In the early days, once you got into Midland, it was pretty difficult to get back out. There were only four trains a day-two in and two leaving. There was no station, only a stop, known as "Neel's Stop." Horse and buggy rigs jogged about on rough, muddy roads to Beaver and Industry, but the roads being what they were, the railroad and the river packet were the favored forms of transportation.

Post Office, Firefighters, Borough Bldg.

First Fire Truck

Getting around the town was little better. Transportation was limited to walking and the horse and buggy or wagon. Both were seriously hampered by the mud. Buggies and wagons were often stuck axle-deep in the mire.

To grow up and become a town, from a small cluster of houses and a railroad stop, there had to be civic improvements. In 1906, things like roads, sidewalks, water, sewers, gas and electric power, and police and fire protection were largely yet to come. Here is the story of how they came and helped change Midland into the thriving town it is today.

One of the most frequent complaints heard today from older citizens reminiscing about their early days in Midland, is that the streets were nothing but mud.

One early attempt to overcome the "hipdeep" mud was the building of wooden boardwalks as sidewalks along the streets of the town. But it didn't work. People unavoidably tracked gobs of mud onto the walks until the walks themselves were thoroughly coated. To make matters worse, hundreds of big black snakes, chased from a wooded area where a plan of houses was put in, sought refuge under the structures, and parents were afraid to allow their children on the walks.

Today every street in our town is paved.

One of the first things a new town needs is water. In 1906 the water company was formed. Pipes were laid through the town bringing unfiltered water directly from the river into the homes. Like the streets, it was usually muddy, but there was no charge for the service. Springs, though often down to a mere trickle, supplied drinking water, and almost every home had its rain barrel at the side of the house. Many residents also dug wells.

Midland Steel Company owned the water company, having built it to supply water to its mill. In 1907, it was incorporated as the Midland Water Co., but it was not until six years later that it began to operate on an independent basis. The steel company built a filtration plant, and the water company bought filtered water from the plant, set up a rate schedule for the first time, and resold the water to its customers. The first water meters were installed in 1916, and eight years later the system was completely metered.

A half-million gallon steel reservoir was built in 1924, and in 1941 a 150,000 gallon tank was put up to supply Midland Heights. A booster pump was installed to pump water up to the new tank.

In 1946, the water company put in its own purification plant. Now, the steel company became a customer of the water company. Capacity was two million gallons of water a day, and in 1953 this was increased to its present capacity of three million.

In 1953, Crucible Steel donated the entire water system to the Borough of Midland as an outright gift. Before then, purchase of the water company from the steel company was contemplated. Early in 1955, the Borough turned the operation of the water company over to the Municipal Authority of the Borough of Midland.

Early in 1910, the Peoples Natural Gas Co. was granted a franchise to supply our town with gas, and facilities were put into operation later that same year. Service has grown until today People's Midland City Plant is the hub around which gas is supplied to Vanport, Enon Valley, Industry and Brighton, as well as Midland. In the Midland area alone, there are approximately 2,500 domestic and commercial customers.

Electricity first came to our town when the trolley company established an interurban street car system, about 1908. At that time there were many small, locally-owned electric lighting companies being formed in various communities. C. A. Smith, who headed the street railway system, was largely instrumental in forming the Midland Electric Light and Power Co. The late W. C. Rice was in charge of the office here.

No household electric appliances were used in those days. Citizens wanted electric lights to replace the coal oil or gas lamps. Meters were unheard of. Residents who signed up for service were furnished with an "indicator," which was set to indicate the number and type of bulb. The usual house service consisted of eight 25-watt bulbs at a cost of two dollars a month. If the customer tried to use either more lights or higher wattage bulbs, there was a constant flicker, and sometimes the lights would black-out completely, plunging a house into darkness. Benjamin Silverman, who was the company's first customer, died in 1920, but his descendants are still engaged in business here.

Eventually, modern electric meters replaced the old indicators. The Valley-Midland high tension line was built from junction Park, New Brighton, to a substation near the eastern end of the borough. Wires were strung on "H" frames, stretching across the hilltops along the north side of the Ohio river. Modern lightning arrestors were not used to a great extent at that time, and storms often interrupted the service from junction Park.

