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    Jeannette
    Jeannette
    Jeannette
    Ebook163 pages38 minutes

    Jeannette

    By Terry Perich and Kathleen Perich

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    About this ebook

    Jeannette, the Glass City, was the first industrial city in Westmoreland County. From Jeannette s founding in 1888 by Pittsburgh industrialist H. Sellers McKee, the city was destined for fame. Jeannette produced more glass in various forms than any other city in the world. At one time there were seven great glass factories in Jeannette, all producing glass that was shipped worldwide. Jeannette was a beautiful planned Victorian town, and the residents were proud of their city. A new form of correspondence became popular: the penny postcard. Jeannette features postcards showing the area s Victorian mansions, workers row houses, factories, schools, churches, businesses, streets, and government buildings.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArcadia Publishing
    Release dateApr 5, 2006
    ISBN9781439617830
    Jeannette
    Author

    Terry Perich

    Terry Perich, vice president of the Jeannette Area Historical Society, is a retired social studies teacher and historian. He is the coauthor of Jeannette in the Images of America series. Kathleen Perich, a retired teacher, serves on the executive board of the Jeannette Area Historical Society.

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      Book preview

      Jeannette - Terry Perich

      Perich.

      INTRODUCTION

      The heyday of the picture postcard era coincided with the heady early years of growth in Jeannette, Pennsylvania. Jeannette exploded in size from a settlement of a few dozen farms in 1888 to a population of 3,296 in 1890. That growth would continue for the next several decades—by 1930, the town boasted a population in excess of 15,000.

      Factories were sprouting up throughout the Brush Creek Valley. Skilled journeymen glassworkers relocated from Birmingham (in the South Side of Pittsburgh) to employment in the new state-of-the-art glass factories of Jeannette. An influx of immigrant labor from Europe later joined them as well. Churches, schoolhouses, and public works were constructed to meet the needs of the rapidly growing community. It was said that the ringing of hammers was in the air throughout the construction season—as predictable as the singing of the birds in the spring.

      The main street (christened Clay Avenue for Richard W. Clay, president of the Western Land and Improvement Company) was filled with storefronts. A fine brick cart way with curbstones and sidewalks was laid. Electric lines were erected, and the storefronts were gussied up with colorful canvas awnings. Later a streetcar line bisected the center of Clay Avenue. That streetcar became the linear link within the town, connecting the downtown, factories, and residential districts, and continued onward to Oakford Park and points beyond.

      The burghers of the community were proud of the rapid pace of progress in Jeannette. Pioneer newspaper editor John H. Trescher declared that South Second Street, between Clay Avenue and the railroad, was the most remarkable square in the world—containing a church for sanctification, a school for education, a newspaper for information, an electric company for illumination and a saloon for damnification.

      The vintage images assembled in this book tell us the story of the growth of the town (and true to the spirit of community pride and boosterism in these postcards, only saloons of the highest caliber are represented).

      The authors have assembled a delightful pictorial representation of the town of Jeannette in its halcyon days, accompanied by insightful, explanatory text. This work richly illustrates the dynamic march of progress and public works in the town of Jeannette from 1890 to 1950.

      Terry and Kathleen Perich spent their careers as schoolteachers. This publication represents the fourth local history book that the couple has collaborated on since their retirement. It is a comprehensive pictorial view of Jeannette in its golden era, made possible by the passion and enthusiasm of the authors in gathering this fine collection of images for our enjoyment. Happy reading.

      —Jeffry Pavetti, attorney-at-law

      Former mayor of Jeannette

      One

      LIFE ON CLAY AVENUE

      This 1911 view is South Second Street from Clay Avenue. The Marian Hotel is the first building on the right. It was the grandest hotel in Jeannette and the oldest, built in 1889. The hotel was torn down in 1926, and the municipal building is now located on the spot. Directly across the street from the Marian is the Hotel McKee. The McKee was named after the founder of Jeannette, H. Sellers McKee. This hotel had a huge ballroom on the second floor. The first floor had a restaurant and poolroom for the guests.

      This view of Clay Avenue is from Fourth Street looking east. Clay Avenue is the main street of Jeannette. Daugherty’s Drug Store, located on the left of the postcard, was the oldest drugstore in Jeannette, founded in 1888. The trolley tracks are visible in the street. Horse and buggy were the main mode of transportation in this 1908 postcard.

      Looking west on Clay Avenue from Fourth Street in this 1911 postcard, Daugherty’s Drug Store is shown in the right front. The First National Bank of Jeannette is located on the left front of the card. Directly across the street from the bank is Gauts Hardware Store, the first hardware store in Jeannette. Clay Avenue was the widest brick-paved street in Jeannette.

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