Chapter 4

 The Beard Family

 Katherine Leiby Howe and Horace Beard were married Jan. 2 1889

Horace Beard was the son of Amanda Louise (Bechtel) and Augustus Warren Beard. His maternal grandfather was John Adams Bechtel (1811-1875) of Newport. His fraternal grandmother was Mary Seidel, whose father founded The Seidel Forge. John Adams Bechtel was born 1781. He died 1875. He is buried in the Bechtel lot in the Newport Cemetery. John and his son H.H. Bechtel were the founders and owners of Newport Tannery. John owned a Policeman's Rattle (1865). He died 1875. He is buried in the Bechtel lot in the Newport Cemetery.  ²⁰⁰

Amanda Louisa Bechtel was the daughter of John Adams Bechtel, born about 1840. She married Augusta Warren Beard. A waist of 1860 was part of her trousseau. ¹³³  Horace Beard, son of Amanda (Bechtel) and Augustus Beard, was born 1859. His younger brother was John Adams Beard. Photographs of the two brothers taken about 1865 are shown in the museum. ^{417, 524}

 Horace Beard was presented the New Testament in 1869 by his teacher, Carrie M. Brown, as a reward of merit. ¹⁵²

Nellie Grace Beard, daughter of Amanda (Bechtel) and Augustus Beard, was born 1875. Nellie owned a doll cradle. The quilt was made from old materials. The two patches marked with thread stars were from the dresses of Annie Howe about 1865. ⁴⁹³ Horace Beard carved eleven pieces of doll furniture for Nellie. After her death in 1881 her mother felt so badly to see the toys that Nellie's uncle, Harry Bechtel took them to his home. Also Nellie's Honiton lace bed spread made by Katherine Howe (Beard) about 1880. ²⁰⁴  There is also a purse owned by Nellie Grace Beard. ²⁰²  Many of Nellie Grace Beard's belongings were saved; Valentine & envelope, ³⁹⁸ a child's apron, ⁵¹⁹ and a child's dress. ^530-532 

There is a photograph (tintype) of Katherine Leiby Howe and John Bechtel. Katherine was John's teacher. John was a cousin of Horace Beard. Remember also the both Katherine and Horace was students of John Campbell in 1877, when they were both teenagers. ³³⁹ Horace too drew a map in Newport School ²⁰³ There is a photograph of Horace Beard at the age of 18 (1877).  ³⁵¹  Horace Beard attended Pierce Business College, 108 Chestnut St., Phila. About 1878 he owned a book, New American Pronouncing Speller, copyrighted 1872.¹⁷⁹ There is a photograph of Horace taken in 1879. ⁴¹⁰

 July 4^th 1885 a group from Newport traveled to Devils Den, Gettysburg. A photograph shows L. to R: Amanda Louisa Bechtel Beard, Horace Beard, H.B. Beard, Charles Rauch, Helen Pelman Anspach, Gussie Thompson Rauch, William Anspach, Mary Bechtel Gast, Margaret Leiby Howe, John Beard, Minnie Pelman Beard, Oliver Badger (Mifflinburg). ¹⁹⁹  It is interesting that a young group of adults would travel that distance to respect the area and memory of the solders who died in the Civil War.

 What was Devil's Den ?   [http://www.angelfire.com/pa4/gettysburg/devilsden.html:]

Sitting in a rocky valley on the west side of Little Round Top is the area known as "Devil's Den”. Over 150 million years in age this area of large boulders was formed by the activity of glaciers during the ice age. The igneous rock was forced up through the earth during the ice age. The area known as "The Gettysburg Sill is about Forty miles long and nearly 2000 feet thick. This grey stone and shale formation is prone to erosion and has been eroding for thousands of years. The rocks are sensitive to heat and cold, wind and rain, snow and ice.

