2010 Festival Souvenir Program Booklet

April 10, 2010
Preserving Our History and Culture
for Future Generations
Featuring
Ethnic Food, Dance, Music
and Displays, including
WAMCC’s Historic Photo Gallery
At the
Weirton Thomas E. Millsop Community Center
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………….
1
Letter from Dennis Jones, President WAMCC……………………………………………
2
Letter from Dr. Juginder Luthra, Chairman WAMCC Festival Committee………………
3
Letter from Weirton Mayor Mark Harris………………………………………………….
4
Letter from WV State Senator Edwin J. Bowman………………………………………...
5
Letter from United States Senator Robert C. Byrd………………………………………..
6
Before There was a Weirton………………………………………………………………
7
History All Around Us: The Legacy of Weirton Steel Company………………………..
8
Contributions from Individuals, Businesses, and Organizations……………………….....
10
2010 Festival of Nations Committee Volunteers…………………………………………. 11
2010 Festival of Nations Vendor Tables………………………………………………….
12
2010 Festival of Nations Displays………………………………………………………...
13
2010 Festival of Nations OPENING CEREMONIES…………………………………….
14
2010 Festival of Nations CULTURAL PROGRAM……………………………………...
15
8th Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line ………..….………………………...
16
The Impact of Pizza While Growing Up Italian ………..………………………………...
16
Out of the Blue (American Blue Grass)…………………………………………………... 17
Pizzelles ……………………………………….………………………………………….
17
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church……………………………………………………………. 18
Gus’s Goodies…………………………………………………………………………….. 18
Dances of India……………………………………………………………………………
19
The Italian-American Community………………………………………………………... 20
Greece……………………………………………………………………………………..
20
Mt. Olive Baptist Church…………………………………………………………………. 21
WV / Ohio Line Dancers………………………………………………………………….
21
Weirton’s Polish Community……………………………………………………………..
22
In Honor of………………………………………………………………………………... 23
In Memory of……………………………………………………………………………...
23
Bronze Medal Supporters…………………………………………………………………
24
Silver Medal Supporters…………………………………………………………………..
25
Gold Medal Supporters……………………………………………………………………
26
Festival Sponsors………………………………………………………………………….
27
History Sources at the Museum Gift Shop………………………………………………..
28
WAMCC’s Historic Picture Calendar Collector Series…………………………………... 29
P.O. Box 517 - Weirton, WV 26062
“The Total Product”
If you look up the word “Culture” in a dictionary, you will likely find that it is defined in many
ways. One statement I have come to like is the following: “Culture is the total product of human creativity and intellect.” Today is a day of fun and entertainment as that product is delivered to you, our guests. The “Festival of Nations Committee” of the Weirton Area Museum
and Cultural Center will bring back the tradition that started in Weirton during the Great Depression, on Labor Day, 1934. The festival was then organized by the Employees Representatives of the Weirton Steel Company to help ease employee - management relations and bring
comfort to Weirton’s melting pot of 42 nationalities, as they watched their native homeland traditions performed on stage. In the difficult economic times of today, we hope you will find enjoyment, as you experience the “cultural” food, music, singing, dancing, and displays, which
portray several nationalities that make up our area.
On behalf of Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center, we wish to recognize our Festival
Committee and its Chairman, Dr. Juginder Luthra, for doing such an eloquent job in making
this return event a success. We also wish to thank the many businesses and individuals, who
have provided funding, media coverage, and other means of support for the event. Finally, we
applaud all of the performers, table groups, and audience. Many of the above have traveled a
good distance or made unobserved personal sacrifices to deliver this wonderful product of togetherness we will experience today. THANK YOU ALL !
Dennis R. Jones
President Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center
Page 2
P.O. Box 517 - Weirton, WV 26062
THANKS
The success of any function or organization depends on the dreams fulfilled with sweat and
hard work of many individuals working together like a well oiled machine. Festival of Nations
is one such event where all the committee members of the Weirton Area Museum and Cultural
Center, several area residents, businesses and the city of Weirton have given unconditional support for this day of celebration.
The efforts go beyond the border of our town. In addition to the talented performers from
Weirton, artists from Pittsburgh, Washington, PA, Youngstown, Wellsburg, New Cumberland,
Steubenville, Wintersville and other places have come to Weirton to participate in ethnic
dances, music, food and displays.
As the chairman of WAMCC’s Festival Committee, I personally wish to thank each and every
individual who helped make the arrangements for the Festival of Nations, 2010. Our gratitude
is also due to the hundreds of people who took time out of their busy schedule to attend and enjoy the Festival. The media, in particular Weirton Daily Times, WEIR radio, The River 103,
WQED Television channel from Pittsburgh, and others have spread the word. We sincerely
thank them.
There is no better way of seeing the melting pot live in action. The unity in diversity is what
makes our country great. Having arrived from various countries, we all bring different flavors
of our ethnic background while gradually assimilating the culture of the adopted homeland. We
are better and stronger together than any individual or a group can ever be.
