Apr 27, 2006 By Patty Yauger 2 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – Shirts and sweatshirts bearing the city’s new bicentennial logo will be available for purchase during Saturday’s celebration of the 200th anniversary. Karen Hechler, Connellsville Historical Society president and member of the bicentennial committee, said that logo creator Gino Gallo did a “magnificent job.” “We had an earlier logo that featured just a train, but our bicentennial encompasses so much more than that,” said Hechler. “(The new logo) details the river, the coke ovens and the railroad – everything that symbolizes Connellsville.”

While several items bearing the logo were considered by the committee, it was determined the shirt and sweatshirt would be popular with those attending the parade and the following street festival.

Last year Gallo designed shirts for the city’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of Maj. Gen. Edward Braddock’s crossing of the Youghiogheny River at Connellsville.

“He did such a nice job for me, and I believe when some does a good job, you should go back to them,” said Hechler.

Gallo, owner of Gallo Design Group, said he has an interest in local history and through research found photographs of the H.C. Frick Coal Co. coke ovens and various railroads that passed through Connellsville to formulate the design.

“I tried to show the past coming into the future with the incorporation of the canoe on the water along with the bike trail,” he said. “The red and blue colors were keeping with the patriotic theme.”

Gallo said there was very little difficulty in drafting a concept.

“Coming up with the idea was easy and it took about 10 hours to design it,” he said.

The logo is expected to appear on other items, said Gallo, and be among the items to be buried in a time capsule.

“I’m excited about being a part of the city’s history,” he said.

The garments will be available at the bicentennial headquarters, located at the intersection of West Crawford Avenue and South Arch Street. All proceeds will benefit future events being sponsored by the Connellsville Bicentennial Committee.