Sharpsville Historical Society

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Sharpsville Historical Society Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Sharpsville Historical Society, 131 N Mercer Avenue, Sharpsville, PA.

The purpose of the society is the collecting of data dealing with the early history of the Sharpsville area, the acquisition and preservation of documents, records, relics, and memorabilia having to do with pioneer days, the encouragement of local hi

For most of the 20th century, the Shenango Furnace Co. was central to the town's economy and employment. With both bla...
10/19/2026

For most of the 20th century, the Shenango Furnace Co. was central to the town's economy and employment. With both blast furnaces producing pig iron and a foundry casting ingot molds, they were a significant player, nationally, in both markets. Even after the blast furnaces were banked, the foundry continued with significant investments made in the mid 1970s. Here, an ingot mold is being cast in 1976 at the Sharpsville plant, with the hot metal from the ladle being poured into the mold.

As a reminder our Bingo fundraiser is this Sunday at 2:00pm at St. Bartholomew's Center, 311 W. Ridge Ave., Sharpsville....
10/15/2026

As a reminder our Bingo fundraiser is this Sunday at 2:00pm at St. Bartholomew's Center, 311 W. Ridge Ave., Sharpsville. Doors open at 1:00

Sharpsville's storied football history goes back over a century. Here is a game from the 1920s being played at the old ...
10/11/2026

Sharpsville's storied football history goes back over a century. Here is a game from the 1920s being played at the old 13th Street field. Before the present McCracken field opened in 1934, our team (then the Blue & White--"Blue Devils" wasn't adopted until 1934 as well), played here. Pierce Avenue didn't go out this far back then, with half the field where the 13th St. playground is now and half in the vacant lots across Pierce to the alley. In 1933, the Borough inexplicably decided to extend Pierce Avenue across the field.

A large fire started in Dickinson's Furniture store on the evening of June 28, 1917. The view here is at the intersecti...
10/06/2026

A large fire started in Dickinson's Furniture store on the evening of June 28, 1917. The view here is at the intersection of Walnut and Main, with the corner building the site of the current Borough building. The house behind it and the Furniture Store behind that stand in what is now the grassy area going toward the telephone switching buildings. Swift action by what was then the fairly new Sharpsville Volunteer Fire Department prevented the spread of flames which could have consumed the entire block. Sharon firemen assisted. While the building was gutted, it somehow was repaired, and was later home to Dolan's Furniture.

Here are the members and daughter of the Italian Home, assembled at a viewing stand following their parade on September ...
09/25/2026

Here are the members and daughter of the Italian Home, assembled at a viewing stand following their parade on September 8, 1914. The Shenango Furnace is in the background. The parade marked the Feast of St. Mary of Ausonia, which a newspaper account said included plans for "religious services, a big parade, general picnic outing, addresses, and a brand blowout at night in the shape of fireworks."

Here's something a little more recent (though, only if you count 52 years ago as recent!). As much as Sharpsville's 150t...
09/18/2026

Here's something a little more recent (though, only if you count 52 years ago as recent!). As much as Sharpsville's 150th anniversary two years ago was a big celebration, nothing matched our 1974 Centennial. An entire week of seventy events: athletic, craft & cooking, musical, fireworks. Plus, a huge parade, and the inaugural year of the beloved Sharpsville Carnival. The celebration resulted in much of the town wearing old-timey costumes for a week and generated scores of souvenir memorabilia. Here is a photo of the Centennial's pet parade at the football field. In the background is the scaffolding for the set of the "The Sharpsville Story" Pageant, which was the highlight of the Centennial.

Here's a view from the early 1930s atop Shenango Furnace #1 looking southeast, with the intersection of Main and Sevent...
09/12/2026

Here's a view from the early 1930s atop Shenango Furnace #1 looking southeast, with the intersection of Main and Seventh in the foreground. The Williams Cafe (later the Ranch House) is on the corner; it burned in 1980. Next to it is the empty lot where the Italian Home (now the American Legion) would be built in 1950. Note the large billboards next to the Rossi Barber Shop. The newly constructed First Presbyterian church is in the middle of the photo (before soot blackened the stone walls). Most surprising is the park-like appaerance of Sharpsville south of Pierce Avenue.

Times were tough during the Great Depression and people did what they had to in order to get by. Here, residents around...
09/04/2026

Times were tough during the Great Depression and people did what they had to in order to get by. Here, residents around High Street are sorting through fill dirt the Shenango Furnace used to level the lot where some recently-torn-down "company houses" stood. Here they were looking for scrap iron, which they could sell to the "junk man" for a small payment.

Here's another post... It's titled "First Annual Mom's Night", 1958. A familiar sight along the football field (though ...
08/28/2026

Here's another post... It's titled "First Annual Mom's Night", 1958. A familiar sight along the football field (though without a fence, and with the ladies more dressed up than today--in dresses, pumps, and hats or babushkas. We don't have names for those pictured, so if you are Class of '59 (we assume the mom's were of Seniors), identification would help.

We're starting a new feature where we hope to post a historical photo every week. For our inaugural photo, here's th...
08/23/2026

We're starting a new feature where we hope to post a historical photo every week.
For our inaugural photo, here's the background: The Varsity "S" was a club for Sharpsville High lettermen formed in 1923 by Harry E. Pebly, coach of the storied Sharpsville football and basketball teams of the 1920s. Purported to be the oldest organization of its kind in Pennsylvania and possibly the country, it was known mainly for its hazing intiations and annual banquets featuring celebrities from the world of sport, including various collegiate coaches, as well as Willie Stargell, Art Rooney, Honus Wagner, and sportswriter "Chilly" Doyle. It was disbanded at some point in the mid-1970s.
Here's the initiation from November 22, 1949. With the paddle, Fats Cerroni, and with Bob Sabella on the receiving end. Behind are: John "Dope" Hanley, Bob "Corny Jennings, Joe "BeeBo Caracci, Tom "Tucker" Findley, Bill Senay, Buck Austin, Ralph Jones, Fred Madaz, Alex Zomparelli, Kent Hoffman, Dick Timmerman, Tom Rusnak, Wade Alxander, Dan O'Neill, Lou Caracci, [unknown, face turned], Mike Roth, Spikes Murphy, Paul Teglo.

Address

131 N Mercer Avenue
Sharpsville, PA
16150

Telephone

(724) 962-2392

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