THE HISTORY OF SMITHTON, PENNSYLVANIA FROM 1800 TO 1950
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Before its establishment the only store was below the bridge where the first house on the left of the B.&O. tracks stands. John H. Smith kept store here, and later Andrew Reed, who distributed the mail as Mr. Smith had done, was storekeeper, undertaker, and revenue collector. Another of Mr. Reed’s enterprises was the driving of turkeys on foot to market in Pittsburgh. He bought them from local farmers, clipped their wings, and when he had a flock of about fifty he started out on the long journey to the city. Mr. Smith and Mr. Reed handled the mail as an accomodation to their customers. The post office was at Fitz Henry, and the first person going down that way brought back the mail for the Smith’s Mills folks. It was left at the store and people called for it there. Now the situation is reversed, as Fitz Henry mail comes to Smithton. The first post office was in the grain warehouse which once stood across from the store mentioned above. Squire Joseph Smith was the first postmaster, who was succeeded by William McCune, assisted by R. F. Smith and N. E. Rhoades. Later the office was transferred to the store now on the corner of First Street and Peer, at present owned by G. W. Morrow. L. H. Young was the postmaster at that time. He was succeeded by Irwin Smith, who was followed by G. W. Torrence. At that time the postoffice was in a different location next door to the hotel at the east end of First Street. Saul Smith succeeded Mr. Torrence and served for nine years. In 1922 Herman Raithel received the appointment and served twelve and a half years. R. R. Lynn served from November 1, 1934 to June 1, 1937, The name of the town was changed from Smith’s Mills to Smithton when the town got its first postoffice, in 1882. The Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1885, and the Catholic Church in 1900. The latter was a handsome structure of red brick located at the southern end of Smithfield Street, where its steeple towered over the town. In February of 1905 it was destroyed by fire. Only the stone foundation remained. It was repaired to serve as the church and did so for fortyfive years. At long last, under the leadership of Rev. Francis Gresko, a fine church was built. The first service in the new Saint Timothy’s Roman Catholic Church was held on Easter Sunday morning, April ninth, 1950. It faces Peer Street, between Second and Third Streets. The congregation of the Free Methodist began to dwindle about 1895 and in 1910 services were discontinued. In 1930 the Lutheran congregation bought the building. After an extensive repairing and beautification program it opened its doors as The Hope Memorial Lutheran Church. The first school building in the town was the one room we know as Number 1. It was built in 1892 and was so crowded the first year that in 1893 Number 2 was added. In a very short time the two rooms were overcrowded, and the seventh and eighth grades went to school down in town where Hepler’s, store now stands.
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