A Tale of Two Cities; Clairton, PA circa 1950s and Clairton, PA 2011.
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.
Clairton, PA, is located 12 miles south of Pittsburgh as the crow flies or as the fish swims. It is one of the many mill towns on or near the Monongahela River; Duquesne, McKeesport, Munhall, Glassport, Elizabeth, Monongahela (aka Mon City) etc. But in the post-World War II boom times of the mid-1950s it was the crown jewel of the area. Clairton boasted the only high school in the area with a swimming pool. Clairton High School won a WPIAL football championship and its players went on to star at Penn State, Navy, Clemson, Minnesota, and many other prestigious colleges and universities. People would come from many of the neighboring cities to purchase their car at one of the dozen or so new car dealerships. Although the population did not exceed 28,000 the town boasted four movie theaters; three "on the hill;" State, Capital, and Colonial, and Monarch and Rialto over the hill. Steel mills and coke works in the area spewed residue into the air 24 hours each day as three shifts of workers came and went. The area mills had to work around the clock to keep up with the steel orders.
U.S. Steel's "Clairton Works" produced the coke vital in the steelmaking process. It was the largest coke-producing mill in the world. The fathers of most of my peers worked in the steel mills or in local businesses. My father worked for the Clairton City Street Department as a "Special Equipment Operator," which meant he operated the city's grader, street sweeper, trucks, or any other City equipment. But when snow fell in the winter, keeping streets open for shift-change traffic was of ultimate importance. During those times he often worked shifts 72 hours or longer loading trucks with slag (residue from the steel mills). The trucks would in turn sand the streets to keep them passable. The town operated like a well oiled clock.
In the early 1970s Clairton was the fictional setting of the movie Deer Hunter that captured much of the steel worker mentality and ethnic culture of the area.
A half century after the boom times things have changed drastically in Clairton. The area’s steel mills have closed and although Clairton Works continues to limp along the community population had dwindled to fewer than 8,500 souls in 2000. By 2010 Clairton had lost another 20% of its residents leaving fewer than 6,800 currently residing in the city. The 2.79 square miles that had once housed do many thriving businesses now looks much like a ghost town with shop windows boarded up and a handful of struggling businesses trying to hang on.
Clairton High School once so flush with students that it spawned schools in Elizabeth, West Mifflin, and a brand new Thomas Jefferson High School in 1959, now graduates fewer than 60 students per year. The community has a poverty level of 26%, double that of the county. There has been little to cheer about in Clairton of late. Five years ago that began to change.
Coach Tom Nola arrived at Clairton High School decade ago to teach history. Instead he and his staff took a group of young men and made history. Nola can be referred to as "The Quiet Man" as he does not talk much. He rarely shows emotion and instead treats his players as adult employees rather than rah-rah kids. He assembled a group of former Clairton players and other successful coaches and together they discovered a winning formula.
The success started five years ago when the Bears won a WPIAL championship. Then they repeated that again and again and again. The past four years Clairton has been the WPIAL champs. In 2008, after winning the WPIAL they moved on to the State Championship game - which they lost. But wait! There's more!
In 2009 they again won the WPIAL, defeated other challengers in the semis and moved on to the State Championship game which they won. Ditto 2010. This past season they started the season against a school from a higher division and defeated them. The next six games were shutouts including an 84-0 shellacking of one hapless challenger. This despite the fact that Coach Nola took our all his starters by halftime and had his players take a knee on several points after touchdowns. This was to be a team of destiny.
Last summer they entered a Red Bull-sponsored Pittsburgh area 7 on 7 passing tournament that included all divisions. They won the tournament and were invited to participate in the national competition in Dallas. With the help of Board Members and several boosters, arrangements were made and the entire team boarded an airplane for the first time. None had ever flown before! They were the only single A division team in the tourney and played against Division 4 through 7A teams, several of whose football teams had ten times the budget, enrollment, and number of coaches as did Clairton. But the Bears were not intimidated and they knocked of top level teams from Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas to qualify for the finals. A 5-A team finally defeated them and Clairton came home second out of 153 teams.
Here are a few examples of Clairton Bears football successes over the past half-decade: They won an unprecedented third State title in the recent championship game. By doing so they broke a 51-year old record held by Braddock that had 46 consecutive wins. Oh yes, the win also positioned Clairton as the high school team with the longest winning streak in the entire nation, passing powerhouse Don Bosco Prep of New Jersey.
Another record and notes of interest include one set by center Carvan Thompson. He started every game since his freshman year and holds a record of 64 consecutive starts. It is a record that will likely never be broken. Third generation Clairtonian and Assistant Coach Wayne Wade starred on the CHS 1989 football team that also won the WPIAL championship.
Clairton Bears by the numbers:
Number of consecutive victories: 47
Number seniors at CHS: 48
Number of players on squad: 29 (includes JV players and one band member who plays at halftime)
Starters who play both offense and defense: 9
Record over past four years: 62-2
Points scored: 3,683-565
Average score: 41-6 (Mercy rule!)
Percentage of team that scores high honors academically: 66%
Average number of fans per game: 2,000
Every accolade placed on the Clairton Bear football team is deserved. But the system is one that some might take issue with. The very fact that Carvan Thompson set a record for 64 consecutive starts over his four year high school career means that he and other seniors on the Bear squad participated in more games over a four-year period than do most college football players and many professional football players. Sixteen games per season for a high school athlete whose body is still developing is simply too much contact. The Bears, whose weight and conditioning facilities pale in comparison to that of most of the teams they play, still have had excellent conditioning coaching as evidenced by the comparatively few injuries they’ve sustained over the long season. The state plans to cap the number of games played by a high school team at 15 next year, which is in my view, still too many. But by reducing the possible number of games per season, the likelihood of Carvan’s record being broken is remote. Even if another team (including Clairton for that matter) has a good enough athlete to start as a freshman and that athlete has the good fortune to avoid injury, suspension, or academic disqualification, and the school has a four-year run of championships, the total number of games that will be played is now 60, not 64.
How ‘bout dem’ Bears?
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Bearly Winning
BAD NEWS BEARS
Bad news for opponents, that is: The Bears and their fans must have been singing “Don’t Let Your Heart be Snowbound” as they ambled up to the football field at Slippery Rock University’s Mehilak-Thompson stadium (not sure whether or not the stadium was named after Capri and Carvan Thompson) to challenge the undefeated Sharpsville Blue Devils. While the Blue Devil fans bedeviled CHS boosters with their taunts, the bush league radio announcers who egged on the situation by repeatedly disrespecting CHS fans, some of whom had the audacity to sit on the wrong side of the stadium (Don’t you people know your place?). Of course, according to the talking mouths on the radio, not a single Blue Devil fan said anything untoward. They just sat there with their hands folded on their laps.
WRONG! Our fans, like our team, takes not quarter and gives none. They don’t look for trouble but neither do they back down. Like the players on the field, they will not be intimidated by foul-mouth bullies. They will give just as good as they get. And they did.
The game started and the Blue Devils were destined to fall just as the snowflakes were falling on the field. Admittedly I was not at the stadium but it seems to me that 11 penalties for 75 yards while the other side got, (let’s see… I’ll get my calculator out…. Hmmmm…. Ok, got it) zero flags for zero yards…. I wonder when the refs last had their eyes checked. It appeared to be 1-2-3-4. Who’s the referee for? But the Bears did as they’ve done for the past 46 football games…. they overcame the hostile fans, the partial announcers, and the questionable calls and non-calls, and tied a 50-year old Braddock record for consecutive wins.
