ILLUSTRATED ALTOONA, PENNA A.D. 1896 - A Complete Pen-Picture Book of the City

Description: Although my Grandfather, Claire Vahey worked full time for the Pennsylvania Rail Road he occasionally worked part time at the Altoona Brewing Company, Altoona Pennsylvania (PA), for the Brewery's Manager, Mr. Besinger in the 1950s and 1960's. My Grandfather performed an array of paperwork required to operate and sustain the brewery's operation. While going through an old wooden file cabinet, my Grandfather found this antique Illustrated Altoona, PA 1896 book. He asked Mr. Besinger about this book and he thought it was obtained by Mr. John M. Enzbrenner who owned the brewery, named Empire Brewery, from 1893 - 1896. Mr. Enzbrenner also owned the Keystone Bakery. Since my Grandfather was a big history buff, he asked Mr. Besinger if he could have this book. Mr. Besinger said he had no desire to keep the book since it didn’t have a direct relationship to the brewery and gladly allowed my Grandfather to have this historic find. When my Grandfather died this Illustrated Altoona, PENNA A.D. 1896 book was passed to my Father and I later received it when he died in May 1999. I have retained this Illustrated Altoona, PENNA A.D.1896 book along with both my Grandfather’s and Father’s extensive book collection for well over 20 years; however, since my wife and I have relocated from Manassas, VA to Fort Myers, FL we no longer have the space to display or indefinitely store all of these books. As a result, I have decided to begin posting these items for sale on eBay. The next item for sale is this Illustrated Altoona, PA 1896 book. This illustrated pen-picture book is of the City of Altoona, PA at the close of the year 1895. This book includes historical, descriptive and statistical information depicting the city’s advantages, both natural and acquired, and its brilliant future prospects as a great railroad city. It highlights the coming metropolis of central PA, with a map of the city and engravings of prominent buildings, important localities and representative citizens. The front brown hardback cover of this antique book is shown in the first attached high resolution photograph and exhibits the following gold text: “ILLUSTRATED ALTOONA PENNA A.D. 1896” on the center of the cover. There are also two thick horizontal lines at the top and bottom of the front cover. The size of the front cover is 9 ½ inches long by 12 inches high. Note: The left side of the front cover shows some separation of the book’s spine. No attempt was made to repair the outside cover or it’s spine that would affect the historic authenticity of the book. Although the brown hardback cover is in poor to fair condition, it protected most of the interior pages. The rear view of the book’s brown hardback cover is shown in the second attached high resolution photograph. There is no text or markings on the rear cover. Note: This is a large “bleach like” stain along the bottom of the cover. A partial separation of the book’s spine is also shown along the right side of the book. The side view of the book’s brown hardcover spine end is shown in the third attached high resolution photograph. There is no text or markings on the rear cover. Note: The book’s partial separation of its spine is exhibited on the left side. No attempt was made to repair the outside cover or it’s spine that would affect the authenticity of the book. The rear side of the front hardcover contains the name of the person who originally obtained this book and exhibited in the following blue hand written text: “John M. Enzbrenner - 1808-7 Ave, Keystone Bakery 1615 - Kiesel Ave. - Altoona. Pa.” as shown in the fourth attached high resolution photograph. Note: The inside cover on the left and the first paper center spine were repaired using masking tape by the previous owner of the book. The title page is shown in the fifth attached high resolution photograph and exhibits the following text: “HISTORICAL DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICAL” along the top of the page. The text: “THE CITY OF ALTOONA PENNSYLVANIA A.D. 1896” is contained within four equal sided cross, with an ornate border. The text: “Illustrated by the Pen and Photographer’s and Engraver’s Art. Published for The Board of Trade.” is listed along the bottom of the page. Note: The first paper page on the right and hardback cover on the left were repaired using masking tape by the previous owner of the book. A Sketch Map of the City of Altoona, PA by S.C. Corson, C.E. Altoona, PA 1895 is shown in the sixth attached