World War I to World War II 1918-1945

World War I to World War II 1918-1945. . Beaver County industry and life were booming as the country became involved in world war one. Once again, we were well represented as Beaver Falls native Colonel Joseph H. Thompson was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism. As the war drew to a close, the first cases of the deadly Spanish Flu epidemic swept through the county.

During this time, our industries were firmly established and the population was rapidly increasing, making even greater demands on infrastructure. Roads were built as the automobile became more abundant and affordable; electric trolley cars were introduced only to be replaced by buses and cabs; airplane travel became more common; a new dam was built on the Ohio River; and life in general was much better than it had ever been. That is, until the Great Depression hit and plunged many families into poverty. With the start of world war two, county men began serving in large numbers, and county women stepped forward and took their places in such factories as Spang-Chalfant, Curtiss Wright, and American Bridge in order to support the war effort. Once again, business was booming.

March 18, 1918 , Daylight Savings Time was enacted into law. It was introduced by part time Center Township (Sylvan Crest) resident Robert Garland.

October 1, 1918 , Beaver Falls native Colonel Joseph H. Thompson, wounded three times and gassed by the Germans, earned the Congressional Medal of Honor.

1919 , Travers Engineering Company of Beaver Falls made rides and roller coasters like the "Turtle" for amusement parks around the country.

June 26, 1921 , Old Economy Village officially opened to the public.

1929 , American Bridge Company designed and built the first all-welded barge.

October 29, 1929 , The U.S. Stock market crashed triggering the Great Depression. During its height, nearly 13 to 15 million Americans were unemployed.

January 31, 1930 , St. Joseph Lead Co. erected a zinc smelter along Route 18 in Potter Township.

March 17, 1936 , Ice jams up-river combined with heavy snowfall caused the worst flooding on record on the Ohio and Beaver Rivers.

June 16, 1936 , On the Ohio River, near Industry, Montgomery Island locks and dam were completed and dedicated.

April 12, 1937 , In the Landmark case, National Relations Board vs. Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation, which originated in Beaver County established the legal basis for collective bargaining between labor unions and employers.

1939 , Dr. Harrison H. Richardson of Beaver, then age 19, accompanied Admiral Byrd on his Antarctic expedition. Mount Richardson in the Fosdick Mountains in Antarctica was named for him.

January 1, 1940 , Beaver Countians who were eligible for Social Security received their first monthly payments under the law passed in 1935.

May 1, 1940 , Michael Baker Jr. opened his engineering firm in the Penn Beaver Hotel, Rochester.

December 7, 1941 , The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor thus causing the United States to enter world war two.

Ca. 1941 , The Spang-Chalfant Company in Ambridge began producing shell forgings, bomb casings, and airplane cylinders for the war effort.

1943 , The Kobuta plant was established in Potter Township for the manufacture of butadiene and styrene.

1945 , Land in southern Beaver County was transferred by the Federal Government to Pennsylvania to create Raccoor Creek State Park.

August 14, 1945 , world war two finally ended with the Japanese surrender. Beaver County suffered 479 casualties, with 296 killed in action.