Gift Shop

TO ORDER

Email us at sewickleyhistory@verizon.net; phone the SVHS Office at 412-741-5315; or write to SVHS, 200 Broad Street, Sewickley, PA 15143.
Postage/handling fee: $5.00

 

 

MAP: Sewickley Heights and Vicinity

This classic map by cartographer Laurence Greer Molyneaux indicates the locations and names of the grand estates of the Sewickley Valley. Originally commissioned by Sewickley Heights Borough in 1933. The following year, Molyneaux decorated his map with artwork appropriate to the equestrian lifestyle of the area. This version was republished in 1993 by the Sewickley Valley Historical Society.
25-3/4" square.
Printed on heavy cream stock in sepia with green highlights.
Legend by Betty G. Y. Shields, SVHS staff, accompanies map.
Price: $10.00 tax included, plus postage/handling

 

 

CD: From Edgeworth Hills

The piano music of the famous Edgeworth composers Ethelbert and Arthur Nevin. This 1995 Altarus recording by concert pianist Donna Amato includes 29 works by the brothers Nevin, including Ethelbert's "The Rosary" and "Mighty Lak' a Rose." An outstanding treat for music lovers.
Price: $20.00 tax included, plus postage/handling

 

 

BOOK: Sewickley

Published in 2006, this new history of the Sewickley Valley is part of Arcadia Publishing's Postcard History Series. The book, written by the staff of the Sewickley Valley Historical Society, contains over 200 illustrations, most from the Society's collection, with captions that paint a portrait of the community and its environs.
Paperbound, 6" x 9" 128 p., illus., maps.
Price: $21.39 in person ($19.99, plus 7% Pennsylvania sales tax), or $25.00, postpaid

 

 

Book: The Social Mirror: A Character Sketch of the Women of Pittsburg and Vicinity during the First Century of the County's Existence; Society of To-Day

This is a reprint edition (2006, by Higginson Book Company, Salem, MA) of the book by Adelaide Mellier Nevin, published in Pittsburgh by T. W. Nevin, Publisher, in 1888. Adelaide, society editor of the Pittsburgh Leader, was a daughter of Daniel Eagle Nevin. In the words of Robert Burton, digital production librarian at the University of Pittsburgh, the book is "not politically correct by today's standards, [but it] provides a wonderful insight into gender and social status of the era." Several Sewickley women are delightfully described.
Hardbound, 7" x 8", 199 p., illus.
Price: $25.00, tax included, plus postage/handling

 

 

BOOK:Allegheny City, 1840-1907

Established in 1784, Allegheny Town was incorporated as Allegheny City in 1840 and became home to such prominent Americans as Andrew Carnegie, Mary Cassatt, George Ferris and Mary Roberts Rinehart. In January 1907 it was the third-largest city in Pennsylvania; by the end of that year it had been annexed by Pittsburgh. Many of Alleghenyís citizens built summer ìcottagesî in Sewickley Heights. This book by The Allegheny City Society was published in 2007 in Arcadia Publishingís Images of America series.
Paperbound, 6" x 9", 128 p., illus., map.
Price: $21.39 in person ($19.99, plus 7% Pennsylvania sales tax), or $25.00, postpaid

 

 

BOOK: Coraopolis

The Coraopolis Historical Society and Gia Tatone produced this pictorial history of the town of Coraopolis in 2007. Originally a land grant of 300 acres, the community officially became a borough in 1886. This book documents one hundred years of history, highlighting such events as the opening of the Sewickley-Coraopolis Bridge, the great flood of 1936 and the days of Consolidated Glass. It is part of Arcadia Publishingís Images of America series.
Paperbound, 6" x 9", 128 p., illus.
Price: $21.39 in person ($19.99, plus 7% Pennsylvania sales tax), or $25.00, postpaid

 

 

BOOK: Dixmont State Hospital

Published in 2006 in Arcadia Publishing's Images of America series, this book by Mark Berton uses historic photographs to open up the world of the 1859 complex named for famed mental health care reformer Dorothea Dix, who was instrumental in choosing the hospital's site. Dixmont was razed in 2006 for a commercial development.
Paperbound, 6" x 9", 128 p., illus., maps, plans.
Price: $21.39 in person ($19.99, plus 7% Pennsylvania sales tax), or $25.00, postpaid

 

 

BOOK: Moon Township

Moon Township was formed in 1788 as one of the seven original townships of Allegheny County. Its history crosses borders into neighboring Findlay and Crescent Townships and includes Glenwillard (Shousetown) and Stoops Ferry. Its story is told in vintage photographs by Mark Benton. The volume is in Arcadia Publishingís Images of America series.
Paperbound, 6" x 9", 128 p., illus.
Price: $21.39 in person ($19.99, plus 7% Pennsylvania sales tax), or $25.00, postpaid

 

 

BOOK: Keep Tryst: The Walkers of Pittsburgh & Sewickley Valley

Privately published in 2004, this book is a business and social history of two Scottish brothers who emigrated to Pittsburgh in the early 1830s and established a number of important businesses. One of them, the Harbison-Walker Refractories Co., dominated the U. S. market in firebricks. After being firmly established financially and socially, the Walkers built several mansions in Allegheny and the Sewickley Valley. Stephen Neal Dennis, author of Historic Houses of the Sewickley Valley, has sprinkled the book liberally with photos. Keep Tryst (the motto of the Walker Family) is available only at selected venues.
Hardbound, 7-1/2" x 10-1/4", 373 pages, illus.
Price: $40.00 tax included, plus postage/handling

