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(Continued from rage one) haul only about seven cars of ore and a coach to Tyrone because of the hard grade. Carnegie’s first foreman was James Pierpont who left in the spring of 1882 to go into business for himself at Tow Hill. After Pierpont came Leon. Bullion, a Scotchman, from Pittsburgh, but he left in 1886. After Bullion, Daniel Clemson was superintendent until 1889 when he went to Pittsburgh. He worked for the United States Steel company and became quite wealthy before his death. The next superintendent was Frank Clemson, who remained in charge until several years after Carnegie sold the mines. Carnegie closed the mines in 1899 because he got posession of Lake ore mines where no stripping was required and the ore had a much larger percentage of iron and per haps less phosphorus. In 1900 the Scotia mines were sold to the Bellefonte Furnace company who bought Red Bank at the same time. The Bellefonte Central railroad was at once extended from Waddle to Scotia and the ore was shipped to the Nittany Furnace at Belle fonte and the Collins Furnace near Coleville. They bought the machinery and the outfit from Carnegie and start ed operation in two days after the deal was closed. In this way they kept the same men. Frank Clemson remained as superintendent until 1901 or 1902. Then D. F. Kapp acted as superintendent until December, 1904, when he left to take charge of ‘a bank in State College. After Mr. Kapp. Henry Valentine was super intendent, oo, on January 17, 1908 the washer was burned. The workers were at once rebuilt and work again started in August, but the mine closed per manently in February, 1909. The outfit was scrapped. In 1911 many of the houses were sold and hauled away. In 1921 the railroad was tak en up. . Laird Curtin of Bellefonte bought the place and took out some lump ore during the summers of 1917 and 1918, which he shipped by the way of Tyrone to the furnace at Curtin. He employed eight men and two mules, and hauled the ore in carts to the railroad cars. Since then no ore has been mined. In 1923 Major Theodore Boal bought the houses and ground for $2500, except the ore rights which belong to Major Cur tin of Bellefonte. James Thompson and his brother, William, ran a store for some years. Later they employed William Mitch ell, who is now in Lemont as a clerk. Afterwards they sold the store to Matterns. At one time there were three stores in Scotia, Carnegie nev er had a company store. The men were paid their money at regular times and after they had paid out what they needed, if they desired they could bring back what they had left and receive six per cent interest on it. This money could be checked out by the men whenever needed, provided sufficient notice was given to have the money ready, although small amounts could be obtained at any time. He urged his men to save their money. When Carnegie left Scotia he of fered jobs to all the men who would go to the Pittsburgh district, but only five went. He gave a pension to all men who worked for him 20 years, and they were forced to re tire at 70 years of age. Carnegie paid various wages at Scotia, often a dol lar or a dollar and a quarter a day, but during Cleveland’s administrat ion it was 90 cents and only four day a week, but during that time Carnegie took no rent from men who lived in his houses. Scotia had a Methodist church and a two room school. The town ship employed two teachers, paying them the regular salary given in the township. Carnegie paid an equal amount to the principal which thus made his salary double that of other teachers. Jacob Rhone was for many years the principal. He was a grad uate of a New York College and also of a law school in which he was a classmate of William McKinley. The school had a high standing but extended only to the eighth grade. Many pupils were well-pre pared for high school. At one time Scotia had the best band in Centre County, Carnegie built the hall and furnished all the musical instru ments. At one time Carnegie fixed up a social hall of about four rooms in the second floor of the building. On the first floor was the store, and post office, billard and pool tables, cards magazines, and other library furnishings were provided. This was abused and had to be discontin ued. Scotia was never a tough place. The people lived happily together like one big family. There were few quarrels and little drinking. There were very few floating laborers. It is said that at one time to obtain a job at Scotia a person had to wait until Someone died. The people did not move, away until forced to do so, and a few still remain in what, to them, is still the best place on earth. There are still enough dogs left in the locality so that a large number always surround a stranger as he approaches the one time vill age. In one way, and another many men were killed at Scotia. The bank fell in and killed one man. A fore man fell from a trestle. William Heberling, one of the first prospect ors, Was run over by mine cars. A boy fell off a trestle and was killed. When you have a job to do, stick to it, not until the last ditch, but un til the last ditch is surmounted.
Newspaper Details
Tyrone Daily Herald
Tyrone, Pennsylvania, US
Tue, Aug 03, 1937
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 24 Jun 2026
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