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Aliquippa's bitter political campaigns, by far the most hotly-contested in Beaver County, would have seemed mild in comparison with one of the most important elections in the community's history before the town of Aliquippa, now West Aliquippa, first united with its neighbor, Woodlawn, now Aliquippa.
The election and the subsequent consolidation of the two communities climaxed a bitter rivalry which first began when Woodlawn began to develop as a threat to the much-enjoyed reputation of Aliquippa as the "Southside's leading community".
Aliquippa was the oldest of the two and had the largest population, the most stores and supposedly "the best government". It was laid out in the early 1890's and was incorporated as a borough on January 22, 1894.
Several manufacturing companies had established plants in the community, providing a basis for the residents' boasts of the community's progressiveness.
It was the business center of the entire district and was regarded as a "town of promise". Census records show early Aliquippa with a population of 1,743 in 1910, a figure which grew to 2,931 in 1920.
Woodlawn's growth was even more phenomenal. Population figures are not known, but old records show that the town "sprung up almost overnight". A post office was established in 1877 with C. I. McDonald as the first postmaster. William Ritchie opened the first store.
The discovery of the New Sheffield gas field brought a new season of prosperity to the farmers of the district and increased the population of Woodlawn immeasurably, The first well was drilled in 1884 on the farm of John Zimmerly. Results were so encouraging that others followed in rapid order.
However, Woodlawn failed to become a real threat to Aliquippa until Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., overcrowded in its Pittsburgh works, established a plant on the banks of the Ohio in the smaller neighbor's territory.
A few years later, a petition for the borough of Woodlawn was granted on December 15, 1908.
Thereafter, the two boroughs entered into bitter competition for leading honors in the district with a zeal which sometimes threatened to break into open warfare.
Business establishment staged their own private versions of the since-famous "gas wars", each had its own exclusive social set and rival schools met in battles on athletic fields which could only be described as "bloody".
Finally, a council for planning a consolidation of the two communities was held in 1928 in the Slovak Hall, Main Street, Aliquippa.
A large group of citizens of the two boroughs gathered in the streets for the discussions, which, incidentally, had to be translated into several languages in order that everyone present could understand.
0. Koreff, Pittsburgh newsman, spoke in Slovak; Tony Rubino, Aliquippa, translated for the Italian populace; Max Selkovitz, Aliquippa, spoke English; Rev. M. B. Rappach, pastor of the Aliquippa Greek Catholic Church, spoke Lithuanian; and Paul Jamriska, Pittsburgh newsman, did the translation for the Slavic citizens. Daniel O'Connor, President of Aliquippa Council, presided at the meeting.
Problems threshed out at the meeting and at the many meetings which followed did nothing to dissolve the rivalry which existed between the two communities.
Citizens of old Aliquippa were almost overwhelmingly in favor of the consolidation which would make Aliquippa, and they were determined to have the name of the community remain the same - the most powerful and largest community in Beaver County.
Citizens of Woodlawn, on the other hand, were loath to see their community swallowed up by neighboring Aliquippa. The problems of the officials pushing the consolidation move was to bring the two factions together in a satisfactory manner.
The pages of the old Woodlawn Gazette, an early forerunner of the Beaver Valley Times, were filled during the next few months with arguments advanced by both factions. Speakers for both sides filled the ears of passersby on both Franklin Avenue in Woodlawn and Main Street in Aliquippa with the points for both sides.
Turnout at the polls was almost a record for the two communities. The final result showed 3,558 votes for the consolidation and only 707 against, a notable achievement of persuasion for those who argued for the movement.
A few months later, a proclamation, signed by Gov. John S. Fisher, was received by Borough Solicitor W. D. Craig.
The proclamation: "Letter, patent have been issued by the Governor of the State of Pennsylvania consolidating the boroughs of Woodlawn and Aliquippa into one corporation to be known as the borough of Aliquippa, the said name to be vested with all rights, privileges and franchises of each of the boroughs, with all property, real personal and mixed, and all other things in action belonging to the new borough subject to all the duties, requirements and restrictions specified and enjoined in the Act of General Assembly approved the fourth day of May, A.D. 1927'9.
John F Weigel, burgess of Aliquippa, was selected as temporary burgess of the new community, but Art Coombs, burgess of Woodlawn, was elected at the first meeting of the joint Councils.
Members of both Councils and School Boards served their complete terms and vacancies were filled only after the bodies had been reduced to the correct number.
Most of the officers were from Aliquippa. Officers of Woodlawn were swallowed in various minor government jobs.
From the Beaver Valley Times, June 28, 1958 Provided to Milestones By Paul Adams, Sr