East Huntingdon High School - Mirror Yearbook (Alverton, PA)

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INDIANS OF EAST I-IUNTINGDON TOWNSHIP The frrst known Indrans rn thrs vrcrnrtv were the Mound Builders who came shortlv after the rec 'rge No evrdence of lrfe before thrs era has been preserved wrth the possible exceptron of a few Folsom points which have been found imbedded rn the bones of pre rce age animals The great rce sheets entrrelv destroyed all othfr evidence of lrfe which mav have existed before that trme The Mound Burlder came from the West and proof of the fact that they came after the rce age rs that the mounds which thev constructed are strll intact These Indrans were rrver dwellers and possrblv water worshrpers who lrved on hrgh pornts overlooking the Allegheny Monongahela and other rrvers rn thrs drstrrct Thev were a refined tvpe of Indran and large rn srze some of then mer being' grants seven or erght feet rn herght Culture was preeminent among them They had highly polrshed bowls spoons peace pipes and other utensils made from copper and were the only North American Indrans to ever use thrs metal for therr Implements It was highly tempered and examples which have retarned therr temper are strll rn existence today Where the Indrans got then copper or how thev tempered rt ls unknown Because thev burlt mounds rn which to burv therr dead these Indrans re cerved the name of Mound Burlders Then mounds varled rn srze but were perfect rn shape being rn the form of a semr circle Most of them were erected near a river' and were composed of sand vshrch was carried bv hand from the rrver beds Wrth few exceptions thev were burlt rn a charn like svstem running rn a strargh lrne north and south However a few have been found burlt awax from anv rrve We believe that we have discovered such a mound rn our townshrp An rnvestrgatron has been started to determine whether rt rs a mound and rt will be excavated II found to be one The largest example of thrs unusual type of burral place burlt bv these aborrgrnes rs at Moundsvrlle West Vlrgrnra It has been excavated and manv relics have been drscovered The dead rn thrs mound were buried rn a arrows and manv other obJects to use when thev reached the haDDV huntrng grounds All the craftwork of these Indrans was verv decorative and proves then skrll and refrnement rn then various crafts After a short stav rn thrs vrcrnrtv for some unknown reason the Mound Builders entrrelv disappeared Where thev went or why rs not defrnrtely known but rt rs probable that they nray have gone south as far as Mexrco Wrth the passrng of the Mound Burlders and the refined era came the Allegewr who were verv crude Thev were a rough and a hardv tvne and stayed but a short trme along the Alleghenv Rrver Soon the Allegewr moved eastward and rntermarrred with the Algonqurns These two tribes which merged and became one traveled back and forth through our townshrp It was at thrs trme that the Nema colrn Trarl later known as Braddock s Road was burlt All eastward and westward transportation followed thrs trall which borders the northern lrne of the present townshrp The next trrbe of Indrans to move rnto our townshrp was the Delawares whose tav was the longest of all the redmen and about whom we have the most rnformatron Thev were also known as the Lennr Lenape and were the only Indrans to keen a vrrrtten history of then trrbe In thrs hrstorv known as the Walum Olum ther clarmed to be the frrst Indrans on earth Accordrnglv they chose as therr svmbol the turtle which thev belreved to be the frrst anrmal created However' then clarm to thrs drstrnctron rs somewhat doubtful In the meantrme whrle the Delawares were settling., rn thrs part of the country the Iroauors of New York state were conquerrng the Algonqurns rn the Fast After subdurng them tney moved to thrs drstrrct to war on the Delawares IAt thrs trme the Indrans from the North were known as the Frve Natronsj The Delawares cared lrttle for frghtrng and were QHSIIV conquered bv the Iroquois who rn derrsron called them squaw men but who later took therr captives rnto therr councrl as the srxth nation of Indrans However the Delawares continued to lrvc rn thrs sectron At thrs trme the whole southeastern part of our townshrp was 'r swamp formrn a grant half crescent the horn of whrch pornted north For thrs 30 .' ' I ' c . I l I I If ' . A , . ' . . 