The Oakmont Historical Society was founded to research, preserve and share the history of Oakmont, Pa. The society was founded by a small group of people who had a common interest in the history of Oakmont. Over the years membership has grown and include members from all parts of the country including Florida, California and Colorado. The Oakmont Historical Society was incorporated in 2008 and is designated as a 501-3C organization.
The Oakmont Historical Society is a very active organization. We welcome anyone who has an interest or would like to learn more about the history of our area. The society meets the 4th Monday of each month at 6:30 at the Oakmont Carnegie Library. Our mission is to "Research, preserve and share the history of our community" with an emphasis on sharing that history to ensure that our heritage is passed on to future generations.
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My childhood was primaril6 spent backand forth between Pittsburgh, PA and NYC, NY.. My grandparents had a home in Allegheny County where the three rivers intersected known as the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Youghagheny rivers, named after the Indian tribes who lived there. We found a lot of Indian artifacts shall9wly buried in the dirt. And some of my friends were American Indians. And I learned a lot about Indians by studying, Cultural Diversity, history, and attending special events. All aliens coming to America and their ancestors owe almost everything we now have thanks to American Indians who had their own lands, homes, livlihoods, families, and even lives taken from them by settlers, the government, and the military. They were forced onto reservations, and what followed was irreversible damage to their culture, and their quality life and living, and them forcing them to be dependent on what the government was willing to give them., including what harmed them, substance abuse, diseases, and illnesses. To this day they never recovered, US wide. And no one is righting that wrong. We owe it to the Americans to unite and advocate for them, and start returning enough of their ancestors land to them. And providing other resources and services. We have more than enough unused snd never used land we can do that. So, when you support a politician and vote, also make sure they advocate for American Indians. Contact ypur local Indian Tribes and befriend and help them.
i seen some old mines near pittsburgh were the entrance was so low you would have to lay on your back flat just to get into the mine they called them low seam mines no way would i go into one of those hell holes.
So about what time did the Labour Force of America lose voice to the Loud Overbloated Nil Skilled Background Actors whom scream loudest yet dont contribute anything worthwhile to America!
Once they were the Backbone of American Labour Force, before an Immoral Group of Persons Orchestrated the Taking Over of America's Political System, Firstly by using Legal Opioids for the Labour Force & a lot of illegal Addictive drugs dispersed into the community!
that entire area near pittsburgh is full old underground coal mines like a spider web that is why we have so many problems with mine that subside and ruins homes and roads that were built many yrs ago the owners back then had no for thought.
I think this guy is out of touch, a lot of city slicker thinks that Pittsburgh is western Pennsylvania. Sorry buddy but you don't know what you are talking about. Western Pennsylvania is anything west of State College PA, and the chit heads in a far corner of pa do not represent the same area as the real coal patch in Jefferson and Indiana County. The important people lived in the houses closest to the mine. Why? Because you had to walk to work and when something broke you had to be close to the mine so you could get there in rain, sleet, snow, and you didn't have to fight the elements. BR&P didn't pay in script, they just didn't pay anything. Same with the mine in Rossiter, where the people lost their human rights. Big sign on the Eastern side of town, maybe you ought to go read it. Historians made a movie about BR&P coal and they plumb forgot to even mention the mines around Punxsutawney. Yet the first town of Adrian and Wallston was where he made all of his money! I walked out the the theater, spit on the ground and never looked back at the theater in Indiana where they previewed the movie and gave the lecture. And I was the only representative of my town and County. 36.5 million tons of coal deep mined and a couple more million tons strip mined of metallurgical grade steam coal is nothing to sneeze about. And the machine shops built to support the mines are still working 100 years later. But I guess you never heard of Star Iron, Jefferson, Acme, Femco, or Joy Mfg..
1st historian i have heard that gets it. That knows the truth. Respect! Thank you Sir, for not just knowing, but speaking it. Peace to you. I dont say that just to everybody.
