Clarion in Clarion County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Welcome to Clarion, Est. 1841
Unlocking The History
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 14, 2022
1. Welcome to Clarion, Est. 1841 Marker (Left Panel)
[Left panel]
The W.A. Graham Home is located at 650 Main Street. Built in 1908 by E.A. McElhaney[, t]he house included an elevator when built and was set up for both electricity and gas lighting. The brick used for this home was the same brick used in the Amsler Home that stood across the street. Over the last 100 years, this home has stood and served our community by providing a location for the Temperance Boarding House, the White Pillars Gift Shop, New Bethlehem Bank, S&T Bank, and Clarion University Bookstore. Currently owned by Pam Goble, the first floor houses the Clarion Chamber of Business and Industry.
Built in the early 1840s, the Forest House was the first hotel to be completed in the newly created town of Clarion. In 1845, it was sold to John B. Loomis, and after his heroic death serving his country in the Civil War, his widow continued operation of the hotel and changed the name to the Loomis House.
[Photo caption reads] Downtown celebration from the Loomis House balcony.
Below: Owned by Sheriff S.S. Jones, and purchased around 1898, The Jones House dated to the 1840s and was originally called the Oakland Hotel. The Jones House burned down in 1900 along with many other
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[Photo caption reads] Many men trying to fight the disastrous fire that tore through the New Jones House on January 19, 1941.
Below: The dining room of the New Jones House on Main Street around early 1900.
Famous Raid at the New Jones House
In 1918, the town voted to discontinue the sale of liquor to World War I draftees on days they assembled in Clarion to begin their journey to army training camp. Warren Mahoney, manager of the New Jones House, refused to close his bar. On July 24, 1918, fire sirens sounded and a group of anonymous firemen broke windows and heavily damaged the hotel as citizens stood by cheering and singing patriotic songs. Mr. Mahoney sold out shortly thereafter.
The Clarion Free Library is truly a product of Clarion's community interest and support. Surviving the two World Wars, the Great Depression, and many other adversities, the library exists today as proof
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 14, 2022
2. Welcome to Clarion, Est. 1841 Marker (Center Panel)
They first met in the H.R. Wilson building behind his home in a gymnasium at Fourth and Wood. In 1918, the library moved to Judge Campbell's residence on Main Street, which at that time was known as the Clarion Community Building. While visiting his family in Clarion in 1920, a significant citizen of Clarion, Dr. John D. Ross provided the funds for the erection of a library and community building. It was to be built as a memorial to his late mother, Mary Ann (Wilson) Ross, called the Ross Memorial Library. After fighting two court cases to acquire the funds left from the Dr. John D. Ross estate, the library was built with the condition that the borough would take over the maintenance of the building and the lot after the building was completed.
[Photo captions at right center read]
Below: The Clarion Restaurant was a popular spot located in the basement of the Crooks (Wilson) Building. It is remembered for its scenic wall murals and aquarium, where children loved to make wishes with pennies.
Above is an interior
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 14, 2022
3. Welcome to Clarion, Est. 1841 Markers
Clarion County Historical Society website homepage:
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F.L. Crooks opened a clothing store, and later bought the Wilson Building. The building is known today as the Crooks Building. The store has been in continuous operation since opening in 1905.
[Bottom left photo captions read]
Right: The Ditz Mooney Hardware Store offered hardware, farm machinery, china, silver and architectural millwork. The top floor once housed Clarion's Opera [H]ouse. In 1905 a roller skating rink was opened.
Below: Opened in 1912, the Wein's Department Store was completely destroyed by fire in 1915. The Wein family quickly rebuilt and expanded the store. It remains open and is run by third generation family members.
Below: Interior of Ditz Mooney Store
The Most Modern Theatre in Clarion County, opened in 1936, Main Street's Garby Theater. Leo H. Garbarino, owner, equipped the theater with the best in sound and operating equipment.
The Amsler Home was the residence of Colonel Amsler. Located at the corner of North 7th Avenue and Main Street, it had many interesting details. This house along with the Graham house (White Pillars) across the street, used the same color of buff brick to insure a uniform standard color for the structure.