It is very possible that the ground in this area was host to another struggle long before the Civil War. Given the nature of the ground with its natural defenses and cracks and crevices it is only understandable that this "Hallowed Ground" is actually good ground for a battle. Many artifacts including arrow heads of different size, tomahawks and other relics have long been storied to have been found on this rocky ridge of the Gettysburg Sill. An old story sometimes heard is that "Devils Den" was the place of a massive Indian Battle of two tribes fighting over the "Big Rocks" because it was once a pyramid type structure that was destroyed by natural forces. Though unlikely it is odd that you can even to this day walk in and around and through these rocks. Many caverns and tunnels are accessible to small adults and children. In fact it has become a place for children to climb and play through the rocks.

The first people to have settled were of German and Scottish decent. They came in the early 1700's seeking freedom and a place called "Paradise". William Penn would later name a place in Lancaster County Paradise for the same reasons. William Penn's sons would have a tract of land known as "The manor of Maske" which would consist of over 40,000 acres and would include the den area. The main landmark of course in the area would be "Big Round Top". With a height of 786 Ft. above sea level, Big Round Top at that time called "Adam Lynn's Hill" named after an early settler, would show up in the earliest deeds in the 1760's.

Devil's Den had always been a strange place with a lot more to it than the vicious struggle that took place here on July 2nd of 1863.It has a geological significance, a historical one and a long history of fables, legend and stories that would seem very believable.

On July Second, James Smith commanding the 4th NY Battery put his men at Devils Den. The Confederates attacked Smith's men in the Devils Den from three positions all at one time. The area was not favorable to either side. The large rocks of 20 feet or more was a horrible place for a battle. With shot and shell racing in around and over the rocks, many troops were killed as a result of shrapnel from these projectiles bouncing off the boulders. As in many places during the Civil War where the ground was less than favorable, men were thrown into confusion. The battle in this area would switch back and forth several times. Smith placed four of his guns in the vicinity of Trangular Field where they fought off Confederate forces, both infantry and artillery. The artillery commanded by Brigadier General Henry L. Benning made life hell for Smiths artillerymen. Smith then would turn his attention to the infantry which was quickly advancing up the triangular field toward the Devil's Den. The 15th Georgia and 1st Texas made repeated assaults on the heights slowly but surely wearing down the union defenders. For over two hours this desperate assault and defense would rage in the area until the 1st Texas would finally break through and capture the three of Smiths guns. The 44th Georgia would then pass over the den and make their way through the gorge next to Little Round Top. The 6th New Jersey and 40th NY would take on these Alabamians and another bloody drawn out struggle would take place in the Valley of Death."

Where did this area get the name Devils Den? Is it something evil? Or does it just reflect the epic battle that was fought there? According to tradition, Devil's Den was inhabited by a type of blacksnake called "The Devil". This is understandable since snakes have traditionally been frowned upon and thought of as eerie and unwelcome pests. The Bible refers to the Devil as a "serpent". Anyway as tradition goes this black snake made its home in this large area of rocks. It is a cool and cavern like area perfect for snakes. Even to this day there are several species of snake that still roam the area in and around the round tops. It is very likely that soldiers from the battle on both sides wanted to remember the terrible place that they fought upon and asked of its name from local citizens. These locals may have called it Devil's Den. An early park guide was the one who first popularized the title through his tours and his extensive maps which are a cornerstone for marking this ground even to this day.

Horace Beard was appointed Superintendent of tanneries in 1886 and held this position until his death. * This is not surprising as his grandfather, John Adams Bechtel, and his uncle, H.H. Bechtel, founded the Newport Tannery.

Katherine's sister, Annie Eva Howe, was married to William Marquard Beetem Glanding in 1883. They were married at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Newport. Annie Howe Glanding, had married the Rev. Glanding in 1883, when she was twenty-two years of age. When she married. Katherine was twenty-eight and Horace Beard was twenty-nine when they planned to marry.

