I have a grandparent who fought in the Civil War, who was from Apollo, Pa, and I was told that there is a reunion photograph within the walls of a library in Kittaning.  If you could help me find it, it would be most helpful.

(not signed)

p.s. I enjoyed your "www" tour of Kittaning!

If anyone has knowledge of this photograph, let me know and I can email information to him (or her).  Carl

From Dennis D'Antonio
Oct 21, 1998

Carl,

I left Kittanning in "64 after graduating K.H.S., as many  of us did, I went into the Air Force and never returned to live.  I visit often from Calif with my wife to visit family. I learned of the web page from my cousin's wife Christine Sgro. It's fun to tell peaple I'm from Kittanning and have them look at your great web page, thanks

As fall and winter approach I miss the place even more. Do you think you can put some fall and winter pictures of the town on the web? I would appreciate it.  We usually visit in summer and I've told my wife how good Kittanning looks when the leaves are turning and when new snow is on the ground. I don't miss driving on the icy roads after a freeze though.

Thanks again!!
Dennis D'Antonio
ddantonio@aol.com

The new pictures are great, we visited in August for the Folk Festival and the Riverfront was everything we expected and more.  Kittanning and the group who put together deserve a lot of credit for a job well done.  We would like to commend the Fireman's band for it's great over the past "fifty" years, I remember when my Uncle Bill McGann and some of his friends organized it in the late forties.

Thanks for the chance to stay in touch.

Jim & Eleanor Vanderlin

Hello,

Thank you for the new information about Kittanning.  I originally had been looking for information on the area because some of my ancestors were from there.  The family name is Shoop.  At one time there was a Shoop Hotel in Kittaning owned by a George Shoop.  If this name rings a bell let me know.

I also enjoyed the smiley directory and the 20 smiles a day.  That's advice we all should take!

Thanks!

Leslie

Carl, thanks for the update on the web site.
Looks great so far!  I still haven't had the time to go into it deeper than a once over.

Take care and stay warm..if I'm not mistaken, it's time for jackets and gloves up there!

Brad Crosslin

From Rosemary Stumpf Woodland
Nov 3, 1998

Terrific "walking trip" through my hometown.  Brought back many memories... I attended Kindergarten in the McCain House and spent many Saturdays at the "old" library.  I loved my tour through your website and my dear Kittanning.  Thanks for such a nice place to visit and I would want to live there!

Rosemary Stumpf Woodland

From Mike Moyer

Carl,

It is nice to see that hometown pride still exists.  You have done a fantastic job of depicting Kittanning's true beauty.  I was born and raised in Kittanning for the first 23 years of my life; I now reside in Long Island, New York.  Thanks for creating a home away from home.  Keep up the nice work.

Thanks again,
Mike

I've adopted it as a home town Mike but didn't start here - I moved in during the early summer of 97.  My great fortune is that some of the local folks have accepted me the way they have and it FEELS like hometown.  I grew up just a little northwest of here in Mercer County.

From Mike Bridge
Nov 9, 1998

Dear Carl,

I have been visiting your website for the past few months and I recognize many of the people who have e-mailed you.  My family moved to Kittanning in the early 50s and stayed until the 70s.  My Dad was Bill Bridge who had a store with Jack Olinger called Jack & Bill's next to Walker Pontiac (where he worked after the store closed).  Anybody who played little league baseball in the 50s probably bought or stole their equipment from that little store.  My Dad was a leader in the business community.  He was one of the founders of the Lenape league, the Kittanning KIs football team, and the Lions Club Minstral Shows.  Unfortunately he died of Altzheimers about ten years ago.

My Mother, Jeanne, was also active in the community.  She taught at St Mary's School and helped start the shelter that is one of the features on your website. She is living in Kilmarnock Va and still very active.  Even though she suffered a heart attack a few years ago, she has made a full recovery.  She goes to Florida twice a year, plays Bridge 3 times a week, plays the organ at every Mass and completes the NY Times crossword puzzles in ink.

I graduated from KHS in 1962 (along with Satch Taylor and Andy Ulisky).  After college I joined the Air Force and flew fighters and trainers for 23 years.  My philosophy has been to retire early and often.  Since leaving the Air Force I have helped start a Cruise ship business in the Virgin Islands, worked for several Ski Resorts (including Seven Springs) and I am currently the vice-president for career consulting for a firm in Oklahoma City that includes The National Football League Players Association as one of its clients.   My wife is an Air Force Colonel still on active duty at Tinker AFB.

