Latrobe in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Famous Latrobe Pennsylvania

Photographed by Bradley Owen, July 12, 2025

1. Famous Latrobe Pennsylvania Marker

Inscription.

Famous Latrobe Pennsylvania. . , FIRST PRO FOOTBALL TEAM , 1897 , In 1895 John Brallier was paid $10 to play quarterback for the local team. Though decades later it was discovered that Brallier was not the first paid player, Latrobe did have the first all-pro team in 1897. Ed Abbaticchio became one of the first-if not the first-two-sport professional athlete when he went on to play baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates., FIRST BANANA SPLIT , 1904 , Dr. David E. Strickler invented the popular treat in 1904. A 1901 graduate of Latrobe High school, Strickler attended the Western University of Pennsylvania (now the University of Pittsburgh) while in the evening he worked at Tassel's Pharmacy on Ligonier Street. His combination of a banana split lengthwise, three different kinds of ice cream, and toppings is a favorite amongst families across the country., FIRST NON-STOP AIRMAIL PICKUP , 1939 , On May 12, 1939 the first non-stop airmail pick-up was made at Latrobe Airport. Lytle S. "Doc" Adams' invention made it possible for the inbound plane to drop a bag of mail and make a pick-up of outbound mail simultaneously between two high poles spaced about 60 feet apart., ARNOLD PALMER , A 1947 graduate of Latrobe High School, Arnold Palmer went to Wake Forest University on scholarship where he won three Atlantic Coast Conference Championships. "Arnie" Palmer was the first golfer to win the Masters Tournament four times and is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of professional golf, having won 92 tournaments during his career., MR. ROGERS , Fred McFeely Rogers was born in Latrobe on March 20, 1928 and graduated from Latrobe High School in 1946. He was ordained as a Presbyterian Minister in 1963 with a charge to continue his work with children and families through the mass media. From 1968 until 2000 he produced Mister Rogers' Neighborhood at Pittsburgh Public Television station WQED. Fred Rogers is known worldwide as a pioneer committed to building bridges between early learning and children's media. May you have a beautiful day in his neighborhood!

FIRST PRO FOOTBALL TEAM
1897
In 1895 John Brallier was paid $10 to play quarterback for the local team. Though decades later it was discovered that Brallier was not the first paid player, Latrobe did have the first all-pro team in 1897. Ed Abbaticchio became one of the first-if not the first-two-sport professional athlete when he went on to play baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

FIRST BANANA SPLIT
1904
Dr. David E. Strickler invented the popular treat in 1904. A 1901 graduate of Latrobe High school, Strickler attended the Western University of Pennsylvania (now the University of Pittsburgh) while in the evening he worked at Tassel's Pharmacy on Ligonier Street. His combination of a banana split lengthwise, three different kinds of ice cream, and toppings is a favorite amongst families across the country.

FIRST NON-STOP AIRMAIL PICKUP
1939
On May 12, 1939 the first non-stop airmail pick-up was made at Latrobe Airport. Lytle S. "Doc" Adams' invention made it possible for the inbound plane to drop a bag of mail and make a pick-up of outbound mail simultaneously between two high poles spaced about 60 feet apart.

ARNOLD PALMER
A 1947 graduate of Latrobe High School, Arnold Palmer went to Wake Forest University on scholarship where he won three Atlantic Coast Conference Championships. "Arnie" Palmer was the first golfer to win the Masters Tournament four times and is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of professional golf, having won 92 tournaments during his career.

MR. ROGERS
Fred McFeely Rogers was born in Latrobe on March 20, 1928 and graduated from Latrobe High School in 1946. He was ordained as a Presbyterian Minister in 1963 with a charge to continue his work with children and families through the mass media. From 1968 until 2000 he produced Mister

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Rogers' Neighborhood at Pittsburgh Public Television station WQED. Fred Rogers is known worldwide as a pioneer committed to building bridges between early learning and children's media. May you have a beautiful day in his neighborhood!

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. A significant historical date for this entry is March 20, 1928.

Location. 40° 18.975′ N, 79° 23.075′ W. Marker is in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in Westmoreland County. It is at the intersection of Ligonier Street and Main Street, on the left when traveling north on Ligonier Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 903 Ligonier St, Latrobe PA 15650, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Laurel Highlands

and 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 Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and one

Historic Latrobe Pennsylvania and Famous Latrobe Pennsylvania Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, July 12, 2025

2. Historic Latrobe Pennsylvania and Famous Latrobe Pennsylvania Markers

of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Historic Latrobe Pennsylvania (here, next to this marker); Citizens National Bank of Latrobe (within shouting distance of this marker); Fred McFeely Rogers (within shouting distance of this marker); The Banana Split (within shouting distance of this marker); Reflections of Latrobe History (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pennsylvania Railroad (about 500 feet away); Dainty Pastry Shoppe (about 600 feet away); William Findley (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Latrobe.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2026, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 18, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.