection
by surrounding mountain ranges from
northwestern and other cutting winds,
give to il a particularly salubrious and
pleasant climate. There is no malaria
at MarkletOn, and the fog which some
times rises at night is speedily dissipa-
ted in the morning. Even when rain
falls the sun makes his appearance the
same day. This is my second visit to
Markleton, and I arm impressed with
the conviction that there is not a more
healthy locality in Pennsylvania
The management of the Sanatorium
is liberal, and, as 1 have said, home
like. The utmost freedom of action is
accorded to guests, except that late
hours and alcoholic drinks are both
prohibited. The rowdy element, which
takes possession OF so many summer
resorts, is never found at the SanatO-
rum, nor at Markleton. There are no
saloons here. The rooms and halls Of
the Sanatorium are large and well light
ed. The building is heated with hot
water, but there are also CRATES in the
halls and in many of the rooms Arti-
fetal light is supplied by an electric
plant
The Sanatorium was established by a
company of enterprising gentlemen,
residents Of Mount Pleasant, Conuells-
willie, MeKeesport, and PittsOurg
From the beginning the Rev. DR.. John
NJ. Barnett, ofthe Redstone Presbytery,
has been the eompany's Resident Sec
retary and the Chaplain Of the Sans
torium, while his accomplished daugh-
ter is the Resident Manager Of the in
siitution. DIR. T.. o. Crossman is the
Medical Director. He has an assistant
DIR. Miller-and alsOa female assist
ant-Dr. Potter Religious services m
a neat little chapel with beautiful stain
ed glass windows, which forms a part
of the Sanatorium building, are held
every morning after breakfast, attend
anee upon which is. Of course, optional,
and on Sunday DR.. Barnett breaches
in tho morning and evsning, there be-
ing no other regular preaching at Mar
kleton.
The railroad facilities for reaching
Markleton are excellent. Several pas
senger trains frcm both the east and
the west stop at Markleton every day.
The distance from -Johnstown by the
b. & o. to lockwood, aud thence by
the Somerset Branch, is in all fifty-three
miles The Sanatorium is convenient
to the railroad station, and there is at
the station an express office, telegraph
Office, and postofIiee. Two mails are
received daily from the east and two
from the west. The Pittsburg dailies
are received about 10 o'clock and the
Johnstown Tribune reaches here the
morning after it is published. There
are two stores at Markleton and about
a dozen cottages and other residences,
one iron bridge over the Cssselman
River, and a steam saw-nill not far
away.
i have mentioned the beautiful seem
cry of Markleton, but I cannot dwell
upon it. The Casselman River is a
stream of considerable importance,
flowing at the feet Of Markleton, and
Just opposite the Sanatorium a most
picturesque trout stream flows into the
Casselman. This trout stream Suggests
Paint Creek at Scalp Level, but it is
much more attractive to the lover Of
wild scenery and to the eye of an
artist.
Markleton, which, As we have seen,
is but little more than a railroad station
outside Of the Sanaterium derives its
name from the Markle family of West
Newton, the founder Of which family
Gen. Joseph MarkIe-was the nnsuc-
eessful Wing candidate for Governor
of Pennsylvania in ls4A About 1870 a
member of this family established a
pulp mill here, for the manufacture Of
paper stock, and gave the place its
name. The enterprise was not sue
cess.
Prior to the establishment OF the pulp
mill the place was known rs Philson's
Forge, which reference brings me to the
second reason that has led me to write
this letter. want TO call attention to
the early iron industry Of Somerset
County, which now only exists as q
reminiscence among even the Oldest
residents of the county. Let me tell
I - - ~. r.-.--tf.,