Did you know?
A hundred years ago this week, there was a startling report on the front page of the Uniontown Morning Herald about the previous year in Fayette County.
“Violent deaths during the year 1913 total 301,” read the headline for the annual Fayette County Coroner’s report that was published on Jan. 8, 1914.
There had been 97 fatal mining accidents, and according to the article’s sub-headline, “Twenty-three Cases of Accidental Drowning-One Killed While Plastering, Three by Machinery – 16 Die of Burns.”
There had also been 32 murders, and “52 persons lost their lives in railroad accidents in Fayette County,” the report said.
A year earlier, on Jan. 6, 1913, there was a notice that a big star, of sorts, was about to perform in Uniontown.
Mrs. General Tom Thumb was set to take the stage at The Grand Theatre as part of her farewell tour.
Mrs. Thumb, who was 32 inches tall, and who weighed a mere 29 pounds, had been part of the renowned P.T. Barnum act that included her husband Tom.
Tom Thumb died at the age of 45 in 1883. Mrs. Thumb, whose real name was Lavinia Warren, died in 1919, just four years after her performances in Uniontown.
On Jan. 7, 1946, the Morning Herald reported that Fayette County had experienced unseasonably warm temperatures during the previous day.
Noted weather observer, Dr. W.W. Marsteller reported that the temperature had reached 74 degrees – and, according to his long years of weather-watching – that was a record high for that time of year.
Four years later, though, Dr. Marsteller reported there had been a new record high temperature.
According to the story on the front page of the Morning Herald on Jan. 7, 1950, not only had the temperature risen to 77 degrees, but that 2 and a half inches of rain had been recorded since New Year’s Day.
Another story on the same front page contained a bulletin.
“Redstone Creek started on a rampage early today, overflowing its banks at the foot of Eastern Bridge and several other points here,” read the lead paragraph.
Meanwhile, on the same front page, there was a troubling story about a near-tragedy that had taken place the night before in Connellsville.
“Yough Theater Scene of Fire,” was the headline for a story about the fire, which had taken place outside of the Fayette Theater on North Pittsburgh Street.
“Several hundred patrons sat unconcerned through a movie feature last night in a Connellsville theatre while firemen battled a blaze on the outside,” said the report.
Fortunately, there had been no injuries.
Ten years later, on Jan. 12, 1960, the Uniontown Evening Standard reported about another unusual occurrence that took place in Connellsville.
“C’ville Policeman Has Car Demolished,” said the headline.
“A Connellsville police officer can relate a sad tale following his first day on the job in a permanent capacity,” said the lead paragraph.
As it turns out, that patrolman had just been made a permanent member of the Connellsville police force by city council.
It was reported that only a few hours later his parked car was hit by another car driven by a man who, of all things, had sneezed – causing him to lose control of his own car.
In January of 1938, there came the alarming news that a U.S. Congressman, who represented Fayette County and the 24th Congressional District for 14 years, had committed suicide
“Congressman Samuel A. Kendall ends his own life,” read the headline on the front page of the Jan. 9, 1938 edition of the Morning Herald.
It was reported that Kendall, a native of Somerset County, had been distraught over the recent death of his wife.
It was reported that he was the first person to ever commit suicide in the capitol buildings.
On Jan. 6, 1959, it was reported that a 73 year-old Uniontown man had taken ill, so he had to “temporarily forestall” his long continuing battle for higher education.
John M. Trent of Uniontown, had earned his bachelor of arts degree from Waynesburg College when he was 70.
The retired postal carrier had decided to further his education and enroll in the Law School of the University of Pittsburgh.
(A personal note: Mr. Trent was my neighbor. While pursuing a degree in Juris Prudence from the University of Pittsburgh might have been difficult, I’m aware of an even more difficult task he pursued. He tried, and with great futility, to teach me how to play the trumpet.)
He would eventually get well from his 1959 illness.
He continued to serve on a number of civic organizations before his death in November of 1966.
Unfortunately, he didn’t complete his law degree.