Louise Treadwell Tracy: Deaf Community Advocate
By Betty Hoover DiRisio, LCHS Board Member & Volunteer Lawrence County has had a hand in helping probably hundreds of thousands of deaf children worldwide, through the efforts of one…
First Woman to Own a Movie Theater (Grace Phillips Johnson)
By Betty Hoover DiRisio, LCHS Board Member & Volunteer The Theatorium is believed to be the first dedicated movie theater in New Castle. It was opened in December 1905 by…
Our Best Coach in Texas – Making History (Guyla Mae Smith)
By Betty Hoover DiRisio, LCHS Board Member & VolunteerGuyla Mae Smith, a Lawrence County native, is one of the best softball coaches in Texas. Guyla, daughter of Elizabeth “Libby” {Plassmeyer} and…
A Strong Woman (Johanna Siegel Heichel)
By Betty Hoover DiRisio, LCHS Board Member & Volunteer Many county residents have Ukrainian, or Austrian-Hungarian roots. This is the story of one woman from Austria-Hungary, who escaped her town…
“I always go armed.” The story of Officer Minnie McKibben
By Betty Hoover DiRisio, LCHS Board Member & VolunteerMrs. Minnie Pearl (Riddle) McKibben was appointed New Castle (Pennsylvania) policewoman or “matron” on January 7, 1924. She assumed her duties on…
A Woman’s Call To Duty (Elizabeth Locke)
By Betty Hoover DiRisio, LCHS Board Member & Volunteer When the Civil War began, patriotic men rose to the call to fight. But women, barred from the military, were also…
Dr. Maria White – Prominent Physician and Surgeon
By Betty Hoover DiRisio, LCHS Board Member & Volunteer Dr. Maria White was a prominent physician and surgeon of New Castle, Pennsylvania (PA). She spent years in Panjab, India, where…
Dr Elizabeth McLaughry – 1st Woman Physician in New Castle
By Betty Hoover DiRisio, LCHS Board Member & Volunteer The Overlook Sanitarium in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, was founded in 1911 by Dr. Elizabeth McLaughry, the earliest woman physician in New…
Black Suffragists – the Untold Story
We invite you to attend our FREE online presentation. The Lawrence County Historical Society is combining February’s Black History Month and March’s Women’s History Month in this exclusive online program.…
First Female Funeral Director in PA (McGonigle)
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)
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 received her…
Breaking Barriers – First Woman Lawyer (Toepfer)
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, Pennsylvania,…