By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS volunteer) Henry Williamson Brooks was born in Ross Township, Allegheny County on July 3, 1846 to John and Eliza (Turbin) Brooks. Henry learned the “tonsorial” (barber) trade in Pittsburgh and worked at the business there for about nine years. He married his wife Emma about …
The Lawrence County Historical Society recognizes Lorraine & Ed Petrus at the Annual Dinner. Both are long time volunteers at the Historical Society where they have made innumerable contributions both large and small as well as inconspicuous and obvious. Come join us on September 16 for an evening of …
By Joyce Ross, Administrative Secretary, LCHS staff My love of spooky and eerie things probably stems from one of my favorite childhood movies: The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, that starred Don Knotts as Luther, a small town newspaper reporter, who was looking for his big break. It comes in the …
By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS volunteer) William C. Chip was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, on July 26, 1919. His father was the famed George Chip, former middleweight boxing champion of the world, also from New Castle. William played football in 1936 and 1937 for New Castle High and went …
By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS volunteer) Another top brass of the military that hailed from Lawrence County is James V. G. Wilson who was born in Ellwood City, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, on February 27, 1913, to Charles E. and Emma Vangorder Wilson. As a child he attended Hopewell, a one …
By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS volunteer) The most recent Lawrence County native to attain the rank of Brigadier General is also the County’s first woman to do so. Marilyn Chiafullo was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, to Joseph H. and Florence (Zarella) Chiafullo, both deceased. Her siblings include her twin …
By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS volunteer) Ralph Michael Angelo Papa (Pope) was born in West Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on July 22,1920 to Italian immigrants Raffaele “Ralph” and Rose (Santina) Papa. Ralph was one of nine children (eight boys and one girl). His mother died in 1928 when he was only 8 …
By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS volunteer) Victor Nicholas “Vic” Cabas was born January 15,1920 in New Castle, Pennsylvania, to Louis J. and Elizabeth (Tetu) Cabas, Romanian immigrants. He attended West Side, Lincoln-Garfield School, Ben Franklin and New Castle High Schools, graduating in 1938. He was the manager of the New …
By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS volunteer) Rear Admiral Lewis “Red” Eugene Angelo was born in Forestville, (Butler County) Pennsylvania, on February 18, 1928. He was the youngest of 19 children born to Italian immigrants Tony and Mary Angelo. His father worked in the limestone quarries. Lewis grew up in a …
By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS volunteer) Robert Harper Shumaker was born May 11, 1933 in New Castle, Pennsylvania, where his parents, Alvah M. and Eleanor, were a lawyer and a writer, respectively. He was graduated from New Wilmington High School in 1951 as the class valedictorian. He attended Northwestern University …
