Remembering Butler Firefighters ~

On April 8, 2001 Scott Wilson [left] and Anthony Murdick [below], both 25, died while attempting to recover the body of kayaker Neil Balcer, 23, from the Slippery Rock Creek near McConnell's Mill. We have not forgotten these dedicated men.

More that 500 fire departments sent firefighters and trucks to participate in the funeral procession. They came from as far away as Texas.
Photos: Unionville VFD

Ronald Stutz BHS '52

                                          
+ 4 November 2010

Ronald Stutz BHS '52 was a very talented basketball star on the BHS team from '48-'52 and was one of the first to make the varsity team while only a freshman. He also played football. He was a member of the 1950 Butler High School football team that won the WPIAL Championship with a perfect 12-0 record. After high school he went on to play football in the US Army where he earned MVP honors.

YMCA ~

For Boys to Remember
Photo: Randy Fox

Lake Arthur and Old 422 ~ Moraine State Park

This picture was taken in 1969 when Lake Arthur was beginning to fill. You can see the remains of Old Rt. 422 before it was covered by water. 
Photo: Barbara Bloom

Stanley's Bakery ~

They had been making donuts for us since 1946.
Closed: March 3, 2011

View from the High School ~

1973

Compare 2011

Photo: Barbara Bloom

Dedication of St.Paul Church ~ September 10, 1911

It was a glorious day 100 years ago today.  
St. Paul Church Dedication
September 10, 1911

Michele Pawk ~ Butler Actress ~ Knock HS '80

In 1992 Michele appeared Crazy for You, 1994 in Merrily We Roll Along, 1996 in Chicago, 1998 in Cabaret - and an original musical, Seussical in 2000.

Hot Dog Shop ~ 2 for 99 cents

Posted in the Butler Eagle Bicentennial Edition

July 4, 2000

Butler High School ~

New Hope for Cherrie Anne Mahan ~

There is hope.

Wilbur Glenn Dumbaugh ~ BHS '45

+ 22 July 2010

It was his voice. We knew him as a business man. But his true love was music. He had a rich baritone voice and was in demand as a soloist. His voice graced many a choir here and in Western Pennsylvania.

Garden Gate Restaurant ~

On 422 West. 

Thanks: Bob Snodgrass

Armco Workers Badge ~

Thanks: Robert Emigh

Diamond Square ~ 1910

A postcard written to C.C. Boyer on September 8, 1909. Mr. Boyer was the general contractor in the building of the original Wayne St. Viaduct.

Photos: Barbara Bloom

[Granddaughter of C.C. Boyer]

Mr. Boyer on the right.

[below] Mr. Boyer in the back seat.

Koch Hardware ~

They had everything. And you could pick it up at 6:30 a.m.

Sgt. Abie Abraham ~

The Prisoner

Thanks: Dick Gamble

Nixon Hotel ~ Famous Guests

William Bendix, Actor

Thanks: Beau Olsen

Young Butler ~

Our strength.

Photo: Bruce Fratto

BHS Football Results ~ 2010

                                                           Photo: goldentornedosports.net
BHS 00 [L] - New Castle 25
BHS 00 [L] - North Allegheny 48
BHS 14 [L] - Canon-McMillan 19
BHS 07 [L] - Pine Richland 35
BHS 06 [L] - Shaler 30
BHS 00 [L] - North Hills 34
BHS 00 [L] - Mars 40
BHS 13 [L] - Erie McDowell 42
BHS 17 [L] - Seneca Valley 41

Alva Hill ~ Butler Architect

Ralph Burt, Dick Rittelmann, John Kosar and Alva Hill 

Alva Hill [right] was the founder founder of the Butler architecture firm, Burt,Hill. He started with the firm in 1952, along with Ralph Burt. Although Burt-Hill is now a multinational firm (and is being acquired later this year by a Canadian firm), the largest office still is in Butler, employing roughly 150 people here.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Hill was an accomplished pilot fighting in World War II flying a P51 Mustang fighter plane. Consequentially, Mr. Hill met Mr. Burt during the war and returned to their hometown of Butler to make architectural history.

