Perry Lower Tyrone High School - Petosean Yearbook (Perryopolis, PA)

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Imogene Carson Forrest 8 lCatl0ll To Mrs Imogene Forrest ln apprec1at on for the many ways 1n whlch she has so w1ll1ngly helped us we the Sen1or Class of 1956 dedxcate th1s Golden Anmversary Commodore Mrs Forrest then Imogene Carson graduated from Perry Townsh1p H1gh School 1n 1930 and xn 1934 from Pennsylvan1a State UHIVCISIIY where she majored 1n home econom1cs From 1935 unt1l 1938 Mrs Forrest taught Enghsh and home econom1cs here ln her alma mater Then she was marrled to Robert Forrest who was also a graduate of Perry Townsh1p H1gh School After Mr Forrest s death 1n 1951 Mrs Forrest returned to our faculty as home economlcs teacher She has been very actlve not only as an understandmg teacher but also as a w1se Student Counc1l sponsor For two years she has sponsored the Boys Cookxng Club No one worked harder or accompl1shed more than d1d Mrs Forrest dur1ng our 1955 May Day and our Golden Anmversary celebrat1on All the d1nners luncheons and banquets glven for the teachers school boards football teams basket ball teams and others could never have been pOSS1b1C wlthout the generous and w1ll1ng help of Mrs Forrest Mrs Forrest has a smxle and a k1nd word for everyone She IS always w1ll1ng to help whenever and wherever she 1S needed and she IS well l1ked by everyone The teachers and the student body jom the members of the Sen1or Class 1n saymg Thanks Mrs Forrest for your earnest cooperatlon We want you to know that If has been smcerely apprcc1atcd and we hope. that you w1ll enjoy a successful future d. . - 1 4 1 1 1 - v 1 1 J . . A. . , . 1 . . . , k. . . . I . i . , , . y . . 1 1 1 1 1 ' , . . . J J . . . . . . V J .. , . . . . U . 1 1 K- 1 - ' ' 1' 1 s ' ' 1 '

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The Honorable J. Buell Snyder .9n Wemoriam John Buell Snyder was born onafarm in Upper Turkeyfoot Township in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Later in his life he was to become a distinguished member of the United States House of Representatives from the twenty-third district of Pennsylvania. He attended the public schools in Somerset County. Upon graduation from high school, he attended Lock Haven State Teachers College, receiving his bachelor's degree here. He also attended the summer sessions of Harvard and Columbia Universities. From 1906 to 1911 Mr. Snyder served as principal of the Perry Township High School, Perryopolis, Pa. From 1912 to 1932 he was the Western Pennsylvania district manager of the MacMillan Co. He was a member of the Board of Education of the Perryopolis schools from 1922 to 1932. He was also the legislative representative for the Pennsylvania School Directors during the sessions of the state legislature, 1921 to 1932. Mr. Snyder was interested in scholastic and cultural contests, and encouraged the participation of high school students in such contests. He established the Pennsylvania Forensic and Music League in 1932. During a ten year period, more than 100,000 students received special training in their respective fields. Music and debate organizations in high schools increased throughout the state. In 1932 J. Buell Snyder was elected to the 73rd Congress of the United States, serving until 1946. During his term of office, he was instrumental in providing this district with public works projects, among which were the Youghiogheny Flood Control Dam and the Connellsville Airport. J, Buell Snyder was a member ofthe vitally important War Department Appropriations Sub-committee, serving 10 years as its chairman, The late President Roosevelt praised Mr. Snyder for his workin obtaining funds for the atomic bomb project. Mr. Snyder also reported to Roosevelt upon his special mission to Europe after the onset of World War ll. He inspected military installations throughout the world. The father of transcontinental super-highways was atitle given to Mr. Snyder because of his staunch support of better highways. Mr. Snyder felt that highways which could support the country's transportation needs in time of war should be built. On Friday, Febrruary 21, 1946, Mr. Snyder announced in Washington, D. C. that he wished not to run for re-election. The following Monday he died in Pittsburgh, Pa., after having served thirteen years as a congressman. At the memorial services in the House of Representatives, members of Congress from different states paid tribute to him by delivering memorial addresses of high praise for his ability and accomplish- ment as a congressman, for his loyal interest in this country's welfare, and for his humble, Christian kindness toward all.

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The Washington Mill 0 I' OPO L5 elll'l.5g Uallla The small community of Perryopolis with a population of fifteen hundred people is located in Perry Township, thirteen miles north of Uniontown, the county seat of Fayette County, and thirty miles southeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Perryopolis is rich in historical importance, records having been traced to 1769 when Col. William Crawford, a close friend of George Washington, acted upon his requests and purchased sixteen hundred acres of land where Perryopolis now stands. Washington visited his Western Pennsylvania and Ohio Valley possessions the following year and was very much pleased with his purchase here Later Washington decided to have a gristmill builthere and sent a man by the name of Gilbert Simpson to manage the new project and to look after his other possessions in this area. After many hardships and difficulties, the mill was finally put into operation in 1776. Though the mill was considered one of the best 'in this section, it proved unprofitable and was soon up for sale. The mill and surrounding land were leased four years later to Col. Israel Shreve. In 1795 Col. Shreve and Washington made an agreement for the sale of that land. However the agreement was never completed during Washington's lifetime, but after his death, in 1779, it was finally declared valid, The mill has now deteriorated from lack of care. Perryopolis was named in honor of Oliver Hazard Perry who had defeated the British fleet on Lake Erie in 1813. Previously it had been called New Boston. In 1814 the town was laid out on a plan similar to that of Washington, D. C,In the center of the town is a small circular area which is now often referred to as the diamond, from which streets extend in every direction, like a replica of a large wheel. Some of these streets bear such historic names as Liberty Avenue, Federal Street, Independence Street, and Constitution Street. A high school was established in 1904, followed in 1906 by the construction of the present high school building and in 1921 by the elementary building. ln 1951 Perry and Lower Tyrone Townships joined to form the present Perry-Lower Tyrone Joint Junior-Senior High School. The 50th Anniversary of the school was celebrated from October 19 to October 23, 1955. Many noted people have visited Perryopolis: in l825,Marquis de La Fayette, in 1908, William Jennings Bryan, in 1944, Harry S. Truman. J. Buell Snyder, at one time high school principal,was a member of the United States Congress for thirteen years. Eight years ago Mary Fuller Frazier, who had spent her childhood here, willed to the community fBl,500,000. Perryopolis became known as the Cinderella Town . Such nationally known magazines as Life, Time, and Newsweek carried stories and pictures while other articles appeared in New York, Texas, and California newspapers. In 1954 Perryopolis became a borough. Some of the civic improvements proposed for the town include a public lighting system, now completed, sanitary sewage disposal plant, under contract, water supply system, and educational center. The town has four churches - Methodist, Christian, Roman Catholic, and Greek Catholic, all of which provide one weekday Religious Education period with released school time for the high school students. Perryopolis residents engage in many types of work. There are professional and business people, steel and mine workers, railroaders and farmers. Industries in the community include a pre-fabricated homes company, a large milk company, and two brick companies. The business enterprises are privately owned. In 1951 a housing project of sixty homes was completed.