Borough of Etna - Centennial Festivities Yearbook (Etna, PA)

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l A i ., .J ... .V.....- -- - -r n ff 4'Eff,,J,S,.?1Tt...,..L.4,L.,:1':, 'r.'1 ' .....,s. 4 .gt .zz thu- -7 p .. . . . ' , t '.,6 f.vx, . EWnWi T '25F -4- ,H-1 F - . -.-.fem .-0. 'V A ,iq nf 1 1 ' '11 ' '!, 'Y ' . 'W ' - ff: ' Miz' ,i buf stifiz-I t M4 3.1, 'A' 4 , v- ' fy btw 1,1 . fl G-:JEL 1 lg. 1 f .J 1 . . . . . I I -'ll 'f 4 4.,'f.,1:.t,-qlj' .X4ufnt.t.t.g.u.. ., , -- ,.: J-Ht. . . . -- H, 'fi I h ' 5 '4 I ISABELLA FURNACE .ggi , The 18805 marked the beginning f a great change in immigration. lndustry needed many workers, who dissatisfied with poor wages considered the advantages of some type of labor organization. There were terrific strikes in 1392, including Spang Chalfant and Co. The titans of industry were considering contract laborers from south and east Europe, There is no proof to show that operators in this area resorted to such activity, however, many workers came to Etna from Austria- Hungary, fof which Croatia was a partl the Balkan states, Italy and,.tl:te.,l,l.lcrJ3.i.nf2..AII1CIiCj1 beckoned to their young men and they came hoping, to make a better living. Typical of this group are the lftdesu ind Vinski families. They came from Croatia. Peter Lade- sic, Sr.. landed in New York via Amsterdam about 1886 and came to Millvale where he got a job in lie-nnett's lVlill. He later came to Etna and worked at Spang's until 1902. when he received his naturalization papers. Nicholas Trdina, Sr.. came from Tapusko. Croatia and arrived in Etna in June 6. in 1912. He worked for many years at the lsabella Furnaces of U. S. Steel, and Morris Spelie who became assistant Superintendent of Isabella Furnace came here as a boy from Yugoslavia. 2l

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V, ,, -1 N l Bf Mil 'P,.f-.- an , .sadne- f KITE HILL-SITE OF ETNA HIGH SCHOOL The hill pictured here is the present location of Etna ,round of the neirhhorhood. The area from Hicfh Street Sfjffflfllftg north to Pine Creek was the property rf Norman Span. This later heeame the Spanff Plan and Albert D. Jones rememhers aeeompanyini his father, who was arent for the development company, when he plaffefl the numhered pe for the lots 'trout If 5. The lJlfflUl'f ins preserxer lay the fort-si. ht of tin Fisher who lrougght at pu li- auction many ol the 9 , V X J, my s f ' . li it W 4 T High School. It was called Kite Hill and was a play- .Q ,H f' D 4 C . gg C 2, f H . Qs - rl ll 1 1 f l f gg xlrl Q ln 1 20 glass negatives sold at the dissolution of the Charles Eiszler Store, 1967. The Spang Plan was started about 1908 and developed slowly as the country was not over the Panic of 1907. Many today will recognize it as the site of the Etna High School. At this time the Spang home was moved from the vicinity of the playground to its present position where it is known as the '4Chalfant Housew and owned by the women's clubs. N t t l s

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INCORPORATION OF THE BOROUGH OF ETNA The westward march of settlement necessitated the creation of counties and townships. Now there was need of borough organization. Act of Assembly 565218, enacted in 1851 provided for such incorporation. Boroughs could be formed by special act of the General Assembly. such as was the case with Millvale, or they could be formed by action of the Court of Quarter Sessions. such as Etna. There was no minimum of population. The advantages seem to have been in the lay out of streets and lots, control over sanitary facili- ties, fire protection, debt limits, separate elections and separate school districts. Also on petition of twenty freeholders of adjacent property the burgess and council of the borough could declare by ordinance the admission of any additional section. Since its incorporation, the following additions have been made to the Borough of Etna: 'gErected from a part of Shaler Township, by the Court of Quarter Sessions, September 16, 1868, at No. 1 June Sessions 1868, Misc. Docket 2, page 168, fPeti- tions, Plans, etc., recorded September 25, 1868, in Charter Book 2, page 401, Recorder's Office.i Part of Shaler Township annexed by the Court of Quarter Sessions, September 30, 1882 at No. 9 Septem- ber Sessions 1882, Misc. Docket 6, page 183, fPetition, Etc.. recorded September 30, 1882 in Charter Book, 7, page 111, Recorder's Office.V' Divided into three f3t Wards by the Court of Quarter Sessions, .luly 19, 1884, at No. 28 March Sessions 1884, Misc. Docket 7, page 113.8 uPart of Shaler Township annexed by the Court of Quarter Sessions, February 18, 1899, at No. 18 Septem- ber Sessions 1898. Misc. Docket 14, page 486.8 22 W 1 November 15, 1920, a portion of Shaler Township was annexed to the Borough of Etna, by Ordinance of said Borough No. 1185, approved August 10, 1920, filed at No. 11 November 1920, Misc. Docket 23, page 359.8 While the Civil War and lack of funds for survey interfered with the negotiations for the formation of a borough, it contributed to the economic growth of the community. Railroad building expanded. The Pennsylvania Railroad had bought the right of way of the Pennsylvania Canal, filled in the ditch, and laid the tracks to Pittsburgh by 1852. Excellent ore could be brought in from the Michigan ranges. War and expansion of industry created a tremendous demand for iron and steel. This meant jobs and jobs mean people. The time was ripe for organization of the borough. On Hlune 1, 1868, a petition of diverse persons being a majority of the freeholders residing within the limits of the proposed Borough of Etna was presented to the Court, for the purpose of obtaining a charter in order that the village of Etrla in Shaler Township, Allegheny County, containing about two thousand inhabitants may be incorporated as a borough to be known as '4The Borough of Etnaf' The petition was granted. The Court on September 16, 1868, confirmed the judgment of the Grand Jury and which adjudged and decreed that the said town or village of Etna shall be a body corporate and politic by the name of 'THE BOROUGH OF ETNA, and be entitled to the rights, privileges and immunities con- ferred by the laws of this commonwealth. N KT, , ,Wh , 1