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FIRST TINNER
The first tinnier in the town was Phineas Compton. This occupation
was a very important one in these earlier years. Tradition relates
that he was a maker of squirrel rifles. However, records would indicate
that the rifles he made were for his own use and much time had been spent
perfection them. |
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POTTERY
A pottery was established in 1809 by Peter Welfley on the present
location of Diehl's Variety Store. He also built a good log house
upon the corner where the Lichliter & C0. store is now located. |
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TANNERY
The first tannery was operated by Michael Dively. He was born
in Berlin, Somerset County in 1783. He learned the tanner's trade
in Berlin with his father, Martin Dively. In 1806, Michael Dively,
settled in Salisbury. He entered the war of 1812 as a sergeant and
served one year. From that year until 1812 he received several military
promotions. In that year he was elected brigadier general of the 12th
division, composed of Bedford, Somerset and Cambria counties. |
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HARNESS MAKING
Arthur McKinley, was born in Hancock, Maryland, in 1809. He came
to Salisbury in 1844, and engaged in harness making, which occupation he
followed for a considerable number of years. He was appointed postmaster
in 1870, but resigned in 1872, in favor of his son. |
A MASTER AX-MAKER
Records and tradition definitely indicate that few men have given so much
to the men with whom they worked and their fellowmen, as a whole, as did
"Axie" Yoder, better known as the "Famous Ax Maker".
Obviously, it will be understood that although much can be said about this
man, we must be brief. Just how many "apprentices" with whom this master
Ax-Maker shared his knowledge, we are not certain. We list the names
of those called to our attention: Aaron Schrock, David Frankhauser,
John Swartzentruber, Samuel Judy, Gabriel Schrock, Leonard Berkley, John Yowler,
Joseph Weimer, George Lichty, Benjamin J. Yoder (Axie's son), Thomas Moore,
George Coleman, Michael Koontz, Jerome Bowman and Jeremiah Livengood.
Mr. Yoder kept the records of the axes he made and tempered for his apprentices.:
MADE BY:
Mr. Yoder --------------4,550
Michael Koontz----------2,200
David Frankhauser ------- 360
John Swartzentruber--------200
Samuel Judy----------------700
Gabriel Schrock------------900
Leonard Berkley------------200
John Yowler--------------1,112
Joseph Weimer---------------25
George Lichty---------------426
B.J. Yoder------------------418
Thomas Moore---------------29
George Coleman----------1,195
TOTAL: 12,355 |
SALISBURY NEWSPAPER
In 1871, George H. Suhrie and Luther A. Smith established the first newspaper
in the town. It was known as The Salisbury Independent. A considerable
number of copies of this paper are in existence today. Needless to
say, these copies are treasured by their owners. About a year after
being established, the Salisbury Independent was moved to Meyersdale, where
it was printed under a different name. Finally, it was succeeded by
another newspaper. During the later 1880's Daniel F. Coleman established
The Salisbury News Letter. William Petry also conducted a newspaper
in Salisbury for a short time. However, both of these newspapers were
short lived. There are no known copies of these papers. On December
10, 1891, the Somerset County Star was established by Peter L. Livengood.
On May 1st, 1909, he sold the paper to Robert H. Johnston of Salisbury, who
conducted it for a number of years until 1928.
*visit the Meyersdale Library for microfilm |
SALISBURY AND THE MAPLE INDUSTRY
(1962)
Salisbury is actually the heart of the Maple Industry of the Somerset County,
Pennsylvania - Garret County, Maryland area. Two thirds of the maple
syrup and maple products produced in this area comes from camps within a ten
mile radius of the town. The greatest concentration of trees in the
area lies in the Tubb Mill Run Valley, just west of the town. The whole
area except for a few small groves lies between Laurel Mountain and the Allegheny
Mountain, and extends northward to the Lincoln Highway and southward through
Garrett County, Maryland into West Virginia.
At one time Garrett County, Maryland produced more maple syrup than Elk
Lick Township camps, but now the Salisbury area leads the way. The
Somerset County part of this area does not produce as much as the northwestern
part of the state.
