Founded in 1895, Vandergrift was the first successful planned industrial town designed to be sold to its workers. George McMurtry, president of the Apollo Iron & Steel Co., Apollo, Pa., needed to expand his successful galvanized steel operations. Beset with labor problems and unable to acquire additional land, he selected a 650-acre farm site a few miles downstream on the Kiskiminetas River, some forty miles from Pittsburgh. He then approached the designer of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, Frederick Law Olmsted, to design a town that would be “something better than the best.” The result was Vandergrift, (named for Capt. J.J. Vandergrift, a director of the steel company) a town with gently curving streets that follow the natural slope of the hills. Everything was made ready in advance: The steel mill was built. The streets were graded, utilities were installed (including water, natural gas, electric lines, and sewer lines). Streets and sidewalks were paved, trees were planted, and streetlights were erected. Finally, free lots and half the cost of construction were offered to the churches. Then, when everything was in readiness, the building lots were offered for sale to the workers so they could build their own homes. In 1895, this was a unique idea in America–that a company would build a town entirely in advance and then turn over its control to the workers. This is a beautifully produced piece with extremely competent renderings of homes, landscapes, leisure-time areas, industrial settings, interiors of homes, etc. Retains the original binding cord, although it is broken where the two sections meet. One small tear on cover. Missing first two sheets, else it would be very good. 9.25 x 12. 56 pp. THIS VINTAGE BROCHURE IS INSERTED INTO A GLASSINE SLEEVE, ATTACHED TO A STIFF BOARD, THEN ENCASED IN BUBBLE WRAP AND PLACED IN A BUBBLE ENVELOPE FOR ABSOLUTE SECURITY IN TRANSIT.

Reserve: $65.00

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