*** ONLINE AS OF AUGUST 5, 2011 ***
    



Comments (2011)

Dec 30, 2011 From: Beth Hennon Peters
COMMENT: Hello, Having grown up in Wampum and Chewton, in two fairly tight families (the Hennon’s and the Davis’s) every family reunion was full of stories about the history of Wampum and Chewton. I sent a link to your website to my parents – if they are feeling like chatting, they might be able to answer questions for you about the history of either. Plus, my dad retired a couple of years ago from whatever the current incarnation of B&W is, after starting working there full time as an 18-year-old (so, roughly 50 years at the mill). I saw that those were three topics you were very interested in, so if you have specific questions, I can try to remember answers (though I’m a few years younger than you, so my parent’s answers would probably be better). I can remember the huge Christmas parties that the union would hold for all the kids every Christmas at the mill – the gifts were piled to the sky it seemed. And I remember my Great-Grandpa Davis babysitting me and all eleven of my cousins one night a month and listening to his stories of working on the railroad and at the high school and helping build the Methodist Church. Seriously, the Davis’s live forever (he was considered very young when he died at age 98) and they have lived in Wampum since it was founded. My mom has a complete leather hand-sewn Indian suit from the original founding of the town at our house. And every family reunion we chat about the past. Beth Hennon.
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Dec 26, 2011 From: Bob Cody
Dear Jeff, I was just told about your website by a long time friend and Lawrence County Commissioner Dan Vogler. I would like to thank you for an excellent website. I’m a Wampum native, born in 1957, and still here. I’ve always been interested in local history and I certainly appreciate your efforts. I have a Flickr page with some old Wampum photos. Although you may have most or all of them you’re welcome to use anything there. Best regards and thanks again. Bob Cody.
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Dec 18, 2011 From: Ed Young
Jeff, Thanks for all your work. I am working on a long form video concerning the life of my mother-in-law who is 95 years old. As a young girl she lived in Koppel and Homewood before settling in Beaver Falls. I would like to know if you could let me have the Homewood train station images without the watermark. Her father worked on the railroad out of that station and I would like to include them in the video. This is not a commercial project – it will be limited to family. I am also looking for images of Koppel in the 1920’s. There used to be pictures hanging in the Koppel post office but I have been advised that the USPS required their removal. Parenthetically, if you have any interest, I have a DVD of Beaver Falls in 1937. This is from a film that was found in the Armstrong Cork Works office when that operation was moved. If you would like a copy, I can burn one and send it to you. Let me know. Thanks. Ed Young.
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Nov 5, 2011 From: Christine Telega
COMMENT: I am having trouble with the links or not seeing anywhere to click on them. I am extremely interested in these articles, as I am trying to find information on my maternal grandfather, who worked for a railroad in the 1920’s. My mother was never sure which railroad he worked for but I would assume, since he lived in Mahoningtown, that it would be one that was based in or regularly passed through the area. I was hoping that one of the articles might give me some ideas. (EDITOR’S NOTE: I found out that Christine’s grandfather worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) and was employed in the yards near Mahoningtown.)
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Nov 1, 2011 From: Tracy Morgan
COMMENT: My name is Tracy Morgan. I also am looking for the grave of a family member. I found a book in the library with his name in it. It didn’t have a location… I’ve looked through part of the cemetery but was unsuccessful. I don’t know if there is a stone or not. I would appreciate any help you may have. Thank you.
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Oct 31, 2011 From: Duane Harms
COMMENT: Hi Jeff, I am working with a small ad agency that is producing a video for the City Rescue Mission in New Castle as they celebrate their 100th Anniversary on November 10th. As part of the video, we are looking back at some of the early history of the mission and I was interested in seeing if it was possible for me to obtain a digital copy of a couple of the photos on your “LawrenceCountyMemoirs” website for use in the video. Specifically, I would love to get a copy of the photo of the Notions building on the Mill Street Bridge page and the main photo on the Black Bridge page as well as any photos you may have of downtown New Castle between 1910 and 1930. Obviously the photos would need to have your website watermark removed for use in the video. Please let me know as soon as you can if you might be able to help me out by providing the digital copies of these photos. They could simply be emailed to me to make things quicker since we are under a fairly tight production deadline at this point. The City Rescue Mission has served a significant role in Lawrence County and I know they would appreciate your help in telling their story if you possibly can. Thanks so much for getting back to me as soon as you are able. Duane.
