Lavelle, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lavelle, Pennsylvania
census-designated place
Main Street, Lavelle, Pennsylvania
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Schuylkill
Area
• Total	1.13 sq mi (2.94 km2)
• Land	1.13 sq mi (2.94 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	708
• Density	624.34/sq mi (241.04/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code	42-41904

Lavelle is a small community in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, located in the United States. It is a census-designated place, which means it's a special area defined by the government for counting people. Lavelle is part of Butler Township and sits along Pennsylvania Route 901.

Before 2000, Lavelle was grouped with another community called Locustdale. They were known together as Lavelle-Locustdale. Later, they became two separate places.

Lavelle was first called Salome. This name honored Salome Bolich, the wife of an early settler and preacher. Around 1880, the community was renamed Lavelle. This new name honored Martin M. Lavelle, a lawyer from nearby Ashland. He was also a cavalry soldier during the American Civil War.

In the late 1800s, Lavelle was often called a "hamlet," meaning a very small village. Even in the late 1900s, it was still known as the "Village of Lavelle."

The History of Lavelle

Early Beginnings and Mining Life

In the early 1860s, many people in Schuylkill County worked in mining. John Denison ran the Keystone Mines, employing over 200 men. These mines were located northeast of where Lavelle would later be.

By the early 1880s, the community that grew around the mine was called Salome. It was named after Salome (Hepler) Bolich, a local Baptist preacher's wife. As the community grew, the eastern part became known as Rocktown. The western part kept the name Salome. Around 1870, a powder mill was built nearby. It made black powder for the explosives used by miners.

About ten years later, the hamlet was officially renamed Lavelle. This was to honor Martin M. Lavelle, an attorney from Ashland. He was famous locally for being a cavalry soldier for the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The Lavelle public school on Main Street in Lavelle, Pennsylvania, around the late 1800s to early 1900s.

Soon after, Thomas Edward Enterline (1860-1928) moved to Lavelle. He opened the community's first store, a general merchandise shop. It quickly became a popular meeting place. Enterline sold many different products and also became the village's postmaster. Lavelle also became more known because the Schuylkill County Fair was held there from 1886 to 1895.

Around this time, the Enterline family and other town members donated land. They planned and built a public school, which opened in the mid-1890s.

Fires and Rebuilding in the 1890s

In 1895, a big fire destroyed Enterline's general store and his family home. The mail from the post office was saved, but much of his goods were lost. That same year, an explosion at the nearby powder mill destroyed several of its buildings.

Despite these disasters, the community supported Enterline. He was able to rebuild his store. He continued to serve Lavelle well into the 1900s.

Lavelle in the 1900s

Lavelle continued to grow after 1900. The Eagle Hotel opened, run by William H. Gotschall. He moved to Lavelle in 1901. The Citizens Cemetery Association of Lavelle was formed in 1900. It received a special permission in 1903 to operate the village's cemetery on Main Street.

In 1906, another explosion happened at the powder mill outside Lavelle. This led to the mill closing that year. In 1907, Enterline stopped being postmaster. He wanted to focus more on his growing business and real estate interests.

New Communication and Community Challenges

In the summer of 1908, John Hartranft Snyder (1873-1944) and Hiram Oskar Lenker (1871-1950) started a new business. They created the Lavelle Telegraph and Telephone Company. This company was officially started in the fall of 1908. Lenker was the treasurer and Snyder was the secretary. They managed the company's $5,000 starting money.

The first phone line connected Ashland, Lavelle, and other towns in Schuylkill County. It quickly expanded to include towns in Columbia and Northumberland counties. Snyder and his wife, Minnie, also ran a dry goods store from their home on Main Street.

Fires in homes and businesses continued to be a problem. On March 16, 1911, several homes on Main Street were destroyed or damaged. A vandal threw a stone through a window at John Hartranft Snyder's home. It hit a lamp, which exploded and started a fire. Strong winds helped the flames spread quickly to nearby wooden homes. The fire also threatened the town's small business area.

The situation was serious because Lavelle did not have its own fire truck. Fire departments from nearby Mount Carmel and Centralia had equipment problems. Lavelle residents eventually stopped the fire by forming a bucket brigade.

When T. E. Enterline died in 1928, newspapers called him the "pioneer businessman of Lavelle." His wife, Estella, and their son, Bright Samuel Enterline, continued to run the store. Bright took full control after his mother's death in 1956. By the early 1960s, the store also had a soda fountain and restaurant counter. This became a popular gathering spot for locals. Bright Enterline operated the store until he died in 1964.

