Every time we hear from Dana Spriggs, we know that some unique historic artifact is en route to the Bridgeville Area Historical Society. This time it was a collection of documents related to Dr. Samuel McGarvey that paint an interesting picture of Bridgeville in the early years after its incorporation. Dana regularly checks EBay for collectibles relating to Bridgeville; one reporting an Odd Fellows receipt piqued his interest. It turned out that the seller had six different receipts with Dr. McGarvey’s name on them that she had acquired at an auction in Washington, Pa. Thanks to Dana, they are now available for perusal at the Bridgeville History Center.
The initial receipt that attracted his attention is a statement of S. C. McGarvey’s account at Bridgeville Lodge No. 396 on September 25, 1906. Dana correctly identified the lodge as being part of the International Order of Odd Fellows from its logo, three chain links containing the letters F, L, and T (Friendship, Love, and Truth) and an eyeball. In those years the Odd Fellows was the largest fraternal organization in the United States, with millions of members. At some point, the Bridgeville Lodge elected to secede from the Odd Fellows and reincorporate as the Owls Club, an organization that is alive and well today at 535 Baldwin Street.
As of that date, Dr. McGarvey’s account amounted to $5.95, including an assessment of twenty-five cents for “Orphans Home Assessment”. A warning on the statement reported that “One year back in Dues liable to suspension”. This apparently attracted his attention, because, at the bottom of the note is his receipt for $5.00, acknowledged by Secretary A. Aiken. On the back was a note from Mr. Aiken reporting that Dr. McGarvey “owed more than I thought you did”. Dr. McGarvey was one of Bridgeville’s most important citizens in those days; I am sure he was a valued member of the club.
Another interesting artifact is from H. Poellot & Sons, “Dealers in Hardware, Stoves, Tinware, Farmers’ and Builders’ Hardware, Buggies, Wagons, Bicycles, etc.”, for a $1.70 step ladder. The purchase was made on February 20, 1905; despite the statement “Terms: Thirty Days Net Cash”, the receipt is dated April 14, 1905. Joseph Sarasnick bought this business from the Poellots in 1938; the surviving hardware store is a Bridgeville tradition. It would be interesting to price a step ladder there today and tell Jason Sarasnick to “put it on my tab”.
The next receipt, to Adams Express Company, bills S. C McGarvey “for freight on Pa 20 from Pgh”. The fee appears to be twenty cents. The Adams Express Company was a significant organization in the early years of this century, a major competitor to Wells Fargo before they both were merged into the American Railway Express Company in 1918, following the wartime federalization of the nation’s railroads.
A particularly interesting receipt, dated March 23, 1905, reports payment of $1.05 to Frank E. Baker, “Manufacturer and Dealer in Harness, Saddles, and Horse Goods. Repairing Neatly and Promptly Done”. Mr. Baker’s establishment is listed as Washington Avenue. We know that Dr. McGarvey had perhaps the first automobile in Bridgeville, a “Jackson” that he purchased in 1908. Prior to that his practice was “horse and buggy”; he probably was a good customer for Mr. Baker.
More of a mystery is a receipt for $55.00 for “Mdse” (Merchandise) paid to W. Forgie, Washington, Pa., dated July 3, 1907. Forgie is described as a “Manufacturer of Rig Irons and Tool Wrenching Jacks. Also Dealer in Lumber of All Kinds, Mantels. Tile Flooring, and Wainscoting a Specialty.” Alexander Fowler’s birds-eye view map of Washington in 1897 shows two Forgie establishments; a planing mill and lumber yard, and a foundry and machine shop. We know, from a note in the “Canonsburg Daily Notes”, that Doctor McGarvey did an extensive renovation in his newly acquired house at 603 Washington Avenue that year; he probably purchased fifty-five dollars-worth of lumber.
The final artifact is for the rental of a post office box for three months ending September 30, 1907. Postmaster D. M. Bennett acknowledged receipt of thirty-five cents for this privilege. The post office was on Station Street, adjacent to the Bridgeville Trust Building. Dr. McGarvey had been elected a Director of the newly incorporated Trust Company four years earlier.
The good doctor was born on an Armstrong County farm in 1869, attended Slippery Rock Normal School, graduated from Western Pennsylvania Medical College in 1901, and moved to Bridgeville, where he took over the practice of Dr. J. S. DeMuth. Dr. DeMuth at that point had decided to leave general practice and become an Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist.
His new home and office were in a house located where the Harmuth Building is today. In 1908 he moved “two doors down” to 603 Washington Avenue. That house was demolished in the 1970s to permit construction of the public parking lot between Burgh’s Pizza and La Bella Bean.
Dr. McGarvey was a busy general practitioner until his death in 1951, at the age of 82. He was proud of being the attending physician at the birth of over 2,000 Bridgeville residents. In those days the family doctor’s office served as the “Emergency Room”, except for those frequent cases where the patient was the subject of a house call.
In addition to his family practice, Dr. McGarvey served as company doctor for many of the local industrial organizations – the Bridgeville Mine (Pittsburgh Coal Company), National No. 1 Mine in Sygan, the Flannery Bolt Company, etc. He still found time to serve as a Borough Councilman and on the School Board. One of his proudest achievements was the construction of Lincoln High School in the 1920s, while he was President of the School Board.
Our thanks to Dana Spriggs for providing these artifacts and the opportunity to do a retrospective on one of Bridgeville’s most distinguished citizens.