Beaver in Beaver County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Growth And Decline 1946-1985
Photographed By Craig Doda, July 3, 2021
1. Growth And Decline 1946-1985 Marker
Inscription.
Growth And Decline 1946-1985. . As county life attempted to return to normal following the end of world war two, the county was once again in an economic boom, and the emphasis turned to recreation. This period saw the establishment of our county parks, a new county airport in Chippewa, and many of our local libraries. The Beaver County River Regatta was born as well as the Maple Syrup Festival and the ice arena.
This era saw Beaver County connected to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the building of the Beaver Valley Expressway, the establishment of the first shopping center, and the opening at the Beaver Medical Center. County residents were ushered into the atomic age with the dedication of the Shippingport nuclear plant.
With the divisions caused by the Vietnam War, civil rights came to the forefront, not only for African Americans but for women as well. The strides made by both groups resulted in the first female mayor in Beaver County, and the first in Pennsylvania along with the first female detective in county history. African-Americans could point with pride to the first black county attorney and chief of police, as well as point to the first African-American president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) who came from Aliquippa.
All good things come to an end. And so it was with the decline of the steel industry and the closing of our large steel plants along with many of the dependent industries idling thousands of workers and forcing them to go elsewhere searching for work. Hard times had come to Beaver County.
1950 , Brady's Run Park opened to the public.
June 25, 1950 , The Korean War began and ended with a cease-fire agreement in 1953.
May 2, 1953 , The Beaver County Airport in Chippewa was dedicated.
1956 , Northern Lights Shopping Center opened as the area's first major shopping mall.
1959 , The Beaver County Home and Hospital was built in Brighton Township.
November 29, 1959 , The original Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe was opened in New Brighton by Victor and Francis Trevelline.
November 22, 1963 , President John F. Kennedy was assassinated while visiting Dallas, Texas.
1965 , Penn State Beaver campus opened. The United States committed large scale active combat units to the Vietnam War. They were withdrawn by 1973.
1960/1970s , Along the Midland-Beaver Road in Industry, Native American artifacts estimated at 8,000/9,000 years old were excavated.
1966 , Construction began on the Beaver Valley Expressway (current Route I-376).
September 18, 1967 , Community College of Beaver County began classes in the Freedom Bank Building.
1969 , Aliquippa's Dr. Jesse Steinfeld was named the 11th Surgeon General of the United States.
September 1970 , The Beaver Valley Mall opened in Center Township on the site of the former Pettibon Raccoon Golf Course.
1974 , Local archaeologists, with assistance from the University of Pittsburgh and the Carnegie Museum, began excavations to locate the remains of Fort McIntosh.
1980 , The Medical Center of Beaver County was dedicated in Brighton Township and cost $54 million.
October 15, 1982 , Crucible Steel Company closed its Midland plant.
May 17, 1985 , LTV Corp. closed most of the Aliquippa Works (leaving only the tin mill running), laying off about 8,000 workers.
May 31, 1985 , A tornado ripped through 13 miles of Beaver County, killing three, and resulting in nearly S10 million in damages.
June 12, 1985 , P&LE passenger service ended in the county.
As county life attempted to return to normal following the end of WWII, the county was once again in an economic boom, and the
emphasis turned to recreation. This period saw the establishment of our county parks, a new county airport in Chippewa, and many
of our local libraries. The Beaver County River Regatta was born as well as the Maple Syrup Festival and the ice arena.
This era saw Beaver County connected to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the building of the Beaver Valley Expressway, the establishment
of the first shopping center, and the opening at the Beaver Medical Center. County residents were ushered into the atomic age
with the dedication of the Shippingport nuclear plant.
With the divisions caused by the Vietnam War, civil rights came to the forefront, not only for African Americans but for women as well.
The strides made by both groups resulted in the first female mayor in Beaver County, and the first in Pennsylvania along with the first
female detective in county history. African-Americans could point with pride to the first black county attorney and chief of police, as well
as point to the first African-American president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) who came from Aliquippa.
All good things come to an end. And so it was with the decline of the steel industry and the closing
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of our large steel plants along with
many of the dependent industries idling thousands of workers and forcing them to go elsewhere searching for work. Hard times had
come to Beaver County.
1950
Brady's Run Park opened to the public.
June 25, 1950
The Korean War began and
ended with a cease-fire
agreement in 1953.
May 2, 1953
The Beaver County Airport in Chippewa was dedicated.
1956
Northern Lights Shopping
Center opened as the area's
first major shopping mall.
1959
The Beaver County Home and Hospital
was built in Brighton Township.
November 29, 1959
The original Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe
was opened in New Brighton by Victor
and Francis Trevelline.
November 22, 1963
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated
while visiting Dallas, Texas.
1965
Penn State Beaver campus opened.
The United States committed large scale active
combat units to the Vietnam War. They were
withdrawn by 1973.
1960/1970s
Along the Midland-Beaver Road in
Industry, Native American artifacts
estimated at 8,000/9,000 years
old were excavated.
1966
Construction began on the Beaver Valley
Expressway (current Route I-376).
September 18, 1967
Community College of Beaver County
began classes in the Freedom Bank Building.
1969
Aliquippa's Dr. Jesse Steinfeld was named the
11th
Photographed By Craig Doda, July 3, 2021
2. Growth And Decline 1946-1985 Marker
Surgeon General of the United States.
September 1970
The Beaver Valley Mall opened in Center Township on
the site of the former Pettibon Raccoon Golf Course.
1974
Local archaeologists, with
assistance from the University
of Pittsburgh and the Carnegie
Museum, began excavations
to locate the remains of Fort
McIntosh.
1980
The Medical Center of Beaver County was dedicated
in Brighton Township and cost $54 million.
October 15, 1982
Crucible Steel Company
closed its Midland plant.
May 17, 1985
LTV Corp. closed most of the Aliquippa Works (leaving
only the tin mill running), laying off about 8,000 workers.
May 31, 1985
A tornado ripped through 13 miles of Beaver County, killing
three, and resulting in nearly S10 million in damages.
June 12, 1985
P&LE passenger service ended in the county.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is May 2, 1953.
Location. 40° 41.887′ N, 80° 17.84′ W. Marker is in Beaver, Pennsylvania, in Beaver County. Marker is on East End Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Beaver PA 15009, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 233 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 11, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
