Cadogan Township in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Cadogan - A Coal Mining Town

— Cadogan, PA - Our Home Town —

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 3, 2025

1. Cadogan - A Coal Mining Town Marker

Inscription.

Cadogan - A Coal Mining Town. . , (Photo Captions):, In 1914 the first homes were constructed for mine management and laborers. Homes were rented to workers. In the early years a three-room bungalow rented for $3.60 per month, a five-room house rented for $5.70 per month and seven-room homes rented for $7.75 per month. As the town grew it had its own churches, school, Post Office, Company Store, and the first talking pictures movie theater in Armstrong County. In 1917 there were 3 churches built in town; Catholic, Protestant and Episcopal. Two churches remain today, and the Episcopal church on Oak Avenue became a family residence. All homes were sold by the mining company in 1950 for $400, $900 and $1200. The photo to the left is of Prospect Avenue looking east with Company Store at right corner., The Cadogan Theater was built in 1918. Cadogan has the distinction of being the first locality in Armstrong County, and the smallest place in the U.S., to have talkie movies. The building burned in 1936 but was rebuilt and later converted to a grocery store, which also burned in 1953. It was rebuilt again and used as the coal miner's Union Hall, and today serves as the Township Hall., A small Confectionery Store was operated by Joseph Round Sr. and then his son Sam until the 1970's, offering sweets and other items not available at the Company Store., Inside the Confectionary, Company store, Inside the Company Store in 1937. Typical appliances of the time., Most, if not all, coal mining communities and mill towns had a company store, owned and operated by the company, where you could buy almost anything. Goods were provided on credit and payment was deducted from paychecks. If you owed more than your paycheck covered, miners would get $2 and a box of snuff until the next payday., The War Memorial honored Cadogan's World War II veterans. It was located in what is now Overlook Park. The memorial and nearby swimming pool were lost to neglect over time. The town's Christmas tree was located nearby, as well as today's flag pole., This 1935 photo shows Helen Degnan Otell, who, at age 21, was the youngest and second female Postmaster in the United States, collecting the first air mail., The first school was a four-room wood building, and later had a second floor added to allow one room for each grade. A new school with four rooms was erected in 1960, having two grades per room. The new school building now hosts Reyna Foods chip production., Town overview looking south. The old school and distillery at Schenley across the river can be seen from this picture taken from the water reservoir on the hill above town., The mining company initially identified the mine name as Nicholson, then later changed the name to Cadogan. The first houses being erected in September 1914 along Prospect Avenue and First Avenue are shown above., Dantella's Bar was known for its dance hall on the second floor, which sometimes served as a fighting ring for boxers. It was a victim of the 1936 flood but survived and later reduced to a single floor. It is now the present Villa Restaurant., The Big G Nite Spot was the entertainment spot in town. It hosted a bar and dance floor, and many famous bands including the Jimmy Dorsey Band played there. It was eventually razed and moved to Prospect Avenue, and is now Clyde's Saloon.

(Photo Captions):

In 1914 the first homes were constructed for mine management and laborers. Homes were rented to workers. In the early years a three-room bungalow rented for $3.60 per month, a five-room house rented for $5.70 per month and seven-room homes rented for $7.75 per month. As the town grew it had its own churches, school, Post Office, Company Store, and the first talking pictures movie theater in Armstrong County. In 1917 there were 3 churches built in town; Catholic, Protestant and Episcopal. Two churches remain today, and the Episcopal church on Oak Avenue became a family residence. All homes were sold by the mining company in 1950 for $400, $900 and $1200. The photo to the left is of Prospect Avenue looking east with Company Store at right corner.

The Cadogan Theater was built in 1918. Cadogan has the distinction of being the first locality in Armstrong County, and the smallest place in the U.S., to have talkie movies. The building burned in 1936 but was rebuilt and later converted to a grocery store, which also burned in 1953. It was rebuilt again and used as the coal miner's Union Hall, and today serves as the Township Hall.

A small Confectionery Store was operated by Joseph Round Sr. and then his son Sam until the 1970's, offering sweets and other items not available

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at the Company Store.

Inside the Confectionary

Company store

Inside the Company Store in 1937. Typical appliances of the time.

Most, if not all, coal mining communities and mill towns had a company store, owned and operated by the company, where you could buy almost anything. Goods were provided on credit and payment was deducted from paychecks. If you owed more than your paycheck covered, miners would get $2 and a box of snuff until the next payday.

The War Memorial honored Cadogan's World War II veterans. It was located in what is now Overlook Park. The memorial and nearby swimming pool were lost to neglect over time. The town's Christmas tree was located nearby, as well as today's flag pole.

This 1935 photo shows Helen Degnan Otell, who, at age 21, was the youngest and second female Postmaster in the United States, collecting the first air mail.

The first school was a four-room wood building, and later had a second floor added to allow one room for each grade. A new school with four rooms was erected in 1960, having two grades per room. The new school building now hosts Reyna Foods chip production.

Town overview looking south. The old school and distillery at Schenley across the river can be seen from this picture taken from the water reservoir on the hill above town.

The mining

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 3, 2025

2. Cadogan - A Coal Mining Town Marker

company initially identified the mine name as Nicholson, then later changed the name to Cadogan. The first houses being erected in September 1914 along Prospect Avenue and First Avenue are shown above.

Dantella's Bar was known for its dance hall on the second floor, which sometimes served as a fighting ring for boxers. It was a victim of the 1936 flood but survived and later reduced to a single floor. It is now the present Villa Restaurant.

The Big G Nite Spot was the entertainment spot in town. It hosted a bar and dance floor, and many famous bands including the Jimmy Dorsey Band played there. It was eventually razed and moved to Prospect Avenue, and is now Clyde's Saloon.

Erected by Ford City Lions Club.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.

Location. 40° 45.178′ N, 79° 34.881′ W. Marker is in Cadogan, Pennsylvania, in Armstrong County. It is in Cadogan Township. It is at the intersection of Prospect Avenue and Main Street (Pennsylvania Route 128), on the right when traveling east on Prospect Avenue. Marker is located in Allegheny Overlook Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 222 Prospect Avenue, Cadogan PA 16212, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Pittsburgh.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers.

Cadogan School Bell (1917-1959) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 3, 2025

3. Cadogan School Bell (1917-1959)

Located near the marker in Allegheny Overlook Park. The town's second school building was erected in 1960.

At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Cadogan Area Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Cadogan - A Coal Mining Town (a few steps from this marker); Crossing The Allegheny River (approx. 2.1 miles away); Ford City Clubs & Organizations Past and Present (approx. 2.3 miles away); The Pittsburgh Glass Plate Company (approx. 2.4 miles away); Gone, But Not Forgotten (approx. 2.6 miles away); The Flood That Changed Ford City (approx. 2.7 miles away); John B. Ford (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cadogan.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 148 times since then and 98 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 22, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.