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Oct 28, 2011 From: Gene Pisella
COMMENT: Hello Jeff, My name is Gene Pisella and I am also from New Castle. I was born in 1954 and grew up in Union Township at what is known as Parkstown Corners. I too love history and have completed my family genealogy after six years. Here’s where I could use your help. I grew up living above a tavern called the Airport Inn. I lived there from the time I was born until I was 15 years of age. The old place was deserted some years later and was set to be demolished by the owners. When the demolition crew began removing the siding it was discovered that it was log underneath. The crew finished exposing the complete log cabin stopped demolition and called in the Lawrence County Historical Society. Somewhere along the way Catherine Fabian who lived there also as a young girl was called in for some history on this cabin and a newspaper article was written on this place. It was said that her grandfather purchased it in 1859 or there about. The Historical Society said it could easily date back to the 1800’s and be one of the oldest structures in the county. The Historical Society said they wanted to see it preserved and so did the owners. Now the problem begins…what happened to it and where did it go?? I have contacted the Historical Society by email and they tell me everyone involved is either not there anymore or has passed. They don’t even have any photos of the old cabin. So…I have some photos of it before the cabin was exposed and a copy of the New Castle News article and Mrs. Fabian’s history. It also contains other leads. On another note… I read your story on the Cyamanid plant in Edinburg and I remember it vividly. I was 10 years old and living at Parkstown when that happened and it did a lot of damage to much of the area knocking out our windows and bringing everything down off the walls. I remember seeing a large mushroom cloud over Edinburg. Authorities make Parkstown the cut-off point and set up a roadblock. In no time traffic was backed up as far as you could see in all directions. I also remember all the fire trucks and ambulances being forced to travel on the opposite side of the highway to get through. My mother and other neighbors made coffee and sandwiches for those who would take breaks at Parkstown. Those are memories you never forget. I live in Texas but am in Florida right now. Please let me know if you would like to help. Thanks Gene.
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Oct 27, 2011 From: Diane Hulick
COMMENT: Thank you for all your good work on the history of New Castle. My Mother grew up there, as a poor immigrant’s daughter in South New Castle. She then married an American diplomat and lived in DC and Europe. I am trying to find out more about her childhood, which she rarely mentioned. I think from your description she went to the Terrace Street school. Can you point me to other info about this school? I tried clicking on the links in the article and they did not work. Should I look elsewhere? I am also interested in the Southern European immigrant community. My grandfather immigrated from Romania to N.C. in 1910. Again thanks for your research. Diane.
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Oct 27, 2011 From: Dan Foreman
COMMENT: Hi Jeff, A friend told me of your website yesterday. I grew up only 30 minutes from New Castle in East Palestine Ohio. About a year ago I relocated to Neshannock to run a new office for our monument business. I enjoy local history and admire the effort you are putting into documenting Lawrence county’s past. If you ever need any boots on the ground to get pictures or check on something, I’d be glad to help out. I enjoy photography very much and own Canon professional cameras and lenses. Would it be okay if I put a link to your website from my site? http://www.otbeight.com We frequently get inquiries, often from people who were once residents in the area, doing research on old cemeteries. I wish you continued success in such a worthwhile and appreciated project. Keep up the great work! Dan Foreman O.T. Beight & Son’s Neshannock Twp, PA.
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Oct 23, 2011 From: Linda Ference
COMMENT: Hi, just was sent your page from a friend of mine and wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed it. Although I am not from Lawrence County I had a great aunt although I never knew her) that ran the Margaret L. Henry Home in New Castle from 1903 until her death in 1940. I did a talk for the Lawrence County Hist. Society last Nov. Margaret began her life in Amherst, Ohio and was put into a home in Cleveland in 1880 along with her sister. She later was sent to New Castle with another person and began the home. It was closed permanently in 1953 and knocked down. Records were lost. My sister and I found a 6 ft. tall bird bath in her memory and her tombstone. I think she was a pretty remarkable woman. If you want to know more let me know. I have some pictures and there was a file in the New Castle library which I added to. I’d like to meet you sometime. I live about 40 min. from New Castle.