I try to get back to Kittanning as much as I can.  I still maintain an active membership in the Elks and the Vets and vote absentee in Armstrong County.  I would love to move back some day.  Your site has brought back many good memories.  Feel free to post my e-mail.  I would love to hear from old friends.  Keep up the good work!

Mike Bridge
8013 Double Springs Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73150

rbridge@aol.com
 
 

From Scott and Paula Emmonds
Nov 18, 1998

Hi Carl,

I'm writing again to let you know that my husband and I are back in the area (Ford City actually) and we're very happy to be back!!  We moved back in February this year.  I can honestly say that I never appreciated the fall season colors and weather as much as I have this year.  I'm sure you've heard the saying, "Ya don't know what you've got until it's gone!"...well, I never realized just how beautiful the fall season is up here.

We're glad to be back!!!

Scott & Paula (Gispanski) Emmonds

From Jim Vanderlin
Nov 19, 1998

Subject: Fireman's Band

Carl,

My uncle Bill McGann, was one of the people who formed the band.  He and some friends traveled thoughout Western Pa. looking for the uniforms still wear as there trademark.  They performed a Kay Eyes football games 50 years ago, I was the mascot for that team at the ripe old age of 11.  The Kay Eyes held their 50th reunion this last Sept. I couldn't attend because as a football offical our crew had a game in the RCA Dome in Indianapolis that nite between Warsaw and South Bend St. Joe.  Mike Caruso can tell you a game like that you can't afford to miss, but my thoughts were in Kittanning the men who served there country and returned and found time to play a game they loved and fought to preserve.  The gentlemen who played in the band and on the football field are to congratulated and cheered for what they did for our country.  As a school board member locally and at the national level we owe them more credit than money can buy.

Thanks to all of those men and women made those things possible.

Again, thanks for the air time

Jim Vanderlin

From Rick McMaster
Nov 20, 1998

Some visitors from up home (Kittanning) pointed me your way and it was a nice visit.  My family and I get back once a year over the summer and it's nice to have a way to visit other times.  How about some pictures of snow for our daughter since we see so little of it down this way.

For those of us willing to send current photos (jpg or whatever) can you get a gallery together?

Thanks for the efforts,
Rick McMaster (class of '68 - was it really that long ago?)

I'd need to make a gallery somewhat of a commercial nature, charging maybe$5 per picture so I'd break even on the time and effort of doing the posting.  Carl

FromDeborah Stouffer Wright
Nov 23, 1998

I am originally from Leechburg.My father worked at Cheswick Power Plant {West Penn Power} and in 1969 we moved here to Carmichaels, Pa. I don't get back home as much as I like to,but now I know I can dream on the internet of home. Thank You So Much.

My name is Deborah Stouffer Wright, my parents are Catherine {Mickey} & William {Bill} Stouffer. If there are old friends out there I would love to hear from them. My e-mail address is dejay@hhs.net.  We lived up by Pound's Turkey Farm in Leechburg.

Thank You for your time in listening.

Deborah

Hi Carl

My name is Debbi and I was born in kittanning, but I now live in Elmira, NY.  I just wanted to say I love this page....

From Randy Bish
Dec 3, 1998

I'm collecting stories about my grandfather's store in Worthington.  My grandfather was Bob Bish. He had the Gulf station and grocery store on Main Street for 30 some years. I spent much of my childhood there and I'd like to hear from folks with memories of Bob's store.  Bob and his wife, Nellie, are both gone now. They touched my life and are greatly missed.

The store was originally a blacksmith shop and when my grandparents got it, they operated a diner there. The building is the second oldest in Worthington, the oldest is the Old Stone Tavern near the  intersection of Main and Bear Streets.

Seems like everyone in town knew Bob.  If you have any memories of Bob or the store, please e-mail me at:  rbish@tribweb.com

From Larry Cole
Dec 3, 1998

Enjoyed your well-designed site, which I found by searching for "Ford City High School" and ended up on your comment page.

