Yes During the Depression when a young couple would get married honeymoon options where few as most could not afford them this often meant staying the wedding night at some ones home and with this started many fun and weird wedding night traditions . In some cases the young couples location would be discovered and neighbors would stand outside and party and make noises etc to disturb the couples love making and in turn the young couple would heat penny's on the stove and throw them into the crowd to disperse them and it was said it was good luck to get hit and catch one of them.
night
Other times they would show up and keep the bride and groom up all night partying to prevent wedding night nuptials.
All meant in fun of course many brides did not appreciate it .
But when moneys short and options few things like this are what happened around the tri-state
As you travel out I-279 North thru the Northside and pass the old KDKA TV tower it looks like it was never finished but at one time it actually was?
Yes the tower looks like it was never finished with its big bright white ball that says KDKA on it as you go out I -279 East Street Valley Expressway also known as Parkway North. but at one time it actually was a completed 500 foot free standing tower.
That was until a terrific wind storm came by in 1955 and blew the tower over and it was left with just the bottom base in place after it was cleaned up.
The reason most people do not remember it getting knocked over is because no one got hurt or killed and not much damage other than the tower occurred.
The reason most people do not remember it getting knocked over is because no one got hurt or killed and not much damage other than the tower occurred.
We have been very lucky when it comes to towers staying in place and not being damaged however at least twice some one deliberately cut the guy wires and destroyed the towers of WAMO in Reserve Township. But all in all Pittsburgh has an excellent record for how they build and maintain towers.
An Older Couple in a Home covered with Strange Illuminati Markings in E. Carnegie. The home is gone . .Where are they now ?
I would have never known this home ever existed at Alter St and Bert Way had I not been called to do some work at a nearby personnel care home.in E. Carnegie a part of the city of Pittsburgh that borders Scott Twp. and Carnegie.Boro
In the end of alleyway behind the care home was a simple white clapboarded house with a yard filled with debris and an older white couple who where sorting it. . But what seemed to be a hoarding situation had a strange twist the home was covered with all kind of strange Illuminati and Free Mason type symbols the all seeing eye, the masons compass , the pagan pentacle etc .
The home did not appear to have utility's possibly just electric as they used wood to heat and they where hauling in jugs of water.
Rather strange I thought till one day the couple saw the Personnel Care home had a pile of walkers and other scrap metal outside and the couple asked if they could take it the owner agreed and I got to talk to them for a few minutes never learned their names but they said they where on disability and scrapping by where they could by picking up scrap metal and such for recycling they had an old ford pickup failing apart they held together with tape and bailing wire literately.
Thats when I asked them about the symbols on their house and they started telling me all about how government was suppressing us all how they where being assaulted by radio beams ,fluoride in the water etc. Yes you name it they where full conspiracy believers even gave me some CD Disks I still have on all kind of conspiracy's. ,but they where harmless and never ever bothered anyone but had made their home a Bill Board of their beliefs.
Apparently the City had enough and I came by to do work at the Personnel care home and the yard was cleaned up and home freshly painted and up for rent and 6 months later it had been torn down now just an empty lot which I thought strange why bother cleaning it up if your going to tear t down but it must have been too bad a shape for any home flipper to want it. All there is now is an empty lot and some trees you would never know such a home and the couple who lived there ever existed.
In the end of alleyway behind the care home was a simple white clapboarded house with a yard filled with debris and an older white couple who where sorting it. . But what seemed to be a hoarding situation had a strange twist the home was covered with all kind of strange Illuminati and Free Mason type symbols the all seeing eye, the masons compass , the pagan pentacle etc .
The home did not appear to have utility's possibly just electric as they used wood to heat and they where hauling in jugs of water.
Rather strange I thought till one day the couple saw the Personnel Care home had a pile of walkers and other scrap metal outside and the couple asked if they could take it the owner agreed and I got to talk to them for a few minutes never learned their names but they said they where on disability and scrapping by where they could by picking up scrap metal and such for recycling they had an old ford pickup failing apart they held together with tape and bailing wire literately.
Thats when I asked them about the symbols on their house and they started telling me all about how government was suppressing us all how they where being assaulted by radio beams ,fluoride in the water etc. Yes you name it they where full conspiracy believers even gave me some CD Disks I still have on all kind of conspiracy's. ,but they where harmless and never ever bothered anyone but had made their home a Bill Board of their beliefs.
The Thunder Bird Boatel an old show boat that sat along the Allegheny river in Ohara twp pa. which had a notoroius ending.
There is nothing now but a couple pilings along the Allegheny River where the Thunderbird Boatel once sat.
along River Road in O
hara Twp. at an angle across from the Oakmont Yacht Club a big white old fashioned side wheeler it sat along River Road for several decades and hosted numerous musical acts
as well as dinner party's and events .
along River Road in O
hara Twp. at an angle across from the Oakmont Yacht Club a big white old fashioned side wheeler it sat along River Road for several decades and hosted numerous musical acts
as well as dinner party's and events .