high resolution photograph. It is exhibited prior to the book’s first page, Illustrated Altoona. The book’s first official page is not numbered. It exhibits the original downtown and industrial area of the city with following text: “ILLUSTRATED ALTOONA, A COMPLETE PEN-PICTURE OF THE CITY OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR 1895. HISTORICAL DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICAL.” above the photograph and the following text: “DEPICTING IT’S ADVANTAGES, BOTH NATURAL AND ACQUIRED AND IT’S BRILLIANT FUTURE PROSPECTS AS A GREAT RAILROAD CITY. THE COMING METROPOLIS OF CENTRAL PENNA. With a Map of the City and Engravings of Prominent Buildings, Important Localities and Representative Citizens. PREPARED AND EDITED BY CHARLES B. CLARK, ESQ, FOR THE BOARD OF TRADE.” below the city photograph as shown in the seventh attached high resolution photograph. Note: Throughout this book there are a few minor tears and stains, along with some pages that were previously repaired, prior to my Grandfather obtaining this book, with tape which has aged and yellowed. These deficiencies do not adversely affect the text or photographic content of the book. No attempt was made to repair the book’s interior pages that would affect the authenticity of the book. The interior content is in remarkable condition for being over 120 years old. The next interior page 4, unnumbered, exhibits the following text: “Dedicated to the friends of Progress.” below a decorative drawing near the top of the page. The following text: “ENTERED ACCORDING TO THE ACT OF CONGRESS, IN THE YEAR 1896, BY CHARLES B. CLARK, IN THE OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS, AT WASHINGTON, D.C.” as shown in the eighth attached high resolution photograph. At the top of page 5, unnumbered, the large text “ALTOONA” is contained within a rectangle box with an ornate border. Below is the text: “LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION” as shown in the ninth attached high resolution photograph. At the top of page 11, unnumbered, the large text “HISTORY OF ALTOONA” is contained within a rectangle box with an ornate border as shown in the tenth attached high resolution photograph. At the top of page 29, unnumbered, the large text “MANUFACTURES” is contained within a rectangle box with an ornate border as shown in the eleventh attached high resolution photograph. In addition to layout of the ALTOONA, LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION, HISTORY OF ALTOONA and MANUFACTURES, this book also contains information in the same format on the other following areas: “ASSED VALUATION OF ALTOONA, TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES AND RAILROADS, STREET RAILWAYS, MATERIAL RESOURCES AND BUSINESS OF ALTOONA, SHOPS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY, COMMERCIAL AND MERCANTILE, BANKS, BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS, NEWSPAPERS, THE SEWERS OF ALTOONA, SCHOOLS, ALTOONA MECHANICS LIBRARY, CHURCHES, CEMETERIES, FIRE DEPARTMENT, ALTOONA POST OFFICE, ALTOONA CITY HOSPITAL, BOARD OF HEALTH, BOARD OF TRADE, SOCIAL LIFE IN ALTOONA, AMUSEMENTS, THE ALTOONA BAR, LODGES AND FRATERNAL SOCIETIES, FACTS, DISTANCES AND FARES, ALTOONA SURROUNDINGS AND THE COUNTY OF BLAIR, BLAIR COUNTY IN THE PATH OF EMPIRE, WONDERFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN METHODS OF TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION, EARLY INDUSTRIES OF BLAIR COUNTY, NEW INDUSTRIES AND COMING IMPROVEMENTS AND OUR RULERS, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. A photographic pull out of the Juniata Locomotive Shops is contained between pages 34 and 35 as shown in the twelfth attached high resolution photograph. Note: The pull out photograph was repaired using clear plastic tape by the previous owner of the book, which has yellowed. This book contains 180 pages along with a photographic pull out. The weight of the book is 2 pounds, 3 ounces. This book was only displayed and/or stored in smoke free homes. This is an excellent opportunity to start or expand your collection of Altoona, PA, history which included its previous title and operational role as the Railroad Capital of the United States. Note: Photographs are an important part of my description; please review all photographs before purchasing. If my photographs and or description are lacking something of importance, please ask questions prior to purchasing. Thanks!

Price: 180 USD

Location: Fort Myers, Florida

End Time: 2024-09-30T16:23:02.000Z

Shipping Cost: 15.5 USD