Have a great time and we look forward to many such Festivals in Weirton.
Junginder K. Luthra
Chairman, WAMCC Festival Committee
Page 3
The above photo was taken June 2, 2009, by Dennis Jones. The area shown represents the valley that was once named Holliday’s
Cove. Cove Road is shown in the right-center of picture. The grassy area up on the right of Cove Road is where Cove School once
stood. The blue train bridge on the left is crossing Harmon’s Creek. The area just above that was once called New Cumberland Jct.
and later called Weirton Jct. Hilltop in the center is Marland Heights. In the far distance, the Veterans Memorial Bridge is seen crossing the Ohio River. The area on this side of the Veterans Memorial Bridge was once called Edgington and Wheeling Junction.
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Before There Was a Weirton
Submitted by Dennis R. Jones
Holliday’s Cove in the year 1905
The above photo and verse are from an old post card, which Art Miser provided to be scanned. The
view is looking northward through the valley of Holliday’s Cove, four years before Ernest T. Weir, his
brother David M. Weir, and their partner John C. Williams came here to expand their Clarksburg plant The Phillips Sheet & Tin Plate Company. The picture shows the peaceful village consisting of farmland, apple orchards, the rippling waters of Harmon Creek, and the railroad. The hill on the left is what
would become Marland Heights. The hill on the upper right would become Weirton Heights. The
wagon road seen on the left is the Steubenville & Pittsburgh Pike (also called the Holliday’s Cove Turnpike). Present-day Main Street and Cove Road now overlay that main pathway of the early years. Visible buildings in the picture include the Cove Presbyterian Church (in the center with the steeple) and
Cove School (large 2-story frame building in center). This Cove School building (one of several that
were built here) burned to the ground in December of 1909 (the year when Weirton was established just
north of here). Also visible is Harmon’s Creek, which was named after the first settler here - Harmon
Greathouse. On the right is the New Cumberland Junction Railroad Station, which was built in the year
1887, when the new railroad was completed to serve the brickyards of New Cumberland and northward.
Just to the left of the railroad station you can see the baseball diamond, where the Holliday’s Cove baseball team played. The baseball field is located on the other side of Harmon’s Creek today.
If you have old pictures or post cards of our area, please bring them to the museum to be scanned (like
the one above was). This will insure that captured moment in time will not be lost, and it will be preserved for future generations. - Dennis Jones, WAMCC President
Page 7
History All Around Us: The Legacy of the Weirton Steel Company
Submitted by Paul J. Zuros
When visitors drive in downtown Weirton for the first time, or when
motorists travel the highway through Weirton, they see what remains of
the Weirton Steel Company. It’s hard to imagine by looking at the
large, rusting, labyrinth of old buildings and innumerable smokestacks
that at one time this mostly silent plant was a bustling enterprise of
nearly 12,000 employees. The mill was the very soul of our valley for
almost 100 years. And who were the workers who labored at those jobs
in the mill? They were mostly immigrants. Men and women from all
parts of the world converged in this valley to work in the mill. In some
cases, it seemed that entire villages from the “Old Country” had transferred to Weirton. The village of Gallo Matese in the Campania region of Italy was one such
place. The families from this village came to Weirton because they had relatives here and word
of work being available at the mills in Weirton had traveled back to Gallo. The immigrants
would not feel so “alone” in a new country if they came to a town with others from the “old
country.”
The citizens of Weirton owe a debt of gratitude to the mill not only because without it many
people would not have had a job, but their ancestors might not have come to the area in the first
place and therefore they would not be here. Knowing this information and looking at the old
rundown buildings of the Weirton Steel Company, the visitor begins to feel the importance of
this history. Even if the visitor is not interested in the many hundreds of thousands of lives the
mill has touched in Weirton, one should be aware of the millions of lives the Weirton Steel
Company saved during the most important war in modern history, the Second World War.
Not only did the Weirton Steel Company give over 5,000 of its employees to Uncle Sam’s
Army, the men and women who were left on the home front went into the mills to work in this
now vital production center. Up until the beginning of the war, the majority of Weirton Steel’s
production was domestic steel. By 1942, less than one year after Pearl Harbor, Weirton Steel
Company’s production was 100% for the war effort. The Company produced steel in record
amounts. Also, more than eight new and unusual, but essential, products were manufactured in
Weirton. They produced everything from new metal alloys to electro-coated tinplate, which
was very essential because the Japanese had cut off the import of tin. Most importantly, Weirton Steel took on jobs that other steel mills would not attempt. Brass, copper, magnesium, and
silver chloride were rolled on the regular steel rolling machines. The rolling of brass was one
of the most outstanding accomplishments the Weirton Steel Company was a
part of. This feat made Weirton Steel, not only a leader in steel production,
but almost overnight the nation’s sixth largest producer of rolled brass.
