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Frank H. Seely

Personal

Gender: Male

Date of Death: July 8, 1926

Death Place: Altoona, PA

Frank H. Seely

FRANK H. SEELY IS DEAD AT CRESSON

Pioneer In Ice Business In This City Fatally Stricken In Theatre, Dying at Physician’s Home

Frank H. Seely, sr., pioneer ice manufacturer in this city is dead. He having succumbed to an attack of heart failure while attending a theatre at Cresson last evening. Mr. Seely resides in the summer months at Wildwood Springs, near Cresson, maintaining his winter home at Bala, Pa., near Philadelphia. He with Mrs. Seely, with his brother George Seely and wife, last evening went to the Cresson theatre.

During the course of the evening, Mr. Seely complained of feeling unwell and leaving the theatre unaccompanied, went to his automobile, parked nearby where he was found a few minutes later, in a state of collapse, by Dr. E. E. Eckley. The physician had the wife and brother notified and took Mr. Seely to his home where he passed away, ten minutes later, at about 8 o’clock.

Mr. Seely erected the first plant that froze the first cake of artificial ice that was ever frozen in Blair county. That was thirty-five years ago. It was not Mr. Seely’s first introduction to the ice business. Some years previously, he came here to take charge of the Pennsylvania railroad company’s ice business at Three Mile dam at Point View. At that time, the huge ice houses there were filled every winter from the waters of the Juniata.

After operating at Point View for twelve years, the waters were declared unfit for ice for domestic purposes and after looking over the country for a site, chose Wildwood Springs, near Cresson. There he build a dam and ice houses, the railroad continuing to take the bulk of his products.

However, in the spring of 1890, the manufacture of artificial ice having been perfected, he purchased a plot of ground at Fifth avenue and Thirty-second street and erected a twenty-five ton per day plant there. He continued to operate both the Cresson and the Altoona plant for many years, only a few years ago selling out the Altoona plant which has since been known as the Blair Ice and Coal company.

He was 71 years old. For many years he resided on Sixth avenue, beyond Thirty-second street; later he lived for a time at Hollidaysburg, a few years ago moving to Bala, Pa. He maintained his financial interests at the Cresson plant and resided there in the summer time, and some, Frank H. jr., resides at Bala. His widow and several brothers and sister survive.

Published in the Altoona Mirror, (Altoona, PA) July 8, 1926 page 19

[Grandson of SGS #3430 – Frank Hepburn; Charles Blanchard; Charles Blanchard (#3430); Charles Blanchard (#1519); Samuel Charles; Christopher, Samuel; Jonas; Obadiah]

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