Little Siberia: How the Firing of Aliquippa Steelworkers Led to a Supreme Court Ruling on the Wagner Act
Jones & Laughlin owned the houses, the police and the ballot box in Aliquippa. Ten fired steelworkers’ cases led the Supreme Court to uphold the Wagner Act in 1937. Here is the story.
Bigfoot in Western Pennsylvania: What Is Documented, What Is Legend, What Is Hoax
No Bigfoot has ever been proven, but Westmoreland and Fayette counties have a long paper trail of reports. Here is what is documented, what is legend, and what was faked.
The Donora Smog of 1948: Five Days When a Mill Town Couldn’t Breathe
In October 1948 a smog settled over Donora, Pennsylvania. Twenty people died and thousands fell ill. Here is what happened, what the federal inquiry found, and what is still argued.
Vandergrift, Pennsylvania: The Steel Town Olmsted’s Firm Planned for Its Workers
Vandergrift, Pennsylvania was planned by the Olmsted firm for Apollo Iron and Steel in 1895. Here is how the town was designed, who it left out, and the debate over why.
Pittsburgh Ghost Stories and Legends: What Is Fact, What Is Folklore
Ten Pittsburgh-area legends and ghost stories, each labeled fact, legend or disputed, with a short version and a link to the full story.
The Darr Mine Disaster of 1907: Pennsylvania’s Deadliest Coal Mine Explosion
The Darr Mine disaster of December 19, 1907 killed 239 men and boys near Van Meter. Here is what caused it, how many died, what the reports said, and what remains.