Click on any of the pictures for a larger version. (There are now more than 2,200 images on this website.) Looking for something specific? Use our search engine, located on the right side of the header on every page.

Image E1, has the following souvenir items. The three items on the left are from Meadville’s 1888 centennial. The purple ribbon (also shown in image M7) was worn by the centennial committee’s Vice-President. The souvenir medallion with the eagle on top shows the front, while the medallion in the holder, shows the back. The two medallions on the right are from Meadville’s 1938 Sesqui-Centennial. They issued the same medallion with either the blue and yellow ribbon, or a red, white, and blue bow with a button that says OFFICIAL SOUVENIR. The remaining items are from Meadville’s 1988 Bi-Centennial. The souvenir spoon came in a white box, and was made by Oneida Silversmiths. The souvenir pocket-knife came in a red box and was made by Siple’s Personalized Cutlery. The belt buckle at the bottom, says “1788-1988 – MEADVILLE PENNSYLVANIA – Honor the Past, Appreciate the Present, Build the Future”. The final item is the Official Bicentennial Coin (with its paper). Image E2 below, shows a 1788-1988 Meadville Bi-Centennial souvenir pewter finished mug. It is appx. 4 3/4 inches in height.

The Dec. 2, 1824 advertisement shown above, had been continuously running in this newspaper since October 23, 1822. Fare for passengers from Bellefonte to Meadville was $8.00. Fourteen pounds of baggage allowed to each passenger. This was the U. STATES’ MAIL COACH. Leaves Bellefonte every Monday morning and arrives at Meadville every Thursday afternoon. Returning, leaves Meadville every Saturday morning, and arrives at Bellefonte every Tuesday afternoon. To quote: “This route being connected with the line of stages already in operation, will afford a direct passage from Erie to Meadville, thro’, Harrisburg to Philadelphia, and enable persons travelling to Detroit, Falls of Niagara, Michigan territory, northwestern part of Ohio or Upper Canada, a safe and easy passage. The Erie Turnpike road to Bellefonte is now compleated, and for carriages is superior to any other road in the Union.”

The upper left ticket says: M.H.S. Senior Gayety Dance – Danceland – Wednesday, February 16, 1927 – Tickets 75 cents each. The lower left ticket says: The Players’ Guild of Meadville PRESENTS “DULCY” Meadville High School Auditorium TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1932 – 8:15 P.M. Admission 40 cents. The front of the ticket on the right, says: CHARITY TOMBOLA – BALIZET’S HALL – OCT. 15.16.17 1929. The back says: AID SPENCER HOSPITAL BUILDING FUND – HELP MEADVILLE MEDICALLY.

Image M7 shows a letter from the Keystone View Company, Meadville, Pa., Nov. 22, 1907. Its envelope, peeking out at the top, is postmarked Nov. 22, 1907. On top of the bottom left corner of this letter, is a ticket for a special midnight show at Meadville’s Academy Theatre, for – State Fair – featuring Janet Gaynor and Will Rogers, Sunday March 12, 1933. The four postage stamps that I have put on the bottom right of this letter, are cancelled by the A&GW Railway Audit Office, Meadville, Pa. Two were cancelled in 1867 and two in 1868. This was the first Railroad Company to service Meadville. To the right of the letter, is a ribbon from Meadville’s Centennial Celebration. It is marked Vice President, Meadville, Pa., 1788-1888.

Image M7a has a group of items from the Atlantic and Great Western Railway Company, Meadville, Pa. circa. 1865. The letter in the background was sent in the envelope shown. There is also an invoice and a packet of stamps cancelled on the railway. On top of the invoice, are two two passes. The top left pass is a conductor’s pass 1870 and the other pass is an employee pass from 1867.

Image M18 features items from Soyer’s Company of Meadville, PA. The two jugs from the left, say: SOYER’S PERFECT SAUCE – MEADVILLE, PA. The two bottles are embossed: SOYER’S MEADVILLE, PA. The rectangular bottle on the left, laying on its side, is almost 4 1/8″ tall and the square bottle on the right is 5 1/8″ tall. The booklet, shown in the back, is a wonderful source of information about the products offered and what they looked like. Each product is described and illustrated with a detailed image of the bottle and its label. It also shows a salesman’s case with its contents. There is information about the company, recipes,  and more. It has a retail price list of their products: Soyer’s Perfect Sauce, Hindoostan Currie Powder, Hindoostan Relish, Medicated Tar Cough Drops, and about 20 Soyer Extracts.  Copyright 1907, SOYER COMPANY OF AMERICA, General Offices and Factory Meadville, Pa. U.S.A. The large jug, on the right, says: SOYER’S LEMON – MEADVILLE, PA. From left to right, the jugs appear to be; half-gallon, quart and gallon, sizes.

