History Spotlight #6 - History of Mt. Vernon

HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF MT. VERNON

When the settlers came to Western Pennsylvania, Mt. Vernon was a part of a large Indian hunting ground. A well-known Indian trail traversed the hill on the way east from the Allegheny River and Pucketos Creek to the frontier places of refuge for the early settlers at Fort Hand and Carnahan's Blockhouse, near the Kiskiminetas River. There they ambushed the settlers and destroyed their cabins and crops.

Westmoreland County was legislatively established in 1773.  Lower Burrell township, of which Mount Vernon was a part, was formed in 1879. What is now Mount Vernon was not developed until the early twentieth Century.

The early residents in this area were the Carnahan family living in the Keystone Drive area. Another family in the Rainbow Drive area and the Glass family, who lived on Farm Hill. A variety of crops were grown, the most notable of which was cucumbers used to make quality pickles by the H.J. Heinz Company of Pittsburgh, Pa.

Development of the Mount Vernon area began about 1910. At that time the land was owned by Grier C. Orr of Kittanning, Pa. He sold it to Alexander Dempster, owner of the Gilmore Drug Company of Pittsburg, Pa. In selling this land Dempster reserved 15 acres on the north side of the land to the south side, which included Keystone Drive to Pershing Drive, also to Argonne Drive. This blocked the development of the best land.

This restricted development in the area. He later sold all the tract to Mr. C. D. Beacom, realtor, who named the land Mount Vernon. Mr. Beacom then sold all the land east, known as Farm Hill to John McCartney Kennedy. This farm area remained undeveloped until the late nineteen forties, when it was developed by the A. R. Guiney Real Estate Agency. Until then Farm Hill served as a recreational area for the local youth, with two baseball fields known as Field I and Field II. In the woods east of Field II an abandoned farmhouse served as a haunted house until it was burned in the early 1950's.

The first streets developed were Summit and Spring, since this area had access to Seventh Street. The first homes built in 1915 were the George Deininger residence on Summit Street and the E. L. Anderson home on Spring and Center Avenue. The home at 419 Spring Street was bought by William Shearer, who lived there when Mr. Beacom built his house in the fall of 1916. They were neighbors. Across the street at 422 was the Carl Ishman home. The Beacoms moved to Riverview Drive and Pleasant Avenue in 1922. Bart Ellis built a $2,500.00 home for C. D. Beacom and.it was of excellent construction. Mr. Anderson sold his house to Moulton Euwer for $4,800.00 and the Shearer house cost $3,800.

At this time the streets were unpaved and a spring at Summit Street and wells provided the water. Major development began in 1919 when C. D. Beacom founded the Mount Vernon Improvement Co. to handle sales. The streets were surveyed by H. Park Martin who later became Pennsylvania Secretary of Highways. They were later graded and finished by the State Construction Company of Parnassus and given names of battle sites and Military Divisions and Personalities from World War I, such as Argonne, Marne, Pershing, Keystone and Rainbow.

Plans for increasing access to Mount Vernon were already under way. In 1917 the bridge over Pucketos Creek on Fourth Street was built by the Parnassus Borough. They contracted with W. W. Shultz to construct the Fourth Street approach to Mt. Vernon and Center Street. Not surprisingly the Borough of Parnassus annexed the 30-acre piece of Mount Vernon, Summit and Spring Streets from Lower Burrell in 1920.

When the Parnassus Borough was consolidated with New Kensington in 1930, Mount Vernon was undergoing rapid growth due to the Aluminum Company of America. A third access to Mount Vernon was created by contractor Lenus Hileman, who was the father of a future mayor of New Kensington, Mr. Lenus Hileman. He filled the ravine between Seventh Street and the northeast border of Mount Vernon, connecting Seventh Street and Riverview Drive with a brick road. More than thirty contractors built homes in Mount Vernon, including Ellis, Lindsay, Sinclair, Cribbs, Hower, Prager, Galbraith, Isman, Knapp,

Smith, Bracken, Regoli, Olsen, Walley, Hancock, Holtzhour, Richter, Spiers. Mr. Holtzhour built the only apartment in Mount Vernon at Center Avenue and Pershing Drive.

Building peaked in the thirties and forties. Homes were still being constructed in the late fifties. Today there are few vacant lots remaining. Some are lots originally dedicated for a fire station when there was uncertainty whether fire protection could be provided by Parnassus.

