"Dunbar," part of the Images of America series, is for sale by the Dunbar Historical Society.
The Dunbar Historical Society has prepared a new book featuring historic photographs and short essays describing Dunbar's past and present.
"Dunbar" was published by Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, S.C., as part of its Images of America series, and costs $21.99.
The book is dedicated to the late Col. Joan Graziano, who founded the all-volunteer Dunbar Community Library in 1992 and helped found the Dunbar Historical Society in 1995. Her financial support helped the society purchase the education center in 2006.
"Dunbar" contains hundreds of photographs, many from private collections and never seen publicly, documenting Dunbar's development, from a drawing by Bill Rockwell of Dunbar Furnace as it appeared in 1854 to the Sheepskin Trail, officially opened in 2008 and the Dunbar Community Fest, started in 2002.
In between, "Dunbar" traces business and industry, town scenes, tragedies, transportation, local folks and colorful characters, patriotism and faith, schools and organizations, pastimes and community pride and Dunbar today.
Initially called Frogtown, Dunbar was settled in the 1790s and incorporated in 1883. The town's name honors Col. Thomas Dunbar, who led the 48th Regiment of Foot in the French and Indian War. He died in 1777.
Industry came early to Dunbar. Iron master Isaac Meason started his first Union Furnace in 1791. Other furnaces established Dunbar as an iron-making center and kept the town prosperous through the next century.
Dunbar contributed to the tremendous industry in the Connellsville coke region, vital to Pittsburgh steel. In 1895, 50 Semet-Solvay by-product coke ovens, which captured coal tar, ammonia, gas and light oil from the coal-baking process, were built by the Dunbar Furnace Company.
Photos document the Dunbar Furnace Company, Semet-Solvay and the Pennsylvania Wire Glass Company and their employees, as well as other industries in Dunbar.
Dunbar has known its share of tragedies, including an explosion in 1890 at the Hill Farm Mine that killed 31. Severe floods occurred in 1907, 1912, and 1954.
Railroads and trolleys once rolled through Dunbar. Among the photos is a young boy stopping his bicycle to let the Brick Hill trolley pass.
Photos of notable and colorful citizens make up the most fascinating part of the book.
"Snake Lady" Ellen Smitley kept snakes, monkeys and rats as pets. She sits holding and surrounded by snakes. Chef Harold "Baron" Galand began cooking at 13 at the Lazy Hour Ranch and later became coach of the United States Culinary Olympic Team. Sen. J. William Lincoln was born in Dunbar and served in the Senate for 16 years. Sullivan D'Amico founded Pechin Shopping Village and quietly helped the community. Betty Knox was a legendary 19th century character who hauled grain on an ox to a grist mill, taking the same route daily, until she failed to appear in 1878. The skeleton of her ox was discovered in 1879; her body was never found. Irishtown resident Robert Melvin Martin drew a picture of Betty Knox based on an oral history.
Dunbar residents have fought in every conflict since the Revolutionary War. An Honor Roll at the former Fairview School celebrates their service. Photos depict service members, parades, former Mayor Angie Graziano, churches and their congregations.
No schools remain in Dunbar, but photos of the buildings, students and teachers preserve their history. Photos show the early years of civic organizations like the American Legion and Cub and Boy Scouts.
"Dunbar" documents past celebrations like Old Home Week, sports teams and today's Dunbar Community Fest.
Dunbar Historical Society Secretary Donna Myers said the society worked together to create this labor of love. "We had a committee, different people contributed historical information. I wrote the introduction," she said. "We didn't start this until the middle of February. We had it done by the end of April.
"We're very pleased by it," she continued. "We were doing the (replica) coke oven and the book at the same time."
Myers said the society has had information about Arcadia for several years, but until they established the education center, there was no space to organize the book.
"When we started with the building in 2006, the things we had were spread around at people's houses. We have 65 albums and I have another 5 or 6 that aren't done. The picture collection expanded and the book became more of a possibility because we had so many pictures.
"We're pleased with what we've been able to accomplish; we've got a lot of help. We've been lucky. Every time we have a need, it seems to get met," she said.
Although a unique community in its own right, Myers called "Dunbar one piece of the Fayette County puzzle."
Members of the Historical Society will be selling the book at Saturday's Coal and Coke Heritage Music Festival, at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. They will sell the book near the Coal and Coke Heritage Center, which is at the library. Visitors can view a looping slide presentation of the replica coke oven project in downtown Dunbar.
The society will sell the book at its education center in downtown Dunbar beginning at 10 a.m. at the Dunbar Community Fest on Sept. 26. It will always be available when the center is open.
Retailers carry "Dunbar," or individuals can order it directly from the Dunbar Historical Society by logging onto www.dunbarhistoricalsociety.com or by calling Myers at 724-277-8448. Shipping costs extra. Any books sold directly by society members will bear the society's corporate seal.
