Sewickley Valley Historical Society

Us, looking at the calendar, trying to figure out how it is already July 19, with a summer halfway done...

REMINDER: The SVHS office will be closed this coming Monday - Wednesday 7/22-7/24, while staff is on vacation recreating their own dumbfounded pose on a beach.

The office will reopen on Thursday, July 25.

In the meanwhile, let us know if you figure out where June and July went... ☀️🐚🌊⛱️

📸: Beachgoers from the Walker/Brooks Scrapbooks in the , circa 1920/30s.

Update to our hours this week -- our extended hours will now be this Wednesday and Thursday. Tuesday we will be open our usual 10am - 2pm. We apologize for any inconvenience. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a visit to the , please reach out to the SVHS Office.

Some rock-solid love for the area whose history we love and preserve! We're also kind of in love with the historic Old Sewickley Post Office Building that we call home where someone left this lovely little note. Thanks to whoever you were! You obviously "rock" in our books!

If you love Sewickley and want to know more about its history, consider becoming a member of SVHS! Our new membership packets will be hitting mailboxes soon -- if you'd like to receive one, email us your name and address to [email protected] and let us know!

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We hope you have your fireworks viewing all planned and ready to go this Fourth of July and we hope they're as bright and colorful as this 84 year-old paper's header still is today!

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Happy Independence Day from SVHS!

📸: From the the confirmation letter from New Castle's Ohio Display Fireworks Co. accepting Sewickley's contract for the borough's Centennial celebrations in 1940.

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With holiday and staff vacations, the open hours of SVHS are little different this month!

If you've always wanted extra and/or later hours to visit SVHS and research, July is the month for you!

Check this calendar and check our website for the most up to date July 2024 hours -- including closures and special extended open hours for public research. Hours outside of our usual open times are indicated in red.

As always, please reach out to the SVHS office in advance of a research visit so that we can have items related to your research pulled and ready for you to look at.

For many years, the SVHS Architecture Committee has passionately promoted the historical importance of the Herbst House so that the community could advocate for its preservation.

This year they channeled that passion into a nomination of the property to Preservation Pennsylvania' s PA at Risk program, and today we are pleased to share that the nomination was one of three accepted for the 2024 list.

Being listed as a PA at Risk property will "bring statewide attention to threatened historic properties, serve as a tool for local action toward a positive outcome, and encourage funding and legislation in support of preservation activities."

We look forward to seeing this nomination help further the work of those who continue to advocate for the preservation of the historic Herbst House.

2024 Pennsylvania At Risk - Preservation Pennsylvania Preservation Pennsylvania has announced the 2024 Pennsylvania At Risk in an effort to bring statewide attention to threatened historic properties, serve as a tool for local action toward a positive outcome, and encourage funding and legislation in support of preservation activities.

It's just a *little* hot in Western Pennsylvania at the moment... perhaps a large block of ice would help?

📸: Alden F. Hays with ice wagon, Sewickley, 1900. From the in the .

Stay cool out there everyone!

Memorial Day was established in 1868 as a national holiday to honor the Union soldiers who had died in the American Civil War, but Sewickley was ahead of the game. Two years earlier, in 1866, just one year after the end of the Civil War, residents of the Valley raised funds to commission FAME, a memorial in the Sewickley Cemetery that honored those who died in battle, or of wounds or illness while, serving the U.S. during the American Civil War. It was the first Civil War memorial in Allegheny County.

In 1905, four cannon used in the Civil War were brought in via train and transported to the memorial with a specially made carriage and an entourage of school children and veterans (second picture).

FAME still stands in the Sewickley Cemetery, but she looks a bit different nowadays. The cannon are long gone -- Sewickley donated them to a scrap metal drive during WWII, feeling that it was more important for them to be used towards the war effort rather than as decoration. FAME herself needed replaced after the Italian marble the 1866 memorial committee selected met its match in the steel industry pollution and FAME lost her delicate, detailed features as well as her hands and trumpet to corrosion.

