Return to Milestones Vol. 4, No.3
This article is part of a project done by Margaret G. Ewing for a graduate course in geography at the University of Pittsburgh. Procedures for collecting material for the study included conducting a thorough survey of land use in Ambridge today fbr the purpose of distinguishing patterns of settlement. The present landscape of Ambridge was then analyzed in terms of a] location of types of structures, b] segregation of structures according to functions, and cl the time structures were built. Supplementary data was gathered from maps, books, and interviews with knowledgeable persons residing in the Ambridge area. Ms. Ewing is an instructor in History at the Beaver Campus of the Pennsylvania State University, presently completing a Masters Degree in Geography at the University of Pittsburgh.
The present landscape of a given area is the result of cultural processes operating over a period of time that involve the changing relations between people and land. By studying the phases of occupancy of Ambridge, it may be possible to grasp a true perspective of the dynamic character of its human occupance. From the time of the first organized settlement in the area, a continual interaction between people and the land has occurred. The spatial and cultural dimensions of this interaction are expressed on the landscape. Because of this, human activities in the past are communicated to us through the medium of the landscape. Sensitivity to those symbols reflecting people's needs and values enable us to read the messages that exist on the landscape. Supplemented with a little historical data to pr6vide a time framework, a study of sequent occupance can reveal patterns that may be significant.
Ambridge is located on the east bank of the Ohio River, sixteen miles clownriver from Pittsburgh. The town exists on terraces of the river. The terrain consists of alternating slopes and level surfaces extending away from the river. The slopes are slight close to the river, becoming steeper to the east. The major arteries of the community run north-south on the level surfaces. Industries and the business district are located on flat areas. Residential areas are found on the sloping surfaces.
Accessibility has been and is a key resource of Ambridge. The Ohio River is a major artery on the inland water system of the United States. In addition, the Pennsylvania Railroad parallels the Ohio River on the east bank, branching at Rochester to the north along the Beaver River and to the west along the Ohio River. A four lane highway - Penna. Rt. 65 - parallels the river also, providing access to the north and south. Ambridge is centrally located in the manufacturing belt of the United States, accessible to raw materials and markets.
The special character of Ambridge derives from its industrial base and the ethnic diversity of its population. The organized human occupance of the area, dating back to 1825, has produced a landscape reflecting both utilitarian and spiritual needs and values of the people living in the area. "Reading" the landscape can tell us much about this area.
The first community to be established at the site of Ambridge today was called Economy. The Harmony Society, a group of German Pietists under the leadership of George Rapp, purchased nearly 1000 acres of land located between Legionville and Sewickley Creek, Pennsylvania, in 1824. Eventually through additional purchases, the Society owned 3,164 acres.
Here the Harmonists built their third and most successful community in the United States. It was a predominatly industrial community, although agricultural activities were a vital part of the self-sustaining Society.
The town of Economy existed between 12th and 16th Streets, and the service railroad tracks and the Ohio River (see map). It was laid out on a grid pattern, with streets running north-south and east-west. There were approximately 120 houses, some brick and others frame, located around the outside of the squares. Each house had one-quarter to one-third acre for the garden and livestock needed to support the household. The yards were usually fenced in. The houses were of Swabian (German) design, large enough to house anywhere from three to eleven people. Entrances to the houses were on the sides not on the street exterior.
Each square had two water systems; drinking water was piped in from a spring, and wash water was pumped from a well. Each square had a bake oven and laundry as well. Later a community oven and washhouse were built.(2)
The industrial and craft shops were dispersed toward the periphery of the town. The Harmonists usually lived near the factory, shop, or barn where they worked. The Great House, where George and Frederick Rapp lived, the beautiful garden to its rear, and Grotto were more or less substituted for the traditional square that had been included in the two previous communities. The church, feast hall, adult school, and museum made up the cultural center of town. Commercial activities were confined to one area. Here is where outsiders conducted their business with the Society. The hotel and subsidiary buildings and doctor's office were located here.( 3)
There were four main industrial centers in the town, each located on a corner of the town's exterior. On the northwestern corner near the Ohio River, we find the cotton and flour mill, built end to end. Water was pumped from the river to operate the steam engine that provided power for the machinery used to process cotton and grind wheat. The tanyard was located here also because it used a lot of water. A granary was placed in this part of town also. On the southwestern corner by the Ohio River were the woolen mill, fulling mill, and the dye house. Steam was needed for power to process wool, so wool-related activities had to be placed near the river. The northeastern corner had the silk mill, cider press, wine press, washhouse, and distillery. The main barns were located on the southeastern corner, although farm buildings were distributed in all quarters of the town. (4 ) To the north, east, and south of the town were the mulberry garden, vineyards, a thirty-two acre orchard, and fields used for growing cereal grain and grazing. The grain fields were located on flat surfaces, the orchard on gently-sloping land, and grazing on steeper slopes.
