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Bridgeville has a rich historical heritage dating back to Colonial times. In the early 1800s, a small village grew along the meandering Chartiers Creek between two bridges on the Black Horse Trail. The construction of the Chartiers Valley Railroad, the establishment of the Norwood Hotel, and the opening of commercial bituminous coal mines in the region generated a population boom that motivated residents to seek autonomy from Upper St. Clair Township. In 1901, the borough of Bridgeville was incorporated, and the next 50 years saw the community become the social and business center for the four neighboring townships with schools, churches, and a bustling downtown business environment. Bridgeville remains close enough to Pittsburgh to enjoy the cultural advantages of a big city, yet far enough away to retain the feel of a small hometown.

One hundred years ago, on September 4, 1911, the J. C. Blair Memorial Hospital opened its doors to patients and their doctors. Given to the community in memory of Huntingdon's most successful entrepreneur, the hospital has strived since its inception to achieve the reputation it enjoys today as an institution of advanced medical knowledge, skill, and service. Medical practice has undergone revolutionary change during the hospital's first century; the hospital has worked diligently to keep abreast of that change. Yet its mission--to treat all who enter its doors, without regard to their ability to pay--has remained unchanged. Deep emotions are tied to hospital experiences. Generations of area residents have been born at the hospital, and generations have availed themselves of its services to achieve and maintain good health. A century after its founding, J. C. Blair Memorial Hospital continues to play a vital role in the lives of people in the communities surrounding Huntingdon.

As automobile transportation exploded in the first half of the 20th century, the service station became a part of everyday life for a growing number of Americans in Central Pennsylvania.

These roadside stops provided necessary goods and services for the motoring public while featuring diverse aesthetics and promoting brand loyalty. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, motorists passing through central Pennsylvania had an ever-increasing number of service stations from which to choose. With the state capital Harrisburg at its core, this area has experienced marked growth while managing to preserve much of the historic beauty for which it is known. Lost Service Stations of Central Pennsylvania is a showcase of those stations and the people who owned them and a tribute to the beauty of a bygone era.