The Sewickley Valley community came together again and raised the funds to replace the deteriorating FAME and her pedestal in its entirety in the early 2000s. It is that FAME you can visit this Memorial Day to honor Sewickley Valleys fallen military heroes.

📸: Photos from the in the .

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there, past and present.

Here's one from the past, Anne Paul Nevin, wife of Edgeworth-born composer Ethelbert Nevin, with their children Ethelbert Paul Nevin and Dorothy Anne Nevin.

📸: From the Jimmy Gray scrapbooks, circa early 1900s from the .

One last favorite piece of CHA House Tour history to share as the second and last day of the House Tour's 40th edition is underway.

Yesterday we shared film clips of the 1968 House Tour, today from the the wood and metal printing block that would have been used to make the cover of the program booklet for that 1968 tour!

To hold the piece in your hands is to see the image in reverse -pic 1- the back -pic 2- gives clues about the manufacturing of the piece, and pic 3 is a reversal of the image so that you can see what the program cover would have looked like once printed.

Not so fun fact -- while we have footage of the 1968 tour, and the printing block for its program, we do NOT have the actual program booklet for that tour in our collection. If you or someone you know happens to have a copy of the 1968 CHA House Tour booklet and would like to donate it to SVHS, let us know! Help us make our collection more complete! All of our pieces of Child Health Association history came to SVHS thru donations, so if you have any items like what we've shared the past month for CHA -- or any other local organizations -- and want them to go to a good home that will preserve their history for generations to come, reach out to SVHS today!

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Get Ready for SVHS' Antique Appraisal and Donation Day!

Get Ready for Tomorrow! We can't wait to welcome you to tomorrow's Sewickley Antique Appraisal and Donation Day! A few things to know before you arrive: Reminder: The Sewickley Bridge is closed to traffic starting tonight 4/19 thru 4/29. Please plan your trip accordingly. Location and Parking: SVHS is located at 200 Broad....

Last Friday we shared the pineapple themed booklets from the 24th and 25th Child Health Association House Tours held in 1988 and 1991.

Here this week we bring you the ticket and map for the 25th House Tour presented by CHA in 1991.

Check out those prices of both the Three Rivers cookbooks and the house tour! There deals were to be had 33 years ago!

Don't forget, we're sharing these pieces of CHA history in celebration of the 40th iteration of their House Tour -- to be held this May 3 & 4 and tickets are currently on sale!

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Looking for that missing barge that's supposedly floating today somewhere between Emsworth and Dashields dams like...

📸: From the in the a photo exhibition promo postcard featuring Capt. Fred Way and his dog -- somewhat fittingly for this post, and most certainly proving that Capt. Way remains undefeated in dog naming-- Wrecks, with the then new Sewickley Bridge in the background. The 1911 Sewickley Bridge was closed to traffic in May 1980. A new bridge, costing 30 times more than the first, was dedicated in October 1981, only after impassioned efforts by a local Save the Bridge committee.

A design element so nice they used it twice! 🍍🍍

Sending some warm, sunny, tropical vibes your way on this rainy Friday from the with these pineapple themed booklets from the 24th and 25th Child Health Association House Tours held in 1988 and 1991.

It is unsurprising the pineapple was used as the design for booklets that served as guides to an event that only succeeds when Valley residents generously volunteer to open up their homes for tours -- the pineapple has long been considered a symbol of hospitality. For a time in 17th and 18th centuries, pineapples, due to their needing to be imported from far-off tropical locals, also came to represent prestige as only the wealthiest could afford to have them in their homes as they welcomed guests. A pineapple rental industry even popped up in the 1700s so that the popular symbol of hospitality could be used as decor and centerpieces by those who could not afford to purchase the fruit outright.

Don't forget, we're sharing these [pineapple] slices of CHA history in celebration of the 40th iteration of the House Tour -- to be held this May 3 & 4 and tickets are currently on sale!

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Happy National Pet Day from Don, Topsey, and Barney!

