There has never been a shortage of political bigwigs making personal appearances in the Mid-Mon Valley.

It would be foolish of us to try to list all of them, but they have included U.S. presidents, other federal leaders and a large number of state dignitaries.

One of them, the late Gov. David L. Lawrence, obviously made a lasting impression on a woman from Fallowfield Township.

She recalled Lawrence being in the area "to plant some trees sometime in the late 1950s or early 1960s" and asked if anyone else might remember that occasion.

The date was Friday, May 12, 1961, and the governor was in downtown Charleroi to participate in a rally sponsored by the Greater Charleroi Industrial Development Corporation to call attention to its campaign to establish a site for light industry in Speers Borough.

The project was known as "Plant The Valley."

It didn't involve trees, except for those that would eventually be cleared to make way for the industrial park on the 40-acre site in Speers.

Speaking before more than 500 people at Fifth Street and McKean Avenue, Lawrence praised Charleroi for planning the project as "preventive medicine for Charleroi's faltering economy."

He said the local emphasis was on prevention and "it is in the best interest of the Pennsylvania industrial development program."

A story in The Valley Independent on May 13, 1961, noted that the governor lauded Charleroi for its "courage in drafting a blueprint for progress in these days of economic decline."

He also said:

"It would be terribly easy in these circumstances for the residents of this community to sit back, take their time and relax in the glow of what seems to be prosperity. Fortunately, the civic leadership ... has no intention of waiting for the possible slump to begin. The road to economic ruin is eternally paved with the optimistic chants of those who say prosperity is just around the corner. We must recognize the facts of our economic life and do something about it before it is too late."

Lawrence also emphasized that every cent invested in industrial sites will pay "long-term dividends in jobs for men and women who are the economic backbone of this entire community."

"All over America, there are communities such as Charleroi - communities in which once proud and flourishing industries are operating at half-employment, communities in which industries may be closing their doors forever," he said.

Lawrence promised the GCIDC "the earnest assistance" of the federal and state governments in pursuing creation of the industrial park.

"Given that cooperation, I am positive you will be able to build a new industrial economy in the Monongahela Valley," he said.

The speaking program followed a "Plant The Valley" motorcade through downtown Charleroi.

Signifying a Mon Valley spirit of the rally, the parade, which comprised 36 cars, included burgesses Frank H. Cantoni of Charleroi and Albert Delsandro of Donora and mayors Hugo J. Parente of Monessen and William H. Hill of Monongahela.

State Sen. William J. Lane and Washington County and area municipal officials also took part, as did representatives of civic, educational and business groups and union leaders.

Bands from Charleroi, Monessen, Bellmar and Donora high schools enhanced the festivities with their music.

Attorney Melvin Bassi was the master of ceremonies at the speaking program. Cantoni welcomed Lawrence to Charleroi.

It was disclosed for the first time in the introduction of architect Benjamin Trnavsky that he had sketched the campaign's "Sunflower" logo and drafted the original slogan, "Plant the Valley. Jobs Are A Must."

GCIDC president Jesse Guttman announced at a luncheon at the Charleroi Fire Hall that day that about $100,000 had been actually pledged or promised in the industrial park campaign.

Jack Clark, co-chairman of the "Plant The Valley" drive with Prosper Gilli, reported pledges of some $70,000 had been received, and Guttman reported that additional firm promises would boost the amount to about $100,000.

Guttman said the IDC was confident it would reach its $250,00 goal mainly because of an agreement by several "prominent contributors" to underwrite the cost of the fund-raising campaign. He said that would enable the corporation to tell contributors their gifts would be returned in full in case the goal was not reached.

Dr. J.V. Kassler was cheered when he reported that five of Charleroi's 10 dentists had pledged a combined $4,000.

Guttman said the IDC was "counting heavily on support from labor" and that campaigns were set at the Allenport Plant of Pittsburgh Steel Company, Corning Glass Works and Lee-Norse Company. He also announced that United Steelworkers of America district director Eugene Maurice had launched the Allenport drive with a personal contribution of $200.

Charleroi's "Plant The Valley" industrial development campaign received national attention on Sunday, May 28, 1961, on NBC-TV. It was seen locally on the network's Pittsburgh affiliate. WIIC.

Chet Huntley devoted nearly half of his Sunday afternoon show, Chet Huntley Reporting, to the project. NBC camera and editorial crews were on location in Charleroi earlier in the month and included the festivities involving Lawrence in their extensive footage.

Huntley said his report was intended to portray what a typical "hard hit" industrial community in Pennsylvania was doing to help itself.

Among those featured in the presentation were Guttman, Lawrence and the Rev. Robert "Scotty" Lang, former pastor of the Charleroi Methodist Church. The film also included shots of Mid-Mon Valley steel mills and coal mines, where many workers had been displaced by automation, and mining machines being produced at the Lee-Norse Company in North Charleroi.

Guttman told The Valley Independent he was "definitely plased by the telecast."

"Our story was presented exceedingly well, emphasizing that large number of volunteer workers are doing their best," he said. "I hope the community appreciates the importance of this effort and response so that we might create more jobs and thus help to stabilize the economy."

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