Another Sad Closing ~

Robert's Bakery

109 S Main St

is closing at the end of business today.

James Pugh ~ BHS '68

Our James Pugh has had a distinguished career as a freelance trombonist, composer, and educator. His playing crosses all boundaries. He has been recorded in small-group jazz improvisational settings with such artists as Joe Lovano, David "Fathead" Newman, and André Previn. He has recorded classical chamber music with Yo Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble as well as the chamber music of Paul Bowles, Irwin Bazelon, and Ben Johnston. He has been a featured soloist on Grammy-Award winning recordings with Woody Herman and has recorded large orchestral works with the Eos, Concordia, St. Luke's, and 92nd Street Y Orchestras. Jim is well known for his musical integrity, inspiring improvisation, virtuosity, and all-encompassing versatility.

In NPR's year-end round-up of the Best of 2008, trombonist James Pugh’s new recording X-Over Trombone of three jazzy concertos stands out on top.

Hutchinson's Cleaners & Dyers ~

And they delivered . . .

William Morgan ~ Esteemed Butlerite

+ November 30, 2008
Bill Morgan started his career as an entrepreneur as a small boy delivering newspapers in Meridian, where he walked up and back a half-mile lane, all for two cents per paper. He ended up with a chain of 52 restaurants serving Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio.

Hot Dog Shop ~

An ad that appeared in the Butler Eagle Bicentennial Edition

July 4, 2000

Armco Dancing Girls ~ ca. 1950

[L. to r.] Evelyn Druga, Barbara Schultz, Tamara Boring and Joyce Smith.

BHS Football ~ 2008 ~ 3 Wins 5 Losses

BHS 28 [W] - New Castle 21
BHS 26 [W] - Norwin 20
BHS - Penn Hills [cancelled]
BHS 18 [W] - Canon-McMillan 0
BHS 20 [L] - Shaler 37

BHS 14 [L] - Pine Richland 21
BHS 3 [L] - North Hills 21
BHS 7 [L] - North Allegheny 24
BHS 14 [L] - Seneca Valley 18

A Butler Mystery Spot ~ Circus Town

Photo: The Long Way Home

Who knows what this is? It is right off Rt. 422 on Keck Road.

Cassie Kelly-Winkler thinks it is an old permanent circus attraction called

Circus Town.

Center Avenue School ~ 1951

Third Grade class, Room 9

[Click on the picture to make it larger.]

The Larkin Building ~

As of today, Sep 30, 2008 the Larkin Building is no more. . . . . Photos Color: Pat Gallagher
Photos B/W: Barbara Bloom

Larkin & Company

A renowned Butler company that serviced the early oil wells in our area.

Old Butler Senior High School ~

One of Butler's architectural gems. One felt uplifted when one entered.

Hutchinson's Dry Cleaning ~

During W.W. II Hutchinson's Dry Cleaner used horse and buggy to deliver our dry-cleaned clothes to our doorsteps.

Illuminating our Sky ~

Our onetime pride.

Thomas Rutkoski ~ BHS '62 ~ Evangelist

+June 7, 2011 

Butler Evangelist who founded Gospa Missions. Thomas Rutkoski is a speaker in demand in churches throughout the world. His Mission has grown to include worldwide retreats, conferences, prison ministry, healing ministry, speaking engagements, publishing and humanitarian efforts. His books have had inspired many to conversion.

Viaduct Market ~

Everything we needed for a good Italian meal.

Photo: Pat Gallagher

With famous misspelling on the side.

Early Downtown Car Dealership ~

Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet

Corner of Main and Brady Streets

American Bantam Car Company of Butler ~

Manfacturer of our famous small cars, and the Jeep.

Photo: Thanks DeWayne Johnston

Graduation ~ St. Paul's School ~ 1939

Click: Enlargement

Normandy ~ 6 June 1944

Butler Mother

Normandy
June 6, 1944

She was standing
on the porch
that day in June
watching her youngest
come running up the steps
and across the lawn
when it happened
on the beach
at Omaha
where her eldest lay,
face down, no longer
clawing at wet sand.

She stood there, quiet,
holding him close,
fingering his hair.


from: The Butler Pennsylvania Poems

Soap Box Derby ~

An annual affair.

