Local Jewish history focus of project by Burrell students, Tri-City Historical Society and Heinz History Center

Tri-City Historical Society President James Sabulsky knew there’d be interest from students when he pitched an idea to start a history club at Burrell High School this school year.

But he didn’t quite expect the high school club and his organization to work with the Heinz History Center on a project just seven months into the club’s existence.

Burrell’s History Club and the Tri-City Historical Society — a volunteer organization that delves into the history of Arnold, New Kensington, Lower Burrell and Upper Burrell — will work together on an exhibit about Jewish history in the New Kensington area.

The goal is to display the exhibit in mid-June at Tri-City Historical Society’s headquarters, 1013 Fifth Ave. in New Kensington, Sabulsky said.

Jewish culture in Pittsburgh’s surrounding communities were rich, and Sabulsky pointed to the former Beth Jacob synagogue along Kenneth Avenue in New Kensington.

“It’s kind of neat,” Sabulsky said at the History Club’s meeting Thursday. “We get to work with one of the best museums in the nation.”

The Tri-City Historical Society worked with Burrell history teachers Adam Rossi and Anthony Facemyre to start the club at the high school, which meets once every two weeks after school and generates about 10 to 15 students.

Sabulsky said the club gives students the opportunity to learn about local history, get involved with the Tri-City Historical Society and research more about history topics they enjoy. In the future, Tri-City would like to start a similar club at Valley High School, he said.

“With us being the Tri-City Historical Society, one of the goals is to show our students, ‘Yes, there’s national history … but how did it impact us locally?’ ” Sabulsky said.

At meetings, students and Tri-City Historical Society members give presentations on history with a focus on local history. On Thursday, members Amberlee Bozic and Seth Johnson offered a lesson about the St. Patrick’s Day Flood of 1936 and its impact on Lower Burrell’s Braeburn area.

Presentations by students also have been impressive, Sabulsky said, and have ranged from 1920s fashion to cars.

Freshman Ryder Florek said the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 is what got him interested in history.

“I always liked history and was always eager to learn more about it,” he said.

He said he enjoys learning more about local history and is looking forward to the project with the Heinz History Center.

The Jewish history project has a special meaning for sophomore Lily Sassani, who is working on a Gold Award project for Girl Scouts to create a patch to educate Scouts about the Holocaust and the role Girl Guides had during World War II.

“I figured it would be a great opportunity to learn more,” Sassani said of the History Club’s project.

Sassani said she enjoys learning about local history because people can feel more of a connection to it.

“There’s a personal connection, and it’s something you can talk to your family about,” she said.

Junior Cullin Schantz also looks forward to the project. Learning more about local history is fascinating to him, he said.

“I enjoy talking and learning about history with people. I could talk for hours about it,” he said. “The area we’re in, it’s interesting to see the things that have happened.”

Sabulsky said the club is something he wished he had in high school. Rossi agreed.

“It’s nice to know that students’ love for history isn’t something that’s waning, and that there’s pockets of this generation that still find this stuff interesting,” Rossi said.

“To see this grow in its first year from several students showing interest, and a connection with Tri-City and the Heinz History Center, who knows where it’ll go from here.”