 

 

BOOK: The Village of Sewickley

This is a reprint edition (Higginson Book Company, Salem, MA) of the book by Franklin Taylor Nevin (1867-1939), published by The Sewickley Printing-Shop in 1929. Most of these reminiscences appeared originally in the Sewickley Herald under the editorship of Daniel Eagle Nevin (1875-1947), a cousin of Franklin, who was also owner of the Sewickley Printing Shop. It filled the gap in local history that had existed since the publication of Agnes L. Ellisís Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life, also for sale here in a reprint edition.
Hardbound, 6" x 9", 227 p., illus.
Price: $25 tax included, plus postage/handling

 

 

BOOK: Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life; or, Memories of Sweet Valley

This is a 2006 reprint of the 1893 edition of Agnes L. Ellis's charming local history, with a new introduction by SVHS archivist, Dorothy M. Moore.
Hardbound, 6" x 8", 316 p., illus.
Price: $30.00 tax included, plus postage/handling

 

 

POSTCARDS: Scenes of Sewickley: A Collection of 10 Historic Tear-out Sewickley Postcards

 

 

Volume 1: Businesses
Volume 2: Vehicles
Volume 3: People

 

 

These booklets of tear-out postcards were originally produced for the Old Sewickley Post Office Corporation. Preceded by a brief history of Sewickley, each booklet contains ten 4" x 5" postcards, each with a different vintage photo from the Sewickley Valley Historical Society Collection, printed in sepia.

 

 

 

Size: 6" x 9"
Price: $6.42 each in person ($6.00, plus 7% Pennsylvania sales tax), or $7:00 each, postpaid

 

 

 

 

 

NOTECARDS: Lost Sewickley

Black and white photos of five landmarks that aren't on the Sewickley scene anymore. Four sets are available.

Set I: As You Like It, Franklin Farm, Edgehill Manor, Fairacres II, Bellamona; Set II: Upland Farm, The Ledges, Sewickley's Yellow Brick School, Elmhurst Inn, McLaughlin-Nicols-Marlatt House; Set III: Robert W. Watson Mansion, Edgeworth Club II, St. James Church I, Leetsdale Elementary School, Cassella; Set IV: Goodwood, Shields Homestead, Fairacres I, Farmhill, B. F. Jones III Mansion. Prepared by the Sewickley Valley Historical Society; published by the Old Sewickley Post Office Corporation.
Ten cards (two each of five images), plus envelopes, on fine quality stock.
6" x 4".
Price: $10.00 per set, tax included, plus postage/handling

 

 

 

 

LICENSE PLATE: Sewickley Valley Historical Society

White metal license plate, with the Audley Nicols logo of the Historical Society printed in dark green.
Size: 6" x 12"
Price: $25.00 tax included, plus postage/handling

 

 

DVD: Dixmont State Hospital: A Historical Documentary

Using a collection of over 500 historical photos, written and oral accounts, this film is written, produced and directed by Kate Guerriero; narrated by Bill Chappo; and sponsored by The Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center and The Ben Avon Area Historical Association.
Approximate length: 94 minutes. Copyright 2006 by Stargazer Video Productions LLC.
Paperbound, 6" x 9", 128 p., illus., maps, plans.
Price: $15.00, tax included, plus postage/handling

 

 

 

Free Items

BOOK: Sewickley Up Front: A Decade in Black & White

For more than a century, the Sewickley Herald has been bringing the news to Sewickley Valley. To celebrate its centennial in 2003, the newspaper published this book, written and compiled by Betty G. Y. Shields, editor emeritus. It covers the 1970s, when times were a-changing and the Herald photographers were at the scene to capture the action for the front page. Reprints of vintage 1970s news stories interspersed throughout.
Softbound, 8" x 11", 76 pages, illus. Price: FREE, plus postage/ handling

 

 

TOUR GUIDES: The Life of an American Village: Sewickley, Pennsylvania

These two walking tour guides were published by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation and the "Sewickley Celebrates 150" Committee, in recognition of Sewickley Borough's Sesquicentennial in 2003. The first booklet tours the commercial and residential neighborhoods in the eastern half of the borough; the second covers Sewickley's first historic district.
Softbound, 8" x 5", 12 pages, maps. Price: FREE

 

 

BOOKLET: Borough of Edgeworth: Centennial, 1904-2004

This booklet, prepared by B. G. Shields and Susan Holton, presents a history of Edgeworth, including chapters on the origin of the name, the founding of the borough, the borough building, parks and recreation, etc., plus a time line of notable events.
Softbound, 8" x 7", 16 p., illus. Price: FREE

 

 

BOOKLET: Preserving the Historic Architecture of a Classic American Village: Sewickley, Pennsylvania

Prepared by the Historic Review Commission of the Sewickley Borough Council, this booklet contains a map of the borough's historic districts as well as examples of the many styles of architecture represented in Sewickley's building stock. It also treats the purpose of historic districts and the historic review process. Softbound, 16 p., illus., map. Price: FREE