Ligonier Valley Rail Road Newspaper Articles
We have compiled over 1,400 newspaper articles that mention the Ligonier Valley Railroad, or related subjects. The articles were originally published starting in 1873 and our collection runs through 1995. Enjoy!
Pittsburgh Daily Post
Friday, August 8, 1890
Reformed Church Reunion
Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties Sent 3,000 People to Idlewild
Fine Weather in a Lovely Grove
A musical and Literary Program Rendered in the Woods
Boys and Girls Made Themselves Merry
The annual reunion picnic of the Reformed church in America of the churches of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties was held yesterday at Idlewild. Three thousand people assembled in the romantic grove located on either side of the Loyalhanna creek eight miles from Latrobe, up the Ligonier valley. A perfect day vouchsafed to the pleasure-seeking throngs a delightful time. The grove embraces everything needful for a pleasant outing.
The train stops in a partial clearing of several acres, laid out in walks and dotted with inviting booths and pavilions. A deep primeval forest surrounding the tourist on every side makes unnecessary the conductors stentorian call of Idlewild. It is a wild indeed without a sign of industrious activity. Life there is in abundance; but on every happy face in the restful place is stamped the air of the pleasure-seeker. The joys of lazy repose in this semi-wilderness proclaim the spot appropriately named. The placid stream which reflects on its mirror-like surface youth and maiden, trees, overhanging bridge and fleecy clouds is part of the place and seems infused with its genius of idleness. Scarce a ripple can be detected, and its waters seem loathe to leave this sylvan retreat for the rushing river and the restless sea, its grave.
Father down the current quickens and the Loyalhanna hurries over rocks and pebbles singing in little sharps in triplets:
Men may come and men may go,
But I go on forever.
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Took Two Trains
Two excursion trains left the Union depot. One at 8 A. M. ran empty to Greensburg and carried eight carloads of people from there to Idlewild. The main division, consisting of 13 coaches under the management of J. W. Swan and Conductor Good, left at 8:20 A. M. When the grounds were reached over 1,000 people were unloaded.
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A little incident not down on the program, which occurred early in the day, caused a ripple of excitement. Mrs. W. Baird of Latrobe gave the Post representative the following story:
He Was Too Big
Shortly after the train arrived I went to the large pavilion in which tables are arranged for the use of excursionists to get dinner ready for my family. As I ascended the steps a man by the name of Stickle from our town told me I could not occupy any of the room in that pavilion. I told him the pavilion was for the benefit of all, and tried to crowd past him. He pushed me off the steps, and by main strength kept me from entering the pavilion. Just then my husband came up and took in the situation at a glance. It took me and Rev. Hartzell and some others to hold him, so eager was he to get at the man who insulted me. Stickle did not stay around, and I and my family took dinner in that pavilion without molestation.
Mr. Baird is over six feet tall, and it is not surprising that a man should wish to avoid and encounter with him.
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