Fraternity-Testvériség, 1958 (36. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
1958-08-01 / 8. szám
FRATERNITY 7 gary. Prior to the completion of the Turnpike and establishment of the Kossuth Post Office, mail for this area was carried by messenger on foot, or in saddle bags on horseback, with postage charged according to the distance, and this through the woods from Franklin. In those days the Allegheny River from Pittsburgh to Franklin — or Fort Pitt to Fort Michault — was the main mail route. The little village continued as such until the oil excitement of the 1880’s, when suddenly, with the hope that oil was to be found about Kossuth, the town mushroomed almost overnight. In 1886 it had a population of 400, and included 3 hotels, 2 hardware stores, 1 machine shop, 1 drug store, 9 stores, 1 blacksmith shop, 2 oil offices, 5 saloons, 1 billiard salon, and the Post Office. Mr. Henry J. Smith, who assumed the Postmastership in 1874, reported that during the days of the greatest oil excitement, cancellation of stamps amounted to as much as $300.00 per day. When drillings near the town proved to be dry, the town declined as quickly as it boomed, and by January of 1887 there was little more of a town than had existed before the oil excitement. Several years ago, a delegation of some fifty persons comprised the Magyar (Hungarian) Pilgrimage to this little village, as part of the 100th celebration of the visit of Lajos Kossuth to the United States, and more specifically to Pittsburgh in 1852. A fitting program included participation by several of the Magyar delegates and events in native costumes- Among the speakers was Herbert Weaver, presently of Franklin, but who had spent most of his life in Kossuth, and whose Father, Grandfather and Great Uncle served as Postmasters over a period of 52 years — these among the 12 holding that position since the establishment of the Post Office here. Much of the information contained herein was included in his address. This month the U. S. Post Office Department is issuing two commemorative stamps of 4c and 8c denominations, honoring Lajos Kossuth, Hungarian Patriot and Liberator, about whom Horace Greeley said, “Of the many popular leaders who were upheaved by the great convulsions of 1848 into the full sunlight of European celebrity and American popular regard, the world has already assigned the first rank to Louis Kossuth, advocate, deputy, finance minister and finally Governor of Hungary.” The Kossuth Post Office, through Mrs. William Hirsch, Postmaster, since 1952, is proud of its service to the community by two complete mailings — an early morning pick-up and delivery via a Star Route out of Oil City, every day except Sunday; and an early afternoon pick-up and delivery via a Highway Post Office which operates every day except Sundays and Holidays. First Issues with Kossuth Commemorative Stamps are available at this Post Office from September 20. While the iron and oil booms have long since passed, and farming and strip mining of coal are the present main occupations, Kossuth is still a pleasant place in which to live — in a very scenic part of Pennsylvania, often referred to as Pennsylvania’s Vacationland — adjoining the Allegheny National Forest. O. REBECCA HIRSCH, Postmaster I