Page 8
History All Around Us: The Legacy of the Weirton Steel Company
Submitted by Paul J. Zuros
In the spring of 1944, Weirton Steel took on another important job for the country. They began
the production of the only “finished” product
made at Weirton Steel. The 8-inch High Explosive Howitzer Shell. This shell was made entirely
at Weirton Steel. Men and women built, ran, and
maintained the special machines required to produce the shells thus, the workers were highly efficient. At the peak of production, over 70,000 of
these 200 pound shells were produced by the men
and women of Weirton each month, breaking re- Above: Assembling 8” Howitzer Shells at Weirton’s Shell Plant
in 1944 - courtesy movie “Assignment Accomplished”
cord after record. Also in 1944, the United States
Government gave Weirton Steel the coveted Army-Navy “E” award for excellence in war production. This award was a very important sign of gratitude by the government to the men and
women of Weirton Steel.
Finally, another top-secret product was made at Weirton Steel. A critical component for the
atomic bomb was manufactured in the plant. The bombs that were dropped on Japan resulted in
ending the war and saving countless American lives that would have been lost if the war was
prolonged. Weirton Steel has truly changed the world with this achievement.
Of the 12,000 employees of Weirton Steel, thousands came from all over the world to find a
better life in the USA. These same men and women who worked in the mill during the war
were doing their part to defend their adoptive country and to make sure that their uncles, brothers, fathers, and sons would come home safely from the fighting front.
Today, the idled smokestacks of the Weirton Steel Company that meet visitors when they enter
Weirton may be perceived as eyesores that are
deteriorating with the passage of time, but to
the native of Weirton who knows the history,
these are the monuments to the struggles of
their ancestors. Those brave immigrants left
their home countries and their families to find
a better life for their children in a strange land.
Today, we honor our ancestors, their heritage,
and the struggles that made it possible for us to
live in the United States. We are continuing
the tradition that was started back in 1934 as
the first Festival of Nations; to promote our
Above: Another scene of the 8” Howitzer Shell production in Weirton
- courtesy movie “Assignment Accomplished”
rich ethnic heritage.
Page 9
The following two pages are provided to let you know
those businesses, organizations, and volunteers who have
contributed (many of them “behind the scenes” and otherwise unknown to the public) by volunteering time, effort,
and materials to help the Weirton Area Museum and the
2010 Festival of Nations bring you today’s event.
City of Weirton
Installing Flags of All Nations along Main Street
Weirton Millsop Community Center rental
Comcast Local Edition
Broadcast of Museum/Festival Interview
Mary H. Weir Public Library
Printing of large flags for stage background
(Rik Rekowski, Pat Barnett, and Pam Makricosta)
Provisions during the WQED documentary filming
Michael Nogay, Esq.
“Every Home a Fort, Every Man a Warrior”
Paper and Press, INK
Discount on printing of flyers, letters, and programs.
Top of West Virginia CVB
Printing of the 11 x 17 posters
.
Festival Advertising in Newspapers
Festival Advertising on Channel 9 TV and Comcast Cable
Wine and Beverage Merchants of West Virginia
Provider of Large Festival Sign in Museum Window
Provider of large plasti-coated signs at key outdoor locations
Provider of Banner for Stage
WQED
Composing and airing a story on the History of
Weirton and promoting the Festival of Nations
WEIR Radio and 106.3 The River
Talk Show Interviews with Pam Makricosta and Dr. Luthra
Weirton Daily Times
Extensive newspaper coverage
We also wish to thank Mayor Mark Harris, Michael Nogay, David Javersak, John Pandelios, Dennis Jones,
Juginder Luthra, Dolly Luthra, Tonia Caruso, Frank Caloiero, and others for their part in the filming by WQED.
The next page shows the list of those who helped with the 2010 Festival of Nations Committee and some of their
duties and contributions.
Page 10
Andrea Anderson , WAMCC Vice President ……….. Display Table Covers and Labeling
Angie Angelos………………………………………..Stage Assistant
Victor Greco…………………………………………. Italian Display
Dennis Jones, WAMCC President……………………Editor of WAMCC’s Historic Photo Gallery
“ “ “
Composer of WAMCC’s Historic Picture Calendars
“ “ “
Administrator of WAMCC’s Website
“ “ “
Designer / Assembler of 2010 Festival Medalions
“ “ “
Composer of the 2010 Festival of Nations Program Booklet
Argiro Latousakis……………………………………. Co-Chair of Signs & Posters
Gabi Lemley…………………………………………. Stage Assistant
Tracy Lemley…………………………………………Front Desk Receptionist
Dolly Luthra…………………………………………..Master of Ceremonies - Cultural Program
Juginder Luthra ………………………………………WAMCC’s 2010 Festival Chairman
“ “ “
Stage Performance Coordinator
Pamela Makricosta, WAMCC Vice President………. Festival Publicity Director
Janet McFadden………………………………………Co-Chair of Flag Decorations
“ “ “
Stage Assistant
Despina Melonas , WAMCC Secretary………………Chair of Vendors and Beverages
John & Elma Pandelios……………………………….WAMCC Museum Gift Shop (Books, Calendars, History
“ “ “ “
Games, Tee Shirts, etc….)
