Leechburg High School - Minetas Yearbook (Leechburg, PA)

Page 6 text:

imtfk. Q Y . M N -,.-3E,,, - ' Z-:r:'-'fg -il-iii':5.,g. 1 . .X 4 , .L+ -E' - ix - ,, !i ,.5'-4 4,:E,x K U E,-13 -1 '55 A f I3 f- 'N ,- X ,Qi j IN M ll 9 Eg - F I' X :L X fx N 1,04 I V 5 1-,: ',' If' -' X 1 ' X Ai 4:1 I , l y ix Xa '. f fb! ' . 6 0 : ! ' .Or ff ,r I 1 4' ix- D -A di 7 .lf jf- - Q , ' ' f' -Mg J fi- ' U I V 5-V M J, 2-45 1 ,f-32: 1 -. 'A ff naman-Q Mmm-

Page 8 text:

Jnlmwnlwl The theme of this 1950 MINETAS is the Leechburg Centennial. Proud of our community for its growth from a village of 350 people in 1850 to the present-day town of nearly 5,000, we, the authors of this yearbook, want to show our gratitude to Leechburg's citizens by using the century of progress mark as the foundation around which we have constructed a book of high school activities. We in Leechburg High School realize how the many advancements and improvements in our town have aided us as students either directly or indirectly. Every step taken along the road of community progress has become our heritage which we must carry on. With the inspiring example set before us by our forefathers we realize that this is not the age to stop and survey our development with self-satisfied smugness, rather, it is a time for re- viewing past failures as well as achievements and set about to continue the climb upward toward an even bet- ter era of cultural, spiritual, and physical heights. You see, that is what our ancestors did. From a bit of land along a swift flowing river a few settlers carved the small village of Friendship, later re- named Leechburg. The first log house was located near the site of Grace Lutheran Church. The town did not rise in importance until thc introduction of the Pennsylvania Canal. The growth of Leechburg really began after the arrival of David Leech. This statement is exemplified by our founder and namesake's development of flour and saw mills and a woolen factory after his appearance in 1827. The first burgess of Leechburg received a medal at the London Exposition for his fine flour sent to Queen Victoria. Onward our past citizens pioneered in religious or- ganizations, schools, industry, civic groups, and social activities. Throughout Leechburg's history, the citizens, realiz- ing the importance of religious worship, have cooperated with priests and ministers to form a foundation for a moral and social life in the tradition of the Church. As early as 1796 Lutheran religious services were held, In 1814 the congregation organized. Two churches, one at Pleasant Hill Cemetery and another near Weinels Cross- roads, were the parents of the initial Hebron Lutheran Church constructed in 1845. Several other churches were built shortly afterward. The Lutherans, other Protestant denominations, and Roman Catholics have established sixteen present-day churches in Leechburg and George- town. In its beginning the Leechburg Public School Sys- tem consisted of a humble one-story wooden structure. With great pride the citizens built a two-story brick edifice in 1874 for grade and high school instruction. The present grade school building, then a high school, had its origin in 1910. Because of increasing need of added space and better equipment today's three-story brick structure was begun in 1922, and the old high school was used for the grades. Leechburg's small industries were tanning and brick- making. The most important big industryi' has been the rolling mills which began in 1872. The latter gained prominence under American Sheet and Tin Plate Com- pany, the first plant to make tin in the U. S. West Leech- burg Steel Company in 1897 was the forerunner of our modern mill operated by Allegheny Ludlum Steel Cor- poration, It was the old Leechburg Flour Mill that pro- duced the first roller process flour east of the Mississippi. In this vicinity bituminous coal has been mined since 1882. Also Leechburg was the first town in the U. S. to use natural gas for metallurgical purposes. Emphasizing civic-mindedness and advancement 'save been individuals and organized groups. Among these promoters was Kiskiminetas River Improvement Association of the 1920,s. To ameliorate the Kiski River for navigation was their purpose. Although they sent petitions and representatives to Washington the river re- mained unimproved. Another was the Chamber of Com- merce whose general aim was one of promotion to attract new industries to Leechburg. The Rotary Club and Boosters are two 1950 service clubs that are instrumental in fighting for progress. They have been responsible for a great deal of outstanding work. A large amount of their time is devoted to the interests of young people. Entertainment has never been lacking in Leechburg. From 1874, birth of the Leechburg Lecture and Lyceum Association, the oldest in the U. S., there developed a deep appreciation of fine entertainment. Responsible for introducing into local auditoriums renowned speakers, musicians, and other performers, the association con- tributed to the social expansion of the town. The first big community center was the Old Opera House, which, during its life, looked upon lectures, musical programs, banquets, dances, athletic contests, and numerous other events. Social groups in young Leechburg included a young menis club which sponsored formal dances, the Bicycle Club, and the Cornet Band of 1882. Today we have two motion picture theaters, the high school auditorium used by both school and civic groups, bowling alleys, the school gymnasium for athletic feats, Teen-Canteens, fraternal organizations which hold dances, and the P. G. and corner drug store where the younger set congregate. Truly this has been a century of progress for Leechburg! Here is our book-built around the Leechburg Cen- tennial--in which we have presented school activities in a background of the old and new. Class of 1950