Katherine Leiby Howe and Horace Beard applied for their marriage license at the New Bloomfield court house. ²⁵⁴   Invitations went sent for the wedding of Katherine Howe to Horace Beard for 1889. ²⁶⁷   There are photographs of the bride, Katherine Leiby Howe, in her wedding dress, and the groom, Horace Beard. ^262,263 

Katherine Leiby Howe and Horace Beard were married Jan. 2 1889 by Katherine's brother-in-law Rev. William Glanding. ¹⁷⁰   Katherine Leiby Howe Beard kept the handkerchief she carried ²⁵⁷ and an ornament from the wedding cake. ²⁶⁸

There is a group photograph of the guests at the wedding: Back row, L to R. Harry Rife, John A. Beard, Rev. W.M.B. Glanding, Harper Seidel, Charles Rauch. 2^nd Row: Annie Howe Glanding, Mary Simpson, Mr. Kurtz, Gussie Thompson Rauch, John S. Leiby, Nellie Bechtel. Front Row: H.B. Beard, John Bechtel, Nellie Greenwalt Beard, Helen Simpson (Dravo), Mr. Kirkpatrick, Clara Stratton.  ¹⁸⁹  

 Autographs of guests at Howe-Beard Wedding reception: Amanda Louisa Beard, Mary M. Gast, Catherine Leiby Fishburn, Joshua S. Leiby, Susan Leiby, John C. Hetrick, Elizabeth Howe Hetrick, Major P. Heistand, John P. Clark MD, A. B. Demaree, Amanda A. Lowther, Mrs. J.J.Barkley, John Fleisher, Sara Tressler Minich, Philip Bosserman, Lydia Bosserman, W. H. Bosserman, Sarah K. Hiestand, Lizzie K. Mount, Jean A. Kerr. ¹⁷¹

Horace and Katherine Howe went to California on their wedding trip. They borrowed a soile leather trunk that was owned by Frederick Kohler, husband of Catherine Leiby, about 1850. ⁴⁹⁶ They probably joined an organized rail tour of California forty years after the Gold Rush, stopping at Chicago and Salt Lake City and visiting such west coast cities as Pasadena, Riverside, San Diego, Oakland, Monterey, and Yosemite.

The “June Flood” occurred during the early days of June 1889. It was Newport's 2^nd flood, but far out did the "Pumpkin Flood" of 1847. The June Flood “can be described as a mad rush of waters extending from Howe Township to 4^th Street. Two-thirds of Newport were inundated, with homes destroyed and our people impoverished.”   …”Houses, barns, smaller buildings, bridges and almost everything that would float were seen floating with the raging torrent.” The flood of 1889 destroyed the Little Buffalo covered bridge, marking the passing of an old Newport landmark. The first public school house was destroyed. There are photographs of Newport depicting the flood. ⁴⁰⁶ One photograph shows clothes from men's store drying after flood. ⁴⁰⁵   Another is a photograph of 3^rd & Market Sts. ⁴⁰⁷ 

Sometime during 1889 Horace Beard had their home built at 129 North Second Street, a block north of the Newport Square. At the turn of the century, the Victorian home on Second Street was the setting for parties, entertainments, meetings and play practices. Gardens bloomed all spring and summer with tulip bulbs and rose slips handed down from the family.  Horace Beard was presented the Past Master's Jewel (P.M. 1890) by Newport Lodge #381 Free and Accepted Masons.

Horace and Katherine did extensive traveling and bought many treasures. In 1891 they took a trip to Quebec where they purchased views of Quebec. ²⁸⁶ 

In 1892 they traveled to New Mexico. They bought pottery at Santa Fe^{. 269} There is a photograph taken near Santa Fe of a Mexican delivering wood. Katherine Howe Beard in background. ²⁷⁰  In 1893 Horace and Katherine Beard traveled to the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago World's Fair in 1893. John A. Bechtel (Newport Tannery) was awarded a medal for his sole leather exhibit.  ⁴⁰⁰ The World's Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893, was the last and the greatest of the nineteenth century's World's Fairs. Nominally a celebration of Columbus' voyages 400 years prior, the Exposition was in actuality a reflection and celebration of American culture and society--for fun, edification, and profit--and a blueprint for life in modern and postmodern America.

