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Hello.My name is David Fullerton.I graduated in 1973 from Penn Hills Senior High.I played
in several popular bands thru the years that you might remember. I'll start with MOTHERS OATS. We rehearsed at
All Saints Church in Rosedale and put together dances there so we could play our music.We were shortlived,but it was the beginning
of my Penn Hills music career. PEGASUS,I believe was next,and amazing as it is,I saw a picture of us on one of your pages
for Bands from 1971.We're standing by a huge tree,8 of us.I am the guy standing in front with my hand on the tree limb with
long hair parted in the middle.I would love to know who got that picture.Next came MENAGERIE.We also rehearsed at All Saints
Church.We played several dances in the area and actually became very popular at that time.We were playing music that was quite
challenging and also did alot of original songs that I composed,We were an excellent horn band at the time,especially for
our age.We had a fairly long stint but eventually dropped the horns,got a new drummer and became BAD COMPANY.Now this band
rocked!We played alot of dances and St.Barts fair(remember that).We also did alot of oridinal songs that I was composing.We
lasted a while but we eventually had to change our name because "THE"Bad Company arrived(I'm sure you know who I mean).We
got a new bass player
and changed our name to "THRILLS" Well If you remember any band at all I was in,you should remember THRILLS. We became very
popular in the area,playing several clubs and climbing the ladder.We eventually moved to New
York and became a very popular band on Long Island and recorded 5
albums along the way,coming back to Pittburgh periodically to play several venues supporting our albums.We played Stage One
alot,outdoor concerts and many more too numerous to mention.Our biggest "Thrill" came when we acquired the No.1 spot on Pittsburgh radio station 96KIX.Hometown boys on there way to the top.Well unfortunately that all came
to an end and we all moved on.I've left out some facts and info because this would get too long.I',m going to try and get
some photos and misc.items together and get them posted for everybody.It should be really interesting for alot of people to
see.Also I knew the guitar player in "The Electrons" His name was Jimmy Widman.I lived on the same street as him and my family
and his were very close.He used to keep me up on all of the Electrons news and doings. He even gave me a copy of they're first
45 single(which I still might have), "Ain't no big thing"b/w "Midnight Hour".How's that for Penn Hills trivia?Well I gave
you alot of info. Use it well. I will keep in touch and this Penn Hills thing is very cool. David
Fullerton dswayne5349@yahoo.com
I
grew up on Prescott Dr. in the early ‘50’s across the street from my best friend then and now, Jim Talotta. Jimmy
and I started 1st grade at St Bart’s in 1955. I had Sister Benigneta, followed by Sr. Felicitas in
2nd, Sr. Vioni in 3rd. We had 3 classrooms per grade, about 60 kids to a classroom. Nobody
made a peep in class the first two years out of sheer terror. I remember learning how to dance for our first boy-girl
parties – Janet Reilly’s in 5th grade, Terry Haines in 6th. I remember air raid drills
where we went to the cafeteria and stood against the walls with our head buried between folded arms. I remember the
report cards – delivered by the priests, with the marks for self-control and conduct. I remember the music –
the Everly Brothers,
the Platters, the Fleetwoods. I remember the Bucs coming out of nowhere to finish 2nd in 1958, then winning
it all in ’60.I moved away after 7th
grade, but I remember my classmates and friends, most of whom I haven’t seen for close to 50 years – Jerry Catella,
Vince Ruane, Denny Britt, Bernie Miller, Mike Colaizzi, Mary Pat Flaherty, Tricia Donahue. I hope all are well. Jim Garland
I lived on MacFarlane drive in the 50’s.
I remember sled riding at the country club and playing in the woods behind it in the summer. Roy Face was on my brother’s
paper route. He once heard him singing “Wyatt Earp” with his kids as the show came on tv. We knew he was a Pirate
but never mentioned it to him. I was in the first grade the year that St. Bartholomew’s opened. The church was in the
basement of the school. There were sixty kids to a room. I would love to hear from a classmate from those years at St Bartholomew’s.