This sometimes made it necessary to switch to Ohio Power. A connection with the Ohio Power Company had been made near the state line at Smith's Ferry.

Although Duquesne Light's Midland office was discontinued in 1930, additional transmission lines have been built to Midland. The largest is the 69,000 volt Phillips-Midland line, completed last year. And a larger, new automatic sub-station has been built overlooking the river, adjacent to the steel company's property. In the event of a storm or other interruption, an automatic operation swings another high tension line into almost instant use.

An established postal service came to Midland in the same year our town was organized. The first U. S. Post office headquartered itself in the rear of the First National Bank building in 1906. Elmore Beeman was our postmaster. At the time, a horse-drawn wagon was used to carry mail to and from the railroad station. The first of a series of moves which had our Post Office hop-skotching around town came in 1923, when they checked into the Midland

Hotel. In 1930 another move set them up in what is now the Knights of Columbus building on Midland Avenue. The final move for the letter-carriers came in 1939. A new $75,000 Post Office building was authorized in 1937, and two years later federal, state and local officials dedicated our new Post Office building.

As mail trains were taken out of circulation, our mail was carried by trolley to the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie railroad station in nearby Beaver, Pa. After the trolleys made their last run, busses were used to transport the mail to Beaver until our present Star Route was established.

During this time, our Post Office progressed from a fourth class office on up. Today it is in the first class category, with total annual receipts of about $55,000.

The first telephone central office was established here in 1912, and by 1913 there were 22 manually-operated telephones connected to the office. But as more and more people began to see the time-saving advantages of the telephone, its users increased steadily. By 1920 there were 282 telephones here, and listening in on the party line had become a favorite pastime.

The central office was originally located on Beaver Avenu e between Sixth and Seventh Streets. The office was moved after a few years to the second floor of the First National Bank Building where it remained until 1939. At this time the dial system replaced the manual system, and our new telephone office on Seventh Street was put into service.

In 1940, the dial office at Ohioview went into operation, serving 82 customers who had formerly been connected to the Midland office. The present central office exchange names of "Mission" in Midland, and "Newton" in Ohioview, were established in 1954. The "Newton" exchange numbers over 650 subscribers, and "Mission" counts approximately 4,000 telephones.

Today, on the average, these two offices place over 12,000 calls daily.

Firm law enforcement, operating smoothly and quietly, with as little excitement as possible, is the goal of civic-minded people in any community.

Charlie McNeil, a farmer turned constable, patrolled our new town in its early days and also acted as justice of the peace. For the night shift he had to have the help of two patrolmen. His early law-enforcement experience proved of value. Charlie later became a burgess of our town.

In April, 1907, the first police committee met and submitted the name of f. C. Atkinson to council to head up the new police department. So it was that Mr. Atkinson became our first chief of police.

Years passed, with a long succession of police chiefs, and at times the shadow of the law fell a bit thin across our town. Today, though, we can be proud of the orderly manner in which our town operates.

Prior to 1906, Midland bad a volunteer fire-fighting organization known as the "Ladder & Bucket Brigade." Ten volunteers, sparked by the need to protect our town's early residents, manned makeshift equipment. They made their headquarters in the rear of a blacksmith's shop in the area of Seventh Street and Railroad Lane, near where the A & P market is now located. The unit's Fire Chief was Henry Barrett.

But in November, 1906, the Town Council named Mr. D. Archibald the first borough-appointed fire chief. A member of council, and chairman of the fire committee, Fire Chief Archibald was given the task of organizing the Midland Volunteer Fire Department. The fire house was at 813 Midland Avenue, where a barber shop operated by Alex Rodgers now stands.

Council passed a resolution in 1908 to have fire hydrants installed, and one year later they were put into service. A new piece of equipment was purchased to go along with them-a hand reel carrying 500 feet of 2%-inch fire hose, mounted on two large wheels. This was the first piece of fire apparatus purchased as such by our town.