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Oct 23, 2011 From: Anita DeVivo
COMMENT: I have just spent a pleasurable hour or so browsing your web site. I’m surprised I haven’t seen it before, how long have you had it going? I’d like to introduce myself since we have a number of parallel interests. My name is Anita DeVivo. I grew up in Mahoningtown, worked many years in Washington, D.C. for both government and nonprofits, and relocated back to New Castle when family needed my help. I retired as a freelance editor in the 90s. Like you, I started collecting New Castle postcards when I was in Washington. I started much earlier than you, sometime in the 70s. In recent years I have used the postcards to produce three Arcadia Publishing history books. The first, New Castle and Mahoningtown, is much of my postcard collection. The second, Lawrence County, I co-authored with Tony Walczak who has a magnificent collection of county postcards and knowledge to go with them. The third, Cascade Park, I co-authored with the Lawrence County Historical Society using their photos and my postcards. I am astounded at some of the details you have amassed, I can see that I missed a lot in my books. On the other hand, you might like to have some details I can offer, such as the number of people who were involved and attended the dedication of St. Lucy’s Church in Mahoningtown (hundreds). I look forward to seeing more of your work, and hope to meet you on one of your trips to town. Anita DeVivo. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Anita’s postcard books are a fascinating snapshot of the history of Lawrence County.)
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Oct 21, 2011 From: Elsie Shaffer Hagan
COMMENT: Thanks for the memories (of the Shenango Township Consolidated School). I graduated in 1942. Elsie.
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Oct 21, 2011 From: Mark Lyons
COMMENT: Jeff, As a 6th grade graduate of the Volant Elementary school in 1978, I would like to thank you for your work and research in to the history of so many Lawrence County Landmarks. I have read some of these details before, but much of this information was new to me. Thank You, Mark.
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Oct 20, 2011 From: Don Bordenaro
COMMENT: I grew up on 8th St which ran right up to Valley View (Cemetery). I cut grass there when Mrs Holiday was still caretaker. In the winter we would slide ride from the top of Valley View down 8th St. to the bottom. The following were part of the gang: Willie, Dom and Johnny Nocera, Carl Singer, Kenny Turk, Dave Evans, Don Bordenaro, Sylvia Cangey, and others. Those were the good old days in the 1950’s.
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Oct 20, 2011 From: Charlotte Harding Clark
COMMENT: The Mount Jackson Cemetery is also known as the Mount Jackson M.E. Cemetery or the Battery B Cemetery. There was an old Methodist Episcopal Church located on the hill above the monument, which burned on July 26, 1915. It was built in 1843. The monument and cannon were placed in memory of the Battery B Troops that fought in the Civil War. The dedication was on June 28, 1912. Several members of my family are buried there. On a web site they were listed as buried in another cemetery near Mount Jackson, so I did extensive research to correct that problem.
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Oct 18, 2011 From: Bonnie
COMMENT: How does one find out if distant family members are buried at this location? I only remember one cemetery in Mahoningtown & really not sure how to get to it. Any info would be helpful in my genealogy interests.
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Oct 17, 2011 From: Marty Rand Dilts
COMMENT: That was so nice (Independence Day Parade of 1947). I was born in 1947 in New Castle.
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Oct 16, 2011 From: Chuck Cagno
COMMENT: Lived on Croton (1942-51) attended Croton School, played trumpet in the band that marched up Croton to Hawthorne St. turned right, used the bus turn-around and marched back to the school – we called him “the Hoffmaster” – fond, fond, memories of a golden past – Croton was the place!!!!!
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Oct 16, 2011 From: Chuck Cagno
COMMENT: I lived at the upper end of Croton (family was the Valentino family) and spent many evenings playing at the school (Hickory Heights School). There was a ball field and an apple orchard to the left of the school – we played ball and ate the apples….This school brings back some vivid memories of evening and the sun setting as it cast its evening glow on the front of the school. I went to Croton Elementary but always wanted to go to Hickory. Thanks for bringing back warm childhood feelings and memories…..
