[This is the second of a series of articles about life in Kane, PA, 110 years ago. The articles are a project of the Kane Area High School National Honor Society.]

February, 1899 began with heavy snowfalls after which the temperatures dropped to -20 degrees F. and -30 degrees F. before a moderating trend in temperatures later in the month. During the cold spell, ice dealer, Alf Evans stated that he was cutting ice 18 inches in thickness, clear as glass. “It is the finest quality ever harvested in this section.

With frequent railroad arrivals each day, tramps and hoboes, who ‘rode the rails,’ frequently disembarked in Kane. It was noted that the old clothes pin factory down on Hacker Street was becoming a ‘rendezvous for tramps who make it a camping place for the night.’

[Pictured above is the Kane Revival Center, a local church. This is the building where the clothespin factory and later a local butcher made its residence.]

Three cases of runaway horses were reported in the “Daily Kane Republican” during February. In one case, a horse pulling a sleigh full of groceries on Biddle Street started a run which left groceries strewn from Biddle Street to Hacker Street. The last incident concerned a runaway horse that started a gallop up Fraley Street, turned right on Haines Street, down to Chase Street where it rain for a while before being stopped. This prompted an editorial comment in the newspaper concerning the carelessness of people who leave horses untied while shopping. “It’s happening too frequently and the law in this matter should be rigidly enforced.”

Fire fighters in Kane received good news as it was announced that effective immediately, the Hook and Ladder truck would be hauled to fires by a horse. A harness was made and placed over the front end of the truck. D. and W. R. Davis agreed to furnish a horse for all occasions, day or night. The comment in the newspaper in regard to this matter was: “This is a step in the right direction and should have been taken long ago as the truck is far too heavy to be hauled any distance by the firemen.”

It was also noted that the horse occupies a unique position of status in Pennsylvania. According to the law at the time, if a horse was stolen, the county commissioners must pay $20.00 for the arrest of the thief. No reward was provided for a cow thief. In fact, “no special inducement is even offered for the arrest of a murderer, unless the commissioners see fit to do so. But they have no choice in the capture of a horse thief,” stated the newspaper.

Experts in glass stated that stone found at Smethport and Hazel Hurst is, “the finest for the manufacture of glass in the state and that the vicinity between Kane and Smethport is destined to become the center of the glass industry for the entire country.”

Dr. Mary E. Topham was nominated by Democrats in Kane’s second ward to run for the position of school board member and this was mentioned in a Philadelphia newspaper, ‘The Philadelphia Press,’ “Dr. Mary E. Topham is a candidate for school director in the hustling town of Kane, on top of the Allegheny Mountains.” It was rare for a woman to run for any office as at the time, only men could cast ballots in an election. The local election was held on February 21 in Kane for the offices of Justice of the Peace, Auditor, Councilman, and School Director. In the four wards of Kane, 563 votes were cast, less than 66% of eligible voters exercising their privilege. ‘The Daily Kane Republican’ noted that if Dr. Topham had not been running for office, less than 50% of eligible voters would have voted. Dr. Topham lost in the election by 24 votes.

A number of female school teachers in Kane married in February and left their positions in the schools. This was noted in the newspaper upon realization of the problem this posed for the school board. It was stated that the rest of the female school teachers of Kane should, “be quarantined and allowed to go from their boarding places to school and that councils should pass an ordinance prohibiting young men, middle-aged men, and older men from looking at our school teachers for the remainder of the school year.” However, young men who worked for the Bradford newspaper, ‘The Bradford Star’ wrote to the ‘Daily Kane Republican’ with the statement, “Some of the Kane teachers are mighty attractive girls and we don’t blame the young men for falling in love with them. And when that love becomes mutual,…” The school board will be powerless to stop them from getting married.