In the following years, several minor pieces of fire equipment were added to our fire department, but nothing like what came in 1919. In that year, the first motor powered fire truck was put into service. It was an American La-France pumper truck, the pride and joy of its day. It cost us $8,500. Many a youngster, not to mention adults, Stood, almost completely lost in admiration, in front of the fire house gazing at this wondrous vehicle. No telling now how often suppers were delayed by some member of the family unavoidably detained at the Fire House.

The rapid growth of our town led to the appointment of the first borough-employed fire truck driver. In 1926 Edward Barrett, who was later to become a fire chief, went on the payroll. His duties were to maintain all fire equipment and to answer all fire and emergency calls.

Four years later, the first hook and ladder truck was purchased, and in 1948, the second pumper truck was added. This one featured a 250-gallon booster tank.

As our town has grown, so has our need for fire protection. Only recently, in 1950, the Midland Heights Volunteer Fire Department was recognized by the Borough, and it is now known as Fire Company No. 2. Growth is also shown in added equipment. This year the Borough purchased its first aerial fire truck. The new beauty, bought from the American La-France Co., carries a 75-foot hydraulic aerial ladder and 200 feet of ground ladders. It holds 1,000 feet of 2%-inch fire hose.

And even in this age of youngsters in space helmets" dreaming about rockets to the moon, we bet there'll be some tardy diners, young and the old, too, unavoidably detained by fire truck inspection.

The Midland Chamber of Commerce is an organization devoted to the increased growth and development of the Borough of Midland. Originally organized in 1939, as the Midland Business Men's Association, and later changed to the Midland Board of Trade, it was finally designated as the Midland Chamber of Commerce in 1954.

Membership in the organization is made up of local businessmen, professional people and other prominent citizens actively concerned with the commercial, financial, industrial and civic improvement of the community.

This is a non-profit making institution. It correlates opinions and takes action, when justified, on questions and problems related to the interest and welfare of our community. It spreads favorable publicity about the community, distributes literature and promotes activities that help in the continued growth and civic improvement of the area.

Having bought up most of the land in the area, the steel company had a major interest in our town's development. A realty company was formed for home and utility planning. And although many of the original houses in our town were built by the steel company, today about 90 per cent of us own our homes.

During the first 30 years nearly all homes in Midland were owned by the steel company. The upkeep and rental were under the, management of the Midland Improvement Company which built homes to take care of key people brought in to manage and run the plant. The Improvement Company was discontinued in 1943 when the houses were sold to employees on easy financial terms. Vacant lots were also sold and many of us have built new homes. Others of us like the highways leading out from Midland and enjoy the beautiful scenery while driving to and from work.

The willingness to give help to others in less fortunate circumstances is a "must" in any collection of people. Our town rates high in this fine attribute.

The Midland Area Community Chest, originally sponsored by the old Board of Trade, helps support many organizations of a charitable and civic-improvement nature. Altogether, some 19 member agencies

are aided including the Catholic Welfare Association, Children's Aid of Beaver County, Children's Home of Beaver County, Rochester General Hospital, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Salvation Army, USO., the Home for the Aged of Beaver County, and others.

During the war years, five War Loan drives were conducted, and every one of them exceeded its quota. The last drive reached a record high of $890,753.

Unique among charities, was the Midland Fellowship Club. In the days of the big depression, when thousands of people all across our country lost their jobs or were laid Off, many workers in our town faced the same problem. It was at this time, late in 1930, that the Midland Fellowship Club was organized to aid the families in this area whose wage-earners were out of work.

The organization collected and spent over $25,000 in three years for clothing and food. During the first year of operation, they plowed and gave out 130 garden plots, on land borrowed from the Midland Improvement Co. Hot beds were planted on the land now occupied by the swimming pool, and the vegetable plants were given out to anyone requesting them.

By 1930, the group bad some 750 individual garden plots to loan out and operated two farms to furnish produce. One of the farms was on the island next to the Midland Barge Works. To ferry workers back and forth between the mainland and the island, a flat boat was sent up from the Crucible Mine.