Photo: Thanks DeWayne Johnston
[click on photo to enlarge.]

On the Diamond ~

Served us faithfully for so many years.

Butler from the Air ~

Aerial view looking west, 1977.

Butler Architecture ~

Elegance, next door to the Court House.

Butler ~ Bird's-Eye View

Viewing Butler from South Main Street hill.

Butler's YMCA Swimming Coach ~

John. F. "Pump" McLaughlin
† March 28, 2004
Swimming teacher, coach, mentor, friend.
Left: Eric Namesnik, right: Alice Ann McLaughlin, Pump's niece.

[photographed in front of the YMCA]

An Old Butler House Restored ~

The Lasky House
215 W New Castle Street

Carol Foster bought this house, refurbished every inch of it.

August 15, 1945 ~ Butler Rejoices

The day the Second World War ended.

Main Street at the Courthouse

Howard M. McClung ~ Butlerite

Howard M. McClung

Butler poet, artist and inventor.

† 1939

Isaly's ~ Ice Cream

Our Downtown Isaly's
The stop-off on Main Street.

YMCA ~ Today

At the corner of Penn and Washington Streets.

Eric Namesnik learned to swim here.

Viaduct Replacement ~

People like it.

Msgr. Wm. J. Spiegel ~ A Good Shepherd

Msgr. William J. Spiegel

Pastor St. Paul's Church [1944-1964], builder of St. Paul's School, friend and helper for many.

BHS Football 2007 ~ 0 Wins ~ 9 Losses

Sophomore Cole Harvey was 8 - 15 for 102 yards and 2 TDs

BHS 0 [L] – Kiski 31
BHS 7 [L] – Norwin 35
BHS 17 [L] - Fox Chapel 19
BHS 13 [L] - Bethel Park
BHS 14 [L] - Erie 28
BHS 14 [L] - Shaler 35
BHS 0 [L] - North Hills 20
BHS 0 [L] - North Allegheny 34
BHS 13 [L] - Seneca Valley 27

Downtown Clock

Photo: Butler Eagle 

New clock, new location.
June 2007

Bill Saul ~ Football Great ~ BHS '58

+ September 16, 2006

Bill was a '58 graduate of BHS. At Penn State he played basketball and football. In the NFL he played for the Baltimore Colts and the Pittsburgh Steelers, then one year for the New Orleans Saints and one year for the Detroit Lions. Bill was inducted into the Butler Sports Hall of Fame in 1968. We all looked up to Bill.

Ed Vargo ~ Major League Umpire

Ed Vargo of Butler, National League umpire from 1960-1983, is the only Major League umpire to call one no hitter and one perfect game for the same pitcher. Vargo was behind home plate for Sandy Koufax's no hitter on June 4, 1964 and his perfect game on September 9, 1965.

+ February 2, 2008

Robert McClung, Author ~ BHS '34

† June, 2006

Robert M. McClung was born in Butler, he was a graduate of Butler High School. His first book, "Wings in the Woods," a fictionalized version of his summers on this grandfather's farm, was published in 1948. He received a master's degree at Cornell University and began his dream job by working at the Bronx Zoo in New York. In 1955, he left the zoo, where he was curator of mammals and birds, to devote to his writing. In 1958, he moved to Washington, D.C., as a natural history writer and editor for the National Geographic. In 1962, he moved to Amherst to devote his time to the writing of his own books. He published 66 books, including "Green Darner," "The Story of a Dragonfly;" and "Bufo, the Story of a Toad."

Inseeing ~ Some Strange Photos of Butler

On a recent visit home I walked around and made these rather strange photos.

Greetings to fellow Butlerites,

Charles
Strange photos

Catholic Daughters of America -

CDofA Marching Band
ca. 1945

Harvey Trader ~ Butler's Music Store

As it was back in the 40s and 50s. Located on East North Street. A delightful store.

Beautiful Butler Home ~

Thompson Residence ~ Belmont Road

Butler Public Library ~

The new Butler Public Library.

Butler Cub Scout ~

Signed by the Cubmaster: Paul F. Dugan

Our Town Landmark ~

Our forefathers conceived of this. We take pride in it.

East Jefferson Street ~

This was once a highly frequented Butler establishment.