Around Town

Bower Hill Road. Bower Hill Road, where it crossed the Pennsylvania Roadroad, was not the busy street it is today. In the background is Cook's Hill, with Bluff Street winding up and crossing over the top. In the center is the original Pennsylvania Railroad Freight Station. Date unknown. Photo donated by Richard and Sandy Brown.

Flooding in Bridgeville. Portions of Bridgeville routinely flood whenever there are hard rains. It's not often though that Washington Avenue is covered over with water. This picture, taken in 1956, shows the part of Bridgeville leading to the Chartiers Shopping Center in Collier Township.

The Weise Family Home. Located at 1200 Bank Street, this home was originally built for the Weise family. Photo circa 1920.

Home Explosion. In May 2003, homes along Chestnut Street were rocked by an explosion, which destroyed a large portion on this house. The cause of the explosion was attributed to a gas leak.

Bridgeville PA, Circa 1911. Composite_Image created from two postcards.

Train Wreck Across Chartiers Creek. A train wreck at the railroad bridge across Chartiers Creek. Photograph donated by Ed Pelino.

Parade Children. Children lining Washington Avenue, presumably awaiting a parade. In the background is Murray Avenue and the Lutz House. Unknown date.

Washington Avenue Aerial View. An aerial view down Washington Avenue, facing north, starting with the bridge before Bethany Presbyterian Church. This picture was taken some time between 1939 and 1958.

Mayer Airfield. The airfield, built by C.P. Mayer and located where the present-day Great Southern Shopping Center now sits, remained in use until the 1980s. This picture shows four aviators, with their plane, and is believed to be from the 1940s.

Bower Hill Road. An early view of Bower Hill Road, taken from Mill Street. Date unknown. Photo donated by Richard and Sandy Brown.

SW Patton Home. Located at 701 Bank Street, and built in 1893, this home was originally built for the SW Patton Family. Photo circa 1900, individuals unidentified.

1956 Flood. Baldwin Street has always been prone to flooding, running parallel as it does to the creek. In 1956 the rain were particularly devastating to the street, with water gushing out of the manholes and covering the roadway.

Station Street Postcard, circa_1920.

Christmas in Bridgeville, 2003. Triangle Park, on Station Street, decorated for the 2003 holiday festivities. Photo donated by Reno J Massimino, II.

Washington Avenue. An early view of Washington Avenue, featuring the Amos Fryer Undertaking Establishment, Bethany Presbyertian Church, Jones Brothers Shoes, Nick George the Candy Man, Russell Garage, St. Agatha's Church and the Frederick Elder Works.

Gregg Avenue. An early view along Gregg Avenue, circa 1910. Pictured are the homes of the Orth family, the Meise family and the Franks family.

Baldwin Street. An unidentified funeral winding down Baldwin Street, date unknown.

Building the Children's Library. In 1974, the Bridgeville Kiwanis Club began reconstructing a period caboose car, with the intention of attaching it to the existing Bridgeville Public Library, then housed in the old Bridgeville Train Depot.

Baldwin Street Upgrades. Not really sure what is going on in this picture, but it involves a sewer and a fancy piece of 1980s technology. Featured are: Unknown Woman, Unknown Man 1, Curtis Copeland, Nino Petrocelli, Sr., Felix Martincic, Unknown Man 2, Tom Foerster, Pete Flaherty, Unknown Man 3, Unknown Man 4 and Unknown Man 5. Photo taken on June 22, 1988.

The intersection of McLaughlin Run and Bower Hill Roads. Bower Hill Road, at the intersection for McLaughlin Run Road, circa 1970.

Bethany Presbyterian Church. An early image of Bethany Presybterian Church, circa 1913. Note the landscaped surroundings and the enormous bell tower. In later years the church lost both its grounds and its bell tower, but more than tripled in size.

Bridge Construction. Washington Avenue saw the construction of a new bridge and road surface along its business district in 1988.

Luminaries. Holiday luminaries arranged along Pesavento Drive. Photo taken December 24, 1971.

Aiken-Richardson Home. On Washington Avenue, near where Portman's Farm Market is now located, stood the home of Joseph Hickman Aiken and Mary Margaret Richardson. This photo, complete with family cow, was taken around 1912. Photo donated by Andrew Knez, Jr.

