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From: "Candace Roth" <>
Subject: Post Offices of Bedford Co., PA 1900
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 13:22:51 -0500


Following is a list [not all at once!] of the
Post Offices of Bedford Co. as they were in 1900. There are a couple names
here I've seen but never knew where they were, etc. These are from
the Bedford Co. Directory for 1900.



(A-B)



Alum Bank - Pleasantville Borough, situated in
West St. Clair Township, on the road leading from Bedford to Johnstown.
This office when first established was located in what is now East St. Clair
Township near the residence of James B. RININGER on the famous "Alum
Bank." The town contains two tanneries, foundry and machine shop, stream
flouring mill, steam saw, shingle and lath mill, two saddlery and harness shops,
cigar factory, weave shop, two blacksmith shops, wagon maker shop and a number
of smaller industries; five churches, six stores, two schools, and Odd Fellows'
hall, a hotel and about seventy-five residences. Distance from Bedford 15
miles north.



Artemas - Situated in Mann Township, was named
in honor of Artemas BENNET the first resident of the place. It has two
churches, one school, two stores, a chopping mill, saw mill, blacksmith shop,
repair shop and seven or eight residences. From Bedford 35 miles,
southeast.



Baker's Summit - In Bloomfield Township,
contains two stores, wagonmaker and smith shops, church, school house and about
twenty private residences. From Bedford 25 miles north.



Bard - A station on Bedford Division of
Pennsylvania Railroad, in Harrison Township - contains a store, blacksmith and
wagon shop, school house, about fifteen private residences and a flouring mill
near by. From Bedford 14 1/2 miles by rail, southwest.



Bean's Cove - In Southampton Township is located
in a narrow though rich farming valley tween TUSSEY's and EVITT's
mountains. From Bedford 20 miles southeast.



Bedford - Bedford Borough, the county seat of
Bedford County, is beautifully situated on the Raystown branch of the Juniata
River, near the centre of the county. Owing to the elevated position of
the town and its being surrounded by mountains, the location is most healthful,
the drainage excellent, the air invigorating and the water unsurpassed.
The scenery from various points in and about the town is extensive, varied and
beautiful. The principal attractions are the mineral springs which with
the features already named, have, for years past, given old Bedford the
prominence she enjoys as a summer resort. Bedford, however, is richer in
past history than in present enterprise. Having already passed her one
hundredth mile stone, the recital of her earlier years would require much more
time and space than can be here given; a few facts however are necessary to give
even an outline of her interesting record.



The first settlement at the present site of
Bedford was made about 1750 when a Scotchman by name of RAY (a corruption of
MacRAE) built three cabins here, the village and stream both taking the name of
"Raystown" which name as clung to the river ever since, but which soon gave
place to the name "Pendergrass" and afterward to "Bedford" as applied to the
town. The fort, about which clusters so much of tragic interest, was built
by the vanguard of FORBES army in 1758. It was located on the south bank
of the river above the present Richard Street iron bridge.



The borough was incorporated March 13, 1795; and
whilst her growth has not been rapid at any period since that time, it has at
all times been gradual until it now assumes not only the dignity of its years,
but that of a town of considerable size; the present population being three
thousand souls.



....During the recent past the town has added
much to her wealth and greatly to her appearance by a number of large and useful
buildings; notable the RIDENOUR Block on the corner of Pitt and Juliana streets,
build in 1896, the county jail on the corner of Penn and Thomas streets, built
in 1895, the four story steam flouring mill of H. H. LYSINGER on north Richard
Street, built in 1898, and the BARNETT building on Juliana street, now
approaching completion. Our present railroad facilities are limited to the
Bedford Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad which makes good connections,
however, with main line service and over which is conducted a heavy trade.
The borough boasts of a most excellent graded school building, eight churches,
six of which are large substantial structures, two good banks, a keg factory,
handle factory, two roller flouring mills, a foundry, steam laundry, shirt
factory, three coach shops, six hotels, a number of boarding houses, about fifty
stores, four meat markets, two good art galleries, four first class livery
stables, and all necessary smaller industries. The "Bedford Inquirer" and
"Bedford Gazette" two of the oldest and best weekly newspapers in the state are
here published. The "Hawkeye" lately established at this point published
semi weekly, is advancing well into the field of journalism; and a local job
printing office in another part of town does considerable work. There is
also a well established high grad academy and a number of places in which
private instruction is given in music and art.



Beegleton - A hamlet in Colerain Township with
seven residences, small store and a flouring mill. From Bedford 9 miles
south.



Belden - In that part of Bedford Township known
as "Dutch Corner," has one store, ten residences, is in close proximity to two
schools and one church, and is surrounded by an excellent farming
community. Distance from Bedford 5 miles northeast.



Brumbaugh - In South Woodbury Township, on the
road leading from St. Clairsville to Woodbury. At this place is located
the distilling plant of S. S. BRUMBAUGH who also keeps a small line of
groceries. Distance from Bedford 13 miles north.



Buffalo Mills - In Harrison Township, a station
on the Bedford Division of P.R.R. The village stand on top of Buffalo
Ridge which constitutes the water shed dividing the head waters of branches of
the Potomac and Juniata rivers. It has two general stores, a grist mill,
Odd Fellow's Hall, some small shops, a hotel and about twenty dwellings.
From Bedford 14 miles southwest.



Burning Bush - In Bedford Township. The
post office is kept at the residence of B. F. BOOR, 8 miles south from
Bedford.



--- Candace Roth

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