Ed Powell……………………………………………..Front Desk Receptionist and Raffle
Nancy Pugh………………………………………….. Festival Committee Secretary
“ “ “
Co-Chair of Flag Decorations
“ “ “
Stage Assistant
Richard Reinard, Sr………………………………….. Weirton Historic Landmarks Commission (WHLC) Table
Rik Rekowski (Mary H. Weir Public Library)……….Greeter
Kim Salter…………………………………………….WHLC and WAMCC Display Table Assistant
Leah Shirer……………………………………………WHLC and WAMCC Display Table Assistant
George Sotraidis………………………………………American Legion Honor Guard
Joe Stankiewicz……………………………………….Stage Assistant
Rich Young…………………………………………...Co-Chair of Signs & Posters
Paul B. Zuros, WAMCC Treasurer………………….. Raffle Drawing
Paul J. Zuros…………………………………………. Italian Display & Weirton Steel Story
Page 11
2010 Festival of Nations
VENDOR TABLES - 11:00 a.m. thru 4:00 p.m.
AFRICAN AMERICAN
GREECE
Mt. Olive Baptist Church - Earlean Jones
Philoptochos Society (All Saints Greek Orthodox Church Ladies Auxiliary)
India Palace Restaurant
INDIA
DeFelice Bros. Pizza - Dominic DeFelice
ITALY - Pizza
Walter Ehnes
ITALY - Pizzelles
Yvonne Tuchalski
POLAND
RUSSIA
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, - Patricia Shultz
SERBIA
Serbian American Cultural Center - Nick Jovanovich
Gus’s Goodies - Gus & Aggie Monezis
USA
Page 12
2010 Festival of Nations
DISPLAYS - 11:00 a.m. thru 4:00 p.m.
8th Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line
AFRICAN AMERICAN
Bruce D. Garber
Bill Thompson
Children’s Books from Around the World
Dr. Maryann Ehle
DAR
Carol Skerbetz
Dolls from Around the World
Elma Pandelios & Mary Waskevich
Frontier People
Monte Pearson
GREECE
Despina Melonas and Argiro Latousakis
Hawaii
Deb Witkowski
INDIA
Juginder Luthra
ITALY
Victor Greco and Paul J. Zuros
PAKISTAN
Shaheen Akhtar
PHILIPPINES
Anna Paich
POLAND
Yvonne Tuchalski
Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center
John G. Pandelios
Weirton Historic Landmarks Commission
Richard Reinard
(with Kim Salter and Leah Shirer)
Weirton’s Historic Photo Gallery
(on display throughout the building)
Dennis R. Jones
Page 13
2010 Festival of Nations
OPENING CEREMONIES - 11:00 a.m.
“Stars and Stripes Forever”
DJ Rico
Hoisting of the Flags
American Legion Post 10 Honor Guard
George Sotraidis
National Anthem
Carrie Oliver
“God Bless the USA”
Victoria Gerst
Welcome
Juginder Luthra, Festival Chairman
Introduction of Museum Officers & Chairpersons
Introduction of Festival Volunteers
Dennis Jones, President
Juginder Luthra, Festival Chairman
Proclamation
Mayor Mark Harris
Remarks
Senator Edwin J. Bowman
Remarks
David M. Weir
Page 14
2010 Festival of Nations
CULTURAL PROGRAM - 12:00 p.m.
Dolly Luthra, Master of Ceremonies
Introductions
All Cultural Groups
PARADE of NATIONS
with “We are the World” by DJ Rico
Dances of INDIA
Nandanik Dance Academy
“Take Me Home, Country Roads”
Sheena Chopra
Dances of INDIA
Nandanik Dance Academy
COUNTRY MUSIC Dancing
AFRICAN AMERICAN Dances
West Virginia / Ohio Line Dancers
Young Girls Praise Ministry of 2nd Baptist Church, Steubenville
Grecian Odyssey Dancers of Pittsburgh
GREECE
Nila Boyd
Music of SCOTLAND
Harambee of Youngstown
AFRICAN AMERICAN Dances
Thomas Zielensky - Accordian
Music of POLAND - Accordian
Steel City Bhangra
Dances of INDIA
Oriental Dance School
CHINA
Teja Bedami & Meghan Bannerjee
Classical Dances of INDIA
Out of the Blue
AMERICAN BLUE GRASS
Page 15
Submitted by Bruce D. Garber
We are the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line. We represent the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment that was an integral part of George Washington’s army that fought in the
American Revolution from 1775 to 1783. The 8th fought the British army in the battles near
Philadelphia and later on protected the western frontier which included Western Pennsylvania,
West Virginia and Ohio. Our purpose is to tell the story of the soldiers and their families that
fought for our nations independence. We talk about their everyday existence and their roll in
our history. Please feel free to stop by our booth and look at our display. Feel free to talk to our
members and ask questions and take one of our brochures. If you have a love for history as we
do and would like to inquire about membership, please feel free to ask.