In a peak year of 1931, the J. C. Lichliter & Co., of Salisbury, who
are the largest handlers of gallon lots in the area, handled more than 17
carloads of syrup and maple sugar, which at today's (1962) prices would be
worth three quarters of a million dollars. |
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THE STANDARD EXTRACT WORKS
the Standard Extract Works, built at West Salisbury, in 1888, at the cost
of $60,000 was probably the second greatest industry in the community in
the late 1800's. Their business was the extraction of certain chemical
properties from the chestnut wood that was used in tanning. It was
one of the most modern plants of its kind, and gave employment to a large
number of individuals in cutting ahd hauling the time to the plant as well
as employment in the plant itself. The Plant was destroyed by fire
in 1892, and was never rebuilt. |
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THE SALISBURY FOUNDRY
Among the early industries that employed more than the members of a single
family, was The Salisbury Foundry, which was located on the plot of land
which was occupied by the McClure Service Station. It was established
in 1868 when the plant of the Berlin Foundry was moved to Salisbury.
From an old account book, there were twenty-one stock holders, all residing
within the community. This would indicated wholehearted cooperation
on the part of the local community. |
THE OTTO BRICK AND TILE WORKS
The Otto Brick and Tile Works near Springs was founded by D. D. Otto in
1902, and came about as the result of a community need and popular demand.
In the late nineties there had been several brick factories in the southern
half of the county. The Keystone plant, and that of the late Frank
Black Sr. in Meyersdale: The Statler plant west of Garrett, and the Miller
plant near Rockwood. All of these had closed down by 1900 - a fact
which suggests that brick making was not too prosperous a business in those
days. John and Joe Knecht of West Salisbury purchased the brick machinery
when it was dismantled, and undertook to make brick, but soon gave it up
because the clay of that locality was not suitable for making brick and for
a time there were no brick plants in the vicinity.
When the Knecht brothers gave up making brick, they, as well as many others
encouraged Mr. Otto to try his hand at it, who at that time owned a small
farm and was also in partnership with Samuel Baker in cutting a track of chestnut
timber for delivery to the dye plant in West Salisbury. Among those
who were especially interested in having this enterprise started were Gideon
Miller, local minister and machinist, F. W. Bender, merchant, and Henry Bittinger,
stone mason. Thus encouraged by his friends, Mr. Otto decided to investigate
the clay possibilities on his little farm. Finding a very good grade
of clay, he purchased the brick machinery briefly used by the Knect Brothers,
and proceeded to build a brick factory. |
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SALISBURY UNDERGARMENT COMPANY
The Salisbury Undergarment Company, Inc. came to Salisbury in 1948, as
the direct result of contacts made by the Industrial Committee of the Salisbury
Lions Club. A pilot plant was established in the Grange Hall on Ord
street, in which new employees were instructed in the use of the company's
machinery. The Lion's Club members sold bonds to build a plant for
the company, and then organized the bondholders into the Salisbury Industrial
Association, Inc. to carry out the construction plants. The new building
on Union Street was completed and turned over to the company on December
7, 1949. |
UNDERTAKERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Ferdinand Breig was the first on record who served this area in building
coffins and assisting in the burial of the dead. His place of business
was on Ord Street. He was a carpenter by trade and in business with
his brother Ambrose Breig and brother-in-law, Henry DeHaven. They
built most of the buildings in the area during the period of 1850 to 1870
including St. Paul's Wilhelm Church.
Samuel Lowry was the next undertaker who served the Salisbury area.
His place of business was on Grant Street. Samuel Lowry was a wagon
maker, cabinet maker, justice of the peace and undertaker. He was
the first to practice embalming as it was then understood. He probably
started to practice undertaking about 1868 and carried a full line of coffins
and later caskets. He was also the first to use a hearse in Salisbury.
He took his son in the business with him about 1880. Samuel Lowry
died in 1910.
Harry McCulloh was the next undertaker to open for business in Salisbury
about 1885. In June of 1899 he purchased the Harriet Weaver lot on
Grant Street (known as Calamus Patch) and in July of that year broke ground
for the erection of a new undertaking shop and furniture store, with upstairs
living quarters. Harry McCulloh was an experienced embalmer for his
day and from old records it would appear that he did good work and carried
a full line of funeral merchandise and his equipment was the best available
at the time. He had a partner in the furniture business by the name
of Johnson.
From about 1910 to 1935 the Salisbury area was served by funeral directors
from Meyersdale and Grantsville. In November 1935 Stanley M. Thomas
opened the Thomas Funeral Home on the corner of Grant and Ord streets.
Old Montevue House, built in 1852 my Michael Hay
Thomas Funeral Home
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