Borough of Etna - Centennial Festivities Yearbook (Etna, PA)

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.Ile ..,, r J'-y a - 4' ,,,.Y .. Y-r-ul 91- - ' , -id L 5' V- - ., s I are Lf 5.5. .fi .. , .in-' ' ' - 8 V- lg: , VF, , nm . 5- - H -rv s- -f-Sffaggr-sf-vi'-'vi ' ' , ' ,,, .Q-f'-vfrj, . ?ii?.t1fff 8 1 ll ' 1 . W,-1.7 -.,.. .. , .ea . 'l 2 -,..---1 , .. mt' A - . -, .. 'V' -v,.,-... ........r- -V ix Jacob L. Elsesser and daughter, Mrs. Anton Mell, next door to Hieber Wagon Shop. Dominant among the early nationalities were the Germans. This exodus from the Rhine Valley followed the terrible Napoleonic Wars. They desired land and political and religous freedom as well as escape from l long years of compulsory military service. They had to find homes where land was cheap and undeveloped. Among them were: the Hiebers from Wurtemburgg s i Bavaria. A few Swiss also became residents, such as members of the Zeh and Andres families. lThe Morlock Plain was developed back of Locust Street and a ceme- tery plot set aside on the hill. A leader of the German settlers was Daniel Hieber. Born in Wurtemburg, Germany in 1788, he emigrated to Philadelphia first in 1833 and then to Etna, 1835. ...annou- nee:--1 S.. Jacob Elsesser a native of Brumath in the rovince of He opened a waffon and blacksmith sho on the ro - , P n P P P Alsaceg Henry Ochse, the first burgess of Etna was erty where Ogrodnick's Funeral Home is located. It born in 1820 in the province of Hesse Cassel and the was then called Centerville. present mayor, Clarence Metzger, had progenitors from 1 . - , ,. . A. . wp Y Kg 'J1 . r -- r- ' , xxx 'al N , . , ,. ' at LT- -f V f ' Y 4 -d,,,,.,,f ..g...:L.w-,..f . xl 3 tt. ,V A i J, ...Y v l it , ' , ..-.F-T--' : .ii .1714 l i 2 x X X. ,.1 .... 8 r .W .. 1 h-at Q +P-Q1 1 c - 1 , I -. 3199 .1-ff is 1- . H V ' 1 N X f-sf N---0 7 f. gi ,. A V I I I X :Em--. -..f ..T.....-.-.,,. ,..., '--- 1' . lg. ' T ' . .V 'fli Q -- 'N . l fm 1 fi l ' hi. til ' . -ff so A L. 2 1 was ..-4 .,, E 1 r M X . g 1 fa-The . Q '7 -f' , , '. ' F 'A ' t ' -1 ' LX 'l xg 1 ga ' 1 - ' yi N- .1 ' V - K4 i 1 'l as . - . 1- ip -aa its 5 , gstaf A ,J , . -. V-L 1 . ,L 'rf ' ' . ' .1 , ,Q ff: . -4 an .1 4 4 'J-J 1? ' i 'Y l V, 1 N if V VA 1 A, I' I - ' V 1 1 A ' 1 ' Q. ' 5'f'lLT'i , 'f2+, jf-f - 'fa t f U ' ' ' .-14 - -I V 'u -fm. 5... . . A l , '-if Y f r Vp-si, P-' Wagon shop of Dgu1ie'l'HT6IlEl'.- boy second from left is John Sandrock f1881J. hrsight was Otto Schultz, former Prussian mercenary, married to Loretta Hieher. S - K. .,,V . mall I9

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tv ,f-e'T 'i' W ' ' ak. . , N p wma ,gp by 3 --, 99426 Freeport Street. Duane lll,'f'lxH11tIl has produced deeds for three lots extending from Freeport Road back to Strawberry Alley. Owners in order of purchase are: Wilkins. David D. Anderson. Jabez Williams. Robert Chessman. John Campbell. Jacob Keil and Peter Heck- man. Heckman purchased the lots. April 9. 1861- for seven hundred dollars. Born 1816. in Kurkessen. he came to Etna in 1854. and worked at Spangs Chalfant Company. The original accounts showing services rendered are in good condition. An account of April 1855. shows that he worked for thirty days at eighty- seven cents per day for a total of 526.2-1. In 1858 the account lists TOM days at seventy-five cents per day for a total of 552.68 The Civil War had an inflationary effect. ln April 1863, wages rose to 951.16 and in June of the same year to 51.25 per day. Emerson F. Heckman lives at 424 Freeport and Mrs. Nicholas Trdina at 45526 Freeport, on the original property. Robert Chessman proved to be a wise developer of the old Stewart holdings. He was born in New Hamp- shire in 1820 and lived until 1889. Members of his family came to Pittsburgh in 1835 and he and his brother. Samuel. learned to cut nails. By 1838 he was employed at Henry S. Spangis Iron Works and was married to Maria Stewart. He became owner of the 'SBlue Housew property and laid out plans of lots in addition to running an omnibus service to Pittsburgh. He built a brick cottage at Union Street near Bridge. Their daughter. Harriet. recalled as a child hearing the swearing of the mule 'drivers on the tow path of the Pennsylvania Canal. She also told of the yells of the carousing Indians returning from the sale of furs and rafts. Rafts were broken up at Slabtown located about where Butler Street connects with Route 79528. Harriet married Alex Smith and told these stories to her granddaughter. Marguerite Agnew Sandrock, CMrs. Charles Sandrockl. I8 NUR NEW BY-PASS PETER HECKMAN lttt Ill III ll tl In , !. PETER HECKMAN PROPERTY 1.1-4.01 .... 777 .-Y---,

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V, ,, -1 N l Bf Mil 'P,.f-.- an , .sadne- f KITE HILL-SITE OF ETNA HIGH SCHOOL The hill pictured here is the present location of Etna ,round of the neirhhorhood. The area from Hicfh Street Sfjffflfllftg north to Pine Creek was the property rf Norman Span. This later heeame the Spanff Plan and Albert D. Jones rememhers aeeompanyini his father, who was arent for the development company, when he plaffefl the numhered pe for the lots 'trout If 5. The lJlfflUl'f ins preserxer lay the fort-si. ht of tin Fisher who lrougght at pu li- auction many ol the 9 , V X J, my s f ' . li it W 4 T High School. It was called Kite Hill and was a play- .Q ,H f' D 4 C . gg C 2, f H . Qs - rl ll 1 1 f l f gg xlrl Q ln 1 20 glass negatives sold at the dissolution of the Charles Eiszler Store, 1967. The Spang Plan was started about 1908 and developed slowly as the country was not over the Panic of 1907. Many today will recognize it as the site of the Etna High School. At this time the Spang home was moved from the vicinity of the playground to its present position where it is known as the '4Chalfant Housew and owned by the women's clubs. N t t l s