Rebecca B. Hadden Stone House Museum

Rebecca B. Hadden

Stone House Museum

105 Point Street, Saltsburg, Pennsylvania

The Stone Museum is owned and operated by the Saltsburg Area Historical Society. Its purpose is to discover, collect and preserve and material which may help to establish or illustrate the history of the area: its exploration, settlement, development, activities in peace and in war, its progress in population, wealth and transportation. The collection and preservation of these artifacts by the society is for the education, enjoyment and enrichment of present and future generations.

The first survey of Saltsburg, Pennsylvania was made in 1769, when some hardy pioneers, mostly Scotch Irish, settled in the area, but frequent attacks by savages forced people to retire to the older settlements until after the Treaty of 1795.

At about this time salt was discovered in a pond along the Conemaugh River, and by evaporation, a fair sample of salt was obtained. Small-scale manufacturing started with salt reaching 500-800 feet. With the method of production being the spring pole and rude appliances, one can imagine the difficulties encountered.

In 1817, the town of Saltsburg was laid outs. It was incorporated into a borough in 1838. The town derived its name from the abundance of salt in the vicinity. By 1842, the product had reached 70,000 bushels in Indiana County, and coal was mined nearby to keep the fires going.

For some years after completion of the western Division of the Pennsylvania Canal (1829-1860) and opening of navigation through the Main Line from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh, salt was shipped. Canal boats were built and repaired in Saltsburg.

Both salt manufacturing and canal traffic declined in the early 1860s and town growth was retarded until 1870s when the opening of coal mines and other industries gave a new lease on life.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Saltsburg was laid out by Andrew Boggs in 1817 and was incorporated in 1838.
Salt was manufactured near Saltsburg in 1812.
First church services were held (Presbyterian) in November, 1817.
The first church was erected in 1820. It was destroyed by fire in 1831. The present building was erected in 1874.
About 1820, the burial ground at the north end of town was started (Old Cemetery). The first burial ground, near the pump station, was started in 1820. The canal took part of it.
Western Division Pennsylvania Canal was opened through Saltsburg in March, 1829.
The Baptist Church was organized in Loyalhanna in 1828, and the church was erected in Saltsburg in 1840.
First United Presbyterian Church was erected in Saltsburg in 1843.
St. Matthew's Roman Catholic Chapel was erected in 1847.
Railroad bridge crossing the Kiskiminetas River was completed in 1864. Piers only remain at present, of the Western Pennsylvania railroad.
Saltsburg Academy was erected in 1851.
Edgewood Cemetery Organization was effected in 1868.
Universalist Church was erected in 1870.
Saltsburg Press was started in 1875.
St. John's Lutheran Church was erected in 1882.
Methodist Church was organized in 1841, and the present building was built in 1890.
The old wooden bridge, which spanned the Kiskiminetas River, was completed in 1842. It burned in 1922 and the present structure opened November 22, 1985.
The first bridge constructed across Loyalhanna Creek was at Saltsburg in 1820, the second in 1847, and the third in 1967.
Woolen Mill was built in 1831. It was sold to Stewart Brothers who operated it, which was damaged by the Johnstown Flood in 1889.
Saltsburg Glass Company opened in 1880.
Kiskiminetas Springs School opened in 1888.
Water Works was built in 1894.
Streets were paved in 1903.
Saltsburg Free Library started in 1909.