25 Years Ago - January 1977

* The new year has begun with a devastating fire in Hiller.  Five fire companies battled a blaze that caused an estimated $200,000 damage to a one-story structure housing six businesses, eight storage areas and the Hiller post office.  Two firemen, Allan Nichols, 39, South Side Volunteer Fire Company, and Thomas Prendergast, 29, Hiller Volunteer Fire Department, are in fair condition in Brownsville General Hospital after suffering smoke inhalation, while Orlando Abbadini, 33, South Side fireman, was treated at the hospital and released.
         The destroyed complex was located to the rear of the Hiller Fire Department.  The contents of the post office were saved by firemen.  The post office will be temporarily located in the Hiller fire hall until a large mobile home is brought from Pittsburgh to be used as a post office.  Destroyed in the blaze in addition to the post office were the following businesses: Patty’s Beauty Salon, owned by Patty Suba; Bell Telephone office and garage; Ballon TV Sales and Service; Ross Brothers Cable TV office; a laundromat owned by Edgar Burd; and Mobile Radio and Telephone, owned by Richard Filchock.  Owner of the one-story structure is Herbert Mitchell, 815 York Street, Brownsville.

* There were some scary moments aboard a chartered bus carrying forty-four Brownsville Area High School students and a chaperone home from a ski outing at Seven Springs Ski Resort.  The bus was traveling down Albany Hill, one mile east of Brownsville, on an icy snow-covered roadway.  Driver John Stull, 26, of Coal Center, lost control of the vehicle, which crossed over the center line, struck a stone wall and a telephone pole, continued back across the highway, spun around and came to rest against the guard rails, which prevented the bus from going over the hill.
         The only injury was sustained by the driver, who was treated at Brownsville General Hospital and released.  The bus, owned by Hilltop Bus Lines, Monessen, was a total loss.  According to Angelo Quarzo, Fourth Ward councilman and member of the Brownsville Area Ski Club who chaperoned the trip, driver Stull called for help on his CB radio following the accident.  The Virgil D. Diamond family, residing across the roadway from the accident scene, telephoned for help.  The passengers left the bus and walked to Brownsville in the four-inch snow.

* Next fall, middle school students in the California area will be under one roof for the first time since the district was consolidated in 1950.  A new $4 million middle school that is being constructed adjacent to the high school is slated for completion by June 1.  The school district had plans to build  new elementary and high schools, with the thought of converting the present high school into a junior high.  High cost estimates forced the district to abandon that plan.  As a result, the new school will house grades three through eight, instead of the kindergarten through fifth grade enrollment.
 

45 Year Ago - January 1957

* More than 2,000 Christmas trees went up in smoke at the community Christmas tree bonfire sponsored by the South Brownsville Volunteer Fire Company at the high school athletic field parking lot.  Close to 500 youngsters enjoyed the hot dogs and marshmallows provided by the firemen.  Public subscription helped to pay for the food.  Ninety pounds of hot dogs and a huge pile of marshmallows were gone in a twinkling.
         The South Side firemen were aided by North Side, Hiller and West Brownsville firemen and the Auxiliary Police (civil defense).  The trees were arranged in an open circle so the youngsters could roast the wieners along a wide perimeter.  The boys and girls brought their own roasting sticks.  It is estimated that 2,500 persons attended the huge bonfire, which was held in order to discourage smaller private tree burnings which might become hazardous.

* The timetable for constructing a high-level toll bridge at Brownsville appears to have been set back.  Originally it was anticipated that work might start this coming spring, but the State Department of Highways has announced its project schedule for 1957, and the toll bridge is not included on the schedule.  However, survey work is still progressing on the proposed bridge, and the thinking is that construction will begin in 1958 or 1959.  It was recently announced that the location for the bridge has been narrowed to three unspecified sites.

* Chuck Drazenovich, who starred on the gridiron at Brownsville High School in the early 40's and later at Penn State University, has been selected as the “Most Valuable Player” on the Washington Redskins football team.  Another local product, Ed Roebuck, who hurled with Coach Charlie Slick’s Brownsville High School teams of the late 40's, is being sought by the St. Louis Cardinals.  Cardinals General Manager Frank Lane has been in touch with the Brooklyn Dodgers in hopes of making a deal to bolster the sagging St. Louis pitching staff.
 

60 Years Ago - January 1942

* Thomas L. Stokes, a former president of the old South Brownsville borough council and a veteran in serving on local governing bodies, has been elected by acclamation to the presidency of the Brownsville borough council.  He succeeds Herbert F. Edwards.  Thomas Waggoner, who has served as secretary for a number of years, was re-elected to that post, and Max J. Laponsky was retained as borough solicitor.  Howard F. Taylor was re-elected to be treasurer.

* It appears that Donald Earle Newhouse will be declared the winner of the Fourth Annual Brownsville Telegraph Stork Derby.  The 8-pound, 2-ounce son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Newhouse of Grindstone was born in Brownsville General Hospital at 2:45 a.m. on January 1, 1942.  Dr. S. W. Huston was the attending physician.  Young Donald will be awarded a package of prizes including a baby crib or bassinette from Biath Furniture; a baby’s ring from George E. Winner Jeweler; a chenille crib bed spread from Kart’s; an electric bottle warmer from Bush and Marsh Drug; a pair of baby shoes from Kramer’s; a baby spoon and fork set from H. J. Wood; and $5 in U. S. savings stamps from the Brownsville Telegraph.

* Are you purchasing the best quality Blackout Paint?  Ordinary black paints are not suitable for blackout purposes.  Lucas Blackout Paint, sold at Brownsville Hardware Company under the bridge, is expressly formulated for this purpose.  There are two types of blackout paint – exterior and interior.  The exterior type must be used on the outside of smooth glass windows and skylights.  The interior is for use on the inside surface of rough glass.  Lucas Blackout Paint dries flat, since a gloss finish reflects light.  Lucas Paints are being used on all fronts on all types of fighting equipment by our country and our Allies.  Stock up at $2.50 per gallon today.

* Brownsville High School’s basketball squad upset Redstone High School with a surprisingly dominant display on the hard court at Front Street gym.  The Brownies uncovered a new combination in “Woogie” Johns, Tony Mammarella, Bill Fowler, Tony Vigliotti and Andy Negra., and the quintet held the highly touted Black Hawks club to only three field goals and three fouls last night on the way to a 27 - 9 victory.
         The win ended a long slump for Coach Johnny Lessner’s Brownsville basketeers.  Redstone Coach Chauncey Shives’ boys came to Brownsville with a very impressive record, having six straight victories after losing their opener, but two of the Black Hawks’ best players were returning after missing ten days with illnesses.

Past Brownsville Time Capsule articles may be read on the Web at http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~glenntunneycolumn/