We had nuns for teachers and the priests (Father Helzehauer and Father McBride) lived across the parking lot in a house that
faced Frankstown Road. Funny, I can’t remember the Sisters names. I remember my dad gunning our Chevy with the Bald
Eagles up the gravel parking lot after a snowfall during church. I remember the view out the windows over the hill. I remember
the Sister’s dormitory and the water tower. All this stuff is still there. The Double M Dairy was on Frankstown Road
where the car parts place is now. I bought a lot of penny candy and baseball cards there. I really hoped for a Pirates Team
card and got one a couple of times. My brother went to Hebron School. He was too old for Saint Bartholomew’s. We played
behind Hebron School in the summer. They had a softball field there and other activities in the summer. I remember the A&P,
the Moo Shop, Statlander’s, Marco’s Barber Shop, and a couple of toy and hobbie shops. I moved to McKnight Road
in the Sixth grade. Chris
Baker
I'm a little older.. but some memories are the same. I stumbled
across this great site Googling Hebron School - the old one. I attended first grade and part of second in that old building
and remember being devastated - it was personal! - when it burned down. I can still remember how that school smelled
- waxed wooden floors, chalkdust and some custard-y smell from the lunchroom. They say smell is the most evocative
of the senses. I believe it; even traces of those old scents send me right back to being an excited and happy 6 year
old. I guess today I was nostalgic for happy and excited ;o) If anyone has a photo, I'd love to see it.
Another
absolutely treasured smell: the woods between Nelbon Avenue and Laketon Road. We spent endless days in those woods, having
apple wars, building dams in the little "crik," building shacks and throwing "ammunition" plants at one another
- finally slinking off toward home when the streetlights came on or someone's dad whistled their own particular
"come home" whistle. The woods were part of the old farmland, by the original barn and orchards, that was left alone when
Churchill Valley was developed. It was/is a child's paradise - complete with legends about crazed bulls in the old barn.
In winter we would sled-ride down the old farm road (Beulah Lane) and if we had a really good run, would end up
in Roy Face's back yard! I have scars that bear testimony to those days and that place... an idyllic childhood.
I
remember the bunch of us as teenagers ALWAYS hanging out at "the Rexall" - Stadtlander's - at the top of the street
and being invited to leave more than once! 10 cent bags of Wise chips and a vanilla phosphate at their old soda
fountain after school... standing on the planter! Riding my bike or scooter down the double dip from Laketon to
Beulah and not even slowing down crossing Lindburgh... the Nelbon Halloween Parades and being surprisingly disappointed
at "just" trick- or-treating when they were discontinued... of course the Moo Shop, but also Walk-Away sundaes from the
ice cream store in the Ritzland Shopping Center, and the fabulous filled cookies from the bakery there (what was
its name?!)... Walking Frankstown Road to school when St Bartholomew's opened, no matter how awful the weather, or the traffic.
We knew every pebble...
Ours was the first 8th grade class at St Bart's and the first entering sophomore class
at the "new" Penn Hills Senior High School -- overcrowded from the day it opened! I remember Sr Conrada, Sr Leona,
Sr Otillia (who lived up to her name!) and Sr Laurentia, who took it upon herself to fill us in on the facts of life;
being whapped open palm with a metal ruler for class indiscretions (the boys got it on the knuckles) and 50 kids
to a classroom. (No wonder they whapped us.) I remember putting on my Rhythmette uniform for the first time and
being shocked that I looked like that - I had a figure! I think they were still wearing those same uniforms 10
years later... Football games at Seneca... the click of 40 pairs of boots hitting concrete in unison. And to this
day if someone says "What's the word?" I answer unthinkingly, "Beat the 'Burg!" So much more! - thanks to all for
sharing your memories. You've brought back so much that I haven't thought of in years and will treasure once again. It
was SUCH a great place to grow up in!
