The Picture Box

Once a college

noreply@blogger.com (Park Burroughs) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:47:00 +0000

Monongahela College, the first Baptist college in Western Pennsylvania, was founded in Jefferson, Greene County, in 1867. It operated in this building, erected in 1871, until it closed in 1894. It was used as the high school in Jefferson until it was torn down in 1956.

Dale wasn't much of a fisherman

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Beveridge) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:49:00 +0000

But, he kept his sense of humor about him.

Hawkins funeral

noreply@blogger.com (Park Burroughs) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:40:00 +0000

Veterans lined Park Avenue near the entrance to Washington Cemetery for the funeral procession of Col. Alexander Hawkins on Aug. 5, 1899. Thousands of Western Pennsylvanians and soldiers from the tri-state area streamed into Washington for the funeral of the commander of the Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, who had led his men to battle in the Philippines despite being mortally ill with malaria and cancer, and had died aboard ship en route back to the United States.

Say cheese

noreply@blogger.com (Park Burroughs) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:25:00 +0000

Life is hard. Then you get your picture taken. Then you die.

Little scrubber

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Beveridge) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:55:00 +0000

Along for the ride

noreply@blogger.com (Park Burroughs) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:21:00 +0000

Joey Dunbar, son of Joseph Dunbar, principal of the Institute for Practical Arts in Old Concord, Pa., sits on his pony with his dog, Chums, in 1923. The institute operate from 1920 to 1943. Founded by influential Washington religious and educational leaders, it taught immigrants and their children about the American way of life – its language, customs, religion and government.

Meteorite?

noreply@blogger.com (Park Burroughs) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:46:00 +0000

For an April Fools Day edition of the Observer-Reporter in the 1970s, photographer Jim McNutt created this montage purporting to show a meteorite burning on Interstate 79. Some readers found the front-page photo less than amusing.

Saved in a photo

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Beveridge) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:56:00 +0000

The second-floor living room in an apartment dating to 1883 in a building later used Vaughn Chevrolet at 101-109 E. Main St., Monongahela, Pa. The structure in one of America's National Register of Historic Districts was demolished about a decade ago.

Ho hum

noreply@blogger.com (Park Burroughs) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:52:00 +0000

This is one of my favorite photos from "200 Years: Our History Through the Pages of the Observer-Reporter." Hockey's Stanley Cup made it to the Observer-Reporter newsroom on Aug. 12, 1992, after the Pittsburgh Penguins won the NHL championship. From this angle, with copy editor Michael Bradwell preoccupied with work in the background, the famous trophy looks like no more than an ignored piece of furniture.

Normy

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Beveridge) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:57:00 +0000

Wedding portrait

noreply@blogger.com (Park Burroughs) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:34:00 +0000

This unidentified couple posed for a portrait in the 1850s. The photo was published in "200 Year: Our History Through the Pages of the Observer-Reporter."

'Hot metal' days

noreply@blogger.com (Park Burroughs) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:57:00 +0000

Compositor Pete Jacanin operates a Lintoype typesetting machine in January 1973, shortly before the machines were replaced with more modern equipment. This photo appeared in "200 Years: Our History Through the Pages of the Observer-Reporter."

Triumphal Arch

noreply@blogger.com (Park Burroughs) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:17:00 +0000

This arch was constructed over Main Street in front of the courthouse in Washington, Pa.,for the city's centennial celebration Oct. 2-8, 1910. The many parades during the week were viewed from the reviewing stand atop the arch. Washington celebrates its bicentennial this year.

Old stone inn

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Beveridge) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 12:01:00 +0000

John Krepps Tavern, built circa 1822 along the Old National Road in Centerville, Pa.

Baird house

noreply@blogger.com (Park Burroughs) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:38:00 +0000

The residence of Dr. Absalom Baird stood for 117 years on West Maiden Street in Washington, Pa., before it was torn down to make way for the post office, later to become City Hall. The Bourbon Prince, Louis Phillipe, afterward King of France, was entertained in the home on June 20, 1797.

Heyday of Washington, Pa.

noreply@blogger.com (Park Burroughs) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:37:00 +0000

This photo from about 1958 shows Main Street between Beau and Chestnut streets in its commercial prime.

Union officers

noreply@blogger.com (Park Burroughs) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:34:00 +0000

These Union officers were photographed in Falmouth, Va., in 1863. From left are First Lt. George McCully Laughlin, First Lt. Alexander Sweeney, and Capt. David Acheson, later killed at Gettysburg.

Mail room

noreply@blogger.com (Park Burroughs) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:02:00 +0000

This photo was taken in the mail room of the Washington Observer in the 1930s.

Old Main

noreply@blogger.com (Park Burroughs) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:41:00 +0000

Old Main on the campus of Washington & Jefferson College was constructed in 1836, but the twin towers went up in 1865. This photo was probably made shortly after their completion.

Company founder

noreply@blogger.com (Park Burroughs) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:45:00 +0000

John L. Stewart, founder of Observer Publishing Co., stands with his grandsons at a newspaper carriers' picnic in 1940. At left is William B. Northrop, and at right is John L.S. Northrop, later to become co-publishers of the Observer-Reporter.

The original pumper

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Beveridge) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:28:00 +0000

Claysville, Pa., fireman Walter Paget was photographed in 1952 at the wheel of the borough's 1935 Stutz Engine, which was believed to have been the first motorized fire truck in Western Washington County.

Mall in better times

noreply@blogger.com (Park Burroughs) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:08:00 +0000

The Washington Mall, now mostly vacant, was once a center of community activity. Here, square dancers are watched by hundreds during the annual Super Bowl of Chili, the Observer-Reporter's most successful promotional event. It was held each year on the Sunday before the NFL's Super Bowl, and this one took place Jan. 21, 1990.

Mr. Easter Bunny

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Beveridge) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:06:00 +0000

Found on the street in Pittsburgh's South Side district.

Row houses

noreply@blogger.com (Park Burroughs) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:56:00 +0000

These apartments were on the south side of East Wheeling Street in Washington, Pa., just east of Main Street. They were demolished in 1978 and replaced with a parking lot for Observer-Reporter employees.

Extra! Extra!

noreply@blogger.com (Park Burroughs) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:49:00 +0000

This photo of newspaper carriers for The Reporter in Washington, Pa., was taken in the 1920s.