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Veterans of the Civil War pictured above were among the last survivors to attend the annual Grand Army day outings at Lakemont Park. The photograph was taken by Alto Studios at Lakemont Park in September 1932, a year after the Grand Army of the Republic, whose posts were by then ready to surrender charters because of dwindling membership, had decided against further sponsorship of the outings which dated back to 1892. The veterans were (from left): first row -- J.W. Bookhamer of Tyrone, John Weller of Altoona, S.B. Fluke of Woodbury, H.T. Stiffler of Canoe Creek, John F. Kelly of Bellwood, John B. Burket of Warriors Mark, John W. Plummer of Altoona, John G. Wolf of Altoona, David Williams of Philipsburg, H.C. Metzler of Martinsburg and William Shafer of Altoona; second row -- James Yount of Altoona, W.S. Conrad of Huntingdon, S.C. Wilson of Altoona, Dr. I.P. Patch of Altoona, H.N. Baker of Alexandria, R.F. Fowler of Altoona, John McAlarney of Hollidaysburg, Patrick Laughlin of Altoona, Crist Dengate of Bellwood and Myers W. Morrison of Philipsburg; third row -- J.D. Hemphill of Hollidaysburg, H.H. Hewitt of Philipsburg, A.C. Hammaker of Altoona, J.B. Harnden of Altoona, William L. Jones of Tyrone, J.F. Long of Ebensburg, J.W. Swartz of Altoona and H.V. Carls of Altoona. The photo was provided by Gary Basciani of Altoona.
Readers are encouraged to send or deliver old local photographs of general interest for use in Yesteryear. Information about people and places should be included. Photos must be 30 years old or older and should be sent to Yesteryear, Altoona Mirror, P.O. Box 2008, Altoona, PA 16603, or emailed to community@altoonamirror.com. For more information, call Brenda Carberry, community news coordinator, at 814-946-7459.
Local news on this date
July 18, 1951
The Tyrone Hospital, which had been under construction since 1948 with a number of financial stops and starts, was nearing completion. A trained staff of physicians and surgeons from Mercy Hospital in Altoona was to assist the hospital to begin its duties while the 1,400-member Tyrone Hospital Women's Auxiliary would begin training nurses aides. Dr. August C. Keen was Altoona Mercy Hospital chief-of-staff.
July 18, 1976
Hundreds of Altoona residents turned out on the Juniata Eighth Street Bridge to view a Blairsville & Indiana Railroad H-8 steam locomotive and tender that stopped for water from Altoona firemen on its way to the Gettysburg Railroad Museum. It was assisted by a 1,200-horsepower diesel.
July 18, 2001
A number of Bedford Prison inmates were baptized in the water at Shawnee State Park by Bedford County Commissioner Ira Claycomb and Gary Boor of the Spring Meadow Worship Center as at least three sheriff's deputies with rifles stood guard.
July 18, 2016
The Duncansville Historical Society, Warren Baker president, who succeeded founder and long time president Cloyd Neely who passed away recently, and secretary/treasurer Nancy DeLozier, was making plans for the borough's 125th anniversary.
July 19, 1951
State Rep. Harold G. Miller of Altoona introduced, and PA Gov. John S. Fine signed a bill that would allow Altoona to hire 13 new firemen and $40,000 to the payroll. The firemen's work week would be 60 hours, 10 on day shift and 14 on night shift.
Maj. Gen. Daniel B. Strickler, commander of the 28th Division of the PA National Guard, of which there was a unit in Altoona, said the division was completing its training at Camp Atterbury, Ind., had next been assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C. and had been notified they would be assigned to duty in Germany.
July 19, 1976
Altoona City Council received a proposal from Manpower coordinator William F. Muri Jr. that between 90 and 100 employees hired under the Comprehensive Employment Training Act would have to be laid off due to lack of funds. City agencies, local school districts and local nonprofits all had CETA employees.
Drum Corps International announced that the Bicentennial Brass Sounds event would be held Aug. 17 at Mansion Park. The Phantom Regiment from Rockford, Ill., Capitol Aires from Madison, Wisc. and Vanguards from Santa Clara, Calif. were scheduled with talks with at least two other groups ongoing.
July 19, 2001
Charles Yingling, 67, Claysburg, had helped 1,800 people through the 55 Alive driving program for seniors that taught them that eyesight, hearing and reflexes began to fade with age. Jack Foreman, 79, Altoona, was an instructor and assistant state coordinator for the program.
One Altoona fireman was injured when fighting a fire that destroyed the Longbranch Cafe at 1629 Fourth Ave. in the Juniata section of Altoona. The building was gutted, with damage estimated at about $150,000. Altoona Fire Marshal Randy Isenberg was
Investigating the cause of the blaze.
July 19, 2016
Police in Hollidaysburg were looking for the vandals who beheaded a popular cat statue on Penn Street owned by Linda Straub of Happier at Home Pet Care who constantly changed its costumes and decorations. The statue was placed about seven years ago.
The Altoona Housing Authority, Robin Beck chairman, was planning to sell its nine scattered housing unit properties but the project was being held up by the Department of Housing and Urban Development when it found application errors. The sale had been planned since 2011 but was being held up by "red tape," acting executive director Kathi Ardizzone said.
National, world news on this date
July 18:
In 1947, President Harry S. Truman signed a Presidential Succession Act which placed the speaker of the House and the Senate president pro tempore next in the line of succession after the vice president.
In 1976, at the Summer Olympics in Montreal, Nadia Comaneci of Romania became the first gymnast to receive a perfect score of 10 from Olympic judges for her performance on the uneven bars.
In 1984, James Huberty shot and killed 21 and injured 19 at a McDonald's in the San Ysidro neighborhood of San Diego, California, before he was killed by a police sniper.
July 19:
In 1812, during the War of 1812, the First Battle of Sackets Harbor in Lake Ontario resulted in an American victory as U.S. naval forces repelled a British attack.
In 1969, Apollo 11 and its astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins, went into orbit around the moon.
In 1979, the Nicaraguan capital of Managua fell to Sandinista guerrillas two days after President Anastasio Somoza fled the country.
In 1980, the Moscow Summer Olympics began, minus dozens of nations that boycotted the games because of Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan.
Local news compiled by Tim Doyle. National, world news from The Associated Press.