Existing comment:
Johnstown, 1889
By the 1880s, Johnstown and its suburbs had 30,000 residents, many of whom were descendants of German, Welsh and Irish immigrants who had come early in the century to farm, mine iron ore, dig the Pennsylvania Canal and later, to build the railroad. As a former stop on the Underground Railroad, Johnstown had also become home for a small black community.
By the 1870s, Johnstown's population included a new wave of immigrants, factory workers and merchants from southern and eastern Europe. By 1880, the city even had two Chinese laundries. For most Johnstowners, work was hard, leisure time scarce and entertainments few. The city's many churches, masonic lodges, benevolent clubs and neighborhood saloons provided the most opportunities for socializing. |