PRINTER'S NO. 367
No. 44 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY PETRARCA, FEBRUARY 10, 1997
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, FEBRUARY 10, 1997
A RESOLUTION
1 Urging "The David Letterman Show" to name Latrobe, Westmoreland
2 County, Pennsylvania as its "Home Office."
3 WHEREAS, Latrobe is located about forty-one miles east of
4 Pittsburgh. It is one of the most beautifully located towns in
5 Westmoreland County as to its topography, the ground is almost
6 level. It is located on the Loyalhanna River and the
7 Pennsylvania Railroad; and
8 WHEREAS, Originally, the ground on which Latrobe now stands
9 was covered with large forest trees. The land was owned by a Mr.
10 Kirk who sold it to Oliver Barnes, an engineer in the employ of
11 the Pennsylvania Railroad. Barnes accordingly laid out a plan
12 that was recorded in the recorder's office on May 28, 1851, and
13 began to sell lots. The town was named after Benjamin Latrobe, a
14 prominent civil engineer, who was associated with the
15 Pennsylvania Railroad and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and
16 subsequently the mayor of the City of Baltimore. Barnes donated
17 three acres of land to the Pennsylvania Railroad in the center
1 of town so Latrobe is, therefore, a railroad town as it owes its
2 existence and prosperity to the railroad; and
3 WHEREAS, The borough of Latrobe was incorporated by the court
4 on May 24, 1854; and
5 WHEREAS, The earliest industry was a flouring mill which used
6 the Loyalhanna as its water power, this was the nucleus of the
7 town around which it was built prior to the railroad. Other
8 early industry was the Pennsylvania Car Works owned by Oliver
9 Barnes, a paper mill and a steel mill; and
10 WHEREAS, Latrobe is home of the Rolling Rock brewery and the
11 famous "mountain spring" waters; and
12 WHEREAS, In 1904, Dr. David Strickler created and served the
13 first banana split; and
14 WHEREAS, In 1939, one of the most unique mail services ever
15 attempted occurred at the small airport in Latrobe, the first
16 "airmail" pickup; and
17 WHEREAS, Latrobe is home to the first Benedictine monastery
18 in the United States, Saint Vincent-1846. The Benedictine
19 tradition is 1500 years old. The college affiliated with the
20 monastic community, Saint Vincent College, was the first
21 Benedictine college in the country and is rated as one of the
22 top 60 liberal arts colleges in the country; and
23 WHEREAS, The Pittsburgh Steelers never won a championship
24 until they made Latrobe (Saint Vincent College) their summer
25 training camp home; and
26 WHEREAS, Latrobe is the hometown of Fred Rogers of "Mr.
27 Rogers Neighborhood"; and
28 WHEREAS, The greatest golfer of all time, Arnold Palmer was
29 born, raised and still lives in Latrobe; and
30 WHEREAS, Quarterback John Brailer was paid $10, becoming the
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1 first professional football player and making Latrobe the site
2 of the first professional football game in 1895; and
3 WHEREAS, Latrobe is home to both the David Letterman look-
4 alike Reverend Martin Bartel, O.S.B., president of Saint Vincent
5 College and the Paul Shaffer look-alike, Dr. Howard Bursh; now
6 therefore be it
7 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
8 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge "The David Letterman Show" to
9 name Latrobe, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania as its "Home
10 Office."; and be it further
11 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
12 "The David Letterman Show.
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