Jefferson College Historical Society

School plays can be such a bonding experience that they facilitate the development of deep friendships that last a lifetime. This week's throwback is to the 1963-64 CMHS school year and the performance of Grandma's Best Years. Images included here are all pages from the playbill along with pictures captured during the play's run and published in the 1964 Elmanac.

One of the many postcards in the Jefferson College Historical Society Museum advertises The Continental Restaurant - 533 Adams Ave, with proprietor Dominic Delcorso. The interior view shows the bar and the staff. The newspaper clipping identifies the opening of the eatery as being October 13, 1939 and the establishment was purchased from Lou Bell.

The Donnybrooks - Bob Kobert, lead; Ken Paige, first tenor; Frank Trebel, baritone; and John Alterio, bass.

The Donnybrooks began singing together during their elementary school years under the name, "The Phaetons." In 1958, while in high school, the group appeared first on the locally televised Wilkens Amateur Hour and then on KDKA's Art Pallan Talent Search. The Phaetons won first place in the Art Pallan Talent Search contest, which gave them the opportunity to compete in New York City for an RCA recording contract. The group competed in New York City under the name "The Four Pals," finished second, and were awarded a recording contract with Calico Records. In 1959, under a new manager, the group became known as The Donnybrooks and cut two records. Three of the songs were penned by Lou Popiolkowski, their former music teacher. Their first recorded song, "Everytime We Kiss," reached the charts in the tri-state area and in California. The group disbanded in 1960 to pursue their individual careers; but, through the years, they got together to entertain at special events, including the Canonsburg Bicentennial celebration in 2002.

Hopefully the Old-Fashioned Christmas activities got your spirits soaring. These seasonal pictures aim to keep you uplifted.

A few more pics from the camera of Joe Solobay. Images from the 175th Anniversary celebration in 1977.

Who can help identify the event and the people captured in this picture?

Throwback Thursday turns back the clock more than 170 years when the fraternity of Phi Kappa Psi was founded at Jefferson College in 1852 by William H. Letterman and Charles P.T. Moore. One of three fraternities that got there start here. The organization still flourishes today with more than 90 chapters across the U. S. today, including the Pennsylvania Alpha chapter at Washington & Jefferson. You can check out their website for much more information on the present state of the fraternity at https://www.phikappapsi.com/

Came across these CHS football All-Stars for 1948. Guessing we have some of their fans (and family) in this audience.

Here's what might have caught your eye in the newspaper 50 years ago today, Nov. 29, 1973. Melody Sharp wins national 4-H poultry award and receives congratulations from Colonel Harland Sanders.

It was on Feb. 22, 1893 that the postal service said, "Get the h out of there" to Canonsburgh.

In November of 1948 a balloon parade made its way from Curry Field down Pike Street and back along College Street. Included here are several pictures of the parade entries along with a review of the parade. You can also follow this link to find so many familar businesses that collectively sponsored the event.

We are accepting membership renewals and new member applications for 2024. Need a gift for someone? Consider a gift membership!

Happy Thanksgiving to all who follow us. As we reflect on our blessing we are most thankful for you, our supporters. Whether that support be financial, through donations, or your encouragement of our efforts in preserving the artifacts and history of Jefferson College and the Greater Canonsburg area we give thanks for you, and we thank you personally.

The link below is a history of Thanksgiving in America as reported int he 1925 Daily Notes.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-notes-historyofthanksgiving19/135647242/

This Saturday, November 25, is your last opportunity to visit the JCHS museum this year and the Canonsburg Pottery and Vietnam Veterans displays.
Open hours are 11 - 3.
Hope to see you there.

In the press 55 years ago today...The 1968 Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers completed an undefeated season, winning a WPIAL championship. A week later the press looks to the future. highlighting the expected returning members of that championship team.

Included here is that story as well as the clipping from a couple weeks previous reporting on the Tri-County Conference B title win. If you want to see the WPIAL championship write-up you can follow this link: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-notes-1968chfbwpialchamps/135561870/

While digitizing Gunner's Gazettes we came across the 1935 Graduation issue that included the following class picture. This issue is a blessing because an annual/yearbook was not published for that year and this gives a good overview of the class and its members. We hope that some of you will find family or friends who graduated that year.

