The East End Hotel was built around 1893 on the outer edge of the new town located on the Southwest corner of Franklin Avenue and Second Street. The building was a hotel for only a year before being taken over by Professor Hogue of Rose Point in 1895 to be used as an Academy.
      After the Academy closed, Cell White purchased the former hotel and operated a wholesale liquor store in the first floor of the massive building and rented rooms on the second floor. A number of years later the building was converted into a boarding house named the Library Inn.
      The old hotel later became a paint factory and then an apartment building. Today the building is gone and all that remains is a parking lot for Ronaldo’s Pizza King on Second Street. We have not been successful in uncovering if the building was dismantled or if it burned down as we have been told. If you remember the building or the fate of the building, please share your memories below or email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

      The first school in Hazel Dell on the north side of the creek was located at the corner of Line Avenue and College Street. Built in 1892, the school was originally two rooms, but more rooms were added later. When Hazel Dell became part of Ellwood City in 1914, the school was still in use.
     Through the years there were many who taught at the school including Mary Morrison, Bell McKnight, Etta Freshcorn, John Houk, Miss Springer and Edna Book. Ms. Book’s class is pictured here in the photograph that once belonged to Minnie Mingione (third girl in the second row).
      The Ellwood City School Board decided to build a new school (North Side) on the corner of Orchard Avenue and North Street in 1916, the Hazel Dell School was closed shortly after.
      In later years a factory was built on the corner of Line Avenue and College Street to produce Jessie Jeans. After a fire destroyed the factory, a portion of the building was salvaged and converted into a YMCA. Today, the building is used for the Family Fitness Center.

      Third graders in Agnes DeFonde’s class at Perry Elementary School held a “Cowboy Day” to go along with a reading lesson back in 1987. Those that took part included (front from left) Eric Scott, Robert Wiley, and Jared McElwain. Back row from left were Justin Beachem, Cindy Thompson, Kyleigh Kissick, Erica Laszlo, Kandis Boy, and Jim Norton.
      Today children are discouraged from bringing guns to school, so “Cowboy Day” is not as popular. Mrs. DeFonde, who is recalled very fondly by those we have talked to, also held a “Hawaiian Day”.
      We would enjoy hearing your memories of Mrs. DeFonde’s class, or maybe you had another teacher that used to hold fun events like this. Please leave a comment below or email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

Picture Compliments of Caleb Cragle

      There was a time in our history when Jockey Moore Road was lined with large family owned farms. The farmers helped each other out when possible, especially during harvest time. Walt McQuiston owned the local thrashing machine and would go to all the local farms along Wampum Avenue, Jockey Moore, and couple of farms on Line Avenue Extension. An annual tradition, the wife of the farm the men were working on that day would cook lots of great food. Walt McQuiston is pictured here posing with his J1K Separator thrashing machine with a Frick engine in 1911. Also in the picture are John McQuiston sitting on the wheel and John Wilson on the roof of the engine.
     A couple of the farms included the Phelner farm, located on the east side of Line Avenue Extension almost where Jockey Moore meets today and the Koser Farm (Elijah), opposite Jockey Moore & Line Avenue. The one room school house (still standing today) is located on what was the Clark farm on Jockey Moore Road. 
      In addition to farms, Jockey Moore area was also a productive coal mine. There is a section of the current road that has worn enough that one of the old railcar rails has become exposed again. We would love to hear your memories of this area. Please leave you memories below in the comments section or email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

     According to the Lincoln High School Marching Blue Band’s Facebook page, the Lincoln High School Blue Band was created in 1958, when the school colors were changed from Maroon and Gray to Royal Blue and White. Since that year, the band under the direction of the original general manager Mr. Weinstein has been known as the Blue Band. Throughout the years the Blue Band has kept with it’s traditional high step marching. Band director Mr. Paul Berendt in 2002 switched the Marching Blue Band to an all brass format, similar to Ohio State University’s Marching Band. 
     Now under the direction of Mr. Lee Caldwell Jr., the Blue Band has kept up the traditions that have made it the “Pride of Ellwood City” marching band while adding the newest feature and fan favorite “The Funk”. 
     The LHS Blue Band has performed in numerous states and other countries since it’s inception in 1958 and thousands of Ellwoodians have been members of not only the marching band but also the numerous Lincoln High School ensembles including; Pep Band, Jazz Ensemble I, Jazz Ensemble II, Jazz Ensemble III, Commencement Band, Junior High Band, and the Elementary Band. We would enjoy hearing your favorite memory from not only those who served in the band, but those that have enjoyed the band’s performances in the numerous festivals, sporting events, parades, competitions and so on. Please share your memories below or email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