The image above has a better look at the clear bottles in image M18. The first clear, 4 inch bottle, is rectangular. The second clear 5 1/4 inch bottle is square. They are both embossed: SOYER’S MEADVILLE, PA. The 5 3/4 inch amber bottle on the right, is rectangular. It is embossed: SOYER MEADVILLE, PA. In the background, is a full-color copy of the trade-mark registration page. It is dated Oct. 11, 1887 and shows a SOYER’S PERFECT SAUCE label registered to The Soyer Sauce Co.

Here are five products that were made in Meadville, Pa. From left to right: The first bottle is Nonequal Furniture Polish manufactured by C E HONE STEPHNSON 893 MARKET ST. MEADVILLE, PA. Price 25 cents. For Furniture, Pianos, Brass Beds, Hardwood Floors, Automobiles, and Carriages. Cleans and Polishes all varnished surfaces. It has detailed directions on the back label. The next bottle is sitting in front of its box. Frisby’s Vegetable Cough Syrup manufactured by W.H. Frisby & Co., Meadville, Pa. For coughs, colds, bronchitis, whooping cough and all diseases of the throat and lungs. Price 50 cents. The box is in English on one side, and German on the opposite side. Dosage is on the bottle’s label. The third (large) bottle is Perfection Liquid Bluing, manufactured by Chemical Mfg. Co., Meadville, Pa. The fourth bottle is Dr. John J. Ash’s Celebrated Rheumatic Liniment. Most of the address is worn away, but it ends Meadville, Pa. Price 1.00 per bottle. Will cure all Rheumatic Complaints, Neuralgia, Tooth-ache, Headache, Pleurism, Pains, Cramps, Chilblains, Sprains, Burns, etc. And Equally Good for Horse Flesh. The last bottle (on the right), is Green’s SIROTAR. Distributed by Green’s Drug Store, Meadville, Pennsylvania. Phone 69. The label has the ingredients and instructions. It is a soothing and pleasant cough sedative and expectorant. Check out our Pharmacy Items Page, for similar items.

This press photograph, has a note glued to the back. It says: MEADVILLE, PA. CLEVELAND BUREAU – FIREMEN ARE SHOWN BATTLING FIRE WHICH DESTROYED LAFAYETTE HOTEL AND FIVE STORES. THE HOTEL WAS CLEARED IN LESS THAN TWENTY MINUTES AS THE GUESTS STREAMED OUT TO THE STREET IN THEIR NIGHT CLOTHING. ELEVEN FIRE COMPANIES FOUGHT THE FIRE. UNITED PRESS TELEPHOTO 11/2/55 jpd.

This next section shows examples from early Meadville, Pa. photographers. The image immediately below left, shows a photograph of three policemen from H.H. Harris Art Gallery, Meadville, Pa. and another photograph of a man in uniform from A.R. Fowler – Photographer, Meadville, Pa. There is a better look at the policemen photograph in image H1 on our Home Page. The image below right, shows two more H.H. Harris photographs plus part of the back of the policemen photograph shown in the left image.

Image M18c has six photographs, from four early Meadville photographers. The top left photograph shows the ornate back of a photo from Fowler Photographic Art Studio, ground floor Academy Music, 283 Chestnut St., Meadville, Pa. The middle photograph says Dunn, Meadville, Pa. The top right photograph shows the ornate back of a photo from I. E. Hall, 208 Arch St., Meadville, Pa. The bottom two photographs are from the same photographer. The front of one photograph is on the left. The ornate back of another photograph is shown on the right. They are from C.J. Dennington Photographer 947 Water Street, Meadville, Pa. The small photograph, in the middle, is from RODDY & MATTHEWS Gallery of Art MEADVILLE, PA.

The next image shows an H.E. Ellsworth real picture post card. He did personal cards (like the next post card shown), but he also did some remarkable local Meadville, Pa. views. His studio was at 887 Market Street. There is a nice group of these views on our Meadville Post Card Page.

