1830s: Residence of Dr. W.L. McCoy

1970s era photo (Lester Jordan, Jr.) of the original W.L. McCoy residence at 605E. Main Street.
Dr. McCoy raised his family, including

Dr.W.L. McCoy family biography Dr.W.L. McCoy biography Present location of Dr. McCoy office
Yerdon Sevice Station Yerdon Station opens in Smethport Present day location of Yerdon Staion
DR. WILLIAM YOUNG McCOY, second son of John and Hannah (Beach) McCoy, born at the old McCoy home in Somerset county, New Jersey, February 24, 1809. His childhood and early life were spent in his native region, and it was there that he received the elementary portion of his education, attending the local public schools for this purpose. While still very young he decided upon the medical profession as a career in life, and entered the Cincinnati Medical College at Cincinniti, Ohio. His career at this institution maintained the reputation that he hid already established as an intelligent and industrious student, and he was eventually graduated with the classof 1831, taking the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Immediately after graduation, Dr. McCoy removed to Smethport, Pennsylvania, where he was one of the first, if not the very first physician to settle.  Dr. McCoy was not only a successful physician in Smethport, but engaged in many of the activities of the region, and became the owner of a sawmill and was interested in several other enterprises here. The region about Smethport was covered with abundant forests of pine and hemlock, and drawing upon this supply he manufactured at his sawmill a great quantity of various types of lunber which he sold not only in the local market but at Pittsburgh and other distant points where it was shipped. He also gave a great deal of his time and attention to the public affairs of McKean county, and became a recognized 1eader therein while still comparativelya young man. He was a lifelong Democrat, and was elected on his party's ticket treasurer of the county, in which capacity he served for one term, and latercounty commissioner, serving also one term each in both these ffices. He was very popular both as a man and physician, and there were few figures so well known as his in that region at that time

Dr. McCoy was united in marriage, December 13, 1832, with Charlotte, Augusta Darling, a native of Gill, Massachusetts, born August 8, 1813.  Her death occurred at Smethport, May 22, 1897, while Dr. McCoy died January 4, 1886. Both were members of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, of which Dr. McCoy was senior warden for many years. Mrs. McCoy was a daughter of Dr. George Darling, also a native of Gill, Massachusetts, having been born there November 22, 1785.

Local Men Purchase Yerdon’s Gas Station
McKean County Democrat, May 27, 1937


J. Albert Cleveland and A. M. Anderson of Smethport purchased Yerdon’s Service Station on East Main street in a deal concluded this week. It is understood that Messer’s, Cleveland and Anderson will lease the station formerly conducted by Ralph Yerdon, to some individual in the near the intersection of the present Roosevelt Highway, Route 59 (the new Bush Hill cut-off of the Roosevelt highway) and the Emporium Road.

Mr. Yerdon remodeled the McCoy homestead, one of Smethport’s finest pioneer residences, when he established the station a number of years ago.


Will Remodel Station
McKean County Democrat, June 3, 1937


Contractor J. Alfred Johnson will completely remodel and modernize Yerdon’s Service Station on East Main street, purchased recently by J. Albert Cleveland and A. M. Anderson, Socony- Vacuum distributor.

Plans call for new rest rooms and a great deal of up-to-date equipment in general.

Messer’s, Cleveland and Anderson were successful bidders on the entire service station equipment at a public sale held last Saturday.


Mrs. McGuire and Sons will open Filling Station
McKean County Democrat, July 1, 1937


Mrs. Lulu McGuire and sons, Glenn and Calvin have leased the former Yerdon’s service station on East Mains street from the new owners, A. M. Anderson and J. Albert Cleveland.

The station, which has been completely remodeled, will be opened to the public by next Sunday. Socony-Vacuum Oil Co. products, for which Mr. Anderson is district distributor, will be handled exclusively.

Glenn McGuire has been taking an intensive course at the Socony-Vacuum training school in Pittsburgh.


