Pitcairn High School - Retrospect Yearbook (Pitcairn, PA)

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As for the land west of the McGinnis farm, we have seen that in 1794 it was owned by Dunning McNair. Later McNair made sale of the acreage to James lieeds, who finally completed the title and secured a patent from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1806. Soon thereafter in 1807 James Leeds and his wife, Isabella, transferred the farm to William Steele. Steele owned the tract for ten years. dur- ing which time he erected a substantial log dwelling house, two double barns and a milk house. This log dwelling built about 1812, is still standing in the rear of the present Toohill property on NVall Avenue, north of VVood Street and is the oldest building in Pitcairn, being 132 years old. Willianl Steele made his home on the farm for 13 years when Michael Wall became the owner in 1820. ln the deed to Wall the tract is described as containing 300 acres on which are erected a dwelling house, two double barns, and a milk house, and of which about 130 acres are cleared. Before closing the story of our first century we might, with profit, recall the way of life in those log cabins of long ago. Could we find a key that would unlock the door of one of those cabins of the pioneers, we would find ourselves in a different world. Few of the present-day conveniences were known. The log house was built in a small clearing near a spring, the water from which served many purposes. For family use, water was carried into the cabin in rude home-made wooden pails. Just below the spring was the spring house, through which the water flowed in a wooden or stone drain, which, filled with crocks of milk and butter, was the only cool- ing system of that early day. ln the earliest cabins window glass was un- known, the only light from the outside com- ing through greased paper panes cut through the low walls. The roof was built of rough split slabs known as clapboards which were about four feet long and six inches wide. The door of the cabin was made likewise of split wood. It hung on wooden hinges and when closed was fastened by an inside latch. To this latch was attached a leather strap, made of bear or deer skin, which during the daytime extended through a hole in the door, and hung on the outside so that anyone entering could pull the leather cord and lift the inside latch. At night this latch was pulled inside so that no one could enter. This gave rise to the old-time expression of friendly greeting to neighboring settlers, Our latchstring hangs out for you. The cabi11s were generally built 0116 and one-half stories in height, the chief living room being on the ground fioor with a second floor room under the roof. The only access to the upper floor was from the outside by pins driven into the logs forming a ladder from the ground to an upstairs window. Taking up almost an entire end of the cabin was the chimney or fireplace built of rough stones. In this fireplace hung pots and skillets in which food was prepared. The only heat in the cabin came from this fire- place with the result that most of the heat went up the chimney, and while benches near the fireplace were blistered by the heat, water in buckets at the other end of the cabin would be solidly frozen. There being no schools, children were taught to read and write by their parents. How- ever, since so many of the first settlers were u11able to so teach their children, it is not strange that many of the young folks grew up in total ignorance of books. Religious services were held occasionally by preachers, called circuit riders, who at long intervals rode into the clearings on horseback. Returning to purely local history it would seem that the first John McGinnis had a vision of a tow11 built on his extensive plantation. Making his vision come to pass, he laid out a plan of seven lots at the cross roads where the Tilbrook Road crossed the Great State Road, across from the present southern e11d of Brin- ton Avenue. Lots in the place, known as Mc- Ginnisville, were offered for sale i11 1841 and in a short time all were sold. Soon three well- built log houses and a black smith shop con- stituted our earliest village. These log cabins have long since been removed a11d in their stead stands the present row of dwellings on tl1e south side of upper Broadway. It is worthy to 11ote in our history that of the builders and residents of these log houses in McGinnisville. more than a century ago, in each case descendants of these early build- ers still live in our town. These three early families were the Barrs, Nasers, and Glews. CContinued on page 195 .fefventefn

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7 Borough Building, Light Plant, Police Department and Hose Company No. 1 I Interior of Light Plant Borough Employees sixteen W. B. BEST, Electrician F irst Row-E. M. Border, Henry 0. Loop, Charles R King, J. D. Rice. Sevond Row-Roy Hector, N. N. Mills, G. J. Stromcr August St1'OSCllCl11l.

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,of eauncllf GROVER C, IQING XVILLIAM E. IQANE C. S. MILIAER Secretary President Solicitor eighteen W. M. HICKS E. E. SUMMERS J. C. MCGINNIS S. H. SNEE E. C. HILLIARD L. H. DEVINEY