Henry Noss    

One of the early residents of the town who enjoyed an excellent reputation in the musical and theatrical field far beyond the boundaries of New Brighton was HENRY NOSS. Born in 1837 at Harmony, Pennsylvania, Mr. Noss came to New Brighton shortly after 1850. His first position was that of bellboy at the Merrick House. Upon the destruction of the hotel he immediately turned his attention to the painting trade. His headquarters was a small brick building still standing on Fifth Avenue, between Ninth and Tenth Streets. About the same time Mr. Noss became interested in photography and although the art of taking pictures was then in its infancy, he fitted up a studio above William McKee’s Grocery Store and shortly had all the business he could take care of. That his work was of an excellent quality is attested by the large number of pictures which are still extant over Beaver Valley bearing the name of the Noss gallery. A number of the old pictures which have been reproduced in this history were taken from originals made by Mr. Noss when he was a young man.

While a successful pioneer in the field of photography, Mr. Noss gained his greatest fame in the field of public entertainment. Having married at an early age, he devoted a large part of his time to the rearing of a very accomplished family. This close parental supervision was all the more necessary in that the first Mrs. Noss died while the children were quite young. She had been Charlotte Winter, the daughter of Reverend Ferdinand Winter, who served as the pastor of Burry’s Church near Zelienople for forty years. From their maternal grandfather, and their mother, as well as from their father, the Noss children inherited a great love for music. Reverend Winter had served as a Union bandsman in the War and frequently filled the position of organist in his own church. Under the guidance of Mr. Noss, the children were given every opportunity to perfect themselves in the musical field. So it is not surprising that very early they should have turned their attention to the work of entertaining the public.

Several years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Noss was united in marriage with Mrs. William Todd, a widow. Her early training as a dressmaker became a valuable asset to the family as she rendered excellent assistance in costuming the group when they embarked on their professional career.

While there is no doubt that the Nosses had provided private musical entertainment in many parts of the community for some time, their earliest public appearances are associated with the Old Opera House. There they are remembered by many old friends for their parts in “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh.” In this play the part of the drummer boy was taken by Ferd Noss then only a child himself. The hero’s sweetheart was portrayed by Flora Noss, and that of “Fatty” Schmidt, by Mr. Noss himself. Not long after this, a theatrical agent from Boston offered the entire family a contract which they accepted. As a result, a New England tour was arranged for the group. Since the means of transportation was that of horse-drawn vehicles, the troup did not find the theatrical road an easy life. But because of their enthusiasm and high sense of family spirit they enjoyed the tour and upon the completion of the same found their reputation as entertainers in the vaudeville field established.

For many years the management of the family was in the hands of Ford Noss, the eldest son who continued in this capacity until the retirement of the group in 1924. Their career starting in 1880 and continuing for forty-four years, is remarkable in that throughout all their trouping they experienced no accidents, illness, or fires.

Upon retirement as a group Mr. Noss returned to New Brighton where he resided until his death in 1925. His last days were passed at the Noss home located at 92 1-23 Sixth Avenue. An interesting story concerning this house is related by the family. It seems that originally the building was a square structure of four rooms. The identical counterpart of it was to be found in a house opposite the eastern entrance of the “Old Covered Bridge” leading to Beaver Falls. This building was owned by a very close friend of Mr. Noss. Since the two desired to live together the latter house was moved to the site of its twin on the Noss property where it now stands. Several members of the family still reside at the old home.

Some of the family are still active in theatrical work, others have entered business in Pittsburgh and New Brighton. They will be recognized as Mrs. J. Lawrence Autenreith of Pittsburgh, head of a chain of stores (formerly Flora Noss); Ferd Noss, retired of New Brighton and New York; Lottie Noss of New Brighton; Frank Noss, manager of New Brighton Autenreith Store; Mrs. Charles MacDonald (Mary Noss) of New York; Mrs. Jack Lingwood (Bertha Noss); and Mrs. Frank Capo (Helen Noss) both of New Brighton.

History of New Brighton 1838-1939, published by the Historical Committee of the Centennial, Butler, PA, pages 46-47. More Beaver County History Books  Search Hundreds of 1880s-1890s Pennsylvania County History Books for biographies and historical information on your ancestors.  View the book page images on line and print them out for your genealogy file! Free Access to the old history books - plus birth & death records, census images and ALL other records at ancestry.com