H. E. Ellsworth was also involved with a company known as the World View Company. We’ve seen many views of houses that were nicely framed and the mattings say; WORLD VIEW CO., MARKET ST., MEADVILLE, PA. The image above, shows a fine example. The image below this text, shows both the front and back of a photograph promoting the World View Co. It says: World View Co., H. E. Ellsworth, Manager, 375 Arch Street, Meadville, Penna. TELEPHONE 178-6 – Flashlight pictures made to order. Duplicates can be had at any time. The 1901 City Directory lists Ellsworth’s Photography Studio was at 887 Market Street. The earlier, 1897-8 City Directory lists Edgar H. Ellsworth, photographer at 375 Arch Street (which is the World View Company address on the promotional card). It looks like he either started out as the World View Company, or the manager of the World View Company, and then dropped it (or quit), and then used his own name, H. E. Ellsworth for the rest of his long, successful career.

The combined image above, shows both the front and back of an Ellsworth post card. Written on the back it says: Jan. 1, 1915 – John Fox 84 yrs. old – Andrew Miller 94 yrs. old – E. Poole 80 yrs. old. All three names are listed in the 1915 Meadville, Pa. City directory.

Images M18d and M18e have views of the fronts and backs of: (top left) a photograph post card from L. E. Hall, Photographer, Meadville, Pa., (bottom left) a small photograph from A. A. Martin, Photographer, 976 Water Street, MEADVILLE, PA., (upper middle) a small photograph from Gilbert & Co., Photographers – Opposite Post Office, Meadville, Pa., (upper right) a small photograph from D. C. Butchart, Old Post Office Building, Meadville, Pa., (lower middle) a cropped small photograph from J. D. Dunn, PHOTOGRAPHER, East Side of Water St., Meadville, Pa. – Opposite Dock St., and (lower right) a small photograph, that says on the back: Photographed at SPERRY’S NEW ROOMS, Chestnut Street, MEADVILLE, PA. It has a blue 2 cent stamp, also on the back.

In the left image below, on the left, is a photograph from F. E. Allis, Meadville, Pa. He is listed in the 1897-8 Meadville City Directory at 626 Main. The small photograph to the right of F. E. Allis has: Photographed by DUNN BROTHERS, East Side – Water Sreet, Meadville, Pa. The next small photograph has: A. J. McDonald, Photographer, 79 Chestnut St. Meadville, Pa. On the top right, is a real picture post card. It is stamped on the back: WETHERBY STUDIO 248 1/2 Chestnut Street MEADVILLE, PENNA. The real picture post card on the bottom right shows The J. H. Bowes Co’s Main St, Store. It was taken by F. H. Dukesmith, Meadville, Pa. The store and the photographer are both listed in the 1915 Meadville City Directory. In the right image below, is a photograph of what looks like someone’s mail room. It is rubber stamped on the back: GEO. R. PRATT, MEADVILLE, PA. The 1915 Meadville City Directory has his studio address at 953 Park Ave.

This early photograph says: Photographed by Mrs. A. E. Bennet, Meadville, Pa. It is shown beneath an ad appearing in the Meadville City Directory for 1866-7. The ad misspelled her name. She is also listed in the 1869-1870 Directory of French Creek, Oil Creek and Allegheny Valleys.

KEYSTONE Primary Set, is a booklet about a special set of 300 stereographs and 300 lantern slides – edited by Laura Zirbes, Ph.D. associate professor of education Ohio State University. It has sections on: General Educational Objectives and Testimonials of the Keystone Primary Set; Homemade Lantern Slides; Keystone Primary Set Title List; Four Interesting Factual Readers – for the Primary Grades; The Keystone Series of Readers (and other books for five, six, and seven-year olds.); Keystone Primary Set Price List. Presented by the Keystone View Company, Inc., Meadville, Pa., printed in U.S.A. by J.W. Clement Co., Buffalo, no date. One of the books listed in this booklet is The Book of Pets by Zirbes and Keliher. It was prepared to accompany the Keystone Primary Set and published by the Keystone View Company Meadville, Penna. in 1928. The book on the right is Teachers’ Guide For the use of the “600 Set” of Keystone Stereographs and Lantern Slides For Visual Instruction by Douglas C. Ridgley, A.B. – Professor of Geography – Illinois State Normal University, Normal, Illinois – Keystone View Company, Meadville, Pa. It is hardbound with 347 pages, printed in 1911. The bottom left book, is A TRIP AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH THE TELEBINOCULAR, edited by Burton Holmes, hardbound, 321 pages plus pages of Keystone View ads. Published by Keystone View Company, Meadville, Pa. It is the 1928 second edition. Beside it is the booklet, that comes with it. It is tucked into the inside back cover pocket. It contains three locating maps to be used with this book. The maps fold out, and are: The World, New York City, and Washington D.C.