1 . . ' . ' . . -' - ' K . ' K. K ' K , . L Y I I K I K -1 o In I I .I I I I I I I I I I n I 1 I c . . ' I . 1 2 . I . . K K . K K K . I I In 1 , n L? I I A , I K . . K. K . ' . I v - I I . ' . 'I I I I. I I Y I - .KK . K . K. K . . , I . ' . . ' , . .I I . 'K . I I . . ', j ' A ' r'. K KK K . . K . . .. Q L L I V standing position, surrounded with beadwork, potterv, copper utensils, bows and .K K . . K . . V S ' I ' ' , u . ' , rr I . s -K v . l I w K v - u . . - ' K . K I I F, . . . K ' . , K ' K .y . I . , I . I Y - I. . . I. ' I ' I . K. . K . K . K, S , KY . . . K K K Y . K . y . ' K K . . Q I I K K 1 r . :K u I 1 u V I I ' 1 . ' . I I I. If 'I ' . . . K. . u ry I - ,' - - - I I. . I . I. I ' ' - I l . 4 - -

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THE LEGEND OF Tl-IE PINK CARNATION Long long ago eyen before the wlrrte man eyer drernred of o farr sr rountry as -Xmerrca there lryed rn th land of the Orrbways an Indran youth by the name of Braye One He wa so named because rt yy s hoped that he would some dav be as great 'r leader as hrs father But as the vears prssed swrftlv bv the people of the trrbe began to fear th it the lad s name was not wrselv clrosen For unlrke the other youths of hrs trrb Braye One drd not lrke to hrnt or fr h Vtorse strll the beatrng of war drums anl the rngrng of arrows that ped swrftlv to brrng death touched no responsrye chord rn hrs berng for Braye One was gentle and peace loyrnr., Hrs wa the soul of thc dreamer and the rdealr t He loved the harnrle wrld creatures of the forest and shrank from harmrng them He loved to srt and watch the brrds fly over the hrll or lrsten to the babble of the brook but best of all he loved to gaze at the nroon For Braye One was certarn that he saw rn the brrght face of the moon a lover: marden who seemed to speak to hrm If only he could understrnd her message' Meanwhrle Brave Ones father grew old and feeble and the youth realrzrn at last hrs father s keen drsapporntment rn hrnr deerded to proye hrnrself worthv 'KO become the chref of the trrbe so that the old nran nrrght dre happv He would make the old ehref proud of hrm even yet To prove hrs nrettle he yyould go alone mtg the forest and spend manv days there When the people heard of Braye Ones plan they sard that thrs was not enough He must brrng back as evrdence of hrs skrll as a hunter a great roebuelt of the red deer' wrth antlers 90 although the thought of what he was about 13 undertake was not pleasant to the lad ne re orutery set out equrppeu wrth OIIIV hrs bow and arrow He traveled far rnto the forest but hrs search was rn varrr Weary and lonelv he struggled desperately agarnst drscouragement but at nrgnt the moon and the stars comforted hrnr At trmes he thought the lovely moon mrrden was really watchrng oyer hrnr But then soon hrs courage yvaned and hrs heart frlled wrth mrsgryrng My people yvrll urelv forsake me he thought f I farl that yvhrch I attempt to accomplrsh And mv father wrll dre rn drsgrace Determrnedly then he pushed forward untrl he came at last to r wrde brook fed bv a deep clear sprrng Hrs heart was frlled wrth new courage at the the red deer rn great numbers But one more luekless dav was rlmost too mueh to be borne 'rnd at nrghtfall he threw hrmself doyvn on the cold hard ground rn desparr As he slept Braye One saw the lovelv moon marden descend through th sky Qhe was wrapped rn a beautrtul blue elork and wore a wreath of small prnk flowers rn her harr In hrs dream she came and stood bv hrnr Qhe spoke rn a low gentle vorce to tell hrm who she was