Horace and Katherine brought many things: Statue- "The boy Columbus" bought by Horace Beard, ²  Tumbler bought by Katherine, ²⁴³  Columbian Half dollar owned by Horace Beard,  ²⁴⁵  Paper Weight bought by Horace Beard, ²⁴⁶ Two pictures on silk from World's Columbia Exposition, ^{344, 345}  wooden placque  – World's Fair, Chicago, ¹⁸²  Masonic Souvenir-World's Fair, 1893 Chicago, ⁴⁵¹  and a chair from a building at Chicago World's Fair – bought by Horace Beard  ⁵⁴⁷  

In 1893 Horace Beard was issued stock certificate by Sherman's Valley Railroad. ²⁴⁸  He owned a list of subscribers to stock of Newport and Sherman's Valley RR. ³⁰¹  Notices for a stockers' meeting of Sherman's Valley Railroad were signed by Secretary Horace Beard. ^{250, 251}  The Newport and Sherman's Valley Railroad, connecting Newport and New Germantown, was built in 1890. Horace Beard received an invitation to the 25^th Anniversary Newport Masonic Lodge, constituted in 1867. He kept the Souvenir Program – 25^th anniversary Newport Masonic Lodge.  ^{284, 458}

Louise Beard was a well-loved daughter. Born June 11, 1894, in Newport, she was the only child of Horace Beard and Katherine Leiby Howe Beard. Her full name, Louise Bechtel Beard, appears on her Baptismal Certificate. ²²⁸ Many of Louise Beard's baby clothes were saved. There is a short baby dress, ⁵¹⁶ a long baby dress with ties,  ⁵¹⁷ and a baby cap with ties. ⁵¹⁵

Annie Howe Glanding gave birth to a baby girl in 1890, after being married over seven years. Katherine Howe Beard gave a doll to her sister's daughter, Margaret Leiby Glanding in 1895. Katherine made the doll's clothes from material of a dress given to her mother, Margaret Leiby Howe in 1851. The dress was kept for forty-four years!  ⁵⁷⁹

1895 Council takes action to fight fires. A new firehouse was built on Market Street just below 3^rd Street and completed in 1895. In 1895 Newport received its first modern fire equipment. Hydrants were installed and the water company laid their water lines. The two-wheeled hose carts, 2 ½ inch hose and the hook & ladder truck were placed in the new firehouse

There are photographs of the Beard Home. One taken in 1895 with Louise Beard in coach, ²⁹⁵  another one taken in 1896 with Louise Beard on the porch. ⁴⁷⁰

There is a photograph of Louise Beard with toys taken by Katherine Howe Beard 1897 in sitting room of Beard home. ⁴⁸⁵ One of Louise Beard's favorite dolls was “Dinah”.  ²³³  Louise loved to play with and dress her dolls. There was one doll dress from 1880. Another cotton plaid doll dress, ^{514, 542-3} and a doll's sun bonnet. ²³⁶ There more doll clothes: a woolen dress, ⁵¹³ a doll's shirt waist, ⁵¹⁸, and a doll's apron. ⁵⁴¹  As a six year old, Louise Beard would play house with her dolls using her toy table and chair, ^{454, 455} and toy coffee mill. ⁴³⁵  She also had a toy stove, waffle iron, tea kettle, 4 iron pots, 2 frying pans (see photo #485). ⁵⁴⁰

There is a photograph of the family group in Beard yard, taken Thanksgiving 1898. Standing on porch Margaret Leiby Howe; sitting on porch, L. to R. Catherine Leiby Fishburn, Rev. Wm. Glanding, standing on pavement Annie Howe Glanding, Katherine Howe Beard, Horace Beard; in front Margaret Glanding (Rupp) and Louise Beard. ²⁴⁷

Margaret Leiby Howe (1833-1917) was Louise Beard's grandmother.

Catherine Leiby Fishburn (1831-1906) was Louise Beard's great-aunt.

Annie (Howe) and Rev. Wm. Glanding were Louise Beard's aunt and uncle.

Margaret Glanding was Louise Beard's cousin, who was like a big sister.

Katherine Leiby Howe Beard was quite a photographer. She took many picture around Newport, which tell the town's and family's history. Below is a list of her photographs.

