Let’s Talk Connellsville
By William Balsley and Karen Hechler
For the Herald Standard
Connellsville, in the early days of the 21st century, is looking forward to improvements in our city as we prepare for our bicentennial year in 2006. Exciting building projects are happening on the West Side of Connellsville under the direction of Widewaters Construction. New shopping opportunities will be available with a new super market associated with Giant Foods. There may also be a new hotel in the mix as well as smaller specialty shops. So the assurance of economic improvement at the Five Corners on the West Side of Connellsville sounds promising.
The Bicentennial Committee has been busy at work earning money to help finance special events to celebrate Connellsville’s 200th year. There will be traditional events such as a huge parade, massive entertainment, good food, etc. One of the ideas growing out of the thoughts of this committee is a Geranium Festival beginning this year, 2005, over the Memorial Day weekend, May 28 and 29. With Oglevee Ltd. of Connellsville being North America’s largest producer of geraniums, it seems only natural for Connellsville to be the showplace for geraniums and the logical location for an annual Geranium Festival. The committee hopes that this festival will become a must-attend event with many tourists attracted to our area in order to participate like people who attend azalea, rose, and cherry blossom festivals throughout the United States.
What was Connellsville planning and thinking about itself in 1940? Among Bill’s mementos of the past, he found a brochure printed in 1940 by the Connellsville Chamber of Commerce then located on Brimstone Corner in Connellsville.
The information presented to interest people in our community included: industrial opportunity, natural resources, a real place to live, and a historical sketch. The thumbnail sketch of Connellsville included that the city was located on the Youghiogheny River in Fayette County, 48 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Important facts included: the temperature average, 52.2 degrees; rainfall average, 47 inches; and population in 1940, 13,500. A quote in the brochure included, “Living conditions are pleasant and everything is complete including 10 good schools, 32 churches, 3 theaters, State Hospital, State Armory, Carnegie Free Library, one of the finest golf courses in Western Pennsylvania, beautiful municipal parks, tennis courts, fully equipped mountain camp, flood-lighted stadium, and homes at reasonable rents and sale prices.
Interesting data included the following: Government, City of Third Class; fire department, paid and motorized; streets, 23 miles paved; street cleaning and garbage system maintained; newspapers, two daily and weekly; and two banks with resources as of Dec. 30, 1939, of $5,794,000.
Under the heading “Industrial Opportunity” this was stated about the city’s transportation facilities at that time. “Fast, economic transportation service by rail (B&O, P.R.R., P&L.E., W.M., and P&W.V.), by highway (Route 40, Route 30, Route 22, and the new Super-Highway), and by air (Connellsville’s grade C airport) makes it easy to get materials into your plant and your products to market promptly.”
What about our natural resources as stated in 1940? “Long a center of a region world famous for natural resources, Connellsville is ideally situated for industrial expansion. Coal, coke, natural gas and electricity are available in such quantities that the conversion of raw materials into finished products can be accomplished at a lower cost than is possible in many other industrial communities.” Connellsville had among its resources: limestone, sandstone, sand, gravel, silt and clay, all close to the city.
Emphasis was placed on the opportunity to enjoy good sports and the great outdoors. It was stated that, “The city lies in a mountainous country of great scenic beauty which abounds in a wide variety of plant and animal life. To the sportsman, the camper, the hiker and the nature enthusiast, the surrounding area offers recreational possibilities so diversified that it cannot be matched by any similar area in the United States.” I was particularly impressed by the way the brochure praised the beauty of our mountain. Too often we don’t stop to appreciate and enjoy the natural beauty of our local area. This was the statement on the beauty of the mountains: “Hard surfaced roads give access to back-country areas famous for their seasonal charm. In the spring, the mountains are spangled with hosts of strikingly colorful wild flowers. During the fall, the same roads are lined by hardwood trees whose brilliant colorations draw motorists for hundreds of miles to view their autumnal beauty.”
In the historical sketch, I particularly liked the following quote, “In early history the location was known as Stewart’s Crossing, which was on Nemacolin’s Path, later known as Washington’s Road. This crossing of the Youghiogheny River was the head of keelboat navigation and stopover for emigrants settling west of the Alleghenies and messengers between Cumberland and Fort Pitt. This section was the main battleground of the French and Indian War.
What an upbeat brochure telling the rest of the state and perhaps the nation that Connellsville was a progressive, positive city looking forward to the future. Lots of good people still are positive about the future of Connellsville in the early 21st century just as those who wrote about our city’s future in the mid 20th century.
The Connellsville Bicentennial Committee and the Connellsville Area Historical Society are always on the lookout for volunteers and new members who are passionate about promoting our city and preserving our historical heritage. Your help and ideas are welcome. Make time to join us and promote Connellsville in a positive manner. This is such an important time on our city’s history. Get involved. Make a difference.
Your comments about or submissions to this column are welcome. Please send them to Pete Skirchak, Connellsville Editor, 160 W. Crawford Ave., Connellsville, PA 15425 or e-mail: pskirchak@heraldstandard.com.