All the items in this image are from the Keystone View Company, Meadville, Pa. The empty box on the left originally contained 20 magic lantern slides. They were Physics Units #14 and #15. The box and lid on the right contained all the items shown. The label on the lid says: KEYSTONE TESTS AND EXERCISES, VISUAL SKILLS TESTS – DB, 10A, 8C, 9, 4K, 3B, 2B, 6D, 9B, 5K, 16, 17, 13, 14.

This metal box, with a black, textured finish, measures about 5 inches high by 8 7/8 inches wide by 16 3/8 inches long. It has a red and silver metal tag, that has a graphic along the top of the tag that looks like filing card tabs. It says: KEYSTONE orthEYEdex FILING CABINET MADE IN U.S.A. BY KEYSTONE VIEW CO. MEADVILLE-PA.

Since the Keystone View Company was located in Meadville, Pa., it sometimes took images taken in Meadville and the local area to be part of some of the many different series that they offered. These images weren’t identified as having been taken in Meadville, but they can be matched to known vintage images and surviving buildings, etc. to identify them.

Above, are two promotional items from the Kestone View Company. The one on top, is a letter opener. On the front, it is a ruler, and it says: KEYSTONE VIEW CO. MEADVILLE, PA. (with a keystone that has “600” in it). The back says: VISUAL INSTRUCTION STEREOGRAPHS, LANTERN SLIDES. The second item is an ink blotter that says: (in script) A Visual Aid for Every Visual Need – KEYSTONE VIEW COMPANY MEADVILLE, PA.

Image M19c has three stereoview cards. The left card and top right card have the same back. The backs say: U.S.S.V.A. CO. Office and Factory 624 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa. – EDW. TRUST General Manager. They both list the following six Meadville merchants: E. W. TANNER, Merchant Tailor, Clothier; CLARK & CHESBROUGH, Books, Stationary, Wall Paper, etc.; W. E. WYGANT, Crockery and Glass-Ware Dealer; M. GARTNER, Upholsterer, Furniture, etc.; CHARLES WORST, Practical Watchmaker & Jeweler; J. C. HULL, Pianos & Organs. The front of the left card has the bust of a young woman and says: Presented by M. GARTNER, Meadville, Pa. The top right card shows a group of ladies around a table and says: Presented by E. W. TANNER, Meadville, Pa. The bottom right card (which is taller than a typical card) shows the storefront of J. Longood, milliner, 958 Water St., Meadville, Pa. All three cards are circa. late-1800s.
Image M19d has two stereoview cards from the Keystone View Company, showing the Rayon factory in Meadville Pa. The first card shows the original plant. The second card (looking from the opposite direction) shows the same plant after it had completed extensive expansions. The Keystone View Company sometimes used views from around Meadville, Pa.

Here are three Keystone View Company stereoview cards. The caption on the left (partially hidden) stereoview card says: Co. B. Leaving Meadville for Mt. Gretna. (Spanish American War, circa. 1898.) The caption on the top right stereoview card says: Happy Reunion for Home-coming Soldier Fathers. (The Crawford County Court House, Meadville, Pa. is in the background). The bottom card’s view was taken just before 1915 in Greendale Cemetery, Meadville, Pa.

The captions for the next twelve stereoview cards (of a flood in Meadville and Vallonia, Pa. – Vallonia became Meadville’s Fifth Ward). in images M19e and M19f are:

7 – Meadville Kite Track. (upper left)
9 – North end of Valonia, Pa. (2nd left)
10 – Vallonia, view taken from Reynold’s Mill. (bottom left)
11 – Race Street, from Bridge, Vallonia, Pa. (upper right)
12 – View taken from Distillery, looking northeast, Vallonia, Pa. (2nd right)
13 – View taken from Distillery, Looking east. (bottom right)
14 – Hotchkiss Bros., Wholesale and Retail Groceries. Goods delivered by boat. (upper left)
18 – Pine Street, looking west, Meadville, Pa. (2nd left)
29 – Rear of Dock Street, Meadville, Pa. (Dock Street is now Meade Avenue,) (bottom left)
20 – Dock Street, looking west, Meadville, Pa. (upper right)
21 – Boat riding in N. Y., P. & O. Blacksmith shop. (2nd right)
32 – The wrecked Mercer street Bridge. (bottom right)

Image E10, has six Meadville, Pa. souvenir spoons. Four of them are sterling silver, but the fourth from the left, is silver plated. Starting on the left side, the first spoon says “COURT HOUSE MEADVILLE PA.” (with an engraving of the court house). The second spoon says “COURT HOUSE MEADVILLE PA.” (with an engraving of the court house). The third spoon says (on the handle) “MEADVILLE PENNSYLVANIA 1788-1988” (Meadville’s Bi-Centennial). The fourth spoon says (on the handle) “1913 CRAWFORD STORE SILVER JUBILEE 1938”. The fifth spoon says “I.O.O.F. ORPHANS HOME MEADVILLE, PA.” (with an engraving of the home) The sixth spoon says Meadville in the bowl. The back of the bowl is engraved with the initial K and ’06 (1906).

