The Crescent Shousetown Area Historical Association is pleased to provide you with
this Historic look at Crescent Township. The following is a historic
tour along the "Landmark's Locator" of Crescent Township.
Crescent
Township Municipal Building - In 1972, the Commissioners authorized
construction of a Township Municipal Building, which was dedicated in September
of 1973. A corner office for the Crescent-Shousetown Area Historical
Association was built in June 1982 in the Multi-Purpose Room. The
Multi-Purpose Room has come to be used by many of the Organizations and
Boards of the Township. It is also available for rental through the
Township office. To give resident's and visitors some information
on historic site's in the Township, the Historical Association installed
Landmarks Locator at the entrance to the Municipal Office in June of 1987.
Shouse
Park - The original 2.1 acres of property above the Ohio River was
acquired in 1973 by the Township. Formerly owned by the Federal Government,
it contained two brick houses for Lock Masters of nearby Dashields Locks
and Dam - - named after Dorothy A. Shields, daughter of the first Lock
Master. The houses were razed and many residents helped in preparing
the ground for the park. The park was dedicated July 4, 1976 during
the U.S. Bicentennial celebration, and a monument was erected near the
entrance.
Riverview
Park & Buckeye State Mural - Created in 1934 with the straightening
of the main highway and relocation of Flaughtery Run and Riverview Road,
this strip park contains double tennis courts, playground equipment and
a concessions building. On the building is a mural of the steamboat,
"Buckeye State", the Historical Association's logo.
Honor
Roll Park & Monuments - The Township Commissioners and the Civic
Club selected a permanent location for the World War II and Korean War
Honor Rolls in the strip of land between the railroad and McGovern Boulevard.
A sandstone monument was erected with a memorial plaque and dedicated in
1956. The World War I stone and plaque were relocated there in 1967.
A 2-ton granite monument, engraved with the "Great Republic" Steamboat,
along with a time capsule were dedicated in 1984 by the Historical Association.
They and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission dedicated a
State Historical Marker recognizing Shousetown Boatyard in 1987.
Stoops
Ferry / Shousetown Road Monument & Railroad Tunnel - Rebuilding
of the road connecting Stoops Ferry to Shousetown was cause for a major
celebration. The Chairman of the Allegheny County Commissioners,
Mr. Charles C. McGovern, cut the ribbon in a ceremony in late 1934.
In early 1935, the sandstone monument was erected. A grand Allegheny
County and Crescent Township parade was held on July 6th of that year.
The arch in the background marks the important transportation link provided
Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad which began its operations with a single
track on February 27, 1879. Because of increased rail traffic, it
was necessary to replace the original steel trestle with this structure,
which accommodated four sets of tracks. Passenger commuter trains
operated for 109 years, transporting residents to jobs in Pittsburgh, social
events and school. The current single track handles only freight
traffic in both directions.
Shousetown
Cemetery - The original run-down cemetery at the northern end of Main
Street was greatly improved at the behest of Charles McGovern. In
1933-1934, County and Township workers moved remains and burial stones
from numerous family plots for reinterment here, including those of Peter
and Ellen Shouse. The monument was erected by the County and the
surrounding stone wall was made by Township volunteers. Vincent C.
McCarrier, a veteran of WW I was reburied here with a Color Guard Ceremony
on December 1, 1934, the official date of the cemetery's opening. A list
of those interred at the Shousetown Cemetery may be found here.
Volunteer
Fire Dept. & Mural - This is the third building used by the Fire
Department since its founding in 1928. The well-trained volunteer
fire fighters also include a 9 person river rescue team. The Department
is preparing access to the Ohio River at a spot adjacent to the old Boatyard
site at the end of Work Street, where in the 19th Century, steamboats regularly
discharged and boarded passengers and freight. The mural on the Fire
Department's building depicts an older model fire engine and commemorates
the work of its volunteers.