Bellevue High School - Gleeman Yearbook (Bellevue, PA)

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NINA E. JOHNSTON Died November 17, I9-ll sf Nina E. Johnston, an inspiring ieader and sincere friend The Spanish and general ianguage ciasses wiii never forget her She was an exceiient teacher and made iearning tun. Students enjoyed her sense ot humor and amusing anecdotes and at the same time re- ceived an exceptionai foundation in ianguages. As Giri Reserve sponsor Miss Johnston woriced iong and hard setting an exampie to the giris that is weii worth toiiowing. This year, tiui and ready ot her friends understanding that she showed to others. aithough suffering from iii health, she remained cheer to smiie. Her memory wiii he icept aiive in the hearts hy her enthusiasm tor her woric and the sympathetic Uwe tive in deeds, not yearsg in thoughts, not breaths in feelings, not in figures on a ctialg We shoutcl count time by heart throbs. He most lives Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the tJest.H P. J. BAILEY v Page Seve

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llw oulslumling ronlrilnulions of Miss Ira'-nv rlqlmnms mul Mr. Pun lwusollvr in llw uclminislralion ol ilu- Glliclmlrv Uvpurlnlvnl mul ul lln-ir Irim-muy inlc-rcsl in our pc-rsonnl. PlIlll'illi0Ilill. and vuczllioml pre JIJIPIIIS wllicll lms lwvn UIVEIIIIZIIJIK' lo us, NVE, rl-HE CLASS Ol '-Il IJICIJICATIZ THE GIEITMAN. Vuqv Six

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fjaude fa aiew ELDONl do we ever stop to thinlc of the history of our borough. We accept things as they are today, rarely considering the fascinating happenings of the past. The purpose ol this article is to review cronologicaily the most interest- ing and colorful events which marlc the gradual growth of Bellevue. Relics and other evidences have been found otlering sufficient proof that indians once inhabited this area. Although there is no record ot a permanent indian village in the immediate vicinity, two legends still persist. lt is thought that the rounded 'hill at the eastern end ol American Avenue served as an indian burying ground, while the shallow caves along the Ohio River furnished shelter for wandering indians. Andrew Jacques was the first permanent settler. The ravine and rivulet beside which he built his little cabin still bears his name--qiaclcs Run. He built a dam across the rivulet and grain was brought to him for milling. As the wheel turned, he told customers ol his ambition to operate a ferry to lVlcKees Roclcs and aslced for signatures on his franchise petition. The opening of the Davis island Dam was quite an event in both Bellevue and Pittsburgh. Jacques also piloted t.he first steamboat down the river to New Orleans. Not until i850 were there any clusters of buildings that could be dignified with the name ol' village. The streets were named for famous men in history or the leading property owners ol' the community. The school house, the social center ot the boroughs life, was a little one room building standing at the present intersection of Brighton Road and Lincoln Avenue. in the corner of every cabin stood several buckets which were used for lighting tires. When a tire brolce out, everyone rushed to the scene of the blaze and formed a line to the nearest water supply. Bucicets were passed from hand to 'hand with surprising speed and smoothness: and although the citizens never saved more than the foundation. they did prevent the fire from spreading. Reclcless racing hub to hub along narrow, bumpy roads, which were hardly wide enough for a single vehicle, was considered great sport by the wagon drivers ol the day. At one especially dangerous section icnown as mlqhe Narrows horns were used as warnings. Here, by means of a strident fblast, that could be heard for miles, wagoners would signal that they were beginning the triclcy passage. The passage oi Commodore Perry's supply and ammunition wagons along what is Perry Highway gave the local community its only First hand view oi what was happening baclc East. Even when residents of the vicinity first witnessed the wonderful new steam engine, they agreed that, while it might be ol' value where there were no rivers or hills. it was doomed to failure in Western Pennsylvania. From i830 to 1852, the golden years of river transporta- tion, the cliffs above which Bellevue now stands witnessed a steady procession ol' palatial cralt. As there were no stated landing places, handlcerchiels or hats were waved to signal the pilot. If the depth ol water permitted. the boat nosed into the shore: otherwise, the steamer waited in mid-channel while a slcilif went ashore to piclc up the prospective passengers. The population ol' the borough then called Dilworthviile , was concen- trated in the vicinity ol .iaclcson Street and Lincoln Avenue, while the tirst business section stood at the corner ol Lincoln and Sherman tsouth .iaclcsonl Avenues. The first church, the 'Methodist Episcopal, was located at the head ol' North Balph Avenue. The refusal ol Ross Township officials to build a boardwallc to Jacques Run Station in 1867 caused a wave of resentment among the residents of the section later to become Bellevue. The citizens declared that they were not re- ceiving proportionate benetits from taxes paid, and circulated a petition for the incorporation of a town. This was presented to the court. The name chosen for the borough was Belle Vue --meaning in French ubeautilul view. On September 7. 1878 the court confirmed the judgment of the grand jury and decreed that the town of Bellevue be incorporated into the borough of Bellevue. Four days after the granting ol' the charter. the election of the town's official was held at Henry Williams' store. Samuel Claney was elected burgess: Captain VV. A. Rogers, J. J. East, Emory Gleason, Hugh Forrester, and William Claney were selected as members of the town council. Page Eight