posted by Joe Polk at 2:08 PM /
My friends and family know that I love to go to garage sales, flea markets, etc. Two weeks ago, I went to an estate sale on Edward Avenue and picked up this 48 year old plate. As you can see, it was made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Mount Lebanon Township (now the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon) with artwork of each church in town around the plate.
What I really found interesting was the writing on the back of the plate which talks about the history of our town. It is as follows:
"Mt. Lebanon Township came into existence February 1912 when the Court of Quarter Sessions of Allegheny County decreed the division of the Township of Scott and created the Township of Mt. Lebanon.
The name, Mt. Lebanon, originated from the two cedar trees of Lebanon brought back from the Holy Land in 1950 by Rev. Joseph Clokey. These were planted in the middle of his farm which bordered Bower Hill and Washington Rds.
In 1912 Mt. Lebanon had a real estate valuation of three and a quarter millions; a population of 1,705; one school house; seventy-five street lights; one fire hydrant; no paved streets; no fire department; no police force.
Today -- fifty years later -- the real estate valuation is $230,000,000. The Township boasts a population of 36,000; a fire department with five pieces of modern fire fighting equipment, ten full-time firemen and thirty-two volunteers; 78 miles of paved streets and 40-member Police department.
Fourteen beautiful churches are the centers of the community's religious life. St. Winifred Roman Catholic Church has just begun construction. Recognized nationally for its outstanding work, the Mt. Lebanon public school system with a pupil population of 7,700 has one high school, two junior high schools and six elementary schools.
Mt. Lebanon residents are justly proud of their well-landscaped suburban homes; their active clubs; unique music and lecture societies; swim groups and athletic organizations which have gained state and national recognition.
Made for A. G. Trimble Co, 3006 Jenkins Arcade, Pittsburgh 22 Penna."
NOTE: I have donated the plate to the Historical Society of Mt. Lebanon.
Labels: historical society, history of mt. Lebanon
5 Comments:
I've always been fascinated with the hybrid structure of our fire department - it's interesting when you think about it. The department has paid fire fighters so it's not a volunteer fire department in the eyes of our insurance companies; but the volunteer component takes the tax burden off of the community for a completely paid fire fighter service.
Very clever.
Thanks Joe for donating this real *find* to the Historical Society...it will be interesting to compare the stats from 1962 with those of our 100th. in 2012.
Bill Lewis
That looks like a beautiful plate. Thank you for donating it to the Historical Society so we all can enjoy it.
Sue Dixon
Joe,
I’m glad you found the 48-year old plate about Mt. Lebanon. Note the plate says, we had a school system with a pupil population of 7,700 has one high school, two junior high schools and six (6) elementary schools.”
Now we have a school system with a pupil population of 5268, one high school, two middle schools and seven (7) elementary schools.
We have lost 2434 students and added one (1) building.
It's interesting to think about the history, tradition, and culture that is captured in that plate.
It's equally unfortunate to think of the risk that we all face having our heritage and our community destroyed by a rogue School Board that has betrayed the sacred trust that we granted them.
Symbolically, this rogue Board is about to "shatter that beautiful plate". - and for what? Why did they do this? Was it incompetence, or special interests that are about to destroy what took generations to build.
This rogue Board has no appreciation for the hard work or values that our community represents. I truly hope that the residents of our community get involved, speak-out, and end this foolishness before it's too late!
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