CHS records: The Clairton Bears’ victory gives them a 15-0 record for the season and ties a school in New Jersey and eclipses a Nevada school record for the longest win streak in the nation. Next up, District 4 champ Southern Columbia at Hersheypark next Friday December 16 at 1:00 pm. There will be a tailgate before the game, beginning around 10:30. Hoping to see plenty of Orange and Black at the game.
Back to the Sharpsville game: Scoring machine Tyler Boyd ran for two touchdowns, one and four yards, and caught a 70-yard pass from Capri Thompson for a third. But in the fourth quarter CHS tried a trick pass play to Brian Clifford. The ball was tapped into the air and retrieved by Capri who went down and stayed there until he was carried off the field. After sitting out a few plays, Capri pulled a Ben Roethlisberger and came back into the game, ankle sprain and all. He (Capri, not Ben) will be good to go for the Hershey game.
Blue Devil quarterback Henwood made the mistake of trying to force a pass over linebacker Devante Gardlock inside the CHS 20. Gardlock tipped it and Carvan Thompson snatched it and headed for the goal line 80 yards away. But Carvan, who holds a record for the most consecutive games started, is a lineman, not a running back or wide receiver, and linemen just don’t run that far. After 50 yards he got tired and handed the ball to Terrish Webb who did the honors and scored the final TD. The Bears could have scored again in the final moments but with the game already in hand they let the clock expire.
How amazing are the Bears? This will be the fourth consecutive year they will have played for the State Championship. In 2008 they lost a heartbreaker to Steelton-Highspire. In 2009 they defeated Bishop McCort, and last season after being down for most of the game, they staged a thrilling comeback victory over District 2 champ Riverside. A victory next Friday will set even more records, but regardless of the records, we congratulate the students. teachers, coaches, parents, boosters, and administrators who have worked so hard to support our hometown.
Keeping the Student in Student Athlete: For the most part the Bears perform as well in the classroom as they do on the field. More than half the team has a 3.0 (B) or better grade point average. One team member, I am told, is on track to finish first or second in the class. These are students who have earned respect and deserve our support. But not every CHS student has the good fortune to have his future helped along by his athletic ability. Too many graduate and are slapped with the reality of poverty and lack of employment.
CHS graduate Terrence Fort has helped put together a mentoring program for CHS students. The program needs successful CHS alumni who have the time and willingness to take a high school student under their wing and offer support. The ideal candidate would live near enough to Clairton to drive to the school, but even for those of us who live thousands of miles away but are willing to come home for a first face-to-face visit, can continue a mentorship electronically. I urge you to become involved in this worthwhile program. Email me at the email address below and I will forward your email to Terrence. Go Bears.
A little blogging music Maestro… how about the Clairton High School fight song once more..
Dr. Forgot
http://drforgot.com
email: drforgot@cox.net
Bad news for opponents, that is: The Bears and their fans must have been singing “Don’t Let Your Heart be Snowbound” as they ambled up to the football field at Slippery Rock University’s Mehilak-Thompson stadium (not sure whether or not the stadium was named after Capri and Carvan Thompson) to challenge the undefeated Sharpsville Blue Devils. While the Blue Devil fans bedeviled CHS boosters with their taunts, the bush league radio announcers who egged on the situation by repeatedly disrespecting CHS fans, some of whom had the audacity to sit on the wrong side of the stadium (Don’t you people know your place?). Of course, according to the talking mouths on the radio, not a single Blue Devil fan said anything untoward. They just sat there with their hands folded on their laps.
WRONG! Our fans, like our team, takes not quarter and gives none. They don’t look for trouble but neither do they back down. Like the players on the field, they will not be intimidated by foul-mouth bullies. They will give just as good as they get. And they did.
The game started and the Blue Devils were destined to fall just as the snowflakes were falling on the field. Admittedly I was not at the stadium but it seems to me that 11 penalties for 75 yards while the other side got, (let’s see… I’ll get my calculator out…. Hmmmm…. Ok, got it) zero flags for zero yards…. I wonder when the refs last had their eyes checked. It appeared to be 1-2-3-4. Who’s the referee for? But the Bears did as they’ve done for the past 46 football games…. they overcame the hostile fans, the partial announcers, and the questionable calls and non-calls, and tied a 50-year old Braddock record for consecutive wins.
CHS records: The Clairton Bears’ victory gives them a 15-0 record for the season and ties a school in New Jersey and eclipses a Nevada school record for the longest win streak in the nation. Next up, District 4 champ Southern Columbia at Hersheypark next Friday December 16 at 1:00 pm. There will be a tailgate before the game, beginning around 10:30. Hoping to see plenty of Orange and Black at the game.
Back to the Sharpsville game: Scoring machine Tyler Boyd ran for two touchdowns, one and four yards, and caught a 70-yard pass from Capri Thompson for a third. But in the fourth quarter CHS tried a trick pass play to Brian Clifford. The ball was tapped into the air and retrieved by Capri who went down and stayed there until he was carried off the field. After sitting out a few plays, Capri pulled a Ben Roethlisberger and came back into the game, ankle sprain and all. He (Capri, not Ben) will be good to go for the Hershey game.
Blue Devil quarterback Henwood made the mistake of trying to force a pass over linebacker Devante Gardlock inside the CHS 20. Gardlock tipped it and Carvan Thompson snatched it and headed for the goal line 80 yards away. But Carvan, who holds a record for the most consecutive games started, is a lineman, not a running back or wide receiver, and linemen just don’t run that far. After 50 yards he got tired and handed the ball to Terrish Webb who did the honors and scored the final TD. The Bears could have scored again in the final moments but with the game already in hand they let the clock expire.
How amazing are the Bears? This will be the fourth consecutive year they will have played for the State Championship. In 2008 they lost a heartbreaker to Steelton-Highspire. In 2009 they defeated Bishop McCort, and last season after being down for most of the game, they staged a thrilling comeback victory over District 2 champ Riverside. A victory next Friday will set even more records, but regardless of the records, we congratulate the students. teachers, coaches, parents, boosters, and administrators who have worked so hard to support our hometown.
Keeping the Student in Student Athlete: For the most part the Bears perform as well in the classroom as they do on the field. More than half the team has a 3.0 (B) or better grade point average. One team member, I am told, is on track to finish first or second in the class. These are students who have earned respect and deserve our support. But not every CHS student has the good fortune to have his future helped along by his athletic ability. Too many graduate and are slapped with the reality of poverty and lack of employment.
CHS graduate Terrence Fort has helped put together a mentoring program for CHS students. The program needs successful CHS alumni who have the time and willingness to take a high school student under their wing and offer support. The ideal candidate would live near enough to Clairton to drive to the school, but even for those of us who live thousands of miles away but are willing to come home for a first face-to-face visit, can continue a mentorship electronically. I urge you to become involved in this worthwhile program. Email me at the email address below and I will forward your email to Terrence. Go Bears.
A little blogging music Maestro… how about the Clairton High School fight song once more..
Dr. Forgot
http://drforgot.com
email: drforgot@cox.net
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Every hame sets a record
The Bears played unbeaten Sto-Rox in the quarter finals. The Post Gazette picked Sto-Rox in a close game. Final score: CHS 52 Sto-Rox 6. Next up, semi finals against North Star, 10-1. Final score Bears 44 North Star 0. The season is over for the 11 seniors on the North Star team. Next up Sharpsville. If the Bears are able to get past them this Friday, it is on to Hershey and the state championship game.
