Getting Together

We have a lot of clubs in Midland, more, maybe, than in most towns. And there's good reason for them. The pioneers in our town faced a tremendous task in hewing a town from an area which was mostly farmland. They were kept busy working long hours and had little time for getting together. But they learned that doing things together was a better way, an easier way, and a way to gain a little recreation.

As 80-year-old Mrs. Olive Porter, of Beaver Avenue, recalls, "It wasn't all hardship. We laughed a lot and had a lot of fun. Of course, we had to make our own fun, but maybe that's why we enjoyed it so much." Those early residents "made their own fun" in a number of ways-a fancy work club, treat packing for church holidays, and dances in each other's kitchens. They had the need to be together, to work together, to help one another. The need brought about the organization of clubs. Once grouped together, the people found they had higher motives than just being together. Each group developed a similar goal-to make our town a better place in which to live.

Since 1914, when the Polish Falcons organized, with Vincent Novak as president, the formation of clubs has increased by leaps and bounds. The histories of these clubs are colorful and reveal bow important they have been to our town's improvement and welfare.

The Midland Civic Club was organized in 1917, thirty nine years ago, by a group of our public spirited women who immediately became active in making Midland a better place to live. Under the initial guidance of Mrs. John W. Daugherty, wife of the general superintendent of the Pittsburgh Crucible Company, the Civic Club was instrumental in having ugly sign boards removed from vacant lots, instigating a curfew rule, lighting our playgrounds and starting campaigns to keep our streets free of litter. They planted the first shade trees, and brought about the annual observation of Arbor Day.

The Civic Club members hired a trained nurse whose service was generally available to Midland people who needed it, but the nurse was mainly hired to teach mothers the care of their babies. The Club was the nucleus for the forming of the Red Cross with its activities during World War 1, and later gave their good services during the influenza epidemic. During 1918-1919, a child clinic was started, and later a milk and ice fund was established.

During the 1920-1921 depression, the Civic Club raised funds to supply food and clothing to the needy. During Christmas week of 1922, the Club sponsored the first Community Christmas Tree.

In May, 1925, the Club started a drive for the Soldiers' Memorial and a fund of $2249.06 was raised. The Memorial was dedicated November 11, 1925.

In 1926, the Club encouraged the formation of the Parent-Teacher Association. Trees were planted in the Park to honor past presidents in 1930.

Another of the Club's outstanding achievements was the campaign conducted which brought about legislation to ban individuals using fireworks in our town. The Club also started the first Halloween Parade in 1936.

The Civic Club was very active during the days of World War II serving the community unselfishly then as always.

The Sisterhood of the Sons of Israel congregation dates back to 1918 and was known to our town as the Ladies Hebrew Auxiliary Society. They disbanded in 1930 and reformed four years later under their present name with Mrs. Meyer Silverman, president. The group helps bring Jewish families in our area closer together and helps maintain the social rooms at the synagogue. There are now 18 members.

There are other groups in our town which were organized by a bond of religious interests. Among these are the Knights of Columbus, instituted June 29, 1919 with James J. O'Neill as Grand Knight, and the Catholic Daughters of America, Court Midland, May 29, 1921. The Catholic Daughters organized with 58 women and has a present membership totaling 245. During the depression and World War 11, the group entered into all civic activities, helping feed and clothe unfortunate people out of work, participating in bond drives, Red Cross work and numerous other charitable works. Miss Della Crawford was first Grand Regent.

An important youth activity was recognized early in our town when the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts were organized.

The Boy Scout movement began in the United States in 1910. The idea caught on in Midland in 1913 when in that year, and for two years following, a group of boys met regularly in a building at the rear of the present American Legion home. Led by William J. Franklin, the boys organized a band and a drill team.

There is no record of scouting from 1915 until 1922 when Frank Ketler, supervisor of our schools, organized and chartered the first Scout troop in Midland. During the next ten years, scouting became a popular activity. In 1930, we had five troops each led by a well-trained scoutmaster. A number of leading citizens also served as committeemen and took a very active part in investiture services, courts of honor, camping, merit badge instruction, and raising funds to carry on the program.

In the early 1930's the troops were sponsored by the public schools and were a part of the Allegheny County Council West.

During the summer months the Scouts attended camp, and many of us today have wonderful memories of good times at Camp Umpstedder, Camp Twin Echo, Camp Hubbard and Dunn-Eden.

A number of our boys attained the highest rank in scouting. Among those who became Eagle Scouts were Charles McNeillie, Harry Bream, Val Vuletic, Scotty Bazard, Carl Michaels and Albert Trioni.

in scouting was Arthur W. Gittins. He was awarded the Silver Beaver Award, January 1, 1939, by the National Council in recognition of outstanding services.

Scouting had its low ebb in our town during World War 11, but it has been coming back in the past five or six years. At present we have three troops: Number 415, sponsored by the Lions Club; Number 423, sponsored by the Serbian Church; and Number 493 sponsored by the Midland Heights Firemen.

