A Unsolved Mystery who or how did Pesticides get into the water system of residents in southern end of Pittsburgh .in 1980

 December 8th of 1980 Residents in Southern Section of Pittsburgh in particular Beechview area started noticing a very strong chemical smell in there home water supply's. 

 

After a quick investigation by authorities warnings where sent out thru the news and door to door  not to use the water because it some how had been contaminated with Pesticides specifically Chlordane.

https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-09/documents/chlordane.pdf

Supposedly this was seen as  an act of Vandalism when they believed it was injected into the system in the woods off Saw Mill Run Road Pa  51  near Crane Ave.

But the true cause was never determined or individuals prosecuted, but it caused misery for many in and around the Beechview area. for several days while it was flushed out of the water system.

At the time of the incident Back Flow Preventers where not required on most water system supply's to homes and businesses 

https://todayshomeowner.com/plumbing/guides/backflow-preventer/

Which help prevent water in the structure from going backwards into the water supply mainline. 

The incident could have been as simple as some one with a sprayer on a hose spraying the chemical on their lawn and a water main break  in street causing low enough pressure it sucks what ever water is in the home back into the street main.

 The Late Judson Hamil  a Carrick  Plumbing business owner I knew and  Allegheny County Master Plumber was working in the area that day .

He observed a lawn service type truck  at the top of Dagmar Ave  a very hilly and steep area of Beechview  and down near west liberty ave there was a water break that day and he believed at the time this truck was possible cause which he reported  to authorities but was ignored. When you look at a map of area the scenario is very possible .

A true cause was never determined.

Ultimately this incident saw the enforcement of all businesses and eventually all new homes to have to have back flow preventers installed and yearly inspected for businesses

A Number of Deaths from Pneumonia at the Old St Johns Hospital In Pittsburgh's North side . Did the Nuns have something to do with it?

 The Old St Johns Hospital on Pittsburgh's North Side off Brighton Ave  saw many a colorful Criminal pass thru its doors over the years it was opened .One Black hand boss was even killed outside the entrance .

 

When I first learned to drive in 1976 I was taken to the then closed and decrepit hospital lot to practice parallel parking . the place was dark and spooky looking  

https://archive.triblive.com/news/neighbors-awaiting-hospital-demolition/

 But one strange pattern you notice when reading  Newspaper articles about mobsters who passed away in the hospital is how many passed away from Pneumonia .

 A dear late friend of mine Noel McCarthy 

Father died of Pneumonia in the Hospital  in 30s

after receiving a Gun Shot .

Gangster who died from Pneumonia

 

Noel thought his dad was involved in Law Enforcement but I have not been able to verify it that he was a law enforcement officer  and likely he was involved with the rackets.

Noel always said how his dad died was because of the good sisters leaving his hospital room window open on a cold night allowing him to contract pneumonia.

Maybe the nuns saw it as a civic duty to help rid the city of crime. However an alternate theory is because of all the  Tuberculous and other lung disease issues Pittsburgh had Open Ward Tuberculosis   Hospitals where it was believed  the cold air helped people with lung issues. 

 https://theclio.com/entry/89807

 So maybe the nuns thought they where doing good? 

Either way we will never know but when you read all the articles one does wonder .

.

A one time Inn with a notorious gangster past and supposedly haunted near Masury Ohio

 I was doing some Electrical Inspection work in Masury Ohio when I came across an old white sided building I just knew had to have an interesting past and I was right 

Formerly known as the Green Parrot Inn it now  unused along Ohio 82   and 62  just over the Pa. State Line .

https://www.treasurenet.com/threads/john-dillinger-was-frequent-visitor-to-the-green-parrot-in-masury-ohio-in-the-1930s.372014/

In the 1930,s this place was said to be a favorite hangout of John Dillinger  the famous bank robber and its said he would throw penny's to kids out his hotel room window and plenty of other story's many apparently made up like him dropping his gun on the inns bar floor and local sheriff picking it up and handing it back to him and not recognizing him. 

The Inn is also supposedly haunted and has been investigated by paranormal groups. 

https://www.facebook.com/ohshiteam1/videos/the-green-parrot-lounge-masury-oh/150372833689845/

Now why would a gangster hide out here? well close to border he could freely flee police across the border plus the local steel mills etc made for lots of activity where a gangster could hide in anonymity

and commit crimes . These Road Houses as they became known where popular places in the day to dance and drink and have fun. and sadly many are now just memory's .