To Build New Gulf Station
McKean County Democrat, February 24, 1938


A business transaction was consummated here Saturday which will result in erection of a modern new service station strategically located at the corner of East Main and East streets. The junction of the Roosevelt Highway (U.S. Route 6) and Pennsylvania State Highway Route 59 (the Emporium road and Bush Hill cut-off of the Roosevelt Highway).

An individual, whose name was not announced, purchased the property from Mr. and Mrs. Ray Anderson and the station will be leased to the Gulf Refining Co. Gulf gasoline and oil, for which Fred. T. Ludwick, of Bradford, former sheriff of McKean County, is distributor in McKean, Potter and Warren counties, will be sold exclusively. Mr. Ludwick said yesterday that a drive-in station will be constructed with a white stucco building, trimmed in blue. It will have last latest equipment, including computing pumps and a hydraulic lift for servicing cars.
An effort is being made to secure a local man to manage the new Gulf station.

A frame residence now occupying the site will be removed before April 1 and construction work will be started as soon after that date as possible.

This is the second new filling station to be announced for Smethport this year. A few weeks ago, the Atlantic Refining Co. purchased the land at the southeast corner of West Main and Franklin streets and will erect a station there this spring.

Legal details of the Gulf station transaction were handled by Attorney Robert Apple of Smethport.


Prof. Shattuck Buys House at McCoy’s Corners Here
McKean County Democrat, March 24, 1938


Prof. Richard Shattuck has purchased the Ray Anderson residence at the corner of East Main and East streets, which is being removed to make room for a new Gulf service station.
The building is being moved to Prof. Shattuck’s lot across Main street, known as the Medbury property, which he purchased last year.

Dr. W. Y. McCoy, eminent pioneer physician, father of the late Dr. Henry L. McCoy, constructed the building nearly a century ago and used it as an office and drug store. The corner is known as “McCoy’s Corners.”

Work on the new filling station will start next week.


Start Construction of Two New Filling Station
McKean County Democrat, April 28, 1938


Workmen are now busily engaged in construction of two new filling stations in Smethport. A new Atlantic station is being built at the corner of West Main and Franklin streets.

The new Gulf station is located at McCoy's Corners, East Main and East streets.


To Survey East Street
McKean County Democrat, May 5, 1938


Construction of the new Gulf service station at McCoy’s Corners has called attention to discrepancies in the lines of East street, which is said to be 66 feet wide. The council ordered a survey of the street and posts will be set too reaffirm the standard width.


Almost Complete
McKean County Democrat, May 26, 1938

The new Atlantic and Gulf companies’ service station on Main street, this borough, are rapidly nearing completion.


New Gulf Station Opened in Smethport
McKean County Democrat, July 14, 1938


The attractive new Gulf Refining Co. super-service station under construction here since April, was opened for business for the first time this week by William O. Clark, well-known Bradford man.

The station is strategically located at the corner of East Main and East streets, Smethport’s busiest highway intersection. The Bush Hill cut-off of the Roosevelt highway connects with the original route at the point and heavy traffic to and from the Emporium road also comes to the intersection known as “McCoy’s Corner.”

Ultra-modern in design, the Gulf Station has ample “drive-in” facilities. Rest rooms fully comply with the well-known Gulf standards of cleanliness. An enclosed grease rack is provided for quick, efficient servicing of cars and trucks in al kinds of weather.

Mr. Clark was purchasing agent for the Dresser Manufacturing Co. in Bradford for a number of years and recently served as manager of the Dunlop Tire Store in Bradford. Mrs. Clark was formerly head bookkeeper for the Star Garage Co. in Bradford. They have many friends in this section.

Attention is directed to an advertisement announcing the opening of the service station, which appears elsewhere in this edition of the Democrat.

Former Office of Dr. W. Y. McCoy moved to connect with Medbury House

The east end of the Medbury home was moved in 1938 from its location at "McCoy Corners", present location of the Smethport Gulf Station.

Yerdon Station Location 2009

photo credit: Blake Julian

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