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We enjoyed the visit from the Woodward Elementary fourth graders. They were enthusiastic and interested, asking many questions about items in the Heisey House and the lumbering and ice cutting industry on display in the Ice/Carriage House.
We are currently selling bricks to commemorate America's birthday. See our website for ordering information! We plan a series of lectures and children's programs and we'll be sure to let you know!
Fran and Tim Decker recently donated a large collection of vintage Circus posters. Colorful and bright, they were meant to be posted around town, and few were lucky to survive the weather. After inventory and officially adding them to our collection they will be on display.
From the Collection
By Kathy Arndt
We recently received from the University a box of receipts dating from 1888-1904 that belonged to Senator Samuel Richard (S.R.) Peale and his family. S.R. and his wife Harriet lived with two of their six children, Martha and Elizabeth, at 262 N. Fairview St., the current site of Woolridge Hall on the college campus. Peale, born in Hughesville in 1830, moved to Lock Haven in 1856. He was a local attorney who specialized in business and real estate law. In addition to his legal work, Peale helped to establish the Beech Creek Railroad and open the Clearfield County coal fields, and he served one 2-year term as a Democratic state senator representing Clinton, Centre and Clearfield Counties.
The receipts reflected the family's wealth and their commitment to the local community. The Peales were active members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, faithfully paying the pew rental fee of $25 every year. Letters acknowledged S.R.'s donations to the Lock Haven Hospital and the YMCA. Harriet was a founding member of the local women's Civic Club. Both were members of the Historical Society.
Peale and his family patronized both local businesses as well as those in larger cities. Locally, he seemed often to "run a tab." Between May 1889 and July 1890, the Peales bought at least 108 items at the T.C. Hilton & Co. pharmacy which were listed on one bill. The items purchased included medicines, Neatsfoot Oil (used to soften and waterproof leather goods -- still sold at Walmart), chocolates, arsenic, Holloway's ointment and Microbe Killer (advertised as a cure for all diseases). Kamp's and Haberstroh's shoe stores were patronized as were tailor businesses such as G.W. Evans and Son and seamstresses including Sophia Haberstroh and Sue Montgomery. The gowns sewed locally generally cost less than $10 including material, thread trim and labor. The Peales also shopped at larger stores in Philadelphia and New York City such as John B. Stetson, John Wanamaker, Bergdorf Goodman and Tiffany & Co.
Senator Peale had many of the items he bought out of town shipped to Lock Haven on the train. Items that arrived by train included two horses, a row boat, flowers, a stove, many books and records with titles ranging from Les Miserables by Victor Hugo to Mother Goose Melodies and a carton of celery.
Note the address of the bakery!
The Peales were well known for their social activities. They paid the Germania Orchestra $22 to pay for a four hour party at the Lock Haven Boat Club. The family once invited 215 people for refreshments. The party was catered by A. Laedlin of Williamsport for a cost of $278.45 which included the food and servers ($1.15 ea.), round-trip train fare to Lock Haven for the 10 servers (11.50), the hotel bill ($7.50) and Mr. Hawley ($5).
One thing that S.R. Peale did not spend a lot of money on was the wages of the men who worked around his residence. Alexander Blesh, listed on his letterhead as a "carpenter, contractor and builder," worked for the Peales from 1896 to at least 1904. He and a crew put on a new roof, installed windows and sashes, built a shed and an ice house for 20 cents/hour. In 1901, he worked for six months without receiving any pay. He often bought the materials used on the job and had to wait to be reimbursed by Peale. In 1902, he did receive a pay raise to 22 cents per hour. Some workers on his crew received 17 1/2 cents per hour.
The Peales kept several horses and some chickens on their property on N. Fairview St. He paid a rental fee to a farmer for the use of a cow pasture elsewhere. He was a good customer to several veterinarians in the area. A pair of new horse shoes cost $2 and a floating teeth treatment (filing down any sharp points on a horse's teeth) was $1.25.
Unfortunately, one of S.R. Peale's horses was responsible for his death on Aug. 3, 1910. It was S.R.'s habit to take a morning ride. On that summer day, he decided to ride on the Sugar Run Road on his new horse. The horse was startled by something and reared up. Peale fell off and then the horse fell on him. Jacob Whitehouse found him while riding his bike to the Adam Dickey farm further up the road. Peale instructed him to ride to the hospital which was then located on Susquehanna Ave. for help. Calvin Armstrong was at the hospital at the time and drove to pick up Peale in his touring car. Peale's physician, Dr. Green, was summoned. Peale had suffered fractured ribs and internal injuries. He died that night at the age of 79. (The horse was uninjured.)
One can learn a lot about an individual by studying his receipts. Peale and his family played an important role in Lock Haven's history and seemed to enjoy life while doing so.