Back to the North Star game. Last year in a similar playoff game, CHS trounced North Star 56-0. This year Clairton kicked off and held North Star, then took over and on the first play from scrimmage, Tyler Boyd scampered 83 yards for a TD then ran in the extra point. CHS 8. NSH 0. Clairton kicked off again, then got the ball back. First play from scrimmage Capri Thompson hit Trenton Coles over the middle for a 39-yard touchdown. CHS 14, NSH 0. Later another 70 yard pass play for a TD to Titus Webb. And so it went as out Bears won their 45th consecutive game.
There are only two teams in the nation with a win streak longer than the Bears. One is from New Jersey, and the other is a team from rural Nevada that plays 8-man football, but both have completed their seasons, which means if the Bears win out they will have won an unprecedented third state title, broken the 50-year old Braddock record for consecutive wins, and possess the longest winning streak in the country. But as Coach Nola says, "One game at a time."
Next game will be against Sharpsville with the venue not yet announced, but there will be a person in the stands who cannot lose. CHS grad Lee Weber, CHS '60, attended college and became a Methodist minister. Now retired, Rev. Weber lived and pastored in Sharpsville for eight years. So in case he asks, do not make a bet with him that his home town team will win the game.
Several readers have asked if there will be a booster bus that will travel from Clairton to Hershey in the event that our Bears win this Friday. At the moment, nothing is planned, but should the Bears win Friday, we will discuss the possibility of transport, tailgates, get-togethers, etc.
Please email me with any ideas.
See the Kennywood rides: Kennywood has been a favorite place to go for over a hundred years. But in the winter? Yup. This year the owners of the park have turned it into a winter wonderland of a million lights with festive activities, choirs fireworks, and rides. In addition to the usual Kennywood characters there will be of course, Santa Claus. Lights come on every weekend at 5 p.m. This is the first December in 114 seasons that the park will be open.
A little blogging music Maestro: " Oh When the Saints Come Marching In...."
Dr. Forgot
email: drforgot@coxnet
Back to the North Star game. Last year in a similar playoff game, CHS trounced North Star 56-0. This year Clairton kicked off and held North Star, then took over and on the first play from scrimmage, Tyler Boyd scampered 83 yards for a TD then ran in the extra point. CHS 8. NSH 0. Clairton kicked off again, then got the ball back. First play from scrimmage Capri Thompson hit Trenton Coles over the middle for a 39-yard touchdown. CHS 14, NSH 0. Later another 70 yard pass play for a TD to Titus Webb. And so it went as out Bears won their 45th consecutive game.
There are only two teams in the nation with a win streak longer than the Bears. One is from New Jersey, and the other is a team from rural Nevada that plays 8-man football, but both have completed their seasons, which means if the Bears win out they will have won an unprecedented third state title, broken the 50-year old Braddock record for consecutive wins, and possess the longest winning streak in the country. But as Coach Nola says, "One game at a time."
Next game will be against Sharpsville with the venue not yet announced, but there will be a person in the stands who cannot lose. CHS grad Lee Weber, CHS '60, attended college and became a Methodist minister. Now retired, Rev. Weber lived and pastored in Sharpsville for eight years. So in case he asks, do not make a bet with him that his home town team will win the game.
Several readers have asked if there will be a booster bus that will travel from Clairton to Hershey in the event that our Bears win this Friday. At the moment, nothing is planned, but should the Bears win Friday, we will discuss the possibility of transport, tailgates, get-togethers, etc.
Please email me with any ideas.
See the Kennywood rides: Kennywood has been a favorite place to go for over a hundred years. But in the winter? Yup. This year the owners of the park have turned it into a winter wonderland of a million lights with festive activities, choirs fireworks, and rides. In addition to the usual Kennywood characters there will be of course, Santa Claus. Lights come on every weekend at 5 p.m. This is the first December in 114 seasons that the park will be open.
A little blogging music Maestro: " Oh When the Saints Come Marching In...."
Dr. Forgot
email: drforgot@coxnet
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Bears and such
AWOL
Where does the time go? It has been six weeks since I’ve posted. Several readers even emailed me to ask if I was all right. Well, that’s debatable, but all my parts seem to still be working (ok, MOST of them). Each morning I’ve sat in front of my computer with the thought that I need to post. Then I start with the email, do personal business, do business business, and before I know it my computer time (about seven hours each day) has elapsed. I have made so many acquaintances via the Clairton blog that I will make a more concerted effort to write on a more regular basis.
Our Bears continue to growl: For those who have not kept up on the latest edition of the Clairton Bears football team, they have won the state championship for the past two years and currently have the second longest win record in the nation. Their victory over Sto-Rox cemented them as WPIAL champs for the fifth time in the past six years. The game against Sto-Rox (both teams came into the game 12-0 this season) was touted by a Post-Gazette writer as Clairton’s last game as he predicted a Clairton loss in a close game. Our Bears forced five turnovers and annihilated their opponents 42-6. It could easily have been worse.
Most of the team members are also scholar athletes. The quarterback could graduate as the class valedictorian. He has received looks from Ivy League schools as well as the Naval Academy. The star running back has received letters of interest from every major university in the country and he is just a junior! Most of the players are also honor roll students. This is such a special group.
This weekend the Bears will play in the quarter-finals game for the state championship. If they win they will move on to the semi-finals and a victory will send them to Hershey to play for their third consecutive state championship. A victory in that game would also break a record for consecutive wins. But every game this team wins breaks some kind of record.
Hunting Bears: With the long run of success a topic for debate has been how Clairton would fare in Class AAAA or AAA. Coaches Nola would like the team to open next season against a Class AAAA or AAA opponent, but no higher classification team is interested. It might have something to do with the fact that CHS has won 43 consecutive games.
Ok, how about a scrimmage against a Class AAAA or AAA team? Sorry, no takers for that either.
Some random stats: CHS currently has a 43-game win streak, the second longest in WPIAL history. The Bears are three away from the longest WPIAL winning streak (46 by Braddock from 1955-60). The Bears would have to win this week, next, and State in Hershey for the PIAA titles in order to break the record.
CHS has a 41-game conference winning streak while Thomas Jefferson's conference winning streak is at 38. Many forget that the Bears spawned TJ in 1959.
Nothing brings a community together like a winning sports team. I’ve seen what the 1960 Pirates did for the city when they won the World Series. I’ve been fortunate enough to attend a Final Four, a Super Bowl, and several college bowl games. In every case, the pride that the community had in itself as the result of the success of their team has been phenomenal. Can the successful Bears do the same for Clairton? It already has.
Terrence Fort, a 1976 CHS alum has begun a mentoring program for Clairton students. He has enlisted the help of several other grads including Dr. Pauline Long. Dr. Long was a high-risk kid who became a single mother at age 16. Her focus and determination got her into Pitt where she earned a bachelor’s degree then an MBA and a Doctorate in Science from Robert Morris. There are so many stories of successful CHS grads such as Dr. William King who was bused to CHS and went on to become a noted professor and author. In fact, no less a celebrity than Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted part of one of Dr. King’s books to be included in his (Putin’s) dissertation.
Terrence Fort is looking for other mentors who would be willing to work with CHS students. If you have the time and an interest to help young people become future leaders, drop me an email and I’ll forward it to Terrence.
On the political front: Two candidates won Democratic contests in Clairton and netted enough Republican write-ins to have both party nods for council. They are former fire chief John A. Lattanzi and chamber of commerce president Kathy Grisnik Tachoir. Tachoir survived a primary race with Councilman Lamont Andre Lewis and former councilman Domenic J. Curinga.
For Clairton City school board, Tachoir's husband Roger was unopposed both for an at-large seat. He's on both party ballots as is incumbent Robert A. Harrigan. Also unopposed were Democrats Sue A. Wessel, an incumbent and Jennifer Linnen-Williams.
