Blog - Lawrence County Historical Society

“Harry the Hermit”

Post published:May 16, 2020
Post category:1900-1929

By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS Board Member & Volunteer)Harry Stein was born in May 12, 1903 to Isaac and Harriet Stein in Wampum. He made his home in the Turkey…

Sound Familiar? Influenza Epidemic 1918

Post published:May 8, 2020
Post category:1900-1929

By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS Board Member & Volunteer) The Spanish flu or the grippe as it was also called, came in two waves. The first wave lasted three months.…

First Female Funeral Director in PA (McGonigle)

Post published:March 21, 2020
Post category:Women

By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS Board Member & Volunteer) Elizabeth May Mangan, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Mangan of Allegheny was born in August 1876. She worked as a confidential…

Lawrence County’s First Female Alderman (Orres)

Post published:March 19, 2020
Post category:Women

By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS Board Member & Volunteer) In September 1941 Margaret M. Orres, (R), began her campaign for Alderman in New Castle's Sixth Ward. Winning her election, she…

Breaking Barriers – First Woman Lawyer (Toepfer)

Post published:March 16, 2020
Post category:Women

By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS Board Member & Volunteer) Margaret A. Toepfer was born June 16, 1900 to Edward and Evaline (Hutchman) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She moved to New Castle,…

International Women’s Day

Post published:March 8, 2020
Post category:Women

By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS Board Member & Volunteer) March 8 is International Women’s Day. It is a focal point in the movement for Women’s rights. The first National Women’s…

She’s A Winner!

Post published:March 3, 2020
Post category:Women

By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS Board Member & Volunteer) A little more than a year after the 19th Amendment was passed and women won the right to vote, Lawrence County…

Leader in Abolitionist Movement – Rev James Duncan

Post published:March 3, 2020
Post category:Black History

By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS Board Member & Volunteer)The first pastor of Mahoning Presbyterian Church in Pulaski, Lawrence County, was Rev. James Duncan who began serving there in 1800, and…

Rookie of Year & MVP

Post published:February 19, 2020
Post category:Black History / Sports

By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS Board Member & Volunteer) Richie “Dick” Allen Richie “Dick” Allen was born on March 8, 1942 in Wampum Pennsylvnaia and attended Wampum High School. He…

Mt Jackson Soldier & US Congressman

Post published:February 19, 2020
Post category:1849-1899 / Black History

By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS Board Member & Volunteer) On May 12, 1862, 22 year-old Robert Smalls, a slave who was to soon go down in history, was working onboard…

The Road to Coal Town

Post published:August 25, 2019
Post category:1849-1899

By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS Board Member & Volunteer) Sometime after John Stockman discovered coal in Lawrence County in 1810, it was found there was a heavy coal deposit in…

A White Pebble Lain – Jewish Heritage in Lawrence County

Post published:July 12, 2019
Post category:Judaism

By Andrew W. Henley, LCHS Board Member Article written October 21, 2017 during which time Andrew W. Henley was Executive Director of LCHS. The hall was decorated with almost two…