 Photograph-Beard home, 129 N. 2^nd St about 1896. Louise Beard on porch ⁴⁷⁰

Photograph – Louise Beard with toys taken by Katherine Howe Beard 1897 in sitting room of Beard home. Note stove and Dinah doll shown in this case ⁴⁸⁵

 Photograph- covered bridge, Newport taken by Katherine Howe Beard about 1898. ²⁹⁴

Photograph taken by Katherine Howe Beard about 1898. L. to R. Ethel Miller (Maratta), Louise Beard, Catherine Wilson (Trout). ³⁵⁴

 Photograph-Freight train on 3^rd. St.-taken by Katherine Howe Beard about 1898 ⁴⁵⁶

Photograph of Newport Tannery taken by Katherine Howe Beard about 1899. Left Horace Beard, Sopt, and right E.G.Sheaffer ²⁸²

 Photograph “The Gay Nineties” on Beard porch, taken about 1899

1.       Louise Beard ( age 15)

2.       E.G. Sheaffer

3.       Eleanor Orris (Gilmore)

4.       Gertude Jones

5.       Sarah Milligan (McCullough)

6.       Carrie Jones

7.       Jean Irwin (Eby)

Photograph of Harry (Uncle of Horace Beard) and Eliz. Moore Bechtel on N. Second St, where the first Episcopal Church service was held in Newport, March 28, 1875. Photograph taken by Katherine Leiby Howe Beard about 1900  ¹⁷⁸

 Photograph about 1900 “Saturday Afternoon on North Second Street”, taken by Katherine Howe Beard. Group seated on porch of Beard home. ²³²

1.       Mary Brandt (Kell)

2.       Jean Stephens

3.       Herbert Miller

4.       Louise Beard (age 16)

5.       Margaret Bassett (VigilanT)

6.                      Stephens

7.       Marion Kough

8.       Hettie Jones (Grubb)

9.       Ethel Miller (Maratta)

10.   Anna Brandt (Stultz)

Photograph of early school in Newport, built 1834, was first a private and later public school. Picture taken by Katherine Howe Beard about 1900 when the building was torn down. It stood in what is now [1939] the yard of the residence of Miss Marguerite Rippman on N. 2^nd Street. Margaret Leiby (Howe) and Catherine Leiby (Fishburn attended this school before 1840. ²⁶⁴

 Photograph Newport Tannery about 1900 ²⁷⁹

Photograph-parlor in Beard home, 129 N 2^nd St. about 1900 Note mantel, statues of Columbus, cow and calf, all of which are in present assembly room. Tea tables were distinctive of the era.⁴⁵³

 Photographs taken about 1900 of Newport from old graveyard and of Buffalo Mountain and West Newport. ³¹⁸

 Photograph taken by Katherine Howe Beard about 1900. ³¹⁷

A.      Newport home, Market St of Catherine Leiby Brown (Fishburn) and of Margaret Leiby Howe. House was originally pebbledashed. Margaret Glanding Rupp was born here in 1890. In 1939 Gelnett Bros. Occuooied  a building on this site.

B.      House where Dr. Wm. And Margaret Leiby Howe went to housekeeping in 1856. Here was born Annie Eva Howe (Glanding) in 1858

C.      At one time the Newport post office was in this room

D.      Building in side yard where Dr. Robert Brown and Dr. Wm. Howe (cousins and brother-in-laws) had joint offices.

Other photographs from Newport, photographer is unknown, are:

4^th St. School, Old Building about 1900 ²⁹⁶

Newport Square about 1900 (Nelson Graham to left sweeping leaves) ³²¹

Market St, Newport about 1900 ³⁷⁴

Newport showing covered bridge 1900 ⁴⁰⁴

Katherine Leiby Howe Beard was active in the Women's Club of Newport. She saved the First Program of Woman's Club of Newport 1900 ²⁷⁸ and the 2nd Program of the Woman's Club of Newport 1900-1901. ²⁹⁶