I was also a former "Hilltopper" in Ford City and went to Penn State after graduation. I worked one summer at the old Linde plant in Kittanning to get myself through a couple more semesters.  After getting a degree from PSU, I spent four years as an officer on an Air Force SAC base in Michigan during Vietnam, then moved to Denver where I've been ever since, working in the television/cable network industry.

Other than working on a satellite uplink from Penn State for a cable network in 1993, I haven't had any occasion to get back to Pennsylvania, much less the Kittanning/Ford City area.  Hope you continue to update your pictures periodically.

Larry Cole
melvcole@ix.netcom.com

From Dave Long
Dec 7, 1998

Dear Carl

My son, Tyler Long indicated that he was involved in some manner with the Library and with your web page. Please let him know that I was very impressed with your page.  Have him write back to me at davelong@pa.net

Thanks
Dave

From Judy Orr
Dec 11, 1998

Carl,

Thanks for your reply. (regarding dates for 1999 Folk Festival)  I appreciate you looking into it.  You've done a great job with the Kittanning site. My family loves it!

Judy Orr

From Bob Bower
Dec 31, 1998

Hello Carl,

Happy to meet you and thank you for the wonderful homepage of good ole Kittanning. The pictures of the town and churches with the new riverfront are beautiful. I was just browsing on the net and came across Kittanning.com by accident. You've done a very good job with it.

I'm an old timer, who has moved away to Menlo Park, Ca. after I finished my four in the military in 1965 and worked three years at the Pittsburgh airport... been in Ca.since 1968. I saw several people who I knew a long time ago on your webpage and a couple from good ole St. Mary's in Kittanning where I went to grade school. I graduated from K.H.S. in 1961.

I  work for United Airlines in San Francisco so I have no problem coming back often. My mother still lives in Kittanning as does my brother John (that big mean cop with the big nightstick) My brother Tom lives in Ford City and works in Clearfield. I was back with my wife in July and spent a few days up north in Marienville at my brother's cabin. A couple of my  old buddies came to visit with us, Bill Rattigan and Eugene Marripode.  I hadn't seen Eugene for 30 years.

I hope to be coming back to God's country to settle for good soon.  I didn't know how good it was til I left. The Mrs loves it too.

Thanks again Carl.

Bob Bower

I was browsing and found your site; it brought back so many memories; I was born and lived in Kittanning and the Whitesburg area until 1987; I then moved to Cheyenne, WY.  My parents, Bill & Jean Wasnak still live there,  I don't get the opportunity to visit very often and your tour was wonderful.  My suggestions are how about a picture of St. Mary's church...that would be great as a lot of my childhood memories of my grandfather, Tony Martillotti, are associated with the church; and some of the treelined streets in the fall, my favorite time of year there!

Thanks for the pleasant surprize, I'll visit your site whenever I get homesick!

Carrie (Wasnak)Harrod

ok to post my email address  moonwife@webtv.net

From David Schau
Jan 3, 1999

I am quite impressed with your web site for Kittaning.

Is there a print version of your walking tour you could send me?  I am starting to write a book about self-guided tours in medium and small cities in the Middle Atlantic States.

Thanks

David Schau
615 Churchill Drive
Charleston, WV  25314

I've forwarded your email to the Armstrong County Chamber of Commerce.  You should receive the printed brochure within a few days.  Carl

From Don Summers
Jan 7, 1999

I saw the info on this site for the past Folk Festivals and was wondering if it will be held again this year in 1999.   We play old time traditional fiddle tunes in an old historical style.  I would be happy to send some info, pictures and a tape of our music with an interest in being part of the entertainment.

Although I live in Georgia, I have a special interest in Armstrong county.  It is the former home and birthplace of many of my ancestors.   My grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, and great-great-great-grandfather lived in the Templeton area.  I have a very special passion for Armstrong county and love every chance I have to visit.

Please contact me and let me know something on this issue.
 

Sincerely,

Don Summers
P.O. Box 118
Concord, Georgia 30206
(770)  884-9818

E-Mail  danielsu@bellsouth.net

Don, the 1999 Folk Festival will run from August 4th through August 8th.  I've forwarded your email to a local gent who is involved with the music.  Carl

From Sandra Starr
Jan 7, 1999

Dear Carl,

I used to live in the HOUSE of EIGHT GABLES in the 1950's while my parents Dorothy and Jack Starr were building our new home.  I have many fond memories from my years at 107 Arch Street, including a flood!

