Brownsville Time Capsule
Editor’s note: At the request of our readers, we are running previously published versions of the Brownsville Time Capsule. Brownsville Time Capsule looks back over the years through the archives of the Brownsville Telegraph.
30 years ago – January 1981
n Raymond Pecuch has surprised the California Area School Board by abruptly resigning from his position as principal of California Area Middle School, a position that he has held since the school’s opening in 1977.
“We weren’t expecting this at all tonight,” said Superintendent Theodore Carlson. “I didn’t see Mr. Pecuch’s resignation until I began going through my papers prior to the meeting.”
Pecuch, who served the school district for 25 years, refused to comment on the reason for his resignation. “I’m not at liberty to say at this time,” he said. “I just want to bow out graciously and professionally. I will be seeking employment elsewhere.”
Pecuch said that he had won a case last September that he had brought before the state Department of Education over the school district’s decision to move him from middle school principal to high school vice-principal.
“I didn’t want to move last year,” Pecuch said. “I was working under John Kupets at the high school, who had only been principal for three or four years. I had fifteen years of administrative experience at that time.” The Department of Education, according to Pecuch, told the school district to reinstate him as middle school principal, which the school board did.
As a result of Pecuch’s unexpected resignation, assistant middle school principal Ronald Keppich was appointed as “acting principal” until the school board implements an organizational line of command in the district.
n The Brownsville Area Lady Falcons had an easy time with Charleroi in Section 11 basketball action, downing the Lady Cougars, 63-34. Christy Thomas collected 21 points to lead Coach Frank Dankovich’s squad to victory. Kim Rush and Cheryl Jones each contributed 10 tallies in the triumph, which improved Brownsville’s Section 11 record to 4-1.
The California Area High School girls’ basketball team was edged by Frazier, 46-45, in a contest at Perryopolis. Sue William led the Lady Trojans in the losing effort.
50 years ago – January 1961
n Brownsville will soon see the construction of a new reserve training center. U.S. Rep. Thomas E. Morgan has informed the Telegraph by telegram that the $120,000 project, requested by the Department of Defense, has been approved by Congress.
The Army Reserve Sub-Center, located at 530 Water St., Browns-ville, is a leased building and has been used for about five years. The government will replace the center on Water Street with a bigger center. Several locations in Browns-ville have been mentioned as a possible site. The local chamber of commerce has been working on this with Morgan for the past two years.
n The South Browns-ville Volunteer Fire Co. installed new officers at its annual oyster supper held in the firemen’s rooms in the Brownsville Borough Building last week. The officers for 1961 are as follows: Clyde (Jack) Rohland, president; Jack Duff, vice president; Marion Whetsel, secretary; Lawrence Moore, treasurer; John Byrne, chief; Leonard Flick, assistant chief; Paul Dawson, first lieutenant; Eugene Enfield, second lieutenant; Robert S. Orr, trustee; Blythe Bowden, trustee; Harry O. Enfield, trustee; and Mahlon Pritts, executive committee.
n Redstone Township School Board has acquired three tracts of land in Cardale for the proposed Cardale Elementary School. The board used the right of eminent domain to annex the land.
The tract previously belonged to Frank Magazine, John Gaggiani and Mrs. Denton Noble. The school board had offered the group $1,500, but they were holding out for $3,000. The board voted 5-1 (with Director Joseph Mazurek dissenting) to take over the three acres owned by Magazine, one-fifth of an acre owned by Gaggiani, and another one-fifth owned by Mrs. Noble. The action was conducted without incident, although Magazine had his property blocked off with a high-lift and car. School board members talked to Magazine, and he removed the vehicles.
The board had been told by the state Public School Building Authority that the proposed school could not be constructed unless it was located on sufficient acreage. The board had previously purchased nearby properties owned by Piccolomini, Capatosti and Orient Coal and Coke Co. interests.
n Albert Gallatin High School has taken over undisputed possession of first place in Section 10 by downing previously undefeated Redstone High School, 65-57, before a large crowd at the Republic gym. Coach Rudy Marisa’s Colonials won their fifth straight league game and dropped the Black Hawks’ section slate to 4-1. Freddie Mazurek turned in another stellar performance for Coach Joe Bosnic’s squad, scoring 22 points.
Brashear High School went down to a 61-55 setback at the hands of North Union High School on the latter’s court. It was the Brownies’ third loss in five starts in Section 10 competition. Coach Frank Dankovich’s boys were paced by Charles Kelley, who has been a terrific surprise for the Brownies this season. The senior cager scored 25 points, followed by Willibe Brooks and Keith Swaney with 14 and 11 points respectively.
At California, the Trojans were unable to handle the Monessen Greyhounds and dropped a 78-44 verdict to suffer their fifth straight Section 5 defeat. Jim Jones was the top scorer for California with 14 points.
65 years ago – January 1946
n Living up to his pledge of reform prior to his election as Browns-ville’s burgess last No-vember, Burgess Walter L. Stuart told gambling operators here that they must close up business and remain closed as long as he is burgess. Three operators of two gambling establishments, both located in the heart of the downtown business district, were called into the burgess’s office and notified that they must close immediately.
Taking the burgess at his word, the establishments were closed last night, and only gloomy silence greeted the card sharks.
Both establishments operate in poolrooms, and Stuart likewise notified the operators they will have to keep minors out of their places if they hope to escape arrest for other violations.
When one operator indicated he would have to go out of business if he kept the “kids” out of his place, the burgess replied, “Well, you’ll just have to go out of business then; we won’t tolerate having minors visit poolrooms in violation of the law.”
The River Transit Co. will inaugurate a revolutionary bus service in the community next week, providing intra-city bus service for virtually every resident of the community. There will be steady, hourly service throughout the community from 5:10 a.m. to 12:10 a.m. at 10 cents per trip.
On the North Side, the buses will travel up Market Street to the BC Dairy Bar on the National Pike, returning via Union Street. On the South Side, there will be service to Hiller, returning over Green Street to Pearl, thence returning down the hill. There will also be service on Second and Water streets on the South Side. Three new 35-passenger buses of the pusher type have been purchased for this service.
n Mrs. Mary E. Bulger, 72, member of a pioneer Brownsville family and widow of well-known drug store operator, Howard H. Bulger, has died in her lifelong home at 802 Water St.
The former Mary Cock married Howard Bulger in 1896. Several years later, her husband, who had operated drug stores in Pittsburgh for approximately 15 years, opened a store at Water and Bridge streets in Brownsville.
He operated that store for 45 years until his death three years ago. Mrs. Bulger and her son have operated the establishment since that time.
Friends may view the body at the residence. Funeral services will be held in Christ Episcopal Church with burial in Redstone Cemetery.
Comments about this column can be directed to Peter S. Skirchak, associate editor, at pskirchak@heraldstandard .com.