Chapter 46
Section 46 of A Guidebook of Art, Architecture, and Historic Interests in Pennsylvania, edited by Marguerita R. Shembeau. The sleeper box recording is in the public domain. Read by Tatiana Chichilla, McKean County. Formed March 26, 1804. Named for Thomas McKean, 2nd Governor of Pennsylvania. Mean altitude, 1700 feet. Mount Jewett is one of the high points in the state. Half a mile from Mount Jewett is the Great Kinzoo Viaduct on the Erie Railroad,
said to be the highest bridge in the state across a ravine. The electric line to Olean, New York, 18 miles through Red Rock, reveals great scenic grandeur. Chief industry, producing and refining petroleum. Smithport, County Seat, was incorporated in 1807. Population 1,568. In the courthouse grounds is a granite monument to the Civil War soldiers of this county. It was shown in the Centennial Exposition, Philadelphia.
St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church, a gift from Honorable Henry Hamblin, consecrated 1892, is pure 14th century English Gothic. Architect Halsey Wood. Altar and raridos of Cane Stone, surmounted by a very beautiful, delicately carved canopy. Memorial font, Cane Stone. All memorials were designed by the architect. Organ from Johnson & Sons, Westfield, Massachusetts.
In the public school grounds is a tablet marking the route of General Broadhead's expedition. On the highway near Lafayette is a tablet marking place where General Broadhead passed across the county from Allegheny River, when he came from Pittsburgh against the Indians. Placed by Smithport Daughters of the American Revolution. Bradford, Chief City, population 15,525, is said to contain the only plant in America for the manufacture of oxalic acid. It produces 10,000 pounds daily. The city hall, post office, and Carnegie Library are fine buildings.
The Lincoln County Historical Society has rooms in the Carnegie Library. Among their collections are valuable historical papers and autographs, photographs, and samples of products relating to the oil industry, portraits of distinguished Pennsylvanians, and busts of General Cane and of Abraham Lincoln. The latter, by Theophilus Mills, is said to be one of the only two living masks ever made of Lincoln. It was made six weeks before the assassination, and after many years it was purchased from the son of the sculptor by Mr. R.B. Stone and placed in the Bradford Library. The museum and art gallery, owned by Louis Emery Jr., a squire, is at times open to the public.
On the public square is a boulder, in honor of Governor McKean, from attractive land and Annan Township, deeded to Thomas McKean by John Bull, a patriot of the Revolution. A tablet commemorating the Spanish war soldiers was erected by Spanish war veterans. Cane, a beautiful mountain resort, has Evergreen Park, a native forest, given to the town by the Erie Railroad, through their agent, General Thomas L. Cane. A path through the forest is named for General Grant, who frequently enjoyed trout fishing here with General Cane. Facing this park is the high school, classic style, architects Davis and Davis, Philadelphia.
Contains good collection of photographic reproductions of famous paintings and architecture. The Presbyterian Church is a memorial to General Cane, commander of the Bucktail Regiment, erected by his family. At Lewis Run, the great Indian hunter, Jim Jacobs, lived. End of section 46 Thank you for watching!
