Here is a 1914 photo of the corner of Hannah and Good streets in Houtzdale. It shows the part of town with many small businesses that resulted in a self-sustaining local economy and with coal mining as its base. Electric street lights and some phone service were available.
The photo also shows “Kelly’s Corner,” an early 20th century version of a grocery store. It was likely stocked with produce, canned and dry goods and other household items. Meat was often sold, then, in separate meat markets and milk was usually delivered by local farmers.
Notice the railway tracks of the “Alley Popper” (Altoona and Philipsburg branch of the Pittsburgh and Susquehanna Railroad) running in the middle of Main (Hannah) Street. It was, at the time, a thriving and competitive rail system that hauled coal and passengers.