    This picture was taken by Harry W. Horton who was the Assistant Borough engineer under Alex Main from 1920-1925. The picture shows Ellwood City in an important stage of its development, when it was getting more of the community out of the infamous muddy roads following World War I.
     The picture is taken from the front yard of town founder Henry W. Hartman on Fourth Street looking west up Crescent Avenue. The picture was originally taken to shows Crescent Avenue being paved with bricks made in Ellwood City. As you can clearly see, Fourth Street was already bricked and looked beautiful.
    The picture was taken before Hartman Elementary School was built and while the old Lawrence Hotel was still standing. At the time or this picture, the hotel was no longer in business as it was sold to the Ellwood City School Board in 1915 and converted to a school building and apartments. The building in this picture in front of the hotel (approximately where the Statue of Liberty is located today) is probably a temporary building for school purposes.
    There are a number of homes that have not yet been built along the north side of Crescent Avenue as you can see but there are a lot of things in the picture that are no longer there. The Methodist Church on the corner of Crescent and Fifth Street is still the original wooden structure (barely visible) and we are not sure what the steeple is beyond the hotel, approximately where the Saxon Club would build their first building (today the Denny Schill apartments stands on this ground). Also in the picture is just the very edge of the trees that lined Oliver Park that surrounded the hotel and gave Park Avenue its name.
    This is another one of those great pictures where we are sure that we missed something so please leave any comments you might have below or email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com
 

     One of the oldest schools in the Ellwood city area is the Matheny School. The building is still standing today along Wampum Road across the road from the old Matheny cemetery located beside Aiken refuse; however the building has been converted into a personal residence. The school building was built at its current location to replace and consolidate the original Matheny one room schoolhouse and the close by Jockey Mohr one room schoolhouse. We have been told that the Jockey Mohr School is still standing but many trips through the area have been unsuccessful in even discovering the old stone foundation. The current location of Wampum Road covers the spot the original Matheny one room schoolhouse as it was located just to the southeast of the brick building pictured. 
     We would like to thank Leonard Chapman for suppling the following pictures along with the names of those pictured. Matheny School about 1941 Grades first through fourth – left to right Row 1 Tom Copper, Dave McKim, Harry Darrow, Bill Chapman, Vivian Darrow, unknown, Leonard Chapman, Don Shirilla, Ruth Gabler, Jack Vova Row 2 Ella Jane Chapman, unknown, Lucille Butch, Clint Summers, Leona Pogozelec, Nancy Mckim, unknown, unknown, unknown, Teresa Pogozelec Row 3 Chuck Summers, Mrs.Leblick, unknown, Nancy Gabler, unknown, unknown, unknown, Joe Bartolomeo, Tom Clark, Lee Butch
     Matheny School About 1942 Bottom Left to Right Row 1 Clint Summers, Dave Mckim, Tom Clark, Joe Bartolomeo, Don Shirilla, Leonard Chapman, Bill Chapman, Row 2 unknown, Ilene Chapman, Vivian Darrow, Ella Jane Chapman, Angelina Butch, Teresa Pogozelec, unknown, Anna Bartolomeo, Ruth Gabler, Nancy McKim, Lucille Butch Row 3 Nancy Gabler, Idea Gabler, unknown, Lee Butch, Chuck Summers, unknown, Leno Pogozelec Row 4 Mrs. Leblick, Shirley Clark, Elisabeth Darrow, unknown, unkown.
     Matheny School About 1943 First Grade thru Eight Grade Bottom row left to right Row 1 Ruben O’Connor, Betty Gabler, Chuck Mount, Wally Starkavitch, Jack Yova, Bruce Mckim, Verna Lee Chapman, Row 2 Ronnie Bartolomeo, Ruth Gabler, Ella Jane Chapman, Leonard Chapman, Rachel O’Connor, Shirley O’Connor, Ilene Chapman Row 3 Teresa Pogozelec, Lucille Butch, unknown, Bill Chapman, Dave Mckim, Vivian Darrow, Don Shirilla Row 4 Lee Butch Joe Bartolomeo Tom Clark Nancy Mckim unknown, Leona Pogozelec, unknown, Anna Bartolomeo Row 5 Mrs. Colder, unknown, Nancy Gambler, unknown, Mrs. Gamble
     Matheny School about 1945 Grade 1 Thru 4 Bottom Row Left to Right Row 1 unknown, lastname Barker, unknown, Danny Bartolomeo, Carmen Butch, Peggy Moyer Row 2 Billy Starkavitch, Leroy O’Connor, Ronnie Bartolomeo, unknown, Ruben O’Connor, Jerry Mount, Betty Gabler, Row 3 unknown, Verna Lee Chapman, Wally Starkavitch, Chuck Mount, Ted Staple, last name Hulick Row 4 Leonard Chapman, Ruth Gabler, Jack Yova, unknown, Dolly Hulick, Mrs. Muller