But with the loss of a newer generation not wanting to dress up and go to a show and dinner the Boatel ended up closing in 1967and sitting empty for many years till it became a notorious private gay bondage club apparently when it was raided by the Allegheny County Police for under age drinking and sealed its fate never to open again. I remember the headlines flashing across KDKA late evening news many people where shocked at the time in late 70s when the raid took place. Eventually in early80's it was towed down river and as far as I can determine and
was scrapped. Its hard to find anything online about the boatel and of course memory's are fading as well.
 |
| Aerial view of the Thunderbird Boatel next to water treatment plant |
With its notorious past its not hard understanding why . Apparently not everyone was a fan of it sitting there as several neighbors complained to Ohara twp about noise from party's and lack of parking .
Unfortunately its another piece of lost history in the Pittsburgh region and for some people good reason one of those what happens in Vegas stayed in Vegas situations.
Yes there actually was a Transylvania Bible School in Pennsylvania
Transylvania Bible School sure conjures up images of a college vampires would attend but this was not the case it was a very serious bible study school located on Freeport Road the Old Pa route 28
in Slate Lick Armstrong County.
Started by the Dr. Harry Shilling in 1938 -45
In what started out as a camp ground ,gas station etc. and grew into a beautiful historic stone 3 story learning facility which still stands to this day and is now known as Biblicle Life Institute
I still remember the road side sign along modern route 28 which proudly proclaimed Transylvania Bible School back in 60s which was there for many years. and always wondered about the place till finnaly when i was able to drive on my own I drove up the old 28 Freeport road and found it.
people don't believe you when you tell them their was just such a place named Transylvania Bible School but for any one who lived in Armstrong ,Butler County area at the time they would remember that road sign had they traveled down Route 28.
in Slate Lick Armstrong County.
Started by the Dr. Harry Shilling in 1938 -45
In what started out as a camp ground ,gas station etc. and grew into a beautiful historic stone 3 story learning facility which still stands to this day and is now known as Biblicle Life Institute
people don't believe you when you tell them their was just such a place named Transylvania Bible School but for any one who lived in Armstrong ,Butler County area at the time they would remember that road sign had they traveled down Route 28.
40-8 La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux The military Organization with a chapter here in Pa. you probably never heard of but may remember their parade float
If you ever attended a parade in Western Pa. in 60s , 70s or early 80's you may remember this float which was built to resemble a train.
The last time I saw it was in Kittaning around 2005 it was sitting in a vacant lot minus its parade marking the one I always remembered was the 40-8 marking on the side.
which got me wondering what was this float all about ? and what happened to it?
 |
| In a Parade in Ellwood City Pa. |
Well the answer will surprise you . The name of the Organization is
40 - 8 La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux which mens Forty and eight in french
It is an Elite High Honors Military Organization which came out of the American Legion national Meeting held right here in Philadelphia in 1920 by returning WWI vets
http://www.fortyandeight.org/history-of-the-408/
and whose mission was to help take care of the orphans of soldiers
killed during WWI and has since taken on other charitable work.
All based around the numbers 40-8 which was marked on rail cars in Europe during WWI which meant occupancy by 40 soldiers or 8 horses
There where a couple chapters here in Pa. they even have a picnic grounds it was in Fayette County its way high up on a mountain ridge along US 119 in Smithfeild Chapter 18 .Unfortunately it has closed as well
Sadly all the men who built the float and where member of the local Voiture as it was known have all passed and chapter possibly closed . I have not heard of any activity's of the group in many years which is why the train was sitting where it was up for sale.
another unique piece of W. Pa military history lost except for Smithfeild which recently closed But there is still an active chapter in Bucks Montgomery county area.
and one in Trumbel County Ohio
A Strange Unused Tunnel Entrance on Southsides E. Carson Street
If you travel down E. Carson several hundred feet from Arlington ave and across from terminal way you will find a strange unused tunnel entrance
not quite big enough for a modern car but large enough to make one wonder what it was for .
It has always been fenced off as long as I can remember but at one time you could walk under the Norfolk Southern Railroad Tracks to a small group of homes in a gully beside Arlington Ave which was partly filled in and reused for the construction of the Liberty bridge in the 1930s. .
People often call this the Neeld Tunnel as there was a proposal at one time to run a tunnel from near this area on E. Carson to Warrinton ave But this does not seem to be the case tunnel is not big enough . Most logical explanation is it was shut off and replaced by several steel stair cases built over the railroad because the tunnels where dark and dangerous for pedestrians to use to their homes .
Many of the pedestrian tunnels under the railroad in Wilkinsburg where closed off for the same reason.
Sadly many of the steel staircases have been closed and removed as well over the years as people no longer walk to work in the numbers they once did from the slopes.
If i find any more solid evidence on the tunnel and its history I will update it in the future.
not quite big enough for a modern car but large enough to make one wonder what it was for .
People often call this the Neeld Tunnel as there was a proposal at one time to run a tunnel from near this area on E. Carson to Warrinton ave But this does not seem to be the case tunnel is not big enough . Most logical explanation is it was shut off and replaced by several steel stair cases built over the railroad because the tunnels where dark and dangerous for pedestrians to use to their homes .
 |
| Bridge over E. Carson near tunnel now gone |
Many of the pedestrian tunnels under the railroad in Wilkinsburg where closed off for the same reason.
