CanonsburgLocated less than 20 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, Canonsburg is a small town that arose during the late 1700s, serving initially as a postal stop between Pittsburgh and Washington. Incorporated in 1802, Canonsburg thrived as a market town, providing such goods as grain and whiskey. In the 1800s, Jefferson College, rising from John McMillan's original one-room log house, became one of the largest colleges in the country. By the end of the 19th century, Canonsburg found its niche in manufacturing. The town's flourishing steel and tin business allowed Canonsburg to survive the Great Depression with minimal impact. During World War II, steelmakers were able to successfully adapt their factories to handle the production of naval parts. Among its more famous citizens are Dr. Jonathan Letterman, an early proponent of battlefield medical treatment; singers Perry Como and Bobby Vinton; and the 1950s vocal group the Four Coins. |
Contents
Acknowledgments | 6 |
Introduction | 7 |
Rise of a College Town | 9 |
Postcollege Development | 21 |
Turning 100 and Beyond | 35 |
Industrial Advancements | 57 |
Prominent Landmarks | 65 |
Moving into the Present | 83 |
Notable Citizens | 99 |
Parades and Other Recreations | 111 |
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Common terms and phrases
Alex Speer athletic band Barsody began Bobby Vinton borough building Building Opera House campus Canonsburg General Hospital Canonsburg High School Canonsburg Milling carnotite Central Avenue Chartiers Creek closed Colaizzo College Historical Society College Street customers Daily Notes decades Ducky Swan Dunlevy early Ern Weller eventually factory featured fire Force Fort Pitt Bridge Frank Mirisciotti Greenside Avenue Herron honor Hoxworth James Jefferson Academy Jefferson College John Canon Jonathan Letterman Joseph later left to right Martin Estep McMillan Morgan Building Morgan Building Opera Morganza moved North Strabane North Strabane Township Oak Spring Cemetery Office operated Patsch Pennsylvania Perry Como photograph Pihakis Pittsburgh plant popular Potts Presbyterian Church produced purchased radium relocated Residence Samuel Murdoch second row seen served Solobay collection Speer Spring Standard Chemical Standard Tin Plate Steel Street and Central teams town trolley service Washington County Weller Studio West Pike Street whiskey