    Construction for the School in what is now Ewing Park began in 1925 when the area was still part of Wayne Township. The eight room school was officially dedicated January 1st 1926 as an independent school and not part of the Ellwood City School District. The park area continued to be a part of Wayne Township until 1931 when it became the fifth ward of Ellwood City at which time the school became part of the Ellwood City Area School District and became the Ewing Park Elementary School.
    The area was originally called Wayne Park before becoming more commonly known as the Shelby Land Company’s Plan. The mill decided to honor the Generals and Admirals of World War I with its street names in the park. The name of the plan was later changed to Ewing Park after Thomas Ewing. Mr. Ewing was the assistant to the Vice President of the National Tube Company and was also the tube mill attorney who did the legal work associated with the building of the community in the park.
    The last time the school was used for education purposes was during the construction of the new Hartman Elementary School on Fourth Street. This was however not the first time displaced students attended the school. After the Wurtemburg School burned down in 1933 grades first through third were bused to the Ewing Park School while fourth through sixth grade were bused to Hazel Dell to attend Northside Elementary. The temporary classrooms were setup in the basement of the school. School children from Wurtemburg and Perry would walk a mile to meet at the old school building and get on a modified bus that the students called the Chicken Coop.
    After the students were back at the current Perry Elementary School, the basement was reverted back to its previous state. I have never personally been inside the school building, but luckily Bob Burrows filled us in on the layout of the basement classrooms. The small room under the entry stairs that faced Wood Street was reserved as a shelter in-case of an emergency and some government supplies were stored in that room as well. The room was also used on occasions to house the visiting dental hygienist and other similar temporary uses. The room to the left (North towards Adams Avenue) was the music room and arts and crafts room. The room to the right (South towards Beatty Street) was used as the indoor dodge ball/gym class when the weather prohibited outdoor physical education.
    After the school closed, the yard was used for a number of years for football and cheerleader practice for the Ellwood City Packers and later the Ellwood City Little Wolverines. I remember running the triangle shaped field before and after each practice. We would love to hear your memories of the school, please leave a comment below or email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

    In 1925, Franklin Township built an eight-room, two-story red brick building to replace the two-room North Star School at the corner of Mercer Road and Zelienople Road. The students from the old Frisco School and the old North Star building were assigned to the new brick building for the 1925-1926 school year. The Frisco School building reverted back to its owner from when it was an old bank building.
    In 1931, plans were made for an eight-room addition to the North Star School but the proposed $25,000 bond issue to build was rejected. The school continued to grow and as other schools in the area closed the students were sent to the brick North Star building. The Old Furnace School closed in 1943, Greenwood closed in 1947, and the American School was shut down in 1948.
   The school was used for pupils from first grade through eighth grade. After eighth grade, the North Star students were sent to Ellwood City, Zelienople, or Beaver Falls High Schools to finish their education.
     The school was eventually torn down after standing empty for a number of years to make room for a shopping plaza along the four lane highway (Route 288). We would love to hear any memories you may have of the old North Star School. If you would like to share, please leave a comment below or email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

