BRIDGE: Clear back in March of 1850, a bridge in Bradford Township was making the news — in the M’Kean Orbit, that is.

A notice in the Smethport paper said proposals were being sought to build a bridge across the Allegany River at the mouth of the Tunungwant Creek. “This is an important improvement for our friends in Bradford. The centre of Bradford township is only about 9 or 9 ½ miles from the route of the N.Y. & Erie Railroad, and we suppose there is not much difference in the distance from Smethport by way of Bradford, and by way of Olean to the railroad. Bradford township is gaining in population and wealth, probably faster than any other township in the county. We hope they will succeed in getting a bridge across the river this season.”

—————————POST OFFICE: Still back in 1850, we learned about a new Post Office, this one named Prentissvale, after J.W. Prentiss, Esq., “the enterprising pioneer at the new settlement on Knapp’s Creek, appointed Postmaster. Persons addressing any of the resident at that settlement should now direct to Prentissvale instead of Allegany-Bridge. It was an improvement which they very much needed, as New England emigrants generally have about as much use for a post office as any class of people.”

Interestingly, Google sent us to a Smithsonian Museum page of a medical inhaler invented by Arthur Prentiss of Prentissvale, Pa., patented in 1867. There was no information, just a photo.

We did, however, find an 1857 patent for “new and useful improvements in spikes and bolts for railroads and other purposes.”