Around Connellsville

With images from the Connellsville Historical Area Society's archives and private collections, encounter the hidden history of Connellsville.
Connellsville became the first city in Fayette County when it merged with New Haven in 1909. Connellsville's growth was shaped by the Youghiogheny River, coal mining, and coke production, which fueled the nation's steel industry for nearly 100 years. Known as the coke capital of the world, Connellsville became an early manufacturing, commercial, and transportation center, attracting a diverse ethnic population. Around Connellsville celebrates this heritage with images of coke ovens, coal patches, railroads, streetcars, and Brimstone Corner. It follows South Pittsburgh Street to Anchor Hocking and the beach, cheers ball teams at Fayette Field in the north end, and admires St. Rita's grotto on the west side. Although recent economic growth shifted from the town center to nearby highways, Connellsville remains the preeminent gateway to the Laurel Highlands Recreational Area, which includes world-class resorts, state parks, historical sites, and the singular beauty of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater.

Paul E. Eckman was born in Connellsville, raised in Everson, and graduated from Immaculate Conception High School. Karen Hechler is a longtime resident of Connellsville. She attended Connellsville public schools and taught in the district for many years. She is president of the Connellsville Area Historical Society, whose members assisted with this publication. Images in this book come from the Connellsville Historical Area Society's archives and private collections.