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Museum Treasures #1
The Tri-City Historical Society is seeking interesting artifacts you may want to donate to the sports section. Currently we have assorted memorabilia including cheerleader megaphones, majorette pom-poms, and nostalgic photographs of class sports events. The Burrell, Valley, and Arnold athletic sweaters with Letters add a charm to the area. One sweater is green with a yellow athletic letter (A) from 1944, we need help finding out its origins, as Arnold's official colors wer
James Sabulsky
Jan 121 min read


History Spotlight # 5 - A Brief History of Arnold PA
The community of Arnold, PA is located on land that had once been hunting reserves of the Iroquois Indians. Robert McCrea purchased 300 acres in 1781 naming the area “Resolution.” It was later owned by William Jack who passed it on to Wilson Jack. Major Andrew Arnold (1794-1860, born in Kittanning) is considered the first settler. He had served in the military as an Indian fighter. He inherited the land from Wilson Jack in 1852 living between 2nd and 3rd Avenues near 17th Str
James Sabulsky
Jan 122 min read


History Spotlight #4 - Aluminum City Terrace
Thanks to George Guido and the VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH for the reprint of this Aug. 2022 Remember When article on the Aluminum City Terrace. Remember When: New Ken’s Aluminum City Terrace still going strong 81 years since inception. By George Guido As World War II approached, New Kensington was truly “The Aluminum City.” In 1940, there were 7,500 people employed at ALCOA facilities in the city at the riverfront aluminum works, the powder plant along the river in Plum and at the
James Sabulsky
Jan 122 min read


History Spotlight #2
With the cold weather our attention is on sledding and skating memories from the past. Two local sledding favorites were Walnut Street in NK and Drey Street in Arnold. In the past Walnut Street was blocked off from the top to the former New Kensington High School on Ridge Avenue. No cars were permitted during sledding and hay bales were placed on lower Walnut Street at the intersection with Constitution Blvd. in order to stop the sleds. Another sledding area was the current Dr
James Sabulsky
Jan 121 min read
History Spotlight #3 - The Santa of the Coalfields
The Santa Claus of the Coalfields Fred Broad was a large gentleman, said to top the scales at 250 pounds. He was referred to as Santa Claus by many, not for his size, but for his generosity. In the early 1900’s, Broad gained notoriety as a heavy weight boxer. He ran a saloon in New Kensington and operated a real estate business in the Allegheny Valley. On May 15, 1919, the bituminous coal miners went on strike in an effort to obtain better wages and working cond
James Sabulsky
Jan 123 min read


History Spotlight #1 - Our New Home
Tri City Historical Society’s first History Spotlight features the society’s new home. After a recent move, TCHS is now located in Aluminum City Arts at 200 Freeport Road NK, adjacent to St. Peter’s Church. ACA is the creation of Brian Defelices and Ernesto Camacho who have masterminded a cultural hub in their building. In addition to art spaces, ACA will house TCHS, a bookstore, frame shop, and become a go to location for social events. This storied building was the origina
James Sabulsky
Jan 121 min read


Our New Home
Tri City Historical Society’s first History Spotlight features the society’s new home. After a recent move, TCHS is now located in Aluminum City Arts at 200 Freeport Road NK, adjacent to St. Peter’s Church. ACA is the creation of Brian Defelices and Ernesto Camacho who have masterminded a cultural hub in their building. In addition to art spaces, ACA will house TCHS, a bookstore, frame shop, and become a go to location for social events. This storied building was the origina
James Sabulsky
Dec 3, 20251 min read
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