HISTORY OF HOPE

The following story will tell you a little bit about the history of Horseshoes of Pittsburgh Enterprises (HOPE).

1986

For months and months, Ron Weiss and Gene Swogger were driving to Washington, Pennsylvania to pitch horseshoes at their two indoor courts. The conversation was always, “Wish we had our own place with indoor courts—so we could pitch all year round!” So we decided to do something about it.

1987

We advertised that on May 27, 1987, there would be a meeting at Foxcroft Elementary School (Chartiers Valley School District) for those interested in pitching indoors. Nine men showed up and became the foundation:

Harry Clement

Don Larkins

Gene Swogger

George Combs

John Marsen

Ron Weiss

Roger Jacobs

Steve Rethage

Jim Zdrale

Ron Weiss came up with the idea of calling ourselves HOPE (We HOPE to get indoor courts—our goal, our dream!!!)

The goal of HOPE was established: Start a Building Fund to raise money to purchase land, build our own indoor courts, and possibly build outdoor courts in the future.

You could become a charter member by paying $100.00 by September 26th, 1988. Eventually 56 members did this. (Eight years later, 37 of those 56 belong to HOPE)

Search for property: After five months of looking at various pieces of land, Christina Swogger (Gene’s wife) saw an advertisement in the Pennysaver for 2.6 acres of land near Settler’s Cabin Park.

Meetings were held at the Bridgeville Italian Club.

1988

Fifteen months later (and after many meeting with Collier Township’s zoning board) we had the official closing on this piece of land. The date was August 12th, 1988.

We hired Attorney Dave Slomski to write our Articles of Incorporation. We were now a corporation and had a nine-man board of directors to guide us and make decisions on behalf of the members.

1989

We had an engineer draw up a topographical map of our property. We received a highway occupancy permit from PennDot. We had a contractor grad the property and cut in the driveway. On August 14th, 1989, we had our ground-breaking ceremony—right where the building presently sits.

1990

July 16th, 1990, the driveway was paved and we now had easy access to our property. We were going to construct a Borkholder pole building for $20,000, but Collier Township would not give us a building permit.

1991

We had 18 months of litigation. We hired a lawyer, took Collier Township to court, and eventually won the right to obtain a building permit. This is where some of our members abandoned us saying, “You’ll never get your building; you’re wasting your time.” I wonder what their thoughts are now?

1992

We decided to build a cement block building instead of a pole building. In August of 1992 we had five borings drilled to test for mine subsidence.

In October of 1992 we had 21 caissons drilled: 12 inches in circumference, 35 to 40 feet deep, filled with concrete to prevent subsidence. Future meetings of HOPE were held at the Eagles Club in Mount Washington.

1993

In May of 1993 the members poured the footer, and on May 22, 1993, we paid contractors to lay the cement blocks (40’ X 80’).

In August of 1993 the members put up the trusses and put on the roof and shingles—Dom Massella and Duquesne Light’s truck with a “boom” on it.

1994

In May, the members installed vinyl siding, soffit and facia, gutters and downspouts. We advertised for plumbing bids, heating bids, parking lot bids, etc.

In August of 1994, Mrs. Mazur (Jeff’s mother) volunteered to lend us $20,000 at 8% interest, in memory of her late husband, Frank, who loved horseshoes. Now we had the money to do the inside of the building.

September

Water line dug

October

Concrete floor poured by John Oelschlager (supervisor) and the members. Carpentry work done by the members, supervised by Dave Meckevic and George Babeji.

November

Electrical work done by Joe Changle. Insulation in ceiling and walls installed by the members. Propane furnace installed. Florescent lights donated by Al Punturi’s friend.

1995

By February, we had City water—P.A.W.C. All members contributed another $100.00. In May, drywall was put up by the members, then painted. Holes drilled in the concrete floor for backstops and fence. Concrete poured for handicap parking spaces, concrete pad installed for propane tank to sit on, T-I11 installed on the walls, and front and rear concrete porches poured. By September, we received our occupancy permit from the Department of Labor and Industry.

OCTOBER 1ST, 1995

GRAND OPENING

OPEN HOUSE

Eight years and three months after May 27th, 1987, HOPE had become a reality!!! Our dream and HOPE had come true. We had achieved our goal.