The Girl Scouts this year celebrated their 44th birthday internationally and their 34th year in Midland.

The first troop was organized in 1922 under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. H. Otto Parker. Mrs. Parker was the first Captain and Eleanor Graham was her lieutenant. The troop was known as a lone troop, and the leaders had to depend on the mails from Pittsburgh and New York for their training.

Meetings were first held in members' homes, but now the girls meet in the scout room provided by the Midland School Board in the basement of the Seventh Street school.

In 1941 a Leaders Club was organized, under the leadership of Mrs. John Rodfong, to provide social activity and programming for the leaders of the Midland District Girl Scouts. Three years later, under the direction of Mrs. Rodfong, the first day camp program was started. The next year the first Brownie troop for girls, ages seven to ten, was introduced in our town under the leadership of Mrs. Ralph Jewell and Mrs. Albert Silverberg.

Today there are over 200 girls of the Midland area participating in scouting with ten Girl Scout troops and four Brownie troops.

Another important social-civic group iii our town is the Parent Teacher Association first organized in 1926 by a group of interested citizens. Mrs. F. B. Hill, Mrs. Eli Jones and Mrs. Markle Hurtt of the Midland Civic Club met with Frank Ketler, supervisor of our schools, and teachers of the Seventh Street School. After general meetings the organization was completed with Mrs. Hill the first president. Later units were organized at First, Fourth, and Seventh Street Schools. Throughout the 30 years of its organization, the PTA has promoted the health and welfare of the children in our public schools and worked to bring school and family together for the benefit of the child by helping to keep and encourage high educational aims.

The American Legion, Midland Post Number 481, was granted its charter in 1928 with Edwin M. Wallover elected commander. When the charter was closed at the end of the year, the post had a total of 59 charter members.

The post has paid respects to all war veterans interred in our area each Memorial Day since its founding. They have been hosts to Beaver County on three occasions celebrating Armistice or Veteran's Day. A drum and bugle corps was organized in 1930.

During 19033, the Post distributed thousands of dollars of surplus government clothing to needy families in our area.

The Ladies Auxiliary was formed in 1939 during the leadership of Commander Leo P. McGeehan.

During World War 11, the Post dedicated honor rolls in Midland, Industry, Shippingport and Georgetown and, in 1950, was in charge of dedication ceremonies at the Veterans Memorial Swimming Pool.

The group grants scholarship awards to two outstanding eighth grade students each year in public and parochial schools. It sponsors, too, an essay contest each year for all senior high school students with the award of a four-year college scholarship going to the county winner.

Among other activities sponsored by the Midland Post annually, in addition to participation in all community sponsored activities, are the Santa Clans Toy Workshop, the Halloween parade, the Junior Legion baseball team, and a basketball team in the junior tournament at East Liverpool which has brought home a championship for the past three seasons.

A group of civic minded men in our town realizing a need in our town for a service club arranged a meeting of leaders in industry, business, and the professions. A committee was appointed to arrange for the organization of a Rotary Club. The Club was formally launched with a charter membership of 31 members at a dinner meeting on January 31, 1929. Robert Lloyd was chosen first president. The Club was elected to Rotary International membership as Club Number 3109, in 1929.

Since it was organized, the Rotary Club or its members has taken part in every community activity. Some of these are crippled children assistance, the Red Cross, War Bond Drives, Community Chest, Combined Charities, Boy Scouts, Fourth of July celebration and the Post-Prom Committee. It has recently completed a picnic pavilion located in the park just above the swimming pool. The pavilion was just turned over to the Borough for the use of the public.

In 1933, during the presidency of Mrs. George E. Muns, the Midland Civic Club organized the Civic Club Juniors, now known as the Midland junior Women's Club. Its purpose, like its parent group, is to serve and to help make our town a better place to live in. This year, for the first time, the Pittsburgh Children's Theater has presented productions in Midland under the auspices of the Junior Women's Club, now numbering 40 members.

One of the very active groups in our town is the Midland Sportsmen's Club, Inc. Seventy-five out of 120 enrolled members met March 21, 1934 to elect officers. Fred G. Wilton was named president. The next year he and William A. Steele met with representatives from Beaver Falls and Ambridge to form the Beaver County Sportsmen's League. The group held its first field day at Alum Rock Park, one of the biggest events ever held by any sportsmen's group in this part of the state.

The Club installed traps at Ohioville and conducted trap shooting contests. In 1938 the Club leased land on Midland Heights from the Midland Improvement Company. Trap houses and rifle ranges were built along with picnic grounds and fire places, but the land was taken over in the summer of 1941 by the Federal Housing Authority. In 1941, the Club made arrangements to purchase the Elliott, Kirk, and Laughlin farms which were taken over by the Game Commission as a State Game Refuge. Later the Ferguson farm was added to bring the total to 1,200 acres. Two years later, the Club purchased the 129-acre Popp farm which it has developed to include rifle ranges, trap houses and picnic grounds. A small lake is being built which will add to the pleasure of the children.