The Impact of Pizza While Growing Up Italian
Submitted by Dominic DeFelice
Ever since I was a little boy, I can recall growing up in an Italian household, and the pizza my
Nonna would send to our house for us to enjoy. My Nonna (Grandma in Italian), would make
pizza whenever she made homemade bread. The pizza then was much different than what we
know as pizza today. It was very basic, dough rolled out flat, sometimes rectangular, sometimes
round, but it didn’t have near the toppings we see on pizza made today. Nonna would send two
different styles of pizza. The first would be topped with a basic tomato sauce, seasoned with
oregano, salt and pepper and you may find a spec of pepperoni, or cacciatore that she used to
help flavor the sauce. There was never cheese or a bunch of toppings on it, just the wonderful
flavor of fresh made Italian bread dough and a lite layer of pizza sauce. My Nonna always said,
to use oregano to make pizza sauce, and basil for spaghetti sauce. The second style of pizza was
what we referred to as Pizza Aglio-olio, which she would make by spreading out the dough and
rubbing on some olive oil, infused with chopped garlic and season with some salt and pepper.
Both styles of pizza could be wrapped in wax paper and stored in bread drawer for up to a
week; if we could leave it alone.
Like that really happened!
Dominic DeFelice
DeFelice Bros Pizza Inc
Page 16
Out of the Blue
Submitted by Debb Daugherty
Out of the Blue, based in Wheeling, plays an
eclectic blend of old and new bluegrass,
bluegrass gospel, and some occasional
“oldies” from the rock and roll days. Kim
and Bev West, husband and wife team from
Wheeling, play guitar and banjo, respectively. Kim also has a fine hand with the fiddle, and he sets toes to tapping with fine old
fiddle tunes - the music of our Appalachian
Mountains.
Carlton Ferrell plays mandolin and joins Kim
occasionally for some fascinating ‘twin fiddle’ tunes. Deborah Daugherty plays upright
Out of the Blue
bass, and the group is very well-known for
their fine three- and four-part harmonies. Out of the Blue enjoys making music, and audiences
always enjoy Out of the Blue!
PIZZELLE
Submitted by Walter Ehnes & Juginder Luthra
The Pizzelle man of Weirton, Mr. Walter Ehnes is carrying on the age old tradition of making
the typical Italian waffle cookies in the valley. The pizzelle originated in the Abruzzo region of
south-central Italy. The name comes from the Italian word for round and flat.
The cookie made its way to this area through Charles “Chip” DeMarco , a Steubenville resident
who invented the electric pizzelle iron in late 1940s. Until then the pizzelle were only made by
holding the iron pizzelle maker over a burner or stove top. They used to be very heavy and inefficient.
Pizzelles are made from flour, eggs, sugar, butter and different flavorings. According to Mrs.
DeMarco, as quoted in the Steubenville Herald Star on December, 26, 1984, the special ingredient that makes the pizzelle so good is a combination of lemon, orange and vanilla extract. Some
people prefer to use Anise oil as flavoring.
The cookie batter is poured into the pizzelle iron, which is heated either by electricity or on
stovetop. The iron makes a snowflake like pattern on both sides. It becomes crispy when taken
out and cooled off. These are particularly popular during Christmas and Easter. They, along
with other Italian cookies, are also commonly served at the marriage functions.
Stop in at the Pizzelle Man’s table and enjoy one of the favorite Italian cookies
Page 17
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
Submitted by Patricia Shultz
St Nicholas Orthodox Church has been at its present location on Colliers Way since 1975.
Prior to moving to Colliers Way, it was located on Elm St just a block away from the Jimmy
Carey Football Stadium. The parish has members whose roots stem from Czechoslovakia, the
Carpatho-Mountain range of Europe, and from the eastern area of Russia, just to name a few.
The services of the Orthodox Church are rich in tradition and well known for their acappella
liturgical music. St. Nicholas Church itself is also well known for its homemade ethnic foods
including piroghies, halupki (cabbage rolls), and halushki (cabbage and noodles). These foods
are often available through luncheons and dinners held at the church as well as area festivals
including the annual Renaissance Festival in downtown Weirton. We are pleased to be a part of
this year’s Festival of Nations and offer these ethnic foods to the community once again. We
also welcome you to visit our church at any time and worship with us.
Gus’s Goodies
Submitted by Gus & Aggie Monezis
Around 1912, Gus Monezis, and his brother, George, immigrated from Greece to America. Gus
came to Weirton, WV, and began working at Weirton Steel Company. George moved to
McKeesport, PA, and became employed as a baker and cake decorator at the William Penn Hotel. He later opened his own bakery, the Minerva Pastry Shop.
Gus had three sons and one daughter in Greece. After he got settled, he brought the entire family to Weirton. Two of the sons, Nick and George, were taught the bakery business by great uncle George. Uncle George started Royal Pastry on Main Street in south Weirton. In the 1935,
Nick took over the business and young George went into the Army. In 1960, Nick's son, Gus
(named for his grandfather), and his daughter, Helen, and her husband, Nick, took over the operations. Helen and her husband eventually moved to Illinois in 1969, and Gus became the sole
proprietor of the bakery. Gus then introduced his own wife, Aggie, and daughters to the business.
