South Greensburg building was prominent national landmark
An industrial building in South Greensburg, one of those vacated by the shutdown of Walworth Co. operations there, was a nationally prominent architectural landmark.
The historical importance of the 60-by-300-foot concrete structure at the corner of Huff Avenue and Route 119, where it was visible to many who passed by, has not been widely known in the area. National architectural periodicals and reference books have for many years discussed and documented its significance.
Its distinction comes from the fact that it was the world's first reinforced concrete building using a "window wall" method, which became the pattern for many others throughout the world.
Earnest Ransome, an engineering contractor, was commissioned to build the South Greensburg structure for Kelly & Jones, a predecessor to Walworth. This was done in 1904.
The success of the pioneering venture had a profound effect on the use of concrete for industrial buildings and a new trend in that phase of American architecture resulted.
The Kelly & Jones firm had its beginning here when John T. Kelly and George M. Jones arrived at Greensburg in 1887, arranging to transfer their valve and fitting operation from Jersey City, N.J. The first iron was melted at the South Greensburg plant in 1889. By 1901 the firm had 500 employees and was cited as "among the world's greatest" and a "recognized leader in the markets of the world."
Its valves, fittings and equipment for handling steam, liquids and chemicals quickly became part of many major buildings throughout the nation. Walworth became the Greensburg area's largest employer and two and three generations of local families were subsequent workers at the plant. However, its obsolescence and other factors caused a decline and eventual shutdown that removed the firm from the local business scene.
Regionally, crime dominated the front pages, much of it with a lurid tone that apparently appealed to readers.
- The son of a prominent Dunbar family fatally shot a B&O railroad conductor from Uniontown on a train near Dunbar after refusing to give his ticket to another conductor.
The ticket-taking conductor had the train stopped, and solicited the aid of another conductor and a justice of the peace to put the miscreant off the train. Both were shot by the young man, the justice wounded in the hand.
The shootings created a panic among the train's passengers, and several were trampled as they tried to escape the car. The 22-year-old was held by other train crewmen and word telegraphed ahead for police, who met the train.
- A Latrobe hotel operator, perplexed by what seemed to be missing money, put a detective on the problem. That individual found a "theft by embezzlement" situation that had been going on for many months.
The hotel bartender and an accomplice were arrested and admitted to the crime.
- At Connellsville, a destitute woman in the county home who witnessed a hayfield murder in Henry Clay Township 20 years earlier, was so weighed down with the knowledge that she finally gave the information to police.
The murderers spared her life at the time on the promise she would not reveal what she knew. Several persons were arrested and cleared in the sensational case long before she disclosed her burdensome secret.
Excerpted from Robert B. Van Atta's "Vignettes" columns of June 13, 1982 and 1993.