In 1902 Louise Beard hung her own seven ornaments on the Christmas tree. The fish ornament originally belonged to Nellie Grace Beard (1875-1881). ^425-431 There is a photograph of this tree, which shows the corner of the mantel in the present room. ⁴³² 

In 1904 Louise Beard and her parents went to the St. Louis Exposition. Louise Beard bought three postcards ⁴⁷⁴ and a glass dish ²³⁵ at the St. Louis Exposition. The Beards save the Souvenir-World's Fair, 1904 St. Louis. ⁴⁵⁰

At the age of ten years, Louise Beard saved a Musical Program dated April 1904. Labeled by Louise Beard: “First Appearance in Public”. Sketch drawn by her. Performance listed on opposite side are Daisy Kuhn, Irene Kough, Leon Baker, Ralph Demaree, Erma Fleurie, Mararet Fleurie, Pearl Sweger, Percy Zeigler and Ethel Miller. ³⁸⁰

A group of girls organized the a chapter of the “Road of Loving Heart Clubs”, which was composed of the following girls: Louise Beard, Elizabeth Dorwart, Janet Jones, Catherine Wilson, and Margaret Glanding (Honorary member living in Syracuse, NY 1905).   Louise Beard wore her R.L.H. insignia pin. ²³¹ Apparently the Glanding family had moved to Syracuse, NY in 1905.

Louise Beard was a member of the J.K.L. Club. The Club's name was a dead secret for many years. It meant “Jolly Knock Lancers”. The club yell was:

Rickityiricks, HICKETY-DICKS,

Riggerboom, Ziggeboom,

Zip-zah-zum, Honk-honk-Debanc

Zip-zah-zonk,

Hiphazel

J.K.L.

A photograph, taken in 1908,  shows the members. Top row L. to R. Louise Beard, Mary Irwin, Florence Butz, Eliz. Dorwart, Ethel Clark, Kathryn Campbell, Marguerite Rippman. Front row-Winifref Adams, Catherine Wilson, Janet Jones, Selma Stephens, Eva Corl, Hannah Himes, Ruth Rice. ³⁰⁶   In another photograph taken about 1907 are Ruth Rice, Janet Jones, Catherine Wilson, Margaret Cook, Florence Butz, Louise Beard, Katherine Campbell. ²³⁴ 

Louise Beard kept the dance programs from the J.K.L. Club dances from 1907 and 1908. ^{307, 308} What is strange is that Louise Beard was only 13-14 years old at this time. She must have been a very mature or fickle teenager! First Louise was a member of the “Road of Loving Heart Clubs” and now  “Jolly Knock Lancers”.  Was this the influence of her older cousin, Margaret Leiby Glanding?

There is a photograph of Louise Beard, wearing a large hat, at the age of sixteen [1910]. ^{488, 489}

Horace Beard died in April 7, 1911 at the age of fifty-two. Louise was only seventeen.

Louise attended Newport public schools, the National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C. She received her diploma in 1913. ²³⁰ 

She then attended a school for young women in Paris. There is a photograph of Louise Bechtel Beard taken when she was a pupil at Villa Dupont School, Paris, France. ²²⁹

Returning to her birthplace in the bustling railroad town on the Juniata River, Louise became active in the community's social life. She was a member of Episcopal Church of the Nativity on South Second Street, Newport Civic Club, Women's Club, Red Cross and Perry County Historical Society, and volunteered for Newport Public Library.

The first community Christmas tree was put on the Newport Square in 1914.  ³⁷⁸

1915 brought the first cars to Newport. Gelnett Bros. received their first shipment of Fords.

