301 Fountain Avenue
The enormous house at 301 Fountain Avenue was not quite as large as the Stiefel home less than a block away, but was still referred to as the “southern mansion” of Ellwood City. The nickname may have had more to do with the ornamental ironwork on the flat roof of the house and the railing on the front porch roof similar to the large estates in the southern states.
The house was the home of John Gelbach, who was considered the most powerful man in Ellwood City not involved in the tube mills. He was part of the group that controlled First National Bank of Ellwood City and part of the group that purchased the assets of the Pittsburg Company in 1905 after its head man and Ellwood’s founder, Henry Hartman moved to Denver. The assets of the Pittsburg Company at the time included the power company, water company, the short line railroad and the hotel company, all of which Mr. Gelbach guided until 1933. He was very active in the First Presbyterian Church and one of the organizers of the Ellwood City Country Club.
If you would like to share something either about the house, the current owners and renovations they are making, any of the other folks that have owned the house since the Gelbach’s, or about Mr. Gelbach himself, we would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or email us your memories by CLICKING HERE. Don’t forget to mention the “prize” lamp in the large picture window at Christmas time.
Information for this post was gathered from the book Ellwood City Houses and the People Who Lived in Them by Charles R. Moser available at the Ellwood City Historical Society.
That’s by where I grew up. There was a big old brown house across 3rd street from it. There was a man who lived there before the current owners. His name was Henry, I think his last name starts with an M, I’ll ask my mom later. He passed away there. The man who lives there now is name Jim. You see in the picture where the steps are, there used to be a big white porch there, and they took it off, then had my Dad build a block base for a new porch. Then they broke that down also.
The Morello family lived in this house prior to the current owner who is Jim Sutkowski. Mary Morello was my mother’s sister and they were from the Beatrice family. When there was a Beatrice family gathering in Ellwood, we always congregated in Aunt Mary’s house. In the 50′s and 60′s it was an absoutely gorgeous home but, as the years went by time took it’s toll on both the home and those who lived there. Aunt Mary lived in the house until, I believe, she was 95. Henry did not die “in” the house although he still lived there. He attempted to drive himself to the hospital when he felt he was having a heart attack but died in the car on the way. Patsy and Anthony Morello are still living but not in good health. Lena Morello, the only daughter, has also passed away. I understand Jim has done much work to renovate the house but, unfortunately, there was a fire in the upper floors recently and the Ledger reported the damage was $150,000. I do not know his current plans.
Lois,
I’m a relative “newbie” to this site, so I just found your comment on the Morella house. I did not know you we’re related to them. I lived across the street from them on 3rd Street. I loved Mary especially but also loved her children. One of them, maybe Henry, used to dress up as Santa and make a visit to our house “because we were so good”. I remember Lena used to make dolls dressed on elaborate dresses made from pipe cleaners. They were all over the house. What a beautiful house. I thought it was a palace. I had some health issues as a kid, and Mary would go to Pittsburgh with my mom and me to Chiildren’s Hospital a couple times a year.
Lois, remember our commuting to Pittsburgh together with Shirley? If you would like to reminisce my email is dhill1@sc.rr.com.
Diane, I think I remember you, did you have a brother Bill?
Hi Don,
I certainly do! My “little” brother (who is well over 6 feet) Bill, lives in Houston, Texas. He works for San Jocinto College. He graduated from Lincoln in 1966. He actually has been on the website a few times. We also have a sister, JoAnn (Jody) who graduated in 1969. She lives in Pittsburgh. I live outside of Charleston in a town called Summerville. My husband is a homebuilder. We met in college and have lived in SC for the past 35 years. I remember you and your twin, Donna. I was very sorry to read thar you had lost her. I am enjoying the website very much. Did you go to the Pittsburgh Circle playground? Diane
Yes a few times but mostly to the Hartman playground. I still can remember making pot holders and lanyards!!!! Tell Bill I said hello if he remembers me and thank you. Don
Oh, I live in Muncie, In. home of Ball State
Donnie, like you I spent numerous hours at the Hartman Playground. I also made pot holders, but I made 1 woven basket that was sorry looking for sure. My Mom though, God love her, used it for years as a catch all. I painted the wooden base red and the weave leaned to one side. As I wrote, it was sorry looking for sure. Oh, how I wish I still had it.
I will be in touch about the Winky’s picture Don. One person I thought it might be was Anita Santillo, but purely a guess.
Ernie,, could it be Cindy Ottovianni??????? Just came to me out of the blue!!!!!!