    The picture here is of the Wurtemburg Combined School (late 1920′s) given to us by Mr. Thomas Gregg of Grove City College. The school is but a memory as the building was completely destroyed by fire in 1933. The current Perry Elementary School was built to replace the Wurtemburg School on the same grounds in 1936. 
    After the Wurtemburg School burned down in 1933, for the following three years, grades first through third went to Ewing Park Elementary School, while students in fourth through sixth grade went to Northside Elementary School. As you may recall, Ewing Park School was not very large so additional classrooms were setup in the basement of the building. Young children that lived in Wurtemburg and Perry would walk up to a mile to meet at the old school building and get on a bus unlike today when each child gets picked up at their own individual house. The bus was not actually a bus; rather it was an old Lorry that had chicken wire fence wrapped around to keep children from falling out. The students that we have talked to that recall the odd looking vehicle told us that they used to refer to it as the “Chicken Coop”. 
    If you have any memories of the old Wurtemburg Combined School you would like to share with everyone, please leave a comment below or email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

    After living on Lawrence Avenue in Ellwood City for a short time in 1944, Harvey Monroe Best and his wife, Vesta Marie nee Swick, decided to move out to Franklin Township, into a small apartment duplex located directly on the northeast corner of the intersection of Rt. 288 and Mercer Road, (today Giant Eagle plaza). Previous to becoming an apartment complex, this building was the original North Star two-room schoolhouse, also known as the old North Sewickley School.
    Vesta shared that they had two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a washroom. She also remembers that since the building had been an old school building, the ceilings were very high and it was cold, drafty, and hard to heat in the winter. She once recalled: “We had two stoves for heat, a pot bellied stove in the front room and the cooking stove. We always hated to use the pot bellied stove because you could see flames coming out of the chimney, so we used the cooking stove a lot to heat with.” Years later, Vesta also shared with her family: “When Linda came home, there was snow this high [holding her hand about two feet off of the floor], and Grandpap had to shovel the snow for us to get in the house. Oh man, was it cold!”
     On January 19, 1945, Linda Marie Best, the first of two children to the Best family was born. The family still lived in the old school at that time, and Vesta has many pictures of Linda, her father Harvey, and many members of the family that were taken on the porch and in the yard of the old school during this period. Jessie Coblentz (in the photos) is the sister of Harvey Best, and Lena Crans is Vesta’s sister. The Best’s continued living at the old North Star schoolhouse until 1947 when they built a house on North Tower Road in Franklin Township.
     While the Best family resided in one side of the duplex, Dale and Mary Jane Bonzo lived in the other side. Mr. Mike Mozier had lived in the school apartment building previously, but he had built a house out in Hardyville, leaving the apartment available for the Best’s to move into.
    Many thanks go out to Mark R. Barnes of Crescent Avenue Ellwood City for providing this post and all pictures included. Mark is the grandson of Harvey Monroe & Vesta Marie Swick Best. If you would like to share any memories of the two-room North Star schoolhouse or the families mentioned above, please leave a comment below or email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

Picture #1 Left to right: Mae Coblentz (little girl in white); Jessie Coblentz (black clothes against pole); Bobby Crans (white shirt in yard); Cecil “Dick” Crans (white shirt on steps); Bill Coblentz (black clothes on chair); Harvey Best holding Linda Best (kneeling down in yard).

Picture #2 Left to right: Jessie Coblentz (black clothes against pole); Cecil “Dick” Crans (white shirt on steps); Mae Coblentz (little girl in white); Bobby Crans (white shirt on swing); Bill Coblentz (black clothes on chair); Lena Crans (woman in white dress); Harvey Best walking Linda Best (Harvey bending over).

Picture #3 Left to right: Jessie Coblentz (black clothes against pole); Lena and Bobby Crans (on swing); Cecil “Dick” Crans (white shirt on steps); June Coblentz (little girl on steps); Linda Best (little girl on chair behind June Coblentz); Bill Coblentz (black clothes on chair); Mae Coblentz (little girl in white dress); Harvey Best (white shirt leaning against pole).

Picture #4 Cal Swick sitting on porch.