Image E10a has six Meadville, Pa. sterling silver souvenir spoons. Starting on the left side, the first spoon says “Meadville, Pa.” (with an engraving of what looks like Hulings Hall). This 1892 spoon has GEO. T. WILSON engraved on the back of the handle (a well-known Meadville jeweler). The second spoon says “HULINGS HALL MEADVILLE, PA.” (with an engraving of Hulings Hall). The third spoon has a very fancy handle (front and Back). The bowl says: HULINGS HALL ALLEGHENY COLLEGE MEADVILLE PA., with an engraving of the hall. The fourth spoon has the Allegheny College Seal (at the end of the handle, being held up in the outstretched arms of a woman). The fifth spoon says (on the handle) “MEADVILLE, PA.” and has the Allegheny College Seal and a cut-out and engraving of Bentley Hall – with the words Bentley Hall Allegheny College under the cut-out/engraving). The sixth spoon says “HIGH SCHOOL, MEADVILLE, PA.” (with an engraving of the high school).

Image E10b has six more Meadville, Pa. silver souvenir spoons. They are all marked “sterling” except the third spoon (the 1899 Elks Carnival spoon) that isn’t marked, but appears to be sterling, also. Starting on the left side, the first, small spoon, says “Meadville, Pa.” The second spoon says “MEADVILLE, PA.” (with flourishes). The third spoon says “ELKS CARNIVAL No. 219 JULY-24-29-99 MEADVILLE, PA.” On the handle, under the elk, it says “B.P.O.E.” The fourth spoon says “FAVORITE RESTING PLACE OAKWOOD PARK MEADVILLE PA.” (with an engraving of trees and an open pavilion). The fifth spoon says “Meadville, Pa.” (with flourishes). The sixth, tiny spoon, has enameling on the handle. The bowl says “Meadville, Pa.”.

Image E10c has another 1892 sterling silver spoon from George T. Wilson (a well-known Meadville jeweler – see image E10a for the other Wilson spoon). The bowel, shaped like a leaf, says Meadville Pa. The back of the handle is marked WILSON and engraved H ‘’92.  The bowl of the second sterling silver spoon, says “MEADVILLE PA.” The pattern on the front of the handle, is continued on the back. The bowl of the third sterling silver spoon, has an engraved scene and says: DIAMOND PARK. MEADVILLE, PA. The handle is decorated all the way up, and has what appears to be Cupid, kissing someone. The bowl of the fourth sterling silver spoon, says “GYMNASIUM ALLEGHENY COLLEGE MEADVILLE, PA.”, with an engraving of the gymnasium and trees. The front of the handle has a pattern of leaves, with some sort of round fruit. The leaves are also on the back of the handle, but no fruit. The fifth sterling silver spoon, has the Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa. emblem on the handle. The sixth sterling silver spoon has the same style handle as spoon number two of this group. The bowl says: BENTLEY HALL MEADVILLE, PA. and has a very detailed rendering of this iconic Allegheny College building. The twenty-four souvenir spoons shown in the last four images, show a diversity of very beautiful hand-craftsmanship not found in today’s typical souvenirs.

The top item in image E13, is a combination spoon and bottle opener. It says “HIDE AWAY CAFE – 849 WATER ST. MEADVILLE, PA.” The second item is a glass swizzle stick that says “MIX ME AT Kepler Hotel Meadville, Pa. The third item is a pickle olive fork. It says “KEPLER TAP ROOM” on one side and “MEADVILLE, PA.” on the other side. The fourth item is a letter opener. The handle says “FIRST NATIONAL BANK MEADVILLE FRANKLIN PENNSYLVANIA”. The fifth item is a letter opener. The handle says “MEADVILLE SPORTING GOODS – 301 Chestnut St., Meadville, Pa. – Phone 30-412”. The sixth item is a glass swizzle stick. It says “LAYFAYETTE TAP ROOM – MEADVILLE, PENNA.” The seventh item is a combination bottle and milk cap opener. One side says “MOORE BROS. CO.” The other side says “ELECTROPURE MILK”. The bottom item is a combination milk bottle opener and spoon. The handle says “DRINK MOORE MILK – 825 WASHINGTON ST. MEADVILLE, PA. – PHONE 21-651”.