Gus's Goodies may have seen a few name changes throughout the years, but it's still the same
family business that started so many years ago; and it's still located on Main Street in south
Weirton. What happened to the other Monezis bakers? Great uncle George had a son, George
Jr., and he had a son, Mark. They, along with George's wife, Irene, and daughter, Cathy, still
operate the bakery in McKeesport, PA. "My cousin, George Jr., has been my mentor over the
years," says Gus, "and I owe a lot to him for all he has taught me."
Page 18
Dances of India
Submitted by Nandini Mandal
India , or Bharatvarsh, is an ancient land with ancient civilizations that date back to centuries Before
Christ . It is the land of the Vedas, Yoga, Ayurveda,
Geometry, Trigonometry, Medicine , Astronomy,
etc. India has been inhabited by indigenous people
and people from various parts of the world who
came as invaders or merchants and made this land
their home. It boasts of peaceful coexistence of multiple religions like Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, ChrisDancers of India Performing in Weirton - Nov. 18, 2006
tianity, Buddhism, Jainism etc. It is not surprising
that in a country as varied and diverse as India, there is such a wide gamut of cultural diversity,
especially in the field of dance, music , food, festivals, and culture.
Like all countries and people of the world, Indians too have a wide variety of dances to celebrate harvest, births, marriages, new year, festivals and even deaths. Each of the 27 different
states of India have their unique and colorful folk dances choreographed according to and
matching the songs sung in local languages or dialects. These dances are performed in groups
of men and women, or men, or women only with the local indigenous musical instruments accompanying the songs. Colorful costumes and jewelry add to the vibrancy. The popular folk
dances are Bhangra (Punjab), Dandiya, Raas(Gujarat), Kolattam( Tamil Nadu), Jhoomar
(Rajasthan), Bihu(Assam), etc. Besides folk dances, India boasts of 8 classical dance
styles with their respective grammar, history, and unique scientific form and structure like the
western ballet. Some of them date back more than 2000 years in history. These are mostly performed solo and sometimes in groups. They are Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Mohiniattam,Odissi, Manipuri, Kathak, Sattriya.The themes are mostly devotional, songs are often
sung in praise of a deity, a patron or a king. The techniques are passed down from Gurus or
maestros to their Shishyas or students through years of rigorous training.
Today we also see a great amount of global influence in the form of pop rock, jazz and hip hop
etc. The fusion has evolved a popular form of dance that is both international and Indian in flavor, popularly termed as Bollywood dancing . This name is the one given to the Bombay
(Mumbai) film industry as its Hollywood counterpart. Bollywood dancing has mixture of both
Indian folk elements like Bhangra, etc along with modern dance styles.
Dance is a way of life, a way of expressing our emotions and a way to come together in love,
happiness and harmony. That has always been the main purpose of all Indian dances.
Page 19
The Italian-American Community
Submitted by Jolene Carpini Zuros
When E. T. Weir established the Phillips Sheet and Tin Plate Company in Weirton
in 1909, he needed workers who were willing to work hard. Immigrants from many European
nations moved to Weirton in order to fulfill their “American Dream.” Italian workers flocked
to Weirton. Many came from the same Italian villages. They knew one another and formed
close, almost familial relationships with each other once they settled in Weirton. Maintaining
their “old country” culture and traditions were very important to them and 100 years later Italian-Americans still take great pride in their Italian heritage and culture. One way the ItalianAmerican community continues to stay close is by listening to the all Italian radio program on
AM 1430 WEIR every Sunday morning. The program is called the Neapolitan Serenade and it
is hosted by Alphonse Ruggieri. Passing traditional old country recipes down from generation
to generation is another method of preserving the Italian heritage and customs, as well as naming children after their grandparents and great grandparents. Actively practicing these traditions
will help to insure that future generations of Italian-Americans will continue to maintain their
culture.
Greece
Submitted by Angie Angelos
Greece is always more than a visitor expects - a long stretch of blue and clear sea,
splendid ruins of past glory, shops full of appealing folk craft, or a village tavern inviting the
visitor to enjoy a glass of wine.
To think of Greece is to think of its Mediterranean climate, which is as warm and pleasant in
the fall season as it is in the summer months. The visitor soon learns that most Greeks are
cheerful, hospitable, fun loving, unpredictable, and enthusiastic. They possess a great zest for
living.
Art enables people throughout the world to know, to understand, and to love each other. Dance,
too, is an art. Folk dances in particular are full of gentleness, of proving heroism, and of sudden
humor. Each Greek region has its own folk dances. Every folk dance, together with the accompanying music and costumes, discloses the characteristics of the life, the customs, and even the
character of the Greek people.
The magic of Greece works on you the moment you set foot in the country. If you combine
ample leisure with well planned sightseeing, you will find that Greece has equals for the wealth
and variety of impressions it leaves in the mind - these will remain cherished memories long
after your holiday or vacation is over.