In 1917 the Newport Junior Red Cross made a convalescent robe. There was a poster commemorating gift of this convalescent robe made by Junior Red Cross,Newport. ⁴⁴¹ Louise Beard received a letter from John Oliver LaGorce, associate editor National Geographic Magazine, thanking her for convalescent robe made by the Newport Junior Red Cross. ³⁰⁹

Louise Beard worn a Red Cross uniform and head dress at the time of World War in 1918. ^490,503

She knitted socks for the soldiers according to directions, using a measuring tape to assure to length was correct. ^457-8

Louise Beard had the sheet music from 1918  for “Tipperary”  ²³⁷ and “Over There”.  ²³⁸  

In 1919 Louise Beard received a certificate for completion of lessons in Home Hygiene and Care of Sick under auspices of American red Cross. ³⁰³

A Welcome Home Celebration for Newport and vicinity World War soldiers was held Oct 25-26, 1919. ³⁹¹ There are photographs of Newport Square with decorations for the return of the soldiers. ^394-5 A reception was held in Newport Square for the Blue Devils. ³⁹³ There is a photograph of the French Blue Devils and Newport Red Cross in front of Court House, New Bloomfield. ³⁹² 

The Blue Devils were a group of French soldiers who fought in World War I. During World War I, the French "Chasseurs Alpins" were soldiers trained in alpine combat, native to the French Alps region. Because of their distinctive blue uniform, with a blue cape and beret, they were nicknamed "les Diables Bleus", translated as "the Blue Devils." They first entered the public spotlight for their courage in the March 1915 Vosges Campaign. Units of the French Chausseurs Alpins toured the United States, helping to promote the war effort. In 1918, Irving Berlin wrote a song honoring them, "The Blue Devils of France," with the lyrics, "He's a devil dressed in blue / And a soldier through and through ... Strong and active, most attractive / Are the Blue Devils / They came here the Liberty Loan to advance."

Louise Beard was issued a certificate in recognition of her work done during the World War in 1921. ³⁸⁴

The Pennsylvania Railroad came to town in 1849 at which time the tracks were located on Third Street. "In the 1920s, a little girl was killed by a train passing though town, and for safety reasons, and to accommodate the faster trains, the embankment [filling in the canal] was constructed paralleling the Juniata River and a new station was built, reflecting Pennsylvania Railroad's heydays. A magnificent wood ticket office is the centerpiece of the inside and Keystone symbols decorate the facade."- Susan Connell   In 1925 the railroad station was in its ‘hey day'!  The old canal bed is the line of the extensive Pennsylvania Railroad System for a large part of its Main Line course, including the line in the vicinity of Newport. There were daily trains running between Harrisburg and Lewistown.

Louise Beard was now a mature woman of thirty years old, and unmarried. After the war Louise Beard turned her interests to the Perry County Historical Society. There is a report of the first year's work, Perry Co. Historical Society 1924. ⁴⁴⁴ Louise's great uncle, Samuel Smith Leiby, was a member of the society.

About 1925 Louise and her mother, Katherine (Howe) Beard traveled to Europe. Here Louise bought toy scissors, which really cut. ⁵³⁸  Her mother bought stones from Pompeii. ²¹⁸ 

Margaret Leiby Howe, Louise's grandmother, died 1927 and buried on Glanding- Howe lot in Newport Cemetery. ⁴⁶⁶  She lived with Louise and her mother.

In 1930 Louise and her mother traveled to Alabama for a Beard family reunion. There is a photograph of the Beard Family taken at home of H. B. Beard  at his residence on 419 Jackson St. Decatur, Ala.  Back Row L. to R.: Louise Beard, Mrs. H. B. Beard, John Adams Beard, Mrs Horace Beard [Louise's mother]. Front Row: Robert Tweedy, Mrs. Robert Tweedy, Marjorie Beard, daughter of H. B. Beard, and H. B. Beard.

Margaret Leiby Glanding, Louise's cousin, married Clarence Rupp on December 27, 1930 in Harrisburg, PA.

Louise Bechtel BEARD was born 11 JUN 1894, and died 24 MAY 1936 in Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. Louise Beard was then forty-two years old.

______________

Louise's passing in 1936 left her mother alone. Horace Beard died in 1911 at age 52. Widowed and childless at the age of 76, Katherine Beard set to work with her sister to turn the 13-room home into a memorial to three generations of her family's history, a task she accomplished before her death in 1938 at St. Petersburg, FL. But when Katherine Beard named the memorial and museum, she chose the name of her daughter.