Mid-1900s Developments

In the early 1930s, Cardinal Dennis Joseph Dougherty, the Archbishop of Philadelphia, approved a new church for Lavelle. This church would serve over forty Catholic families living there. The first mass was held at George Quinton Sr.'s home in Krapf's Hall.

A permanent church building was built in 1935. It cost $4,000 and was on land donated by dairy farmers Clement and Elizabeth Scheuren. The church was named St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church to honor their patron saint.

Forming the Fire Company

On December 9, 1936, community members formed the Lavelle Volunteer Fire Company. Within three months, it had 126 volunteer members. Peter E. Eister, who wanted better fire protection for the village, helped organize it. He became its first president.

In March 1937, members discussed how to improve fire protection. They thought about getting government funding to install water pipes throughout the community. Leaders estimated that connecting to the Butler Water Company's line would cost property owners about $7,687. They also talked about how this might change fire insurance rates.

By the 1940s, the Lavelle Telegraph and Telephone Company was connected to the Bell Telephone Company's system in Ashland.

Church Anniversaries and New Equipment

During the week of October 3, 1954, St. Peter's Lutheran Church celebrated its 50th anniversary. Special services were held each evening. Tuesday, October 5, was Anniversary Night with a sermon by a former pastor. Thursday, October 7, was Music Night, featuring an organ recital.

The church's history began in 1891. A small group started holding services in different buildings. In 1902, a new pastor arrived. In 1904, they decided to build a church. They bought land and laid the cornerstone on May 1, 1904. The church was dedicated on October 2, 1904, and cost about $2,500. After the church was built, Sunday School and other groups were formed. In 1904, they started using English every other week, along with German. By 1915, only English was used for services.

In late 1957, the Lavelle Volunteer Fire Company was still worried about fire safety. The community still had "no water system." So, they bought a new fire truck. The new F.W.D. Model Eight truck cost $15,200. It had a 750-gallon water tank and could carry fire-fighting chemicals. This became their main truck, and the older 1945 truck became the backup.

On January 12, 1958, the local AMVETS chapter, Hubler-Wolfgang Post 156, opened its new building on East Strembeck Street. This chapter was started in 1951.

In 1966, Helen Edling became the U.S. Postmaster for Lavelle. Like earlier postmasters, she ran the village's post office from her home.

By 1969, the Butler Township Water Company was providing water service to homes and businesses. On November 4, 1969, Citizens' National Bank opened a new branch in Lavelle.

Also in 1969, a new road was finished. It connected Lavelle to Beury's Grove. This was part of a bigger project to make it easier for people from Ashland, Centralia, Lavelle, Locust Dale, and Mount Carmel to reach Interstate 81.

Late 1900s Community Changes

A historic photo of the Lavelle Elementary School after it was no longer used in the 1950s.

In 1983, leaders from Christ United Lutheran Church helped create The Community Youth Center in Lavelle. This center was for children aged five to eighteen. It gave them a safe place to hang out. The project was in the back of the old Lavelle Elementary School building on Main Street. Volunteers installed heating, ceilings, and kitchen cabinets. Community members donated a refrigerator, stove, games, and tables for ping pong and pool.

After four months of building, the United States Postal Service opened its first post office building in Lavelle. This was in the summer and fall of 1986. Postmaster Helen Edling and postal clerk Dorothy M. Shadle had been running the post office from Edling's home since 1966. The new building was on Main Street. It was built where Josephine Welker's old home used to be. Her home was one of the town's oldest buildings, partly made of logs, and had no indoor plumbing.

On November 28, 1990, the two-story Lavelle Elementary School building was torn down. It had been mostly empty since the late 1950s. It was removed because of health and safety worries. Butler Township officials received a grant from the state to pay for the $37,462 demolition cost.

Lavelle in the 2000s

In June 2000, a new and improved youth center opened in Lavelle. It was located in a former church building on Fairgrounds Road. The Island Youth Center was started by the Lavelle Church of the Nazarene. It offered a safe place for teens to socialize. They could play pool, video games, listen to music, and play basketball or kickball. There was also a snack bar. Volunteers drove youths to and from the center if they needed a ride.

On Wednesday evening, December 28, 2005, the St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church held its last mass. The church closed because fewer people were attending and due to money problems.

Population in Lavelle

The number of people living in Lavelle changed during the 1940s. Birth and death rates went up and down. For example, in 1941, there were 41 deaths. In 1944, there were 6 deaths.

The birth rate also changed. In 1943, there were 66 births, but in 1946, there were 46 births. In 1943, 34 boys and 32 girls were born.

According to the 2010 census, Lavelle had 742 residents. By the time the 2020 federal census was taken, the population had slightly decreased to 708 people.

See also

In Spanish: Lavelle para niños