Hickman Street. A view down Hickman Street. Date unknown.

The Meise House. The Meise House, taken sometime prior to 1948. The house still stands on Gregg Avenue.

Bridgeville Train Depot. The Bridgeville Train Depot was the primary means of transporting goods and people to and from the area. In this picture, large amounts of liquor were being readied for shipment.

Washington Avenue Fire. On March 1, 1960, a major fire destroyed a large portion of the building located on the corner of Washington Avenue and Station Street. The fire began in a photostudio and quickly spread to other businesses. All told, 5 families and 11 stores were damaged or destroyed.

Societa Rojo Piano, 1924. The Societa Rojo Piano, from Morgan, PA, assembled for Bridgeville's September 1, 1924 Labor Day Parade.

Baldwin Street. An unidentified funeral winding down Baldwin Street, date unknown.

Jonathan's Folly. In 1830, Jonathan Middleswarth built a fabulous new home for his intended bride. Unfortunately, she jilted him at the altar and the house was forever known as Jonathan’s Folly. The home was located on Washington Avenue, next to the Bridgeville Trust Company, and was later owned by the Kocher Family. Photo circa 1920.

Bridgeville Memorial Day. The Annual Bridgeville Memorial Day Parade in 1976, winding down Washington Avenue. Notice the men hanging out on top of the Brideville Savings and Loan to get a better view.

1981 Flood. An image of Jon Littlehale's Auto Body, located at 527 Baldwin Street. The auto body was one of many buildings regularly flooded during heavy rains. Photo donated by Lisann Shepos.

Washington Avenue. The view up Washington Avenue, facing north, from the bridge leading to South Fayette.

Warrensford Family Home. The Warrensford family home was located along Hickman Street, at number 303. The house, with some alterations, still stands. Date unknown.

1937 Train Wreck. On September 4, 1937, at 10:15 PM, one of the many trains traveling through Bridgeville jumped its track while crossing a railroad bridge.

Washington Avenue. At the corner of Washington Avenue and Station Street back in the 1950s. While the buildings are all still around, all of the businesses have changed. Photo donated by Dana Spriggs.

Baldwin Street. An unidentified funeral winding down Baldwin Street, date unknown.

Triangle Park. The holiday lights at Triangle Park. Photo date 2003. Donated by Reno J. Massimino, II.

Bridgeville Train Depot. An image of the Bridgeville Train Depot after the last train departed. This marked the end of the train station's days of ferrying passengers and freight (in the mid 1950s) and the station remained empty for several years before being repurposed as the Bridgeville Public Library.

A view of the north part of Washington Avenue, between what is now Bower Hill and Presley Roads. The building on the left is the Clark House, while on the right is the old Bridgeville Borough Building. Featured in the picture are DM Bennett, with a young William Bennett, in the front seat, and Rebecca Caldwell (wife of DM), with a young John W. Bennett, in the back. Circa 1908.

1956 Flood. Running parallel to the creek, Baldwin Street has always been prone to flooding. Heavy rains in 1956 caused the creek to overflow and fill the roadway in front of the Colussy Garage.

The Lord's Barn. The Bethany Presbyterian Church's Mission Building, the Lord's Barn, was built in 1870 on the site of the present-day church.

JC Crum's Ox Team. Taken in 1906, this image is of JC Crum's oxen ambling along Washington Avenue. Individuals pictures: F. Park Crum, holding the lead rope; behind him, CP Mayer as a child; leaning with one hand on the hitching post, JC Crum.

Bridgeville Train Depot. The Bridgeville Train Depot in 1891. Unlike most buildings in Bridgeville, the station wasn't built here. Rather, it was shipped in, already constructed, on rail cars.

Early Days. An early, 1899, view along Washington Pike, taken from the Poellot's back porch. According to the reverse of the photo, the image was taken when Flinn Road was being contructed.

Bridgeville Borough Map, circa 1928.

Bower Hill Road / Liberty Street. An early, early picture of Bower Hill Road and Liberty Street. Date unknown.

Bridge Party. A bridge party to celebrate the opening of the new bridge at the north-western part of Washington Avenue, below Chartiers Shopping Center. Dancing and merry-making last all night long. Picture taken November 5, 1986.