The image immediately above shows promotional ice block tongs. The wooden handle says: GREEN & BAKER 954 MARKET STREET MEADVILLE, PENNA. PHONE 101. The image immediately below, shows a promotional ice pick from Green & Baker, and a promotional combination ice pick/bottle opener. They are laying beneath an ad that appeared in the 1915 Meadville City Directory. On the four sides of the ice pick handle, it says: GREEN & BAKER – “SAVE WITH ICE’ – PHONE 101 – MEADVILLE, PA. Both the front and back of the combination ice pick/bottle opener says: GREEN & BAKER. The ad says they deal in Conneaut Lake and Pure Distilled Water Ice.

The image above, shows clothes hangers from five Meadville, Pa. businesses. The oldest wooden hangers are on the left. The top hanger says: Mendels, Tailors, Clothiers and Furnishers, Meadville, Pa. The bottom hanger says: OHLMAN’S Clothes for Men & Boys – Lafayette Blk. Meadville, Pa. The newer wire and paper hangers are on the right. The top hanger says: Since 1920 HUMPHREY’S MASTER CLEANERS MEADVILLE, PA. ”Let your appearance speak” Thank you – (picture of a delivery man and van – TELEPHONE 724-6393. The middle hanger is from Cargo Cleaners – who is still in business today. The bottom hanger has a sleeve with a promotion attached below. It says: 1 HOUR Special Service MODERN DRY CLEANERS 588 NORTH STREET MEADVILLE PENNSYLVANIA – (image of a hand holding a phone receiver) OUR SERVICE IS AS NEAR AS YOUR PHONE – Phone 37-743. *For a better look, click on the image to make it bigger.

The top button hook in image E14 says: M. OHLMAN & SON on one side and: MEN’S OUTFITTERS on the opposite side. This store was located at 913 Water Street, Meadville, Pa., circa. 1900. The bottom button hook is a folding-style button hook. One side says: “SHOES OF THE BETTER CLASS” NICHOLS’ BOOTERY MEADVILLE, PA. The other side says: EVERY PAIR WE SELL SELLS ANOTHER FOR EVERYONE WE SELL TELLS ANOTHER. The shoe horn is from Chas. A. Miller’s Sons, 221 Chestnut St., Meadville, Pa. Charles A. Miller originally opened this shoe store in 1902.

Image E15, has five items from a business that was a prominent Meadville shoe store for many years. The advertising match holder at the left, says “BROWNELL’S – A GOOD PLACE TO BUY GOOD SHOES – 208 CHESTNUT ST. MEADVILLE PA”. The top shoehorn says “BROWNELL’S – 20 BUSY STORES (SOMMERS PAT. 2-16-13)”. The bottom shoehorn says “Brownell, Meadville.” On the handle of the button hook to the right, it says “BROWNELL’S BOOT SHOP, MEADVILLE, PA.” The button hook at the bottom, says “BROWNELL SHOE COMPANY”.

The three images immediately above, show probably the best known Meadville, Pa. trade token and an interesting related item in a rent receipt for G. C. Porter from April 1, 1867 to April 1, 1868 for his brick store room and another room. The trade token says: GO TO G. C. PORTER & CO. FOR YOUR DRY GOODS. This Civil War era business, is listed in the city directories as a hardware store.

Image E19 has items from three Meadville, Pa. businesses. The top left wrench says: CHAMPION DEARMENT and MEADVILLE, PA. U.S.A. on the handle and movable jaw; and MADE IN U.S.A. on the handle. The larger wrench, below left, says: MEADVILLE WRENCH Co. MEADVILLE, PA. The opposite side has a keystone with P-S in it. The wooden box on the right has a brass label that says: THOMPSON MFG. CO. MEADVILLE, PA. It contains four tapered reamers and a slot that probably held a wrench or handle for the reamers. This company’s business was storage batteries and equipment. According to our Meadville City Directories and phone books, The Meadville Wrench Company and Thompson Mfg. Co. operated during the 1920s.