I have lived in Florida since 1965 and recently retired as a Speech Pathologist.  Florida has been a beautiful place to live all these years; however, part of me still misses the good old days in Kittanning.

After my divorce last year, I visited Kittanning and had so much fun visiting friends and relatives I had not seen in MANY years.  If anyone remembers me and would care to email me, I would LOVE to hear from them!!!  My addy is   sandystarr@att.net.  I graduated in 1960, seems like yesterday!

Thanks for making it possible for me to tour Kittanning again via the net.  You have done a great job.  What a pleasant surprise to see a house where I actually lived.  Keep up the good work.

Best regards,
 ~SANDRA STARR~

From Jane Spangler
Jan 23, 1999

WOW!!!  I'm amazed!  How wonderful to finally see Kittanning getting some much needed and warranted visibility.  I just stumbled onto this site while looking for information on Eljer pottery.

I am currently finishing my final semester of graduate study at the University of Florida as a Master of Fine Arts candidate in Ceramic Sculpture.  I moved away from Kittanning in 1978 but have realized how much my upbringing in rural western Pennsylvania has effected my artwork over the years.  In order to gather more personal resource materials for my artwork, I applied for a research fellowship to return to Kittanning.  Three years ago I was awarded an NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) Student Fellowship to return to Kittanning and conduct a "scavenger hunt" to acquire all manner of information on the town of my birth and formative years.  This included interviewing relatives and townspeople, touring Eljer pottery, photographing various sites around Kittanning and vicinity, acquiring historical and genealogical information, etc.

I was back in Kittanning for 10 months between my undergraduate and graduate programs.  Kittanning is quite unique and distinctly different than areas I have lived in the south.  Kittanning has a "personality" all its own.  It's age as a "city" has deepened its ancestral ties, family roots, and sense of community.

As far as suggestions, it'd be wonderful to see a walking tour of some of the marvelous Applewold homes and even more
information on the town's pivotal history.  For instance, it's prominence as a major Leni Lenape (Delaware) indian settlement.  Also, it'd be wonderful to see local/area celebrities, sports figures, historical figures, folk heroes and such highlighted in some way.  It's a little known fact to even many Kittanning dwellers that the first visible typewriter was born in Kittanning.  These things are worth promoting and could draw well-deserved interest to the area.

Anyway, congratulations on a job well done!  I am so excited to have a link to Kittanning businesses, events, people.  This will prove extremely helpful when I need to locate additional resources in the future.  And should I ever feel homesick, I can just walk the old streets of home ONLINE!

Very gratefully yours,
Jane Spangler

Feel free to respond via e-mail: jlspangler@juno.com

Hi Carl

I am a lady from Hobart , Tasmania in Australia. Over the last 6 months i have formed a email friendship with a lady from
your area, she sent me the page for me to look at and see what her home land is like. Well it is a very nice place and you are all very lucky to live in such a nice place. I wish Hobart had a page like yours to send to her so i could show her my homeland.

Very good walking tour thanks so much

Karen from tassy

Carl:

Lived in Kittanning many years ago--member of Free Methodist Church.  A friend of mine--has a brother still living there--he saves the newspapers for me---I have just finished last years and see that the church had rebuilt. My question---where did they build the new Free Methodist and also what happened to the "old building" ?

We have just opened a Habitat for Humanity ReSale store here---is going well--hope to finance a new house every year plus pay monthly overhead for storage of building materials donated by companies.

You have an excellent net site---

Doris McKenzie

Carl;

I built a new web page for the church where I go here in Kittanning.  The site is www.nb.net/~harvest/.  If you visit it please excuse the mess.  This is my first web page and I only placed it on the net last night.

On our page I placed a link to your site www.kittanning.com.  I find your site very informative and very respectably and professionally done related to content and formatting.  I thought it fit perfectly on our new page.

If you have no objections I will keep the link there.

Thank you!!!
Steve Kozuch
Kittanning Pa.