Page 20
Mount Olive Baptist Church
Submitted by Earlean Jones
The Mount Olive Baptist Church is a small Church on the corner of Weir Ave. and Kessel
Street. The food that we will be serving is of African American Heritage. These are the foods
that we grew up on, also the comfort food for some and for others it is your best Sunday dinner.
Most of what we will have will be an old southern, down-home meal, such as: Collard greens,
Potato Salad, Candied Yams, Black-eyed Peas & Corn Bread, and for dessert it will be Sweet
Potato Pie. We think these are the foods that best describe our culture.
The WV / Ohio Line Dancers
Submitted by Janet McFadden
The WV / Ohio Line Dancers is a group
of individuals with a love for country
music. The group dance instructor is
Janie Wittmer from Mingo Junction,
Ohio. She has bee dancing for over 20
years. The other 15 line dancers have
joined the group over that 20-year period.
The dancers are geographically from all
over the Ohio Valley. This includes
Bloomingdale, Steubenville, Toronto,
Wintersville, Mingo Junction, Colliers,
Follansbee, and Wellsburg. The WV /
Ohio Line Dancers have danced in
WV / Ohio Line Dancers Performing in 2009 Festival of Nations in Weirton
Cleveland and Columbus, OH, New York
City, NY, Detroit, MI, Nashville, TN, and Pittsburgh, PA. The line dancers look forward to
their annual trip to Cleveland, Ohio to dance for the Cleveland Country Charities Program. It is
approximately 12 hours of continuous dancing for a cause. The funds raised during this benefit
are given to a different organization each year. We are honored to participate in the Festival of
Nations program and look forward to this annual event.
Line Dancers are: Victor Carducci, Norma Chivers, Lois Dami, Freda Dunn, Jane Grable, Debbie Koehnlein, Dolly Law, Janet McFadden, Jennifer Mossor, Kathy Nocera, Jackie Perkins,
Jeanne Porter, Mary Lucille Smith, Maggie Stewart, Janie Wittmer, and Judy Wright.
Page 21
Weirton’s Polish Community
Submitted by Yvonne Tuchalski
In 1909, Polish immigrants began arriving in the Ohio Valley
attracted by the prospect of working in the Phillips Sheet & Tin
Plate Company (later renamed to Weirton Steel Company).
These immigrants found opportunity to start a new life in
America away from their oppressed homeland of Poland.
Speaking no English, the Polish and other immigrant groups
tended to cluster together with whole neighborhoods holding to
their homeland culture and heritage.
In 1910, the Phillips Sheet & Tin Plate Company donated lots
on Avenue A for the establishment of a Catholic Church, which Sacred Heart of Mary Church - Ave. F - 1968
opened in 1911 with Father Matthais Madert as the first parish
priest. The parish was made up of Catholics from all countries and took on the name of Sts.
Peter and Paul. Father Madert was replaced with Father Stanley Przybysz, who helped form the
fraternal organizations of the Polish National Alliance with the Casimir Pulaski Lodge 1504
established in 1912 and the Polish Roman Catholic Union St. Pauls Lodge 791 established in
1914. Father Przybysz was replaced by Rev. L. Monaco, and with the growing number of people, Bishop Donahue soon decided to divide the Catholic congregation into two distinct parishes: One serving the Poles exclusively with Father Pawlowski as pastor and the other serving
all other nationalities with Father A. D. McSwiggan as pastor (becoming St. Paul’s Parish).
In 1916, Bishop Donahue assigned Rev Fr. Andrew Wilczek as pastor of the Polish congregation, and with the help of Weirton Steel Co., the Polish congregation purchased three dwellings
on Avenue F, establishing a temporary school, a convent, and a rectory. The school was staffed
with Franciscan Sisters from the Order of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, in St. Louis. Also the
PNA Henry Sienkiewicz Lodge 2090 was formed and renamed to the Frederick Chopin Lodge
in 1919. Also in 1919, the house on the corner of Avenue F was dismantled and construction
begam on the new Polish church and school building. The cornerstone was blessed September
14, 1919, and the beautiful Sacred Heart of Mary Church was dedicated on October 24, 1920.
In 1922, the Polish Women’s Alliance, Sacred Heart of Mary Group 331 was formed. Also, a
Polish band, funded by Weirton Steel Co., had been organized for ceremonial events. In 1942,
the PNA Thaddeus Kosciusko Lodge 3001 was organized, and the T. Kosciusko Hall was built
on Weirton Heights in 1946. This building was recently sold, but the PNA 3001 is still active.
On November 1, 1968, a new Sacred Heart of Mary Church was dedicated on Preston Avenue.
Many Polish customs, such as Easter food basket blessing are still maintained. Sacred Heart of
Mary Church activities reflect Polish heritage, especially in the Polka Mass, and the church has
a stained glass window that depicts the religious history and culture of Poland and America.
The Sacred Heart of Mary Church will be celebrating 100 years in 2011. Sto Lat !