Life is fleeting: We must note the passing of Flossie Carter last month. She was born in Alabama but moved to the area when her son got a job in the Clairton Works. Flossie loved in Homewood with her daughter until recently when she moved to Heritage Place in Squirrel Hill. She passed last month at age 111.
A little blogging music Maestro… how about the Clairton High School fight song.
Dr. Forgot
http://drforgot.com
email: drforgot@cox.net
Where does the time go? It has been six weeks since I’ve posted. Several readers even emailed me to ask if I was all right. Well, that’s debatable, but all my parts seem to still be working (ok, MOST of them). Each morning I’ve sat in front of my computer with the thought that I need to post. Then I start with the email, do personal business, do business business, and before I know it my computer time (about seven hours each day) has elapsed. I have made so many acquaintances via the Clairton blog that I will make a more concerted effort to write on a more regular basis.
Our Bears continue to growl: For those who have not kept up on the latest edition of the Clairton Bears football team, they have won the state championship for the past two years and currently have the second longest win record in the nation. Their victory over Sto-Rox cemented them as WPIAL champs for the fifth time in the past six years. The game against Sto-Rox (both teams came into the game 12-0 this season) was touted by a Post-Gazette writer as Clairton’s last game as he predicted a Clairton loss in a close game. Our Bears forced five turnovers and annihilated their opponents 42-6. It could easily have been worse.
Most of the team members are also scholar athletes. The quarterback could graduate as the class valedictorian. He has received looks from Ivy League schools as well as the Naval Academy. The star running back has received letters of interest from every major university in the country and he is just a junior! Most of the players are also honor roll students. This is such a special group.
This weekend the Bears will play in the quarter-finals game for the state championship. If they win they will move on to the semi-finals and a victory will send them to Hershey to play for their third consecutive state championship. A victory in that game would also break a record for consecutive wins. But every game this team wins breaks some kind of record.
Hunting Bears: With the long run of success a topic for debate has been how Clairton would fare in Class AAAA or AAA. Coaches Nola would like the team to open next season against a Class AAAA or AAA opponent, but no higher classification team is interested. It might have something to do with the fact that CHS has won 43 consecutive games.
Ok, how about a scrimmage against a Class AAAA or AAA team? Sorry, no takers for that either.
Some random stats: CHS currently has a 43-game win streak, the second longest in WPIAL history. The Bears are three away from the longest WPIAL winning streak (46 by Braddock from 1955-60). The Bears would have to win this week, next, and State in Hershey for the PIAA titles in order to break the record.
CHS has a 41-game conference winning streak while Thomas Jefferson's conference winning streak is at 38. Many forget that the Bears spawned TJ in 1959.
Nothing brings a community together like a winning sports team. I’ve seen what the 1960 Pirates did for the city when they won the World Series. I’ve been fortunate enough to attend a Final Four, a Super Bowl, and several college bowl games. In every case, the pride that the community had in itself as the result of the success of their team has been phenomenal. Can the successful Bears do the same for Clairton? It already has.
Terrence Fort, a 1976 CHS alum has begun a mentoring program for Clairton students. He has enlisted the help of several other grads including Dr. Pauline Long. Dr. Long was a high-risk kid who became a single mother at age 16. Her focus and determination got her into Pitt where she earned a bachelor’s degree then an MBA and a Doctorate in Science from Robert Morris. There are so many stories of successful CHS grads such as Dr. William King who was bused to CHS and went on to become a noted professor and author. In fact, no less a celebrity than Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted part of one of Dr. King’s books to be included in his (Putin’s) dissertation.
Terrence Fort is looking for other mentors who would be willing to work with CHS students. If you have the time and an interest to help young people become future leaders, drop me an email and I’ll forward it to Terrence.
On the political front: Two candidates won Democratic contests in Clairton and netted enough Republican write-ins to have both party nods for council. They are former fire chief John A. Lattanzi and chamber of commerce president Kathy Grisnik Tachoir. Tachoir survived a primary race with Councilman Lamont Andre Lewis and former councilman Domenic J. Curinga.
For Clairton City school board, Tachoir's husband Roger was unopposed both for an at-large seat. He's on both party ballots as is incumbent Robert A. Harrigan. Also unopposed were Democrats Sue A. Wessel, an incumbent and Jennifer Linnen-Williams.
Life is fleeting: We must note the passing of Flossie Carter last month. She was born in Alabama but moved to the area when her son got a job in the Clairton Works. Flossie loved in Homewood with her daughter until recently when she moved to Heritage Place in Squirrel Hill. She passed last month at age 111.
A little blogging music Maestro… how about the Clairton High School fight song.
Dr. Forgot
http://drforgot.com
email: drforgot@cox.net
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Mansions of Clairton and Jefferson
CLAIRTON MANSIONS
Family mansions: Anybody who grew up in Clairton in the “good old days” remembers two huge houses. One, built in the early 1900s, was actually in Jefferson Borough, just up the hill from Century Townhomes, nee Woodland Terrace at the confluence of Desederio Blvd. (nee Woodland Avenue), Ridge Road, and High Road. That mansion was built by Mr. Bickerton, a well to do prominent Clairton homebuilder. It was appointed beautifully with imported glass and hand carved wood and sat on several acres.
About the time that mansion was being built a young man named Albert George emigrated to the U.S. from Lebanon and settled in Clairton. He was a merchant and opened a store across from the mill gate. As his business prospered he returned to his homeland, married, and brought his young bride to Clairton where they planned a family. Eventually their ten children outgrew their humble living quarters and the merchant began to look for a larger home with acreage for farming.
At the time there were two large houses in Clairton; one had been built for the superintendent of the Coke Works and the other the one mentioned above owned by Mr. Bickerton. The father of ten walked the distance from the store to the house and asked Mr. Bickerton to sell the house. The owner refused to sell, so he walked back to his home.
The following week Albert again walked from the mill gate to the mansion and again was rebuffed. He continued this regimen each week until Mr. Bickerton finally relented and sold him the large house and accompanying five acres. Mr. George moved his wife and children into the pristine mansion and maintained its beauty. Several of his daughters would be married there and the wedding festivities often lasted days. Guests who traveled long distances were invited to stay at the mansion.
By 1951 the children were all grown and gone and the house became too much for the aging couple so it was sold to a local dentist, Dr. Joseph “Doc” Wrobleski. Most of the acreage around the house was retained and several homes were built for family members.
Dr. Wrobleski had planned to move into the house but after the purchase he discovered to move beyond the Clairton city limits would require him to give up his seat on the school board. He had served long on the Board and decided not to move in so the house was left it unoccupied for the next three decades while Dr. Wrobleski lived, ironically, on Bickerton Drive in Clairton.
Local youngsters began to refer to the large unoccupied mansion as the “haunted house.” Vandals broke into the house on several occasions and stole or damaged many of the fine hand crafted wood items and much of the original glass.
By the 1980s Dr. Wrobleski turned the mansion over to his son and wife, Robert and Pam who began to restore it to its original beauty. Robert passed away in 2003 but Pam continues with the restoration. The house is currently listed on the Allegheny County roster as a Historical House.
