Historic Pittsburgh: The Nation's First Armored Car Robbery, in 1927

Paul Jawarski was the leader of the "Flatheads" gang, who committed the first-ever armored car robbery, on March 11, 1927. 

The gang stole over $104,000 from an armored vehicle on Bethel Road, 7 miles outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The bandits placed a landmine under the roadbed, and made off with money that was on its way to Coverdale, Pennsylvania for the Pittsburgh Terminal Coal Company.

 The exploding charges overturned a Brinks truck. Its doors popped open and Jawarski and his pals made off with more than $100,000 without firing a shot. Guards were too stunned to resist.

 An escort vehicle plunged into one of the holes made by Jawarski's charges.

After a shootout with Cleveland police, Jawarski lay bleeding on the porch of a home in the city's Fleet Street neighborhood. He survived his wounds, only to die in Rockview Prison's electric chair.

Historic Pittsburgh: 1907 Flood

 At the junction of three rivers—the Allegheny, the Monongahela, and the Ohio—Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has suffered several devastating floods.

 

On March 16, 1907, heavy rains and melting snow brought the river stage to 36.6 feet, causing the greatest flood in the city to date. Residents were caught completely unaware due to the rapid rise of the water, but surprisingly few lives were lost—estimates range from 6 to 12. However, damage to property and business was great, with total losses estimated at $5,000,000. Electricity was cut off and hundreds of workers found themselves out of work due to mill and industrial plant closures.

Thousands of curiosity seekers crowded the streets of downtown Pittsburgh to witness the flood damage. Some used whatever they could find to navigate the waters; notice the men in what may be a casket. The photographer of this image probably hauled his equipment onto the top of a horse-drawn wagon, a conclusion supported by the horse's ear in the lower right corner of the panorama.
 

More H-less Pittsburgh

Inside of the rotunda of Union Station in Pittsburgh showing the spelling as of 1900.

The T-206 Honus Wagner baseball card showing the spelling used in 1910.

An 1857 etching from Ballou's Pictorial in which the "Pittsburg" spelling is used

H-less Pittsburgh

1888 Pittsburg Alleghenys

Lake Fong/Post-Gazette

H-less Pittsburg on the nameplate of the Pittsburg Press dated Friday, June 7, 1889.

Lake Fong/Post-Gazette

H-less Pittsburg on a city map from 1895.

Historic Pittsburgh - Photo Gallery

Blooming Mill at Jones & Laughlin

ca. 1885

Frederick T. Gretton Photographs, 1857-1953, MSP 328, Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center

1885

Senator John Heinz History Center

Blooming Mill Engine at Jones & Laughlin

August 2, 1886

Frederick T. Gretton Photographs, 1857-1953, MSP 328, Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center