The human's name is unknown, but that seems less important when one is celebrating . Check back with us later when our historian hearts lament the lack of identification for every creature in the photo...

📸: From a photo album in the . The album is believed to be from the home of J. Collard White. 1900.

We are officially less than one week away from our next (and last!) Lecture of 2023-2024 Program year. Join us next WEDNESDAY, April 17 at 7pm in the Community Room at the Old Sewickley Post Office Building for: "Covering More Ground — Eliza Leet Shields & her Sewickley Valley" a presentation by C. Prentiss Orr.

RSVP now to let us know you'll be joining us -- just click the image below!

2023-2024 Program Series No. 5: "Covering More Ground — Eliza Leet Shields & her Sewickley Valley" | SVHS 2023-2024 Program Series No. 5: "Covering More Ground — Eliza Leet Shields & her Sewickley Valley"

Celebrating National Siblings day, we share with you 4 of the Irwin sisters, daughters of John and Hannah Taylor Irwin, who lived on Irwin Ave., now Ridge Avenue, of the North Side. With arms on her hips is Martha Jane Irwin, She married a Dr. Bell and moved away, not following in the footsteps of two of her sisters, and a brother, who married into the Nevin family of Sewickley. Her sister, standing in spectacles, is Hannah, wife of Theodore Hugh Nevin, who prospered by paint. The curled lady married a Rev. Adair; their descendants lived in Edgeworth all their lives. With her hands crossed, wearing a dress almost identical to Martha Jane's, is Margaret Williamson Irwin, wife of the Rev. Daniel Eagle Nevin.

📸: From the , . Courtesy of Mrs. Hugh W. Nevin.

With those hands on her hips, you could imagine she already told him not to stare directly at the sun multiple times that day...

Happy Eclipse day!

SVHS Staff will be working remotely today 4/8/24 and can reached via phone and email. If you were planning on stopping by the office we look forward to seeing you tomorrow, and hope you'll take the day to enjoy the historic eclipse -- and if you are, don't be like our bowler-capped fellow in the picture, and stare at the sun unprepared! Make sure you have your eye protection in place!
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📸: Photo album from the home of James Collard White, Sewickley, PA. Circa early 1900s. From the . While there's no evidence to say that the gentleman in the picture is staring an an eclipse, the exasperated face and gestures of his companion will likely be a common one today. Don't forget your eye protection!

In 1956, the Child Health Association of Sewickley [CHA] hosted its inaugural House Tour, an event that, while raising money to benefit the children of Western Pennsylvania, also highlights the homes, historic and modern, that make the Sewickley Valley unique.

In celebration of the 40th iteration of the House Tour, to be held this May 3 & 4, SVHS is sharing pieces of CHA House Tour history from the .

Up first is this tour booklet from the 1973 tour. This booklet is unique as the cover design is extended to the back, shown here in full. Many of the tour booklets in the feature art only on the cover, with a back cover that is often either blank or features an ad of a sponsor. The 1973 House Tour was the 17th of the tour series, and was held during the 50th Anniversary year of CHA.

Oh, and if you're wondering if it's a coincidence that we're highlighting a tour booklet that is black and gold on the day of the Pittsburgh Pirates Home Opener? Let's just say it's funny how things work out sometimes.

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April showers bring May flowers but it also brings TWO events from SVHS! Join us in two weeks on 4/17 for our next SVHS lecture series program, "Covering More Ground — Eliza Leet Shields and her Sewickley Valley" followed by a special event on 4/20, "Sewickley Antique Appraisal and Donation Day." Both will take place at the home of SVHS, the Old Sewickley Post Office Building at 200 Broad St.

To learn more about each event or to RSVP to attend, visit www.sewickleyhistory.org

We hope that you will join us!

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To those who the Easter Bunny visited, we hope your basket was filled with at least one of everything listed in this Jenny Lee ad from the Sewickley Herald published on WED., APRIL 8, 1973.