Sadly many of the steel staircases have been closed and removed as well over the years as people no longer walk to work in the numbers they once did from the slopes.
If i find any more solid evidence on the tunnel and its history I will update it in the future.
Rumors of a not so Holy Cemetary in Westmoreland county where a Convent and Academy once stood
The St Xavier Convent Academy for Girls once stood along Us 30 The Lincoln Highway near Latrobe it was within eye site of St Vincent's .
Sadly all that remains is a old road a couple pathways a broken statue of Mary and some foundations the Academy and Convent where destroyed in a catastrophic fire back in January 28 1963
.
What does remain and is still in use thou is the St Xavier Cemetery a little down Xavier road
with its neatly aligned tomb stones and markers the final resting place of the Nuns of Mercy
Unfortunately they have had to fence off and forbid trespassers due to graves being robbed of brass plates and ornaments and vandalism .
It is a Holy and consecrated place not to be disturbed.
But locals have for years have talked about Rumors of a 2nd Cemetery on the property an Unholy Cemetery
where the fetuses of unborn babies are buried those conceived by young lady's who attended the academy who got knocked up by one of the boys from St. Vincent's and even those of nuns said to have become pregnant by priests.
Is there any truth to it the local diocese adamantly denies any such activity ever happens and such cemetery full of hundreds unmarked fetuses graves exists .
However having been raised Roman Catholic I have heard these same rumors not only here at St Xavier but other catholic institutions its a subject not talked about. But lets face it . In very rare instances it did happen, and how it was handled is a subject not to be talked about.Because the Roman Catholic church is anti abortion . Where the children Aborted or where they given up for adoption?
The only way these rumors will be put to rest would be to use ground penetrating radar on the grounds and be allowed to be explored and I do not see that happening.
Yes there has always been quiet rumors about the church and its some times unholy practices and plenty of documentary exist on You-Tube as well as books and on the History and other Cable Channels .Will the truth ever come out who knows but as long as the church is not willing to come out and allow questions to be resolved there will always be questions rumors and conspiracy's.
Sadly all that remains is a old road a couple pathways a broken statue of Mary and some foundations the Academy and Convent where destroyed in a catastrophic fire back in January 28 1963
.
What does remain and is still in use thou is the St Xavier Cemetery a little down Xavier road
with its neatly aligned tomb stones and markers the final resting place of the Nuns of Mercy
It is a Holy and consecrated place not to be disturbed.
But locals have for years have talked about Rumors of a 2nd Cemetery on the property an Unholy Cemetery
where the fetuses of unborn babies are buried those conceived by young lady's who attended the academy who got knocked up by one of the boys from St. Vincent's and even those of nuns said to have become pregnant by priests.
Is there any truth to it the local diocese adamantly denies any such activity ever happens and such cemetery full of hundreds unmarked fetuses graves exists .
However having been raised Roman Catholic I have heard these same rumors not only here at St Xavier but other catholic institutions its a subject not talked about. But lets face it . In very rare instances it did happen, and how it was handled is a subject not to be talked about.Because the Roman Catholic church is anti abortion . Where the children Aborted or where they given up for adoption?
The only way these rumors will be put to rest would be to use ground penetrating radar on the grounds and be allowed to be explored and I do not see that happening.
Yes there has always been quiet rumors about the church and its some times unholy practices and plenty of documentary exist on You-Tube as well as books and on the History and other Cable Channels .Will the truth ever come out who knows but as long as the church is not willing to come out and allow questions to be resolved there will always be questions rumors and conspiracy's.
The strange abandoned cement ponds in South park which where once swimming pools complete with water fall
If you go up behind the Stone Manse in South Park in Allegheny County Pa. you will find several shallow cement ponds complete with water fall emptied and abandoned in early1960s. and now overgrown and forgotten. maybe your grandparents talked about swimming there.
Up until the time they where permanently shit down they where a favorite place for young children to go swimming I went there with my 2 younger brothers several times until the county closed the ponds due to several reasons.
First the ponds had no filtration or treatment to the water and spread of disease was a worry.
2nd they where always being vandalized as they had no fence around them and illegal late night party goers would throw glass beer and wine bottles into the ponds .
You would have to be in your 50s. to say you swam there but what a neat experience it was
especially getting to play around the water falls. I remember a couple kids brought a plastic boat to the pond which was from a promotion for Chicita bananas one time which stores had on display.
Just one of the great memories I will have that younger generations will never ever know .
Up until the time they where permanently shit down they where a favorite place for young children to go swimming I went there with my 2 younger brothers several times until the county closed the ponds due to several reasons.
First the ponds had no filtration or treatment to the water and spread of disease was a worry.
2nd they where always being vandalized as they had no fence around them and illegal late night party goers would throw glass beer and wine bottles into the ponds .
especially getting to play around the water falls. I remember a couple kids brought a plastic boat to the pond which was from a promotion for Chicita bananas one time which stores had on display.
Just one of the great memories I will have that younger generations will never ever know .
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