The Harmony Society was in its fullest bloom from 1825 to 1847, the year of George Rapp's death. After his death, the Society arid its manufacturing plant went into rapid decline. Without the patriarchal guidance of this highly respected and authoritative figure, the Society lost its reason d'etre. Much of the machinery was obsolete and needed replaced. Rather than hire young workers from outside the group and recapitalize, the Society reduced its manufacturing to meet the immediate needs of its members. The impact of the Society lived on, however, through the financial investments made by the Trustees. Railroad, industries, businesses, education, and services in the Beaver Valley were financed with capital that had been accumulated in the highly productive years.
Beginning in 1900, the Harmony Society gradually sold plots of land to the south of Economy beyond the orchard that extended to 8th Street. The Berlin Iron Company purchased 40 acres in 1900 to build a steel fabricating plant. This company merged with the American Bridge Company, and additional acreage was purchased from the Harmony Society. In 1903 the American Bridge Works was completed. 5 Meanwhile, the Ambridge Land Company purchased land extending from 1st Street to 8th Street, from Beaver Road to the river, planned a town, and sold lots. The people residing in this new site chose the name Ambridge for their town and incorporated it in 1905. The land north of 8th Street was called Economy. In 1913 the two communities merged, and were henceforth known as Ambridge. The U. S. Census figures show the population of Ambridge at 5,205 people in 1910. This figure includes the two communities of Ambridge and Economy, even though they had not as yet merged.
From 1905 to 1930, the new community grew rapidly in terms of industrial and business establishments and people. Other steel and metal-related companies took advantage of Ambridge's favorable situation with regard to location of raw materials and markets, accessibility provided by water and rail transport, and sufficient supply of labor. By 1920 the population had more than doubled (see Table #1). This enormous growth reflected the influx of people seeking employment in the mills. Many of the laborers were recent immigrants from southern and eastern Europe. The entry of the United States into the First World War stimulated heavy industrial production. Mills operated at peak production capacity.
Growth continued through the decade of the 1920's, with the population of Ambridge peaking in 1930 at 20,227 (see Table #1). Even though the first immigration law was passed in 1921 restricting numbers of immigrants into the United States, Ambridge attracted foreign born laborers in addition to native born. The foreign comprised a little over one-half of the population of Ambridge in 1920, a little under one-half in 1930.6
Change from Year Population Previous Census Per Cent Change 1910 5,205 - - 1920 12,730 7535 144.6 1930 20,227 7497 58.9 1940 18,968 -1259 6.2 1950 16,429 -1539 -13.4 1960 13,865 -2564 -15.4 1970 11,600 -2265 -16.1
Industries located on the flood plain and low, flat terraces closest to the river where they were accessible to transportation and a plentiful supply of water. The rapid growth of the town attracted businessmen and retail companies to locate there. The primary business district was located on Merchant Street, the secondary Duss Avenue. Housing had to be constructed and this required finance institutions and contractors. Residences were scattered throughout Ambridge, adjacent to industrial and business sections. Most of the housing in Ambridge was constructed in the first two decades of the 20th century. There has been little post World War 11 construction in the borough, although residents have remodeled and improved some existing structures.
Housing in Ambridge is of medium and low density. The demand for living quarters was met by contractors buying whole blocks of land and constructing the same house with minor variations on the land. This accounts for the repetition of house types seen throughout the borough. Since prospective home owners were in the low and middle income groups, houses were small - four to five rooms. Contractors built as many houses on the land as they could, so it is common to find very little space between them and very small yards. Some row houses are found in parts of the older section (Southern) of the town. Apartment houses are rarely more than three stories.
There is a stratification of housing according to socio-economic status in the older part of town. On Park Road between 4th and 8th Streets, the higher supervisory personnel of the local industries lived in middle income housing. Here the houses and yards are a little larger. Foremen and skilled workers lived on Maplewood Avenue. The houses are about the same size but closer together. To the east of Merchant Street on Melrose Avenue, the Irish laborers lived in less expensive housing. Unskilled German and Slavic workers lived on Glenwood Drive and Olive Lane. Row houses are common here, providing low income housing.
The tendency for nationality groups to cluster into neighborhoods was common. House structures do not reflect national characteristics because laborers had little money to invest in housing, and in many cases rented quarters. They took what contractors offered. It is the churches scattered primarily in the southern section of town that reflect some of the ethnic character of Ambridge, both by their architecture and by their names. For instances, a variety of Eastern Orthodox churches are dispersed in the area between 1st and 8th Streets. The concern of the foreign born for the welfare of their fellow nationals' and desire for social contacts and services prompted formation of nationality clubs. These nationality clubs are dispersed in the southern part of town also from 1st to 11th Streets, South of Duss Avenue.
Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant churches, a synagogue, and Catholic schools are conspicuous on the landscape and reflect the spiritual values and needs of the residents of Ambridge. Their community concern and involvement is expressed through institutions formed to provide a variety of services for Ambridge. These range from volunteer fire departments to the Ambridge Lions Club.
