Westmoreland 250: 10 things to see in Unity
(Editor’s note: To mark Westmoreland County’s 250th birthday this year, we’ve come up with a list of 250 things — 10 things in 25 communities — that we consider to be important to the makeup of our area. This series will appear each week through December.)
Visitors to Unity will find signs of its rich history within easy reach of the bustling east-west commercial corridor of Route 30 that bisects the township. On either side, newer suburban residential developments rest alongside traditional farmland.
Records of the area’s settlement stretch back to 1760. Bordered by the Loyalhanna Creek to the northeast, Chestnut Ridge to the southeast and Hempfield to the west, Unity was formed from Mt. Pleasant Township and was incorporated as a separate municipality on Sept. 23, 1789.
Religious and educational institutions sprouted early and continue to serve the community. In 1774, 60 acres was set aside to provide land for Unity Cemetery and a Presbyterian meeting house. Dating from 1874, Unity Chapel is the latest iteration of that house of worship. In 1846, Saint Vincent Archabbey and the affiliated Saint Vincent College were founded by Boniface Wimmer, a Benedictine monk from Metten, in Bavaria.
Coal mining and production of coke developed as important industries in the area in the early years of the 20th century. Township villages grew around those pursuits and still remain after their demise — including Baggaley, Marguerite and Trauger.
Growing concern for eliminating pollution and protecting the environment have taken hold in the township in more recent times. Wetland systems developed next to Saint Vincent College remediate abandoned mine drainage in Monastery Run and provide educational opportunities for students.
Golfing is among the recreational opportunities in the township. Unity is the home of the late legend of the sport, Arnold Palmer, born Sept. 10, 1929.
Here are 10 unique things in Unity:
Steelers training camp
The Pittsburgh Steelers NFL franchise began using Saint Vincent College as the team’s summer training camp in 1966 and have continued to return annually, missing only two years — 2020 and 2021 — because of the covid pandemic.
The team wanted to be closer to home than the previous training camp location, the University of Rhode Island. Art Rooney Jr., current Steelers vice president and former personnel director, graduated from Saint Vincent in 1957.
The training camp is one of the biggest events in Unity each year. Fans come from near and far to see their favorite Steelers players take part in open practices over three weeks in July and August.
A highlight while the Steelers are in town is the team’s Friday Night Lights evening practice at nearby Memorial Stadium in Latrobe, preceded by a Steelers Fest of related activities. Officials from Unity and Latrobe work with the local school district and businesses to put on the event.
Fred Rogers Institute
Planned under the guidance of the late children’s television host and native of neighboring Latrobe, The Fred Rogers Institute at Saint Vincent College continues his work of “investing in the strengths of families and caring adults to support the healthy development of children.”
On the upper level of the building, a multimedia exhibit traces Rogers’ life and work and features his famous cardigan sweaters along with puppets, artifacts, images and video clips familiar to generations of viewers of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” There’s even a “Speedy Delivery” letter writing station.
The self-guided exhibit at the school, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, is free and open to the public. Details: fredrogersinstitute.org.
Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
The airport located on Route 981, just off Route 30, has gone by many names.
Starting as Longview Flying Field in 1924, it became J.D. Hill Airport in 1928, Latrobe Airport in 1935 and Westmoreland County Airport in 1978. In 1999, the current name was adopted to honor the man who is credited with popularizing modern golf and who grew up less than a mile from the runway where he learned to fly.
In 1939, the airport was the site for a groundbreaking development in the postal service: a nonstop airmail pickup.
Each summer, the airport plays host to the Shop n’ Save Westmoreland County Airshow. The lineup of aerobatic feats and thundering jet demonstrations has attracted as many as 30,000 or more for the weekend show.
Latrobe Country Club
Nestled at the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains lies Arnold Palmer’s Latrobe Country Club. Despite its name, the 18-hole golf course is located in Unity, on Arnold Palmer Drive.
The club includes guest houses, golf, dining, tennis, a pool and meeting and banquet facilities. According to the club’s website, Palmer’s childhood home was beside what is now the course’s fifth tee. Following his success in golfing, including 92 professional titles, Palmer purchased the club in 1971. He lived there, worked there and often entertained his family and friends there.
Nine of the holes were personally designed by Palmer and his father. Memorabilia, photos and tournament hardware from Palmer’s life adorn the walls of the clubhouse.
Saint Vincent Gristmill
The Saint Vincent Archabbey Gristmill, built by the Benedictine monks, is an historic landmark that has been in continuous operation since 1854. Located along Beatty County Road, a short distance from the archabbey, the mill proper is accompanied by a museum and a general store that offers everything from aprons and mugs to honey and pancake mix.