The Club activities have also included the stocking of game and fish, raising of pheasants, feeding game in the winters, conducting fishing rodeos for children, and the planting of 55,000 trees on the game refuge and the farm.

The Club schedules indoor programs during the winter and summer picnics for the public.

The Societa Operaria Italiana di St. Antonio had its first meeting in 1938 with 48 members present. At the following organization meeting Nick D'Innocenzo was elected president, a position he still holds. The organization was incorporated in 1939. Today it has a membership of 366.

The Midland Lions Club was organized in 1947, with T. E. Rodfong elected first president. The primary objective of the Club is sight conservation and projects to assist the blind. Along this line, the Club supports the Beaver County Lighthouse at New Brighton and contributes eye glasses, examinations, and eye operations for the needy. Besides this, the Club instigated the only juvenile Court in our town, outfitted one of the first midget football teams, erects community Christmas trees, donates to Christmas lighting and holds an annual Christmas party for needy children. The Club supports other civic causes and recently sent the High School band to the Lions' convention in New York City. Presently, the Lions are building a picnic pavilion which will be turned over to the Borough for public use.

Money for the Club's activities is raised chiefly by the Lions-Rotary Minstrel, Broom Sale, Community Birthday Calendars and outside shows.

The Business and Professional Women's Club of Midland had its start when the charter members were initiated in 1947 with Dr. Giannina Castelli Swinker, first president. The group is a member of the Pennsylvania Federation and the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc. Some of its outstanding activities include sponsoring the annual Career Clinic for senior high school girls, and starting the project of giving a $400 scholarship to a deserving senior girl for four years of training at the college of her choice. Money for the Career Clinic is raised through concerts given by the Crucible Male Chorus. The Club has a present membership of 20.

The Midland Lioness Club was organized in 1951, with Mrs. Gertrude Replane as president, for the purpose of uniting its membership in the bond of good fellowship, encouraging active participation in civic and social welfare. Its projects have been contributing to needy families and supporting local youth groups such as the Post-Prom Committee, the Cub Scouts, and the Dental Clinic.

The Midland Assembly-Order of the Rainbow for Girls was organized in 1953 with Miss Ruth Ann Stillwagon installed as the Worthy Adviser and Mrs. Grace Carter as Mother Adviser. This group of teenage girls has the desire to coordinate their work with community interests and want the lessons they receive to be practical in their relationships to the needed interest of their country. They receive ritualistic training, a mathematical approach to character building, training in the value of secrecy and how to use it constructively. They are taught the love of our country, allegiance to the President and all dignitaries of the United States. They are taught that they must be religious, to have strength to fight successfully the battles of life, and to serve their community asking no limitations to that service except that it be honorable.

We haven't mentioned all the clubs in our town, of course. There are many that are primarily of a social nature and important to the character of Midland, but we've got some other things to tell you that we must hurry along to. Before we leave the subject of getting together though, we'd like to tell you about two other activities which are a little different.

One is the Post-Prom Committee. Here is an example of clubs getting together to sponsor a good idea. The Rotary Club started the Committee when Dave Snyder, at the time principal of our high school, was the Club's president. The Committee was organized in 1951 to interest the junior and Senior high school pupils and their guests to remain here in our town following the junior-Senior Prom and Senior Dance for their own well-being. Carl Steinberg was the first chairman of the Committee with Mrs. Margaret Migliore co-chairman. The program, providing entertainment and food after the dance, has been very successful and the parents appreciate the fact that the young people need not leave the community to have a good celebration at the full well-planned program offered by the Committee.

Believing that the large amount of time and energy spent by members of the high school band to give the town a first class musical organization should be recognized, a group of citizens met in November, 1952 to form the Midland High School Boosters Club. Mrs. Ted Replane was elected first president of the club which holds social events for members of our high school band and for visiting bands. The Boosters also provide accessories for uniforms and service awards for band members.

Another youth activity that needs mentioning is the Hi-Spot Canteen on the third floor of the municipal building. A teenage recreational program conducted there was terminated when the building was being renovated. At the request of our young people for "something to do," Mrs. William J. Spisak, president of the Band Boosters Club, arranged for a social program to be held in the C. 1. 0. building. The program was successful but the need for a youth recreation center was apparent. The Borough Council was approached with suggestions for specifically remodeling the third floor of the Borough Building as a youth center. The result was the acceptance of the suggestions at a cost of $12,000. The Hi-Spot Youth Center includes a new enlarged hardwood dance floor, an enlarged game room, a brand new birch kitchen, new light fixtures, new rest room facilities-in all, the finest youth center in the area. A letter to Mr. William R. Howell, Works Manager of the Crucible Steel Company, resulted in the contribution of a high quality record player and a public address system and its installation. The Center was officially opened this past February.

What we're trying to prove to you in this section is that we've learned the value in our town of getting together to help ourselves by helping each other-another reason why we're able to celebrate a 50th anniversary.