The mansion on Mitchell: Another mansion was built in Clairton at the highest elevation possible at the time, where Mitchell Avenue and Sixth Street meet and become Wylie Avenue. The location selected by U.S. Steel was ideal because from its vantage point, the spectacular view of the mill was available. George Thorp purchased four lots from the St. Clair improvement Company on July 12, 1902, and in 1905 he sold the land for $2,373 to the Clairton Land Company who had the house built. It was built during the first decade of the twentieth century and named for its first resident, Superintendent Henry J. Davis. George Belback purchased the house in 1958 for $29,000. Various executives lived in the mansion over the years, but we all know what happened to the steel industry during the 1970s and 80s. As the steel industry in the area faltered, so did what was arguably one of the most beautiful home in Clairton. The grounds were left unattended and nature took its toll on everything from the brick fence that surrounded the mansion to the steel insets within the brick fence. Nature even played one recent nasty trick when a windstorm took down the beautiful hundred-year old huge tree that had lent shade and glamor to the back yard. But a couple determined to preserve the grand mansion had purchased it and moved in.
Rebecca Starr and Don Fry were a couple of Pittsburgh kids who attended Peabody High School. Don and Becky bought the house in 1997 and began their mission to bring it back to its old glory. The house suffered from extreme neglect for four decades and the new residents were committed to change that. When they first looked at the place Rebecca immediately fell in love with the 17 stained glass windows. The discovery of four beautiful windows in the living room was a wonderful surprise to the new residents as they had been covered in plastic, window blinds and draperies. The mill mansion was designated a Historical Landmark in 2009 and is officially called "Superintendent Henry J. Davis House, U.S. Steel, Clairton Works."
One resident of the house during the Great Depression was Frank Marquard. Upon his retirement he moved to 420 Halcomb Avenue. Tragedy would strike the Marquard family when his son Victor died as a result of an auto accident. Victor was driving on Route 51 near Elizabeth when he was involved in a minor accident. He got out of the car to talk to the other driver when another car came along and hit him, amputating his leg. The driver of the car that caused the second accident said he would get help, but never returned. He was eventually caught and tried for manslaughter. Victor died in McKeesport Hospital and was laid out in the mansion. Victor’s mother was a Heinz. Many Heinz relatives and what seemed like every resident of Clairton signed the condolence book.
Rebecca and Don have had some superb experiences in their home. One day when they were in the sunroom they heard a noise and went to investigate. A love letter that has been hidden (stuck inside of the radiator cover) fell to the floor. It had been taped there, but the tape had dried out. It is unsigned but dated January 1935.
They heard about the piano that Mr. Marquard had during his tenure at the mansion so they tracked it down, purchased it, and brought it “back home.”
One day a couple of gentlemen came up the driveway and knocked on the door. They were grandsons of Henry Davis, the home’s first resident. There have been many such experiences for the couple since they’ve lived in Clairton’s most famous mansion. I hear a rumor that there might be a tour of some of the finer houses of Clairton during the Christmas holidays. If that tickles your fancy to the point that you might want to be part of it, email me and I’ll pass your information on to Don and Becky. Many of my blog readers have commented that Clairton history should be memorialized. Perhaps a Clairton Historical Society can be established…
Rebecca and Don are blessed with fantastic neighbors who not only help look after the house, but several who have restored their own beautiful homes. My own fantasy is that once Route 43 is completed to Pittsburgh, of perhaps even sooner, Clairton will be rediscovered with its low taxes and beautiful homes just aching for restoration. I see young urban professionals willing to make the drive into the ‘Burgh each day. Clairton is not far away from its rebirth as a bedroom community.
A little blogging music Maestro… how about “Brick House” by The Commodores.
Dr. Forgot
http://drforgot.com
email: drforgot@cox.net
Family mansions: Anybody who grew up in Clairton in the “good old days” remembers two huge houses. One, built in the early 1900s, was actually in Jefferson Borough, just up the hill from Century Townhomes, nee Woodland Terrace at the confluence of Desederio Blvd. (nee Woodland Avenue), Ridge Road, and High Road. That mansion was built by Mr. Bickerton, a well to do prominent Clairton homebuilder. It was appointed beautifully with imported glass and hand carved wood and sat on several acres.
About the time that mansion was being built a young man named Albert George emigrated to the U.S. from Lebanon and settled in Clairton. He was a merchant and opened a store across from the mill gate. As his business prospered he returned to his homeland, married, and brought his young bride to Clairton where they planned a family. Eventually their ten children outgrew their humble living quarters and the merchant began to look for a larger home with acreage for farming.
At the time there were two large houses in Clairton; one had been built for the superintendent of the Coke Works and the other the one mentioned above owned by Mr. Bickerton. The father of ten walked the distance from the store to the house and asked Mr. Bickerton to sell the house. The owner refused to sell, so he walked back to his home.
The following week Albert again walked from the mill gate to the mansion and again was rebuffed. He continued this regimen each week until Mr. Bickerton finally relented and sold him the large house and accompanying five acres. Mr. George moved his wife and children into the pristine mansion and maintained its beauty. Several of his daughters would be married there and the wedding festivities often lasted days. Guests who traveled long distances were invited to stay at the mansion.
By 1951 the children were all grown and gone and the house became too much for the aging couple so it was sold to a local dentist, Dr. Joseph “Doc” Wrobleski. Most of the acreage around the house was retained and several homes were built for family members.
Dr. Wrobleski had planned to move into the house but after the purchase he discovered to move beyond the Clairton city limits would require him to give up his seat on the school board. He had served long on the Board and decided not to move in so the house was left it unoccupied for the next three decades while Dr. Wrobleski lived, ironically, on Bickerton Drive in Clairton.
Local youngsters began to refer to the large unoccupied mansion as the “haunted house.” Vandals broke into the house on several occasions and stole or damaged many of the fine hand crafted wood items and much of the original glass.
By the 1980s Dr. Wrobleski turned the mansion over to his son and wife, Robert and Pam who began to restore it to its original beauty. Robert passed away in 2003 but Pam continues with the restoration. The house is currently listed on the Allegheny County roster as a Historical House.
The mansion on Mitchell: Another mansion was built in Clairton at the highest elevation possible at the time, where Mitchell Avenue and Sixth Street meet and become Wylie Avenue. The location selected by U.S. Steel was ideal because from its vantage point, the spectacular view of the mill was available. George Thorp purchased four lots from the St. Clair improvement Company on July 12, 1902, and in 1905 he sold the land for $2,373 to the Clairton Land Company who had the house built. It was built during the first decade of the twentieth century and named for its first resident, Superintendent Henry J. Davis. George Belback purchased the house in 1958 for $29,000. Various executives lived in the mansion over the years, but we all know what happened to the steel industry during the 1970s and 80s. As the steel industry in the area faltered, so did what was arguably one of the most beautiful home in Clairton. The grounds were left unattended and nature took its toll on everything from the brick fence that surrounded the mansion to the steel insets within the brick fence. Nature even played one recent nasty trick when a windstorm took down the beautiful hundred-year old huge tree that had lent shade and glamor to the back yard. But a couple determined to preserve the grand mansion had purchased it and moved in.
Rebecca Starr and Don Fry were a couple of Pittsburgh kids who attended Peabody High School. Don and Becky bought the house in 1997 and began their mission to bring it back to its old glory. The house suffered from extreme neglect for four decades and the new residents were committed to change that. When they first looked at the place Rebecca immediately fell in love with the 17 stained glass windows. The discovery of four beautiful windows in the living room was a wonderful surprise to the new residents as they had been covered in plastic, window blinds and draperies. The mill mansion was designated a Historical Landmark in 2009 and is officially called "Superintendent Henry J. Davis House, U.S. Steel, Clairton Works."
