125 Years Ago

Herald of Aug. 18, 1899

Martinsburg Borough Council purchased an acetylene gas lamp and post and erected it at the intersection of Allegheny and Market streets as an experiment, with a view of putting in an entire light plant in town.

J. Ross Mateer, who formerly ran a drug store in Martinsburg but for a number of years was proprietor of one of the leading drug stores in Altoona, was seriously injured when a tank on his soda water fountain exploded while he was charging it. The head of the tank blew out and struck him in the pelvis, lacerating and bruising his body. His hand also was badly cut...