[Center panel]
The stately home at 720 Main Street was built for G.W. Arnold in 1856. He was a trustee of the First National Bank and trustee and treasurer for Carrier Seminary. Mr. Arnold's heirs sold the home to J.F. Weaver in 1915, who passed it on to his son, Judge Lloyd Weaver, who lived there for many years with his family.
Situated on the southeast corner of 8th and Main, this impressive house was built for Frank Arnold who was the first President of the Clarion Fish & Game Commission. The house was razed for commercial enterprises.
The Academy was located across Main Street from Immaculate Conception School. It opened on September 6, 1885. In 1913, planning began to add a third floor for a gymnasium and auditorium. The school remained a high school until 1930, when the new high school opened on the west end of Liberty Street. The building then housed the lower grades and toward the end of its life, a junion high school. The 71-year-old building was razed in 1957 and replaced by a gas station and later a bank.
The original Immaculate Conception Church was completed in 1856 and extensively remodeled in the late 1880s. At that time a front extension and steeple were added. In 1976, the church was razed, and a new church soon began serving the congregation.
Built in 1867, a one room schoolhouse sat near the church, growing slowly in size, adding a hall and more classrooms in 1908. It operated until 1938 when it was torn down to make way for the current Catholic school.
The Kaufman Building at 6th & Main was built in 1855 by Charles Kaufman. Selling clothing and general merchandise at first, Kaufman's Store later added a lumber yard, tobacco & cigars. It was said that there was nothing he could not sell you, nor anything that he would not buy.
The WPA was a work program for the unemployed that was created in 1935. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal put people to work for an average salary of $41.57 a month constructing highways, bridges and buildings, including the Clarion Post Office.
Clarion's Autumn Leaf Festival began in 1953 and has become an International Award Winning Attraction that brings over 500,000 people to the Clarion area each fall. Over a nine day period events and entertainment include a pageant, antique car and tractor shows, Farmers and Crafters Day, with over 300 vendors that attract 150,000 people, and the renowned Tournament of Leaves Parade.
The Telephone Exchange was located on the corner of 8th and Main. It was the residence of John W. Knapp. This photo was taken in 1908.
Built in 1876, The Republican Printing Company occupied the building. It later merged with the Democrat newspaper.
Located at 226 West Main Street Reisinger's Store sold a wide variety of goods
Carl & Don's Studio at 402 Main Street operated from 1928-1987[.]
In 1941, cowboy star Roy Rodgers and his horse, Trigger, appeared at the Orpheum Theater on Main Street. Trigger was startled on stage and kicked a hole in the movie screen.
At 3rd and Main Street, from 1923-1950s, Spindler & Star Auto operated at the site.
Clarion [bird's eye view lithograph]
The First Presbyterian Church of Clarion stands on the corner of Wood Street and 7th Avenue[, o]riginally founded at 10 Grant Street behind what is now Memorial Park.
Dedicated in 1887 and expanded in 1949 and 1987, the Clarion Baptist Church is located at the corner of 7th and Main Street.
In 1889, the first service was held in the First United Methodist Church at the corner of Wood Street and 6th Avenue. In 1905, a parsonage was added next door.
Erected 2016 by Clarion County Historical Society and Luca Francesco Cherico (Eagle Scout Project).
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is January 19, 1941.
Location. 41° 12.802′ N, 79° 22.954′ W. Marker is in Clarion, Pennsylvania, in Clarion County. It is on Main Street (U.S. 322) east of 6th Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 650 Main Street, Clarion PA 16214, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northwestern Pennsylvania and specifically in the Pennsylvania Wilds. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mary A. Ross Memorial Library (a few steps from this marker); Dr. Robert "Bob" Yoho (a few steps from this marker); Gemmell Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); World War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Welcome to Clarion, Est. 1841 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Susquehanna and Waterford Turnpike Milestone (approx. 0.2 miles away); Clarion County Remembers World War II (approx. 0.2 miles away); War Veterans of Clarion County (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clarion.
Also see . . . Clarion County Historical Society on Facebook. (Submitted on August 16, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,369 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 16, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