One resident of the house during the Great Depression was Frank Marquard. Upon his retirement he moved to 420 Halcomb Avenue. Tragedy would strike the Marquard family when his son Victor died as a result of an auto accident. Victor was driving on Route 51 near Elizabeth when he was involved in a minor accident. He got out of the car to talk to the other driver when another car came along and hit him, amputating his leg. The driver of the car that caused the second accident said he would get help, but never returned. He was eventually caught and tried for manslaughter. Victor died in McKeesport Hospital and was laid out in the mansion. Victor’s mother was a Heinz. Many Heinz relatives and what seemed like every resident of Clairton signed the condolence book.
Rebecca and Don have had some superb experiences in their home. One day when they were in the sunroom they heard a noise and went to investigate. A love letter that has been hidden (stuck inside of the radiator cover) fell to the floor. It had been taped there, but the tape had dried out. It is unsigned but dated January 1935.
They heard about the piano that Mr. Marquard had during his tenure at the mansion so they tracked it down, purchased it, and brought it “back home.”
One day a couple of gentlemen came up the driveway and knocked on the door. They were grandsons of Henry Davis, the home’s first resident. There have been many such experiences for the couple since they’ve lived in Clairton’s most famous mansion. I hear a rumor that there might be a tour of some of the finer houses of Clairton during the Christmas holidays. If that tickles your fancy to the point that you might want to be part of it, email me and I’ll pass your information on to Don and Becky. Many of my blog readers have commented that Clairton history should be memorialized. Perhaps a Clairton Historical Society can be established…
Rebecca and Don are blessed with fantastic neighbors who not only help look after the house, but several who have restored their own beautiful homes. My own fantasy is that once Route 43 is completed to Pittsburgh, of perhaps even sooner, Clairton will be rediscovered with its low taxes and beautiful homes just aching for restoration. I see young urban professionals willing to make the drive into the ‘Burgh each day. Clairton is not far away from its rebirth as a bedroom community.
A little blogging music Maestro… how about “Brick House” by The Commodores.
Dr. Forgot
http://drforgot.com
email: drforgot@cox.net
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Clairton - issues and people
Clairton Highlights
Clairton football: There are so many stars on the CHS football team this year. Among them is Tyler Boyd. He has the potential to easily exceed 500 yards rushing this season. Against Western Beaver he rushed for 203 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries. He sat out the entire fourth quarter and was named Daily News Football Player of the Week. Just a junior, Boyd has already caught the eye of several major colleges. His coach, Eric Fusco, sums it up: “He’s a coach’s dream.”
Clairton loses a native son: Robert Herron passed away recently in Florida. He would have celebrated his 83d birthday September 15. He was born in Clairton and graduated from CHS in 1946, played catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates farm team and served in the Korean War. He moved to Florida in 1959 and became a deputy sheriff, rising through the ranks to Major and was the first member of that department to graduate from the FBI Academy. Bob Herron served in many capacities during his career in law enforcement including Chief of Park Police and Chief of Security for the Juniper Hills Golf Club. He was also an avid golfer. Like so many Clairtonians, Bob Herron left his mark on the world of law enforcement. Robert G. Herron, Clairton Boy.
And a native daughter: Genetta Kimbrew Boston Mann devoted her life to children – not only her own, but to those who sought the knowledge she was able to help share. Genetta understood non-traditional students first hand. A graduate of Clairton High School she was in her 40s by the time she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Chatham in 1990. She was a single mother raising three sons while working at clerical jobs. Her practical life experience meshed with her formal education as she emphasized high achievement among her sons and her students. Son Russell is a chemist and PPG executive. Sons Brandon and Darnell are also successful.
Genetta was immediately hired by Chatam to run their Gateway program, and then earned a master’s degree from Duquesne University in 1996, sending her to work in the City schools. She worked successfully in several schools and in 2005 moved to the Perry Traditional Academy. She had suffered from sickle cell anemia throughout her life and lost her battle at age 62. Genetta Mann, mother, teacher, educator, counselor, Clairton gal.
Marcellus Shale controversy: Some hail the Marcellus Shale drilling for natural gas as a godsend to the Clairton area. Many contracts have been signed including the Clairton Sportsman’s Club. But other community groups throughout the South Hills have organized in opposition to the drilling operations, particularly in residential areas, local golf courses and country clubs. A group in Jefferson Hills has joined with the South Hills Area Against Dangerous Drilling, or SHAADD. Members of the two groups have set up several informational meetings to make the community aware of a situation they claim could be dangerous and ruin the lifestyle they currently enjoy. Drilling companies have responded by filing court briefs to counter the protesters. This looks to be a long and brutal fight on both sides.
The other side of the argument: Executives from U.S. Steel and Chesapeake Energy visited the Irvin Works facility recently where there is a natural gas filling station. The station has been operational since June and serves five vehicles that carry and ferry workers to Clairton Works and other facilities. According to one executive, natural gas saves about 61 cents for every mile driven, burns more efficiently, produces fewer emissions, and lowers maintenance costs. He calls the Marcellus Shale boom the best thing to happen in the past 25 years. By converting a fleet of 4,900 trucks to natural gas the projected savings are $250 million per year. The official, who was paid $21 million last year, called critics of shale drilling “fear-mongering extremists.” No sugar coating there.
The positive side of Clairton: The sixth annual Community Day was held recently at the Clairton School District Education Center. Free hot dogs, burgers, and such were available as well as ethnic foods and homemade baked goods. Events included free children’s games, face and t-shirt painting, pony rides, and drawings. UPMC McKeesport offered medical testing. It was a fun day with music by Besame, dancers, church choirs, a motorcycle and Corvette cruise, and many other fun activities. Chamber of Commerce official and event co-chair Kathy Tachoir said, “We want to show the positive side of Clairton.” Bravo.
He wasn’t always a doctor: Many of us reflect about Clairton of the 1950s and 60s. In those days CHS was bursting at the seams with post-World War II babies. We bused in kids from Elrama, Finleyville, West Mifflin, Pleasant Hills and other surrounding communities. For many, even for Clairton kids who had spent their first eight years in parochial school, coming to CHS could be intimidating. CHS was one of the few schools that held swimming classes and the boys swam in the nude. It could easily be intimidating for those newcomers to CHS.
Such was the case with Bill King; a “township kid” who came to CHS as a ninth grader in 1952. His previous school consisted of four rooms with neither indoor plumbing nor central heating. It is a far cry from his career as a professor at the University of Pittsburgh. What follows are excerpts from an article Dr. Bill recently wrote for the local newspaper.
“I met my first girlfriend, also a township kid, on the school bus. We went to football games with her older brother driving us around. Unfortunately, she moved to another state shortly thereafter, and there was no one to replace her.
I became a ‘class clown,’ probably as a pathetic way to get attention. I never passed up a chance to get my class to laugh or to break a rule to drive a teacher nuts -- a typical teen ‘smart aleck.’ However, the last day of ninth grade and the first day of 10th grade changed my life forever.
I became a "class clown," probably as a pathetic way to get attention. I never passed up a chance to get my class to laugh or to break a rule to drive a teacher nuts -- a typical teen "smart aleck." However, the last day of ninth grade and the first day of 10th grade changed my life forever.
On that last day, I met a Clairton girl on a field trip to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. We spent the whole day together. She begged off her plan to eat lunch with her friends to be with me.
When we got back to school, I walked her home to Woodland Terrace and hitchhiked home. We saw each other a few times over the summer at Clairton Pool, where I tried mightily to impress her with my swimming and diving. But since I had the social skills of a rock, I did nothing over that summer to otherwise contact her.
The first day of school in 10th grade, I got off the bus and there she was waiting for me. She took my hand, led me aside and we decided to be a couple. Although the relationship lasted only a few months, it was through her that I met a beautiful redhead named Fay Bickerton, who became my new girlfriend and, subsequently, my wife of 53 years.
