Major Folk Streams of the Pittsburgh Area

[ctoocheck]

Quick immigration history: The British were the first to move here in large numbers, followed by the Irish and German. I guess they were the largest groups of immigrants up until about 1900, maybe a bit earlier.

After manufacturing (especially steel, of course) took off in Pittsburgh, loads of Slavs and Italians moved here. SW PA has the densest concentration of Slovaks in the country, and I heard that Pittsburgh once had more Croatians than Zagreb. There were also a lot of people from Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary (to name what are probably the most common).

More recently there have been a fair number of East/Southeast Asians moving here, though not nearly in the numbers we've seen in the past, and other cities probably still see.

My family came from Slovenia and Slovakia around 1910, and worked in coal mines, at Westinghouse, places like that. I didn't know this beforehand, but according to relatives I visited in Slovenia, I guess my great-grandfather (or another relative) came to Pittsburgh, went back to Slovenia, then headed back here again, then sent for his bride-to-be.

In any case, these immigrants really left their mark on the place (as I guess they do everywhere), especially the Italians and Slavs, I would say.

[ditchdigger]

On my Mom's side the geneolgy has been pretty well researched back into the 1700's. Around 1800 some of her ancestors, on both sides, were the parishoners of Father Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, (Prince Gallitzin State Park is named after him), in and around Loretto PA. Lots of them are buried in St Michael's Cemetary there. Her Mom was from Loretto. Her Dad was raised on a farm in Munster Pa, which is in the same neighborhood. We've held a family reunion every year since 1930. Until the mid 1960s, it was held on the family farm. The original surname is Irish, and English, French, and German have been added to the mix over a few hundred years.

Dad is more of a question mark. His Grandfather was apparently not a very nice guy, and his Dad ran away, and adopted the name of the family he lived with. We've looked, but haven't had any success finding Great Grandpa, or his ancestry, yet.

[Fiddlehead]

Originally Posted by ctoocheck

Quick immigration history: The British were the first to move here in large numbers, followed by the Irish and German. I guess they were the largest groups of immigrants up until about 1900, maybe a bit earlier.

After manufacturing (especially steel, of course) took off in Pittsburgh, loads of Slavs and Italians moved here. SW PA has the densest concentration of Slovaks in the country, and I heard that Pittsburgh once had more Croatians than Zagreb. There were also a lot of people from Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary (to name what are probably the most common).

More recently there have been a fair number of East/Southeast Asians moving here, though not nearly in the numbers we've seen in the past, and other cities probably still see.

My family came from Slovenia and Slovakia around 1910, and worked in coal mines, at Westinghouse, places like that. I didn't know this beforehand, but according to relatives I visited in Slovenia, I guess my great-grandfather (or another relative) came to Pittsburgh, went back to Slovenia, then headed back here again, then sent for his bride-to-be.

In any case, these immigrants really left their mark on the place (as I guess they do everywhere), especially the Italians and Slavs, I would say.

Thanks Ctoocheck,

I was quite interested in this ethnic history overview. Understanding the folk streams is one means of learning how specific places get their enduring character. Pittsburgh gets more interesting by the day!

Although it may have no relevance, I have found eastern Europeans to be great people on two stints in Europe. Many possess a sly sense of humor; not sure how much of that carries over a hundred years hence.

[ctoocheck]

Many possess a sly sense of humor; not sure how much of that carries over a hundred years hence.

It does in my family, at least, and gets us in trouble quite often ;-p