**** Updated list in order on photo****
That year's grads were:
Reading from left to right: Top row Ethel Green, Ruth Newton, Helen Kotermanski, Jean Lightholder, Marion Prideau, Howard Springer, Mildred Nurmi, Raymond Tiedy, Bernice Smith, Charles Cookson.
Eighth row Clark Po***ck, Adeline Rocco, Edward Dietz, Margaret Marcischak, Mary Giffin, Arthur McClelland, Virginia Welch, Julia Vance, James Little, Helen Weidinger, Walter Rybacki, Alice Domsic, John Krisfalusy, Stella Chemerda, Norman Mark.
Seventh row Loretta Laughlin, Joseph Graff, Helen Kotyk, Tony Fartro, Elma Keskinen, Louis Leiner, Pauline Smith, Roy Skiles, Gail Russell, George Bissell, Sarah Thompson, Paul Koceski, Lena McLhinney, Elmer Fife, Julia Krulce.
Sixth row Joseph Shady, Seyvilla Brennan, Robert Hemmis, Genevieve Skwarlo, Vassar Moss, Jean McVicker, Raymond Brookway, Frances Cowan, James Herron, Lillian Royce, William Donaldson, Sarah Chico, John Blazowski, Frances Pell, William Nogay.
Center - Francis Crosson
Fifth row Jeanne Colaizzo, Jane McConnell, Selma Leichti, Richard Smith, Delle E. Williams, Amelio Rossi, Virginia Conklin, David McNutt, Eleanor Dias, Fred Ashe, Florence Emerson, Iris Thomas, Howard Neill, Jean Wilson, Robert Crawford.
Fourth row Margaret Worgul, Ethel Chico, John Sederoff, Elena Bell, Frank Gesslor, Ora Chambers, Paul Stabile, Martha. Palmer, William Budke, Dorothy Roach, Jane Brugger, Ann Suska, William Katz, Blanche Emery (deceased), Camille Hays.
Third row John Svitek, Edith Fife, Agnes Greza,, Joseph Krusienski, La Verne Rudolph, Thomas Beedle Ida Wylie, Charles Poole, Rosalie Colaizzo, Sophie Pennis, Catherine Wilson, Sophy Penner, Thelma David, Margaret Graff, Mildred Grimes.
Second row Mary Debell, Edbina Ambrose, Alex Toth, Annie White, Angeline Luccioia, Irene Horsky, Mary DiSibio, Russell DiSibio, Betty Jaap, Elizabeth Chermer, Nellie Judish, Nelle Sinco, Myrtle Blose, Helen Cook, Dorothy Glaze.
Bottom row Daniel Shearer, Clara McClure, Winifred Cushnie, John Devitis, Lillian Davis, Kenneth Wooliscroft, Evelyn Markle, Steve Setto, Helen Matyas, Marie Scarsellato, Lillian Schussler, Betty Wilson, John Lucas, Ida Heakin, Alice Jaap.
Members of the class whose pictures do not appear are: David Abraham, Bernard Herman, Orlando Ciaffoni, Milton Cushner, Mirko Krulce, Mildred Rose and Margaret Watson.

Sunday seems a natural time to highlight one of our places of worship. Today we remember The East Canonsburg United Presbyterian Chapel. All pictures are believed to be from that site but we don't have identification of the people included. If you can help identifying folks we would appreciate it.

JCHS would like your feedback. How can we make the organization better for you in 2024?

We like to share our newest additions with our followers on FB and the these three yearbooks were just received yesterday. A 1978 Canonsburg Junior High along with 1982 and 1983 Elmanacs from the high school. If we didn't capture your favorite student from those years in this post feel free to stop in and walk down memory lane by perusing the full contents in the museum.

This week's throwback is to some class photographs that were just unearthed in our holdings yesterday for digitization. First Ward, Third Ward and Canonsburg High School represented in this collection. Others are available as well for viewing at the museum.

Perhaps if you drove down Pike street yesterday you saw some work being done on 236 West Pike Street. This former home of the Martin, Johnston, and Graytok families is being renovated by its new owners. We thought you might be interested in seeing the property prior to it having part of the porch closed in and the stairway being narrowed and adding rails (many properties have had that later action taken in years past).