and yyhv she had come These fragrant prnk blossoms whrch I wear around my head symbolrze my mrssron on earth she sard They represent ambrtron endurance and power Yor have shown your elf worthy of my help so I haye come to your ard Your rmbr tron long, dormant has at lrst been awakened Lrkewrse your endurance that hal never before been challenged If you cultrvate these vrrtues they wrll brrng you great poyyer Then wrll you be even a greater chref than your father But y0.1 must have courage and farth rn yourself Promrse me that vou wrll ever str rve to deyelop to the utmost the talents that the Grver of Lrfe has bestowed upon you qav that you wrll always grye to the world the best that you have 'rnd you can belreye me when I say that the best wrll rlwavs come back to vou If you pr omrs I shall Lrye you one of my blos oms Braye One nr omrsed and when he awoke he found r delreate and fragrant wrld prnk growrng. besrde hrnr Drggrng carefully he remoyed rt from the place where rt grew and replanted rt rn a small leather po rch I shall keep rt always he sard for rt wrll ard me rn the rttrrnment ot that whreh I desrre and by rt y people yvrll be benefrted That day Braye One had uceess rn hrs huntrng Jovouslv then he turned hr steps homeward The long Journey mrght have seemed endless had hrs thoughts not been such pleasant ones but rn hrs rmagrnatron the nroon mfrrden walked besrde hrm and the trme pas ed qurekly Braye Ones return was loudlv aeelarnred by the other youths of the trrb and the old chref hrs proud heart farrlv burstrng for roy announced a great feast rn honor of hrs son Durrng the festrprtres Braye One showed the people the Wlltlllllkf 99 - E v ' V . V ' r . V . . ,Z S ' k . Vg- L A - 1 Y - v 9 n VV .vt ' .V lv r X 1 y I v S xv .1 : ' 'Els v - A Q' ' r r , ' '. 0 , i . .' . D , 1 ' 3 I: V v'L r . If s , ' ' 1 1 V . 'C .' U, S' ,.' V VL S K V' .' ' , L. A ' V . . . ' 1 'S I , V V ,SS V' . . ,A . ,X . '4 u s . ' . 51' 1 v ' - :Q . ' S- . 'A. V : ,S 7 -- ' V ' . , : z . . - . v. . . V . ' - U. ' Y ! 'W ' L .K ' . . I ' ' , I c ' . . x n . v I -1 v I I C l Y Y- l . . -.N I .1 A. ,. , I L .' , A ' 'L h ' 5 .y V . , . V ' ' ' ' '. . n, , 7' ' , ' V . N . , . , . . ., , 5 K .I L . ' . . ' ' . . V - - . ' ' - - i . .V 9 L . 4. ' ! V . , '. - , . - - , - z V B 1 r Y A . v u l . Ls .L 'ns - ' ', ' ,- ' at l ' S , I , ,rx y ui , - in , . i . . . .i . ,, ' ' , . . . - ' ' . 2 ' - , ' .' 'l . l. . ' '. ' ' ' sight of it, for surely he yvould find here the object of his quest. Here would come 1 s ' n uk' n 1 - v L1 E u , 1. ., , ' ' . . V L A 1 x . K. if I L . 7 ls . ' 1 A . 3 1 z 7 u I ,Y l v F I I ' I I . ' ., . U . - ' s V ' . V . . ' H ,, . 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reason xerv few relrcs are found rn thrs sectron of the townshrp Further north was another swamp the northern edge of whrch rs the present Popovec farm It was here that the Delawares establr hed then camp whrth may possrbly have grown mto an Indran town Many relrcs of all krnds have been found on thrs land Qome of these are spearheads spears arrowheads shred fpotteryl beads tomahawks and almost any concervable lndran mrprovement There are even marks of an old ground fortrfrcatron showrng early habrtatron probably by the Mound Burlders Also located here rs a stone whrch resembles the Indran standmg stone as found rn Hun rngdon County Accordrng to legends passed down from famrly to famlly who have lrved on the Popowec farm thrs stone rs newer to be moved Another legend tells of an old Delaware Indran chref who lrved at thrs camp srte He had spent hrs early south rn thrs drstrrct but when a young brave had moved to more abundant regrons Upon becomrng aged he returned to the srte of hrs bog hood to spend hrs last days He burlt hrmself '1 huntrng cabrn and befrrended settlers who passed through thrs sectron Braddock gave hrm the name of Captarn Jacob The Warrenty Surveys axarlable rn Harrrsburg locate Captarn Jacob s cabrn as berng