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Oct 12, 2011 From: K.O. Prax
COMMENT: Hello, Is this (Harmony Streetcar Line) part of the line that is now known as the Stavich bicycle trail? Thanks for the info. (EDITOR’S NOTE – The answer is posted at the bottom of the page of LAWRENCE COUNTY – Harmony Streetcar Line.)
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Oct 3, 2011 From: Judie Stodolak
COMMENT: Hello Jeff, I and a friend went to the Mahoning School reunion for the first time this past Saturday and it was great connecting with people we hadn’t seen in years. I was doing a little Mahoning School search this morning and your site is the one I clicked on first. You are to be commended for your research! I want to share some information about the date the junior high was eliminated. I went to Mahoning School from first grade through seventh grade. At that time, due to overcrowding at Mahoning, seventh through ninth was bused to George Washington. The decision was made during the summer and the Mahoning kids were left out of trying out for a lot of the activities…I was a cheerleader at Mahoning but we were all left out at George Washington. I graduated from New Castle High School in 1960 so I think your 1958 date is incorrect. Also, to my knowledge, none of us went to Ben Franklin. I remember John Hake but he might be a little older then I. We were told at the reunion that all of the school records were destroyed and there is no information about any of the students. This makes it difficult to find addresses so invitations can be sent for the reunion. Mahoning is the only school that had the records destroyed so that is sort of an interesting little mystery. Keep up the good work! Judie Stodolak.
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Sep 30, 2011 From: Stanley Prejsnar
COMMENT: Jeff, My name is Stan Prejsnar, born and raised in South New Castle Boro. I attended J P Byers School from the 1st thru 8th grade. I remember the wooden outhouse in back of school building and summer programs held in the school basement. First I knew that the school was named after a local banker by the name of John P Byers. I tried to search for additional information on John P Byers on the web, didn’t have any success. There’s a street in the Boro that the VFD is on, called Byers Avenue. Was wondering if the street was named after John P Byers family or if the family lived on Byers Avenue in the past. One J P Byers elementary school reunion was held at the South New Castle Boro VFD hall. We had a good turn out, the hall was packed. Due to complications, this was the first and last reunion to date. It’s too bad that the school building wasn’t converted into apartments, it was a well constructed building. You’ve done an outstanding job with the “Lawrence County Memoirs.”
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Sep 28, 2011 From: Sam Houk
COMMENT: Nice article (Burick/Sroczynski Plane Crash of 1937). I grew up near Castlewood on Rt. 65. We used to play in the woods by Burick’s farm in the 60s. One correction – in paragraph 5 you say Rt 65 was Butler Road, should be Ellwood Road. (EDITOR’S NOTE – Good catch on Ellwood Road. Thanks!)
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Sep 20, 2011 From: Elizabeth Fosnaught Bernardi
COMMENT: Thanks for the memories (of the Chewton All-Stars Girl’s Softball)!
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Sep 20, 2011 From: Matthew Christopher Murray
COMMENT: Dear Mr. Bales, I have been doing some research recently on the New Castle Elks Lodge and came across your site. I am grateful for the information you posted about its history and would like to make a request: would it be possible for you to send me a jpeg of the historical postcard photos without the watermark? If you would, I’d be very grateful, and I’d like to send you a link when you’re finished. My website – abandonedamerica.us – is dedicated to such places and I have what I believe to be a pretty interesting set of photos of the interior a month before it was torn down. Thanks for your time and again, I appreciate your efforts on your website. Best, Matthew Christopher Murray. (EDITOR’S NOTE – Check out Matthew’s. Truly amazing photography!)
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Sep 1, 2011 From: Paul Hunter
COMMENT: I remember this school (Newport School) ….went there 1st thru 8th grade…my father went there as did my grandfather……and I am 78 years old this month…… Sept 1/2011. (EDITOR’S NOTE: My first ever comment! I followed this up by calling Paul and we had a great chat. He has periodically sent me photos as well. Thanks Paul.)

Comments

  1. do you have any info on Wampum,Pa my parents (Lois E McQuiston and Walter H Moore.)were both raised in that general area. They have since passed and I would love to have some info for my genology and personal scrapbooks for my children and Great-grandbabys. Thanks Faye gibson

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