Susan Speakman Walsh '64 susanwalsh@mac.com
My name is Mark Bischoff and lived in Penn Hills for a couple of years in 68-70? Moving from Detroit, I remember all of the hills and
playing kickball behind Forbes grade school. It's been a long time but I remember not wanting to leave and the short time
that my family was there were very memorable.One day I hope to make it back. If anyone remembers me, please email. I lived
on National Drive and hung out with Ron Calfo, Bobby Connell and a few others if anyone remembers them. Penn
Hills Pizza was great !!!!!! Mark Bischoff markbischoff@comcast.net
 Dear Penn Hills Students:I enjoyed reading your comments about Penn Hills. I taught there for 32
years - Driver Training & Social Studies. I had great students over the years and was very proud to teach
all of them. Jim Kuczek 65-97
 I am not from Penn Hills, but from Forest Hills, and graduated from Churchill High...now Woodland Hills. I remember when we were Churchill seniors,
and we planned and planned for the Saturday night we were to drive to the Penn Hills Eat'nPark, and hang out with the Penn
Hills kids...the coolest kids! That was a teenage highlight that we will never forget, and we talked about
it all of the time! And how we would marvel when our Penn Hills pals told us how many kids were in their senior class and
how long it took for graduation! Those were the years! God bless all...Carole Peticca Pollen, Churchill Class of '65
 I cannot believe I found this page but Google is amazing. I saw the picture of LaBarbe’s restaurant
and memories flooded back. My father built LaBarbe’s way back in 1920’s and finally sold it either in 1972
or 1974, I cannot remember which it was. Since I was either 4 or 6 years old. I was not alive during the heyday of the
restaurant in the 1940’s and 50’s. I have some pictures of the bands and the singers that played there.
Lawrence Welk I understand was a big
draw there as was Harry James, Tex Beneke, Doris Day sang there too, just to name a few. I
also have an old menu or two from the place and the prices back them would make you shake your head in amazement. Love to
hear from people who went there regularly. If anyone has any questions or memories, please feel free
to contact me at newshutr@adelphia.net Brian
My favorite memory of growing up in Penn Hills is the St. Bart's fair. Not
so much the fair itself, but the skydivers and the fireworks. I didn't have to leave my house to see either one! I remember
the skydivers jumped on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On the first night the plane would swoop down over the place where
the skydivers would land (where Penn Arbors is today). Naturally since I only live 2 blocks from the landing site they would
be swooping down over my house. I still remember that for years I tried to get a good picture of the plane swooping. I finally
managed to get a pretty good one in 1980. While the plane was spiraling up to the altitude it had to get to before they jumped,
every so often they would throw out 2 yellow streamers. I guess to see which way the wind was blowing. It became a big deal
with all the kids around here to try to get one of these streamers. I never was able to get one. One time, back in the early
'70s one caught in the electric lines on a telephone pole on the street. Danny Seibert (class of '74) tried to climb the telephone
pole to get it. I don't remember now who it was who finally got him down before he was electrocuted! It seemed like such
a
painfully long time until the plane got high enough. Then we would hear that the pilot turned the plane's engine off. We knew
then that they were about to jump. It was so awesome watching them come down. I remember as each one landed hearing the people
up at the field cheering. I also remember the one year, I think it was about '72, as I was 9 or 10 when it happened, one of
the diver's parachutes didn't open. I can still remember seeing the black silhouette of a man falling. I was hysterical. I
was old enough to realize that he would be killed if he hit the ground. And also old enough to realize that he would most
probably land REALLY close to where my family and I were standing. Finally (thankfully) his reserve chute opened. I can't
remember if it was Linda Weale (class of '79) or Rose Merola (class of '80) who told me that they heard he broke both legs
when he landed. They were both members of St. Bart's, and heard at church what happened. Then on Saturday night waiting for
midnight for the fireworks display. We sat on lawn chairs in our driveway and watched them. My family would only go to the
actual fair one evening. My mom liked to hit up the white elephant sale. The rest of us would go do the games after we checked
out the stuff at the white elephant. Sherry O'Neill (Class of 1980)
Who of us, who attended grades 5 & 6 in that 2 room "building" behind William Penn Elementary School on Verona Rd., will
ever forget those "cloak rooms' for our coats & boots (then commonly referred to as our "wraps & galashes" !!! ) And
how about those wood burning, pot-bellied stoves which supplied us our heat---& oft times our smoke!!! Mrs.