Hi there

I am a person from Worthington, went to Kittanning then to Lenape vo-tech.  I am surprised to see this web page just wanted to commend you for this page on the net.  I now live in Avonmore, PA - nice town, always in
Kittanning each week or so.

 yockbo@hotmail.com

Thanks.  Yours truly

Mark Yockey

From Phillip Thorn, Jr.
Feb 7, 1999

My name is Phillip L. Thorn Jr. I grew up in Kittanning in the mid to late 60'S and early 70's. It was a great place to live and grow up. I am always telling people hoe beautiful it is there. I have done much traveling since leaving and nothing compares to Kittanning.

My father was the YMCA Director when we lived there. What a nice place to live! I wish I could raise my family there but it is not in the plans at this time. I have visited several times.

Thank you for having this web site! If anyone wants to walk down memory lane and chat I would be happy too!

My e-mail address is PThornjr@aol.com

From Richard Semmons
Feb 14, 1999

I enjoyed my stroll down the streets of old Kittanning.  I was born and lived there for 30 years. I attended 4th Ward School; KHS; IUP and taught at KJHS for 7 years.  I moved to CA  but always found my way home to reunite with famly and friends there!  I still have wonderful friends in the area and  would enjoy hearing from any of them or former
students.

Please include my E mail address: rickeast@webtv.net

I only hope that this beautiful town along the river will shine and thrive for all the world to also enjoy its beauty!

LOVE, PEACE, JOY         RICK

From Rusty and Toni Reesman
April 8, 1999

Thank You for a wonderful web page Carl!

My name is Rusty Reesman and I was born in Kittanning, then moved to Worthington around age 8.  I am a '87 graduate of Kittannign High and Lenape Vo-tech.  I joined the Marine Corps right out of High School and have traveled abroad.  I was honorably discharged from the marines in 1996, and am now living with my wonderful wife Toni in Nacogdoches, Texas.  Toni is still in the Marines and we are getting ready to be stationed in Iwakuni, Japan.

I don't get home much and it is always wonderful to go to the web site and look at the great sights of good ole Kittanning.  I will be back in Kittanning (Worthington) in June before we go overseas.  Please feel free to publish this e-mail and I would love to hear from anyone that wants to contact me, especially from anyone that remembers me.  My e-mail address is reesman@hotmail.com  Thanks again,

Rusty & Toni Reesman

PS- GO STEELERS, PENS, AND BUCS!!!!!

Sir,

I am in Granville Ferry, Nova Scotia, Canada. I am doing research on Andrew Henderson and Susannah Slack and their families. On April 28, 1852, yes, 1852! Andrew received a letter from his brother-in-law, James Armstrong, husband of Susannah's 2nd sister, Eliza. The family, James, Eliza, 4 sons and a daughter, were living in Kittanning, Armstrong County, Penn.

Can anyone from that area tell me if there are any descendants of James and Eliza still in the area? How can I get in touch with them?(if you know of any, please feel free to give them my e-mail address!!!)  One of Andrew's greatgrandsons is looking for his anscestors relatives and would dearly love to get in touch with the Armstrong side of the family.
Andrew's mother was an Armstron from Vo.Fermanagh, Ireland.
Thank you for ANY help you can give me.

Donna Lee HENDERSON BUTLER
Granville Ferry, Nova Scotia,Canada
dleebill@ns.sympatico.ca

Dear Carl:

I enjoyed visiting Kittanning without leaving home.  I live in S. Fl.and call it home but  Kittanning will always hold a special place in my heart.

Hope  Lash-Conte

Hello Carl,

I really enjoyed your Web Site on the Armstrong Co. Area.  I was born in Applewald...moved to Garretts Run...went to Ford City High School.  I entered the USAF in October 1954, and spent 12 years with the Air Force.  I retired from the Garland Police Department here in the Dallas, Texas area and am now working as a Deputy Sheriff with the Dallas County Sheriffs Department as a Criminal Court Bailiff.

I find myself thinking about the good old days in Kittanning and Ford City.  As I read the comments from the good folks up there, it again brought back good memories.  If anyone thinks they know me.. feel free to e-mail me.

Thanks again Carl

Earl Wolfe (earlwolfe@msn.com)

From Janice Bowser Miller
Apriil 18, 1999

Hi

I was happily surprised when I did a search and found this wonderful site.   I was born in Kittanning in 1952. Both of my parents were also born and raised there, we moved away when I was 10 years old, but came for visits often.