50:36 I know where Taffy was. He had a girlfriend down on 8th st and was getting busy when the fire horn went off! Can’t really blame him now, can we?? 😂😂. 🐩 💕 p.s. I typed this before the story of junior was told. No doubt this is the son of the consummation of Taffy and his girlfriend that day he missed the fire call. Very mysterious
There will always be exploration. If you are shipping at Walmart, Target, Dollar General, The Dollar Store, Kohls, ordering clothes on line etc…You are supporting child and slave labor in China, India, and Indonesia. Everyone thinks they would never participate in exploitation, but they do and continue buying more and more every year. If you wear Nike products you are directly supporting slave labor in China, if you drive an electric car you are supporting child slave labor in Africa. At least these coal miners made sure their children had a better life. They didn’t sit on welfare and rely on the state to raise their children.
So glad I came across this video, it answered many questions I had. Almost as informative and interesting as tragic, these men and their families lived a rough life for sure…..
My ancestor worked in the coal mines of Clarion County by a company based in Pittsburgh. Apparently, he was arrested and convicted along with some other miners of stealing from the company store. Looked like they were trying to provide holiday gifts for their families. He was sent to prison in Allegheny County and his wife and children moved to Tarentum area. From there my ancestors moved to Washington County. I wonder how many families were "relocated" due to being convicted of stealing from the company store that stole from the workers legally for decades.
Interesting that a lot of gray haired citenzs are in the audience! Also of interest is the similar fact of reducing pay as they did during the depression!
I'm preparing to run a game of old gods of Appalachia. I've been digging into some history to get a feel for the areas and struggles around 1910. this video is phenomenal history and excellent delivery. I'll be picking up the recommended books and I want to just thank the Oakmont historical society for putting this kind of material out there thanks so much
This is cool! I grew up in Oakmont in the 60's/70's and graduated from Riverview. I remember the mine in Harmarville still running, Edgewater Steel was pounding, also Ingalls steel mill under the viaduct where Dailys ended up. Anyway, this brings back so many memories! Ive lived out West since 1978 and miss Oakmont/Verona a lot. Oh yeah, the Oakmont Library is a jewel! Appreciate the Historical Society for this!
My mother and I used to take breads,pies,cakes,and other pastries to St. Anthony’s at the end of our bakery route. I’m glad that we could help in our own small way.
Gary: I'm writing book about growing up in the coal "patch" of Edenborn in the 1950s.. Sites like this offer great insight & information about life in these mining towns. Thank you -.Bob Augustine
I worked at Edgewater from 1974 to 1982 or so. I started in the labor pool, then to bldg 2 and worked as a machinist in the cut off area - and then became an apprentice electrician in the Electrical Repair department. My mother "Mary Lou" worked in bldg 2 for awhile as an paperwork administrator then transferred into HR. The interior of that mill was a whole different world. I also bought two motorcycles through the Edgewater Credit Union. Great memories.....
That was a tall casket!! Amazing video! My grandfather worked in the Russellton mine. My dad had six brothers as there were 8 of them living in one half of a company duplex.
The early intruders would have had a lot longer and harder struggle to take Virginia and New England had disease not wiped 19 out of 20 of the population. THis guy claims they got along fairly well. What do you expect when the entire warrior population was decimated. It wasn’t that they were happy.
The Green Belt, aka The Lion King’s belt, goes down Allegheny River Boulevard in which Simba and Nala reunite with each other, and also signifying the beginning of Route 130.
I think you should check on the coal mines in Washington and Greene counties in Pa. I worked in the coal mines for around 30 years. I was lucky to stay in the same mine, but it changed hands about 3 times. I never heard of anybody mining the Freeport as I was told it is much deeper, maybe 1300 to 1500 feet down. We had the Waynesburg and Pittsburgh veins. The Pittsburgh was what we we’re mining. We had low sulfur coal called metallurgy coal. I believe we had the biggest coal mine during world War 2. That was in Vestaburg. When I worked at a coal mine near Cokeburg. We we’re mining coal under Washington, toward Claysville and further before they shut almost all the coal mines down, around 2010- 2020. It would be nice to of included all the mines South of Pittsburgh. Enjoyed all of your video, do more😊
The father of my my stepdad, Thomas A. Watterson I was for many years the engineer of the "Plummie". The Wattersons lived in Verona and and he would be sent down to the valley with his dad's lunch every day ... sometime he would get a ride in the cab up to the mines and back.