The second big thing that happened that day was that I was summoned to the principal's office, something that had happened a number of times the previous year. "Holy cow," I thought, "how could I be in trouble so soon?"
The principal was sitting at the head of a table with every one of my teachers in the other seats. "Bill, do you remember the IQ test that you took near the end of last year?" I mumbled in the affirmative although I really didn't.
"Well," he said, "it showed that you have the highest IQ of anyone in your class. You've been getting good grades, but not the excellent ones that you should be getting, and we're not going to tolerate that anymore.
"Moreover, I understand that you've been a 'wise guy.' We checked with your parents, and they were shocked to find out about your behavior. So, we're not going to tolerate that either. Your teachers and parents have all agreed that if you don't shape up immediately, you're going to be spending many hours in detention after school and on Saturday and be very restricted at home."
I was stunned. All I could say was, "Yes, sir."
The shallow depth of my teenage rebellion was revealed by my reaction after thinking it all over. "The jig is up," I thought. "Unless I change, I won't be able to see my new girlfriend much."
Also, I knew that my father, who was the president of the Union Township School Board, would come down on me hard after finding out that as soon as I'd gotten away on my own in the big city, I had shamed the family.
I had no real choice. I had to shape up. I adopted a new persona -- a guy with a steady girlfriend who effortlessly got very good grades. Later in the year, I got a bid to become a Top Hatter -- part of a fraternal club that had many of the coolest guys in the school as members.
If that day hadn't happened the way it did, I probably wouldn't have met my wife, who didn't even go to Clairton High until the next year. And if my teachers and the principal hadn't taken an interest in me, who knows how far my teen jerkdom might have gone?
I ended up graduating eighth in my class of 450 even though I didn't do any time-consuming "extra credit" assignments that most top students did to get superior grades. I spoke at commencement and went on to get a Ph.D.
And I often think of how that day in 1953 changed my life.” Dr. William King, Clairton boy.
A little blogging music Maestro. “Down Home Blues,” by Etta James and Otis Redding.
Dr. Forgot
http://drforgot.com
email: drforgot@cox.net
Clairton football: There are so many stars on the CHS football team this year. Among them is Tyler Boyd. He has the potential to easily exceed 500 yards rushing this season. Against Western Beaver he rushed for 203 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries. He sat out the entire fourth quarter and was named Daily News Football Player of the Week. Just a junior, Boyd has already caught the eye of several major colleges. His coach, Eric Fusco, sums it up: “He’s a coach’s dream.”
Clairton loses a native son: Robert Herron passed away recently in Florida. He would have celebrated his 83d birthday September 15. He was born in Clairton and graduated from CHS in 1946, played catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates farm team and served in the Korean War. He moved to Florida in 1959 and became a deputy sheriff, rising through the ranks to Major and was the first member of that department to graduate from the FBI Academy. Bob Herron served in many capacities during his career in law enforcement including Chief of Park Police and Chief of Security for the Juniper Hills Golf Club. He was also an avid golfer. Like so many Clairtonians, Bob Herron left his mark on the world of law enforcement. Robert G. Herron, Clairton Boy.
And a native daughter: Genetta Kimbrew Boston Mann devoted her life to children – not only her own, but to those who sought the knowledge she was able to help share. Genetta understood non-traditional students first hand. A graduate of Clairton High School she was in her 40s by the time she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Chatham in 1990. She was a single mother raising three sons while working at clerical jobs. Her practical life experience meshed with her formal education as she emphasized high achievement among her sons and her students. Son Russell is a chemist and PPG executive. Sons Brandon and Darnell are also successful.
Genetta was immediately hired by Chatam to run their Gateway program, and then earned a master’s degree from Duquesne University in 1996, sending her to work in the City schools. She worked successfully in several schools and in 2005 moved to the Perry Traditional Academy. She had suffered from sickle cell anemia throughout her life and lost her battle at age 62. Genetta Mann, mother, teacher, educator, counselor, Clairton gal.
Marcellus Shale controversy: Some hail the Marcellus Shale drilling for natural gas as a godsend to the Clairton area. Many contracts have been signed including the Clairton Sportsman’s Club. But other community groups throughout the South Hills have organized in opposition to the drilling operations, particularly in residential areas, local golf courses and country clubs. A group in Jefferson Hills has joined with the South Hills Area Against Dangerous Drilling, or SHAADD. Members of the two groups have set up several informational meetings to make the community aware of a situation they claim could be dangerous and ruin the lifestyle they currently enjoy. Drilling companies have responded by filing court briefs to counter the protesters. This looks to be a long and brutal fight on both sides.
The other side of the argument: Executives from U.S. Steel and Chesapeake Energy visited the Irvin Works facility recently where there is a natural gas filling station. The station has been operational since June and serves five vehicles that carry and ferry workers to Clairton Works and other facilities. According to one executive, natural gas saves about 61 cents for every mile driven, burns more efficiently, produces fewer emissions, and lowers maintenance costs. He calls the Marcellus Shale boom the best thing to happen in the past 25 years. By converting a fleet of 4,900 trucks to natural gas the projected savings are $250 million per year. The official, who was paid $21 million last year, called critics of shale drilling “fear-mongering extremists.” No sugar coating there.
The positive side of Clairton: The sixth annual Community Day was held recently at the Clairton School District Education Center. Free hot dogs, burgers, and such were available as well as ethnic foods and homemade baked goods. Events included free children’s games, face and t-shirt painting, pony rides, and drawings. UPMC McKeesport offered medical testing. It was a fun day with music by Besame, dancers, church choirs, a motorcycle and Corvette cruise, and many other fun activities. Chamber of Commerce official and event co-chair Kathy Tachoir said, “We want to show the positive side of Clairton.” Bravo.
He wasn’t always a doctor: Many of us reflect about Clairton of the 1950s and 60s. In those days CHS was bursting at the seams with post-World War II babies. We bused in kids from Elrama, Finleyville, West Mifflin, Pleasant Hills and other surrounding communities. For many, even for Clairton kids who had spent their first eight years in parochial school, coming to CHS could be intimidating. CHS was one of the few schools that held swimming classes and the boys swam in the nude. It could easily be intimidating for those newcomers to CHS.
Such was the case with Bill King; a “township kid” who came to CHS as a ninth grader in 1952. His previous school consisted of four rooms with neither indoor plumbing nor central heating. It is a far cry from his career as a professor at the University of Pittsburgh. What follows are excerpts from an article Dr. Bill recently wrote for the local newspaper.
“I met my first girlfriend, also a township kid, on the school bus. We went to football games with her older brother driving us around. Unfortunately, she moved to another state shortly thereafter, and there was no one to replace her.
I became a ‘class clown,’ probably as a pathetic way to get attention. I never passed up a chance to get my class to laugh or to break a rule to drive a teacher nuts -- a typical teen ‘smart aleck.’ However, the last day of ninth grade and the first day of 10th grade changed my life forever.
I became a "class clown," probably as a pathetic way to get attention. I never passed up a chance to get my class to laugh or to break a rule to drive a teacher nuts -- a typical teen "smart aleck." However, the last day of ninth grade and the first day of 10th grade changed my life forever.
On that last day, I met a Clairton girl on a field trip to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. We spent the whole day together. She begged off her plan to eat lunch with her friends to be with me.
When we got back to school, I walked her home to Woodland Terrace and hitchhiked home. We saw each other a few times over the summer at Clairton Pool, where I tried mightily to impress her with my swimming and diving. But since I had the social skills of a rock, I did nothing over that summer to otherwise contact her.