on the Popovec farm near a flowrng sprrng The Delawares rn burldrng therr camp located therr huts near the edge of the swamp As they could thus be attacked only from the north the swamp afforded them a comenrent retreat rn such an event However the swamp acted as a dea h trap for much drsease was harbored rn the low regrons The huts of the Delawares resembled somewhat a coal house oi today They were bullt rn a rectangular shape of trmber and bark The roof whrch was made of sods and skms had a small hole at the center for the emrssron of smoke Phe floor was thxckly carpeted wrth furs and was very comfortable In the center of each hut was a fue Although the Indrans prmcrpal source of food supply was the forest and rrvers they also made many trrps to the seashore for frsh and other marrne foods One lndlan could carry back about Irtty pounds 01 clrred frsh on the long Journev from the Atlantrc coast All of the eashells found around here were brought by the redmen durrng these food gettrng expedrtrons The Indrans menu consrsted was erther brorled over an outsrde fue or jerked tsmokel Therr jerked venrson was very delrcrous besrdes berng lrght and easy to carry In case of a scarclty of food these early resrdents of our townshrp always kept a supply of nuts on hand F01 thelr corn bread they used fat borled from nuts or bear fat To borl water they had a large hollow rock frlled wrth water mto whrch they dropped heated rocks For amusement the Indrans had numerous games a majorrtg of whrch were for rmprovrng the physrcal condrtron of the body Many of therr games such as lacrosse are strll played today They also had runnlng contests wrestling and the lrke but probably therr favorrte amusement was gamblrng For thrs they used drsh shaped stone known as the gamblrng stone The one who rolled hrs stone nearest to or mto a hole rn the ground won the pot They would gamble for anythrng from arrowheads to the rrght to scalp the next vrctrm Much of the Indrans trme was spent rn thrs amusement The Delaware Indrans had four types of arrowheads They were the spear for krllmg large anrmals the common huntmg pornt whrch they usually retrreved the war pornt whrch remarned rn the body and the trny brrd pornt for the small game Just as some of our people are skrlled rn certarn lrnes so were the Indrans Thus one redskrn possrbly a squaw or a weak brave usually made all the arrow heads for the trrbe These were made from flrnt by a spallmg process Then bows were made of hrckory taken from hrckory trees whrch had been struck by lrghtnrng and splrt rnto long narrow strrps whrch could easrlv be shaped After berng cut such a strrp of hrckory was placed rn a hollow tree to season Wrthrn a few months a brave would get the bow and scrape rt to the correct srze Manrtou was the Indrans God They bellexed he was the Supreme Ruler of the unrverse and had manx sprrrt NV0lk1Y'lg' for hrm The fear of a Supreme Berng was rmpressed upon the chrldren at a very early age In the Delaware brg house an Indran of the tube would wear .1 mask and rmper onate therr God He would dance for the chrldren to cause them to respect and fear Manrtou The office gt the rmpersonator was rnherrted and no one rn the trrbe except the dancer hrmself knew who held rt Contrnued on page 'lo ?1 I II .S . I L I . I K II. ' I :I I I .ZI .. . , I I . .I I 1 1 ' ' ' Q-- v ' , 's ,V ls ' ' , I .I I II . . . I. I I I I I I I L IM. '. II. I . , . . ' . , : , r ' ' 1 ' r I . I . I , ... I . . I . I I I I I . . I .l , . . I ' I ' U . . ' r ' l . I . . . . , . largely of meat, the only part of which they cooked in water was the fat. The rest - ' L . I ' . ' y . . I I . I. I . I I V ' . . I 7 'V 1 ' v '. 1 l A . , a , v , I . . I K ' . I I . II .H . I . . . . ' . , . I . 1 I 1 y I ' a p : I u ' a 1 . . : ' V . u 3 4 . in u 1 ' I , . in ' V ' 1 - , , I I . I . ' . I I I ' . I ' V ' 'A ' v M . - . . I I I I I . I I . I . I . ' ., ' . 'I 1 ' '. v - ' ' ' . - . 9 - f ' ' - 1' I ' - 1 - - 1 2 - - - -