The late Robert Lloyd, who was president of council for years here in Midland, was elected president of the club and be was in office throughout its existence.

It is difficult to say now how many people were helped over those rough years by the club, but Midland people have a right to be proud of the fact that our community has the good character it needs to meet its problems.

Although the Cleveland & Pittsburgh railroad was the favored form of transportation in the early days of our town, passenger service was later discontinued altogether. In 1908, the Steubenville, East Liverpool and Beaver Valley Traction Co. brought trolleys to Midland, connecting our town with East Liverpool, and later with Beaver. The old yellow trolleys rumbled and clanged along the street until the late thirties, when the buses took over. The highways leading in and out of Midland now make our town readily accessible.

The people of our town have been making news now for 50 years. We haven't had a newspaper all this time, but the events were here, waiting to be reported.

Midland is the home of three newspaper ventures. The first two were unsuccessful -the first, known as the Midland Press, appeared briefly prior to World War 1, followed in 1924 by the Midland Telegram, which lost out because of insufficient advertising support. But the belief in the need for a paper of our own persisted and the third try proved successful.

The Midland News first appeared on December 7, 1928, and it has been published continuously every week since then. The paper was the child of the Midland Printing Co., started in 1922 by Roy D. Paisley, the present owner, and the late Perry M. Barker. Mr. Barker died in 1934, but Roy Paisley has carried on since then as sole owner and publisher of our town's paper, located in the First National Bank Building. Ed Robbins is the editor.

Few communities anywhere have such a bang-up July 4th celebration as we have right here in Midland. A Midland institution, first begun back about 1922, the organized civic program has since progressed to the dazzling celebration we make today of the holiday.

The community-wide celebration was started in an effort to provide entertainment for the townspeople who, due to the impassable conditions of the roads in and out of town, were somewhat isolated here. Although the original need for the celebration has disappeared, the event has done anything but diminish.

First programs were arranged along the line of a community picnic, and expenses amounting to a few hundred dollars were donated by interested citizens. Each year the program was enlarged until Independence Day in Midland has become something to behold. Our own people have no better show to attract them elsewhere, and people from far and wide now stream into the area to enjoy the celebration. Parking space is at a premium. Sidewalks and homes are jammed with visitors. One year recently, it was estimated that some 40,000 people crowded into town to see the display. Some people came from as far away as Cleveland. And in recent years, Independence Day has become a homecoming day for many former Midland people.

There is much to see and do on the fun filled day. People line the streets for blocks, stretching from both sides of the official viewing stand, to watch the big parade. Colorful floats are entered in the parade by various clubs and other organizations. Band concerts are held in Lincoln Park in the afternoon and evening. Baseball fans are treated to a rousing ball game at the Crucible Ball Field. And enough fireworks are set off in a brilliant night display to start a small war. There is little doubt that Midland's July 4tb celebration ranks second to none in community spirit.

Talk about Christmas trees, and if anyone from Midland is around, you can bet there'll be conversation about our 245 feet high Christmas tree. That's about the height of an 18-story building, and easily the tallest Christmas tree in the world. Of course, it's not really a tree. It's actually Crucible's Number I blast furnace all dressed up like a yule tree. At night, with a six-foot star at the top and hundreds of 100-watt colored lights strung around it, it makes a giant-size Christmas tree-a spectacle to excite the most casual observer.

Beginning in 1936, the evening preceding All Saints' Day has been celebrated in Midland with a mummers parade. October 31st in Midland is the signal for youngsters and oldsters alike to don grotesque and ridiculous masks and costumes and join in the festivities.

Dedicated in 1916, Lincoln Park totals over six acres of spacious green grass and stately oak, elm and locust trees. On July 4th, the bandstand is the scene of afternoon and evening band concerts. All year round, the park is a picture of sylvan beauty, and in the summertime it's a favored spot to stroll and relax.

We're a deep-rooted people here in Midland and we like the knowledge that our town has become something more than the little mill town it started out to be. We like the fact that our town is a good place to live and work and play in, a good place to raise a family, and it's sure to get better, because we're getting better at recognizing the importance of our civic growth.