“October Surprises”
by Terry Priest
by Terry Priest
I would like to divulge my bias of all things Johnstown to my readers, so that you know that I am being as unfair and unbalanced as possible before you start reading this particular article.
From the Johnstown Independent April 23, 1891 appeared this very opinionated bit of local news: “In many respects the most important change in Johnstown is now being made. For fifty years the old stable of the American House has stood prominent and conspicuous, being located immediately opposite the Opera House and park. Aside from its lack of beauty, it has long been a public nuisance and stink hole. The odor that has been wafted to you would impress a stranger strongly that half the town was dead and the remaining half too poor to bury the other. The stable is being moved by Ed Tompkins, and , while it will not be located as far from Main street as it should be, it is a decided improvement. With the stable away and a sewer in the pond, we look for less fever and better health.”
A few fact checks are needed here. First the stable might have been there in 1841 across from the park; the town square was in fact just that - a grassy area until Elijah Barton constructed the Monroe Township Hall there in 1885. In the sketch above the stable would have been to the left of the American House and probably not even pictured. The stable might have been a nuisance to those attending the Opera house for only the prior six years and not fifty. The moving of the stable might have set a precedent, so the city fathers could move at the turn of the century the 1888 brick jail on the southwest corner of the park yard to the new location on Pratt Street.
The ear pollution from drunk and profane ramblings of tenants would make shopping in the downtown more civil. The smell had already been improved by the removal of the stable. It would still be a while before there were no more hitching posts on the square. Horses like children should be seen and not smelled.
It is difficult in a small community to speak out about a public ill so the contributor of this news article piqued my curiosity about this American House. I am still collecting information about it and I thought I would share a few interesting facts about it.
It is not reported until October 13, 1910 that Horton J. Buxton was born in the Old Buxton House, later known as the American House in Johnstown on September 29, 1838.
Abbie M. French, born October 28, 1829 in Granville, passed away in 1906 at the age of 77 years. Her father came to Johnstown in 1849 and he was the proprietor of what we know as the Old American Hotel from 1849-1863, one of the finest in our little city. She was the caretaker and manager of the French Inn until her death in 1906. The Inn was perhaps next to the Presbyterian Church.
In 1856 William H. Clemens operated the American House.
In 1885 A. T. Germain was the proprietor, a tinner named Charles Germain had a business there, and customers paid $4 per week to stay there, and on Saturday 34 sat down to dinner. On May 14 , 1885 the news reported: “The American House is booming under the management of Mr. A. T. Germain and he is evidently the right man in the right place. He sets a good table and had more boarders than he knows want to do with. Fred Stevenson is working at the American House, ‘Hotel, sir?’”
On June 11, 1885 the report was that Chas. Germain sent a fellow from the front door of the American House, one evening last week with a force so strong that had it not been overcome by gravity, he would probably be going yet. When they don’t know their places, Chas. Does ‘em up a la Sullivan with neatness and despatch’ (sic) Another concern was that Bandy Stevens was working again at the American House and a suspicious traveling salesman was there.
It was with Independent pride that “we had the pleasure of footing the bill for another tramp printer at the American House this week.”
W.S. Taylor physician and surgeon maintained an office on the second floor opposite [west side of Main Street] the American House. This would be near where Welles and Freas had their barber shop.
Advertisements of that year were “Try the American House”, “Best accommodations at the American House”, “Go to the American House for a good square meal”, “Board by day or by week at the American House”, “American House try it for luck”.
In January 0f 1887 The Old American House is to be remodeled from cellar to garret. It is hoped it will present a more inviting appearance than it has for the past few years. Mr. Carter has moved his family with him into the American House and is repairing it. By February D.F. Palmer has move his meat shop in. In April George Smothers has taken possession and will keep boarders. In May the American House is to have new occupants. The post office will be moved into the old bar room. The Independent has moved into the north hall. These rooms have all been fitted over and present quite an appearance.In June Frank Crawford has moved in.
In January 1889 the American House still stands and laughs at fires, storms, and disgusted people. In April S C Hill has bought the American House livery stable and will continue business until the first of Sept. In May 1889 a druggist was found dead in bed.
