Monthly Archives: October 2010

     This is a picture of the Purification BVM Roman Catholic Church as it looked in 1966 on Fourth Street. The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church acquired the building in November 1929, exchanging their old building and property with Aetna Standard in exchange for the old Methodist Episcopal Church on the corner of Park Avenue and Fourth Street.

    Originally an Italian mission from St. Agatha Roman Catholic Church in Ellwood City, B.V.M. originally built their own church on Park Avenue next to the Aetna Standard Engineering Company. After trading Aetna Standard properties, BVM used the pictured church until April of 1970 when, after a three year building project, they opened their new (current) building.

     The church that was used by BVM for forty one years across Park Avenue from the new building was later torn down to make room for a parking lot. If you remember the old building and would like to share your memories, please leave a comment below or you can email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

From time to time, we get post suggestions, but recently we received an entire post from a Riverside alumnus that we decided to share:

    “There’s a cold chill and the smell of winter in the air. The sun has gone down and the lights shine brightly across 100 yards of grass with two competitors lined up across from each other. As you drive by the stadium, you can hear the hum of fans cheering on their team. Friday night high school football is one of the most exciting things to experience in the fall, but even more exciting than that is waking up on Saturday morning, dew still on the grass, and heading out to watch your alma mater JV football team finally get the chance to face an opponent after a week of running scout team defense and offence to get the varsity team ready for the big game. It’s finally their time to shine and although their names, let alone the game, don’t appear in the paper the next day those boys bust their butts and have a great time doing it. That’s what makes it so much fun to watch, the fact that the underdog finally gets their time to shine. It may only be in a stadium of under fifty people but I’ve never seen such excitement in a boy’s eye when he finally gets his chance to see the field after unselfishly working hard for the greater good of the varsity all week long.

    As a college student, I don’t make my way home often, but when I do you better believe I make my way out to watch my alma mater, Riverside High School, play football. I may enjoy sitting with the crowd and cheering during that Friday night game but even more than that I am one of those few members in the crowd during a Saturday morning JV game. When I’m home, I make it a point to visit these games because these boys don’t seem to get the credit they deserve. I watch as the varsity team succeeds or fails the night before and know that behind every success they celebrate is a group of boys who unselfishly put in just as much time as those varsity boys to receive little to no credit from the fans, the papers, the varsity players, and the varsity coaches. These JV boys prepare their varsity team for those Friday night games and in my eyes without them it would be difficult for varsity to experience any success. This goes for all teams, not just my alma mater, where JV stands every Friday night cheering on the team they worked so diligently to prepare to wake up the next morning and play hard without cheering on from all of their varsity players and coaches.

    It’s time Riverside junior varsity gets their time to shine and so is the reason for this article. This may not appear in the paper and there may not be many people that even read it, but I know that I’ve done my part to support the team that supports the varsity who receives the reward and credit for the success they have.

    In a three week span during the 2010 season the Riverside JV football team has defensively not given up a single point playing respectable teams such as Beaver Falls, Springdale, and rival school Ellwood City. Offense has also done quite the job as well putting points on the score board. Riverside’s offense has compiled scores of 28-0, 36-0, and 36-0 for an outstanding 100 points in three weeks. Offense and Defense have worked hard together for Riverside’s JV football team to be able to outscore their opponents 100-0 in just three weeks time. Along with these three amazing games, Riverside JV also celebrated a victory over Mohawk (21-0) leaving them at a 4-3 record on the season.

    On that note, I want anyone who takes a few minutes to read this article to also take even 30 seconds and celebrate our Riverside JV Football team with big congratulations for the success they have had over this past football season. Whether you’re from Riverside or another school, I also want you to consider taking some time to head out and watch your unsung athletes as they get their chance to step on the field after a week of unselfish hard work for the greater good of the varsity team.” – Author Unknown

     This picture was taken either in 1914 or 1915 during the Park Gate Baptist Church Sunday School picnic. Those pictured from Left to Right included the Sunday School Teacher Mrs. Dora Daellenbach, Raymond Deallenbach, Curtis Main, and John Bazzichi. Seated Left to Right were Clair Main, unknown, Gussie Pellissier, Martin Main, and the last one is also unknown. Notice that even at the picnic, each boy has on a tie and his good knickers.

     On a cold and rainy Sunday morning tragedy struck the beautiful stone Christ Presbyterian Church on the corner of Spring Avenue and Fourth Street. On the morning of Sunday April 23, 1950 the call went out, that the church was on fire. The fire did extensive damage to the interior of the church but the structure itself was not a loss and most importantly, no one was hurt in the fire.

    For the next several months, the nearby First Baptist Church opened their doors to the Presbyterian Church and permitted them to hold their service inside the Baptist sanctuary. The Christ Presbyterian Church was remodeled and continues to be a strong church in Ellwood City today. If you remember the fire and would like to share any memories you might have of the event, please leave a comment below or email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

    Ellwood City Memories was recently shown a booklet published in 1891 as a tool by the Pittsburg Company to “sell” the newly forming town of Ellwood City. The booklet pushed the town as a resort town with the close proximity to Rock Point Park, Ellwood City’s own Glenn Park, the separation of residential areas and industrial areas, running water, electric, and the crown jewel – the Hotel Oliver. This picture and following write-up were both contained inside the booklet, but we apologize for the poor picture quality as we did not want to scan this picture and possibly damage the over one hundred year old booklet.

    “The Hotel Oliver occupies a commanding site in “Oliver Park” overlooking the chasm of the Connoquenessing and Glen Park, and from it is obtained a magnificent view of the beautiful surrounding country. The Hotel Oliver is supplied with every modern convenience; sanitary plumbing, steam heat, natural gas, electric light, etc. The purest of clear, cold spring water is piped into the hotel. It is furnished throughout in the most complete manner, and is under the management of one of the best hotel men in the country, with cuisine and every appointment strictly first-class. A number of handsome cottages are being erected in “Oliver Park,” adjoining the hotel for the use of families preferring them to rooms within the hotel. It is remarked by all who have seen this site that it is an incomparable hotel location, with its surrounding park of original forest trees, extensive lawn, flowers and fountains interspersed with charming walks and drives. The Connoquenessing Club has begun building a handsome Club House at the foot of Fifth Street, facing the Hotel Oliver and immediately over the springs and chasm, in one of the most charming spots on the Connoquenessing. Another hotel, to be called the “Glen House,” is already under contract with the builders. This house will be located on the borders of Glen Park, overlooking the famous “Sentinel Rocks,” the most romantic spot on the Connoquenessing.”