Image E20 has a group of Meadville, Pa. tools, plus a promotional thermometer. The thermometer (shaped like a ship’s steering wheel) says “THE PALMER WELLOCT Tool Corporation MEADVILLE, PA.” At the top of the image, there is a drawknife with handles, that is marked (in three interlocked circles) “WELLOCT (which is surrounded by) PALMER WELLOCT TOOL CORP. MEADVILLE, PA. U.S.A.” Near the bottom of the image, is a drawknife blade that is marked (in three interlocked circles) “WELLOCT”. There is a row of four hand tools. The large nippers are marked “PALMER MEADVILLE, PA.” The small nippers are marked “WELLOCT MEADVILLE, PA.” The pliers are marked “PALMER WELLOCT CORP. MEADVILLE, PA. U.S.A. PAT. No. 21525”. The wire cutters are marked “PALMER 6175 MEADVILLE, PA. U.S.A.” The multi-tool at the bottom of the image is marked “THOMPSON MFG. CO. MEADVILLE, PA.”

Combined Image E20a shows an original Palmer Welloct box with its contents (plus a close-up of one end). The top of the box has the Welloct trademark and the following information: QUANTITY 6 TOOL NO. 290 PALMER WELLOCT TOOL CORP. Meadville, Pa., U. S. A. One side says: SUPREME WELLOCT TOOLS REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. The other side says: DROP FORGED PALMALLOY STEEL. Both ends say: QUANTITY 6 TOOL NO. 290 DROP FORGED PALMALLOY STEEL – PALMER WELLOCT TOOL CORP. Meadville, Pa., U.S.A. Each tool has a paper small “booklet” attatched by string, with information about the tool, how to use it, and other Welloct tools available. These are brand new tools that somehow survived all these years with their original packaging.

On the front, this celluloid item says “McCrosky – COST CUTTING TOOLS – COMPLIMENTS OF THE McCROSKY REAMER CO. MEADVILLE, PA.” The back has “HOW TO USE THE McCROSKY FRACTION ADDER PATENT PENDING – (followed by the instructions – which can be read in the second image). T. B. McCrosky, from Cincinnati, founded the company to make adjustable reamers. It was located on Race Street near the Erie R.R. In 1907 he sold the company (which employed 25-30 people) to a group of local business men, who expanded the business, by adding the making of other tools, designed especially for machine shop service. They changed the name to McCrosky Tool Corporation (see ad in next image).

We have a nice collection of early newspapers (see our two pages that feature Newspapers, Pennsylvania and Newspapers, Non-Pennsylvania). The Meadville Foundry ad shown immediately above, was from a February 11, 1862 newspaper, but at the bottom of the ad you will see the date Sept. 27, 1859. This is the date that they started running this ad. We have a stage coach ad near the top of this page. It was printed Dec. 2, 1824, but we can see at the bottom of that ad (not shown) that it had been running since Oct. 23, 1822. Many of our early newspapers followed this practice. I think it was a good idea. You could see at a glance whether this was a new ad, or whether it was a long-running ad.

The wall match safe on the left, says: USE SHERMAN’S COMBINATION FLOUR MFD. BY SHERMAN MILLING CO. MILLS AT MEADVILLE & SAEGERTOWN, PA. The coupon laying in front of it, is one of their coupons that were saved up to redeem – 30 coupons for an Opalite Rolling pin – or – 50 coupons and $2.25 for a 42-piece Decorated Dinnerware Set. The lard bucket is from Clark & Dain, corner of State & Grove, Meadville, Pa. circa. 1920s.

This early bobbin has a wooden body with plastic (Bakelite?) ends. One end is molded (or stamped) with: THE VISCOSE CO. MEADVILLE.

The 1910 calendar plate top center, is from: CHAS. THOMAS, Dealer Shoes, Clothing, Dry Goods & Notions 967 Water St., Meadville, Pa. The 1911 calendar plate on the bottom left, is from CAUDLE’S PLACE For Shoes MEADVILLE, PA. The 1912 calendar plate on the bottom right, is Compliments of The J.H. Bowes Co., Home Baked Goods, Groceries & Meats, Meadville, Penna.

On the back of this six-inch souvenir plate, it says: (The top line is hard to read) but, appears to say: GRAHAM’S VARIETY STORE. The bottom line says: MEADVILLE, PA. It is shown with a post card that has the same view. The post card caption says: On Chestnut Street, Meadville, Pa.

