A look at the Valley’s past in the language of the times as compiled by George Guido.
100 years ago
Pittsburgh Plate Glass to expand
The Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. has announced it will acquire the 37-acre Wainwright plot in Creighton for $100,000. This will allow the adjacent glass plant, built in 1883, to expand along with the purchase of four acres from William Yost.
75 years ago
Springdale Marine dies at Iwo Jima
Sgt. Paul Mellon, USMC, died in action on Iwo Jima. Mellon, 23, graduated from Springdale High in 1940 where he played football. His brother, Private Robert Mellon, is now a prisoner of Germany.
50 years ago
Roundball gets two area stars
The Dapper Dan Roundball Classic will have a local flavor with the selection of Highlands’ Bill Demharter and Franklin Regional’s Dave Ankeny to the West Penn team. The West Penn team will play the City/Catholic all-stars at the Civic Arena on April 3.
25 years ago
Housing planned for St. Anthony School
Carnegie-based Senior Living Communities has been granted the option on a 19.8-acre tract in Oakmont where St. Anthony School once stood along Hulton Road. Officials said 77 condominiums are planned.
15 years ago
Golf courses continue recovery
Several area golf courses continue to recover from last September’s flooding. Rose Ridge Golf Course in West Deer had much of its back nine under water and Woodlawn in Fawn Township remains closed due to Bull Creek flooding.
10 years ago
Officer honored for saving woman
Harrison police officer James Austin was honored by township commissioners for risking his life to save a woman threatening to jump into the Allegheny River and the Natrona dam. Austin grabbed her arm as she was slipping from a ladder below the dam.
Five years ago
Local educator remembered
Tributes poured in for Ralph A. Varrato Jr., 85, an educator for over 40 years. He was principal at Lower Burrell’s Bon Air Elementary School and Allegheny Valley’s Acmetonia School, where the library has been named in his honor.
