THE HISTORY OF SMITHTON, PENNSYLVANIA FROM 1800 TO 1950
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For 60 years the mill on the river ground steadily on, interrupted only once when ice and water swept part of it away. It was repaired and business continued until 1860 when ice and high water again carried part of it away. For a time, George Smith, Samuel’s son, ran a sorghum mill at the site of the old grist mill. The farmers raised their own cane. At the mill the punce was pressed out and boiled down into molasses. Some was made into sugar. The cane, after the juice was pressed out floated down the river. In 1868 another industry was begun which continued until 1904 or 1905. A paper mill was built by John H. Smith. A coarse brown wrapping paper was manufactured from straw, rags and rope. Oats and rye straw was hauled from farms within a radius of several miles, and in the fall of the year there would be acres of stacks around the paper mill and down along the river. It was the delight of the children of that day to play in the “straw yard” and slide down the stacks. The paper mill operated day and night, employees about ten men on a shift. Rags and rope were cup up and cooked into a mess called “stock” into which the straw was mixed. The paper was made and formed on wool felt, which was very expensive. By 1904 the Youghiogheny River became so polluted by sulphur and other minerals and acids, and consequently so destructive to these wool felts, that the industry had to be abandoned. Saul Smith and Frank Smith were the last to operate the paper mill. The first building, a two story frame structure, was blown down during a wind storm. It was replaced by a long, low brick building which has been converted to various uses through the years since it served as the paper mill. It was finally razed by the Pritts Feed and Supply Company and a new addition to their plant has been erected on the site. Meanwhile, the generations of the founding fathers were growing. Samuel Smith became the father of seven children, four of whom became important figures in the growth and progress of the community. These were Julia Ann (wife of J. D. Hough), Joseph B., George, and John H. In 1870 Samuel Smith died at the age of 68, and his estate passed into the hands of his heirs. Five years later, in 1875, they laid the town out in building lots. They could not possibly have foreseen the Automobile Age, but they could hardly have made a better plan if they had known what was to develop in the future. Our broad streets are unequalled in any other town in this part of the state. Later, in about 1893, the sons of John H. Smith, Samuel and Joseph, laid out the eastern end of town, beginning at Smithfield Street. For more than a half century Old Brick was the nearest church. Eventually, during the late 1860’s, a Universalist minister named Bacon came from the New England states. His doctrine was accepted by enough of the residents of the vicinity to warrant the establishment of a church. The first services were held in Mineral School, until the church could be built.
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