Shirley and Jefferson Corner Today

Stand at the corner of Shirley and Jefferson today, and you're standing on the same spot where boom-town Mount Union traded in commerce and news and paychecks. The buildings are older, some storefronts are different, but the bones of the place haven't changed.

From the record

Passages about this subject, quoted from county histories now in the public domain. Each one names the book and the position in the text so it can be checked. Spelling is as printed.

The Juniata Division of the Pennsylvania Canal was finished to this place in 1830. The pioneer hardware store at this place was established by Lieut. Frank D. Stevens in 1867, on the corner of Shirley and Jefferson Streets, where he is still conducting one of the largest and most complete stores of the kind in this section of country. He was born in Springfield township, Huntingdon Co., Pa., March 18, 1841. On his father's side his ancestors came from Scotland, while his mother's people were from Germany. Benedict Stevens, the father of Lieut. Stevens, was born in Shirley township, same county, on the 28th of February, 1802. He grew to manhood on his father's farm in Shirley township, and eventually became 357 himself a farmer. He married, Oct. 8, 1822, Miss Eve Orr, and they became the parents of eight sons and seven daughters, of whom nine are now living. Five of the sons were in the Rebellion, serving from two to three years. Mrs. Stevens, after a long and well-spent life, passed away on the 31st of December, 1882, at the village of Three Springs, Clay township, where Benedict Stevens still resides. For more than half a century they have been members of the Metbodist Episcopal Church. He is a local preacher, and without charge preaches the gospel of peace.J. Simpson Africa, History of Huntingdon and Blair Counties, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1883) · character 2,308,221 of the scanned text

The Broad Top House, located corner of Jefferson Street and railroad opposite depot, was built in 1858 by James G. Doyle, and now owned by his heirs. The Seibert House, located corner of Shirley and Jefferson Streets, was built in 1881 by William Seibert, present owner and proprietor. Mills and Manufactories., The pioneer gristmill, located at lower end of the borough, and run by water taken from Hi]l Valley Run, was built by the heirs of John Shaver in 1832 or 1833. It was sold but a few years since by Henry Shaver to David Etnier, who has enlarged, improved, and made it a first-class custom mill. The National Steam Grist-Mill, located on Water Street, was built in 1867 by Peter M. Bare, who ran it two years and sold to John Bare, and in 1870 John Bare sold to William Fields. Fields sold to B. J. Devor, and in 1878 he sold to W. H. Allen, the present proprietor. Mount Union is also the shipping and business point for the products of Lucy Furnace, located just head & Swoope are the owners and operators. His father, Peter Swoope, was a son of one of the early settlers of the Juniata Valley, and identified with the interests of Huntingdon and vicinity. The early educational advantages‘ of Mr.J. Simpson Africa, History of Huntingdon and Blair Counties, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1883) · character 2,296,476 of the scanned text

After a life of usefulness, he closed his eventful period, July 29, 1791, and his remains rest in the Paxton church graveyard. This distinguished French Duke was born in France, 1747 ; and was grand master of the wardrobe to Louis xv. and xvi. During the revolution, like another Lafayette, he was the friend of liberty, but the enemy of licentiousness. The downfall of the throne compelled him to quit France, and after having resided for some time in England, he visited America, in 1 795, and made a tour through this part of Pennsylvania, by way of Harrisburg, &c., and. in 1796 passed through Northumberland county, where he tarried for some time ; which place, with others, he notices in his work, entitled, " Travels in the United States." In 1799, he was allowed to return to his native country, and he died in March, 1827, generally respected for his Uberal principles and his active benevolence. It was chiefly by his exertions that vaccination was introduced into France.I. Daniel Rupp, History and Topography of Northumberland, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Centre, Union, Columbia, Juniata and Clinton Counties (Lancaster, 1847) · character 843,474 of the scanned text

Checked 2026-07-30 · Historic Mount Union collection

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