1879 McKean County Democrat Office

photo credit: McKean County Historical Society Collection 

McKean County Democrat 1858-1865/ 1879-1971

1858-1865: There have been two totally separate, unrelated newspapers named McKean County Democrat. The original paper espoused minority Democratic party values. It was printed by veteran Smethport editor Joseph Beaman Oviatt from March, 1858 until his unexpected death in 1865 at age 42. As a result of Joseph's death the paper was terminated and the office closed.

1879-1971: In 1879, fourteen years after the original McKean County Democrat ceased publication, another paper, using the same mast appeared. The new paper was edited by Clark Wilson. Prior to his moving to Smethport and reestablishing the Democrat, Mr. Wilson edited newspapers throughout Pennsylvania,, including Brookville, Punxsutawney, Clearfield, Indiana, Butler, Ebensburg, and Parker's Landing, Pennsylvania. The Democrat was in continuous publication in Smethport until July 15, 1971.

In 1891, just prior to the construction of the new Saint Luke's Episcopal Church the Democrat office building was moved by horsesto a new location in the 300 block of Main Street.

Old Landmark John C. Hamlin Hardware Store Torn Down

McKean County Miner May 8, 1891
After having withstood the storms and ravages of nearly a half a century, the building lately vacated by J. C. Hamlin, on the corner of Main and Church streets, has at last been forced to give way to the march of improvement, and is being removed to make place for the handsome edifice to be erected for the congregation of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.


John Holmes erected the old building in 1842, at which time there were but two stores in the town, one on the site of the present magnificent residence of Hon. Henry Hamlin, which was occupied as a general store by the late Orlo J. Hamlin, father of Henry and J. C. Hamlin, the other in what was known as the Astor House building, where the flue residence of Mr. William Haskell now stands. After three years the business passes into the hands of Bryon D. and Henry Hamlin, who conducted the business until 1857, when they in turn gave way to J. C. Hamlin who has occupied the building ever since, a period of 34 years, first as a general store for nine years, then as an exclusive hardware, the first of the kind in the town, and which he still continues.


The new church edifice, which will adorn this most desirable site, will be of the gothic style of architecture, built of surface sandstone, and will cost complete in the neighborhood of $20,000. John Carlson has the contract for the stonework, which amounts to upwards of $14,000. The building, which is being erected by Judge Hamlin as a tree gift to the congregation of St. Luke’s, will be one of the most perfect structures of the kind in this section. The work will be commenced at once and pushed forward as rapidly as possible compatible with good, substantial work.