That the rapid growth of population in Ambridge was directly related to industrial growth can best be seen in the breakdown of population. In 1930, when the population peaked, males were predominate in every age category except over seventy-five years. Males especially outnumbered females in the working age groups. The nature of the metal industries plus attitudes about women working insured a male labor force. Obviously many single men came to Ambridge to find employment in the mills. They usually sought housing in rental quarters in the older, southern part of the borough.
From 1910 to 1930 Ambridge had a thriving business district on Merchant Street. It was the major commercial and retail center for the Quaker Valley, drawing people from areas to the north and south of the town.
Saturday was the day families set aside for shopping and entertainment. Montgomery Ward, Sears, and Penneys had stores here. Just about every need of the working population could be purchased in Ambridge. Bars were distributed liberally in all sections of town. They were the popular places for workingmen to relax and socialize.
The Great Depression brought hardship to the people of Ambridge. Production in the metal industries lagged, resulting in lay-offs. The population of the borough decreased by about 1200 (see Table #11). The bridge crossing the Ohio River was advantageous to laborers because it allowed for a pooling of labor in the Quaker and Beaver Valleys and greater circulation of laborers. Workers did not have to change residence if they changed jobs.
With the Second World War came increased production. The industries of Ambridge boomed in response to America's war effort. The demand for labor could not be met by the local population, depleted by the draft. Consequently, the United States government brought in 450 trailer units for temporary housing for "defense" workers. These were located to the north of Ambridge in Harmony Township. During the war years the town thrived with the swollen population. With peace, the local soldiers returned home seeking employment, pushing out the temporary "defense" workers. Few of them remained in the area and the temporary housing was removed by the government. The trailer units were an adjunct to the town, pushing the population of Ambridge to 23,000. The U. S. Census figures don't show this phenomenon because it occurred between the census taking.
The post-war period initiated the advent of suburbs as the automobile and cheap gasoline allowed people to live farther away from their place of employment. Ambridge, too, experienced an out-migration of people who 'chose to live in Baden, Harmony Township, and Economy Borough. The decrease in population of the borough reflects this movement. At the same time, the industrial base of the area began to decline as steel met increasing competition from other products in manufacturing and as the center of gravity in the manufacturing belt moved westward. The location factors that had favored Ambridge in the early part of the 20th century no longer operated to its benefit. Ambridge has been declining steadily in terms of industry, business, and population since 1950.
The once thriving business district felt the impact of residential dispersement and competition from newer shopping centers. In the 1960's the Ohio River Boulevard (Pa. Rt. 65) was extended north beyond Ambridge, by-passing the town completely. Previously, traffic had flowed through the town and it benefited from this. Now, with traffic by-passing Ambridge, the business district suffered. In addition, Ambridge became congested because there wasn't enough parking space for automobiles. When the Northern Lights Shopping Center on Rt. 65 at Conway was opened in 1958, Ambridge was dealt a fatal blow. Sears and Penneys relocated there. Many shops in Ambridge could not meet the competition of the new center with attractivestores and ample parking space. Buildings were vacated and some remain empty today.
The factors that promoted growth and vitality in Ambridge are gone. Yet the community has a resource that some people have identified as potentially valuableits historical heritage. Ambridge has been designated as a historic district and interested groups along with government agencies are cooperating in a comprehensive improvement plan for the entire Ambridge area that includes restoration of historic sites to promote tourism. The home of the Harmonists is known as "Old Economy" and is presently under the control of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. The local Harmony Society Historical Association encourages community interest in and concern for the remain-ing structures built by the Harmonists. Borough planning includes changing the motif of the town as improvements are made, such as changing street lights to 19th century vintage and putting wires underground. The area of Ambridge adjacent to "Old-Economy" has attracted gift and specialty shops and some residents and merchants have remodeled existing structures to create a 19th century environment compatible with the museum. Ambridge is a town of aging and declining population that has limited resources to promote the development of its historical assets. But with outside help from private groups and government agencies, Ambridge may just be able to convert its past into an economic asset.
Human occupance in Ambridge has been influenced primarily by social and economic factors that have shaped the present landscape. The industrial base and ethnic diversity of population give distinctive qualities to the town. Favorable location factors in terms of raw materials, markets, accessibility to transportation, and sufficient supply of labor stimulated growth in the early part of the 20th century. The ebb and flow of population in that period responded to national military, economic, and political trends. The second half of the 20th century found Ambridge unable to sustain its previously important place in the Beaver Valley in the face of changing conditions. Declining industry, out-migration of people, and new shopping centers outside the perimeter of the borough sapped the vitality of the community. Today an aging and declining population searches for a way out of what seems to be inevitable stagnation and deterioration.
FOOTNOTES
1 Rev. Norman C. Young, Old Economy-Ambridge Sesqui-Centennial Historical Booklet, (Ambridge, Pennsylvania), May, 1974, p. 28.
2 Daniel B. Reibel, Harmonie Herald (Ambridge, Pennsylvania: Old Economy, November and December 1978).
3 Ibid.
4 Ibid.
5 Young, Old Economy-Ambridge, p. 107.
6 See U. S. Census figures.