The Mount Vernon Elementary School was built in 1921 and remodeled in 1939. An addition was built in 1926/7, then the school closed in 1982. Serving as first principal was Miss Eula Hill, who retired in 1950, Miss Ella Simm from 1950 to 1965, Mr. A. W. Sellari from 1965 to 1966, Mr. Bernard Smith from 1966 to 1975 and Mr. James Hecker from 1975 to 1982.

Another important educator of children in Mount Vernon was Mr. Alden Marsh who took upon himself to organize the Living World Science Club. Under his gentle tutelege, students from six to eleven years learned

field ecology and gardening. The garden plots were located at Keystone Drive and Center Avenue. Mr. Marsh was respected as a man who could intellectually stimulate young minds and give their owners an understanding and appreciation of the Nature World.

The Mount Vernon social service organizations were the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) and the Men’s Civic Club. The PTA objectives, to bring into closer relations the home and school was organized in 1929 with Mrs. A. P. Miller as the first President. The association started a series of yearly events; Founders Day, the annual Halloween Parade, Classroom Parties, Dancing School and the sixth grade trip to Pittsburgh to tour points of interest. Once a year a benefit was given to meet the year’s expenses. These benefits were expended in various ways by the Community Fund., the Red Cross, the Hospital Building Fund, milk for needy families and books for better Home Reading.

Outstanding achievements included the campaigning for the Cement Steps to Mount Vernon and shrubbery to beautify the school grounds. The PTA also sponsored six groups of Girl Scouts, from Brownies to Senior Scouts. Mr. Frank Horton was the first Girl Scout Commissioner. Members of the Board included Rose Whitaker, Mona Nagle, Marion Murdock, Isabelle Hill, Mrs. Raymond Moore, later President of the N. K. G. S. council, Frances Miller, J. Pearson Hill and many others. Many women

were leaders including Sally Farneth., Lucille Marsteller, Kit Mishler, and Harriet Mathison. Mrs. E. J. Stevens was council registrar and later one of the presidents and Mrs. Vivian McDonald was the Julliete

Lowe Chairman. Mrs. Charles Whitaker was leader of Troop 8.

Founders Day was observed each year. The Annual Fathers' Night with the Men in charge of the program and serving refreshments was an interesting meeting. The Men’s Civic Club sponsored the Boy Scout troop, No. 134. Mr. Michael D. Baker was Troop Chairman for many years and Mr. H. J. Noulett, Secretary and treasurer. The Boy Scout Troop activities provided the opportunity for local boys to develop their interests in various community activities under the guidance of dedicated Scout Masters, such as Mr. Clyde Donaldson, Mr. Cordy Wescoat and Mr. Robert Shaul. Troop 134 provided a high proportion of Eagle Scouts, many of whom have gone on to meaningful careers in their professions. Until they left Mount Vernon, few realized how much they had accomplished by becoming an Eagle Scout.

Home instruction in piano has been taught in Mount Vernon since 1932by Mrs. Helen Hemprich, organ and piano, Mrs. Marie Hoar, Mrs. Effie Gable and Dorothy Scott taught piano. Mr. Elmer Sarra specialized in teaching trombone, saxophone and flute. The Mount Vernon Chorus was directed by Joy Cooper Yenger.

Home Beauty Shops included the Kay Sarra, Janet Moore, Naomi Clawson, Stella Smalley, Ann Katherine Zack, Shirley Melee and Roxy Krumpe shops.

The Goerman Market was located on Riverview Drive near Seventh St. It provided the residents with meat, groceries and dairy products. It was later known as Como Market. Several generations of children shopped at Wagle's Store near the Holtzhour Apartments. The chief commodity being ice cream, candy and bubble gum.

As the years go by many things have changed but much has remained the same. Mr. Charles Beacon, who now reside in Bakerstown, Pa. tells us that in 1910 a 6-room frame house cost $1,800.00 and in 1920 the price was $2,500.00. In 1938 a brick 6 room house cost $6,000.00 and in 1955 the price was $7,000.00. Those brick homes were sold in 1984 for $45,000.00 and $78,000.00 respectively.

There are no school or civic organizations in Mount Vernon now, but children continue to ride their bikes, and it remains good place for family life. In addition, there are long- time residents who have a place where

they can be active in their retirement. Mount Vernon is a good. friendly place to live.

Thanks to Mr. C. D. Beacom, who provided much information for this history.

For the history I have missed, please accept my apology. --

Margaret R. Henderson