Pike Street - A Picture History

Evolving over a period of 100 years, 

Pike Street from 1898, 1903, 1962 and 2002.

1898▲            1903▼                   Pike Street - Camonsburg, PA            1962▲             2002▼

These four photographs were taken from about the same spot on West Pike Street in Canonsburg over a period of more than a century  .In the upper left is a view taken before the Great Fire of 1898, when the buildings on the right half of the picture were destroyed. In the photo below it, the south side of Pike Street has been rebuilt, but the street is still dirt, so it is before 1903.

The photo at the top right was taken in 1962, and the one below about 2002. The little hot-dog stand ("Sandwich Shop") and the Gowern Building had been replaced by a parking lot.

(Submitted by Jim Herron)

Electric streetcar on Pike St

Recently came across this picture of this electric streetcar on Pike St.  Not sure of its source.  It appears to be late 1930 early 40's. 


A blow-up (right side) reveals an advertisement poster for Rubinoff , a famous touring violinist of the time  and near the center the  Hildegarde's sign whose shop moved to the location in 1938.(JCTimes 9/2010). 

A cold brisk Canonsburg morning
Pike St. & N. Central Ave. - winter of 1939

On a cold brisk Canonsburg morning,  passengers on a snow packed street, women wearing "babuskas", men tucked in hats  politely and patiently await arriving passengers to depart so they may board the "Big Red" a 3700 series, single end interurban car headed toward Pittsburgh.      Fare... 10¢ please!

East College Street, Canonsburg Pa

A fairly recent view looking East on College Street, taken I think from a vantage point near St Genevieve church.  


Not sure of the date, but still a familiar view full of good memories from attending mass at St. Genevieve or  each school day, just walking along, carrying on with classmates on our way to attend Harry Waters' machine shop class at Curry Field,  

East College Street

and of course during the summer, those early morning walks down College St. to Weavertown Bridge to hitch-hike a ride out to the then Mt. Lebanon CC to caddie. 


Oh yes,  me and East College Street... we've met. 

A Canonsburg Corner's History

102 W. Pike Street 
circa 2000
NW Corner of West Pike Street and North Jefferson Ave.

A skating rink was at the intersection in the 1880s, and was the only lot with a non-substantial building.


Here is a chronolgy (history) of this NW corner as provided by, who else Dr. Jim Herron:

1875 Espey Livery Stable 

1898  J J VanEman pur Espey Livery Stable in 1898; added hardware             store 

1900's  J. A. Fife purchases livery stable from J.J.VanEman

1904 Building  remodeled and covered with galvanized iron  

1906  H.H.Bebout, new building owner converts stable into  50 x 100’ store

1909  Welty’s Big Store Dept Store

1930s  J. A. Johnson purchases and brick veneers the building

1934  Welty’s New Furniture Dept operated by Brody’s Inc 

1936  Rogerson’s Department Store occupies  Brody moves out  4/1/36

1939  T. F. Rogerson  quitting business

1939  Kroger Grocery and; Baking Co. leases first floor and the basement

First (ground) floor dropped to street level with steel girders in the   basement. Front changed with show windows and entrance at street level

1941  Kroger Store

1953  Spear Home Furnishing Co.

1957  Baron Furniture Co. 

1957  Western Auto
2002 Bahr Hardware

2009  Humble Carpet and Decorating Center 


Note:The dates in the chronology are not etched in stone. For the most part they were when the occupant was found in the Daily Notes, usually an advertisement. I have not done detailed research into the site, so the list is rough.  Jim Herron

JCTimes - March 2008 - Morganza

Click here to view the JCT Morganza Issue:

Canonsburg Opera House Tragedy

A Special 100 Anniversary Issue

For 100 years the "Opera House Disaster" has been a part of the fabric of Canonsburg.  It was on the evening of August 26, 1911 that the largest loss of life due to one single event in the town's history occurred.

Click Here to view the
100 year anniversary issue of the
Canonsburg Opera House Tragedy