By Mrs. Evelyn Orr Hilty
Description of Routes No.188 & 319,
Presented with the compliments of South
Bend and Kiskiminetas Townships,
Good
Roads Association, June 10, 1925.
Starting point being the Hartman House, Headquarters of Apollo Motor Club. First Street and Warren Avenue, thence along First Street to Pennsylvania Avenue to the Borough Line, thence along the State Highway Route No.188, the first improved road in Armstrong County. The new buildings to the right have been recently erected on the Owens Farm. On lots sold by Harry C. Owens, his own residence being one of them. The brick house on the level to your left is the Owen's Home.The farm house as you go down the hill on your left is the home of W. C. McKinstry, where his father, William McKinstry, originally manufactured grain cradles. The McKinstry cradle being “second to none.”
ONE MILE The road leading to the right is known of the Jackson Road and leads to the old Jackson Homestead, and further on the McCartney’s Mills property, now the American Gas Company Pump Station.As you go up the grade to the left is the J.J. Altman home. On the level, to your right, is H.N. Smith, the County Blacksmith.
At the top of the next grade to the left you find the home of J.W. and James M. Patterson, their Dairy, Poultry and Fruit Farm being one of the nicest you will see in a long travel. Their dairy herd being a tested herd--mostly Holsteins.
TWO MILES Going down the hill you pass he home of J. I. Knepshield, "Stony View," and he also has a country store. This is the end of the Macadam Road, the original improved road of Armstrong County.James King's property is the home at the crossroads. To the right and about a half mile distance are the coal mines of George A. Steel and Fiscus and George whose mines supply much of the local coal trade.
At the top of the next grade you find the home of Marcus M. Martin which is also the home of his mother, Mrs. Sarah Martin, the oldest woman in Kiskiminetas Township.
Going down the hill to the right you see the Lambing Bros. home where they grow their celebrated vegetables and poultry. This farm had been formerly known as the Sheriff Watson Farm.
The brick house of the foot of the hill on the left is owned by George Johnson and was originally part of the Watson Farm. Fine poultry is his specialty.
The brick home at the next crossroad is the home of James H. Neeley, the Joseph and Josiah Shoemaker Farm.