Rennerdale, Pennsylvania

Rennerdale is an unincorporated community in Collier Township, Pennsylvania, USA, about nine miles southwest of Pittsburgh. [http://earth.google.com/ Google Earth] ]

Geography

Set in the Allegheny Plateau, Rennerdale is built on a southward-facing hill that slopes from 1032 feet down to 882 feet, where it approaches Robinson's Run, a creek that flows eastward toward Chartiers Creek and the Ohio River. The surrounding area was mined for coal from as early as 1870,History of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania : including its early settlement and progress to the present time ; a description of its historic and interesting localities ; its cities, towns and villages; religious, educational, social and military history ; mining, manufacturing and commercial interests, improvements, resources, statistics, etc. ; also, biographies of many of its representative citizens. Prepared under the general supervision of Thomas Cushing. Originally Published: Chicago : A. Warner & Co., 1889. Original images and transcriptions available at [http://digital.library.pitt.edu/pittsburgh/ Historic Pittsburgh] ] but the only active extraction enterprise is a quarry east of the town.

History

An early settler of this region was James Ewing, who arrived in 1770 and built a grist mill on Robinson's Run. Gabriel Walker and Isaac Walker, Scots-Irish brothers from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania arrived in 1772. Gabriel Walker's household was [http://www.abbott-lavalle.info/places/collier.html raided by Indians] in 1782. Walker's Mill, the village east of Rennerdale, is named for Isaac Walker. Between 1760 and 1790, Gabriel Walker built a log cabin about two miles northwest of present-day Rennerdale; today known as the Walker-Ewing Log House, the structure still stands. In 1976, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. [http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/research/index.htm National Register of Historic Places] ] Many Walkers have continued to live in the area up to the present-day.

A 1876 atlas of Pittsburgh shows only these families residing on the land where Rennerdale is now located: Mrs. J. Maloney, James Hayes, J.E. Walker, E. Walker and G. Walker. [http://digital.library.pitt.edu/maps/ Plate 43 of the "1876 Atlas of the Cities of Pittsburgh, Allegheny and Adjoining Boroughs" at the Historic Pittsburgh map collection] ]

Rennerdale's origins as a town are connected to the railroad. A railway that followed Robinson's Run was known as the Panhandle Route, because it crossed Northern Panhandle of West Virginia. Connecting Pittsburgh with Cincinnati, Ohio, the railway was operated by the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad and the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railroad. John W. Renner (b. ca. 1845 in PA - d. after 1915) was a comptroller for the latter company and for the Pennsylvania Railroad. He is most likely the town's namesake. The 1910 census does not list Rennerdale as part of Collier Township, but 72 persons are counted on Sunnyside Avenue. Of the 21 heads of households, 11 were clerks in the railroad.1910 United States Federal Census, PA, Allegheny Co, Collier Twp, District 43, 2A [http://www.ancestry.com Ancestry.com] ]

The 1920 census enumerated 319 persons specifically in Rennerdale. Many heads of households were clerks in the railroad office; the others were either railway workers, miners or laborers. The following streets were extant: Sunnyside Avenue, Home Avenue, Linden Avenue, Maple Avenue and State Street (probably Noblestown Road).1920 United States Federal Census, PA, Allegheny Co, Collier Twp, District 66, 5A to 8B [http://www.ancestry.com Ancestry.com] ] One of these clerks, William Kerr, was instrumental in establishing national Flag Day. [ [http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/session.cfm Pennsylvania General Assembly] - yearly resolutions include Senate Resolution No. 316, Session of 2006; House Resolution No. 790, Session of 2006; House Resolution No. 592, Session of 2002.] [ [http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM1667 William T. Kerr Historical Marker] - reads "Known as 'The Father of Flag Day,' he founded the American Flag Day Association and served as its president for Fifty years. President Truman signed the Act of Congress that officially designated June 14 as Flag Day, with Kerr at his side, on August 3, 1949. Kerr lived here in Rennersdale, 1911-1928.]

Description

Rennerdale has some 320 single-family homes, many built between 1920 and 1960, with the newest built in 2005, and the oldest built in the 1840s. [http://www2.county.allegheny.pa.us/RealEstate/ Allegheny County Real Estate Web Site] ] Most homes sit on lots larger than half an acre, many with full-grown trees.

The town has one business, the Rennerdale Corner Store, at 148 Noblestown Road. The Corner Store sells groceries and serves sandwiches and pizza.

Rennerdale's sole house of worship, Rennerdale United Presbyterian Church, is located at 151 Noblestown Road. In addition to services, the church hosts community meetings, such as the monthly meeting of the Pittsburgh chapter of [http://www.nrhs.com National Railway Historical Society] .

The Rennerdale Volunteer Fire Department, located at 30 Suburban Avenue, provides emergency and firefighting services. It also sponsors an annual Halloween parade. Next to the fire station is a small spring-fed pond, where there is some recreational fishing (with a traditional catch and release policy). When the pond freezes over in winter, the townspeople use it for skating and ice hockey.

On the eastern end of town, Webb Field has two baseball fields (Little Webb and Big Webb) and a pavilion for community events. (Webb Field is possibly named after George W. Webb (b. ca. 1872), a Rennerdale resident in 1920.)

Rennerdale belongs to the [http://www.cvsd.net/chartiersvps/site/default.asp Chartiers Valley School District] , which includes Chartiers Valley Primary School, Middle School, Intermediate School and High School.

As an unincorporated community, Rennerdale has no mayor or police force.

Environs of Rennerdale

Less than a mile northwest of Rennerdale is Settler's Cabin Park, a 1,589-acre Allegheny County park, which includes the Walker-Ewing Log House, a wave pool, a diving pool, tennis courts, groves, shelters and trails. [ [http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/parks/facility.asp#sc Allegheny County Parks Department] ]

Immediately south of Rennerdale, [http://www.panhandletrail.org/ The Panhandle Trail] is a hike/bike rail trail that follows the bed of the old Panhandle railroad. The improved potion of the Panhandle trail currently runs from Walker's Mill, Collier Township, to Joffre, Washington County, PA. It connects with the Montour Trail in-between McDonald, PA and the Village of Primrose. The Panhandle Trail will eventually run 29 miles from Walker's Mill to Weirton, West Virginia. The entire trail is completed except for one small section between Joffre and Burgettstown. An abandoned quarry alongside the trail serves as a backdrop for picnics and community parties. In the woods south of the trail is Fossils Cliff, notable for its plentiful fossils, mostly of fern leaves.

Atop the ridge south of Rennerdale is a private, Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, [http://www.theclubatnevillewood.com/ The Club at Nevillewood] , with a surrounding community.

Atop the western ridge is a former Project Nike missile site. When known as the Charles E. Kelly Support Facility, it provided headquarters for the Army's 99th Regional Readiness Command. The facility, however, was scheduled (although in 2008 it is still open) for closing by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission, with its units relocated to Pitt US Army Reserve Center, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. [ [http://www.brac.gov/finalreport.html 2005 BRAC Commission Final Report, pgs 74-75] ]

References

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