The Butler Theater ~

The Butler Warner Theater on Jefferson Street was torn down [1960] to make room for PNC's drive-through bank.

New Monroe Street Bridge ~

Looking towards Jefferson Street.

Photo: Robert Emigh

Old Butler ~ Excavation ~ Preserving ~

They tore down the old Army-Navy Store to make a parking lot for Young's Funeral Home across the street and this is what we see now on the side of the building.

Photo: Dick Vernon

Preserving and beautifying. September 2010

Photo: Bob Orsborn

Elm Court ~ The House We Never Saw

The fountain at the Polk Street entrance . . .

. . . we felt regal when we sat here and wondered.

The Lowrie/Shaw House ~ Behind the Court House

This house was built by Walter Lowrie, Butler's United States senator, in 1828. The house and its furnishings were bequeathed to the Butler Historical Society in 1986, by Isabelle Shaw, a descendent of the Sullivan family, owners of the house since 1839.

Car Show 2010 ~

Photo: DeWayne Johnston

Car Show 2010
Butler is a car town: Home of the Jeep 

Center Avenue ~

Back in the streetcar days. 

Thanks: Don Eury

High School Classroom ~

Thanks: Barbara Bloom

The Swinging Bridge ~

Photo: Barbara Bloom

At the end of Diamond Street taking you to Pullman Park ballfield.

Butler Architecture ~

Court House, view from the back.

Photo: Barbara Bloom

Pullman Park ~

Pullman Park, built in 1934, was used for minor league baseball for twenty years until the Pittsburgh Pirates farm team left in 1951. The ballpark saw many famous faces during its professional baseball days, including Lou Gehrig, Whitey Ford, and Joe DiMaggio who played for a farm team of the New York Yankees.
As of 2009 Pullman Park is the home of the Butler Blue Sox.

Penn Theater Lineup ~ 1941

Thanks: Beau Olsen

35th Annual Butler Road Race ~ 2010

Keeping up, getting ahead . . .

Photographer Don Carlson ~ BHS '38

The Piper Cub crash near Butler is only to show you what can happen when something goes wrong - the pilot did not survive.
- Don Carlson

Photographer Don Carlson ~ BHS '38

RAY ANDRE GENERAL TIRE - A picture I took for advertising purposes with Ray (standing) showing the new snow tires to a potential customer (actually my close friend Vin Cooper who I persuaded to pose for the pix).
- Don Carlson

Ernie's Esquire ~ Rt. 8 South

Was once a select, elegant restaurant for Butlerites.

Photographer Don Carlson ~ BHS '38

REFRESHMENT STAND - located at the Butler County Fair in 1940. (Don worte: "I can provide more info. if you are interested in it.")
- Don Carlson

Photographer Don Carlson ~ BHS '38

TROUTMAN'S DEPARTMENT STORE -  a picture of the newly remodeled young women's department c.1940 taken for an advertisement in the local newspaper. The manager was Floyd Allen and my dad, Carl W. Carlson, was the credit manager. The 3 story and basement building is still standing on the corner of N. Main St. and W. Cunningham St.
- Don Carlson

Photographer Don Carlson ~ BHS '38

BUTLER AIRPORT - small planes lined up at the old Butler Airport which was located along New Castle Road just across from Deshon Hospital and is now the location for a shopping center. Bob Headland was one of the early promoters of aviation in the Butler area. (I flew in and out of this airport and Pgh/Butler airport in the early 40s before enlisting in the Air Corps.)
- Don Carlson

Hot Dog Shop ~

Hot dogs on the grill.

Thanks: Dave Zaccari

The Old Terrace Drive-In ~

This is all that is left of the Old Terrace Drive-in, 5 miles north of Butler on Route 8.
Photo: Dewayne Johnson

William J. Perry ~ BHS '45

William Perry, former Secretary of Defense, in Butler's Bicentenial parade.

March 12, 2000

[Photo: Paul Johnson]

Miller's Florsheim ~