Person

William Horace Rose

A man with gray hair and beard wears a dark suit jacket and tie. — William Horace Rose

W. Horace Rose was the first mayor of Johnstown.

Rose was born on November 17, 1838, near Vine and Market Streets. He went to law school and was admitted to the Cambria County's bar association.

During the Civil War, Rose served as the Adjutant for the 54th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and was injured at the Battle of Piedmont in 1864. He held many elected positions throughout his life, including Burgess of Johnstown Borough, State Legislature and District Attorney in Cambria County.

On the morning of May 31, 1889, Rose went to Main Street in the morning to see how things were going. He talked with his friend Charlie Zimmerman. Rose told him “Charley, you and I have scored fifty years and this is the first time we ever saw a cow drink Stony Creek river water on Main Street.” Rose was at home when the flood struck Johnstown. His wife and four sons moved upstairs because the water was rising on the lower level. Right before the flood hit, he was playfully teasing Bessie Fronheiser, his neighbor's daughter, through his window. He was badly injured in the flood. His injuries were described as "...a dislocated shoulder, a broken collar bone, several crushed ribs, and half of his face ripped open."

On the day of the Great Flood, Johnstown was a borough. The city of Johnstown was established in December 1889, and Rose became the first mayor on February 18, 1890.

After the flood, he served as a prosecutor for some of the lawsuits brought against the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club.

He built a house on Main Street near the lower end of Johnstown in 1894. This was one of the harder hit areas during the flood. His house stands as a testament to his belief that Johnstown would continue to prosper and that people didn't need to be afraid to rebuild in that location.