Date: July 2, 1891
Source: Altoona Tribune, Page 1

Description:
This article reports on the formal opening of the Altoona and Wopsononock Railroad in 1891. Despite rainy weather, company officials and invited guests took a ceremonial trip from Juniata to the summit of Wopsononock Mountain via the newly completed narrow gauge line. The group arrived at the Hotel Wopsononock in just 48 minutes, where they gathered on the porches, enjoyed the scenery once the sky cleared, and discussed various topics before dinner. The article captures the optimism and local pride surrounding the new mountain railway, which would bring visitors to the popular resort at the mountain’s peak.

Full Text:

FORMALLY OPENED.
THE ALTOONA AND WOPSONONOCK RAILROAD.
Officials of the Company, With Invited Guests, Journey to the Top of the Mountain on the New Narrow Gauge Road and Have a Very Pleasant Time—Dame Nature Was Kind.
THE RAIN CEASED AND THE SKY CLEARED
And the Visitors Thus Had an Opportunity of Viewing the Magnificent Scenery.

Altoona Tribune, July 2, 1891
The Altoona and Wopsononock railroad was formally opened yesterday, and in response to the special invitations sent out by the company quite a number of invited guests took part in the official trip to the mountain top. Of course it rained. Did ever an event occur in which Altoona was particularly interested that it did not rain? Yet those who did not brave the rain of the morning missed a very pleasant trip. The journey up the mountains was begun shortly after 10 o’clock from Juniata, and forty-eight minutes later the party was safely landed at Hotel Wopsononock. Still it rained, and the spacious porches of the hotel were taken possession of by the visitors, who divided off into groups and discussed various affairs until the summons to dinner was heard.