Happy Easter from SVHS! 🐣🐰🌷

TONIGHT! Wednesday, March 20 at 7pm. Join SVHS for the return of our 2023-2024 lecture series, with guest speaker Alison Conte when she presents "The Story of the Valley Care Association of Sewickley -- Planning for the future by examining the past."

This lecture is FREE and open to the public.

It will take place in the Clubhouse Assembly Room at Masonic Village at Sewickley.

Visit our NEW website register to attend. Hope to see you there!

Join SVHS TOMORROW, Wednesday, March 20 at 7pm for the return of our 2023-2024 lecture series, with guest speaker Alison Conte when she presents "The Story of the Valley Care Association of Sewickley -- Planning for the future by examining the past."

This lecture is FREE and open to the public.

It will take place in the Clubhouse Assembly Room at Masonic Village at Sewickley.

Use the link below to register via our NEW website! Hope to see you there!

2023-2024 Program Series No. 4: "The Story of the Valley Care Association of Sewickley..." | SVHS 2023-2024 Program Series No. 4: "The Story of the Valley Care Association of Sewickley -- Planning for the future by examining the past"

"•St. Valentine's Greeting•
This Valentine comes
From a heart that is true.
And faithfal, and loving,
Forever. To you."

Happy Valentine's Day from SVHS! ❤️🩷❤️🩷

📸: A Valentine card from the early 1900s. Preserved in the Dorothy Slack Scrapbook Album in the

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It's another snowy day in the Sewickley Valley!

Due to the inclement weather the SVHS office is CLOSED today, Friday, January 19, 2024.

Staff will be working from home so for any questions please email [email protected] or call 412.741.5315.

📸: Framed photo of the Abishai Way House, Beaver Road, Edgeworth, from the

This house was occupied by the grandparents of Frederick Way, Jr., then his parents. It was built by his great-grandfather, Abishai, who died before it was finished in 1840.

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Little Dog - Big Trees - Snowman in the background? Sounds like a perfect snow day.

Speaking of snow days -- due to inclement weather the SVHS office is CLOSED today, Tuesday, January 16, 2024.

SVHS follows the inclement weather closures of the Quaker Valley School District, and as they are closed today, so are we!

Staff will be working from home so for any questions please email [email protected] or call 412.741.5315. Hopefully we'll be back working amidst the tomorrow. Until then we hope you take the time for a romp in the snow covered landscape just like this little dog.

📸: The G.L. Simpson collection, part of the .

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The SVHS office is closed on Monday, January 15 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

We look forward to sharing Sewickley Valley History when we reopen tomorrow Tues. 1/16/24 at 10am.

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We hope everyone is keeping all bundled up and warm with these first blasts of Pittsburgh winter weather in 2024!

As a reminder SVHS follows the inclement weather closures of the school district, so be sure the check our website for weather related changes to our office hours when the weather has us breaking out our finest hand warmers and puffy coats.

📸: Margaret Holdship, early 1900s from the Davis/Holdship family albums in the .

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Much like our Old Sewickley Post Office home, as it is shown here in a picture from March of 1910 from the , our www.sewickleyhistory.org website is a work in progress and it may be unavailable if you visit as we are currently experiencing some technical difficulties with it. We thank you for your patience and promise that it will be worth the wait once everything is up and running again!

If you need anything in the meanwhile, please reach out to the SVHS office at [email protected] or by calling 412.741.5315

We have a special announcement: Today, 1.3.2024, is one exactly one month until our Winter Tea!

Join SVHS for a winter high tea that will celebrate the close of our 50th Anniversary year and bring us together with our friends from the Moon Township and Avonworth Historical Societies for our annual Joint Lecture that will explore the history of the Gilded Age.

Members of SVHS, Moon Twp., and Avonworth historical societies will receive invitations in the mail starting 1.4.2024 with ways to register and attend. If you are not a member of one of those historical societies, but are interested in attending, please reach out to the SVHS office.

📸: Margaret Holdship, early 1900s from the Davis/Holdship family albums in the .

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