The Johnstown Girls

Title Page, Disclaimer, Copyright Page, Dedication

i T H E J O H N S T O W N G I R L S ii K A T H L E E N G E O R G E iii T H E J O H N S T O W N G I R L S Kathleen George U n i v e r s i t y o f P i t t s b u r g h P r e s s iv K A T H L E E N G E O R G E DISCLAIMER This is a work of fiction. References to the men in the Bosses Club and to other historical figures of 1889 are as accurate as I could make them, but all other characters are works of my imagination. Alice Quinn’s ride on a mattress in 1889 is an actual event, which has inspired not only me but also Sharon Sheehe Stark and probably others I don’t know of. The places I use are often based on real ones, but details are mine. The Pirates’ 1989 season has been slightly altered to fit my purposes. The photographs included are not intended to be read as illustrations of characters in the book but are instead a chronicle of real lives, other lives, of the times—I find these lost lives very moving. Published by the University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15260 Copyright © 2014, Kathleen George All rights reserved Manufactured in the United States of America Printed on acid-free paper 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data George, Kathleen, 1943– The Johnstown Girls / Kathleen George pages cm ISBN 978-0-8229-4431-7 (hardback) 1. Twins—Fiction. 2. Sisters—Fiction. 3. Floods—Pennsylvania— Johnstown (Cambria County) —History—19th century—Fiction. I. Title. PS3557.E487J74 2014 813’.54—dc23 2014001173 v T H E J O H N S T O W N G I R L S For Vivian, Janet, Jenny, and Robin vi K A T H L E E N G E O R G E ...