My Mother was Vangie Churchill (Queen St.) My Father is Bob Bowser (Orr Ave.)   I have always had fond memories of Kittanning and it was wonderful to see some familar pictures.

Thanks so much!

Janice (Bowser) Miller  -  aka Jay or Jan

http://members.aol.com/larglyme/Jay/index.htm is the link to Jay's Home Page

From Annette Kania Cutler
April 19, 1999

As so many others have stated, I am a former resident of Kittanning and miss the town very much.  I have lived in Washington, North Carolina for the past ten years.  Washington is the southern version of Kittanning.  We have a beautiful river that flows through the town and many historical sites (but no Folk Festival!).  Since I left Kittanning, I have worked in television as a producer and writer for an NBC affiliate before I finally achieved my next biggest love of teaching high school English.

Thanks to all the wonderful teachers at KHS, I have truly found my calling in life...and thanks to you Carl for letting me "come home" whenever I get homesick and need a reminder that those I miss and love are still out there.  Hello to my classmates from the class of '85.  You and many others are alive and well in my first novel.

Sincerely,

Annette Kania Cutler

P.S.  My e-mail is yours, my friends.  buacutle@eastnet.educ.ecu.edu

Still waiting for someone to write a book about Applewald.  There must be
some unique facts on its existence.  Don't recall ever going there during
my years at KHS.

Respectfully,

R. Wayne Moorhead

Hi

Doug Thurbon here class of 82.  I am glad to see someone from Kittanning has gotten on the ball with a web page.   A few years ago I taught myself how to write html so I made the class of 82 home page.  http://www.pilot.infi.net/~dougnkat/class.html

It started out as me just messing around but it is something I intend to keep online as long as I am around.  I haven't updated it in about a year but I recently got an email from a guy with new addresses for classmates that I said I was looking for.  I was pretty surprised to get the email.  He said he got to it from your site.  I couldn't retrace his steps through you but I liked your site.  Would you mind making a link to the class of 82 home page?  I have been really busy in the Navy so haven't updated it in a while.  Now that I am going to shore duty I will be improving it and bringing it up to date.  When I add a Kittanning's links page to mine yours will be there!  Hope to hear from you soon.

Doug

Thanks so much for taking the time and caring enough to create this wonderful walking tour.  I am originally from Ford City, later moved to Kittanning, then to Ohio and now live in North Carolina.  I especially enjoyed the pictures of the park.  It certainly brought back many memories.

Loretta  (Armrose-Montgomery-Goodwin)

From BrendanMackie
April 13, 1999

Around 1898 to 1900 the United states government donated some 24 pounder flanking howitzers guns(cannons) to the town of Kittanning Pa.  We have devoted all our time to make fort delaware(were the cannos came from) as it look during the civil war.  Over 2,500 confederate POWS died at Fort Delaware. We would appreciate any infomation you can give us about the exact whereabouts of these guns and the email adresses of any one who know about these guns will be deeply appreciated.

Brendan Mackie
f0rrest44@yahoo.com
the o is a zero

Hi Carl. My name is Mary Ann, and I am from East Brady.  I am new to the internet and enjoyed your pictures and story about the need for laughter in our lives.  It is so true!! Just wanted to tell you "thanks" for some interesting and thought provoking reading!!

Mary Ann

Carl

I never lived in Kittanning but visited there several times. My Dad, Grandmother, G Grandmother, and GG Grandmother were all born there - The Descendants of JOSEPH BROWN and NANCY LEARD. In my work on this family line I have a bunch of history of the area and the Brown and related families. Joseph and a bunch of his brothers and one sister who helped to settle there in early 1800's and their families descent. Spent some time with Mildred [NOW GONE] and Connie at the historical society, the cemetery, the newspaper office, the court house, and found everyone to be very intrested and helpfull. I have a data base as of now on Ged Com, of my findings
with notes and sources. A lot of info.

I am an older person now and not good at computers but glad to share the info in the format that I have if you or others are intrested let me know. In talking with people around the town I
found that like most towns and cities they seemed to not know much history of their area.

I enjoyed your site very much
Bill Worth
bworth@knightwave.com