The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-09-28
RAILROAD "REMINISCENCES.
An Old Resident Recalls Some
Early Scenes on the p. II. X.
From the semI-weelly News.

the citizens of Lewistown gave a
banquet across the river in Mr..
James Burns barn, to two car
loads of the elite of Harrisburg
who came up the railroad in two
brand new coaches mo baggage
car attached). The two cars were
crowded and but little standing
room could be had. Great was
the crowd of people who came
from the valleys around in great
numbers to see the grand sight
of a locomotive and passenger
train. Thousands of people, old
and young, male and female, were
to be seen on the fat around the
barn awaiting the arrival of the
train. At 10 o'clock a. m. the fog
horn was blown down the mar
rows, miles below, the sound of
which echoed and reechoed until
it arrived within short distance
of the barn. Mr.. Boley, the con
ductor, said after they left Har-
risburg they made no stop and
orrived there in two hours. After
they had been refreshed they
were taken into The barn on the
floor of which were placed long
tables. The tables were loaded
with the best dinner that the cit
izens could get up and money
command.
After their dinner the barn
floor was put in order for a cotil-
ion party. The musicians, three
large colored men, played until
the perspiration ran down their
faces in great streams as the day
was considered very warm. At
) O'Clock came the sound of the
whistle, giving notice the time
was up for returning to Harris
burg. The citizens of Lewistown
and surrounding country were
all pleased. Many Of them went
to their homes with the satisfac-
ton of seeing the first cars which
wended their way up the Juniata
river.
In October, 1S47, | took the
cars for Philadelphia at Lewis
town, the railroad not being fin.
ished west Of McVeytown. In
the fall of 1913 and 1S49 trains
ran through Altoona to the juno
ton House at Gaysport, from
which place the passengers were
carried over the incline planes to
Johnstown.
In the winter of 1850 / was fire.
quently in Hollidaysburg and AL
toona. The junction House was
a very large house at that time,
kept by Jas. Lytle. Occasionally
the trains could not make time
between Altoona and Philadel-
phia, the same way going west,
on account of snow drifts and the
water plugs freezing up. Often
there would be storm stayed at |
the Junction House from 80 to
$50 persons for two and three
days. | was in Hollidaysburg
when Kassuth and his suite at
tended the Presbyterian church |
on a Sunday. The church did
not hold the people.
In March, 1850, | was in Al
toona on business. At that time
there We're but a few shanties
and in order to roach them | had
to cross the streets on slab and
plank benches, some one or two
feet high in order to escape the
mud. The only two buildings in
course of erection were the two
Jaggert houses which can be
seen northeast Of the Logan
house at any time Several times
| rode in the cars to Philadelphia
the train stopped at all stations
east of Huntingdon, Left the
latter place at 6 a, m. and arrived
at the station on the banks Of the
Schuylkill river at $50 p m. and
got into 18th and Market at Z
p. m. My first trip went down
the incline place west Of the
Schuyll1ill river near Fairmount
dam. After the Pennsylvania
one track was made it was some
time before the telegraph line
xuo 4, nnOnfA1 =, |