Dennis McGeehan Books

Ridgway, known as the alily of the valley, a is located on the scenic Clarion River in Pennsylvaniaas Allegheny Mountains. Ridgwayas history has long been closely linked to the river, from a time when residents utilized the water to float timber from the nearby forested hills and supplied lumber for operations around the nation. Much of the beautiful hardwood craftsmanship is preserved today and on display in the elegant Victorian mansions of Ridgwayas former lumber barons. The county seat of Elk County, Ridgway has never let the decline of the lumber industry affect its vitality, and today it is a peaceful, artistic community that draws tourists with its idyllic location. Through historic photographs, Ridgway chronicles the history of this progressive community that remains committed to preserving its past, as well as its future.

The Hyde-Murphy Company was one of the largest and most renowned specialty woodworking mills in the United States. The company was a producer of high-quality architectural millwork and constructed elegant homes, businesses, and public buildings around the country, with offices in New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington, DC. The company was founded in 1901 when two families merged their business interests. Joseph S. Hyde owned a sawmill in Ridgway, in the heart of the Pennsylvania lumber industry, covered with valuable, mature, and virgin timber forests. Walter P. Murphy owned a planing mill downstream on the Allegheny River in Freeport. Hyde floated his lumber downriver where Murphy turned the wood into architectural products. It was natural for the two families to merge to manufacture high-quality woodworking products. Murphy moved to Ridgway, and the company flourished. The business survived a devastating fire, rebuilding and prospering, and its artistic, distinctive woodwork can be seen today in the Library of Congress, the Pentagon, the Supreme Court, and the Smithsonian Institution. The Hyde-Murphy Company ceased operation in 1961.

Johnsonburg has made paper for over 125 years. It was, and is, surrounded by forests. Thus, timber, logging and forest products sustained the town. Located within the Pennsylvania Wilds region, Johnsonburg is a sportsman's paradise. It is also a railroad town, situated at the juncture of the East and West Branches of the Clarion River; thus, bridges were important and so, unfortunately was flooding. Floods have plagued the town. In 1952, a flood control impoundment was built on the East Branch and has alleviated the frequent flooding. The Johnsonburg paper mill changed with the times, keeping the industrial process modern and providing employment throughout the years to local residents. Logs have funneled into the mill from near and far, and paper has flowed out to enlighten the nation. Paper from Johnsonburg entertained the readers of the Saturday Evening Post. Many of the early residents to the community were Italian-American immigrants. They have retained their ethnic identity and are proud of their heritage. Johnsonburg celebrated its bicentennial in 2010 with a large parade. They look forward to the next hundred years.

St. Marys was founded as a religious commune. The commune quickly became outdated and the German-Catholic first settlers became self-supporting. However, they never lost the tight knit aspect of their beginnings, even after the town grew into a borough with surrounding township, and later when the borough and township merged into the City of St. Marys. What the townsfolk retained from their development was an intense love of their community's history. St. Marys is still characterized by large extended families, reunions and festivals. Residents are proud of their churches, homes, architecture, parks, teams and family trees, and are very supportive of their historical society. The city has one of the most complete and systematic historical societies in the state. In 2014 the St. Marys & Benzinger Township Historical Society moved into a new building on Erie Avenue, guaranteeing its continued support and documentation of the city.

Philipsburg is a community on the Moshannon Creek, which flows east off the Allegheny Mountains in central Pennsylvania. The region was blessed with rich seams of bituminous coal that have provided the area with employment and prosperity. With interests in Philadelphia, the Philips brothers of England founded a colony in the wilds of frontier Pennsylvania in 1797. A gristmill, sawmill, iron forge, and screw factory began the taming of the wilderness. The Philips brothers eventually returned to England over political differences, but the town they founded carried on. Coal, timber, clay, railroads, and metal fabrication have created a community intensely proud of its history. Prone to flooding, the Moshannon Creek divides Centre and Clearfield Counties. This collection of photographs includes communities on both sides of the creek, highlighting the area's people, industry, commerce, architecture, and famous visitors to the town.

"Ridgway is the county seat of Elk County, on the edge of the Allegheny National Forest and within the Pennsylvania Wilds and Lumber Heritage Regions. The town is surrounded by forested hills and these trees are the symbol of the town's character, because wood made Ridgway famous. The Hyde-Murphy Company made custom wood specialty products. Their clients included the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Library of congress, the Pentagon and the Smithsonian Institution. Their woodwork is also on display in many of the elegant mansions that make Ridgway the "Lily of the Valley." Wood continues to make Ridgway popular. Lumbering is still a thriving business in the area. In 2000, /Ridgway started a chainsaw carving rendezvous and the event has grown to spectacular proportions. Carvers from around the world flock to this event which raises money for charity from sales of the carvings. Many of these unique carvings grace the streets and businesses of Ridgway."--Cover