Latrobe Area Historical Society

04/02/2026

The Latrobe Historical Society will be closed Good Friday.

03/18/2026

The Latrobe Area Historical Society will hold its annual general membership meeting this Saturday, March 21, at 11:00. We will be electing four members to our board of directors. There will also be a short movie from our archives. The meeting is for members only, but new members can join that morning.

01/29/2026

The historical society will be closed Friday and Saturday, January 30 and 31, 2026 due to the frigid temperatures and lack of street parking due to snow plowing

We plan to reopen on Tuesday, February 3rd.

12/19/2025

The volunteers of the Latrobe Area Historical Society wish everyone a Happy Holiday season and a wonderful 2026

We appreciate the overwhelming support from our friends and are amazed at the number of people from out-of-state who have visited our Society this year.

We now have over 3,000 followers on this page.

Our last day to be open was today, Friday, December 19th. We will reopen our doors on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. We look forward to seeing you in the new year.

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from The Latrobe Area Historical Society.

The historical society will not be open the Friday after Thanksgiving, 11/28/2025.

10/30/2025

We have a collection of over 200 letters sent by WW II servicemen from training camps or from overseas to Vulcan Mold and Iron Co., their former employer.

Some are only signed by a first name.

If you know of any Vulcan Mold employee who served we would like to know their names and any additional information we could add to our collection.

Come visit us if you would like to read any of the letters that reveal their personal experiences about this period in history.

09/30/2025

During World War II, The Vulcan Mold and Iron company published a newsletter that was sent to servicemen who were employees of the company before entering the war.

The Historical Society would like to locate some of these newsletters.

Please contact us if you know of any of these newsletters.

Thank you

08/22/2025

REMINDER, tomorrow, August 23, the Latrobe Area Historical Society will present their last program of the summer.

Our president, Mary Lou Townsend, will present a program titled “Historic Houses of the Latrobe Area,” featuring houses that are still standing after a century or more.

The program starts at 10:00am at the society’s headquarters on Weldon Street. Admission is free, and the public is welcome.

08/15/2025

On Saturday, August 23, the Latrobe Area Historical Society will present their last program of the summer. Titled “Historic Houses of the Latrobe Area,” the program features houses that are still standing after a century or more.

Not all old houses were mansions; some were built by merchants, tradesmen, or professionals or by working-class laborers. But every one has a story, and every one is a part of Latrobe’s history.

Latrobe’s growth and development can be traced by noting when, where, and by whom these homes were built.

The program starts at 10:00 at the society’s headquarters on Weldon Street. Admission is free, and the public is welcome. Parking is available on-street and also at the office of Kelly, Sparber, and White on the corner of Weldon and Alexandria Streets.

07/25/2025

Saint Xavier Academy opened in Unity Township in 1847 and operated until most of the buildings were destroyed by fire in 1972. The school never reopened.

Recently the property was given a new life and a new purpose when the Westmoreland Land Trust (WLT) purchased the property from the Sisters of Mercy to develop a nature preserve.

On July 26, 2025 the Latrobe Area Historical Society will host representatives from the WLT and from St. Xavier, who will provide information about the history of St. Xavier and about the WLT and about its plans for the St. Xavier preserve.

The program will be presented at the historical society headquarters at 416 Weldon Street. The program is open to the public and will start at 10:00 am. There is no charge.

Visitors may park at the office of Kelly, Sparber, and White on the corner of Weldon and Alexandria Streets.

06/27/2025

Tomorrow - June 28, 2025
Upcoming Historical Society Summer Event

Idlewild Park: History and Memories of Pennsylvania’s Oldest Amusement Park.
Author, Jennifer Sopko, will share many of the images from the above book.

Doors open at 9:30 AM, and the program will begin at 10:00. Refreshments will be served following the program.
Admission: No charge to attend.

Street parking is available, and visitors may also park at the office of Kelly, Sparber, and White on the corner of Weldon and Alexandria Streets.

06/25/2025

As a model train enthusiast, I need to visit this museum.

Rebecca George and Daniel Albright from Johnstown were out for a motorcycle ride and saw our Portage Station Museum after coming through the Lee Street underpass. They decided to stop by. It was so nice to have them visit. In the photo they are enjoying our Mainline Miniature. If you have not seen our model train layout - you really should stop to see it. It features the local area.