HISTORY: Historic Huntingdon, 1767-1909, Chapter 6, Streams, Huntingdon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Nancy Lorz

Copyright 2007.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm 
_____________________________________________________________________ 

Historic Huntingdon, 1709-1907.  Huntingdon Old Home Week, September 
5-11, 1909.  Souvenir Edition.  Huntingdon, Pa.: Historical Committee 
of the Old Home Week Association, 1909.
_____________________________________________________________________ 

                               CHAPTER VI

               The Larger Streams Declared Public Highways.

  Before roads were constructed in this region at public expense, the 
larger streams were utilized as highways, and it became necessary to 
dedicate them to public use.  The Assembly on the 9th of March, 1771, 
passed an act declaring a number of the rivers and creeks "public 
streams and highways for the purposes of navigation up and down the 
same; and that all obstructions and impediments to the passage of his 
Majesty's liege subjects up and down the same, erected or hereafter to 
be erected, shall be deemed, held and adjudged common nuisances."  The 
Juniata with the branches up as far as Bedford and Frankstown, was 
embraced within the provisions of this act.  Commissioners were named 
and authorized to "scour, enlarge, straighten and deepen" the streams 
mentioned in this act and penalties prescribed for the erection or 
maintenance of any dam or other obstruction.  By act of February 5, 
1794, the little Juniata from its mouth up to the head of Logan's 
Narrows, and Standing Stone Creek from its mouth up to the mouth of 
Laurel Run, were declared public highways for the passage of boats and 
rafts.  February 25, 1795, Benjamin Elliot was authorized to erect a 
wing dam on the northeast side of the river.  March 23, 1796, Thomas 
Whittaker was empowered to make "good and convenient landings on both 
sides of the river Juniata, opposite the end of Montgomery (now Fourth) 
street, in the town of Huntingdon, where he at present keeps a ferry, 
and shall at all times hereafter maintain the same in good order and 
repair, fit for men, horses and carriages to pass

44

and repass."  Robert Dean and Joseph Smith obtained legislative 
authority, March 9, 1797, for erecting a wing dam.  John Canan was 
authorized by act, approved February 19, 1799, to erect a toll-bridge 
over the "Frankstown Branch of Juniata River, nearly opposite the said 
John Canan's mills, where the great road from Huntingdon to the western 
part of the country and to Pittsburg crosses the said branch."  This 
crossing was near Hatfield's Juniata Iron works, in Porter township.  
Charles Smith was authorized by act of February 7, 1803, to erect a 
wing dam in the Juniata.  He then owned the Huntingdon mills.  Shaver's 
Creek, from its mouth up to the line of James and John Crawford's land, 
was declared a public highway by act of February 19, 1800; Tuscarora 
Creek, from its mouth up to the forks near Morrow's mill, by act of 
April 4, 1805; and the little Juniata, from Logan's Narrows to Bell's 
Mills, then Allegheny township by act of March 26, 1808.  The Aughwick 
Creek became a highway April 1, 1822, and several other acts relative 
to smaller streams were passed in subsequent years.
  The importance of the streams as public highways attracted the 
attention of the Legislature to such an extent as to secure the 
passage, April 13, 1791, of an act authorizing the improvement of the 
larger rivers and creeks of the State.  It included the Juniata from 
its mouth to Water Street, and thence to Frankstown, and 2320 pounds 
were appropriated.  The same act made liberal appropriations for the 
laying out of new and improvement of old roads.  For the road through 
Canoe Narrows and from Daniel Titus' to Poplar Run 300 pounds was set 
apart; for the road from Poplar Run to Conemaugh 360 pounds; for a road 
to be laid out from Frankstown to Pittsburg 300 pounds; for a road 
through Jack's and Igow's Narrows, 120 pounds.  The next year the 
Legislature made some changes in the application of the moneys 
appropriated for the road over the Allegheny mountain, and directed 
that 530 pounds shall be given towards improving and opening a road 
from Frankstown to Conemaugh at or near the mouth of Stony Creek.  Six 
hundred 

45

pounds was appropriated towards improving the navigation of the 
Raystown Branch of the Juniata from its mouth to a point above Bedford.  
In 1792 $400 was appropriated for improving the road between Lewistown 
and Huntingdon, and $500 added to former grants to the road from 
Frankstown to Pittsburg.
  The Legislature, April 7, 1807, appropriated eight hundred dollars 
for the purpose of laying out and opening a road to begin at Logan's 
Narrows and extend via mouth of Anderson's Creek, in Clearfield County, 
to the State road leading to Erie.
  The numerous mountain gorges along the course of the Juniata 
presented so many difficulties in the way of constructing a passable 
artificial road, that little could be done with the amount of money 
from time collection by taxation, or appropriated from the public 
treasury towards that end, and after the upper part of the valley had 
reached that state of improvement as to have a surplus of the products 
of agriculture or manufacturers, resort was had to the river for 
reaching the eastern markets.  The ark and keel-boat were introduced.  
The first was constructed of hewn and sawed lumber, fastened together 
with wooden pins, built to carry freight down the river, and after the 
discharge of the cargo sold.  It was taken apart and the plank and 
timber used for building.  The keel-boat was constructed somewhat like 
the hull of the present canal boat, and after unloading its downward 
freight, brought back such commodities as the merchants and others 
purchased in the East.  It was "pushed" up stream by men working with 
poles, a slow and slavish process.  With the removal of some 
obstructions, the navigation of the Juniata to its mouth and the 
Susquehanna to Harrisburg became to experienced rivermen comparatively 
easy and safe, but the terror of the boatmen was "Conewago Falls."  It 
was reserved for some brave spirits of the upper Juniata to 
successfully grapple with the perils of these falls.  In Appendex III 
to the "American Museums," Part I., from January to July 1792, the 
following account is given:  "A Baltimore

46

paper mentions that Mr. Kryder had arrived there from Standing Stone, 
on Juniata, with one hundred and four barrels of flour, having 
performed the voyage in five days.  His flour passed for superfine and 
was sold immediately at the highest price for cash.  The merchants 
presented Mr. Kryder with one hundred and four dollars for the risk he 
ran, with his two sons, in attempting the navigation of the 
Susquehanna, heretofore thought to be impracticable for boats of 
burden."  This flour was doubtless the product of Kryder's own mill 
which stood on the south side of the Juniata between the head of 
Cypress Island and the Huntingdon Dam.