The first day of school in 10th grade, I got off the bus and there she was waiting for me. She took my hand, led me aside and we decided to be a couple. Although the relationship lasted only a few months, it was through her that I met a beautiful redhead named Fay Bickerton, who became my new girlfriend and, subsequently, my wife of 53 years.
The second big thing that happened that day was that I was summoned to the principal's office, something that had happened a number of times the previous year. "Holy cow," I thought, "how could I be in trouble so soon?"
The principal was sitting at the head of a table with every one of my teachers in the other seats. "Bill, do you remember the IQ test that you took near the end of last year?" I mumbled in the affirmative although I really didn't.
"Well," he said, "it showed that you have the highest IQ of anyone in your class. You've been getting good grades, but not the excellent ones that you should be getting, and we're not going to tolerate that anymore.
"Moreover, I understand that you've been a 'wise guy.' We checked with your parents, and they were shocked to find out about your behavior. So, we're not going to tolerate that either. Your teachers and parents have all agreed that if you don't shape up immediately, you're going to be spending many hours in detention after school and on Saturday and be very restricted at home."
I was stunned. All I could say was, "Yes, sir."
The shallow depth of my teenage rebellion was revealed by my reaction after thinking it all over. "The jig is up," I thought. "Unless I change, I won't be able to see my new girlfriend much."
Also, I knew that my father, who was the president of the Union Township School Board, would come down on me hard after finding out that as soon as I'd gotten away on my own in the big city, I had shamed the family.
I had no real choice. I had to shape up. I adopted a new persona -- a guy with a steady girlfriend who effortlessly got very good grades. Later in the year, I got a bid to become a Top Hatter -- part of a fraternal club that had many of the coolest guys in the school as members.
If that day hadn't happened the way it did, I probably wouldn't have met my wife, who didn't even go to Clairton High until the next year. And if my teachers and the principal hadn't taken an interest in me, who knows how far my teen jerkdom might have gone?
I ended up graduating eighth in my class of 450 even though I didn't do any time-consuming "extra credit" assignments that most top students did to get superior grades. I spoke at commencement and went on to get a Ph.D.
And I often think of how that day in 1953 changed my life.” Dr. William King, Clairton boy.
A little blogging music Maestro. “Down Home Blues,” by Etta James and Otis Redding.
Dr. Forgot
http://drforgot.com
email: drforgot@cox.net
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
A busy long Labor Day weekend
OH WHAT A NIGHT…. AND DAY….. AND NIGHT….. AND DAY…..
The Labor Day weekend: Last Wednesday I flew back to Clairton for the long Labor Day Weekend. Trips back home are always refreshing. Yes, the community has been reduced from the booming metropolis of some 22,000 people, all of whom were as employed as they wished to be. There were three movie theaters “on the hill” and another one in Wilson. There were dozens of car dealerships of every stripe including Zupancic Lincoln Mercury right across the street from the football stadium. Ed Sullivan made a visit for their grand opening, as Lincoln-Mercury was one of his TV show’s sponsors. Today barely 8,000 residents call Clairton home and the media does its best to feature every shooting, drug bust, and other wart on the nose of the city. Many homes and businesses are abandoned and long gone are not only the theaters and car dealerships, but residents must go to Glassport, Elizabeth, or other communities to do their grocery shopping as no grocery store remains. The neighboring steel mills that once provided the tax revenue that was the lifeblood of our community have all closed except the Coke Works that continues to belch out pollution at a rate that makes the Clairton-Glassport air the third and fourth most polluted in the nation but offers little terms in a tax base.
The credit side of the ledger: New Orleans had Katrina, parts of Florida and the eastern seaboard have been inundated with storms from time to time but with the help of federal revenue, FEMA, and other assistance agencies, they have bounced back. Clairton has enjoyed none of the federal help and their trauma has caused injury not from one quick hit, but from decades of bleeding and with little outside help for recovery. But Clairton residents are strong. School Board President Richard Livingston, Vice President Paulette Bradford, and the other Board members work tirelessly to keep the schools on track. Most recently the Clairton schools made AYP (Annual Yearly Progress), which shows academic achievement and progress using national measures. The football team under the direction of head coach Tom Nola and his staff have won two consecutive state championships and came in second out of 163 schools in a tournament that included much larger schools.
Thursday pep talk: Thursday Jim Kelly came to town. Jim is one of two consensus All Americans who graduated from CHS. His is one of two photos and plaques that are above the entry gate to the stadium. Jim went on to star at Notre Dame and become a two-time All American while there. He was drafted 26th by the Steelers but was injured during his first season and was traded to the Eagles where further injuries cut short his pro career. Jim used himself as an example as he spoke to the team after practice. He stressed the importance of not only winning on the field, but also using athletics as a springboard to earn an education after high school. It was an inspirational speech and players listened intently.
Friday night game: The 1-A Bears rolled over the 3-A Washington Prexies by a score of 41-12. The game was well attended including several alumni who had come from around the country to attend the annual multi-year reunion held the following day at Clairton Park.
Saturday reunion: Everybody thinks their hometown is unique and special, but let them try to top this: For a couple of decades Clairton alumni have celebrated an annual reunion in Clairton Park. (This is in addition to the annual Clairton Reunion in Florida!) Each year more people came to reflect, visit old friends, and get caught up. This year all records were broken as more than 900 people attended with classes represented from 1935 to 1971. Once again my favorite attendee was Jennie Peterson, CHS class of 1935. She was a Prince before she became a princess. Many CHS alumni remember her brother, Joe Prince, local insurance agent and accordion player. Prince Printing on St. Clair Ave. remains as a family legacy although founder Ray Prince has moved on to national prominence in the printing industry and now lives in Dakota country.
In addition to the far reaches of PA, alumni came from Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia as well as Washington, D.C. and Toronto, Canada to attend this annual gala.
Others came for their class reunions; class of ’61 held their 50th reunion, Class of ’51 held their 60th and many used the event to celebrate with family and friends. But it was not all play and no work for some. Committee members did a superb planning for and managing the festivities, and the grub wasn’t bad either. (I saw who went back for seconds and thirds but your secret is safe with me)
Bill Bennett played a major part in seeing that the Bears received an invitation to play at the Dallas 7 on 7 tournament and that all their needs were met including food, shelter, and transportation. Alum Bob Yaksick, now a resident of Dallas, played host to the team and helped with the arrangements. When Red Bull decided to film the Bears and feature them on a national TV show, Bill arrived early from Phoenix, met the camera crew, and played host, scouting locations to film and helping to identify locals to interview. Jim Sieffert came from Tennessee, Geno Tolari from California, and Jim Kelly from New Jersey blended with locals Anna Marie Bochter, Ron and Adele Kunz, and a host of other locals to enjoy the weekend.
Among the many enjoying the reunion were Donald Taylor, Brian Weber, Carol Benedetto Walsh, Emily Planich Parks, Dr. Walter Cooper, Sue Wessel, Kathy Sutherland, Vanda Bennett, Bernice Mackintosh, Shelby Lancaster, Dorothy Smoyer, George and Peggy Herman Pacich, Judy Wolf, Roosevelt Boozer, Emanuel Belland, Bev Alcorn, Lenny Baughman, Dorothy Svacs King, Dick Smith, and John Casaldi.
The committee that worked so hard to set everything up and assure it went smoothly included 24 alumni from the classes of 1949, 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 58, 60, 61, 64, 65, 68, 69, and 71; a classic example of the camaraderie of CHS alumni!
A little blogging music Maestro… “Come Go With Me,” by the Del Vikings.
Dr. Forgot
http://drforgot.com
email: drforgot@cox.net
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