Lorenzo taught us 5th grade, & dear Mrs. Dible our 6th grade. And blackboards were BLACKboards, not green chalkboards!
Bev Weaver
My favorite memory was that of being a Penn Hills Rhythmette! We clicked
our boots down the long pathway to the football field. Following the game we went to Eat N
Park and we were required to wear raincoats over our uniforms to cover our short red skirts. Mary Badali Dolan '72
 One of
my favorite winter memories from Penn Hills is sled riding at night over at Green Oaks down hill seven. Denis Altenburger
'70
My favorite memories of high school were when we would play football against Churchill
and we beat their butts. Going to the finals for the championships. Then going to McDonalds and hanging out with
friends. david behm
Remembering smoking in the new wing girl's bathroom and Ms Sherrie. making her rounds to see who was smoking. You always had
to report to Ms Sherrie when you were late for school or class...oh she loved handing out those detention slips. Girls
were finally allowed to wear pants to school. Believe it was my senior year "70" but no type of jeans. You went
to Kennywood wearing matching shirts with your boyfriend or even girlfriend and no one thought anything of it. No one
can forget the Spaghetti fight in the Senior High Cafeteria after we had a radio installed. The Senior and Junior presidents
kept switching the radio stations from WAMO to KQV. The food fight started and spaghetti was everywhere!!! The radio
went "bye bye" and was removed after that. A float was coke and ice cream at Statlanders. I miss chipped ham! You can only
buy it in the Pittsburgh area. Skipping school,
riding the bus to Pittsburgh, walking through all the stores. Does Kaufmann's still
have the best decorations? Hornes was an elite store in the mall. The Eastwood, Ritzland and Seneca gangs would tumble
with one another unless we were playing Wilkinsburg football game. Then three gangs became one "Penn Hills gang" Stocklines
bakery by Hebron school. Talking about bakeries "Belotti's on Rodi Road. My one daughter graduated from Penn Hills and worked in the office
and during that time, she looked up my school records. She called to inform me what my grades were and stated "mom, do
you know how many days of school you missed?" That was before the new rule was written that you could only miss 7 days.
By the way, what was the name of the truant officer? Colleen "Long" Holmes '70
 One of my favorite memories of Penn Hills include Davidson Grade School
with crazy teachers like Mr. Lopata, Mr. Patterson (current member of the school board), Miss Stilson. In those days, you
feared being called/sent to the office because I don't think CYS existed and if you misbehaved...it was open season on your
butt!!! Then you got it again when you got home !!! OUCH David Banner '85
 A
few of my favorite memories include: as a kid playing wiffle ball and bounce off the wall with Jimmy Brown '70 and Jimmy Talotta
'67 or '66 ?; in high school the garage band with Ray Cutler '69; hanging out at John Litz's '70 house (the coolest bedroom
ever); listening to Seals and Crofts forever with Gary Boyle '70, being terrified every time Rick "Mel" Cortez '70 drove;
road trips with Al Felman '70 and Lee Ball '71 down to Shadyside; after high school fun filled laughter with Bob Monheim
'69, Kenny Fischer '69, Earl Finch '68, and Tom Frank '69. I especially loved playing "Chicago" on the piano with Laurel's
'72 brother Bernie in the family room, and learning more songs with Lisa Cooper '70. And now, my memories of my dad,
and my dear family. Sonny Derdock '70
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