Stahlstown, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Stahlstown is a small unincorporated community in Cook Township
, Westmoreland County
, Pennsylvania
. It is 50 miles south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, just a few miles from the Donegal
exit on the Pennsylvania Turnpike
, located at the intersection of route 711 and route 130.
The village was originally known as Centerville, but the name was changed after the Post Office objected there already being a town of Centerville nearby across Laurel Hill in Somerset County. It was then decided to name the town Stahlstown after Leonard Stahl (b.1734-d.Nov.1829) upon whose land the village was built. Leonard Stahl was married to Elizabeth King (daughter of Michael and Susanna [Passmore] King of Somerset County). Elizabeth's brother William King (b.Nov23, 1776-d.May5,1853) was also instrumental in the founding of Stahlstown along with another brother, Enos King (b.Oct 28, 1768 - d.Aug 15, 1845), who built the first house in the village near the intersection of route 711 and route 130. The house was built of stone around the year 1799 and in 1882 was occupied by John Roadman (b.March 1821-d.Mar 29, 1902), son of Jacob and Ann (King) Roadman. Ann King was William's oldest child. The house is still occupied today.
At one time the small village had as many as three gas stations, a general store, a pub, post office, firehouse, and a Nickelodeon movie theater. The Stahlstown Flax Scutching Grounds is home to the nations second oldest continued Flax Scutching Festivalhttp://flaxscutching.com/, held annually on the second weekend in the month of September. In 2007, the festival celebrated its 100th anniversary.
At one time, Stahlstown was home to North America’s only importer for Bimota
motorcycles from Rimini
, Italy
. This exotic sport bike would attract customers from all over the country, including celebrities like Jay Leno
.
During the second week of July the grounds also host the Chestnut Ridge Community Volunteer Fire Company Fair complete with amusement rides, a parade and fireworks.
A unique aspect to the small village, State Route 130 is the division between Mount Pleasant Area School District
and Ligonier Valley School District
. This has allowed some parents a “gray area” as to which school district they are to send their children.
Additional references taken from "History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with biographical sketches of many of its prominent men." Edited by George Dallas Albert; pub 1882 by L. H. Everts & Co, Philadelphia and the cemetery records of the Stahlstown Methodist Church Cemetery.
Cook Township, Pennsylvania
Cook Township is a township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,403 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.The township contains the following...
, Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. It is 50 miles south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, just a few miles from the Donegal
Donegal, Pennsylvania
Donegal is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a distinct municipality from the adjacent Donegal Township. The population was 165 at the 2000 census...
exit on the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Pennsylvania Turnpike
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a toll highway system operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. The three sections of the turnpike system total . The main section extends from Ohio to New Jersey and is long...
, located at the intersection of route 711 and route 130.
The village was originally known as Centerville, but the name was changed after the Post Office objected there already being a town of Centerville nearby across Laurel Hill in Somerset County. It was then decided to name the town Stahlstown after Leonard Stahl (b.1734-d.Nov.1829) upon whose land the village was built. Leonard Stahl was married to Elizabeth King (daughter of Michael and Susanna [Passmore] King of Somerset County). Elizabeth's brother William King (b.Nov23, 1776-d.May5,1853) was also instrumental in the founding of Stahlstown along with another brother, Enos King (b.Oct 28, 1768 - d.Aug 15, 1845), who built the first house in the village near the intersection of route 711 and route 130. The house was built of stone around the year 1799 and in 1882 was occupied by John Roadman (b.March 1821-d.Mar 29, 1902), son of Jacob and Ann (King) Roadman. Ann King was William's oldest child. The house is still occupied today.
At one time the small village had as many as three gas stations, a general store, a pub, post office, firehouse, and a Nickelodeon movie theater. The Stahlstown Flax Scutching Grounds is home to the nations second oldest continued Flax Scutching Festivalhttp://flaxscutching.com/, held annually on the second weekend in the month of September. In 2007, the festival celebrated its 100th anniversary.
At one time, Stahlstown was home to North America’s only importer for Bimota
Bimota
Bimota is a small, Italian manufacturer of custom and production motorcycles. It was founded in 1973 in Rimini, Italy by Bianchi, Morri and Tamburini. The company name is a portmanteau derived from the first two letters of each of the three founders' surnames, i.e...
motorcycles from Rimini
Rimini
Rimini is a medium-sized city of 142,579 inhabitants in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It is located on the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia and Ausa...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. This exotic sport bike would attract customers from all over the country, including celebrities like Jay Leno
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
.
During the second week of July the grounds also host the Chestnut Ridge Community Volunteer Fire Company Fair complete with amusement rides, a parade and fireworks.
A unique aspect to the small village, State Route 130 is the division between Mount Pleasant Area School District
Mount Pleasant Area School District
Mount Pleasant School District is a public school district in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The boroughs of Mount Pleasant and Donegal, as well as the townships of Mount Pleasant and Donegal are within district boundaries.-Administration:...
and Ligonier Valley School District
Ligonier Valley School District
Ligonier Valley School District is a public school district in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The boroughs of Ligonier and Laurel Mountain, Bolivar, Seward, New Florence, Bolivar, as well as the townships of Cook, St. Clair and Ligonier, and Fairfield Township, Pennsylvania|Fairfield are within...
. This has allowed some parents a “gray area” as to which school district they are to send their children.
Additional references taken from "History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with biographical sketches of many of its prominent men." Edited by George Dallas Albert; pub 1882 by L. H. Everts & Co, Philadelphia and the cemetery records of the Stahlstown Methodist Church Cemetery.