Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-02-11
EMPORIUM PA. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY II, 1904.


efforts in this direction were mostly
frustrated by conservative people who
preferred that things should rust
rather than wear.
AS it was this paralyzing of his eff
forts for what he considered the i'm
provement of Waterford that influ-
enced Ma. Cook to live elsewhere for
20 of his most energetic yearss, it is
perhaps best to consider it at some
length.
Mr.. Cook was instrumental in having
the trees planted which adorn the pub
ic park at Waterford, and he paid
m 0st of the cost. The borough had
been receiving $15 year for the grass
which grew in the square and there
were long and loud protests at losing
all that money by making wood lot,
as the anti-park people called it, of
Waterford's hay ranch. However, as
the borough had to spend all the S15
each year in repairing the fence,
which was necessary to protect the hay
crop from the cows, which then pas.
tured in the streets, there was not, in
fact, much profit in the hay business.
Mr.. Cook, after several attempts, sue
ceeded in getting the trees planted.
The anti-park war is nearly as cee-
brated there as was the one VIII ch
later broke out on upper Main street
over the hay industry which, for many
years, fourished there.
When the p. & +. railway was build
ing Mr.. Cook tried without success. to
have it go through the borough, and
when it was driven ont in the swamp,
the company built their depot in about
the center of the Brotherton farm and
and the State road, which made it
roundabout way to reach the trains
from Waterford. One ofthe local wars
for which Waterford is noted, ragged as
to which street a more direct road to
the depot should be opened on. Mr..
Cook took up the fight in favor of
Third street. which is bee line from
the center of the town to the station,
and spent about $500 toward building
the depot road, and was charged with
being instrumental in bringing three
law suits against the road commission
ers of the township to compel them to
open an improve their end of the road.
Owing to the opposition he had en-
countered, Mr.. Cook listened to the lib
eral tale of the townsite boomers of
the then new town of Emporium, Pa.
He sod the Union hotel property for
| $40, 900 and moved to Cameron county,
and for about Is years kept the prin-
cipal hotel at that place. He was elect
ed county commissioner. and was
worth probably more than S10O, 1000 at
the time of the Emporium fire in which
he lost large amount. In 1883 Mr.
Cook had hotel in Rixford, Mexican
county, which was also destroyed by
fire.
When more than 20 years of age Mr..
| Cook returned to Waterford, bought
the residence of the late Lucius Phelps
and adding to it from time to time
built the Park hotel, which is los feet
on Main street and $50 on Park row.
When so years old Mr.. Cook had a
birthday party at which some % men
of about his age were present. They
have all passed over to the Beyond,
save Major Martin Strong, who visited
Mr.. Cook on his 93d birthday.
Mr.. Cook, in speaking of his expert.
ences, says that he undoubtedly made
a financial mistake in selling the Union
hotel. That it probably would have
paid him better to have remained in
Waterford and fought for industrial
progress. To the people of Waterford
and those who knew him elsewhere,
he presents his compliments and in the
language of the hero of Sleepy Hollow,
wishes that they "May live long and
prosper"
The children of Mr.. and Mrs. Cook
are Julia, widow ofDr. H. A. Spencer;
Edwin, Laura NJ, widow of DR.. John
Bryan; Ella, wife of d. V. Minor; Lee
died at 10, and Boyd at years of age.
Mrs. Cook died Sept. 1, 1877.
DAWN.