The mill is operated by monks of the archabbey and volunteers. Monks grind flour to sell in the store, and for use in making Saint Vincent bread on campus and by Friendship Farms.
The museum features exhibits concerning the mill and the early agricultural history of Saint Vincent.
Details: saintvincentgristmill.com.
Angelo Taiani Planetarium and Astronaut Exhibit
Located in Saint Vincent College’s Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion, the planetarium and exhibit are named for a 1948 chemistry graduate of the college who grew up in Latrobe and worked as a NASA engineer for 34 years.
Displayed next to the planetarium, the exhibit features items donated by Taiani — including astronaut photography and NASA mission patches, posters and a few items that flew in space.
The late Taiani worked on more than 250 unmanned and manned rocket launches, including space shuttle missions. He was part of the ground support team for the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing. He also helped develop a weather balloon.
The planetarium presents public shows on a seasonal basis. Admission is free, but seating is limited.
Private shows can be scheduled for groups of up to 35 people. Call 724-805-2631 on weekdays for reservations.
Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve
The Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve at Saint Vincent College covers 50 acres between routes 30 and 981. It is open to the public year-round for recreation, conservation and educational purposes.
It features native landscapes, more than two miles of trails, play spaces, a pond, wetlands, an Environmental Learning Barn and the historic Lochry Blockhouse.
The reserve is named for Arnold Palmer’s late wife, who had served on the board of directors of Saint Vincent College and wanted to preserve the land and the scenic view it offered from the college campus.
Following her death in 1999, her family continued to work on the project, and the nature reserve was incorporated on Oct. 6, 2000. The Saint Vincent Archabbey donated 25 acres, supplementing a roughly equal area purchased from two local families, to make the reserve complete.
Details: wpnr.org.
Lincoln Highway Experience
This museum along the eastbound lanes of Route 30, just before the Route 217 intersection, explores the history of the highway that was America’s first improved coast-to-coast route for the motoring public.
Dedicated on Oct. 31, 1913, the highway mostly followed current Route 30 as it passed through Pennsylvania.
The museum features vintage Lincoln Highway images, memorabilia and artifacts and also hosts speakers and rotating exhibits.
Part of the museum occupies the historic 19th century Johnston House. A newer addition houses a 1920s tourist cabin, a 1937 Packard car and the restored 1938 Serro’s Diner, where visitors can end their tour with a slice of pie and a cup of coffee.
The museum also serves as the headquarters for the nonprofit Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor, which was designated in 1995 to promote the legacy of the highway over 200 miles stretching between Westmoreland and Adams counties in Pennsylvania.
The nonprofit’s projects have included publication of a Lincoln Highway Driving Guide and creation of “Roadside Giants of the Lincoln Highway” sculptures.
Details: lhhc.org.
French Express
Customers can enjoy a taste of continental cuisine combined with to-go convenience at this restaurant at the Latrobe 30 Shoppes Plaza.
The restaurant is operated by chef Christophe Fichet, a native of Dijon, France, and his wife, Kristin. Fichet previously worked in Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe and served as an executive chef for the royal family of Qatar and at the Rolling Rock Club in Ligonier Township.
The French Express menu includes take-home meals and grab-and-go items as well as freshly prepared soups, pastries and some imported jams and condiments.
An array of sandwiches are served on a baguette. The varieties includes smoked salmon with horseradish cream, capers and red onion; and prosciutto with roasted tomatoes and thyme. Paninis are served on lemon rosemary focaccia bread.
Also featured are quiche and savory or sweet crepes.
“Our soup-and-sandwich and soup-and-quiche combos are always top sellers,” Kristin Fichet said, adding that some items can be purchased in bulk containers to go. “We have dedicated customers who will bring in their cooler and stock up,” she said.
Statler’s Fun Center
After hibernating for the winter months, this family-oriented recreational center springs back to life with a variety of outdoor activities.
Statler’s go-kart track follows a circuit of nearly a third mile in length, featuring a double over-and-under bridge and banked turns. Pro karts, offering a more powerful ride, are available with a valid driver’s license.
A mini golf course includes waterfalls, streams and a play-through cave.
Variable-speed batting cages for baseball or softball are available for games of 15 pitches each or for time rentals of 30 minutes or an hour.
Moving indoors, visitors can try their hand at one of more than 30 arcade games. The center’s food concession features hand-dipped ice cream. Party rentals also are available.
The center is slated to open in April for the 2024 season.
Details: statlers.com.
Haley Daugherty is a TribLive reporter covering local politics, feature stories and Allegheny County news. A native of Pittsburgh, she lived in Alabama for six years. She joined the Trib in 2022 after graduating from Chatham University. She can be reached at hdaugherty@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.