Images M20 and M21 show eight paper documents, consisting of Meadville, Pa. city ordinances, recorded in 1867 to 1869. All eight items, have the embossed seal of the City of Meadville, Pa. (with the signature of the City Clerk) and the embossed seal of the Recorder’s Office of Crawford County, Pa. (with the Clerk’s signature). The three items in image M20 are large enough to be displayed publicly. The large paper item at the top of image M20, proclaims Ordinance No. 19 (passed September 3, 1867 and recorded by the Court May 26, 1868) to open Lutton’s, Dickson’s, Fuller’s and Stewart’s Alleys. The item at the left side is City Ordinance No. 17 (passed July 15, 1867 and recorded by the Court May 16, 1868) to open Prospect Street. The item, on the right side, of image M20, is City Ordinance No. 21 (passed October 24, 1867 and recorded by the Court August 11, 1868) extending Walnut Street eastwardly. The back of all three items have a signed, hand-written statement by Henry McCoy, City Clerk and, also signed by the County Recorder’s Clerk. The top left item in image M21, is City ordinance No. 29 (passed December 9, 1868 and recorded by the Court May 27, 1869) for the extension of Liberty Street. This item has an attached, signed sheet, by Henry McCoy, City Clerk. The top right item, is City ordinance No. 13 (passed January 10, 1867 and certified by the Court May 6, 1867) for the extension of Poplar Street, and City ordinance No. 12 (passed January 10, 1867 and recorded by the Court May 4, 1867) for the extension of Pine Street. This sheet has a hand-written and signed statement by Henry McCoy, City Clerk. The top right item of image M21, is Meadville City Ordinance No. 21 (passed September 16, 1867 and recorded by the Court June 12, 1868) for the opening of a new street to be called Poplar Street. This item has an attached sheet hand-written and signed by the County Recorder’ Clerk and has a hand-written and signed statement on the back, by the City Clerk. The bottom left item in image M21, is City Ordinance No. 22 (passed October 8, 1867 and recorded by the Court June 12, 1868) creating a new street, Cottage Street, and new alley, Addle’s Alley. This item has an attached sheet hand-written and signed by the County Recorder’ Clerk and has a hand-written and signed statement on the back, by the City Clerk. The bottom right item has City ordinances No. 11 (passed January 10, 1867 and recorded by the Court May 18, 1867) and City ordinance No. 14 (passed January 10, 1867 and recorded May18, 1867) to widen Center Street. On the front, is a hand-written and signed statement by the City Clerk and on the back a hand -written and signed statement by the County Recorder’s Clerk. Ordinances 11 through 14, state that Wm Reynolds was the Mayor. Ordinances 17 through 22 state that James A. Dunn was the Mayor, and ordinance No. 29, states that A. Cullum was the Mayor.

For many years The City Coal & Supply Company had prominant telephone directory ads, usually including the front cover. This image shows a 1929 Meadville Telephone Company Directory, with The City Coal & Supply Co. ad at the top of the page and a tag attatched to the the phone book from a competitor, The Producers Coal Co. (YARD OFFICE FOOT OF MEAD AVE. – SALES OFFICE 930 DIAMOND SQUARE – PHONES 28 and 45). The promotional ice pick shown, is also from The City Coal & Supply Co. – COAL, ICE AND BUILDING SUPPLIES “WE KEEP YOU WARM IN WINTER, AND COOL IN SUMMER” MEADVILLE, PENNA.

Rulers and yardsticks have always been a popular promotional item. It was a way to give customers a practical item, that would keep your business name in your customer’s everyday experience. (All the following items are from Meadville, Pa.) To go along with the three 6-inch rulers shown above, we also have: five one-foot rulers from: E.T. Bates Co. piano sales Meadville, Pa. (circa. late 1800s), The Crawford County Trust Co., The Coco-Cola Bottling Co., circa. 1950s (supplied by the parent company and given out at holiday time by the local bottler), Tom K. Williams, Inc., 257 Chestnut St. and Integra Bank. We also have five yardsticks from: J.A. Deissler & Son 832 Park Ave. – Your G.L.F. Service Agency – Maxwell and Blanchard – Meadville Bottling Works (square and tapered) – Meadville Paint & Wallpaper Co. Dial 44-269 (slide collapsible down to 1 1/2 feet) – Murphy’s 226-28 Chestnut Street – The Richard Co. Baldwin St. Ext.

This novelty photograph, was taken from a photo album. The sign on the little building says: WELCOME (blocked from view) VISITORS OF ALL (blocked from view) CONSTRUCTION. SPECIAL HEAVY MACHINERY GRAY IRON AND SEMI-STEEL CASTINGS PHEONIX IRON WORKS COMPANY MEADVILLE, PA.

There are more Meadville items on other pages of this website. The Home Page, the Banknotes, Checks, Scrip and more Page, the Local Books, etc. Page, the Meadville Post Cards Page, the Meadville Postal Covers Page, the Newspapers, Pennsylvania Page the Pennsylvnia Items Page, and the Milk Bottles and Caps Page, also have some Meadville items. Click on the page header to go to the Home page and click the links under the page header to go to the other pages on this website. Click on any picture for a larger version.