Situation of Union City, 1900
By Belle Sherwood- Union City High School
“Tis spring time on the eastern hills,
Like torrents gush the summer rills,
Through winter’s moss and dry dead leaves,
The bladed grass revives and lives,
Pushes the mouldering waste away,
And glimpses to the sweet June day.”
And nowhere among the eastern hills is the springtime more beautiful than in dear old Pennsylvania, that state which bears the same relation to its sister state as a cornerstone in a magnificent temple.
Nestled picturesquely among the lovely hills in the northwestern part of the Keystone state lies a beautiful and thriving little city. It is situated in Union Township in Erie County. In the organization of the county all that portion of its territory lying east of LeBoeuf and Waterford to the western line of Wayne and Concord was given the name of Union Township. It is nearly square, having a length of about six and a quarter and a breadth of five and three quarter miles.
The township is bounded on the north by Amity, on the east by Wayne and Concord, on the south by Crawford County and on the west by LeBoeuf Township. Union Township contains very little flat ground; this is embraced by a few farms lying wholly along the South Branch of French Creek. The balance of the township is rolling ground with a few steep hills or abrupt ravines.
The borough itself stands upon both sides of the South Branch of French Creek, very nearly in the center of Union Township, at a distance of twenty-seven miles from the water’s edge at Erie. The earliest buildings of the city were erected on the flat ground in the narrow valley of the creek. From that point it has spread for probably a mile and a half in each direction.
Let us in fancy go to the top of one of the highest hills and view the little city. The first thing we notice is the beautiful stream which winds its way through the place. The stream is the South Branch of French Creek or Little French Creek, and crosses the township from east to west, being spanned by three modern bridges.
On the banks of this stream Indians once made their homes. Its beautiful scenery has been the subject of song and story of our Pennsylvania poets.
The main thoroughfares that we can see are the Smiley Road, the Flats road to Waterford, roads to Corry, Titusville and Mill Village and the road over the hills to Wattsburg.
We find also that this little city not only rests in the valley but it is, like ancient Rome, built on seven distinct hills. At the extreme east we see the old Tannery Hill; at the north is Hatch Hill; far in the west is the Summerton; at the south side is the hill commonly called Brooklyn Heights; in the north east extremity over looking the old Waterford Road is the most precipitous bluff which we will call Stranahan; another noticeable in north is Smiley Hill; the last and most commanding is that situated in the center of the city and upon whose summit stands a fine brick school building.
And now let us enter the city upon one of its main thoroughfares. We notice an unusual number of fine residences, for truly there is no city in Pennsylvania whose ground affords more attractive sites for building purposes. We notice its churches and hotels are among the finest in the county. The business houses embrace every variety and are almost entirely on one street. This gives an air of life and thrift to the city which makes a pleasant impression upon strangers.
The place is noted for its exceeding good commercial advantages. As a railroad point and commercial center it has few superiors in its part of the country. The Philadelphia and Erie and Atlantic and Great Western both pass through. It is pronounced by traveling men to be the most business like city of its size in the state.
Intersecting Main Street near its extreme northern limit is High Street. This is perhaps the longstanding finest street in the city. It is divided by the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad into east and west High Street. Lying parallel with Main Street are four avenues. The whole length of West High Street and all the avenues are beautiful by their imposing maple trees. We cannot fail to notice the neat appearance of these streets, and their hard level ground makes excellent drives.
We are also fortunate in living where there are water works and a good fire protection. Too much cannot be said in praise of our fire companies. They prove themselves friends indeed for they are friends in need.
The schools are far above the ordinary. And what is true in regard to our day schools I equally true of our Sunday schools and churches. Even our people have a breath of culture which comes in part from our proximity to Chautauqua life, and in part to our own home reading.
In view then, of all these advantages, I maintain that the place quite sufficient for comfort, home luxury and a genuinely good times-Union City!
“Tis spring time on the eastern hills,
Like torrents gush the summer rills,
Through winter’s moss and dry dead leaves,
The bladed grass revives and lives,
Pushes the mouldering waste away,
And glimpses to the sweet June day.”
And nowhere among the eastern hills is the springtime more beautiful than in dear old Pennsylvania, that state which bears the same relation to its sister state as a cornerstone in a magnificent temple.
Nestled picturesquely among the lovely hills in the northwestern part of the Keystone state lies a beautiful and thriving little city. It is situated in Union Township in Erie County. In the organization of the county all that portion of its territory lying east of LeBoeuf and Waterford to the western line of Wayne and Concord was given the name of Union Township. It is nearly square, having a length of about six and a quarter and a breadth of five and three quarter miles.
The township is bounded on the north by Amity, on the east by Wayne and Concord, on the south by Crawford County and on the west by LeBoeuf Township. Union Township contains very little flat ground; this is embraced by a few farms lying wholly along the South Branch of French Creek. The balance of the township is rolling ground with a few steep hills or abrupt ravines.
The borough itself stands upon both sides of the South Branch of French Creek, very nearly in the center of Union Township, at a distance of twenty-seven miles from the water’s edge at Erie. The earliest buildings of the city were erected on the flat ground in the narrow valley of the creek. From that point it has spread for probably a mile and a half in each direction.
Let us in fancy go to the top of one of the highest hills and view the little city. The first thing we notice is the beautiful stream which winds its way through the place. The stream is the South Branch of French Creek or Little French Creek, and crosses the township from east to west, being spanned by three modern bridges.
On the banks of this stream Indians once made their homes. Its beautiful scenery has been the subject of song and story of our Pennsylvania poets.
The main thoroughfares that we can see are the Smiley Road, the Flats road to Waterford, roads to Corry, Titusville and Mill Village and the road over the hills to Wattsburg.
We find also that this little city not only rests in the valley but it is, like ancient Rome, built on seven distinct hills. At the extreme east we see the old Tannery Hill; at the north is Hatch Hill; far in the west is the Summerton; at the south side is the hill commonly called Brooklyn Heights; in the north east extremity over looking the old Waterford Road is the most precipitous bluff which we will call Stranahan; another noticeable in north is Smiley Hill; the last and most commanding is that situated in the center of the city and upon whose summit stands a fine brick school building.
And now let us enter the city upon one of its main thoroughfares. We notice an unusual number of fine residences, for truly there is no city in Pennsylvania whose ground affords more attractive sites for building purposes. We notice its churches and hotels are among the finest in the county. The business houses embrace every variety and are almost entirely on one street. This gives an air of life and thrift to the city which makes a pleasant impression upon strangers.
The place is noted for its exceeding good commercial advantages. As a railroad point and commercial center it has few superiors in its part of the country. The Philadelphia and Erie and Atlantic and Great Western both pass through. It is pronounced by traveling men to be the most business like city of its size in the state.
Intersecting Main Street near its extreme northern limit is High Street. This is perhaps the longstanding finest street in the city. It is divided by the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad into east and west High Street. Lying parallel with Main Street are four avenues. The whole length of West High Street and all the avenues are beautiful by their imposing maple trees. We cannot fail to notice the neat appearance of these streets, and their hard level ground makes excellent drives.
We are also fortunate in living where there are water works and a good fire protection. Too much cannot be said in praise of our fire companies. They prove themselves friends indeed for they are friends in need.
The schools are far above the ordinary. And what is true in regard to our day schools I equally true of our Sunday schools and churches. Even our people have a breath of culture which comes in part from our proximity to Chautauqua life, and in part to our own home reading.
In view then, of all these advantages, I maintain that the place quite sufficient for comfort, home luxury and a genuinely good times-Union City!