Historical society to celebrate Ellwood City races with dinner

Did you know that Pittsburgh Circle was built as a bicycle racing track? The inaugural race was held on that track on July 6 and 7, 1894. The winners of that race took home a fabulous cut-glass trophy, “The Ellwood Cup,” won by the Ramblers Bicycle Club of Buffalo, N.Y.

Did you know that the chief electrician at Aetna Standard in 1962, Ellwood City resident John Mokranin, won the American Power Boat Association world championship boat race in Bradenton, Florida, that year? He was the oldest hydroplane racing boat driver in the world when he was fatally injured in a race on the Monongahela River on May 30, 1964.

Did you know that the Ellwood City Soap Box Derby was brought to Ellwood City in 1936 by the hard work and lobbying skill of Denny Schill, the borough director of recreation, William Kegel, owner and editor of the Ellwood City Ledger, and Eugene Swartz, owner of the local Chevrolet dealership?

Did you know that Bernard “Bucky” Kline won the first race in 1936 and Jimmy Fotia won the last race in 1972?

Did you know that the annual Ellwood City Ledger 10K began in 1981 with Ken Fox as its first race director?

Did you know that Riverside High School employees put together the first Gobblers Gallop 10K race on Thanksgiving day in 1996 to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation and McGuire Memorial Home.

Although not billed as a “race,” did you know that the Ellwood City Jaycees sponsored at least three annual Road Rallies that began at Lincoln High School and Ended in Ewing Park in 1988, 1989 and 1990.

In celebration of Ellwood’s racing history, the public is invited to hear “The Magnificent McElwain Brothers” (Floyd, Frank, and Kevin) who will be the featured speakers at the Ellwood City Area Historical Society's 2024-2025 Kick-Off Dinner at the Connoquenessing Country Club at 6 p.m. Sept. 9. The “Night at the Races" theme will highlight the various races and participants that have occurred around the Ellwood City.

All dinners are $30 each and include a choice of chicken marsala, beef medallions or pecan salmon. Reservations are available at the Beaver County Area History Center, 310 Fifth St., 724-752-2021, or ellwoodhistory@zoominternet.net. Reservations and payment are due by Aug. 29.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Historical society to celebrate Ellwood City races with dinner