| There was
an abundance of timber for the boats and rafts.
On the uncleared areas, cedar, pine, oak, cherry,
poplar and chestnut grew in great profusion. As
late as 1877 the chestnut crop continued to be a
source of local income. That year over 225,000
pounds of chestnuts were shipped to Pittsburgh
markets. The
boating trade attracted a few more settlers, like
Shepley Priestley, the merchant and postmaster;
Robert Hamilton, the builder and carpenter;
Daniel Huber, a harnessmaker; John Dibert,
farmer.
In
1811 the first public school -- “Old
Blacky” -was erected at Market and Napoleon
Streets where Joseph Johns had set aside a lot
for that purpose. It later became the location of
Johnstown High School, now known as Joseph Johns
Junior High School.
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