Quintessential Pennsylvania

Along PA 981 in the Westmoreland County Village of Alverton was the site of the former East Huntingdon Township High School.  Built in 1924, the high school replaced the former high school that dated to the turn of the century. The High School would serve East Huntingdon Township until 1964 when the school district merged with the Scottdale School District to form the Southmoreland School District.  The high school was renamed Southmoreland High School and was the district's high school until the late 1970s when a new high school was built across Route 981. The building continued to serve the community as Southmoreland Junior High School until 2010 when a new Southmoreland Middle School opened in Scottdale.  The building was later demolished and the site is now the parking lot for the school's football stadium. The intricate terra-cota details of the former high school's façade were one of the many features of this building. All photos taken by post autho...

The Youghiogheny River town of West Newton is one of many river towns that line the Monongahela or Yough Rivers.  Like many, West Newton was settled in the early pioneer days of the late 1700s, transitioned to supporting numerous industries in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and began to forge a new identity in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Downtown West Newton  (William G. Prince) For West Newton, the town began as the site of a small family run ferry across the Youghiogheny.  The Simeral family, who ran the ferry, was the first to settle in the area.  In 1788, a group of Revolutionary War veterans camped here in winter, built boats, and headed west into Ohio.  These war veterans from Ipswich, Massachusetts would settle what is now the town of Marietta, Ohio. (1) This Parker Truss Bridge over the Youghiogheny River has been a fixture of West Newton since 1907. (Adam Prince) Later, a veteran of the Whiskey Rebellion, Isaac Robb, would la...

DAGGETT - Founded 1827. Named for Seth Daggett, pioneer settler. The Daggett family that the unincorporated village is named after came to Pennsylvania from New Hampshire.

Throughout Pennsylvania, there are numerous abandoned coal mines.  In fact, if you live in Southwestern Pennsylvania, it is quite likely that one once ran underneath your home . With the abundance of former coal mines in the area, you're bound to come across an old shaft entrance or other leftover example.  With varying degrees of difficulty, you can find these relics of an earlier industrial era.  One such remnant can be found at the intersection of Douglas Run Road and Round Hill Road in Elizabeth Township.  The entrance to the former Warden Mine sits hidden behind fill, trees, and vegetation which makes the old brick entrance best seen in winter. Entrance to the former Warden Mine on a frigid December 2008 afternoon (Adam Prince) The Warden Mine opened in 1925 and operated until July 1954.  The bituminous coal mine was owned by the Pittsburgh Consolidated Coal Company.  In addition, the mine also centralized numerous local mines.  The nearby...

ROARING BRANCH - Founded 1862. Named for stream of the same name. The community of Roaring Branch straddles the border between Lycoming and Tioga Counties.

MCEWENSVILLE - Founded 1790. Formerly named "Pine Grove". Renamed for Alex. McEwen, which I assume is short for Alexander McEwen. The borough was not named for Scottish folk singer Alexander McEwen, but rather for Captain Alexander McEwen , a veteran of the War of 1812 who was also a merchant, canal contractor and the first postmaster of the town that was later renamed in his honor.

FLORENCE - Founded 1814.  Unincorporated village in Northern Washington County.  Originally named Briceland's Crossroads.  It was named after a hotel ran by James Briceland at the intersection of the Pittsburgh and Stuebenville Pike with the Washington and Georgetown Road.