World War I Draftees. The first Bridgeville draftees of World War I, on Washington Avneue between the Clark House and the old Bridgeville Borough Building.

1950s Memorial Day Parade. Late 1950s Memorial Day Parade, passing down Washington Avenue in front of Bethany Presbyterian Church.

Bridgeville. Early view of Bridgeville after the turn of the century, taken from a vantage point around present-day Patterson Avenue, circa 1920.

Bethany Presbyterian Manse. In 1877, the congregation of Bethany Presbyterian Church funded the construction of a 'manse', to house their pastor, Reverend John F. Hill, D.D., and his family. Located next to the Lord's Barn building, the manse cost $4,182 to construct. The building was replaced in 1952 by a newer brick structure.

Winter, circa 1940. A winter scene, showing Mill Street and Bower Hill Road beyond. The items in the foreground are scaffolding and building materials, completely covered in now. Photo circa 1940.

Memorial Day Service. The Bridgeville Memorial Day Service, at Melrose Cemetery, circa 1917.

Memorial Day Parade. One of Bridgeville's early Memorial Day Parades, winding its way up Station Street.

Bridge Construction. Workers replacing a bridge along Washington Avenue. Photo taken in 1988.

Memorial Day Parade, Circa 1950. Either donated by or featuring Greg Rosati.

The A.B. Murray Home. The A.B. Murray Home, circa 1910. From left to right are pictured: A.B. Murray, Sara (Froelich), Jim, Alberta (Baker), Anna (Metz), Lizzie (Mrs. A.B. Murray) and Mary (Fitzsimmons).

The Zadro Building. Located at 627 Baldwin Street, this building was originally owned by the Zadro Family, who were distributors of beer and soft drinks. Photo circa 1912, and donated by Bob Spagiare.

Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge. For as many bridges as Bridgeville had, it seemed to have an equal number of railway lines. This picture is of the Pennyslvania Railroad Bridge at Chartiers Avenue, and shows the railway bridge across the creek as well as the traffic bridge down Chartiers Street.

Decoration Day. Decoration Day parade traveling down Washington Pike in the late 1940s.

Mill Street. A view of the upper portion of Mill Street. Many of the homes pictured are still standing. Date unknown. Photo donated by Richard and Sandy Brown.

Zion Lutheran Church. The original Zion Lutheran Church, on Prestley Road, circa 1910. The church later built a new building on Washington Avenue in South Fayette. The old building was occupied for many years by the Pronto Auto Parts Store.

The Old Donaldson House. A view up Washington Avenue, showing the Old Donaldson House at #745. Taken around 1911.

Snow Removal in Bridgeville in 1944. Borough workers helping to get rid of the snow in front of the Butler Store on Washington Avenue.

Dewey Avenue. Road construction along Dewey Avenue, circa 1989.

Mill Street Home For Sale. If the paper attached to the front of this photograph is correct, then this home, located on Mill Street and still standing, was originally on the market for $4,560. Photo donated by Richard and Sandy Brown.

Bower Hill Explosion. Bower Hill Road, across from the intersection of McLaughlin Run Road, dated December 27, 1931. During prohibition, many people, usually men, started brewing their own "moonshine". Eventually, many of these homebrews became popular, and competition became prevalent. According to stories, one competitor decided to "light a fire" under one of his fellow moonshiners. The unnamed arsonist not only burned out his rival, he also took out the storage areas built into the old coal mines behind--leading to this explosion.

Kiwanis Club Concession Stand. The Bridgeville Kiwanis Club always made it a point to give back to the community. In this picture, Sam David and Janet Deep operate a concession stand during a football game.

Memorial Day Parade. The Bridgeville Memorial Day Parade, enroute to Melrose Cemetery, circa 1915.

Bethany Presbyterian Church. A large crowd gathered to help Bethany Presbyterian Church celebrate its centennial in May of 1914.

The Bigi and Villani Families. An early picture of McLaughlin Run Road, this photo shows members of the Bigi and Villani families. Mrs. Mary Bigi and Mrs. Amelia Villani are shown on the porch of the Bigi home with their children. By the truck, from left to right, are August Villani, Nello Villani and "Hudge" Villani holding an unidentified child.