
The Bell House Tavern in 1890. Note the
42-star United States flag flying next to the building. Washington
joined the Union as the 42nd State on November 11, 1889, followed on July 03,
1890 by Idaho and on
July 10, 1890 by Wyoming. By 1912 the country had grown to include
forty-eight United States.
"Ye Old Bell House Tavern" was one of
the landmark buildings in Lower St. Clair Township and West Liberty Borough
from the pioneer days. Above is a photo of the Bell House Tavern in the summer
of 1890. It stood along Warrington Avenue, near the intersection with the
Washington Pike (West Liberty Avenue).
The Bell House was built in 1850.
The tavern served many purposes it's eighty-nine year history. It was a diner,
a saloon, a general store, a hotel, a post office, a voting place, and a stop
along the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon railroad line.

Charles Juergen's Bell House Tavern around
1910, with an addition built to the right of the building.
At the turn of the century, when the
trolley line was installed, it was at the Bell House Tavern that the line,
switched from a single-track to a double-track line for the trip up West Liberty
Avenue to Brookline. The building was one of the most popular locations in the
area.

The Bell House Tavern, at the Car
Stop sign, in 1919 (left) and 1925.
The final photo below shows the old
Bell House on November 16, 1938, shortly before it was torn down. The picture
was taken from the corner of Warrington Avenue and Saw Mill Run Boulevard,
looking towards the intersection with West Liberty Avenue and the Liberty
Tunnels.
The Bell House is situated on the right
of the photo beyond the bridge. The truck on the roadway is passing the tavern
on its way towards the tunnel intersection. A white sign on the side of the
landmark building reads "Bell House." The surrounding area had really built
up by this time, quite a contrast to the photo at the top of the page.

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for larger photos
* Photos provided by
Nate Marini * |