In Sept. of 1892 the Independent Office has been undergoing some much needed repair during the past week. Paper and paint do a great work and we are now as tidy as anyone. Of course you will want to drop in to see us and renew your subscription. Later that same month the Old American House sign that has welcomed the traveler for half a century or more was cut down last week by Royal Kasson. The bar room is now the place to pay your subscriptions and once where the tables groaned beneath roast pig, mutton, and turkey, the devil now groan at the sight of the pile of papers they have to run off each week.
It is noted October 12, that Mrs. Dell Tippett who occupied a portion of the old American House as a family residence has moved into the Buxton House adjoining the schoolhouse, owned by Royal Kasson.
On Sept 6 of 1894 a quiet wedding took place in the parlor of the Old American House last night. The contracting parties being Dr. E.A. Thrall and Miss Estella Holmes of Shadesville, The ceremony was performed by Rev. Samuel Rankin and witnessed by the brother of the bride and a few others.
In May 1896 the Council approved to pay the sewer bond on district #6 which finally liquidates [great word choice] the indebtedness incurred by the building of the sewer to drain the big pond near the Old American House.
In 1896 Royal Kasson broke sod for his new block on the site of the Old American Hotel where the Independent Office burned up in October 1892. The new block will be 45’ x 70’, a full two stories and a frame metal roof building. It will completely fill the vacant lot between Johnson’s Barber Shop and Mrs. Cole’s Millinery. [Perhaps where the stable used to be in 1891?]
Next door to the south was the One Price Store of R. Kasson and Son.
M. Bradrich has commended the erection of three brick business rooms on the lots which the Rusler block formerly stood. This will add greatly to the appearance of Main Street. The three rooms will have a front of 70 feet.
On April 8, 1897. The remains of Mrs. Daisy McMillen of near the Panhandle Crossing were brought here Thursday and interred. She was 28 years old and died of consumption. Her father William McMillen formerly kept the Old American House in the village.
The June 6, 1904 fire destroyed 22 store buildings. On June 12, 1905 the Old American House site gets a new remembrance. “The White Cross Lodge determined to buy a double lot and build a block that would be an ornament to the town and a credit to the order. Agreeably to this conclusion the site of the Old American House was purchased and the work of the rebuilding promptly begun.”
I am so confident that this once proud building which serviced so many purposes would at least be worth of a little recognition. I do not think it will be remembered in a Cat’s Meow. Just know that there is pictorial proof in Johnstown history. Think about the American House when you cast your ballot.
From the Johnstown Independent April 23, 1891 appeared this very opinionated bit of local news: “In many respects the most important change in Johnstown is now being made. For fifty years the old stable of the American House has stood prominent and conspicuous, being located immediately opposite the Opera House and park. Aside from its lack of beauty, it has long been a public nuisance and stink hole. The odor that has been wafted to you would impress a stranger strongly that half the town was dead and the remaining half too poor to bury the other. The stable is being moved by Ed Tompkins, and , while it will not be located as far from Main street as it should be, it is a decided improvement. With the stable away and a sewer in the pond, we look for less fever and better health.”
A few fact checks are needed here. First the stable might have been there in 1841 across from the park; the town square was in fact just that - a grassy area until Elijah Barton constructed the Monroe Township Hall there in 1885. In the sketch above the stable would have been to the left of the American House and probably not even pictured. The stable might have been a nuisance to those attending the Opera house for only the prior six years and not fifty. The moving of the stable might have set a precedent, so the city fathers could move at the turn of the century the 1888 brick jail on the southwest corner of the park yard to the new location on Pratt Street.
The ear pollution from drunk and profane ramblings of tenants would make shopping in the downtown more civil. The smell had already been improved by the removal of the stable. It would still be a while before there were no more hitching posts on the square. Horses like children should be seen and not smelled.
It is difficult in a small community to speak out about a public ill so the contributor of this news article piqued my curiosity about this American House. I am still collecting information about it and I thought I would share a few interesting facts about it.
It is not reported until October 13, 1910 that Horton J. Buxton was born in the Old Buxton House, later known as the American House in Johnstown on September 29, 1838.
Abbie M. French, born October 28, 1829 in Granville, passed away in 1906 at the age of 77 years. Her father came to Johnstown in 1849 and he was the proprietor of what we know as the Old American Hotel from 1849-1863, one of the finest in our little city. She was the caretaker and manager of the French Inn until her death in 1906. The Inn was perhaps next to the Presbyterian Church.
In 1856 William H. Clemens operated the American House.