Page 22
My Mother:
My Children:
Amartya
Jaya
Amaya
Ilan
Arjan
Helen Zuleba
Clara Pizzuto
Debbie Lamb
Greg Little
Jeff Little
Leslee Little
Submitted by Dolly & J. K. Luthra
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“ “ “ “ “ “ “
Submitted by Justine Zebula
Submitted by Ruth Anne Foutty
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“ “ “ “ “ “ “
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My Father:
John Zuleba
James C. Hair
Edward P. (Hammer) McFadden
Edwin and Berta Lancaster
Rexall G. Lancaster, Sr.
Lewis R. Anderson
Lexie Anderson
Our Brother Tom & Our Aunt Clara B. Ault
Our Father Okey & Mother Ruth Foutty
Helen & Nick Makricosta
Dimos & James G. Paschalis
Wilbur & Kathleen Carnahan
Page 23
Submitted by Justine Zebula
Submitted by Marjorie Greco
Submitted by Janet McFadden
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Submitted by Caryl &
Ruth Anne Foutty
Submitted by Pam Makricosta
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“ “ “ “ “ “ “
The following are bronze medal supporters of the 2010 Festival of Nations, each
contributing $25 or greater:
Order of AHEPA
Goldie Baly
Greco Plumbing
Victor and Marjorie Greco
Judith Hamill
Linda A. Heilman
Dr. Jasbir Makar
Carolee and Daniel Sikora
Milton Zinaich, State Farm Insurance Agent
Thanks for your help in
Preserving Our History and Culture for Future Generations
Page 24
The following are silver medal supporters of the 2010 Festival of Nations, each contributing
$50 or greater:
Christ United Methodist Church / Teresa Yoder
Fran and Tom Czernek
Mario’s Restaurant and DiCarlo’s Restaurant
Amar N. Khurana, M.D., Inc.
Anjali & Sudhir Malik, M.D.
John and Elma Pandelios
Parihar Medical Corporation
Penn-Way Pharmacy
Serra Village Retirement Community
Susan Smith
Steel-Wolfe Funeral Home, Inc.
United Bank, Inc.
Valley Surgical Center, LLC
Diana Wilson
Thanks for your help in
Preserving Our History and Culture for Future Generations
Page 25
The following are gold medal supporters of the 2010 Festival of Nations, each
contributing $100 or greater:
Ronnie and Sandi Briggs
DiBacco Properties, LLC
Eli and Sharon Dragisich
First Choice America Community Federal Credit Union
The Committee to Elect Dan Greathouse for State Senate
Grishkevich Law Office
Dr. Charan Nandra - Regional Cardiovascular & Medical Center, Inc.
Namita, Anil, Amartya, and Jaya
Orphy Klempa for Election of State Senate
Orion Development, Tom Banketas and Frank Neely
Dr. and Mrs. Gurdev S. Purewal
St. Joseph the Worker Parish
The James White Construction Company
Weirton Woman’s Club GFWC
Thanks for your help in
Preserving Our History and Culture for Future Generations
Page 26
The following share the WAMCC rainbow medal and are sponsors of the 2010
Festival of Nations, each contributing $250 or greater:
Shaheen Akhtar
Edward J. Jagela (Ohio Valley Vision Center)
Dolly and Juginder Luthra
Elisha Robinson
Weirton Medical Center
Starvaggi Charities, Inc.
The Weir Family
Thanks for your help in
Preserving Our History and Culture for Future Generations
Page 27
www.weirtonmuseum.com
EVERY HOME A FORT,
WEIRTON
EVERY MAN A WARRIOR A PAGEANT OF NATIONS
by Michael Edward Nogay
Stories of the Forts and Men
in the Upper Ohio Valley
During the
American Revolutionary War
128 Pages
Available for $15.00 Donation
By Dennis Jones
for the Weirton Area Museum and
Cultural Center
History in Weirton 1909-1947 including name listings, details, and photographs for the Festival of Nations
Pageants 1934 thru 1944.
64 Pages
Available for $6.00 Donation
The Weirton Area History Game
Includes 1000 history questions, and hundreds of History Information Cards with
maps, pictures, and information. All
cards are preserved in rigid plastic.
Game also includes game tin and silent
History Picture Show DVD
Available for $50.00 Donation
Page 28
2010 “All Aboard for the History Tour”
2010 “For Future Generations”
2011 “A Blast from the Past”
2011 “On With the Show”
2012 “Marching Into History”
2013 “Market to Market A to Z”
Each calendar has 15 large historic scenes in
Weirton (each picture size 8.5 x 11).
There will be 2 calendars offered for each year
starting in 2010 (those from 2010 are sold out,
but the other ones shown on this page are now
available, with more to come). Visit our Museum Gift Shop table and preserve these scenes
within your family for generations to come.
Calendars available for $8.00 donation each.
2014 “Fill ‘er Up with History”
Also, please ask if you would like a separate photo from those calendars that are completely sold
out and no longer available.
Preserving Our History and Culture
for Future Generations
P.O. Box 517
Weirton, WV 26062
www.weirtonmuseum.com