Westmoreland 250: 10 unique things in Vandergrift, East Vandergrift
(Editor’s note: To mark Westmoreland County’s 250th birthday this year, we’ve come up with a list of 250 things — 10 things in 25 communities — that we consider to be important to the makeup of our area. This series will appear each week through December. If you have a suggestion for a future installment, please email gtrcity@triblive.)
From its early heyday when Vandergrift was home to the largest sheet steel mill in the world, to today’s efforts toward cultural and commercial offerings, the borough packs a punch in just 1.3 square miles.
Founded in 1895 by George G. McMurtry, president of the Apollo Iron & Steel Co., the town was laid out by iconic landscape architect Frederick Olmsted. The design won a gold medal at the St. Louis World’s Fair.
The tiny borough boasts a designation with the National Register of Historic Places. It contains more than 600 buildings built between 1895 and 1925 in varied architectural styles, including Romanesque, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival.
Other buildings, such as the Casino Theatre and St. Gertrude Roman Catholic Church, add punch to the streetscape.
And despite its population of about 600 people, the adjacent borough of East Vandergrift is thriving, according to local officials.
It is a total of 0.1 square mile and home to beautiful parks, a historic church and several nationality clubs.
It is the birthplace of Cardinal Adam Maida, the former archbishop of Detroit.
Here are 10 unique things about the boroughs:
Wooden Door Winery
The restaurant makes its home inside an 1896 church at 101 Custer Ave. in Vandergrift.
Opened in 2017, the site is warm and relaxing, and provides stunning views. There’s handcrafted wine and cider on the menu, along with food prepared by a newly hired chef.
An enormous wine bottle chandelier is a focal point for visitors.
Historic photos and artifacts in the interior — including pews and a pulpit — allow diners to soak up the building’s rich history.
Casino Theatre
The 123-year-old entertainment venue with Greek Revival columns and ornate stained-glass windows provides a performing arts center for people across the region.
Opened in Vandergrift in June 1900, McMurtry invited many of his industrialist friends to the premiere show — among those being famed jeweler and stained-glass innovator, Louis Comfort Tiffany. Events held there in the early years included popular lectures, plays and traveling vaudeville shows.
Some of its most famous visitors have been President William H. Taft, composer Hoagy Carmichael, the Lone Ranger, cowboys Tex Ritter and Roy Rogers (and his horse Trigger, too), the Three Stooges and Mickey Rooney.
Today, an array of events is hosted at the striking building to draw people of all ages. Up next is a Blues Brothers Tribute concert on July 29.
Kennedy Park
It’s the go-to recreation spot in Vandergrift.
Flanked by stone pillars at the entrance, the park along Jackson Avenue has a playground, three practice fields for baseball and football, tennis courts, a gazebo and a large stage for entertainment.
It’s home to many of the borough’s social events, including the annual Festa Italiana di Vandergrift, which has been put on hold since the covid-19 pandemic.
In June, the site held Pride in the Park to celebrate and connect people and supporters of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Vandergrift Museum and Historical Society
Organized in 1990, the nonprofit has a mission to preserve the history of Vandergrift and its surrounding communities.
Housed in the 1911-era Sherman Avenue school, formerly the Free Gospel Missionary Society, the museum’s collection focuses on Vandergrift businesses and residents.
The George Nasser Memorial Library, housed at the site, features a genealogy collection that covers Westmoreland and Armstrong counties. Goldstrom Memorial Hall showcases a collection of military items.
Visitors can take in the vast array of borough history for no charge. However, there is a $2 fee for a peek at the genealogy archives.
Allusion Brewing Co.
The only in-house brewery in Vandergrift, Allusion Brewing Co. takes pride in serving “delicious craft beer that is brewed on-site using only the finest ingredients,” according to its website.
The space along Grant Avenue also serves food such as nachos, charcuterie and paninis that pair perfectly with craft beer.
The brewery opened in 2020, and one of its most popular beers has remained the Olmsted Ale — named for the renowned landscape architect who designed Vandergrift in 1895.
Allusion recently won Best Tap Handle and Best RTD (ready-to-drink) Cocktail at the Craft Beer Marketing Awards in Nashville, Tenn.
G&G Restaurant
With its oversized platters and fresh-off-the-griddle specialties, G&G Restaurant on Columbia Avenue in Vandergrift is a go-to spot for those with a big appetite.
Old-fashioned favorites such as ham barbecue and chipped beef is joined on the menu with trendy offerings such as apple pie pancakes.
Servers are summoned to each table by doorbell-like chimes, while patrons can peruse the day’s specials on big-screen TVs.
Generous portions of unique dishes, such as chicken and waffles or the Pittsburgh platter, are enjoyed all day at the long lunch counter.
G&G’s popularity recently has caused owners to pause weekend takeout orders because of the sheer volume of in-house service.
Kiskiminetas River Park
The public park in East Vandergrift, constructed in 1990, is undergoing a massive renovation to make it the borough’s premier recreation spot.
Nestled along the banks of the Kiski River at the end of Elm and Kennedy streets, the 1-acre site is on tap to receive $328,000 in upgrades.
There is a primitive gravel boat launch with a pavilion, basketball court and open field, providing a quiet place to picnic, fish or launch a canoe or kayak.
Council is eyeing several updates, including a cement boat ramp, a scenic overlook of the river, pickleball court, expanded parking and new playground equipment.
East Vandergrift Museum
East Vandergrift has received funding over the past few years to upgrade its municipal building — the town’s business hub.
It’s now home for the fledgling East Vandergrift Museum, albeit a small offering.
“It is still in humble beginning stages, but we do have several displays and tables with historical documents, photos and memorabilia from our little community and the surrounding area,” said Kristen Sarno, borough secretary.
Our Lady, Queen of Peace Parish
Our Lady, Queen of Peace Parish in East Vandergrift was established in 1989 by the merger of Holy Trinity (Slovak) Church, All Saints (Polish) Church and St. Casimir (Lithuanian) Church.
The congregation is bolstered by social events that aim to make it part of the community — such as the upcoming cornhole tournament.
The church at 411 McKinley Ave. has a particularly unique feature — a bell from 1924. The 32-inch bell weighs 700 pounds and is 3 feet wide. It has a B-flat tone. It was manufactured by Stuckstede & Bro. at its St. Louis foundry.
It lets everyone in town know what time of day it is with its faithful ringing.
The bell recently was restored for $10,000, thanks to a donation of more than $7,800 from the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association.
Center for Active Adults
From bingo to needlepoint to hot lunches, the senior center at 400 McKinley Ave. in East Vandergrift has something for all interests.
The mission is to get senior citizens active and give them a chance to socialize — and this center does it with gusto.
“Bingocize” is held weekly to combine the popular game of chance with low-impact exercises.
Penn State’s nutrition department visits with tips on how to prepare tasty, healthy dishes.
Other special events include trips to a casino and on the Gateway Clipper.
Oh, and anyone celebrating a birthday gets a special dessert.
Tawnya Panizzi is a TribLive reporter. She joined the Trib in 1997. She can be reached at tpanizzi@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.