In 1885 A. T. Germain was the proprietor, a tinner named Charles Germain had a business there, and customers paid $4 per week to stay there, and on Saturday 34 sat down to dinner. On May 14 , 1885 the news reported: “The American House is booming under the management of Mr. A. T. Germain and he is evidently the right man in the right place. He sets a good table and had more boarders than he knows want to do with. Fred Stevenson is working at the American House, ‘Hotel, sir?’”
On June 11, 1885 the report was that Chas. Germain sent a fellow from the front door of the American House, one evening last week with a force so strong that had it not been overcome by gravity, he would probably be going yet. When they don’t know their places, Chas. Does ‘em up a la Sullivan with neatness and despatch’ (sic) Another concern was that Bandy Stevens was working again at the American House and a suspicious traveling salesman was there.
It was with Independent pride that “we had the pleasure of footing the bill for another tramp printer at the American House this week.”
W.S. Taylor physician and surgeon maintained an office on the second floor opposite [west side of Main Street] the American House. This would be near where Welles and Freas had their barber shop.
Advertisements of that year were “Try the American House”, “Best accommodations at the American House”, “Go to the American House for a good square meal”, “Board by day or by week at the American House”, “American House try it for luck”.
In January 0f 1887 The Old American House is to be remodeled from cellar to garret. It is hoped it will present a more inviting appearance than it has for the past few years. Mr. Carter has moved his family with him into the American House and is repairing it. By February D.F. Palmer has move his meat shop in. In April George Smothers has taken possession and will keep boarders. In May the American House is to have new occupants. The post office will be moved into the old bar room. The Independent has moved into the north hall. These rooms have all been fitted over and present quite an appearance.In June Frank Crawford has moved in.
In January 1889 the American House still stands and laughs at fires, storms, and disgusted people. In April S C Hill has bought the American House livery stable and will continue business until the first of Sept. In May 1889 a druggist was found dead in bed.
In Sept. of 1892 the Independent Office has been undergoing some much needed repair during the past week. Paper and paint do a great work and we are now as tidy as anyone. Of course you will want to drop in to see us and renew your subscription. Later that same month the Old American House sign that has welcomed the traveler for half a century or more was cut down last week by Royal Kasson. The bar room is now the place to pay your subscriptions and once where the tables groaned beneath roast pig, mutton, and turkey, the devil now groan at the sight of the pile of papers they have to run off each week.
It is noted October 12, that Mrs. Dell Tippett who occupied a portion of the old American House as a family residence has moved into the Buxton House adjoining the schoolhouse, owned by Royal Kasson.
On Sept 6 of 1894 a quiet wedding took place in the parlor of the Old American House last night. The contracting parties being Dr. E.A. Thrall and Miss Estella Holmes of Shadesville, The ceremony was performed by Rev. Samuel Rankin and witnessed by the brother of the bride and a few others.
In May 1896 the Council approved to pay the sewer bond on district #6 which finally liquidates [great word choice] the indebtedness incurred by the building of the sewer to drain the big pond near the Old American House.
In 1896 Royal Kasson broke sod for his new block on the site of the Old American Hotel where the Independent Office burned up in October 1892. The new block will be 45’ x 70’, a full two stories and a frame metal roof building. It will completely fill the vacant lot between Johnson’s Barber Shop and Mrs. Cole’s Millinery. [Perhaps where the stable used to be in 1891?]
Next door to the south was the One Price Store of R. Kasson and Son.
M. Bradrich has commended the erection of three brick business rooms on the lots which the Rusler block formerly stood. This will add greatly to the appearance of Main Street. The three rooms will have a front of 70 feet.
On April 8, 1897. The remains of Mrs. Daisy McMillen of near the Panhandle Crossing were brought here Thursday and interred. She was 28 years old and died of consumption. Her father William McMillen formerly kept the Old American House in the village.
The June 6, 1904 fire destroyed 22 store buildings. On June 12, 1905 the Old American House site gets a new remembrance. “The White Cross Lodge determined to buy a double lot and build a block that would be an ornament to the town and a credit to the order. Agreeably to this conclusion the site of the Old American House was purchased and the work of the rebuilding promptly begun.”
I am so confident that this once proud building which serviced so many purposes would at least be worth of a little recognition. I do not think it will be remembered in a Cat’s Meow. Just know that there is pictorial proof in Johnstown history. Think about the American House when you cast your ballot.