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Alexandria borough

Killed With A Heated Iron

Did you know? In the fall of 1831, John Hansom, a journeyman in the blacksmith shop that Erasmus Jones carried on at Alexandria, killed John McClure in an altercation by running a heated iron through his body. Hansom was convicted and sent to the penitentiary.

Africa's 1883 county history tells the story in a single footnote to its list of the village's mechanics, noting that the old blacksmith shop had become the shop of Joseph Piper, a wagon maker. It says nothing about what started the altercation.

Checked and confirmed. CONFIRMED 2026-10-30 against the sources listed: every factual sentence was tied to a verbatim passage and a script confirmed each passage is in its source. Where sources disagreed on a number, the number was left out.

Sources

  1. J. Simpson Africa, History of Huntingdon and Blair Counties, Pennsylvania (1883)
  2. J. Simpson Africa, History of Huntingdon and Blair Counties, Pennsylvania (1883), archive.org text

Checked 2026-10-30 · County histories and primary sources, read in full

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Photographs from Alexandria borough

Pennsylvania Railroad Station, Shelton Avenue, AlexandriaPennsylvania Railroad Station, Shelton Avenue, AlexandriaLibrary of Congress · pa1944
Alexandria Presbyterian Church, Hartslog Street & Shelton Avenue, AlexandriaAlexandria Presbyterian Church, Hartslog Street & Shelton Avenue, AlexandriaLibrary of Congress · pa1942
Alexandria, Town of, AlexandriaAlexandria, Town of, AlexandriaLibrary of Congress · pa1936
Evander P. Walker Store, Main Street, AlexandriaEvander P. Walker Store, Main Street, AlexandriaLibrary of Congress · pa1939
Henry Willibrand Brewery, 700 Block, Main Street, AlexandriaHenry Willibrand Brewery, 700 Block, Main Street, AlexandriaLibrary of Congress · pa1938
Pennsylvania Canal Lockkeeper's House, Hartslog Street & Shelton Avenue, AlexandriaPennsylvania Canal Lockkeeper's House, Hartslog Street & Shelton Avenue, AlexandriaLibrary of Congress · pa1935

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