125 Years Ago

Herald of Feb. 2, 1899

Patrick McDermott, 62, of Piney Creek was fatally injured in the stone quarries operated at Schmucker, near Williamsburg, by Morris, Schmucker & Co. He had climbed up on a ledge of rock about nine feet above the ground to loosen a couple of big stones with a crowbar when the ledge gave way and rocks came down on him. A 12-ton boulder landed on his right leg and smaller stones and dirt buried him. He was freed and taken to the Altoona Hospital, where he died the same evening. A native of Ireland, he had spent most of his life farming in the Cove and had been working in th...