History of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, USA

Greensburg, a flourishing; borough of Hempfield township, and capital of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on the Central railroad, 32 miles E. S. E. from Pittsburg. It is a place of considerable trade, and is surrounded by a fertile country, which is rapidly increasing in population and wealth. The Hempfield railroad, when finished, will connect it with Wheeling. Coal of good quality abounds in all parts of the county. The borough has a large brick court house, 3 newspaper offices, and an academy. Population in 1850, 1061; in 1853, about 1500.

OTHER FIRES
AT GREENSBURG, PA.

GREENSBURG, Pa., Dec. 29. - A conflagration at Greensburg, Westmoreland County, this morning, destroyed one of the finest blocks in the city, and for several hours threatened destruction of the entire business portion of that thriving place. The fire was discovered at 2 o'clock, and is supposed to have originated in Temple's hardware store. The fire apparatus was wholly inadequate, and the flames quickly spread to the adjoining buildings. The citizens worked heroically to stay the progress of the fiery elements, but it was not until 6 o'clock this morning that the flames were under control. Ten buildings were consumed, including the Laird House, Temple's hardware store, old Press office, Caleb Stark's dwelling, and four stores. The Laird House was the largest and finest hotel in Greensburg. It was a brick building, four stories in height and finely furnished. The guests were all sound asleep when the fire started, and many of them barely escaped from ...

Greensburg, a post-borough, capital of Westmoreland co., Pa., in Hempfield township, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, 31 miles E.S.E. of Pittsburg, and 86 miles W. by S. of Altoona. It contains a court-house, 12 churches, a graded school, a female seminary, 4 banks, and 3 daily and 6 weekly newspapers. Pop, in 1890, 4202.

From some old newspaper articles we can gather a reasonably correct idea of Greensburg as it existed shortly after it was incorporated. The first census, in 1820, gives the population as 685. The census of 1790 is very imperfect, and gives the population of Greensburg with Hempfield township, for it was then not incorporated. The census of 1820 gives the population as 770, showing an increase of eighty five people in ten years.

The houses of the county seat were very common structures in that age. Most of them were built of logs, and but few were frame or weather boarded structures. A few of the early houses were built of stone, but they did not generally date back as far as 1820. The old banking house of the Westmoreland Bank, for instance, which was thought to be one of the oldest buildings in Greensburg, was built of stone, but was not erected until 1805. On the other hand, the stone part of the house on West Otterman street and Harrison avenue, which was at first used as a...

Many Saved From Death by Blankets - Cause Unknown, But Vengeance is Hinted.

Greensburg, Penn., Dec. 25. - Three persons were killed in an explosion, eight are in danger of death from their injuries and ten more are in the West Moreland Hospital tonight, either as victims of somebody's vengeance or in penalty of somebody's carelessness.

While miners were holding a Christmas celebration at Keystone shaft near here last night twenty-five pounds of blasting powder was set off under the stairway of the house in which they had gathered.

The accident occurred at the home of Michael Wilding, while he was entertaining a party of about twenty-five men and women, some of whom had come from Youngstown, O., to seek work in the mines here. It is believed one of the men in the party, while a dance was in progress, threw a cigarette butt carelessly under the stairway. Twenty-five pounds of black mining powder is said to have been stored there in an open can. Flames from the explosion shot...

Greensburg, a banking post-borough, capital of Westmoreland co., Pa., on the Pennsylvania R., 31 miles ESE. of Pittsburg. It has manufactures of glass, engines, nuts and bolts, flour, etc. It is in a coal and gas region, and is the seat of several academic institutions. Pop. in 1900, 6608 (largely increased since the taking of the census).

Greensburg, Pa., Aug. 6 - (UP) - A Great Eastern Lines bus, thrown out of control by a tire blowout, crashed off the Lincoln Highway east of here yesterday and injured its driver and 13 passengers.

The coach tore down telegraph poles and signboards before it came to a stop in an open field. It was bound from the east to Pittsburgh and western points.

Driver EDWARD SPAIN, Cleveland, and the passengers were taken to Westmoreland Hospital here, all suffering minor injuries.
The injured included:

ANTHONY LAPES, Clairton, Pa., bruises on elbow and arms.

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art:

A fantastic place to explore American art spanning four centuries. The museum often hosts events and exhibitions, making it a cultural hub in Greensburg.

Linn Run State Park:

Nature lovers will appreciate the beauty of Linn Run State Park. It's perfect for hiking, picnicking, and even fishing in the peaceful streams.

Palace Theatre:

Check out a show or concert at the historic Palace Theatre. This beautifully restored venue offers a variety of entertainment, from live music to theatrical performances.

Hempfield Park:

A great spot for outdoor activities, Hempfield Park features walking trails, sports fields, and playgrounds. It's an ideal place for a family day out or a casual stroll.

Twin Lakes Park:

Another gem for nature enthusiasts, Twin Lakes Park offers picturesque scenery, walking trails, and opportunities for boating and fishing.

Seton Hill University:

Take a stroll around the campus of Seton Hill...