If you'd like to learn a little more about our speaker for this Thursday at 6 pm at Sarris Library, Harry Van Riper, enjoy this weblink and follow the link there to the Veterans Breakfast Club (VBC)Magazine article about Harry.
We hope you will join us Thursday night to hear Harry's inspirational story.
https://veteransbreakfastclub.org/congratulations-to-vbc-veteran-harry-van-riper-for-veterans-service-award/

Came across a full set of Alexander School class photos from 1926. If you had loved ones that attended in that early year at Alexander it is highly likely they are included here.
The staff composite picture at the end was dated 1924-25. Included in that image is Daniel Stewart Giffin, the supervising principal for whom Giffin Drive (the road to Borland Manor Elementary) is named.

Let us celebrate all our heroic citizens who have served in the military on this Veterans Day. Let us also remember the origin of this date (Nov. 11) of observance came from Armistice Day, the date marking the cessation of hostilities of WWI.
After WWII a movement was made to mark the day for inclusion of all military personnel, regardless of their era of service, to be celebrated on a Veterans Day. That became official in 1954 when President Eisenhower signed the bill making the change official.

This reunion picture of members of the 140th PA Volunteers was taken outside the home of Joseph Bradford Johnson at 248 West Pike Street (the current location of the Salandra Remembrances Tribute Center). The following clipping gives some more info on the reunion (and has a number of other items of interest) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-notes-1911140thpavolinfreun/134948014/

A little late today and a little early on the calendar but this Throwback Thursday transports us back to 1898 when 125 years ago (this coming Monday) occurred the loss of many businesses in the Great Fire of 1898. From the south side of Pike street for about half a block in each direction from Jefferson and the entire Jefferson block between Pike and Murdoch was lost to the fiery beast. Included are a pair of images showing the damage, Sanborn maps that highlight the progress of the rebuild of properties lost and an article from the Observer-Reporter published 25 years ago marking the 100th anniversary of the events

The November Open House is the Saturday after Thanksgiving. If you have family from out of town and want a free activity to show off your home town, stop by the museum on November 25 between 11 and 3. It will be the last day for the Canonsburg Pottery display.

Upcoming Events:
Thursday Nov. 16 (at FSPL) Speaker: Harry Van Riper - Vietnam Veteran (6:00 p.m.)
Saturday Nov. 25 (at JCHS Museum) Open House: 11-3

These pictures are from just 10 years ago. It is a wonder how many things can change in one short decade.

On the pages of The Daily Notes 50 years ago today. The Canosnburg Mitey Mites team was undefeated and unscored upon going into a championship game.

Sharing the 1965 Thanksgiving (November) issue of the CA-MAC. If you have school newspapers you're willing to share with us for digitization or donation it would be much appreciated.

Tuesday, November 7. Polls open in Pennsylvania from 7 AM to 8 PM.

Sharing a few pics from 1988 Canons that are in our holdings at JCHS museum. Hopefully you find something or someone who interests you.

Throwback Thursday this week brings the contents of the first Our Church News published for the Greenside Avenue United Presbyterian Church in 1891. We hope you'll read through some of the text and be transported back to the 19th century. The advertising reflects businesses for whom many have descendants active in this community.

When October went and the calendar changed to November so would the decorations in the typical school. Down would come the skeletons and witches and up would go depictions of the harvest and Thanksgiving feast. Do any of these old decorations bring back memories of yesterday for you?

Happy All Saints Day! A look back at images from the construction of the All Saints Greek Orthodox Church.

Our treat for today, pics from an undated Halloween Parade and scenes from Houston Pumpkin Festival.

We wanted to share a few images from our most recent donation that was dropped off at the museum during Open House yesterday. School items including papers and programs from Cecil Jr. High, Canon-Mac HS and regional wrestling programs (including the one shown from Chartiers-Houston).

This is a reminder that the museum is open tomorrow (Oct 28) from 11 - 3. There is a new display honoring local Vietnam veterans and it is almost your last chance to check out the Canonsburg area pottery display (finishing its stay next month).

So often photos we receive do not have enough data to be able to fully list all the subjects on the print, or the time of the event. It is such a joy when we are able to identify the source, the participants and the date (when possible). The collective knowledge of our followers gives us a great advantage in completing that task. Here are a few photos recently digitized that do not have full context. Perhaps you can help?